Sidestream smoke removal device

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a sidestream smoke removal device and a control method thereof. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the sidestream smoke removal device may include: a housing having a smoking space formed therein; an ignition unit for igniting a smoking article inserted into the smoking space; a sidestream smoke processing unit for processing sidestream smoke generated by the smoking article inserted into the smoking space; a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the smoking article inserted into the smoking space; a display unit disposed on the outside of the housing; and a control unit for monitoring the smoking progress of the smoking article based on the measured temperature and displaying the monitoring results through the display unit. The above-mentioned sidestream smoke removal device can visually provide the user with information about a series of smoking processes, thereby greatly improving the convenience and safety of use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sidestream smoke removal device and a control method thereof. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a sidestream smoke removal device and a control method thereof that can improve the convenience and safety of use by automatically displaying information about the smoking process. Background Art

[0002] A sidestream smoke removal device is generally a smoking aid device having an enclosed smoking space and a sidestream smoke removal unit therein. A user can smoke by inserting a cigarette into the smoking space inside the sidestream smoke removal device.

[0003] While such sidestream smoke removal devices offer benefits such as reducing hand odor and removing (purifying) sidestream smoke, they present a problem in that smoking occurs within the internal smoking space, making it difficult for users to verify the progress of their puffs. For example, it can be difficult for users to confirm whether the cigarette is being lit properly or whether they are nearing the end of their puff.

[0004] In addition, sometimes, in order to directly confirm the smoking progress, users can perform operations such as opening the smoking space or removing and reinserting the cigarette during smoking. However, if the above operations are performed while the cigarette is burning, the risk of burns and fire may be greatly increased. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Technical issues

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by some embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide a sidestream smoke removal device and a control method thereof that can improve the convenience and safety of use by automatically displaying information about the smoking process.

[0007] The technical problems of the present disclosure are not limited to the technical problems described above. Through the following description, those skilled in the art can clearly understand other technical problems not mentioned.

[0008] Solutions to the Problem

[0009] In order to solve the above technical problems, the sidestream smoke removal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may include: a shell, which has a smoking space formed inside; a product insertion part, which is located at one end of the above shell and has an opening for inserting the smoking product into the above smoking space; an ignition part, which is used to ignite the smoking product inserted into the above smoking space; a sidestream smoke processing part, which is used to process the sidestream smoke generated in the smoking product inserted into the above smoking space; a temperature sensor, which is used to measure the temperature of the smoking product inserted into the above smoking space; a display part, which is arranged on the outside of the above shell; and a control part, which monitors the smoking process of the above smoking product according to the measured temperature and displays the above monitoring results through the above display part.

[0010] In some embodiments, the temperature sensor may be configured to measure the temperature near the downstream end of the smoking material portion, which constitutes the inserted smoking article, and the control unit may determine whether smoking is finished based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

[0011] In some embodiments, the temperature sensor may include a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor disposed at different positions within the smoking space, and the control unit may monitor the smoking process based on the temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor can be arranged in the length direction of the smoking article, and the control unit can monitor the smoking progress by comparing the measured temperatures of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, and display information about the smoking progress through the display unit.

[0013] In some embodiments, the temperature sensor may have a slender body and be arranged in the length direction of the inserted smoking article. The first part of the slender body may be arranged to measure the temperature of a first corresponding part of the smoking material portion, which constitutes the smoking article, and the second part of the slender body may be arranged to measure the temperature of a second corresponding part of the smoking material portion. The control unit may monitor the smoking process based on the measured temperatures of the first part and the second part.

[0014] In some embodiments, the control unit may display information about the smoking progress through the display unit, and control the display unit to change the length of the mark or the size of the mark area indicating the smoking progress as the smoking progresses.

[0015] In some embodiments, ventilation holes may be formed in the housing to allow external air to enter.

[0016] In some embodiments, ventilation holes may be formed in the housing for entry of external air, the sidestream smoke processing unit may include an exhaust fan for discharging the sidestream smoke by rotation, and the control unit may detect the end of smoking based on the measured temperature, and close the ventilation holes and stop the operation of the exhaust fan in response to the end of smoking.

[0017] Effects of the Invention

[0018] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure described above, a sidestream smoke removal device with a display unit can be provided, and information about the smoking progress can be automatically provided through the display unit. This allows the user to directly confirm the smoking progress without having to operate the device, thereby significantly improving ease of use and safety.

[0019] Furthermore, by utilizing multiple temperature sensors disposed at different locations within the smoking space or utilizing elongated temperature sensors disposed along the length of the smoking space, the smoking process can be easily monitored without requiring an additional monitoring module. For example, a puff event can be easily monitored by measuring temperature changes, and the current smoking position of the smoking article can be easily monitored by comparing the temperatures measured by multiple temperature sensors.

[0020] In addition, the ventilation holes and exhaust fans can be properly controlled according to the smoking process, thereby improving the user's smoking satisfaction.

[0021] In addition, when the end of smoking is detected, an automatic extinguishing function can be executed. Therefore, the risk of fire and burns caused by the user's carelessness can be minimized.

