Smoking set

Abstract

The application relates to the field of smoking sets, and provides a smoking set, which comprises a heating chamber and a heater; a first detection module is used for detecting whether an object exists at a first position in the heating chamber to output a first detection signal; a second detection module is used for detecting whether an object exists at a second position in the heating chamber to output a second detection signal; and a microcontroller is configured to collect the first detection signal and the second detection signal, and identify the object situation existing in the heating chamber according to different combinations of the first detection signal and the second detection signal. According to the application, the object situation existing in the heating chamber is identified according to different combinations of the first detection signal and the second detection signal; and the heater can be controlled to start heating or be in a closed state according to the identification result, so that the foreign matter falling into the heating chamber cannot mistakenly trigger the heater to start heating, and the user experience is improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of smoking articles, and in particular to a smoking article. BACKGROUND

[0002] Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars burn tobacco during use to produce smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these burning tobacco products by producing products that release compounds without burning. An example of such a product is the so-called heat-not-burn product, which releases compounds by heating, rather than burning, tobacco.

[0003] Patent publication No. CN209202153U discloses a control method of electronic cigarette and electronic cigarette. When tobacco is inserted into the electronic cigarette, a tobacco heating signal is triggered, and the tobacco heating signal controls the tobacco heating element to work to toast the tobacco. The triggering mode of the tobacco heating signal includes: after the tobacco is inserted into the electronic cigarette cavity, the tobacco extrudes the pressure sensor in the electronic cigarette cavity, and the pressure sensor detects the pressure change to generate the tobacco heating signal; or, after the tobacco is inserted into the electronic cigarette cavity, the capacitance sensor in the electronic cigarette cavity detects the capacitance change to generate the tobacco heating signal; or, after the tobacco is inserted into the electronic cigarette cavity, the tobacco extrudes the tactile switch in the electronic cigarette cavity, and the tactile switch sends the tobacco heating signal.

[0004] The problem of this scheme is that after foreign matter falls into the electronic cigarette cavity, the tobacco heating signal will also be triggered, and then the heating element starts to heat; the electronic cigarette cannot identify the situation that foreign matter exists in the electronic cigarette cavity. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application provides a smoking article, which aims to solve the problem that the existing smoking article cannot identify the situation that foreign matter exists in the heating chamber.

[0006] The first aspect of the present application provides a smoking article, comprising a heating chamber and a heater, the heater being configured to heat a smoking article removably placed in the heating chamber to generate an aerosol for smoking; the smoking article further comprises:

[0007] A first detection module is configured to detect whether an object exists at a first position in the heating chamber to output a first detection signal;

[0008] A second detection module is configured to detect whether an object exists at a second position in the heating chamber to output a second detection signal;

[0009] A microcontroller is configured to:

[0010] Collect the first detection signal and the second detection signal;

[0011] According to different combinations of the first detection signal and the second detection signal, the object situation existing in the heating chamber is identified.

[0012] The smoking set provided by the application identifies the object situation existing in the heating chamber through different combinations of the first detection signal and the second detection signal; according to the identification result, the heater can be controlled to start heating or be in a closed state, so as to avoid that foreign matters falling into the heating chamber trigger the heater to start heating, and improve user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example in the figures that form a part of this patent document, these example are not intended to limit the embodiments, elements having the same reference numbers in the figures indicate like elements, unless otherwise expressly stated, the figures in the drawings do not constitute a proportional limitation.

[0014] Figure 1 is a control block diagram of the smoking set provided by the embodiments of the application;

[0015] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the smoking set provided by the embodiments of the application;

[0016] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the smoking set provided by the embodiments of the application;

[0017] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the heater with a metal elastic sheet provided by the embodiments of the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In order to facilitate the understanding of the application, the application will be described in more detail below in combination with the drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that when an element is described as "fixed to" another element, it can be directly on the other element or one or more intermediate elements can exist therebetween. When an element is described as "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or one or more intermediate elements can exist therebetween. The terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner", "outer" and similar expressions used in the specification are only for the purpose of illustration.

