Aerosol-generating device

Abstract

An aerosol generating device can include a housing including an accommodation space to accommodate an aerosol generating article and a heater configured to heat the aerosol generating article, a cover coupled to at least one area of the housing and including a conductive pad, a printed circuit board disposed in an internal space formed by the housing and the cover, an electrical connection member electrically connecting the conductive pad and the printed circuit board to each other, and a damage structure arranged on at least one area of the cover and configured to damage the electrical connection member when the cover is detached from the housing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] One or more embodiments relate to an aerosol generating apparatus, and more specifically, to an aerosol generating apparatus that stops operating when it is detected that a user has arbitrarily disassembled the aerosol generating apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternative technologies to supply aerosols via the combustion of cigarettes. For example, methods have been studied to supply flavored aerosols by generating aerosols from liquid or solid aerosol-generating substances, or by generating vapor from liquid aerosol-generating substances and then passing the vapor through a solid aromatic medium.

[0003] An aerosol generating device can refer to a device that generates aerosols by heating liquid or solid aerosol generating substances to a certain temperature using a heater.

[0004] Aerosol generating devices can improve the convenience of smoking for users, for example, by eliminating the need for additional items such as lighters and allowing users to smoke at their leisure. Research on aerosol generating devices in this regard is gradually increasing. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Technical issues

[0006] Manufacturers of aerosol generating devices can maintain the aerosol generating function of their devices at its optimal level by setting the temperature profile of the heater based on the characteristics of the aerosol generating products used in the aerosol generating device.

[0007] However, recently, there has been an increase in users making arbitrary adjustments to aerosol generators (i.e., "custom adjustments"). For example, some users have disassembled aerosol generators and changed the heater temperature profile or replaced the batteries to increase the amount of aerosol generated or to extend the operating time of the aerosol generator.

[0008] For aerosol generators that can be arbitrarily adjusted, safety issues may arise during operation, such as excessive heater temperature rise or battery decomposition. Therefore, a method is needed to prevent users from making arbitrary adjustments.

[0009] Various embodiments provide an aerosol generating device capable of detecting whether arbitrary disassembly of the aerosol generating device has occurred, and stopping the operation of the aerosol generating device when arbitrary disassembly occurs, in order to prevent safety accidents caused by arbitrary adjustments.

[0010] The technical problems to be solved by the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to the problems described above. Those skilled in the art can clearly understand the problems not mentioned from this disclosure and the accompanying drawings.

[0011] Technical solution

[0012] An aerosol generating apparatus according to an embodiment may include: a housing including a receiving space for accommodating an aerosol generating article and a heater configured to heat the aerosol generating article; a cover attached to at least one region of the housing and including a conductive pad; a printed circuit board disposed in an internal space formed by the housing and the cover; an electrical connection member electrically connecting the conductive pad and the printed circuit board to each other; and a damaging structure disposed on at least one region of the cover and configured to damage the electrical connection member when the cover is removed from the housing.

[0013] Technical effect

[0014] Aerosol generating apparatuses according to various embodiments can prevent safety accidents caused by arbitrary adjustments to the aerosol generating apparatus.

[0015] The technical problems solved by the implementation methods are not limited to those described above, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand from this disclosure and the accompanying drawings any problems not mentioned. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the aerosol generating apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0017] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the aerosol generating device shown.

[0018] Figure 3A This is a diagram illustrating the process of attaching a cover to the housing of an aerosol generating apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0019] Figure 3B This is a diagram illustrating the process of removing the cover from the housing in an aerosol generating apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0020] Figure 3C This is a diagram illustrating the process of reattaching the disassembled cover to the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating the process of removing the cover from the housing in an aerosol generating apparatus according to another embodiment.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating the process of removing the cover from the housing in an aerosol generating apparatus according to another embodiment.

[0023] Figure 6This is a diagram illustrating the process of removing the cover from the housing in an aerosol generating apparatus according to another embodiment.

[0024] Figure 7 This is a block diagram showing some components of an aerosol generating apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0025] Figure 8 It shows that based on Figure 7 A flowchart of the control operation for whether the cover of the aerosol generating device is removed.

[0026] Figure 9 This is a block diagram of an aerosol generating apparatus according to another embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Regarding the terminology used to describe various embodiments, generally used terms are selected in consideration of the function of structural elements in the various embodiments of the present invention. However, the meaning of a term may change depending on intent, judicial precedent, the emergence of new technologies, etc. Furthermore, in some cases, terms may be arbitrarily chosen by the applicant under specific circumstances. In such cases, the meaning of the term will be described in detail in the corresponding sections of this disclosure. Therefore, the terminology used in the various embodiments of this disclosure should be defined based on the meaning of the terms and descriptions provided herein.

[0028] Furthermore, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the words “comprising” and variations such as “including” or “meaning” will be understood to imply the inclusion of elements but not to exclude any other elements. Additionally, the terms “device,” “component,” and “module” described in this specification refer to a unit for performing at least one function and operation, and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.

[0029] As used in this article, when a statement such as “at least one” follows the elements of an arrangement, it modifies all elements rather than each element in the arrangement. For example, the statement “at least one of a, b, and c” should be interpreted as including a, including b, including c, or including a and b, including a and c, including b and c, or including a, b, and c.

[0030] In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device may be a device that generates aerosols by electrically heating a cigarette housed in the internal space of the aerosol generating device.

[0031] The aerosol generating apparatus may include a heater. In one embodiment, the heater may be a resistance heater. For example, the heater may include a conductive rail, and the heater may be heated when current flows through the conductive rail.

[0032] The heater may include tubular heating elements, plate heating elements, needle heating elements, or rod heating elements, and may heat the inside or outside of the cigarette depending on the shape of the heating element.

[0033] Cigarettes may include a tobacco stem and a filter. The tobacco stem may consist of slices, strands, and small pieces cut from tobacco sheets. Furthermore, the tobacco stem may be surrounded by a thermally conductive material. For example, the thermally conductive material may be, but is not limited to, metal foil, such as aluminum foil.

[0034] The filter rod may include a cellulose acetate filter. The filter rod may include at least one segment. For example, the filter rod may include a first segment configured to cool an aerosol and a second segment configured to filter specific components in the aerosol.

