Ultrasonic-based aerosol-generating device and cartridge recognition method for the device

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an ultrasonic-based aerosol-generating device capable of reducing the cost of replacing a cartridge and ensuring immediate generation of aerosol and a cartridge recognition method thereof. The ultrasonic-based aerosol-generating device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure can include a liquid storage cavity to store a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a vibrating element to form an aerosol by providing ultrasonic vibrations to the stored liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and a porous member disposed apart from the vibrating element and formed with a plurality of holes. At this time, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is pushed toward the porous member by the ultrasonic vibrations of the vibrating element, and the pushed liquid is rapidly vaporized while passing through the plurality of holes. Accordingly, aerosol can be immediately generated upon puffing.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic-based aerosol generating device and a cartridge recognition method of the device. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic-based aerosol generating device and a cartridge recognition method performed in the device, which can reduce cartridge replacement costs and ensure that aerosol can be generated immediately. BACKGROUND

[0002] In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for alternative methods to overcome the shortcomings of general cigarettes. For example, there has been an increasing demand for devices that generate aerosol by vaporizing a liquid aerosol generating substrate (so-called "liquid aerosol generating devices"). Recently, an ultrasonic-based aerosol generating device that generates aerosol by ultrasonic vibration has been proposed.

[0003] Most of the ultrasonic-based aerosol generating devices proposed so far consider the convenience of users and adopt a cartridge (or atomizer cartridge) replacement structure. Also, the replaceable cartridge is basically composed of a liquid storage chamber, a liquid absorbing wick, and a vibrator. However, there is a problem in this structure in that, since the vibrator, which is a relatively expensive component, is included in the cartridge, the cartridge replacement cost (or cartridge unit price) increases.

[0004] Due to the above cost problem, some ultrasonic-based aerosol generating devices adopt a method of refilling liquid without replacing the cartridge. However, the liquid refilling method complicates the structure of the aerosol generating device, and causes inconvenience in that the user needs to directly refill liquid. In addition, during the liquid refilling process, the liquid often gets on the user's clothes or body, causing great discomfort to the user.

[0005] On the other hand, the ultrasonic-based aerosol generating device adopting the cartridge replacement structure generally includes an additional sensor to recognize the insertion or coupling state of the cartridge. However, the use of the additional sensor is a cause of increasing the manufacturing cost of the aerosol generating device and complicating the internal structure. SUMMARY

[0006] TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0007] A technical problem to be solved by some embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide an ultrasonic-based aerosol generating device that can reduce cartridge replacement costs (or cartridge unit price).

[0008] Another technical problem to be solved by some embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide an ultrasonic-based aerosol generating device that can ensure that aerosol is generated immediately according to a puff.

[0009] Another technical problem to be solved by some embodiments of the disclosure is to provide an ultrasonic-based aerosol generating device and a cartridge recognition method performed in the device, which can recognize a coupling state of a cartridge without the aid of an additional sensor.

[0010] The technical problem of the disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned technical problem, and other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art through the following description.

[0011] Solution to the problem

[0012] To solve the above technical problem, an ultrasonic-based aerosol generating device according to some embodiments of the disclosure can include a liquid storage cavity to store a liquid aerosol generating substrate, a vibration element to form an aerosol by providing ultrasonic vibration to the stored liquid aerosol generating substrate, and a porous member disposed apart from the vibration element and formed with a plurality of holes. At this time, the stored liquid aerosol generating substrate can form the aerosol while passing through the plurality of holes by the provided ultrasonic vibration.

[0013] In some embodiments, the vibration element can include a vibration member to generate the ultrasonic vibration and a vibration transmission member to transmit the generated ultrasonic vibration to the stored liquid aerosol generating substrate. At this time, the vibration transmission member can be included in a replaceable cartridge together with the liquid storage cavity and the porous member, and the vibration member can be included in a control body together with a control portion to control the aerosol generating device.

[0014] In some embodiments, the vibration member and the vibration transmission member can include flat portions that can be in close contact with each other when the cartridge is coupled to the control body.

[0015] In some embodiments, the vibration member and the vibration transmission member can be made of a conductor, and the control portion can determine whether the vibration member and the vibration transmission member are in close contact with each other according to whether electricity is supplied between the vibration member and the vibration transmission member.

[0016] In some embodiments, the vibration member can be implemented based on a piezoelectric element, and the control portion can determine whether the vibration member and the vibration transmission member are in close contact with each other according to a voltage generated in the vibration member.

[0017] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the vibration transmission member can have a thickness of 0.01 mm to 1 mm.

[0018] In some embodiments, the spacing distance between the above-described vibration member and the above-described porous member can be 0.1 mm to 2 mm.

[0019] In some embodiments, the thickness of the above-described porous member can be 0.01 mm to 2 mm.

[0020] In some embodiments, the size of the above-described hole can be 1 μm to 500 μm.

[0021] In some embodiments, the above-described hole can be formed in the form of an orifice.

[0022] Effects of the Invention

[0023] According to some embodiments of the above-described disclosure, the vibration member, which is a relatively expensive component, can be disposed close to the control body, rather than close to the cartridge. Thus, the cartridge replacement cost (or cartridge unit price) can be greatly reduced.

[0024] In addition, since the vibration member is excluded from the cartridge, the cartridge structure can be simplified. Thus, the defect occurrence rate at the time of manufacturing the cartridge can be significantly reduced, and waterproofing and / or dustproofing design can also be easily performed.

[0025] In addition, it is possible to prevent the atomization amount deviation due to the deviation of the vibration member in advance. For example, when the vibration member is included in the cartridge, the vibration member is replaced every time the cartridge is replaced, and thus it is possible that the atomization amount deviates. That is, the deviation of the vibration member (e.g., a manufacturing deviation) is directly reflected in the aerosol-generating device, causing the atomization amount to be different every time the cartridge is replaced. However, when the vibration member is disposed close to the control body, the uniformity of the atomization amount can be maintained since the vibration member is not replaced.

[0026] In addition, the vibration transmission member can be provided in the cartridge. The vibration transmission member transmits the vibration generated by the vibration member to the liquid, and thus, even when the vibration member is disposed close to the control body, the aerosol can be smoothly generated.

[0027] In addition, since the cartridge is combined with the control body, a structure in which the vibration transmission member and the vibration member are in close contact can be formed. Thus, the vibration generated by the vibration member can be transmitted to the liquid through the vibration transmission member without loss, and thus the aerosol can be smoothly generated.