[0022] The effects of the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure are not limited to the effects described above, and those skilled in the art can clearly understand other effects not mentioned through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 Schematic diagram for illustrating the structure of a sidestream smoke removal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figures 2 to 6 Schematic diagrams for illustrating various variations of the sidestream smoke removal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 7 1 is a schematic flow chart illustrating a method for controlling a sidestream smoke removal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 8 It is a schematic flow chart illustrating a control method of a sidestream smoke removal device according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 9 Schematic diagram for illustrating a method for determining a current smoking position according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram for illustrating a method for displaying smoking progress according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] 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 for achieving them can be clarified through the accompanying drawings and the embodiments described in detail below. However, the technical ideas of the present disclosure are not limited to the embodiments described below and can be implemented in various different forms. The following embodiments are only used to complete the technical ideas of the present disclosure so that people with general knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs can fully understand the scope of the present disclosure. The technical ideas of the present disclosure are defined by the scope of the claims.

[0030] When adding reference numerals to components in all drawings, it should be noted that the same reference numerals refer to the same components even when they are shown in different drawings. Furthermore, in the process of describing the present disclosure, if a detailed description of the configuration or function of a related known technology is deemed to obscure the gist of the present disclosure, such detailed description may be omitted.

[0031] Unless otherwise specified, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the following embodiments can be used as meanings that can be commonly understood by persons with general knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs. In addition, for commonly used terms with definitions in dictionaries, no abnormal or excessive interpretation will be made unless a clear special definition is made. The terms used in the following embodiments are only for the purpose of illustrating the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. In the following embodiments, unless otherwise specified, single-type nouns also include multiple types.

[0032] In addition, when describing the components of the present disclosure, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only used to distinguish a component 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 a component is described as being "connected," "coupled," or "linked" to another component, it may mean that the component is not only directly "connected," "coupled," or "linked" to the other component, but also indirectly "connected," "coupled," or "linked" via a third component.

[0033] The terms “comprise” and / or “comprising” used in the present disclosure specify the presence of stated components, steps, operations and / or elements, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations and / or elements.

[0034] First, some terms used in various embodiments of the present disclosure will be clarified.

[0035] In the following embodiments, "smoking article" may refer to any smokeable article or any article that provides a smoking experience, whether or not based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. For example, smoking articles may include smokable articles such as cigarettes, cigars, and cigarillos.

[0036] In the following embodiments, "smoking material" may refer to a substance that produces smoke and / or aerosol or is used for smoking. For example, the smoking material may include tobacco material. For example, the tobacco material may include tobacco leaves, tobacco stems, or materials processed therefrom. As a more specific example, the tobacco material may include pulverized tobacco leaves, pulverized reconstituted tobacco, expanded pipe tobacco, expanded stem cuts, and reconstituted tobacco leaves. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0037] In the following embodiments, "upstream" or "upstream direction" may refer to a direction away from the user's mouth, while "downstream" or "downstream direction" may refer to a direction closer to the user's mouth. The terms "upstream" and "downstream" may be used to describe the relative positions of the elements that make up the smoking article. For example, in Figure 1 In the smoking article 30 exemplified in , the filter portion is located downstream of or in the downstream direction of the smoking material portion, and the smoking material portion is located upstream of or in the upstream direction of the filter portion.

[0038] In the following embodiments, "longitudinal direction" may refer to the direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article.

[0039] In the following embodiments, "puff" may refer to inhalation by a user, and inhalation may refer to a state of inhaling into the oral cavity, nasal cavity, or lungs of the user through the mouth or nose of the user.

[0040] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0041] Figure 1 Schematic diagram for illustrating the structure of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular, Figure 1 The drawings of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a state where the smoking article 30 is inserted.

[0042] like Figure 1 As shown, the sidestream smoke removal device 1 includes a housing 11, a product insertion portion 12, a rear cover 13, a heat insulating portion 14, a temperature sensor 20, an ignition portion 15, a sidestream smoke processing portion 16, a mesh screen 17, a display portion 19 and a control portion 18. However, Figure 1 Only components related to the embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure may also include components other than Figure 1 For example, the sidestream smoke removal device 1 may further include a battery (not shown) for supplying power to electrical components (e.g., the control unit 18, the display unit 19, etc.). Figure 1 Some of the components shown may not be essential components of the sidestream smoke removal device 1. That is, the sidestream smoke removal device 1 can be implemented in a form in which some of the components shown are omitted.

[0043] The housing 11 may form a smoking space inside the sidestream smoke removal device 1 and may form at least a portion of the appearance of the sidestream smoke removal device 1. Figure 1 While the housing 11 is shown as the side wall of the sidestream smoke removal device 1, the housing 11 may be a general term for the exterior structure including the product insertion portion 12, the rear cover 13, and the heat insulation portion 14. To ensure the durability of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 and minimize the risk of damage, the housing 11 is preferably made of a strong material.