[0035] In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device may be an apparatus that generates aerosols by using a cartridge containing an aerosol generating substance.

[0036] The aerosol generating device may include a cartridge containing aerosol generating material and a body supporting the cartridge. The cartridge may be detachably attached to the body, but is not limited thereto. The cartridge may be integrally formed or assembled with the body, and may also be fixed to the body so that the user does not detach it from the body. The cartridge may be mounted on the body while containing the aerosol generating material therein. However, this disclosure is not limited thereto. When the cartridge is attached to the body, the aerosol generating material may also be injected into the cartridge.

[0037] The cartridge may contain an aerosol-generating substance in any of a variety of states, such as liquid, solid, gas, gel, or similar states. The aerosol-generating substance may include a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid comprising tobacco-containing substances having volatile tobacco flavoring components, or a liquid comprising non-tobacco substances.

[0038] The cartridge can be operated via electrical or wireless signals transmitted from the main body to perform the function of generating aerosols by converting the phase of the aerosol-generating substance within the cartridge into a gaseous phase. An aerosol can refer to a gaseous mixture of vaporized particles generated by the aerosol-generating substance and air.

[0039] In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device can generate an aerosol by heating a liquid composition, and the generated aerosol can be delivered to a user via a cigarette. That is, the aerosol generated from the liquid composition can move along the airflow channel of the aerosol generating device, and the airflow channel can be configured to allow the aerosol to be delivered to the user via a cigarette.

[0040] In another embodiment, the aerosol generating apparatus may be an apparatus that generates aerosols from aerosol generating substances using an ultrasonic vibration method. In this case, the ultrasonic vibration method can refer to a method of generating aerosols by converting aerosol generating substances into aerosols through ultrasonic vibrations generated by a vibrator.

[0041] Aerosol generation devices may include a vibrator that generates short-period vibrations to convert aerosol-generating substances into aerosols. The vibrations generated by the vibrator may be ultrasonic vibrations, and the frequency band of the ultrasonic vibrations may be in the range of about 100 kHz to about 3.5 MHz, but is not limited thereto.

[0042] The aerosol generating apparatus may also include a core that absorbs the aerosol-generating material. For example, the core may be arranged to surround at least one region of the vibrator, or it may be arranged to contact at least one region of the vibrator.

[0043] When a voltage (e.g., alternating voltage) is applied to a vibrator, the vibrator can generate heat and / or ultrasonic vibrations, and the heat and / or ultrasonic vibrations generated by the vibrator can be transmitted to aerosol-generating substances absorbed in the core. The aerosol-generating substances absorbed in the core can be converted into a gaseous phase by the heat and / or ultrasonic vibrations transmitted from the vibrator, thus generating aerosols.

[0044] For example, the viscosity of the aerosol-generating material absorbed in the core can be reduced by the heat generated by the vibrator, and aerosols can be generated by the ultrasonic vibration generated by the vibrator due to the reduced viscosity of the aerosol-generating material. However, this is not the only possibility.

[0045] In another embodiment, the aerosol generating apparatus is an apparatus for generating aerosols by heating the aerosol generator contained in the aerosol generating apparatus by induction heating.

[0046] An aerosol generating apparatus may include a base and a coil. In one embodiment, the coil may apply a magnetic field to the base. When power is supplied to the coil from the aerosol generating apparatus, a magnetic field can be formed inside the coil. In another embodiment, the base may be a magnet that generates heat through an external magnetic field. When the base is positioned inside the coil and a magnetic field is applied to the base, the base generates heat to heat and generate the aerosol article. Alternatively, the base may be positioned within the aerosol-generated article.

[0047] In another embodiment, the aerosol generating apparatus may also include a support.

[0048] The aerosol generating device can be constructed as a system together with a separate support frame. For example, the support frame can charge the battery of the aerosol generating device. Alternatively, when the support frame and the aerosol generating device are connected to each other, a heater can be installed.

[0049] The present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, enabling those skilled in the art to readily operate the disclosure. The present disclosure may be implemented in the aerosol generating apparatus of the various embodiments described above, or in various other forms, and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0050] The embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0051] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the aerosol generating apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0052] refer to Figure 1 According to the embodiment, the aerosol generating apparatus 10 may include a housing 100 into which the aerosol generating article 20 can be inserted and a cover 110 connected to the area of ​​the housing 100.

[0053] The housing 100, together with the cover 110, forms the overall appearance of the aerosol generating device 10. Components of the aerosol generating device 10 can be arranged within the internal space formed between the housing 100 and the cover 110. For example, a heater, a printed circuit board, and / or a battery can be arranged within the internal space formed between the housing 100 and the cover 110, but the components arranged within the internal space are not limited to these.

[0054] In the accompanying drawings, the cross-section of the aerosol generating device 10 is a semi-circular cylindrical shape, but the shape of the aerosol generating device 10 is not limited to this. For example, the aerosol generating device 10 can be formed as a whole into a cylindrical shape, or it can be formed into a polygonal pole (e.g., a triangular pole or a quadrilateral pole) shape.

[0055] According to an embodiment, the housing 100 may include a receiving space 100h for receiving at least a portion of the aerosol generating article 20. The aerosol generating article 20 can be inserted into (or received) inside the housing 100 through the receiving space 100h, and the aerosol generating article 20 inserted into the housing 100 can be heated by a heater inside the housing 100.

[0056] When the aerosol generating article 20 is heated, the aerosol generated inside the housing 100 can be discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 10 through the aerosol generating article 20 and / or the space between the aerosol generating article 20 and the containment space 100h, and the user can inhale the aerosol.

[0057] Cover 110 may be attached to at least one area of ​​housing 100 to protect components of aerosol generating device 10, wherein the components are arranged in the internal space between housing 100 and cover 110. For example, cover 110 may be attached to at least one area of ​​housing 100 to protect components of aerosol generating device 10 (e.g., printed circuit boards) from external impacts or inflow of foreign matter.

[0058] The aerosol generating apparatus 10 according to the embodiment may further include a display D on which visual information is displayed. At least a portion of the display D may be exposed outside the housing 100, and the aerosol generating apparatus 10 may provide various visual information to the user through the display D.