[0028] In addition, by providing the porous member including a plurality of holes at a position spaced apart from the vibration transmission member by an appropriate distance, it is possible to ensure that the aerosol is generated immediately upon puffing. Specifically, the vibration transmitted through the vibration transmission member pushes the liquid between the vibration transmission member and the porous member toward the porous member, and the pushed liquid is rapidly vaporized while passing through the above-described plurality of holes, and thus the aerosol can be generated immediately upon puffing.

[0029] In addition, whether the vibration member and the vibration transmission member are in close contact can be determined based on whether the two members are energized or utilize the piezoelectric phenomenon of the vibration member, and thus the coupling state of the cartridge can be identified. In other words, the coupling state of the cartridge can be identified without an additional cartridge identification sensor, and thus the manufacturing cost of the aerosol generating device can be reduced and the internal structure can be further simplified.

[0030] Effects according to the technical idea of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 A schematic diagram to schematically show the structure of an ultrasonic-based aerosol generating device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 2 A schematic diagram to schematically show the structure of a vaporizer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 3 A schematic diagram to show a detailed structure of an ultrasonic-based aerosol generating device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 4 A schematic diagram to explain a vibration transmission member according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figures 5 to 7 A schematic diagram to explain a porous member according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 8 A schematic diagram to show an air flow path structure of an ultrasonic-based aerosol generating device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 9 A schematic diagram to explain a cartridge identification method according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] Figure 10 A schematic diagram to explain a cartridge identification method according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods of achieving them can be apparent from the embodiments described below in detail together with accompanying drawings. However, the technical idea of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below, but can be implemented by various forms different from each other, and the embodiments are merely presented to enable the technical idea of the present disclosure to be complete and to enable those skilled in the art to completely understand the scope of the present disclosure, and the technical idea of the present disclosure is defined by the scope of the claims.

[0040] In adding reference numerals to components of all the drawings, it should be noted that even components shown in different drawings have the same reference numerals, and the same components are designated by the same reference numerals. Also, in describing the present disclosure, when it is considered that the detailed description of the related known technology construction or function will confuse the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed description thereof can be omitted.

[0041] If not specifically defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the following embodiments can be used as meanings that can be commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. Also, for terms commonly used in a dictionary, if not specifically defined, they will not be interpreted abnormally or excessively. The terms used in the following embodiments are used only for the purpose of explaining the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. In the following embodiments, unless otherwise specified, the singular form also includes the plural form.

[0042] Also, in describing the components of the present disclosure, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. can be used. These terms are used only to distinguish the components from other components, and the nature, order, or sequence of the related components are not limited by the terms. It should be understood that if one component is described as being "connected", "coupled", or "linked" to another component, it can mean that the component is not only directly "connected", "coupled", or "linked" to the other component, but can also be indirectly "connected", "coupled", or "linked" via a third component.

[0043] The terms "comprises" and / or "comprising", used in the present disclosure, designate the presence of the stated components, steps, operations, and / or elements, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations, and / or elements.

[0044] Before describing various embodiments of the present disclosure, some terms used in the embodiments will be clarified.

[0045] In the following embodiments, the "aerosol forming substrate" can refer to a material capable of forming an aerosol. The aerosol can include a volatile compound. The aerosol forming substrate can be solid or liquid. For example, the solid aerosol forming substrate can include a solid material based on a tobacco raw material, such as reconstituted tobacco, cut rag, reconstituted tobacco, etc. The liquid aerosol forming substrate can include a liquid composition based on nicotine, tobacco extract, and / or various flavorings. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-listed examples. In the following embodiments, the liquid can refer to the liquid aerosol forming substrate.

[0046] In the following embodiments, the "aerosol generating device" can refer to a device that generates an aerosol using an aerosol forming substrate in order to generate an aerosol that can be directly inhaled into a user's lungs through the user's mouth.

[0047] In the following embodiments, the "puff" refers to the inhalation of a user, which refers to a condition in which air is inhaled into the user's mouth, nose, or lungs through the user's mouth or nose.

[0048] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0049] Figure 1 A schematic view to schematically show the structure of an ultrasonic-based aerosol generating device 1 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. In particular, Figure 1 The state before and after the cartridge 10 is mounted is sequentially illustrated.

[0050] As Figure 1 shown, the ultrasonic-based aerosol generating device 1 can include the cartridge 10 and a control body 20. However, Figure 1 Only components related to the embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains that other general components other than the components shown in Figure 1 In the following, each component of the aerosol generating device 1 will be described.

[0051] The cartridge 10 can refer to a container for storing a liquid aerosol forming substrate. In addition, according to circumstances, the cartridge 10 can also include some or all components of a mouthpiece and a vaporizer (e.g., a cartomizer). For example, as shown, the cartridge 10 can be configured to further include a mouthpiece 110 and some components of a vaporizer 30. As another example, the cartridge 10 can also be configured to include only some components of the vaporizer 30 without including the mouthpiece 110.

[0052] Figure 1As shown in FIG. 1, the cartridge 10 and the control body 20 are combined, thereby forming an upper portion of the aerosol generating device 1, and the control body 20 forms a lower portion of the aerosol generating device 1, but the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to these configurations. In some other embodiments, the cartridge 10 can be a component installed inside a housing of the aerosol generating device 1.