[0019] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in the specification are the same as the meanings understood by the person skilled in the art belonging to the technical field of the application. The terms used in the specification of the application are only for the purpose of describing the specific embodiments and are not used to limit the application. The term "and / or" used in the specification includes any and all combinations of one or more related listed items.

[0020] As Figures 1-3As shown, the present application provides a smoking set 10, which at least comprises a heater 11, a heating chamber 12, a first detection module 13, a second detection module 14, a driving module 15, a cover 16, an input module 17, a prompting module 18 and a microcontroller 19 arranged in a housing.

[0021] The heater 11 is used to heat a smoking article removably placed in the heating chamber 12 to generate aerosol for smoking. The smoking article comprises an aerosol-forming substrate which is used with the smoking set 10 to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0022] The aerosol-forming substrate is a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. Such volatile compounds can be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate can be solid or liquid or comprise solid and liquid components. The aerosol-forming substrate can be adsorbed, coated, impregnated or otherwise loaded onto a carrier or support. The aerosol-forming substrate can conveniently be part of an aerosol-generating article or a smoking article.

[0023] The aerosol-forming substrate can comprise nicotine. The aerosol-forming substrate can comprise tobacco, for example can comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds which are released from the aerosol-forming substrate when heated. Preferred aerosol-forming substrates can comprise homogenized tobacco material, for example Virginia tobacco. The aerosol-forming substrate can comprise at least one aerosol-former, which can be any suitable known compound or mixture of compounds which, in use, favourably stabilizes the formation of an aerosol and is substantially resistant to thermal degradation at the operating temperature of the aerosol-generating system. Suitable aerosol-formers are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to: polyhydric alcohols, such as triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol and glycerol; esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol mono-, di- or triacetate; and fatty acid esters of mono-, di- or poly-carboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate. Preferred aerosol-formers are polyhydric alcohols or mixtures thereof, such as triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol and most preferably glycerol.

[0024] The heater 11 can be a central heating type (direct contact between the outer periphery of the heating body and the aerosol-forming substrate) and a peripheral heating type (a cylindrical heating body wrapping the aerosol-forming substrate), and can also be a heating type that generates aerosol for smoking by one or more of heat conduction, electromagnetic induction, chemical reaction, infrared action, resonance, photoelectric conversion, and photo-thermal conversion.

[0025] The following describes the heater 11 as an infrared heater:

[0026] The infrared heater 11 comprises a base body and an infrared heating layer (not shown in the figure).

[0027] The base body can be in the shape of a cylinder, a prism or other columnar shape, and is preferably in the shape of a cylinder. The base body forms a heating chamber 12 inside, and the shell of the smoking set 10 has a through hole corresponding to the heating chamber 12, through which a smoking article can be removed or inserted into the heating chamber 12.

[0028] The infrared heating layer is formed on the outer surface of the base body. The infrared heating layer generates heat by receiving electric power from the electrode, and transmits the generated heat to the smoking article inserted into the heating chamber 12 at least in the form of infrared radiation.

[0029] Please refer to Figure 3 The first detection module 13 is arranged at the downstream (first position) of the aerosol flow direction (indicated by the dashed arrow in the figure) in the heating chamber 12, and the second detection module 14 is arranged at the upstream (second position) of the aerosol flow direction in the heating chamber 12. That is, the first position and the second position are arranged at intervals along the aerosol flow direction in the heating chamber 12, and the first position is located downstream of the aerosol flow direction and the second position is located upstream of the aerosol flow direction.

[0030] In this example, the first detection module 13 comprises a light-emitting diode 131 and a photoelectric sensor 132, which are arranged face to face along the transverse direction of the heating chamber 12. The second detection module 14 uses an ultrasonic sensor. The principle or working method of the sensor can refer to the prior art, which will not be described here.

[0031] The first detection module 13 is configured to detect whether there is an object at the first position in the heating chamber 12 to output a first detection signal;

[0032] The second detection module 14 is configured to detect whether there is an object at the second position in the heating chamber 12 to output a second detection signal;

[0033] The microcontroller 19 is configured to:

[0034] Collect the first detection signal and the second detection signal;

[0035] According to different combinations of the first detection signal and the second detection signal, the situation of the object existing in the heating chamber 12 is identified.

