Aerosol generating device and control method thereof

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of smoking articles and provides an aerosol generating device and a control method thereof. The aerosol generating device includes a housing having a through hole and an air inlet; a chamber through which an aerosol-forming substrate can be received in or removed from the chamber; a heater for heating the aerosol-forming substrate received in the chamber; a heat exhaust device disposed on a gas flow path extending between the air inlet and the through hole; and a circuit configured to control the heat exhaust device to start operating after the heater starts heating and before the heater enters the inhalation phase, so as to exhaust the hot air generated by the heating out of the housing along the gas flow path. The present application exhausts the aerosol containing water vapor out of the housing through the heat exhaust device before the smoker inhales the aerosol generating device, thereby avoiding the smoker's feeling of high smoke temperature and resulting burning sensation during the first puff, thereby improving the user's smoking experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of smoking articles, and in particular to an aerosol generating device and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars burn tobacco to produce smoke during use. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these tobacco-burning articles by creating products that release compounds without burning them. Examples of such products are so-called heat-not-burn products, which release compounds by heating the tobacco rather than burning it.

[0003] An existing heat-not-burn smoking device mainly coats the outer surface of a substrate with a far-infrared coating and a conductive coating. When energized, the far-infrared coating emits far-infrared rays that penetrate the substrate and heat the cigarette inside the substrate. Since far-infrared rays have strong penetrability, they can penetrate the outer periphery of the cigarette and enter the interior, making the heating of the aerosol-forming matrix in the cigarette more uniform.

[0004] The problem with this smoking device is that due to its good permeability and relatively uniform heating, most of the water in the cigarette is evaporated by the heat. The water vapor containing high heat makes it easy for the smoker to experience a burning sensation when smoking, especially when taking the first puff. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides an aerosol generating device and a control method thereof, aiming to solve the problem of high temperature of smoke generated when existing smoking devices heat cigarettes.

[0006] The present application provides an aerosol generating device for heating an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol for inhalation; comprising:

[0007] a housing having a through hole and an air inlet;

[0008] a chamber, the aerosol-forming substrate being receivable in or removable from the chamber through the through-hole;

[0009] a heater for heating the aerosol-forming substrate received in the chamber;

[0010] a heat dissipation device disposed on a gas flow path extending between the air inlet and the through hole;

[0011] The circuit is configured to control the heat exhaust device to start working after the heater starts heating and before the heater enters the suction stage to discharge the hot air generated by heating outside the shell along the gas flow path; wherein the temperature change curve of the heater includes at least a heating stage and a suction stage.

[0012] The aerosol generating device and control method provided in the present application discharge the aerosol containing water vapor out of the shell through the heat exhaust device before the puffer draws on the aerosol generating device, thereby avoiding the problem of the puffer feeling the high temperature of the smoke when taking the first puff, which causes a burning sensation, and improving the user's puffing experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] One or more embodiments are exemplarily illustrated by pictures in the corresponding drawings. These exemplifications do not constitute limitations on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings represent similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings do not constitute a scale limitation.

[0014] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0015] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0016] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a heater provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0017] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of a heating curve of a heater provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0018] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the control process of the aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] In order to facilitate the understanding of the present application, the present application is described in more detail below in conjunction with the accompanying 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 there can be one or more centered elements therebetween. When an element is described as "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element, or there can be one or more centered elements therebetween. The terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inside", "outside" and similar expressions used in this specification are for illustrative purposes only.

[0020] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meanings as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used in this specification and in the specification of this application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application. The term "and / or" as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the relevant listed items.

[0021] Figure 1-Figure 2An aerosol generating device 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application includes:

[0022] The housing 10 has an internal storage space that can accommodate the heater 12, battery cell 13, circuit 14, and the like. The housing 10 has opposing proximal and distal ends. The proximal end is provided with a through-hole 101, and the distal end is provided with an air inlet 102. In other examples, the air inlet 102 may be a portion of the through-hole 101. For example, after the aerosol-forming substrate is received in the chamber 11 through the through-hole 101, air flows into the gap between the aerosol-forming substrate and the through-hole 101, forming the air inlet 102.

[0023] The aerosol-forming substrate can be received in or removed from the chamber 11 through the through hole 101 .

[0024] An 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 both 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.