[0053] The cartridge 10 can be a replaceable component. That is, when the liquid in the cartridge 10 is consumed, a new cartridge can be replaced without refilling. In this case, the overall structure of the aerosol generating device 1 can be simplified, and thus advantages in manufacturing processes (e.g., reduction in manufacturing costs, reduction in defect rate, etc.) can be secured. In addition, since the inconvenience of the consumer directly refilling the liquid is eliminated, the market competitiveness of the product can be improved. However, the replacement cost of the cartridge 10 can be an issue, which can be addressed by excluding some components of the vaporizer 30 (i.e., the relatively expensive vibration member) from the cartridge 10. Hereinafter, the description will be continued on the premise that the cartridge 10 is a replaceable component.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 1, the cartridge 10 can include a liquid reservoir 310, a liquid aerosol generating substrate 311, a vaporizer 30, and a mouthpiece 110. The liquid reservoir 310 can store the liquid aerosol generating substrate 311. The vaporizer 30 can vaporize the liquid aerosol generating substrate 311 by vibration (ultrasonic vibration). The mouthpiece 110 can be a component through which the user inhales the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 30. Figure 1 As shown schematically in FIG. 1, the cartridge 10 according to an embodiment can include the mouthpiece 110 and part of the components of the vaporizer 30. More specifically, as exemplified in FIG. 1, the vaporizer 30 can include a liquid reservoir for storing the liquid aerosol generating substrate 311, a vibration member 360 that vaporizes the liquid by vibration (ultrasonic vibration), and an airflow tube 320 for transferring the vaporized liquid in the direction of the mouthpiece. Among them, the vibration member 360 can be disposed close to the control body 20 (e.g., the lower side of the dotted line in FIG. 1), and the remaining components can be disposed close to the cartridge 10 (e.g., the upper side of the dotted line in FIG. 1). In this case, the vaporizer 30 is configured by combining the cartridge 10 and the control body 20, and the vibration member, which is a relatively expensive component, is excluded from the cartridge 10, so that the replacement cost (or unit price) of the cartridge 10 can be greatly reduced. As for the detailed structure of the cartridge 10, it will be described in more detail later with reference to the accompanying drawings of FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, and 100. Figure 2 Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1, the cartridge 10 can include a liquid reservoir 310, a liquid aerosol generating substrate 311, a vaporizer 30, and a mouthpiece 110. The liquid reservoir 310 can store the liquid aerosol generating substrate 311. The vaporizer 30 can vaporize the liquid aerosol generating substrate 311 by vibration (ultrasonic vibration). The mouthpiece 110 can be a component through which the user inhales the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 30. Figure 2 Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1, the cartridge 10 can include a liquid reservoir 310, a liquid aerosol generating substrate 311, a vaporizer 30, and a mouthpiece 110. The liquid reservoir 310 can store the liquid aerosol generating substrate 311. The vaporizer 30 can vaporize the liquid aerosol generating substrate 311 by vibration (ultrasonic vibration). The mouthpiece 110 can be a component through which the user inhales the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 30.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 1, the cartridge 10 can include a liquid reservoir 310, a liquid aerosol generating substrate 311, a vaporizer 30, and a mouthpiece 110. The liquid reservoir 310 can store the liquid aerosol generating substrate 311. The vaporizer 30 can vaporize the liquid aerosol generating substrate 311 by vibration (ultrasonic vibration). The mouthpiece 110 can be a component through which the user inhales the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 30. Figure 2 Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1, the cartridge 10 can include a liquid reservoir 310, a liquid aerosol generating substrate 311, a vaporizer 30, and a mouthpiece 110. The liquid reservoir 310 can store the liquid aerosol generating substrate 311. The vaporizer 30 can vaporize the liquid aerosol generating substrate 311 by vibration (ultrasonic vibration). The mouthpiece 110 can be a component through which the user inhales the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 30.​​​

[0056] Reference will again be made to Figure 1 The components of the aerosol generating device 1 will be described.

[0057] The control body 20 can perform overall control of the functions of the aerosol generating device 1. As shown, the control body 20 can be combined to the cartridge 10. If the cartridge 10 is a component that is built in the aerosol generating device 1, the control body 20 can be combined to the upper housing including the cartridge 10.

[0058] As shown, the control body 20 can include a control portion 210 and a battery 220. In addition, as described above, the control body 20 can further include the vibration member 360, etc. The other components of the control body 20 will be described later with reference to Figure 3 Hereinafter, the control portion 210 and the battery 220 will be briefly described.

[0059] The control portion 210 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the control portion 210 can control the operation of the vaporizer 30 and the battery 220, and can control the operation of other components included in the aerosol generating device 1. The control portion 210 can control the power supplied by the battery 220, the vibration frequency and the vibration intensity of the vibration member 360, etc. When the aerosol generating device 1 further includes a heater (not shown), the control portion 210 can also control the heating temperature of the heater (not shown).

[0060] In addition, the control portion 210 can determine whether the aerosol generating device 1 is in an operable state by confirming the state of each component of the aerosol generating device 1.

[0061] In some embodiments, the control portion 210 can determine whether the vibration transmission member 340 and the vibration member 360 are in close contact with each other, and identify the coupling state of the cartridge 10 (e.g., whether coupled, the degree of coupling, etc.) according to the determination result. For example, the control portion 210 can determine whether the vibration transmission member 340 and the vibration member 360 are in close contact with each other according to whether power is supplied therebetween, or can determine whether the vibration transmission member 340 and the vibration member 360 are in close contact with each other by using the piezoelectric phenomenon of the vibration member 360. Also, the control portion 210 can identify the coupling state of the cartridge 10 according to the determination result without a separate sensor. According to the present embodiment, an additional sensor for identifying the coupling state of the cartridge 10 is not required, so the manufacturing cost of the aerosol generating device 1 can be reduced, and the complexity of the internal structure can be reduced. The details will be described later with reference to Figure 9 and Figure 10 The present embodiment will be described in detail.

[0062] The control portion 210 can be implemented by at least one processor. The processor can be implemented by a plurality of logic gate arrays, or by a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable in the microprocessor is stored. In addition, the control portion 210 can be implemented by other forms of hardware, as can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains.

[0063] In addition, the battery 220 can supply power required for the aerosol generating device 1 to operate. For example, the battery 220 can supply power so that the vibration member 360 constituting the vaporizer 30 can generate vibration, or can supply power required for the control portion 210 to operate.

[0064] In addition, the battery 220 can supply power required for the operation of electrical components such as a display (not shown in the drawings), a sensor (not shown in the drawings), and a motor (not shown in the drawings) provided in the aerosol generating device 1.

[0065] As for the detailed structure of the control body 20, a detailed description thereof will be made later with reference to Figure 3 The following drawings explain in more detail.

[0066] So far, the aerosol generating device 1 based on ultrasonic waves according to some embodiments of the disclosure has been explained with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The aerosol generating device 1 based on ultrasonic waves according to some embodiments of the disclosure has been explained schematically. As described above, the vibration member 360, which is a relatively expensive component, can be disposed close to the control body 20, rather than close to the cartridge 10. Thereby, the cartridge replacement cost (or cartridge unit price) can be greatly reduced. In addition, since the vibration member 360 is excluded from the cartridge 10, the structure of the cartridge 10 can be simplified, the defect occurrence rate at the time of manufacturing the cartridge can be significantly reduced, and waterproofing and / or dustproofing design can be easily performed. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the atomization amount from being deviated in advance due to the deviation (e.g., manufacturing deviation) of the vibration member 360. For example, when the vibration member 360 is included in the cartridge 10, the vibration member 360 is replaced every time the cartridge 10 is replaced, and thus it is likely that the atomization amount is deviated. However, when the vibration member 360 is disposed close to the control body 20, the same vibration member 360 can be continuously used, thereby maintaining the uniformity of the atomization amount.