[0044] In some embodiments, ventilation holes 111 may be formed in the housing 11 so that external air can smoothly enter the smoking space. The ventilation holes 111 can allow external air to enter during smoking to promote the combustion of the smoking article 30, thereby greatly improving the smoking function of the sidestream smoke removal device 1. Figure 1 In the figure, a single vent hole 111 is formed in the housing 11, but the number of vent holes 111 can be multiple. In addition, the formation position, size, spacing, etc. of the vent holes 111 can be designed in various ways. Whether to open or close the vent holes 111 and / or the degree of opening and closing of the vent holes 111 can be controlled by the control unit 18, which will be referred to later. Figure 7 Describe it.

[0045] Furthermore, the article insertion portion 12 may be located at one end (e.g., the upper end) of the housing 11 and may form an opening for inserting the smoking article 30. A user can insert the smoking article 30 into the smoking space of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 through the article insertion portion 12. To prevent heat from being released from the smoking space, the article insertion portion 12 is preferably made of a heat-insulating material. Furthermore, to prevent the inserted smoking article 30 from shaking, the article insertion portion 12 is preferably formed into a holder structure capable of retaining the smoking article 30.

[0046] In some embodiments, the article insertion portion 12 may have a structure capable of adjusting the size of the opening. For example, the article insertion portion 12 may be formed into a structure capable of tightening or loosening the opening by manual operation. As another example, the article insertion portion 12 may be configured to automatically tighten the opening in a manner suitable for the smoking article 30. As a more specific example, the article insertion portion 12 is controlled by the control portion 18, and the control portion 18 may control the article insertion portion 12 to tighten the opening when the insertion of the smoking article 30 is detected by a sensor, or when user input (for example, a button is pressed) is received. According to this embodiment, since the size of the opening is adjusted to be suitable for the smoking article 30, the shaking phenomenon of the smoking article 30 can be prevented and the support stability can be improved. In addition, smoking articles of various sizes can be inserted, so the utilization rate of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 can be improved.

[0047] The smoking article 30 may be composed of a filter portion located downstream and a smoking material portion connected to the upstream end of the filter portion. However, the detailed structure of the smoking article 30 may be freely varied. The filter portion may contain a filter material capable of filtering smoke, and the smoking material portion may contain a smoking material. Examples of the smoking article 30 include, but are not limited to, combustible cigarettes, and the smoking article 30 may include any article that generates sidestream smoke when smoked.

[0048] In addition, a rear cover 13 may be located at the other end (e.g., the lower end) of the housing 11 and serve as a cover for the sidestream smoke removal device 1. A gas discharge passage may be formed in the rear cover 13 to allow the sidestream smoke processed (purified) by the sidestream smoke processing unit 16 to be discharged to the outside. For example, the gas discharge passage may be formed in the rear cover 13, such as micropores.

[0049] In addition, the heat insulating portion 14 can be made of a material with low thermal conductivity to prevent the heat inside the smoking space from being discharged to the outside. The heat insulating portion 14 is provided on the outer surface of the housing 11, and when the user's body contacts the sidestream smoke removal device 1 (for example, when grasping the device 1 for smoking), it plays a role in preventing the risk of burns caused by internal heat.

[0050] In addition, a temperature sensor 20 may be provided in the smoking space to measure the temperature of the smoking article 30 inserted into the smoking space. The number, shape, location, and interval of the temperature sensors 20 may be variously designed and may vary depending on the embodiment.

[0051] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 As shown, the temperature sensor 20 can be configured to measure the temperature near the downstream end of the smoking material portion. In this case, the temperature sensor 20 alone can be used to accurately determine whether a puff has ended, without the need for an additional monitoring module. This can be understood as assuming that a puff has ended when the smoking material portion is completely combusted. For example, the control unit 18 can determine that a puff has ended when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 20 is above a reference value (for example, when the current puff position reaches the downstream end of the smoking material portion), or when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 20 rises and then falls below the reference value after a period of time (for example, when combustion weakens at the downstream end of the smoking material portion).

[0052] In some other embodiments, multiple temperature sensors 20 may be arranged at different locations within the smoking space. Figure 2 As illustrated, a plurality of temperature sensors, namely temperature sensor 20-1 and temperature sensor 20-2, may be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the smoking article 30. Alternatively, a plurality of temperature sensors 20 may be arranged at positions opposite to each other. Figure 2 While the illustration uses two temperature sensors, namely temperature sensor 20-1 and temperature sensor 20-2, as an example, the number of temperature sensors 20 can be three or more. In this case, the temperature sensors 20 can be arranged at equal or different intervals. Using multiple temperature sensors 20 allows for more accurate monitoring of the smoking process (e.g., the progress of smoking) and provides various monitoring information as described below.

[0053] In some examples, the start of puffing can be detected (determined) by a temperature sensor (e.g., temperature sensor 20-2) located near the upstream end of the inhalable material portion. For example, the control unit 18 can determine that puffing has started when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor (e.g., temperature sensor 20-2) is greater than a reference value.

[0054] In some examples, the smoking progress (e.g., current smoking (burning) position) of the smoking article 30 can be determined by comparing the temperatures measured by multiple temperature sensors (e.g., temperature sensor 20-1, temperature sensor 20-2) arranged in the length direction. Figure 8 and Figure 9 Describe this example in detail.