[0025] The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise nicotine. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise tobacco, for example, a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavor compounds that are released from the aerosol-forming substrate when heated. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a homogenized tobacco material. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise at least one aerosol-forming agent, which may be any suitable known compound or mixture of compounds that, in use, facilitates the formation of a dense and stable aerosol and is substantially resistant to thermal degradation at the operating temperature of the aerosol generating system. Suitable aerosol-forming agents are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to, polyols such as triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, and glycerol; esters of polyols such as mono-, di-, or triacetate of glycerol; and fatty acid esters of mono-, di-, or polycarboxylic acids such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate. Preferred aerosol-forming agents are polyhydric alcohols or mixtures thereof, such as triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, and most preferably, glycerol.

[0026] The heater 12 is used to generate infrared rays to radiate and heat the aerosol-forming substrate received in the chamber 11 .

[0027] The battery cell 13 provides power for operating the aerosol generating device 100. For example, the battery cell 13 may provide power to heat the heater 12. In addition, the battery cell 13 may provide power required to operate other elements provided in the aerosol generating device 100.

[0028] The battery cell 13 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. The battery cell 13 may be, but is not limited to, a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery. For example, the battery cell 13 may be a lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) battery or a lithium titanate battery.

[0029] The circuit 14 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 100. The circuit 14 controls not only the operation of the battery cell 13 and the heater 12, but also the operation of other components in the aerosol generating device 100. For example, the circuit 14 obtains temperature information of the heater 12 sensed by a temperature sensor and controls the power supplied to the heater 12 by the battery cell 13 based on this information.

[0030] Figure 3 A heater 12 is provided in an embodiment of the present application. The heater 12 includes:

[0031] The base body 121 is configured in a tubular shape extending in the axial direction of the chamber 11 and surrounding the chamber 11 .

[0032] Specifically, the substrate 121 includes a first end and a second end, and a surface extending between the first and second ends. The substrate 121 may be cylindrical, prismatic, or other cylindrical shapes. The substrate 121 is preferably cylindrical, with a cylindrical hole extending through the middle of the substrate 121 forming at least a portion of the chamber. The inner diameter of the hole is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the aerosol-forming article, facilitating placement of the aerosol-forming article within the chamber for heating.

[0033] The substrate 121 can be made of high temperature resistant and transparent materials such as quartz glass, ceramics or mica, or other materials with high infrared transmittance, for example, high temperature resistant materials with infrared transmittance above 95%, which is not specifically limited here.

[0034] The infrared electrothermal coating 122 is formed on the surface of the substrate 121. The infrared electrothermal coating 122 can be formed on the outer surface of the substrate 121 or on the inner surface of the substrate 121.

[0035] The infrared electrothermal coating 122 receives electrical power to generate heat, which in turn generates infrared radiation of a specific wavelength, for example, far-infrared radiation of 8 to 15 μm. When the wavelength of the infrared radiation matches the absorption wavelength of the aerosol-forming substrate, the infrared radiation energy is easily absorbed by the aerosol-forming substrate. The wavelength of the infrared radiation is not limited and can range from 0.75 to 1000 μm, with far-infrared radiation of 1.5 to 400 μm being preferred.

[0036] The infrared electric heating coating 122 is preferably made by mixing far-infrared electric heating ink, ceramic powder and inorganic adhesive and then coating it on the outer surface of the substrate 121, and then drying and curing it for a certain period of time. The thickness of the infrared electric heating coating 122 is 30μm-50μm; of course, the infrared electric heating coating 122 can also be made by mixing tin tetrachloride, tin oxide, antimony trichloride, titanium tetrachloride and anhydrous copper sulfate in a certain proportion and then coating it on the outer surface of the substrate 121; or it can be a silicon carbide ceramic layer, a carbon fiber layer, a carbon fiber composite layer, a zirconium titanium oxide ceramic layer, a zirconium titanium nitride ceramic layer, a zirconium titanium boride ceramic layer, a zirconium titanium carbide ceramic layer. The infrared electric heating coating can also be a coating of other materials, for example: derivatives and compounds with carbon as part or all of the constituent elements, including but not limited to carbon nanotubes, carbon nanotube films, graphene, carbon fiber, carbon fiber films, carbon film, and carbon fiber cloth.

