An aerosol-generating system and a control method thereof

Abstract

The application discloses an aerosol generating system and a control method thereof. The system comprises an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating article. The aerosol generating device comprises a shell, a heating chamber for accommodating the aerosol generating article and a battery compartment for accommodating a battery are sequentially arranged in the shell from top to bottom, a heater is arranged on the heating chamber, and a controller is further arranged in the shell. The control method of the system comprises the following steps: the controller controls the heater to preheat, and the preheating is completed; then, the aerosol generating device sends an indication signal to a user to perform puffing, the controller selects to control the heater to heat the aerosol generating article in a first heating mode or a second heating mode, and the consumption of one portion of the aerosol generating article is completed; the system can control the overall energy consumption in the process of smoking a standard pack of commercial cigarettes, and can complete the consumption of a complete standard pack of commercial cigarettes after the battery is fully charged.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of electronic cigarettes, and particularly relates to an aerosol generating system and a control method thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] In recent years, with the increasing concern of people for health, people have realized that traditional cigarettes have certain harm to health, and the influence of traditional cigarettes on health and environment has gradually attracted the attention of countries around the world.

[0003] The existing heat-not-burn product adopts a constant temperature control mode or a fixed time step-up temperature control mode after entering the puffing stage, and adopts a continuous excitation smoke processing method in the puffing stage. The processing method detects the user's puffing behavior, heats at a high power when the user puffs, and also needs to use a high power to maintain the excitation temperature when the user does not puff. This method can effectively excite smoke, so that the user can puff at any time according to the preference. However, the user's puffing behavior is unpredictable, and this processing method cannot limit the user to make puffing actions at fixed intervals in the puffing process. When the user does not puff for a long time, maintaining a high excitation temperature will consume more energy, resulting in unnecessary energy loss. Therefore, a new aerosol generating system is needed to solve the above technical problems. SUMMARY

[0004] The purpose of the present application is to provide an aerosol generating system and a control method thereof to solve the problem that the existing heat-not-burn product consumes more energy when maintaining a high excitation temperature when the user does not puff for a long time, resulting in unnecessary energy loss.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the present application provides the following technical solutions:

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides an aerosol generating system, comprising an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating article, wherein the aerosol generating device comprises a shell, a heating chamber for accommodating the aerosol generating article and a battery compartment for accommodating a battery are sequentially arranged in the shell from top to bottom, a heater is arranged on the heating chamber, and a controller is further arranged in the shell.

[0007] Further, the controller comprises a temperature control unit, a puffing behavior detection unit for monitoring the puffing behavior of a user, a puffing sensor for monitoring the temperature, current, voltage and inductance of the heater and the flow and pressure of the gas in the heating chamber, a time control unit and a counting unit for recording the number of completed consumable aerosol generating articles; the temperature control unit comprises a temperature detection unit for monitoring the real-time temperature of the heater or the aerosol generating article and an electric power control unit for controlling the battery to provide electric energy to the heater.

[0008] Further, the puffing behavior of the user includes a start time of a puffing behavior, an end time of the puffing behavior, a time interval between two puffing behaviors, a puffing airflow speed at one or more time sequences in a puffing behavior, a maximum puffing airflow speed in a puffing behavior, a total amount of puffing in a puffing behavior, a heater temperature at one or more time sequences in a puffing behavior, and a maximum change value of the heater temperature in a puffing behavior.

[0009] In a second aspect, the present application provides a control method of the aerosol generating system as described above, comprising the following steps:

[0010] The aerosol generating device is turned on, and the controller controls the heater to preheat. When the preheating reaches a preset time length and a preset temperature, the preheating is completed.

[0011] Then, the aerosol generating device sends an indication signal to the user to start puffing. The controller controls the heater to heat the aerosol generating article in the first heating mode or in the second heating mode and completes the consumption of one portion of the aerosol generating article.

[0012] When all portions of the aerosol generating article are completely consumed, the aerosol generating device sends an indication signal to the user to start charging.

[0013] Further, the control method of the aerosol generating system further comprises: the controller automatically selects the first heating mode or the second heating mode to control the heater to heat the aerosol generating article and complete the consumption of one portion of the aerosol generating article according to the remaining power of the battery.