[0055] In some examples, multiple temperature sensors 20 may be positioned relative to one another relative to the inserted smoking article 30, or may be arranged circumferentially around the smoking article 30 in the smoking space (e.g., four temperature sensors 20 may be arranged at 90-degree intervals). In this case, the degree of tilt (wobbling) of the smoking article 30 can be determined by comparing the temperatures measured by the multiple temperature sensors 20. For example, when the temperature measured by a particular temperature sensor is higher than the temperatures measured by the other temperature sensors, the control unit 18 may determine that the inserted smoking article 30 is tilted toward the particular temperature sensor. Alternatively, when the temperatures measured by the multiple temperature sensors 20 exceed a reference value, the control unit 18 may determine that the inserted smoking article 30 is wobbling.

[0056] In some other embodiments, the temperature sensor 20 having an elongated body may be disposed in the smoking space. Figure 3 As illustrated, the elongated temperature sensor 20 can be disposed along the length of the smoking article 30. The temperature sensor 20 according to this embodiment can be implemented such that a first portion of the elongated body can measure the temperature of a first corresponding portion of the smoking material portion, while a second portion can measure the temperature of a second corresponding portion of the smoking material portion constituting the smoking article 30. Any specific implementation method can be used. In this case, the smoking progress can be monitored based on the measured temperature of a specific portion of the elongated body. For example, the control unit 18 can determine the smoking progress of the smoking article 30 by comparing the measured temperatures of various portions of the elongated body.

[0057] In some other embodiments, the temperature sensor 20 may be provided based on a combination of the above embodiments.

[0058] Will refer to Figure 1 Provide explanation.

[0059] The ignition unit 15 may be provided in the smoking space to ignite the smoking article 30 inserted into the smoking space. The ignition unit 15 may be controlled by the control unit 18 and may be manually operated by the user to perform the ignition function. The number, shape, and arrangement of the ignition units 15 may be designed in various ways and may vary depending on the embodiment.

[0060] In some embodiments, the ignition portion 15 may be disposed in a fixed position. Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the ignition portion 15 may be arranged to ignite the vicinity of the upstream end of the inserted smoking article 30. In this case, the structure of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 is simplified, thereby minimizing the defect rate during manufacturing.

[0061] In some other embodiments, the ignition unit 15 can be designed and implemented to be movable. Any specific implementation method can be used. For example, the ignition unit 15 can be implemented to move along its length through manual operation by a user or control by the control unit 18. In some examples, the control unit 18 can move the ignition unit 15 to the upstream end of the smoking article 30 in response to detecting the insertion of the smoking article 30. According to this embodiment, the sidestream smoke removal device 1 is universally applicable to smoking articles of various lengths, thereby significantly increasing the usability of the sidestream smoke removal device 1.

[0062] In some other embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the ignition portion 15 can be combined with an elastic support portion 21. The elastic support portion 21 is formed from an elastic body that can expand and contract to elastically support the upstream end of the inserted smoking article 30. For example, as the smoking article 30 is inserted, the ignition portion 15 comes into close contact with the upstream end of the smoking article 30, and the elastic support portion 21 contracts due to the insertion force, thereby stably supporting the smoking article 30. In some examples, at least a portion of the ignition portion 15 can have a shape that protrudes sharply in the direction of the article insertion portion 12 (e.g., a needle shape). In this case, the ignition portion 15 penetrates the upstream end of the smoking article 30 as the smoking article 30 is inserted, thereby more firmly supporting the smoking article 30 during ignition, thereby significantly improving support stability and ignition stability. In other words, the problem of poor ignition caused by the shaking of the smoking article 30 during ignition can be significantly alleviated. According to this embodiment, the elastic support portion 21 that can expand and contract can stably accommodate smoking articles (e.g., smoking articles 30) of various lengths (e.g., L1), thereby significantly improving the usability of the sidestream smoke removal device 1.

[0063] Will refer to Figure 1 Provide explanation.

[0064] The sidestream smoke treatment unit 16 can be positioned within the smoking space to perform various treatments on the sidestream smoke generated by the inserted smoking article 30. For example, the sidestream smoke treatment unit 16 can be positioned between the inserted smoking article 30 and the rear cover 13 to purify the sidestream smoke. Furthermore, the sidestream smoke treatment unit 16 can also perform an exhaust function, allowing the purified sidestream smoke to be smoothly discharged to the outside. However, the detailed structure and operation of the sidestream smoke treatment unit 16 can be designed in a variety of ways and can vary depending on the embodiment.

[0065] In some embodiments, as shown in the figure, the sidestream smoke processing unit 16 can be configured to include a filter structure 161 and an exhaust fan 162. The filter structure 161 can purify the sidestream smoke, while the exhaust fan 162 can discharge the sidestream smoke. For example, the exhaust fan 162 can rotate to draw the sidestream smoke toward the filter structure 161 and smoothly discharge the sidestream smoke that has passed through the filter structure 161 to the outside. The operation of the exhaust fan 162 can be controlled by the control unit 18, which will be referred to later. Figure 7 etc. to describe it.