[0059] For example, the aerosol generating device 10 can provide information via display D about whether a user's suction action has occurred and / or about the remaining number of suctions for the inserted aerosol generating article 20. However, the information provided via display D is not limited to this.

[0060] Furthermore, the operation of the aerosol generating device 10 can be controlled based on user input to the display D. For example, the aerosol generating device 10 can control whether the heater operates and / or the temperature profile of the heater based on user input to the display D (e.g., touch input), but is not limited thereto.

[0061] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the aerosol generating apparatus shown.

[0062] refer to Figure 2 According to the embodiment of the aerosol generating apparatus 10 (for example, Figure 1 The aerosol generating device 10) may include a housing 100 (e.g., Figure 1 The housing 100), the cover 110 (e.g., Figure 1 The aerosol generating apparatus 10 includes a cover 110, a printed circuit board 200, an electrical connection member 210, and a destructive structure 300. At least one component of the aerosol generating apparatus 10 can be connected to... Figure 1 At least one component of the aerosol generating device 10 shown is the same or similar, and further description is omitted below.

[0063] The cover 110 can be connected to an area of ​​the housing 100, and components of the aerosol generating device 10 can be arranged in the internal space formed between the housing 100 and the cover 110. For example, the printed circuit board 200 can be arranged in the internal space formed between the housing 100 and the cover 110, but the components arranged in the internal space are not limited to this.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the cover 110 may include a conductive pad 120. The conductive pad 120 may be disposed in an area of ​​the cover 110 facing the printed circuit board 200 and may be electrically connected to the printed circuit board 200 to serve as a grounding element (or "ground layer"). For example, the conductive pad 120 may be electrically connected to the printed circuit board 200 via an electrical connection member 210 to prevent noise generated during operation of the aerosol generating apparatus 10 or external noise from flowing into the printed circuit board 200.

[0065] In one embodiment, the conductive pad 120 may include a metal pad, but is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the conductive pad 120 may also include a pad containing a non-metallic material having high conductivity.

[0066] The printed circuit board 200 can be arranged in the internal space formed between the housing 100 and the cover 110, and a processor (not shown) that controls the operation of the aerosol generating device 10 can be arranged or installed in the area of ​​the printed circuit board 200.

[0067] In an implementation, the processor may be electrically or operationally connected to the heater and the battery to control the power supplied from the battery to the heater, thereby controlling the temperature of the heater. In this disclosure, the expression "operational connection" may refer to a state in which components are connected wirelessly to send or receive signals, or to send or receive light and / or magnetic signals, and may be used in the same sense hereinafter.

[0068] In another embodiment, the processor may be electrically or operationally connected to the sensor to detect the user's suction action based on the sensor's detection results. However, the processor's control operations are not limited to this; detailed control operations of the processor are described below.

[0069] Electrical connection member 210 can electrically connect the conductive pad 120 of cover 110 to printed circuit board 200. For example, since one area of ​​electrical connection member 210 contacts the conductive pad 120 and another area of ​​electrical connection member 210 contacts the printed circuit board 200, the conductive pad 120 can be electrically connected to the printed circuit board 200. Because the conductive pad 120 is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 200, the printed circuit board 200 can be grounded with respect to the conductive pad 120, thus preventing noise from being introduced into the printed circuit board 200.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the electrical connection member 210 may include a conductive clip or a C-clamp, but is not limited thereto. In another embodiment (not shown), the electrical connection member 210 may also include a wire, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), or a cable.

[0071] The destructive structure 300 may be disposed in an area of ​​the cover 110 facing the printed circuit board 200. When the cover 110 is removed from the housing 100, the destructive structure 300 may damage at least one area of ​​the electrical connection member 210. For example, when the cover 110 is removed from the housing 100, the destructive structure 300 may damage the electrical connection member 210 by impacting an area of ​​the electrical connection member 210, and thus, the conductive pad 120 may be electrically disconnected from the printed circuit board 200. In this disclosure, the expression "electrically disconnected" may refer to a state in which the electrical connection is released, and may be used in the same sense hereinafter.

[0072] The processor can detect whether the cover 110 has been removed from the housing 100 based on changes in electrical characteristics, according to the electrical connection state between the conductive pad 120 and the printed circuit board 200. When the cover 110 is removed, the processor can stop the operation of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0073] Recently, many users have disassembled and arbitrarily adjusted (or "customized") their aerosol generators to increase aerosol production or runtime. With arbitrarily adjusted aerosol generators, safety issues such as heater overheating or battery explosions may occur during operation.

[0074] When the cover 110 is removed, the aerosol generating device 10 according to the embodiment can detect whether the cover 110 has been removed by damaging the electrical connection member 210 by destroying the structure 300. When the cover 110 is detected to be removed, the aerosol generating device 10 can stop the operation of the aerosol generating device 10 to prevent safety accidents caused by arbitrary adjustments by the user.

[0075] The following is for reference Figures 3A to 3C The text describes the process by which the electrical connection member 210 is damaged by the destruction structure 300 when the cover 110 is removed from the housing 100.

[0076] Figure 3A This is a diagram illustrating the process of attaching a cover to the housing of an aerosol generating apparatus according to an embodiment. Figure 3A for Figure 2 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the aerosol generating device 10 taken along the AA direction; further details are omitted below.

[0077] refer to Figure 3A According to the embodiments, the aerosol generating apparatus 10 may include a housing 100, a cover 110, a conductive pad 120, a printed circuit board 200, an electrical connection member 210, and a destructive structure 300.

[0078] The cover 110 can be connected to the area of ​​the housing 100. When the housing 100 is connected to the cover 110, the conductive pad 120, the printed circuit board 200, the electrical connection member 210 and the destructive structure 300 can be arranged in the internal space formed between the housing 100 and the cover 110.

[0079] like Figure 3A As shown, the cover 110 can slide and move to engage with the area of ​​the housing 100, so that the electrical connection member 210 is not damaged during the engagement operation of the housing 100 and the cover 110.

[0080] Because the destructive structure 300 is formed to protrude from the area of ​​the cover 110, the electrical connection member 210 may be damaged by the destructive structure 300 during the connection process between the cover 110 and the housing 100. In the aerosol generating apparatus 10 according to the embodiment, the cover 110 is slidable and movable such that the destructive structure 300 does not come into contact with the electrical connection member 210 during the connection operation between the housing 100 and the cover 110, thereby preventing damage to the electrical connection member 210 during the connection operation.