[0014] Further, if the remaining power of the battery is sufficient to complete the consumption of the remaining portion plus one of the aerosol generating article in the second heating mode, the controller automatically selects the first heating mode to control the heater to heat the aerosol generating article and complete the consumption of the next portion of the aerosol generating article. If the remaining power of the battery is insufficient to complete the consumption of the remaining portion plus one of the aerosol generating article in the second heating mode, the controller automatically selects the second heating mode to control the heater to heat the aerosol generating article and complete the consumption of the next portion of the aerosol generating article.

[0015] Further, the first heating mode is that the controller controls the heater to heat the aerosol generating article and complete the consumption of one portion of the aerosol generating article according to one or more puffing behaviors of the user.

[0016] Further, the second heating mode is that the controller controls the heater to heat the aerosol generating article and complete the consumption of one portion of the aerosol generating article according to a preset mode.

[0017] Further, the preset mode is that after the preheating is completed, the temperature of the heater is kept constant, the aerosol generating device sends an indication signal to the user to perform puffing every preset puffing interval, and after the aerosol generating device reaches the preset heating duration or the preset number of puffs, the aerosol generating device sends an indication signal to the user to stop puffing and enters a standby state.

[0018] Further, when the battery is fully charged, the counting unit is cleared; when the battery is in a full charge state, the controller selects to control the heater to heat the aerosol generating article in the second heating mode and can complete the consumption of N-1.2N portions of the aerosol generating article, wherein N is 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 or 24.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the aerosol generating system provided by the application has the following beneficial effects:

[0020] The aerosol generating system provided by the application can control the total energy consumption in the process of smoking a standard pack of commercially available cigarettes, and can complete the consumption of a complete standard pack of commercially available cigarettes after the battery is fully charged. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an aerosol generating system provided by an embodiment of the application;

[0022] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a controller in an aerosol generating system provided by an embodiment of the application;

[0023] Figure 3 is a puffing behavior diagram of a user in the first heating mode of an aerosol generating system provided by an embodiment of the application;

[0024] Figure 4 is a puffing behavior diagram of a user in the second heating mode of an aerosol generating system provided by an embodiment of the application.

[0025] In the figure: 1 - shell, 2 - heating chamber, 3 - battery compartment, 4 - heater, 5 - aerosol-forming substrate, 6 - support element, 7 - aerosol cooling element, 8 - mouthpiece. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] Example 1

[0028] like Figure 1 The diagram illustrates an aerosol generation system provided by an embodiment of the present invention, comprising an aerosol generation device and an aerosol generation product. The aerosol generation device includes a housing 1, within which, from top to bottom, are arranged a heating chamber 2 for accommodating the aerosol generation product and a battery compartment 3 for accommodating a battery. A heater 4 is mounted on the heating chamber 2. A controller is also provided within the housing 1. The overall weight of the aerosol generation device allows it to be comfortably held between the fingers of a user's single hand.

[0029] The aerosol generating article includes an aerosol forming matrix 5, a support element 6, an aerosol cooling element 7, and a mouthpiece 8 connected in sequence; or the aerosol generating article includes an aerosol forming matrix 5 and a mouthpiece 8 connected to each other. The aerosol forming matrix 5 is placed in the heating chamber 2.

[0030] Heater 4 is an infrared heater, a resistance heater, or an electromagnetic induction heater, and the shape of heater 4 is tubular, needle-shaped, strip-shaped, or leaf-shaped.

[0031] like Figure 2 As shown, the controller includes a temperature control unit, a suction behavior detection unit for monitoring the user's suction behavior, a suction sensor for monitoring the temperature, current, voltage, and inductance of the heater 4, as well as the flow rate and pressure of the gas in the heating chamber 2, a time control unit, and a counting unit for recording the number of aerosol-generated products consumed; the temperature control unit includes a temperature detection unit for monitoring the real-time temperature of the heater 4 or the aerosol-generated product, and an electric power control unit for controlling the battery to supply power to the heater 4 based on the difference between the real-time temperature of the heater 4 or the aerosol-generated product and the target temperature.