[0066] In addition, a mesh net 17 can be provided between the sidestream smoke treatment unit 16 and the rear cover 13 to serve as a safety net. For example, the mesh net 17 can prevent certain objects (e.g., fragments of the filter 161) inside the smoking space from escaping in the direction of the rear cover 13.

[0067] In addition, a display unit 19 may be located on the outer surface of the housing 11 to display various types of information under the control of the control unit 18. For example, the display unit 19 may display information regarding the smoking process, device information, smoking history information, user information, and the like. Information regarding the smoking process may include, for example, smoking progress information (e.g., smoking progress, current smoking position, number of remaining puffs, puff time, remaining puff time, and any other information related to the smoking process), puff information (e.g., number of puffs, puff length, puff interval, puff intensity, and whether puffing is in progress, among other information related to the puffing event), but is not limited thereto. For example, device information may include, but is not limited to, information such as the power supply status, whether it is faulty, and battery status (e.g., remaining battery power, whether charging is required, etc.). Smoking history information may include, but is not limited to, the cumulative number of puffs.

[0068] The display unit 19 includes a visual display unit such as an LED display so as to be able to visually display the above-mentioned various information. However, the specific display unit can be freely changed.

[0069] In addition, the control unit 18 can control the operation of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 as a whole. For example, the control unit 18 can control the operation of the exhaust fan 162, the operation of the display unit 19, and the operation of other components included in the sidestream smoke removal device 1. In addition, the control unit 18 can determine the smoking progress of the smoking article 30 and confirm the status of each component of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 to determine whether the sidestream smoke removal device 1 is in an operable state. Figures 7 to 10 The detailed operation method of the control unit 18 will be described in detail.

[0070] The control unit 18 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 storing programs executable by the microprocessor. Furthermore, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the control unit 18 can also be implemented by other forms of hardware.

[0071] Although Figure 1 The control unit 18 is shown as being located outside the housing 11 of the sidestream mist removal device 1. This is for ease of understanding only, and the location of the control unit 18 can be freely changed. For example, to prevent malfunctions due to external impact, the control unit 18 can be located at a specific location within the housing 11.

[0072] On the other hand, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the sidestream smoke removal device 1 may further include a module that provides auditory and / or tactile output. For example, the sidestream smoke removal device 1 may further include a speaker, a vibration module, etc. In this case, the control unit 18 may further use the aforementioned modules to provide various information to the user.

[0073] In addition, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, Figure 5 As shown, a support portion 22 for supporting the side of the smoking article 30 may also be provided in the smoking space of the sidestream smoke removal device 1. For example, as shown in the figure, multiple support portions 22 may be provided to support the side of the smoking article 30 at a first location and a second location. To support a specific location of the smoking article 30, multiple support portions 22 may be provided in the circumferential direction of the smoking article 30 (for example, four support portions 22 may be provided at 90-degree intervals), or a single annular support portion 22 may be provided. As described above, the number, arrangement form, shape, etc. of the support portions 22 may be designed and implemented in various ways.

[0074] In addition, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, Figure 6 As shown, a cutter 23 may also be provided in the smoking space. The cutter 23 prevents further combustion by cutting the burning smoking article 30, thereby providing a safe extinguishing function at the user's desired time and minimizing the risk of burns and fire caused by carelessness of the user (for example, the risk of burns caused by carelessness during direct extinguishing). However, the implementation method of the cutter 23 can be designed in various ways.

[0075] In some examples, the cutting portion 23 can be positioned in a fixed position and configured to cut a specific portion of the inserted smoking article 30. For example, the cutting portion 23 can be fixedly positioned so as to cut between the filter portion and the smoking material portion. In this case, a safe extinguishing function can be ensured regardless of the current smoking (burning) position of the smoking article 30, and the structure of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 can be simplified.

[0076] In some other examples, the cutting portion 23 may be configured to be movable. For example, the cutting portion 23 may be configured to be movable by an external force of the user (manual operation), or may be configured to be movable under the control of the control portion 18. As a more specific example, the cutting portion 23 may be automatically moved by the control portion 18 to the vicinity of the current smoking (burning) position of the smoking article 30. Regarding the method by which the control portion 18 determines the current smoking (burning) position of the smoking article 30, reference may be made to Figure 9 Description content.

[0077] Furthermore, in some examples, the cutting portion 23 can be operated by the user pressing a push button (not shown) provided on the outer surface of the housing 11, twisting the housing 11, or extending or contracting the housing 11 in the longitudinal direction. The cutting portion 23 can have a structure that is mechanically linked to the housing 11 so as to be operated by the above-described actions, and the control unit 18 can be implemented so as to operate the cutting portion 23 according to the above-described actions.

[0078] So far, reference has been made to Figures 1 to 6 A sidestream smoke removal device 1 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is described. As described above, by utilizing multiple temperature sensors 20 positioned at different locations within the smoking space, or by utilizing elongated temperature sensors 20 arranged longitudinally, the progress of smoking can be easily monitored without the need for an additional monitoring module. Furthermore, by displaying information about the progress of smoking on the display unit 19, ease of use and safety can be greatly improved.