[0037] The conductive element includes a first electrode 123 and a second electrode 124 spaced apart on the substrate 121 , and is used to feed the electric power to the infrared electrothermal coating 122 .

[0038] The first electrode 123 and the second electrode 124 are at least partially electrically connected to the infrared electrothermal coating 122, so that current can flow from one electrode to the other electrode through the infrared electrothermal coating 122. The first electrode 123 and the second electrode 124 have opposite polarities, for example, the first electrode 123 is positive and the second electrode 124 is negative; or the first electrode 123 is negative and the second electrode 124 is positive.

[0039] In this example, the first electrode 123 and the second electrode 124 are both conductive coatings, which may be metal coatings or conductive tapes, etc. The metal coatings may include silver, gold, palladium, platinum, copper, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, niobium or the above metal alloy materials.

[0040] In this example, the first electrode 123 and the second electrode 124 are symmetrically arranged along the central axis of the base 121 .

[0041] The first electrode 123 includes a coupling electrode 1231 extending along the circumferential direction of the substrate 121 and a strip electrode 1232 extending from the coupling electrode 1231 toward the proximal axial direction. The coupling electrode 1231 does not contact the infrared electrothermal coating 122, and the strip electrode 1232 at least partially contacts the infrared electrothermal coating 122 to form an electrical connection.

[0042] The second electrode 124 includes a coupling electrode 1241 extending in the circumferential direction of the substrate 121 and a strip electrode 1242 extending from the coupling electrode 1241 in the axial direction toward the proximal end A. The coupling electrode 1241 does not contact the infrared electrothermal coating 122, and the strip electrode 1242 at least partially contacts the infrared electrothermal coating 122 to form an electrical connection.

[0043] As can be seen above, the uniform spacing between strip electrodes 1232 and 1242 ensures uniform heating of the infrared electrothermal coating 122, improving the heating efficiency of the smoking device. The arrangement of coupling electrodes 1231 and 1241 facilitates coupling with the battery cell 13 and avoids the problem of one end of the connected wire having to pass through the heating area, which could easily damage the wire.

[0044] For further information, please refer to Figure 2 As shown, the aerosol generating device 100 further includes an insulating tube 15 sleeved over the base 121. The insulating tube 15 comprises an inner tube and an outer tube arranged radially, forming a sealed space between the inner and outer tubes. The sealed space can be evacuated, filled with gas, or filled with insulating materials. Gases include, but are not limited to, inert gases, air, and carbon dioxide. Insulating materials include, but are not limited to, low-thermal-conductivity materials such as aerogel, mica sheets, mica tubes, microporous alumina ceramics, cordierite, rock wool board, or rock wool felt.

[0045] It should be noted that the infrared emitter composed of the infrared electrothermal coating 122, the first electrode 123 and the second electrode 124 is not limited to Figure 3 In other examples, the infrared emitter may be formed of a thermally excited infrared radiation layer, or may be formed of a thin film structure that can be rolled onto the substrate 121, and so on.

[0046] It should also be noted that, in the above examples, the heater 12 is described as being heated by infrared heating. In other examples, the heater 12 may be heated by resistance heating, electromagnetic heating, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0047] Please refer to Figure 2 As shown, the aerosol generating device 100 further comprises a heat removal device 16 .

[0048] The heat exhaust device 16 is provided on the gas flow path (indicated by the dotted arrow in the figure) extending between the air inlet 102, the chamber 11 and the through hole 101. Specifically, the heat exhaust device 16 is provided between the air inlet 102 and the chamber 11. The heat exhaust device 16 is configured so that after starting the operation, the direction of the exhaust air flow is toward the through hole 101, that is, the direction indicated by the dotted arrow in the figure. It is understandable that it is also feasible for the exhaust air flow to be directed toward the air inlet 102. The exhaust air flow is directed toward the through hole 101, which can advantageously discharge the water component in the aerosol generating product out of the shell. The heat exhaust device 16 can be a fan or a similar device.

[0049] The circuit 14 is configured to control the heat exhaust device 16 to start working and exhaust the hot air generated by heating out of the housing 10 along the gas flow path after the heater 12 starts heating and before the heater 12 enters the suction stage.

[0050] Please refer to Figure 4 As shown, generally, the temperature variation curve of the heater 12 over time includes a heating stage, a heat preservation stage and a suction stage.