[0067] Hereinafter, the detailed structure and the operation principle of the aerosol generating device 1 based on ultrasonic waves will be explained in more detail with reference to Figure 3 the accompanying drawings.

[0068] Figure 3 FIGS. 1 to 6 are schematic views illustrating the detailed structure of the aerosol generating device 1 based on ultrasonic waves according to some embodiments of the disclosure. In particular, Figure 3 FIGS. 1 to 6 are schematic views illustrating the detailed structure of the aerosol generating device 1 based on ultrasonic waves according to some embodiments of the disclosure. In particular,

[0069] As Figure 3 shown, the cartridge 10 can include a cartridge case, a mouthpiece 110, a liquid storage chamber 310, a vibration transmission member 340, a porous member 330, and an airflow tube 320. However, Figure 3 Only components related to the embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. Thus, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains that other general components other than those shown in the drawings can also be included. Hereinafter, the components of the cartridge 10 will be described. Figure 3

[0070] The cartridge case can form the appearance of the cartridge 10. Although Figure 3 the outer wall of the liquid storage chamber 310 is not shown separately from the cartridge case in the drawings, a portion of the cartridge case can constitute the outer wall of the liquid storage chamber 310, or can not constitute the outer wall of the liquid storage chamber 310. Also, a portion of the cartridge case can serve as the mouthpiece 110, or can be designed to have a separate mouthpiece structure mounted in the cartridge case. The cartridge case can be made of a suitable material capable of protecting the components inside the cartridge 10.

[0071] In addition, the cartridge case can form an open lower end. The vibration transmission member 340 can be provided near the open lower end. Thus, as shown, by the combination of the cartridge 10 and the control body 20, the vibration transmission member 340 can be in close contact with the vibration member 360. That is, when the cartridge 10 is mounted, a structure in which the vibration transmission member 340 and the vibration member 360 are in close contact can be formed, which maximizes the vibration transmission area and minimizes the loss in transmitting the vibration, thereby ensuring rapid aerosol generation and sufficient atomization.

[0072] In addition, the mouthpiece 110 can be located at one end of the aerosol generating device 1 or the cartridge 10 and come into contact with the user's mouth so that the user inhales the aerosol generated in the cartridge 10. In other words, when the user puffs on the mouthpiece 110 and inhales, the aerosol generated in the cartridge 10 can be delivered to the user through the mouthpiece 110.

[0073] In addition, the liquid storage chamber 310 can store a liquid aerosol generating substrate 311. The liquid storage chamber 310 can include one or more storage spaces. For example, the liquid storage chamber 310 can have a plurality of storage spaces to store aerosol generating substrates having different ingredients or composition ratios, respectively.

[0074] ​In addition, the vibration transmission member 340 can transmit the vibration generated by the vibration member 360 to the liquid aerosol forming substrate 311. For example, the vibration transmission member 340 can vaporize the liquid aerosol forming substrate 311 by transmitting the vibration generated by the vibration member 360 to the liquid aerosol forming substrate 311 located at the periphery. In addition, the vibration transmission member 340 can also function to prevent the liquid aerosol forming substrate 311 from leaking downward (i.e., in the direction of the control body 20).

[0075] The vibration transmission member 340 can be located near the open lower end of the cartridge 10, and include a flat portion, and can be configured in a form protruding downward. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the vibration transmission member 340 can include a flat lower surface 341 and an inclined surface 342 for protruding the lower surface 341 downward. In this case, the flat lower surface 341 can easily come into close contact with the vibration member 360 by the cartridge 10 being combined with the control body 20. Figure 3 or Figure 4 As shown, the vibration transmission member 340 can include a flat lower surface 341 and an inclined surface 342 for protruding the lower surface 341 downward. In this case, the flat lower surface 341 can easily come into close contact with the vibration member 360 by the cartridge 10 being combined with the control body 20.

[0076] The vibration transmission member 340 can be made of a material and / or shape capable of smoothly transmitting vibration, and the specific material and / or shape thereof can vary according to embodiments.

[0077] In some embodiments, the thickness of at least a portion (e.g., the lower surface) of the vibration transmission member 340 can be about 0.01 mm to 1 mm, preferably, about 0.02 mm to 0.7 mm or about 0.03 mm to 0.5 mm, more preferably, about 0.03 mm to 0.1 mm, about 0.03 mm to 0.2 mm, about 0.03 mm to 0.3 mm, or about 0.03 mm to 0.4 mm. Within the above numerical range, it is possible to minimize loss in transmitting vibration, and also to ensure proper durability. If the thickness of the vibration transmission member 340 is too thick, the vibration can be absorbed by the vibration transmission member 340, and if the thickness of the vibration transmission member 340 is too thin, it is not possible to ensure proper durability, and thus there can be a problem that the vibration transmission member 340 is easily damaged.

[0078] In addition, in some embodiments, the vibration transmission member 340 can be made of a material (e.g., a hard material) having proper strength such as metal. For example, the vibration transmission member 340 can be made of a metal material such as stainless steel, aluminum, etc., in which case it is possible not only to minimize the vibration absorbed by the vibration transmission member 340, but also to minimize deformation of the material due to contact with the liquid aerosol forming substrate 311.

[0079] Further, in some embodiments, the vibration transmission member 340 includes a flat lower surface (e.g., lower surface 341) and an inclined surface (e.g., inclined surface 342) that protrudes the lower surface (e.g., lower surface 341) downward (see Figure 3 or Figure 4 ), the angle formed by the vertical side of the lower surface (i.e., the insertion direction of the cartridge 10) and the inclined surface (e.g., inclined surface 342) can be about 15 to 70 degrees. Preferably, the above-described angle can be about 20 to about 60 degrees, about 25 to about 55 degrees, or about 30 to about 50 degrees. Within the above-described numerical range, the close contact area of the lower surface (e.g., lower surface 341) and the vibration member 360 can be sufficiently secured, and by the angle of the inclined surface (e.g., inclined surface 342), the vibration transmission can be concentrated to the airflow tube 320, so that the vaporization speed can be increased, and the atomization amount can also be increased.