[0081] Since the housing 100 is connected to the cover 110, one area of ​​the electrical connection member 210 can contact the printed circuit board 200, and another area of ​​the electrical connection member 210 can contact the conductive pad 120 disposed on the cover 110. Therefore, the conductive pad 120 can be electrically connected to the printed circuit board 200.

[0082] A damaging structure 300 can be formed to protrude from a region of the cover 110 to perform the function of damaging the electrical connection member 210 when the cover 110 is removed. For example, the damaging structure 300 can be shaped such that at least one region of it is bent in a direction toward the electrical connection member 210. Thus, with the housing 100 attached to the cover 110, at least one region of the damaging structure 300 can be located between the printed circuit board 200 and the electrical connection member 210.

[0083] According to one embodiment, the disruptive structure 300 may include a first portion 310 extending from a region of the cover 110 along a first direction toward the printed circuit board 200, and a second portion 320 extending from a region of the first portion 310 in a second direction intersecting the first direction. For example, the second portion 320 may extend from a region of the first portion 310 in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, but the shape of the disruptive structure 300 is not limited thereto. In another embodiment (not shown), the second portion 320 may extend from the first portion 310 in a direction forming an angle (e.g., about 60° to 80°) with respect to the first direction.

[0084] The second portion 320 of the damaging structure 300 can be located between the printed circuit board 200 and the electrical connection member 210, in a state where the housing 100 is connected to the cover 110. Due to the above arrangement, when the cover 110 is removed from the housing 100, the second portion 320 of the damaging structure 300 can damage the electrical connection member 210 by impacting the area of ​​the electrical connection member 210. (Refer to...) Figure 3B Detailed description.

[0085] Figure 3B This is a diagram illustrating the process of removing the cover from the housing in an aerosol generating apparatus according to an embodiment. Figure 3B It is shown schematically. Figure 3A A cross-sectional view of the process of removing the cover 110 from the housing 100 in the aerosol generating device 10; further details are omitted below.

[0086] refer to Figure 3B When the cover 110 begins to be removed from the housing 100, at least one area of ​​the damaging structure 300 may come into contact with the electrical connection member 210. For example, when the cover 110 moves away from the housing 100 due to the removal of the cover 110, the second portion 320 of the damaging structure 300 (e.g., Figure 3A The second part 320) can contact the region 211 of the electrical connection member 210.

[0087] When the cover 110 moves further away from the housing 100 while the second portion 320 of the disruptive structure 300 is in contact with the region 211 of the electrical connection member 210, pressure or stress can be applied to the region 211 of the electrical connection member 210. Therefore, the region 211 of the electrical connection member 210 may be damaged by the second portion 320 of the disruptive structure 300. For example, the region 211 of the electrical connection member 210 may be bent and damaged by the pressure or stress of the second portion 320. For example, the region 211 may detach from the rest of the electrical connection member 210, but the damage is not limited to this.

[0088] Figure 3C This is a diagram illustrating the process of reconnecting a disassembled cover to the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus according to an embodiment. Figure 3C This schematically illustrates the state in which the cover 110 is reattached to the housing 100 after the cover 110, which was removed from the area of ​​the electrical connection member 210, is damaged.

[0089] refer to Figure 3C In the aerosol generating apparatus 10 according to the embodiment, the electrical connection member 210 is damaged during the process of removing the cover 110 from the housing 100. Therefore, even when the cover 110 is reattached to the housing 100, the conductive pad 120 and the printed circuit board 200 remain electrically isolated from each other.

[0090] For example, during the removal of the cover 110, due to the area of ​​the electrical connection member 210 (e.g. Figure 3B Area 211) is damaged, and the electrical connection member 210 does not contact the conductive pad 120. Therefore, even when the cover 110 is reattached to the housing 100, the conductive pad 120 and the printed circuit board 200 remain electrically isolated from each other.

[0091] That is, even if the cover 110 is removed from the housing 100 even once, the aerosol generating device 10 according to the embodiment will damage the electrical connection member 210 destruction structure 300. Therefore, even if the cover 110 is reattached to the housing 100, the conductive pad 120 may not be electrically connected to the printed circuit board 200.

[0092] Furthermore, the processor of the aerosol generating apparatus 10 according to the embodiment detects whether the cover 110 has been removed based on damage to the electrical connection member 210 and changes in the electrical characteristics of the conductive pad 120 and the printed circuit board 200, and stops the operation of the aerosol generating apparatus 10 when the cover 110 is removed. A detailed description of the processor control operation is provided below.

[0093] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating the process of removing the cover from the housing in an aerosol generating apparatus according to another embodiment.

[0094] refer to Figure 4 According to another embodiment, the aerosol generating apparatus 10 may include a housing 100, a cover 110, a conductive pad 120, a printed circuit board 200, an electrical connection member 210, and a destructive structure 300. According to another embodiment, the aerosol generating apparatus 10 may be... Figures 3A to 3C The device shown in the aerosol generating apparatus 10 is a device that modifies the shape of the disruptive structure 300, and redundant descriptions are omitted below.

[0095] The damaging structure 300 can be formed to protrude from the area of ​​the cover 110 facing the printed circuit board 200, and when the cover 110 is removed from the housing 100, it can damage the electrical connection member 210 that connects the conductive pad 120 of the cover 110 to the printed circuit board 200.

[0096] The disruptive structure 300 can be formed into a curved shape, wherein at least one region bends toward the electrical connection member 210. The at least one region of the disruptive structure 300 that bends toward the electrical connection member 210 can be located between the printed circuit board 200 and the electrical connection member 210 while the housing 100 is connected to the cover 110.

[0097] According to an embodiment, the disruptive structure 300 may include a first portion 310 extending from a region of the cover 110 in a first direction toward the printed circuit board 200, and a second portion 320 bending from a region of the first portion 310 in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

[0098] The second portion 320 of the damaging structure 300 can be located between the printed circuit board 200 and the electrical connection member 210 while the housing 100 and the cover 110 are connected. Due to the above arrangement, the second portion 320 can damage the electrical connection member 210 during the removal of the cover 110 from the housing 100. For example, the second portion 320 can come into contact with region 211 of the electrical connection member 210 during the removal of the cover 110 from the housing 100 and apply pressure or stress to region 211 of the electrical connection member 210, thereby damaging region 211 of the electrical connection member 210.