[0079] In the following, reference will be made to Figure 7 The following figures illustrate the control methods according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0080] Each step of the control method described below can be executed by a control unit (e.g., control unit 18) of a sidestream smoke removal device (e.g., sidestream smoke removal device 1). In addition, each step of the above control method can be implemented by one or more instructions executed by the control unit. The above control method can be applied to various types of sidestream smoke removal devices, but for ease of understanding, it is assumed that the above control method is applied to a sidestream smoke removal device. Figures 1 to 6The following description will be continued based on the fact that the operation is executed in the illustrated sidestream mist removal device 1. Therefore, in the following description, when the subject of a specific operation is omitted, it can be understood that the operation is executed by the control unit 18 of the illustrated device 1.

[0081] Figure 7 The schematic flow chart of the control method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. However, this is only a preferred embodiment for achieving the purpose of the present disclosure, and some steps can be added or deleted as needed.

[0082] like Figure 7 As shown, the control method may start from step S10 of detecting the start of smoking. In this step, the start of smoking may be detected in a variety of ways.

[0083] In some embodiments, the control unit 18 can detect the start of a puff by receiving a user input (e.g., a button input, etc.) to activate the ignition unit 15. Alternatively, the control unit 18 can recognize the start of a puff and activate the ignition unit 15 by receiving a user input (e.g., a button input, etc.) requesting the start of a puff.

[0084] In some other embodiments, the control unit 18 may detect the start of smoking in response to a determination that the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 20 is above a reference value. In this case, for example, the temperature sensor 20 may be provided in the smoking space to measure the temperature near the upstream end of the smoking article 30.

[0085] In step S20, the control unit 18 may open (e.g., partially open, fully open) the ventilation holes 111 in response to detecting the start of a puff. This is because the outside air entering through the ventilation holes 111 can promote the combustion of the smoking article 30. In addition, the control unit 18 may activate the exhaust fan 162. This is because the sidestream smoke generated during a puff can be smoothly discharged with the operation of the exhaust fan 162.

[0086] On the other hand, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the control unit 18 can control the ventilation holes 111 and the exhaust fan 162 according to the user's puff event during smoking. However, there are many specific control methods.

[0087] In some examples, the control unit 18 can adjust the degree of opening and closing of the ventilation holes 111 based on the puff event. Specifically, the control unit 18 can open the ventilation holes 111 more during puffing and less during non-puffing. In this case, external air can enter more smoothly during puffing, thereby promoting the combustion of the smoking article 30. In addition, the problem of unpurified sidestream smoke leaking through the ventilation holes 111 during non-puffing can be reduced. For reference, since a large amount of sidestream smoke is not generated during puffing and an airflow path is formed for gas to enter through the ventilation holes 111, the problem of sidestream smoke leakage does not occur even if the ventilation holes 111 are open.

[0088] In some other examples, the controller 18 may cause the exhaust fan 162 to rotate in the reverse direction during inhalation, and in the forward direction during non-inhalation. The forward direction may refer to a rotation direction that causes sidestream smoke to be drawn toward the filter structure 161, while the reverse direction may refer to a rotation direction opposite thereto. In this case, during inhalation, the airflow is concentrated toward the upstream end of the smoking article 30 to promote combustion, while during non-inhalation, the sidestream smoke is drawn toward the filter structure 161 for smooth discharge.

[0089] In some other examples, the control unit 18 can adjust the degree of opening and closing of the ventilation holes 111 and / or the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 162 based on information about the puff event (e.g., puff intensity, puff interval, puff length, etc.). For example, when the intensity of the puff increases, or the length of the puff increases, or the interval between puffs shortens, the control unit 18 can open more ventilation holes 111. In the opposite case, the control unit 18 can open fewer ventilation holes 111. This is because when the smoking article 30 burns poorly, the possibility of increased puff intensity is high. Alternatively, when the intensity of the puff increases, or the length of the puff increases, or the interval between puffs shortens, the control unit 18 can increase the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 162 during the puff (i.e., the reverse rotation speed). In the opposite case, the control unit 18 can reduce the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 162.

[0090] In some other examples, the control portion 18 may perform control based on a combination of the above examples.

[0091] In the above embodiment, the control unit 18 can use a variety of methods to detect puffing. For example, the control unit 18 can detect puffing based on temperature changes measured by the temperature sensor 20. Specifically, when the degree of temperature change exceeds a reference value (for example, when the combustion temperature of the smoking article 30 momentarily increases), the control unit 18 can identify that puffing has occurred. This can be understood as utilizing the phenomenon of accelerated combustion at the upstream end of the smoking article 30 during puffing. Furthermore, the control unit 18 can determine the intensity of the puff based on the degree of temperature change. For example, the greater the temperature change, the stronger the puffing intensity, while the smaller the temperature change, the weaker the puffing intensity.

[0092] In step S30, the control unit 18 may detect the end of puffing. In this step, the control unit 18 may detect the end of puffing in a variety of ways, which may vary depending on the embodiment.

[0093] In some embodiments, the control unit 18 can detect the end of a puff based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 20. In this case, the temperature sensor 20 can be located near the downstream end of the smoking article 30. For example, the control unit 18 can determine that a puff has ended when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 20 is above a reference value or when the temperature increases for a period of time and then decreases.