[0080] In addition, the porous member 330 can be spaced apart from the vibration transmission member 340 to function to secure the immediate generation of aerosol. For example, as illustrated, the porous member 330 can be spaced apart from the vibration transmission member 340 and positioned near the lower end of the airflow tube 320 (i.e., near the inlet of the airflow tube). In this case, as Figure 5 illustrated, the porous member 330 can refer to a member including a plurality of holes 331. For example, the porous member 330 can include a perforated member (e.g., a perforated plate), a mesh member (e.g., a mesh plate), etc., but is not limited thereto. For a more convenient understanding, a description will be made with reference to Figure 6 A brief description will be made of the vaporization mechanism by the vibration transmission member 340 and the porous member 330.

[0081] As Figure 6 illustrated, the liquid aerosol forming substrate 311 can flow into the space between the airflow tube 320 (or the porous member 330) and the vibration transmission member 340 (see the arrow). The liquid aerosol forming substrate 311 can smoothly flow into the space between the vibration transmission member 340 and the porous member 330 by factors such as the capillary phenomenon, the change in the interval between the vibration transmission member 340 and the porous member 330 caused by vibration, the pressure difference caused by the vaporization of the liquid aerosol forming substrate 311, etc. The flowed-in liquid aerosol forming substrate 311 is pushed toward the porous member 330 by the vibration of the vibration transmission member 340, and the pushed liquid aerosol forming substrate 311 can be vaporized while passing through the plurality of holes 331 formed in the porous member 330. This vaporization mechanism can secure the immediate generation of aerosol compared to a method of directly vaporizing the liquid aerosol forming substrate 311 by ultrasonic vibration. Accordingly, the aerosol can be immediately generated without any delay at the time of puffing, so that the smoking satisfaction of the user can be improved.

[0082] For example, the porous member 330 can be made of a material such as a plastic, a metal (e.g., stainless steel), a silicone, or the like. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0083] Further, the shape of the porous member 330, the size, shape, and / or spacing distance of the holes 331, and the like can be designed in various ways, which can differ depending on the embodiment.

[0084] In some embodiments, the size (e.g., the diameter D) of the holes 331 can be about 1 μm to 500 μm, preferably, can be about 1 μm to 400 μm, 1 μm to 300 μm, 1 μm to 200 μm, or 1 μm to 100 μm. The size of the holes 331 is related to the particle size of the aerosol, and within the above numerical range, an aerosol having a suitable particle size can be generated, and a sufficient atomization amount can be ensured. If the size of the holes 331 is too small, an aerosol of very small particles that are not visible can be generated, thereby reducing the visible atomization amount. Further, since vaporization cannot be smoothly performed, the aerosol generation amount itself can also be reduced. Figure 5

[0085] In some embodiments, the holes 331 can be formed in the form of an orifice. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the holes 331 can be formed in the shape of an orifice (e.g., a trapezoidal cross-section) in which the cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the aerosol transmission direction (i.e., upward). In this case, the vaporization speed can be further increased by the orifice effect, and finer aerosol particles can be formed. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the holes 331 can be formed in other shapes such as a cylindrical shape. Figure 7

[0086] In some embodiments, the spacing distance (e.g., H in FIG. 3C) between the vibration transmission member 340 and the porous member 330 can be about 0.1 mm to 2.0 mm, preferably, can be about 0.1 mm to 1.8 mm, about 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm, about 0.2 mm to 1.2 mm, or about 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm. Within the above numerical range, the transfer of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 311 and the generation of the aerosol can be smoothly achieved. If the spacing distance is too large, the vibration transmitted by the vibration transmission member 340 can be absorbed by the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 311, thereby reducing the atomization amount. Conversely, if the spacing distance is too small, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 311 can not be smoothly transferred between the vibration transmission member 340 and the porous member 330, and thus the atomization amount can be reduced. Figure 6

[0087] ​​​In some embodiments, the porous member 330 may have a flat shape (e.g., a plate shape) and may have a thickness of about 0.01 mm to 5 mm. Preferably, the thickness may be about 0.02 mm to 3 mm or about 0.03 mm to 2 mm. Within the above numerical range, aerosols can be smoothly generated, the vaporization rate can be increased, and appropriate durability can be ensured. For example, as shown in the illustrated numerical values, if the porous member 330 has a suitably thin thickness, the porous member 330 also vibrates due to the transmitted vibration, thereby accelerating vaporization and preventing the condensed aerosol from sticking to the hole 331 and clogging the hole 331, thereby smoothly generating aerosols.

[0088] On the other hand, in some embodiments, Figure 3 As shown, the cigarette cartridge 10 may further include a fixing member 350, which is used to fix the periphery of the vibration transfer member 340. The fixing member 350 can fix the peripheral portion of the vibration transfer member 340 so that the central portion (i.e., the flat portion) of the vibration transfer member 340 can transmit vibration more smoothly, thereby accelerating the vaporization rate and further increasing the amount of atomization. In addition, the fixing member 350 can play an absorbing role so that the vibration reaching the vibration transfer member 340 will not be transmitted to the outside of the aerosol generating device 1. Therefore, preferably, the fixing member 350 is made of a material such as an organic silicon material that can absorb vibration and has almost no physical and chemical changes (for example, a material that does not undergo physical and chemical changes when in contact with a liquid). In addition, the fixing member 350 can also play a role in preventing the liquid aerosol from forming a matrix 311 or leaking the aerosol downward by sealing the gap between the vibration transfer member 340 and the cigarette cartridge housing.

[0089] The specific shape and / or number of the fixing member 350 can be designed in various ways. For example, the fixing member 350 can be designed as a ring shape extending along the circumference of the vibration transmitting member 340, or a plurality of fixing members 350 can be designed to fix the periphery of the vibration transmitting member 340.

[0090] On the other hand, in some embodiments, the cartridge 10 can further include a heater (not shown). The heater is disposed around the vibration transmission member 340 or the porous member 330, and accelerates vaporization by heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 311 through vibration. The heater can act as an auxiliary element for assisting vaporization of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 311. For example, since the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 311 is a liquid having viscosity, it can be difficult to obtain satisfactory vaporization performance through ultrasonic vibration alone, in which case, the vaporization performance of the aerosol generating device 1 can be improved by the heater (not shown). The heating temperature of the heater can be set to be much lower than the heater temperature of a general heating-type aerosol generating device, and thus the increase in additional power consumption can be minimal. The heater can be controlled by the control portion 210, and the control method can be various.