[0099] In the aerosol generating apparatus 10 according to another embodiment, since the second portion 320 is formed to bend from the region of the first portion 310 along the longitudinal direction (or "first direction") of the first portion 310, a rounded corner can be formed at the connection portion of the first portion 310 and the second portion 320. Therefore, damage to the electrical connection member 210 can be prevented during the connection operation of the housing 100 and the cover 110.

[0100] For example, if the connection between the first portion 310 and the second portion 320 has a sharp edge, the electrical connection member 210 may be damaged during the sliding and moving of the cover 110 for connection between the housing 100 and the cover 110, as the electrical connection member 210 may come into contact with the connection between the first portion 310 and the second portion 320. In this case, the operation of the aerosol generating device 10 may be stopped even if the cover 110 is never removed from the housing 100.

[0101] In contrast, the aerosol generating apparatus 10 according to another embodiment includes a structure in which rounded corners are formed in the connection portion of the first portion 310 and the second portion 320, thereby preventing damage to the electrical connection member 210 during the connection operation of the housing 100 and the cover 110. Therefore, the aerosol generating apparatus 10 can be prevented from stopping its operation without disassembling the cover 110.

[0102] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating the process of removing the cover from the housing in an aerosol generating apparatus according to another embodiment.

[0103] refer to Figure 5, according to another embodiment, the aerosol generating device 10 may include a housing 100, a cover 110, a conductive pad 120, a printed circuit board 200, an electrical connection member 210, and a breaking structure 300. The aerosol generating device 10 according to another embodiment may be a device in which the shape of the breaking structure 300 in the aerosol generating device shown in Figures 3A to 3C is modified, and redundant descriptions are omitted below.

[0104] The breaking structure 300 may be formed to protrude from the area of the cover 110 facing the printed circuit board 200, and when the cover 110 is detached from the housing 100, it may damage the electrical connection member 210 that connects the conductive pad 120 of the cover 110 to the printed circuit board 200.

[0105] According to an embodiment, the breaking structure 300 may include a first part 310, a second part 320, and a third part 330.

[0106] The first part 310 may extend from the area of the cover 110 along a first direction toward the printed circuit board 200. For example, the first part 310 may extend in the first direction from the area of the cover 110 facing the printed circuit board 200.

[0107] The second part 320 may extend from the area of the first part 310 in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the first part 310 protrudes from the cover 110 in the first direction. For example, the second part 320 may extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction from the end of the first part 310 adjacent to the printed circuit board 200 so as to be positioned between the printed circuit board 200 and the electrical connection member 210, but is not limited thereto.

[0108] The third part 330 may extend from the area of the second part 320 in a third direction intersecting the second direction. For example, the third part 330 may extend in a third direction perpendicular to the second direction and parallel to the first direction from the end of the second part 320 so as to be positioned between the printed circuit board 200 and the electrical connection member 210, but is not limited thereto.

[0109] That is, due to the arrangement structure of the above-mentioned first part 310, second part 320, and third part 330, when viewed from the side, the breaking structure 300 may form a "匚" shape. The second part 320 and the third part 330 of the breaking structure 300 may be positioned between the printed circuit board 200 and the electrical connection member 210 so as to damage the area 211 of the electrical connection member 210 when the cover 110 is detached.

[0110] As Figure 5As shown, when the cover 110 is removed from the housing 100, the second portion 320 and the third portion 330 of the destruction structure 300 according to the embodiment can make physical contact with the region 211 of the electrical connection member 210, thereby damaging the region 211 of the electrical connection member 210.

[0111] For example, when the cover 110 is removed, the region 211 of the electrical connection member 210 may come into contact with the connection region between the second part 320 and the third part 330, and the second part 320 and the third part 330 may apply pressure or stress to the region 211 of the electrical connection member 210 to damage the region 211 of the electrical connection member 210.

[0112] In another embodiment, the contact area between the electrical connection member 210 and the damaging structure 300 can increase as the cover 110 is removed. Therefore, when the cover 110 is removed, the aerosol generating device 10 can effectively damage the electrical connection member 210. Thus, the accuracy of detecting whether the cover 110 has been removed can be improved.

[0113] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating the process of removing the cover from the housing in an aerosol generating apparatus according to another embodiment.

[0114] refer to Figure 6 According to another embodiment, the aerosol generating apparatus 10 may include a housing 100, a cover 110, a conductive pad 120, a printed circuit board 200, an electrical connection member 210, and a destructive structure 300. According to another embodiment, the aerosol generating apparatus 10 may be a... Figure 5 The device for modifying the shape of the third part 330 of the destructive structure 300 in the aerosol generating apparatus 10 shown is omitted hereafter.

[0115] The third portion 330 of the disruptive structure 300 may include a tip portion that contacts region 211 of the electrical connection member 210. In this disclosure, "tip portion" (or "cut edge portion") may refer to a portion having a sharp tip, and this expression may be used in the same sense hereinafter.

[0116] According to an embodiment, a tip portion may be formed in the region of the third portion 330. When the cover 110 is removed, this region of the third portion 330 comes into contact with the electrical connection member 210 and may damage the region 211 of the electrical connection member 210. For example, when the cover 110 is removed, the tip portion of the third portion 330 may physically contact the region 211 of the electrical connection member 210, thereby damaging the region 211 of the electrical connection member 210 when pressure or stress is applied to the region 211.

[0117] According to another embodiment, the aerosol generating apparatus 10 may include the aforementioned damaging structure 300, which allows the electrical connection member 210 to contact its tip portion when the cover 110 is removed. Because the electrical connection member 210 contacts the tip portion of the damaging structure 300, greater pressure or stress can be applied to the electrical connection member 210 compared to the case where the electrical connection member 210 contacts the flat portion of the damaging structure 300. Therefore, when the cover 110 is removed, the aerosol generating apparatus 10 can more effectively damage the electrical connection member 210, thereby improving the accuracy of detecting whether the cover 110 has been removed.