[0036] The identification result can be one of the following four cases: the object existing in the heating chamber 12 is a foreign object, the object existing in the heating chamber 12 is a smoking article but the smoking article is not inserted into the heating chamber 12 in place, the object existing in the heating chamber 12 is a smoking article and the smoking article is inserted into the heating chamber 12 in place, and there is no object in the heating chamber 12.

[0037] For example, it is assumed that the first detection signal is high when an object exists at the first position in the heating chamber 12, and the first detection signal is low when no object exists at the first position in the heating chamber 12; the second detection signal is similar to the first detection signal.

[0038] When the first detection signal and the second detection signal collected by the microcontroller 19 are (1, 1), it can be determined that the object existing in the heating chamber 12 is a smoking article and the smoking article is inserted into the heating chamber 12 in place. Wherein, the first "1" in the bracket indicates that the first detection signal is high (if it is "0", it indicates that it is low), the second "1" indicates that the second detection signal is high (if it is "0", it indicates that it is low), and the following is similar and will not be repeated.

[0039] When the first detection signal and the second detection signal collected by the microcontroller 19 are (1, 0), it can be determined that the object existing in the heating chamber 12 is a smoking article but the smoking article is not inserted into the heating chamber 12 in place.

[0040] When the first detection signal and the second detection signal collected by the microcontroller 19 are (0, 1), it can be determined that the object existing in the heating chamber 12 is a foreign object.

[0041] When the first detection signal and the second detection signal collected by the microcontroller 19 are (0, 0), it can be determined that there is no object in the heating chamber 12.

[0042] Therefore, by different combinations of the first detection signal and the second detection signal, the situation of the object existing in the heating chamber 12 is identified; according to the identification result, the heater 11 can be controlled to start heating or be in a closed state, so as to avoid that the foreign object falling into the heating chamber 12 triggers the heater 11 to start heating, and improve the user experience.

[0043] It should be noted that the identification result can be one of the above four cases, two of the above four cases, or three of the above four cases, which is also feasible.

[0044] It should be further noted that, in order to avoid the first detection signal or the second detection signal collected from the abnormal fluctuation situation, the processing can be carried out through multiple collection methods. For example, when the foreign matter falls into the heating chamber 12, the first detection signal output by the first detection module 13 fluctuates between "1" and "0" (when the foreign matter passes through the first detection module 13, the output is "1", and when the foreign matter passes through the first detection module 13, the output is "0"). At this time, the microcontroller 19 can collect and judge again after a preset time to avoid this fluctuation situation.

[0045] Specifically, in an example, the microcontroller 19 is further configured to:

[0046] In the case where the object existing in the heating chamber 12 is a foreign matter, or in the case where the object existing in the heating chamber 12 is a smoking article but the smoking article is not inserted into the heating chamber 12 in place, or in the case where there is no object in the heating chamber 12, the heater 11 is controlled to be in an off state.

[0047] In an example, the microcontroller 19 is further configured to:

[0048] In the case where the object existing in the heating chamber 12 is a foreign matter, or in the case where the object existing in the heating chamber 12 is a smoking article but the smoking article is not inserted into the heating chamber 12 in place, or in the case where there is no object in the heating chamber 12, a prompt information is generated;

[0049] The smoking set 10 further comprises:

[0050] The prompt module 18 is configured to receive the prompt information and prompt the user that there is an abnormality.

[0051] In this example, the user can be prompted in the form of vibration, sound, light, or other forms that the user can perceive, which is not limited here.

[0052] In an example, the microcontroller 19 is further configured to:

[0053] In the case where the object existing in the heating chamber 12 is a smoking article and the smoking article is inserted into the heating chamber 12 in place, the heater 11 is controlled to start heating.

[0054] In this example, when the identification result of the microcontroller 19 on the object existing in the heating chamber 12 is that the object existing in the heating chamber 12 is a smoking article, it means that the smoking article has been inserted into the heating chamber 12 and inserted into the second position in the heating chamber 12. At this time, the heater 11 can be controlled to start heating, without the need for the user to manually control the heater 11 to start heating.