[0091] For example, the control portion 210 can increase the heating temperature of the heater every time a user's puff is sensed. The puff can be sensed by the airflow sensor, but the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0092] As another example, the control portion 210 can constantly maintain the heating temperature of the heater regardless of the user's puff during smoking. In this case, a state in which the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 311 is easily vaporized can be maintained during smoking.

[0093] As another example, the control portion 210 can determine the heating temperature of the heater in response to a user input. For example, when the user selects a high level of the atomization level, the control portion 210 can increase the heating temperature of the heater, and vice versa. In this case, an atomization amount suitable for the user's preference can be provided, and thus the user's satisfaction with smoking can be improved.

[0094] As another example, the control portion 210 can determine the heating temperature of the heater by analyzing a user's puff pattern. The puff pattern can be defined according to a puff length, a puff strength, a puff interval, etc., but is not limited thereto. As a specific example, when the puff length or the puff strength increases, or the puff interval becomes shorter, the control portion 210 can increase the heating temperature of the heater. This is because the user inhales for a long time or with strength during smoking, which can indicate that the atomization amount is not enough. In the opposite case, the control portion 210 can decrease the heating temperature of the heater. In addition, when it is judged that the puff interval, the puff length, or the puff strength is maintained constant, the control portion 210 can constantly maintain the heating temperature of the heater.

[0095] As another example, the control portion 210 can control the heater based on various combinations of the above-described examples.

[0096] Referring again to Figure 3 The components of the control body 20 will be described again.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 1, Figure 3 the control body 20 can include a body case 230, a vibration member 360, a control portion 210, and a battery 220. However, Figure 3 Only components related to the embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated. Accordingly, it will be understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains that other general components other than those illustrated in FIG. 1 can be further included. Hereinafter, the components of the control body 20 will be explained. Figure 3

[0098] The body case 230 can form an appearance of the control body 20. According to circumstances, the body case 230 can also form an appearance of the aerosol generating device 1. The body case 230 can be made of a suitable material capable of protecting the components inside the control body 20. Figure 3 In FIG. 1, an example in which the body case 230 forms a space into which the cartridge 10 is capable of being inserted (mounted) is illustrated. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the cartridge 10 and the control body 20 can be combined in other ways.

[0099] For the sake of excluding repetitive explanation, the explanation of the control portion 210 and the battery 220 will be omitted. For the explanation of these, reference can be made to the explanation section of FIG. 1. Figure 1

[0100] In addition, the vibration member 360 can generate vibration (ultrasonic vibration) to vaporize the liquid aerosol generating substrate 311. For example, the vibration member 360 can be implemented as a piezoelectric element capable of converting electrical energy into mechanical energy, and thus can generate vibration according to the control of the control portion 210. The action principle of the piezoelectric element can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art, and thus will not be described here again. The vibration member 360 can be electrically connected to the control portion 210 and the battery 220.

[0101] In some embodiments, the vibration member 360 can include a flat portion (e.g., a plate shape), and by being combined with the cartridge 10, the flat portions of the vibration member 360 and the vibration transmission member 340 can be in close contact with each other (refer to FIG. 2). Figure 3 ​​The vibration member 360 can be maximized in vibration transmission area and minimized in vibration loss, and thus the atomization amount can be increased. In addition, the vibration member 360 can be in an open state (for example, open upward) at the coupling portion with the cartridge 10, and can be closely attached to the vibration transmission member 340 by coupling with the cartridge 10. In this case, the vibration member 360 can be easily cleaned, and in addition, the vibration member 360 can be easily closely attached to the vibration transmission member 340 when the cartridge 10 is mounted. In some embodiments, a coupling gel can be applied between the vibration member 360 and the vibration transmission member 340. In this case, the ultrasonic vibration can be transmitted to the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 311 without loss through the vibration transmission member 340.

[0102] In addition, in some embodiments, the vibration frequency of the vibration member 360 can be about 20 kHz to 1500 kHz, or about 50 kHz to 1000 kHz, or about 100 kHz to 500 kHz. Within the above numerical range, an appropriate vaporization speed and atomization amount can be ensured. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0103] On the other hand, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, the control body 20 can further include a fixing member 370 disposed to fix the periphery of the vibration member 360. Figure 3 The fixing member 370 can protect the vibration member 360 while serving to absorb the vibration generated by the vibration member 360 from being transmitted to the body case 230. Therefore, it is preferable that the fixing member 370 be made of a material capable of absorbing vibration, such as a silicone material. In addition, the fixing member 370 can be made of a material capable of preventing water or moisture, thereby serving to seal the gap between the vibration member 360 and the body case 230. In this case, the problem of malfunction of the control body 20 due to leakage of liquid (for example, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 311) or gas (for example, the aerosol) into the gap between the body case 230 and the vibration member 360 can be greatly reduced. For example, it can be prevented in advance that the control body 20 is damaged or malfunctions due to moisture.

[0104] The specific shape and / or number of the fixing member 370 can be designed in various ways. For example, the fixing member 370 can be designed in one annular shape extending along the periphery of the vibration member 360, or in a plurality of fixing members 370 fixing the periphery of the vibration member 360.

[0105] Hereinafter, the airflow path structure of the ultrasonic-based aerosol generating device 1 will be described with reference to Figure 8

[0106] Figure 8 ​To show a schematic view of the airflow path structure of the ultrasonic wave-based aerosol generating device 1 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, Figure 8 The flow of the airflow (e.g., external air and aerosol) occurring at the time of puffing is indicated by different shaped arrows.

[0107] As Figure 8 indicated, from one side or both sides of the aerosol generating device 1 to the vicinity of the lower portion of the airflow tube 320 where the porous member 330 is located, an airflow path for the inflow of external air (refer to dotted arrows) can be formed. The inflowed external air can be mixed with the vaporized aerosol while passing through the porous member 330. The mixed external air and aerosol can move in the direction of the mouthpiece 110 along the airflow path inside the airflow tube 320 by puffing. In the above-described airflow path structure, the external air and the vaporized aerosol are properly mixed in the airflow tube 320, and thus a high-quality aerosol can be formed.