[0051] During the heating phase, the temperature of the heater 12 increases from the initial temperature T0 (or ambient temperature) to the maximum operating temperature T1. Generally, T1 can be 150°C-400°C.

[0052] During the heat preservation stage, the temperature of the heater 12 is maintained at the preset target temperature T1 for a period of time, so that the aerosol-forming matrix is ​​fully preheated, thereby improving the user's puffing experience.

[0053] The duration of the heating stage is t0-t2, and the duration of the heat preservation stage is t2-t3, where t0-t3 is the preheating time of the heater 12. Generally, the preheating time of the heater 12 is 5 seconds to 30 seconds.

[0054] During the inhalation phase, the temperature of the heater 12 decreases from the maximum operating temperature T1 to the desired operating temperature T2. The desired operating temperature T2 is the optimal temperature for the aerosol-forming substrate to generate aerosol. Generally, T2 can be between 150°C and 350°C. During this phase, the temperature of the heater 12 is generally maintained at or fluctuates around the desired operating temperature T2. The hold time is from t4 to t5.

[0055] It should be noted that the heating curve of the heater 12 is not limited to Figure 4 In other examples, it is also feasible that the heating curve of the heater 12 only has a temperature rise phase and a suction phase.

[0056] based on Figure 4It can be seen that in order to avoid the problem of the smoke temperature being higher and causing a burning sensation when the smoker takes the first puff, the circuit 14 should control the heat exhaust device 16 to start working before the puffing stage (at time t3 or t4) to exhaust the hot air generated by the heating out of the housing 10 along the gas flow path.

[0057] In one example, the aerosol generating device 100 further includes a temperature detecting device (not shown in the drawings) for detecting temperature information of the heater 12;

[0058] The circuit 14 is configured to obtain the temperature information of the heater 12 detected by the temperature detection device after the heater 12 starts heating; when the temperature of the heater 12 reaches a preset temperature, control the heat exhaust device 16 to start working to discharge the aerosol generated by heating along the gas flow path out of the shell 10.

[0059] The preset temperature is lower than the maximum operating temperature T1 of the heater 12 , that is, the heat exhaust device 16 is controlled to start working before time point t2 to exhaust the aerosol generated by heating along the gas flow path out of the housing 10 .

[0060] In one example, the circuit 14 is configured to time the heating time of the heater 12 after the heater 12 starts heating; when the heating time of the heater 12 reaches a preset time, the heat exhaust device 16 is controlled to start working to discharge the aerosol generated by heating along the gas flow path out of the shell 10.

[0061] The preset time is less than the duration of the heater 12 rising from the initial temperature to the maximum operating temperature. That is, before time point t2, the heat exhaust device 16 is controlled to start working to exhaust the aerosol generated by heating along the gas flow path out of the housing 10.

[0062] Furthermore, at time t10, the heating temperature T10 of the heater 12 causes most of the water in the cigarette to evaporate. Therefore, at time t10, the heat exhaust device 16 can be controlled to start working and discharge the heated air along the air flow path out of the housing 10. This can prevent the aerosol generated by the heating from being discharged along the air flow path out of the housing 10 near the puff stage, resulting in the smoker feeling a small amount of smoke during the first puff and a reduced puffing experience. Generally, T10 can be 80°C-200°C.

[0063] Furthermore, the circuit 14 is further configured to control the heat removal device 16 to stop working when the user is ready to take a puff on the aerosol generating device 100. That is, when the user takes a puff (between t4 and t5), the heat removal device 16 stops working, and the user can inhale relatively cool smoke.

[0064] It should be noted that the heat removal device 16 is not limited to stopping in this situation. For example, the heat removal device 16 may stop operating after operating for a period of time, rather than waiting for the user to take a puff from the aerosol generating device 100. It is readily conceivable that the operating power of the heat removal device 16 may be adjustable during operation, i.e., the heat removal device 16 may be controlled to operate at a certain power level for a certain period of time.

[0065] Based on the aerosol generating device 100, the present application further provides a method for controlling the aerosol generating device, the method comprising:

[0066] After the heater 12 starts heating and before the heater 12 enters the suction stage, the heat exhaust device 16 is controlled to start working to exhaust the hot air generated by heating along the gas flow path out of the housing 10;

[0067] The temperature variation curve of the heater 12 at least includes a heating stage and a suction stage.