[0118] Figure 7 This is a block diagram showing some components of an aerosol generating apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0119] refer to Figure 7 The aerosol generating apparatus 10 according to an embodiment may include a heater 101, a conductive pad 120, a printed circuit board 200, an electrical connection member 210, and a processor 220. At least one of the components of the aerosol generating apparatus 10 according to an embodiment can be connected to... Figures 3A to 6 The components of the aerosol generating device 10 shown are substantially the same or similar, and redundant descriptions are omitted below.

[0120] When powered by a battery, heater 101 can generate heat to heat the aerosol-generating article (e.g., inserted into the aerosol-generating apparatus 10) Figure 1 The aerosol generating product 20 in the middle is used to generate aerosol.

[0121] In one embodiment, heater 101 may include an induction heater. For example, heater 101 may include a coil (or “conducting coil”) that generates an alternating magnetic field when powered, and a base that generates heat through the alternating magnetic field generated by the coil. The base may be arranged around an aerosol generating article inserted into the aerosol generating apparatus 10, or it may be inserted into the interior of the aerosol generating article to heat the aerosol generating article.

[0122] In another embodiment, heater 101 may include a resistance heater. For example, heater 101 may include a membrane heater arranged to surround at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the aerosol-generating article inserted into aerosol-generating apparatus 10. The membrane heater may include conductive tracks, through which the heater can generate heat to heat the aerosol-generating article inserted into aerosol-generating apparatus 10 when current flows.

[0123] In another embodiment, heater 101 may include at least one of a needle heater, a rod heater, and a tubular heater, which can heat the interior of the aerosol-generating article inserted into the aerosol-generating apparatus 10. The aforementioned heater may be inserted, for example, into at least one region of the aerosol-generating article to heat the interior of the aerosol-generating article.

[0124] The heater 101 disclosed herein is not limited to this, and the implementation of the heater can vary as long as the aerosol generating article can be heated to a specified temperature. In this disclosure, "specified temperature" can refer to the temperature at which the aerosol generating substance included in the aerosol generating article 20 is heated to generate an aerosol. The specified temperature can be a preset temperature in the aerosol generating apparatus 10, but the temperature can be changed by the type of aerosol generating apparatus 10 and / or by user operation.

[0125] The display D can be arranged such that at least one area of ​​the display D is exposed to the outer peripheral surface of the aerosol generating device 10, and can output visual information and receive user input.

[0126] In one embodiment, the display D may output information about whether a user's suction action has occurred and / or visual information about the remaining number of suctions of the aerosol-generating article inserted into the aerosol generating device 10, but the visual information output by the display D is not limited to these.

[0127] In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device 10 can receive user input on the display D, and the operation of the aerosol generating device 10 can be controlled based on the received user input. For example, the aerosol generating device 10 can control its operating mode regardless of whether the heater 101 is running and / or the temperature profile of the heater 101, or based on user input on the display D. Furthermore, in this disclosure, "user input" may include touch input and / or hover input, but the type of user input is not limited to these.

[0128] The processor 220 can be arranged or installed on an area of ​​the printed circuit board 200 and can control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0129] According to an embodiment, the processor 220 may be electrically or operationally connected to the heater 101 and / or the display D to control the power supplied to the heater 101 from the battery or to control the visual information output by the display D.

[0130] According to another embodiment, the processor 220 can detect the cover (e.g., Figure 3AThe change in electrical characteristics between the conductive pad 120 and the printed circuit board 200 of the cover 110 can be used to detect whether the cover has been removed.

[0131] For example, when the cover is removed from the housing (e.g., Figure 3A When disassembling the housing 100, it can be done by damaging the structure (e.g., Figures 3A to 6 The damage to the structure 300) damages the electrical connection member 210 that electrically connects the conductive pad 120 to the printed circuit board 200. Therefore, the electrical connection between the conductive pad 120 and the printed circuit board 200 can be released.

[0132] The processor 220 can detect whether the cover has been removed based on the damage to the electrical connection member 210 and the change in electrical characteristics between the conductive pad 120 and the printed circuit board 200. When the cover is detected to have been removed, the processor 220 can stop the operation of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0133] Once the cover is detected to have been removed, the aerosol generating device 10 according to the embodiment cannot resume operation even if the cover is reattached to the housing. Therefore, safety accidents caused by arbitrary adjustments made to the aerosol generating device 10 by the user can be prevented. Referring below... Figure 8 The following operation is described in detail: The processor 220 detects that the cover has been removed and controls the operation of the aerosol generating device 10 based on the detection result.

[0134] Figure 8 It shows that based on Figure 7 The flowchart shows the control operation for whether the cover of the aerosol generating device is removed. See below for reference. Figure 7 The components of the aerosol generating device 10 shown are for... Figure 8 The control operation for whether the cover of the aerosol generating device is removed is described.

[0135] refer to Figure 8 In operation 801, the processor 220 of the aerosol generating apparatus 10 according to the embodiment can detect changes in electrical characteristics between the conductive pad 120 and the printed circuit board 200.

[0136] When the conductive pad 120 is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 200 through the electrical connection member 210, and the electrical connection between the conductive pad 120 and the printed circuit board 200 is released, the electrical characteristics between the conductive pad 120 and the printed circuit board 200 change.

[0137] In the implementation, when with the cover (e.g., Figure 3A The cover 110) is from the housing (e.g., Figure 3AThe housing 100) was disassembled, and the electrical connection component 210 was structurally damaged (e.g. Figures 3A to 6 When the structure 300 is damaged, the electrical connection between the conductive pad 120 and the printed circuit board 200 is released. Therefore, a change in the magnitude of the voltage or current applied to the printed circuit board 200 can occur.

[0138] Then, the processor 220 disposed in the printed circuit board 200 can detect changes in the magnitude of the voltage or current applied to the printed circuit board 200. However, changes in the electrical characteristics of the conductive pad 120 and the printed circuit board 200 are not limited to changes in current or voltage. In another embodiment, when the cover is removed, a change in the capacitance of the printed circuit board 200 may occur, and the processor 220 can detect the change in the capacitance of the printed circuit board 200.

[0139] In operation 802, the processor 220 of the aerosol generating apparatus 10 according to the embodiment can detect the connection status of the cover and the housing based on the change in electrical characteristics between the conductive pad 120 and the printed circuit board 200 detected in operation 801. For example, the processor 220 can detect whether the cover is connected to or detached from the housing based on the change in electrical characteristics between the conductive pad 120 and the printed circuit board 200.