[0094] In some other embodiments, the control unit 18 may detect the end of a puff based on the time elapsed since the start of a puff, a puff event, etc. For example, the control unit 18 may determine that a puff has ended when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of a puff, when the number of puffs is greater than a reference value, or when no puffs have been detected for more than a predetermined time since the most recent puff.

[0095] In some other embodiments, a smoking end condition may be set. For example, the smoking end condition may be set based on the number of puffs, the elapsed time of the puff, etc. In this case, the control unit 18 may determine that smoking has ended in response to the pre-set smoking end condition being met.

[0096] In step S40, the control unit 18 may execute the automatic extinguishing function in response to detecting the end of smoking. In this step, the control unit 18 may execute the automatic extinguishing function in a variety of ways.

[0097] In some embodiments, the control unit 18 can close the ventilation holes 111 and stop the operation of the exhaust fan 162. In this case, since the entry of external air is blocked by closing the ventilation holes 111, the smoking article 30 is naturally extinguished by lack of oxygen.

[0098] In some other embodiments, the control unit 18 can close the ventilation holes 111 and stop or continue the exhaust fan 162 after a predetermined time. In this case, the ventilation holes 111 are closed to prevent the entry of external air, and the exhaust fan 162 exhausts the internal air to the outside, thereby naturally achieving extinguishment of the smoking article 30.

[0099] In some other embodiments, the control unit 18 may further execute the automatic extinguishing function by activating the cutting unit 23 .

[0100] In some other embodiments, the control unit 18 may perform the automatic extinguishing function based on a combination of the above embodiments. For example, the control unit 18 may perform the automatic extinguishing function through a first extinguishing process, which closes the ventilation holes 111 and stops the exhaust fan 162, and a second extinguishing process, which cuts the inserted smoking article 30 with the cutting unit 23. In this case, the first extinguishing process and the second extinguishing process may be performed in any order.

[0101] On the other hand, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the control unit 18 can cause the exhaust fan 162 to operate in the forward direction (i.e., the inhalation direction) for a predetermined time in response to detecting the end of smoking. In this case, smoking by-products such as soot are gathered near the filter structure 161 by the exhaust fan 162, so that the internal cleaning of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 can be performed more easily. In some examples, the control unit 18 can adjust the rotation speed of the exhaust fan 162 according to the degree of exhaustion of the smoking article 30. For example, when the smoking article 30 is completely exhausted, there will be more by-products, so the control unit 18 can rotate the exhaust fan 162 faster, and vice versa, rotate the exhaust fan 162 slower. The rotation speed of the exhaust fan 162 can be adjusted according to the number of puffs, the time elapsed from smoking, the current smoking position (refer to Figure 9 ) etc. to judge the exhaustion degree of the smoking article 30.

[0102] So far, reference has been made to Figure 7 The control method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is described. According to the above method, the ventilation holes 111 and the exhaust fan 162 can be appropriately controlled according to the smoking process, thereby improving user satisfaction with the device. In addition, the automatic extinguishing function is implemented at the end of smoking, thereby minimizing the risk of fire and burns caused by careless users.

[0103] In the following, reference will be made to Figure 8 The control methods according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure are described. However, for the sake of clarity of the present disclosure, the control methods according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure are omitted. Figure 7 The control methods described above are described in detail.

[0104] Figure 8This is a schematic flow chart illustrating a control method according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. However, this is only a preferred embodiment for achieving the purpose of the present disclosure, and of course some steps can be added or deleted as needed.

[0105] like Figure 8 As shown, the control method may start from step S110 of detecting the start of smoking. In this step, the control unit 18 may display a sign notifying the start of smoking via the display unit 19. For further description of this step, please refer to Figure 7 Step S10 illustrated in FIG.

[0106] In step S120, the control unit 18 may monitor the smoking process, wherein the smoking process may include all smoking-related conditions such as smoking progress and puff events.

[0107] In some embodiments, the control unit 18 can accurately determine the smoking progress (or current smoking (burning) position) of the smoking article 30 by comparing the measured temperatures of multiple temperature sensors 20 arranged at different positions. Figure 9 As shown, assume that multiple temperature sensors, namely, a first temperature sensor 20-1, a second temperature sensor 20-2, and a third temperature sensor 20-3, are disposed along the length of the smoking space within the sidestream smoke removal device 1. In this case, the control unit 18 can determine the current smoking position and smoking progress of the smoking article 30 by comparing the temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor 20-1, the second temperature sensor 20-2, and the third temperature sensor 20-3. For example, when the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor 20-1 is the lowest, the temperature measured by the second temperature sensor 20-2 is lower than the temperature measured by the third temperature sensor 20-3, and the temperature measured by the third temperature sensor 20-3 is the highest, the control unit 18 can determine that the current smoking position of the smoking article 30 is between the second temperature sensor 20-2 and the third temperature sensor 20-3, and is closer to the third temperature sensor 20-3. In this case, the greater the temperature difference between the second temperature sensor 20-2 and the third temperature sensor 20-3, the closer the control unit 18 can determine that the current smoking position is to the third temperature sensor 20-3.