[0055] Further, in this example, the microcontroller 19 is further configured to:

[0056] The first detection signal and the second detection signal are collected again; based on the collected first detection signal and the second detection signal, it is determined whether the smoking product is still present in the heating chamber 12.

[0057] If the smoking product is not present in the heating chamber 12, the heater 11 is controlled to stop heating.

[0058] In this situation, it can be determined that the smoking product has been removed from the heating chamber 12, and therefore the heater 11 is controlled to stop heating.

[0059] Please refer to this again. Figures 1-3 As shown, in one example, the smoking device 10 also includes:

[0060] Cover 16 is used to cover or open the heating chamber 12;

[0061] The drive module 15 is controlled by the microcontroller 19 to drive the cover 16 to move to cover or open the heating chamber 12.

[0062] In this example, the drive module 15 includes a motor and gears, and the cover 16 is a sliding cover with a rack that meshes with the gears. The motor is controlled by the microcontroller 19 to drive the gears to rotate, which in turn moves the rack, causing the sliding cover to move left and right to cover or open the heating chamber 12. Figure 2 The case where the cover 16 covers the heating chamber 12; Figure 3 The heating chamber 12 is opened for the cover 16. It should be noted that the drive module 15 and the cover 16 are not limited to the above-described scenario.

[0063] In one example, the smoking device 10 also includes:

[0064] The input module 17 is used to receive a user input start command to generate an start signal or to receive a user input stop command to generate a stop signal.

[0065] Microcontroller 19 is also configured as follows:

[0066] Upon receiving the opening signal, the drive module 15 is controlled to move the cover 16 to open the heating chamber 12; or,

[0067] Upon receiving the shutdown signal, the drive module 15 is controlled to move the cover 16 so that the cover 16 covers the heating chamber 12.

[0068] In this example, the input module 17 is a button. In other examples, the input module 17 is not limited to a button, for example, it can be a touch screen, a voice input device, etc.

[0069] In an example, the microcontroller 19 is further configured to:

[0070] In the case that there is no object in the heating chamber 12, the control driving module 15 drives the cover 16 to move so that the cover 16 covers the heating chamber 12.

[0071] In this example, when there is no object in the heating chamber 12, the control driving module 15 automatically drives the cover 16 to move so that the cover 16 covers the heating chamber 12, avoiding foreign matter from falling into the heating chamber 12.

[0072] Referring back to Figure 4 In an example, the second detection module 14 is implemented by a metal elastic sheet. When the smoking article is inserted into the second position in the heating chamber 12, the smoking article will generate a pressure on the metal elastic sheet, causing the metal elastic sheet to deform. The deformation can be converted into an electrical signal by a conversion circuit, which is then collected by the microcontroller 19.

[0073] It should be noted that the first detection module 13 and the second detection module 14 are not limited to the above cases.

[0074] In an example, the first detection module 13 and the second detection module 14 can be sensor devices with changing resistance values, which sense the position of the smoking article by changes in resistance values. The sensor devices with changing resistance values include but are not limited to pressure resistance, inductive resistance, resistance film matrix, thermistor, photoresistor, air flow switch, coil resistance.

[0075] In an example, the first detection module 13 and the second detection module 14 can be signal transmitting and receiving devices, which emit signals to detect the position information of the smoking article and feed back the position information of the smoking article to the signal transmitting and receiving devices. The signals emitted by the signal transmitting and receiving devices include but are not limited to infrared rays, radar waves, microwaves, ultrasonic waves, communication waves (radio waves, optical fibers, WIFI, quantum waves).

[0076] In an example, the first detection module 13 and the second detection module 14 can be mechanical switch devices, which are electrically connected to a detection circuit. When the smoking article touches the mechanical switch device, the detection circuit is turned on / off. The mechanical switch devices include but are not limited to microswitches, button switches, elastic sheet switches, spring switches, membrane switches, toggle switches, pull switches, rotary switches, and magnet switches.

[0077] In an example, the first detection module 13 and the second detection module 14 can be strain sensors or pressure sensors.