[0108] Thus far, the detailed structure and the action principle of the ultrasonic wave-based aerosol generating device 1 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to Figures 3 to 8 As described above, the vibration transmission member 340 disposed near the cartridge 10 transmits the vibration generated by the vibration member 360 to the liquid aerosol forming substrate 311, and thus even if the vibration member 360 is disposed near the control body 20, the aerosol can be smoothly generated. Also, by the combination of the cartridge 10 and the control body 20, a structure in which the vibration transmission member 340 and the vibration member 360 are in close contact can be formed. Thus, the vibration generated by the vibration member 360 can be transmitted to the liquid aerosol forming substrate 311 without loss through the vibration transmission member 340, and thus the vaporization speed and the atomization amount can be improved. In addition, by disposing the porous member 330 including a plurality of holes at a position spaced apart from the vibration transmission member 340 by a proper interval, it is possible to ensure the immediate generation of the aerosol at the time of puffing.

[0109] On the other hand, although the above-described aerosol generating device 1 includes the vibration transmission member 340 and the vibration member 360 as the vibration elements as an example, in some other embodiments of the present disclosure, the aerosol generating device 1 can include only the vibration member 360 disposed in the cartridge 10 as the vibration element. Even in this case, the immediate generation of the aerosol can be ensured by the porous member 330 disposed at an interval spaced apart from the vibration member 360.

[0110] Hereinafter, the detailed structure and the action principle of the ultrasonic wave-based aerosol generating device 1 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figure 9 and Figure 10A cartridge recognition method of the ultrasonic wave-based aerosol generating device 1 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. The cartridge recognition method to be described below can be performed by the control portion 210 of the aerosol generating device 1. Accordingly, in the following description, when the subject of a specific action is omitted, it can be understood that the action is performed by the control portion 210.

[0111] Figure 9 A schematic diagram for describing a cartridge recognition method according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Hereinafter, the cartridge recognition method will be described with reference to Figure 9

[0112] In the present embodiment, the vibration transmission member 340 and the vibration member 360 can be formed of a conductor. Also, the vibration transmission member 340 and the vibration member 360 can be electrically connected to the control portion 210, respectively. For example, the vibration transmission member 340 can be provided to be electrically connected to the control portion 210 when the cartridge 10 is combined with the control body 20.

[0113] Then, the control portion 210 can determine whether the vibration transmission member 340 and the vibration member 360 are in close contact, according to whether electricity is passed between the vibration transmission member 340 and the vibration member 360. Specifically, as illustrated, the control portion 210 applies a prescribed test current C to the vibration member 360 and checks whether the applied test current C flows through the vibration member 360 and the vibration transmission member 340 (i.e., whether electricity is passed), and thus can determine whether the close contact. This is because the electricity is passed only when the vibration member 360 and the vibration transmission member 340 are in close contact.

[0114] Also, when it is determined that the vibration member 360 and the vibration transmission member 340 are in close contact, the control portion 210 can recognize that the cartridge 10 is combined with the control body 20. That is, when the cartridge 10 is combined with the control body 20, the control portion 210 can recognize the combined state of the cartridge 10 by using the close contact of the two members, i.e., the vibration transmission member 340 and the vibration member 360.

[0115] Further, when it is determined that the vibration member 360 and the vibration transmission member 340 are separated after being in close contact, the control portion 210 can recognize that the cartridge 10 has been removed from the control body 20. In this case, the control portion 210 can automatically stop the operation of the vibration member 360. This is because, when the vibration member 360 operates alone without a vibration transmission object, a large amount of heat can be generated, causing damage to the expensive vibration member 360, or causing the control body 20 to be heated, which can cause a burn to the user.

[0116] ​On the other hand, the control portion 210 can periodically or non-periodically determine whether the two members, i.e., the vibration transmission member 340 and the vibration member 360, are in close contact. For example, the control portion 210 can automatically recognize the installation of the cartridge 10 by automatically determining whether the two members, i.e., the vibration transmission member 340 and the vibration member 360, are in close contact according to a predetermined period. As another example, the control portion 210 can monitor the coupling state of the cartridge 10 by periodically determining whether the two members, i.e., the vibration transmission member 340 and the vibration member 360, are in close contact during the operation of the aerosol generating device 1 (e.g., during smoking). As another example, the control portion 210 can recognize the coupling state of the cartridge 10 by determining whether the two members, i.e., the vibration transmission member 340 and the vibration member 360, are in close contact upon receiving a designated user input (e.g., turning on the power, a request for operation, etc.). In addition, if it is recognized that the cartridge 10 is in an uncoupled state, the control portion 210 can provide a message notifying the recognition result (e.g., an error message notifying that the cartridge is not coupled) in a form recognizable by a user. Among them, the form recognizable by the user can include all forms recognizable in vision (e.g., represented on a display, LED blinking, etc.), hearing (e.g., sound, tone, etc.), or touch (e.g., vibration, etc.).

[0117] In addition, Figure 10 is a schematic view for explaining a cartridge recognition method according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 10 be described.

[0118] In the present embodiment, the vibration member 360 can be implemented based on a piezoelectric element, and the control portion 210 can recognize the coupling state of the cartridge 10 using the piezoelectric phenomenon of the vibration member 360. That is, the control portion 210 can recognize the coupling state of the cartridge 10 based on the operation principle of the piezoelectric element capable of converting electrical energy and mechanical energy into each other.

[0119] More specifically, as illustrated, when the cartridge 10 is installed in the control body 20, the lower end portion of the cartridge 10 is in close contact with the vibration member 360, so that a pressure P can be applied to the vibration member 360. For example, when the vibration transmission member 340 disposed near the open lower end portion of the cartridge 10 and having a shape protruding downward is in close contact with the vibration member 360, the pressure P can be applied. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the above example, and the cartridge 10 can be designed such that a portion other than the vibration transmission member 340 can apply the pressure P to the vibration member 360. When the pressure P is applied to the vibration member 360, a voltage (i.e., electrical energy) can be generated in the vibration member 360 according to the piezoelectric phenomenon. Accordingly, the control portion 210 can recognize the coupling state (e.g., whether coupled, the degree of coupling, etc.) of the cartridge 10 by measuring the voltage (or power) generated in the vibration member 360.