[0140] According to an embodiment, processor 220 can determine that when the change in current or voltage applied to printed circuit board 200 is greater than or equal to a specified value, the electrical connection between conductive pad 120 and printed circuit board 200 is released due to damage to electrical connection member 210. Therefore, processor 220 can determine that the cover has been removed from the housing. In this disclosure, "specified value" can refer to the value of the change in current or voltage applied to printed circuit board 200, which is a criterion used to determine whether the cover has been removed. For example, when the housing is removed from the housing, the change in current or voltage applied to printed circuit board 200 may be greater than or equal to the specified value.

[0141] According to another embodiment, processor 220 can determine that a change in current or voltage applied to printed circuit board 200 is detected due to noise when the change is less than a specified value. Therefore, processor 220 can determine that the cover is connected to the housing.

[0142] In operation 803, the processor 220 of the aerosol generating apparatus 10 according to the embodiment can determine whether the cover was detected to have been removed in operation 802. Since the cover needs to be removed from the housing before any arbitrary adjustment to the aerosol generating apparatus 10, such as replacing the battery or increasing the heating temperature of the heater 101, the processor 220 can determine whether to make any arbitrary adjustment based on whether the cover was detected to have been removed.

[0143] In operation 804, the processor 220 of the aerosol generating apparatus 10 according to the embodiment can stop the operation of the aerosol generating apparatus 10 when the cover is detected to be removed in operation 803.

[0144] With arbitrary adjustments to the aerosol generator 10, safety accidents are likely to occur, such as excessive heater temperature rise or battery explosion during operation. The processor 220 can prevent safety accidents caused by arbitrary user adjustments by stopping the operation of the aerosol generator 10 when the cover is detected to be removed.

[0145] According to an embodiment, when the removal of the cover is detected, the processor 220 will stop the operation of the heater 101. For example, if the removal of the cover is detected, even when the aerosol-generated article (e.g.) is being produced... Figure 1 When the aerosol generating product 20 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10, the processor 220 can also prevent safety accidents caused by arbitrary adjustments by the user by stopping the operation of the heater 101.

[0146] According to another embodiment, if the detachment of the cover is detected, the processor 220 can stop the operation of the aerosol generating device 10 even if user input to the display D is received. For example, the processor 220 cannot change the operating mode of the aerosol generating device 10 even if it receives user input to change the operating mode of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0147] On the other hand, when the connection between the cover and the housing is detected in operation 803, the processor 220 of the aerosol generating device 10 can repeat operations 801 to 803 to continuously detect whether the cover has been removed.

[0148] The aerosol generating apparatus 10 according to the embodiment can stop operating when the cover is detected to have been removed through the above-described operations 801 to 804, thereby preventing safety accidents caused by arbitrary adjustments by the user. Furthermore, the aerosol generating apparatus 10 according to the embodiment can prevent the user from making arbitrary adjustments through the above-described operations 801 to 804, thereby stably maintaining the performance of the aerosol generating apparatus 10.

[0149] Figure 9 This is a block diagram of an aerosol generating apparatus according to another embodiment.

[0150] The aerosol generating device 900 may include a controller 910 (or processor), a sensing unit 920, an output unit 930, a battery 940, a heater 950, a user input unit 960, a memory 970, and a communication unit 980. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 900 is not limited to... Figure 9The structure shown. That is, based on the design of the aerosol generating device 900, those skilled in the art will understand that the following can be omitted. Figure 9 Some of the components shown may be additional components that can be added.

[0151] The sensing unit 920 can sense the state of the aerosol generating device 900 and the state around the aerosol generating device 900, and transmit the sensed information to the controller 910. Based on the sensed information, the controller 910 can control the aerosol generating device 900 to perform various functions, such as controlling the operation of the heater 950, restricting smoking, determining whether to insert aerosol generating products (such as cigarettes, cartridges, etc.), and displaying notifications.

[0152] The sensing unit 920 may include at least one of a temperature sensor 922, an insertion detection sensor 924, and a suction sensor 926, but is not limited thereto.

[0153] Temperature sensor 922 can sense the temperature at which heater 950 (or aerosol generating material) is heated. Aerosol generating device 900 may include a separate temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of heater 950, or heater 950 may be used as a temperature sensor. Alternatively, temperature sensor 922 may be disposed around battery 940 to monitor the temperature of battery 940.

[0154] Insertion detection sensor 924 can sense the insertion and / or removal of aerosol-generating articles. For example, insertion detection sensor 924 may include at least one of membrane sensor, pressure sensor, optical sensor, resistive sensor, capacitive sensor, inductive sensor and infrared sensor, and can sense signal changes based on the insertion and / or removal of aerosol-generating articles.

[0155] The suction sensor 926 can sense a user's suction based on various physical changes in the airflow channel or airflow path. For example, the suction sensor 926 can sense a user's suction based on any of the following: temperature changes, flow rate changes, voltage changes, and pressure changes.

[0156] In addition to the temperature sensor 922, insertion detection sensor 924, and suction sensor 926 described above, the sensing unit 920 may also include at least one of the following: a temperature / humidity sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope sensor, a position sensor (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS)), a proximity sensor, and a red-green-blue (RGB) sensor (brightness sensor). Since those skilled in the art can intuitively infer the function of each sensor from its name, a detailed description is omitted.

[0157] The output unit 930 can output information about the status of the aerosol generating device 900 and provide that information to the user. The output unit 930 may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the display unit 932, the haptic unit 934, and the sound output unit 936. When the display unit 932 and the touchpad form a layered structure to create a touchscreen, the display unit 932 can be used as an input device in addition to being an output device.

[0158] Display unit 932 can intuitively provide users with information about aerosol generating apparatus 900. For example, the information about aerosol generating apparatus 900 can refer to different information segments, such as the charging / discharging status of battery 940, the preheating status of heater 950, the insertion / removal of aerosol-generated articles, or restrictions on the use of aerosol generating apparatus 900 (e.g., sensing abnormal objects), and display unit 932 can output information externally. The display unit 932 can be, for example, a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel, etc. Furthermore, display unit 932 can be in the form of a light-emitting diode (LED) light-emitting device.