[0108] In step S130, the control part 18 may display the monitoring information through the display part 19. However, the type of monitoring information and its specific display method may be designed in various ways.

[0109] In some embodiments, the control unit 18 may display information about the smoking progress through the display unit 19. For example, the control unit 18 may control the display unit 19 to display a logo (e.g., a cigarette-shaped object) indicating the smoking article 30 (or the smoking progress) and shorten the length of the logo as the smoking progresses. Figure 10 As illustrated, the control unit 18 may control the display unit 19 to display an indicator area (e.g., an LED lighting area / interval) indicating the progress of smoking on the display unit 19 and change the size of the indicator area (e.g., the number of LED lighting areas / intervals) as smoking progresses. In this case, the size of the indicator area may increase or decrease as smoking progresses.

[0110] In some other embodiments, the control unit 18 may display information about the puff event through the display unit 19. For example, the control unit 18 may display the number of puffs. As another example, the control unit 18 may display an indicator indicating that a puff is being taken in response to detecting a puff.

[0111] In step S140, the control unit 18 may detect the end of smoking. In this step, the control unit 18 may display a mark indicating the end of smoking through the display unit 19. For further description of this step, please refer to Figure 7 Step S40 illustrated in FIG.

[0112] On the other hand, when the end of smoking is detected, the control unit 18 executes the automatic extinguishing function and may display a mark indicating automatic extinguishing through the display unit 19, or when automatic extinguishing is completed, may display a mark indicating completion of automatic extinguishing.

[0113] So far, reference has been made to Figures 8 to 10 The control methods according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure are described. According to the above methods, information about the smoking progress can be displayed on the display unit 19. Thus, the user can confirm the smoking progress in real time through the display unit 19, which can greatly improve the convenience and safety of use.

[0114] References have been made so far Figures 1 to 10 The technical concepts of the present disclosure described herein can be implemented by computer-readable code in a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may be, for example, a removable storage medium (CD, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, USB storage device, removable hard disk) or a fixed storage medium (ROM, RAM, computer-attached hard disk). The computer program stored in the computer-readable storage medium can be transmitted to another computing device via a network such as the Internet and installed in the other computing device, thereby enabling use in the other computing device.

[0115] Even though it has been described above that all components constituting the embodiments of the present disclosure are combined as a single unit or combined to operate as a single unit, the technical concept 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 of these components may be selectively combined to operate as one or more units.

[0116] While operations are illustrated in a particular order in the accompanying drawings, it should not be understood that operations must be performed only in the particular order or step-by-step order illustrated, or that all illustrated operations must be performed to achieve a desired result. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may also be advantageous. In particular, the separation of various structures in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can be integrated into a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.

[0117] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood by those with general knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs that the present disclosure can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical ideas or essential features of the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that the above embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and are non-restrictive. The scope of protection of the present disclosure should be determined by the claims, and all technical ideas within the scope of equivalents should fall within the scope of the technical ideas defined by the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A side stream smoke removal device, characterized in that: include: The housing has a smoking space formed therein and a ventilation hole formed therein for allowing outside air to enter; a product insertion portion, located at one end of the shell and formed with an opening for inserting a smoking product into the smoking space; an ignition unit, used for igniting the smoking article inserted into the smoking space; a sidestream smoke processing unit for processing sidestream smoke generated in a smoking article inserted into the smoking space; a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the smoking article inserted into the smoking space; A display unit is provided on the outside of the housing; and The control unit monitors the smoking process of the smoking article based on the measured temperature and displays the monitoring result through the display unit. The control unit monitors the puffing event based on the temperature change measured by the temperature sensor. The control unit controls the ventilation holes to be opened to a greater extent during inhalation than during non-inhalation.

2. The sidestream smoke removal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The temperature sensor is configured to measure the temperature near the downstream end of the smoking material portion, the smoking material portion constituting the inserted smoking article, The control unit determines whether smoking is finished based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

3. The sidestream smoke removal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The temperature sensor includes a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor arranged at different positions in the smoking space. The control unit monitors the smoking progress based on the temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor.

4. The sidestream smoke removal device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the smoking article. The control unit monitors the progress of smoking by comparing the temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, and displays information on the progress of smoking through the display unit.

5. The sidestream smoke removal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The temperature sensor has an elongated body and is arranged in the length direction of the inserted smoking article. The first portion of the elongated body is configured to measure the temperature of a first corresponding portion of a smoking material portion, the smoking material portion constituting the smoking article, and the second portion of the elongated body is configured to measure the temperature of a second corresponding portion of the smoking material portion, The control unit monitors the smoking process based on the measured temperatures of the first portion and the second portion.

6. The sidestream smoke removal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit displays information on the progress of puffing on the display unit, and controls the display unit to change the length of a mark or the size of a mark area indicating the progress of puffing as the puff progresses.

7. The sidestream smoke removal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit displays information about the puff event via the display unit.

8. The sidestream smoke removal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sidestream smoke processing unit includes an exhaust fan for discharging the sidestream smoke. The control unit detects the end of smoking based on the measured temperature, and closes the ventilation hole and stops the exhaust fan in response to the end of smoking.

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