[0032] The user's suction behavior includes the start time of a suction behavior, the end time of a suction behavior, the time interval between two suction behaviors, the suction airflow velocity of one or more time sequences in a suction behavior, the highest suction airflow velocity in a suction behavior, the total suction volume in a suction behavior, the heater 4 temperature of one or more time sequences in a suction behavior, and the maximum change value of the heater 4 temperature in a suction behavior.

[0033] Example 2

[0034] This invention provides a control method for the above-mentioned aerosol generation system, comprising the following steps:

[0035] Turn on the aerosol generating device, and the controller controls the heater 4 to preheat. When the preheating reaches the preset time and preset temperature, the preheating ends.

[0036] Then the aerosol generating device sends an instruction signal to the user to perform suction. The controller selects either the first heating mode or the second heating mode to control the heater 4 to heat the aerosol generated product and complete the consumption of one aerosol generated product.

[0037] Once all portions of the aerosol-generated product have been completely consumed, the aerosol generating device will send a charging signal to the user.

[0038] The control method of the aerosol generation system further includes: the controller automatically selects the first heating mode or the second heating mode according to the remaining power of the battery to control the heater 4 to heat the aerosol generation product and complete the consumption of one aerosol generation product.

[0039] If the remaining battery power is sufficient to consume one more portion of the aerosol-generated product in the second heating mode, the controller will automatically select the first heating mode to control the heater 4 to heat the aerosol-generated product and consume the next portion of the aerosol-generated product; if the remaining battery power is insufficient to consume one more portion of the aerosol-generated product in the second heating mode, the controller will automatically select the second heating mode to control the heater 4 to heat the aerosol-generated product and consume the next portion of the aerosol-generated product.

[0040] When the battery is fully charged, the counting unit is reset to zero. When the battery is fully charged, the controller selects the second heating mode to control the heater 4 to heat the aerosol-generated product and can consume N to 1.2N parts of the aerosol-generated product, where N is 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 or 24.

[0041] like Figure 3 As shown, in the first heating mode, the controller controls the heater 4 to heat the aerosol-generated product based on one or more suction actions of the user, thus consuming one unit of the aerosol-generated product. Specifically:

[0042] The aerosol generating device is turned on and enters the preheating stage. The controller controls the heater 4 to preheat and bake the aerosol-generated product, preparing it for the aerosol forming matrix 5 in the aerosol-generated product to continuously release volatile compounds in the subsequent process. When the preheating reaches the preset time of 20 seconds and the preset temperature of 350°C, the aerosol-generated product can release the flavor that meets the user's needs when it is aspirated, under the appropriate preheating time and temperature. After the preheating ends, the aerosol generating device enters the aspiration stage. The aerosol generating device sends an instruction signal to the user to aspirate. The instruction signal can be a display (e.g., an animation indicating the aspiration action), an indicator light (e.g., a flashing LED), an auditory notification (e.g., a buzzer), or a silent notification (e.g., vibration).

[0043] During the suction phase, if a user inhales the vapor, cold air from outside enters the heating chamber 2 at the moment of inhalation, causing a sudden drop in the temperature of the heater 4. At this time, the suction sensor monitors the temperature of the heater 4, or calculates its temperature by monitoring its current, voltage, and inductance, or monitors the flow rate and pressure of the gas within the heating chamber 2. The suction behavior detection unit can detect when a user has performed a suction action and further obtain parameters such as the start time of a single suction action, the end time of a single suction action, the time interval between two suction actions, the suction airflow velocity at one or more time points during a single suction action, the highest suction airflow velocity during a single suction action, the total suction volume during a single suction action, the temperature of the heater 4 at one or more time points during a single suction action, and the maximum temperature change of the heater 4 during a single suction action. After detecting a single suction action by the user, to ensure the continuous heating effect of the aerosol-generated product, the controller controls the heater 4 to use high power for temperature compensation. If the user does not inhale the smoke, to ensure the user's inhalation experience, heater 4 will continue to heat at a high power to maintain the activation temperature of the aerosol-generated product.