[0068] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the control process of the aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The control process of the aerosol generating device includes the following steps:

[0069] S31, after the cigarette is inserted into the chamber 11, the heater 12 is controlled to start heating;

[0070] S32, obtaining temperature information of the heater 12 detected by the temperature sensor;

[0071] S33. Determine whether the temperature of the heater 12 is greater than or equal to the preset temperature.

[0072] S34, if the temperature of the heater 12 is greater than or equal to the preset temperature, the heat removal device 16 is controlled to start working; otherwise, the process continues with step S32 (step S35);

[0073] S36, the heat exhaust device 16 discharges the aerosol generated by heating along the gas flow path out of the housing 10;

[0074] S37. Determine whether the heater 12 has entered the suction stage.

[0075] S38, if the heater 12 enters the suction stage, the heat removal device 16 is controlled to stop working; otherwise, step S37 is continued (step S39);

[0076] S40: The user starts to inhale.

[0077] It should be noted that the preferred embodiments of the present application are given in the specification and drawings of this application. However, the present application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. These embodiments are not intended to be additional limitations on the content of this application. The purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the understanding of the disclosure of this application more thorough and comprehensive. In addition, the above-mentioned technical features can be combined with each other to form various embodiments not listed above, which are all considered to be within the scope of the description of this application; further, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that improvements or changes can be made based on the above description, and all such improvements and changes should fall within the scope of protection of the claims attached to this application.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device for heating an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol for inhalation; characterized in that include: a housing having a through hole and an air inlet; a chamber, the aerosol-forming substrate being receivable in or removable from the chamber through the through-hole; a heater for heating the aerosol-forming substrate received in the chamber; a heat dissipation device disposed on a gas flow path extending between the air inlet and the through hole; The circuit is configured to control the heat removal device to start working so as to discharge the aerosol generated by heating along the gas flow path out of the housing after the heater starts heating and before the heater enters the inhalation stage; wherein the temperature change curve of the heater includes at least a heating stage and an inhalation stage; During the warm-up phase, the temperature of the heater increases from an initial temperature to a maximum operating temperature; during the suction phase, the temperature of the heater decreases from the maximum operating temperature to a desired operating temperature.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein The housing has opposing proximal and distal ends; The through hole is arranged at the proximal end of the housing, and the air inlet is arranged at the distal end of the housing.

3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 2, wherein: The heat exhaust device is disposed between the air inlet and the chamber.

4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein The heat exhaust device is configured such that after starting up, the exhaust airflow is directed toward the through hole.

5. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The aerosol generating device further comprises a temperature detecting device for detecting temperature information of the heater; The circuit is configured to obtain temperature information of the heater detected by the temperature detection device after the heater starts heating; when the temperature of the heater reaches a preset temperature, control the heat exhaust device to start working so as to discharge the aerosol generated by heating out of the shell along the gas flow path.

6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 5, characterized in that The preset temperature is lower than the maximum operating temperature of the heater.

7. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The circuit is configured to time the heating time of the heater after the heater starts heating; when the heating time of the heater reaches a preset time, control the heat exhaust device to start working to discharge the aerosol generated by heating along the gas flow path out of the shell.

8. The aerosol generating device according to claim 7, wherein: The preset time is less than a duration for the temperature of the heater to rise from an initial temperature to a maximum operating temperature.

9. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein: The circuit is further configured to control the heat exhaust device to stop working when the puffer can take a puff on the aerosol generating device.

10. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein The heater comprises: a substrate having a surface; An infrared emitter is disposed on the surface; the infrared emitter is used to generate infrared rays to radiate and heat the aerosol-forming substrate received in the chamber.

11. A method for controlling an aerosol generating device, characterized in that: The method comprises: After the heater starts heating and before the heater enters the inhalation stage, the heat exhaust device is controlled to start working so as to discharge the aerosol generated by heating out of the housing along the gas flow path; The temperature change curve of the heater includes at least a heating stage and a suction stage; in the heating stage, the temperature of the heater rises from the initial temperature to a preset target temperature; in the suction stage, the temperature of the heater drops from the preset target temperature to the desired operating temperature.

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