[0078] It should be noted that the preferred embodiments of the present application are shown in the description and drawings of the present application, but the present application can be implemented in many different forms, and is not limited to the embodiments described in the specification. These embodiments are not additional limitations on the content of the present application, and the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the understanding of the disclosure of the present application more thorough and comprehensive. Furthermore, the above technical features continue to combine with each other to form various embodiments not listed above, which are considered to be within the scope of the present application. Furthermore, for those skilled in the art, the above description can be improved or transformed, and all these improvements and transformations should be within the scope of protection of the appended claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A smoking article comprising a heating chamber and a heater for heating a smoking article removably placed in the heating chamber to generate an aerosol for smoking; characterized in that, The smoking set further comprises: a first detection module configured to detect whether an object exists at a first position in the heating chamber to output a first detection signal; a second detection module configured to detect whether an object exists at a second position in the heating chamber to output a second detection signal; the first position and the second position are arranged at intervals along an aerosol flow direction in the heating chamber, the first position is located downstream of the aerosol flow direction, and the second position is located upstream of the aerosol flow direction; a microcontroller configured to: collect the first detection signal and the second detection signal; identify an object situation in the heating chamber according to different combinations of the first detection signal and the second detection signal; wherein the object situation in the heating chamber includes that the object in the heating chamber is a foreign object, the object in the heating chamber is a smoking article but the smoking article is not inserted into the heating chamber in place, the object in the heating chamber is a smoking article and the smoking article is inserted into the heating chamber in place, and the heating chamber is empty of objects; if the first detection module detects that the first position exists and the second detection module detects that the second position exists, the object in the heating chamber is a smoking article and the smoking article is inserted into the heating chamber in place; if the first detection module detects that the first position exists but the second detection module detects that the second position does not exist, the object in the heating chamber is a smoking article but the smoking article is not inserted into the heating chamber in place; if the first detection module detects that the first position does not exist but the second detection module detects that the second position exists, the object in the heating chamber is a foreign object; if the first detection module detects that the first position does not exist and the second detection module detects that the second position does not exist, the heating chamber is empty of objects.

2. The smoking set of claim 1, wherein The microcontroller is further configured to: in a case where the object in the heating chamber is a foreign object, or in a case where the object in the heating chamber is a smoking article but the smoking article is not inserted into the heating chamber in place, or in a case where the heating chamber is empty of objects, control the heater to be in an off state.

3. The smoking set of claim 2, wherein The microcontroller is further configured to: in a case where the object in the heating chamber is a foreign object, or in a case where the object in the heating chamber is a smoking article but the smoking article is not inserted into the heating chamber in place, or in a case where the heating chamber is empty of objects, generate a prompt information; The smoking set further comprises: a prompt module configured to receive the prompt information and prompt a user of an abnormality.

4. The smoking set of claim 1, wherein The microcontroller is further configured to: in a case where the object in the heating chamber is a smoking article and the smoking article is inserted into the heating chamber in place, control the heater to start heating.

5. The smoking set of claim 4, wherein The microcontroller is further configured to: The first detection signal and the second detection signal are collected again, and whether the smoking article still exists in the heating chamber is determined according to the collected first detection signal and second detection signal; If the smoking article does not exist in the heating chamber, the heater is controlled to stop heating.

6. The smoking set of claim 1, wherein The smoking set further comprises: a cover for covering or opening the heating chamber; a driving module for driving the cover to move to cover or open the heating chamber under the control of the microcontroller.

7. The smoking implement of claim 6, wherein, The smoking set further comprises: an input module for receiving an opening instruction input by a user to generate an opening signal or receiving a closing instruction input by a user to generate a closing signal; The microcontroller is further configured to: receive the opening signal and control the driving module to drive the cover to move according to the opening signal, so that the cover opens the heating chamber; or receive the closing signal and control the driving module to drive the cover to move according to the closing signal, so that the cover covers the heating chamber.

8. The smoking set of claim 6, wherein, The microcontroller is further configured to: control the driving module to drive the cover to move to cover the heating chamber when no object exists in the heating chamber.

9. The smoking set of claim 1, wherein The first detection module and the second detection module are selected from the group consisting of a sensor with a change in resistance value, a signal emitting and receiving device, a mechanical switch device, a metal elastic sheet, a strain sensor, a pressure sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor.

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