[0120] To identify the coupling state of the cartridge 10, the control portion 210 can be provided with a measurement device 211 for measuring voltage (or electric power). Among them, the measurement device 211 can be implemented as a circuit element such as a voltmeter, or can be implemented in other ways. As long as the voltage (or electric power) generated by the vibration member 360 can be measured, the measurement device 211 can be implemented in any way.

[0121] The control portion 210 can identify that the cartridge 10 is coupled to the control body 20 in response to a determination that the voltage measured by the measurement device 211 is a reference value or more. Among them, the reference value can be a fixed value set in advance or a variable value that varies depending on the situation. For example, the reference value can be a fixed value experimentally determined through a cartridge installation experiment. As another example, the reference value can be a variable value adjusted depending on the magnitude of the voltage generated when the previous cartridge was coupled (installed). For example, the control portion 210 can update the reference value by increasing or decreasing the experimentally determined voltage value depending on the magnitude of the voltage generated when the cartridge is coupled. In addition, the reference value can be set to one value or within a certain value range. When the reference value is set within a certain value range, the control portion 210 can identify that the cartridge 10 is coupled to the control body 20 in response to a determination that the measured voltage falls within the set range.

[0122] Alternatively, the control portion 210 can identify that the cartridge 10 is in an uncoupled state (or a removed state) in response to a determination that the measured voltage is less than the reference value.

[0123] In some embodiments, in addition to the magnitude of the voltage, the control portion 210 can identify the coupling state of the cartridge 10 depending on the duration of the voltage generation. For example, the control portion 210 can determine that the cartridge 10 is in a coupled state only when the voltage of the reference value or more is continuously generated for a predetermined time or more. In this case, it can be possible to solve the problem of the control portion 210 erroneously identifying the coupling state of the cartridge 10 due to the voltage generated by temporary contact of a specific object (for example, a hand, an iron bar, etc.) with the vibration member 360.

[0124] Further, in some embodiments, the control portion 210 can distinguish and identify a plurality of types of cartridges 10 according to the measured voltage level. Specifically, it can be designed such that the degree of pressure applied to the vibration member 360 when the cartridge 10 is installed differs according to the type of cartridge 10. For example, it can be designed such that the degree to which the vibration transmission member 340 protrudes downward differs according to the type of cartridge 10. In this case, when the measured voltage is a first reference value or more, the control portion 210 can identify the coupled cartridge 10 as a first type of cartridge, and when the measured voltage is a second reference value higher than the first reference value or more, the control portion 210 can identify the coupled cartridge 10 as a second type of cartridge. According to the present embodiment, the control portion 210 can accurately identify the coupling state and type of the cartridge 10 even without an additional cartridge identification sensor.

[0125] Thus far, a cartridge identification method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure has been described with reference to Figure 9 and Figure 10 Thus far, a cartridge identification method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure has been described with reference to

[0126] Thus far, a cartridge identification method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure has been described with reference to Figures 9 to 10 The technical idea of the present disclosure described thus far can be implemented by computer-readable codes in a computer-readable medium. The above-described computer-readable medium can be, for example, a mobile storage medium (CD, DVD, Blu-ray disc, USB storage, mobile hard disk) or a fixed storage medium (ROM, RAM, computer-equipped hard disk). The above-described computer program stored in the above-described computer-readable storage medium can be transmitted to other computing devices through a network such as the Internet, and thus can be installed in the above-described other computing devices, and thus can be used in the above-described other computing devices.

[0127] Even though all components constituting the embodiments of the present disclosure are combined or operated as a single unit as described above, the technical idea of the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiments. That is, within the scope of the purpose of the present disclosure, one or more components among the components can be selectively combined and operated as one or more units.

[0128] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with reference to the drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure can be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical idea or essential characteristics of the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and are non-limiting. The scope of protection of the present disclosure should be determined by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent scope should be construed as falling within the scope of the technical idea defined by the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic aerosol generating device, characterized in that: include: A liquid storage chamber for storing liquid aerosol-forming matrix, a vibrating element for forming an aerosol by providing ultrasonic vibration to the stored liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and a porous member spaced apart from the vibration element and having a plurality of holes; The liquid aerosol-forming substrate that has flowed into the space between the vibrating element and the porous member is pushed toward the porous member by the supplied ultrasonic vibration to form the aerosol while passing through the plurality of holes.

2. The ultrasonic aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein: The vibration element includes: a vibrating member for generating the ultrasonic vibrations, and a vibration transmitting member for transmitting the generated ultrasonic vibration to the stored liquid aerosol-forming substrate; The vibration transmission member, the liquid storage chamber and the porous member are contained in a replaceable cigarette cartridge. The vibration member is included in a control body together with a control unit that controls the aerosol generating device.

3. The ultrasonic aerosol generating device according to claim 2, characterized in that The vibration member and the vibration transmitting member include a flat portion, When the cigarette cartridge is combined with the control body, the flat portions of the vibration member and the vibration transmission member are in close contact with each other.

4. The ultrasonic aerosol generating device according to claim 3, characterized in that The vibration transmission member is located near the open lower end of the cigarette cartridge, and the flat portion of the vibration transmission member is configured to protrude downward. At the portion where the vibrating member is combined with the cigarette cartridge, the flat portion of the vibrating member is open. When the lower end of the cigarette cartridge is combined with the control body, the vibration transmission member and the flat portion of the vibration member are in close contact with each other.

5. The ultrasonic aerosol generating device according to claim 2, wherein: The vibration member and the vibration transmitting member are made of a conductor. The control unit determines whether the vibration member and the vibration transmission member are in close contact based on whether electricity is conducted between the vibration member and the vibration transmission member.

6. The ultrasonic aerosol generating device according to claim 2, wherein: The above-mentioned vibration component is realized based on a piezoelectric element. The control unit determines whether the vibration member and the vibration transmission member are in close contact based on a voltage generated by the vibration member.

7. The ultrasonic aerosol generating device according to claim 2, characterized in that The thickness of at least a portion of the vibration transmission member is 0.01 mm to 1 mm.

8. The ultrasonic aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein: The spacing distance between the above-mentioned vibration element and the above-mentioned porous component is 0.1mm to 2mm.

9. The ultrasonic aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein: The thickness of the porous member is 0.01 mm to 2 mm.

10. The ultrasonic aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein: The size of the pores is 1 μm to 500 μm.

11. The ultrasonic aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein: The above-mentioned hole is formed in the form of a throttle hole.

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