[0044] like Figure 4 As shown, the second heating mode is where the controller controls the heater 4 to heat the aerosol-generated product according to a preset mode, thus consuming one unit of the aerosol-generated product. Specifically:

[0045] The aerosol-generating device is turned on, enters a preheating phase, the controller controls the heater 4 to preheat and preheat the aerosol-generating article, prepares for the aerosol-forming substrate 5 in the aerosol-generating article to continuously release volatile compounds in the subsequent process, and when the preheating reaches the preset time 20s and the preset temperature 350℃, the aerosol-generating article can release a taste that meets the user's needs when smoked at a suitable preheating time and preheating temperature. After preheating, the aerosol-generating device sends an indication signal to the user to smoke. Whether the user actually smokes or not, the aerosol-generating device enters a constant temperature phase (for example, the temperature of the heater 4 is controlled between 300-325℃), and every certain preset puff interval (for example, a fixed interval of 15s; or an initial interval of 15s and a later interval of 20s), the aerosol-generating device sends an indication signal to the user to smoke. Whether the user actually smokes or not, after the aerosol-generating device completes the preset heating duration (for example, a fixed duration of 200s) or the preset number of puffs (for example, 10 puffs) in the constant temperature phase, the aerosol-generating device sends an indication signal to the user to stop smoking, and the aerosol-generating device stops working and enters a standby state.

[0046] Since the second heating mode is carried out according to the preset mode, the energy required to consume one aerosol-generating article can be accurately predicted, so that the energy consumption can be globally controlled during the process of smoking a whole pack of commercially available cigarettes, and the aerosol-generating device can complete the consumption of a whole pack of commercially available cigarettes after being fully charged.

[0047] The preset mode in the second heating mode can be selected according to the environmental temperature, user preference, cigarette type, etc., such as shortening or lengthening the preheating time of the preheating phase, the preset puff interval of the constant temperature phase, the preset heating duration, the preset number of puffs, or increasing or decreasing the preheating temperature of the preheating phase, the temperature of the heater 4 in the constant temperature phase, etc.

[0048] The aerosol-generating device can at least complete the consumption of N cigarettes in a standard pack of commercially available cigarettes under the condition that the battery is fully charged in the second heating mode. At the same time, in order to ensure that the weight of the aerosol-generating device can be designed within the range suitable for handheld, the battery should not be too large, and at most can complete the consumption of 1.2N cigarettes under the condition that the battery is fully charged in the second heating mode. For example, for a standard pack of 20 commercially available cigarettes, the aerosol-generating device can complete the consumption of 20-24 cigarettes under the condition that the battery is fully charged in the second heating mode.

[0049] The counting unit is used to record the number of cigarettes that have been consumed in the standard pack of commercially available cigarettes. A preferred embodiment is that the aerosol-generating device resets the counting unit when the battery is fully charged. Another preferred embodiment is that the aerosol-generating device records the number of cigarettes that have been smoked cumulatively and the starting number of the current standard pack of commercially available cigarettes.

[0050] When the number of cigarettes that have been consumed in the standard pack of commercially available cigarettes is M (1≤M≤N-1): if the remaining battery capacity is sufficient to complete the consumption of (N-M+1) cigarettes in the second heating mode, the controller selects to control the heater 4 to complete the consumption of the next 1 cigarette in the first heating mode, so that the user has a better smoking experience; if the remaining battery capacity is insufficient to complete the consumption of (N-M+1) cigarettes in the second heating mode, the controller selects to control the heater 4 to complete the consumption of the next 1 cigarette in the second heating mode, so as to ensure that the remaining battery capacity is sufficient to consume the remaining cigarettes in the current standard pack of commercially available cigarettes. For example, for a standard pack of commercially available cigarettes with 20 cigarettes, when the aerosol-generating device has consumed 15 cigarettes, it is determined whether the remaining battery capacity is sufficient to complete the consumption of 6 cigarettes in the second heating mode, and if so, the first heating mode is adopted, and if not, the second heating mode is adopted. A preferred embodiment is to make the above determination after each cigarette is smoked. Another preferred embodiment is to make the above determination after 0.5N cigarettes are consumed.

[0051] When the number of cigarettes that have been consumed in the standard pack of commercially available cigarettes is N, the aerosol-generating device sends an indication signal to the user to charge. After the battery is fully charged, the user can carry the aerosol-generating device and a standard pack of commercially available cigarettes outside and complete the consumption of all cigarettes without charging.

[0052] It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the application is not limited to the details of the foregoing exemplary embodiments and can be implemented in other concrete forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the application. The embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the application being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and it is intended to encompass all changes and modifications that fall within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the claims to which they belong.

Claims

1. A control method of an aerosol generating system, characterized in that, the aerosol generating system comprises an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating article, the aerosol generating device comprises a housing (1), a heating chamber (2) for accommodating the aerosol generating article and a battery compartment (3) for accommodating a battery are sequentially arranged in the housing (1) from top to bottom, a heater (4) is arranged on the heating chamber (2), and a controller is further arranged in the housing (1); the control method comprises starting the aerosol generating device, the controller controls the heater (4) to preheat, and the preheating ends when the preheating reaches a preset time length and a preset temperature; then the aerosol generating device sends an indication signal to the user to perform puffing, the controller selects to control the heater (4) to heat the aerosol generating article in a first heating mode or in a second heating mode and completes the consumption of one portion of the aerosol generating article; when all portions of the aerosol generating article are completely consumed, the aerosol generating device sends an indication signal to the user to perform charging; the controller automatically selects to control the heater (4) to heat the aerosol generating article in the first heating mode or in the second heating mode and completes the consumption of one portion of the aerosol generating article according to the remaining power of the battery; if the remaining power of the battery is sufficient to complete the consumption of the remaining portion plus one of the aerosol generating article in the second heating mode, the controller automatically selects to control the heater (4) to heat the aerosol generating article in the first heating mode and completes the consumption of the next portion of the aerosol generating article; if the remaining power of the battery is insufficient to complete the consumption of the remaining portion plus one of the aerosol generating article in the second heating mode, the controller automatically selects to control the heater (4) to heat the aerosol generating article in the second heating mode and completes the consumption of the next portion of the aerosol generating article; the first heating mode is that the controller controls the heater (4) to heat the aerosol generating article and completes the consumption of one portion of the aerosol generating article according to one or more puffing behaviors of the user; the second heating mode is that the controller controls the heater (4) to heat the aerosol generating article and completes the consumption of one portion of the aerosol generating article according to a preset mode.

2. The control method of the aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, characterized in that, the controller comprises a temperature control unit, a puffing behavior detection unit for monitoring the puffing behavior of the user, a puffing sensor for monitoring the temperature, current, voltage and inductance of the heater (4) and the flow and pressure of the gas in the heating chamber (2), a time control unit and a counting unit for recording the completed consumption of the portions of the aerosol generating article; the temperature control unit comprises a temperature detection unit for monitoring the real-time temperature of the heater (4) or the aerosol generating article and an electric power control unit for controlling the battery to provide electric energy to the heater (4). 3.The control method of the aerosol-generating system of claim 1, wherein, The puffing behavior of the user includes a start time of a puffing behavior, an end time of the puffing behavior, a time interval between two puffing behaviors, a puffing airflow speed at one or more time sequences in a puffing behavior, a maximum puffing airflow speed in a puffing behavior, a total amount of puffing in a puffing behavior, a heater (4) temperature at one or more time sequences in a puffing behavior, and a maximum change value of the heater (4) temperature in a puffing behavior. 4.The control method of the aerosol-generating system of claim 1, wherein, The preset mode is that after the preheating is completed, the temperature of the heater (4) is kept constant, the aerosol generating device sends an indication signal to the user to perform puffing every preset puffing interval, and the aerosol generating device sends an indication signal to the user to stop puffing when the aerosol generating device reaches a preset heating duration or a preset number of puffs, and enters a standby state. 5.The control method of the aerosol-generating system of claim 1, wherein, When the battery is fully charged, the counting unit is cleared; when the battery is in a full charge state, the controller selects to control the heater (4) to heat the aerosol generating article in the second heating mode and can complete the consumption of N-1.2N portions of the aerosol generating article, wherein N is 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 or 24.

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