[0159] The tactile unit 934 can provide the user with tactile information about the aerosol generating device 900 by converting electrical signals into mechanical or electrical stimulation. For example, the tactile unit 934 may include a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0160] The sound output unit 936 can provide the user with audible information about the aerosol generating device 900. For example, the sound output unit 936 can convert an electrical signal into a sound signal and output it to the outside.

[0161] Battery 940 provides power for operating the aerosol generating apparatus 900. Battery 940 also provides power to heat the heater 950. Furthermore, battery 940 provides the necessary power for the operation of other components in the aerosol generating apparatus 900, such as sensing unit 920, output unit 930, user input unit 960, memory 970, and communication unit 980. Battery 940 can be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, battery 940 can be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited to this.

[0162] Heater 950 can receive power from battery 940 to heat the aerosol-generating material. Although in Figure 9As not shown, the aerosol generating apparatus 900 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a DC / DC converter) that converts the power of the battery 940 and supplies it to the heater 950. Furthermore, when the aerosol generating apparatus 900 generates aerosols by induction heating, the aerosol generating apparatus 900 may also include a DC / AC converter that converts the DC power supply of the battery 940 to the AC power supply.

[0163] The controller 910, sensing unit 920, output unit 930, user input unit 960, memory 970, and communication unit 980 can all receive power from the battery 940 to perform a certain function. Although in Figure 9 As not shown, the aerosol generating device 900 may also include a power conversion circuit, such as a low differential (LDO) circuit or a voltage regulator circuit, that converts the power of the battery 940 into power to supply power to the corresponding components.

[0164] In this embodiment, the heater 950 may include any suitable resistive material. For example, suitable resistive materials may be metals or metal alloys, including, but not limited to, titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, nickel-chromium, etc. Furthermore, the heater 950 may be implemented by a metal wire, a metal plate on which conductive tracks are arranged, a ceramic heating element, or the like, but is not limited to these.

[0165] In another embodiment, the heater 950 may be an induction heating type heater. For example, the heater 950 may include a base for heating aerosol-generating substances by generating heat through a magnetic field applied by a coil.

[0166] The user input unit 960 can receive information input from the user and also output information to the user. For example, the user input unit 960 may include keypads, dome switches, touch pads (using contact capacitance, pressure-resistant film, infrared sensing, surface ultrasonic conduction, overall tension measurement, piezoelectric effect, etc.), rotary wheels, rotary switches, etc., but is not limited to these. Furthermore, although... Figure 9 Although not shown, the aerosol generating device 900 may also include a connection interface, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, and may be connected to other external devices via the connection interface, such as the USB interface, to send and receive information or to charge the battery 940.

[0167] The memory 970 is a hardware component that stores various types of data processed in the aerosol generating apparatus 900. It can store data processed by the controller 910 and data to be processed. The memory 970 may include at least one type of storage medium, such as flash memory, hard disk, multimedia card micro-memory, card memory (e.g., Secure Digital (SD) or Extreme Digital (XD) memory), random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), magnetic storage, magnetic disk, and optical disk. The memory 970 can store the operating time of the aerosol generating apparatus 900, maximum throughput, current throughput, at least one temperature profile, user smoking pattern data, etc.

[0168] The communication unit 980 may include at least one component for communicating with another electronic device. For example, the communication unit 980 may include a short-range wireless communication unit 982 and a wireless communication unit 984.

[0169] The short-range wireless communication unit 982 may include, but is not limited to, a Bluetooth communication unit, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication unit, a near-field communication unit, a wireless local area network (WLAN) (Wi-Fi) communication unit, a Zigbee communication unit, an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication unit, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication unit, an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication unit, an Ant+ communication unit, etc.

[0170] The wireless communication unit 984 may include, but is not limited to, a cellular network communication unit, an internet communication unit, a computer network (e.g., a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN)) communication unit. The wireless communication unit 984 may also identify and verify the aerosol generating device 900 within the communication network using user information (e.g., an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)).

[0171] The controller 910 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 900. In some embodiments, the controller 910 may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of multiple logic gates, or as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and memory storing a program executable by the microprocessor. Those skilled in the art will understand that the processor may be implemented in other forms of hardware.

[0172] The controller 910 can control the temperature of the heater 950 by controlling the power supplied by the battery 940 to the heater 950. For example, the controller 910 can control the power supply by controlling the switching of the switching element between the battery 940 and the heater 950. In another embodiment, the direct heating circuit can also control the power supply to the heater 950 according to the control commands of the controller 910.

[0173] The controller 910 can analyze the results sensed by the sensing unit 920 and control the subsequent processing to be performed. For example, the controller 910 can control the power supply to the heater 950 to start or stop the operation of the heater 950 based on the results sensed by the sensing unit 920. In another embodiment, based on the results sensed by the sensing unit 920, the controller 910 can control the amount of power supplied to the heater 950 and the duration of power supply, so that the heater 950 can be heated to a certain temperature or maintained at an appropriate temperature.

[0174] The controller 910 can control the output unit 930 based on the results sensed by the sensing unit 920. For example, when the number of sprayers counted by the sprayer sensor 926 reaches a preset number, the controller 910 can notify the user that the aerosol generating device 900 is about to be terminated through at least one of the display unit 932, the tactile unit 934, and the sound output unit 936.

[0175] In one embodiment, the controller 910 can generate articles based on the aerosols sensed by the sensing unit 920 (e.g., Figure 1 The controller 910 controls the timing and / or amount of power supplied to the heater 950 based on the state of the aerosol generating article 20. For example, when the aerosol generating article 20 is in an over-humidified state, the controller 910 can control the power supply time of the induction coil to increase the preheating time of the aerosol generating article 20.

[0176] One implementation may also be in the form of a computer-readable recording medium, including computer-executable instructions, such as computer-executable program modules. The computer-readable recording medium can be any available medium accessible to a computer, and includes volatile and non-volatile media, as well as removable and non-removable media. Furthermore, the computer-readable recording medium can include computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes all volatile and non-volatile media, as well as removable and non-removable media implemented by any method or technique for storing information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Communication media typically include computer-readable instructions, data structures, other data in modulated data signals such as program modules, or other transmission mechanisms, and includes any information transmission medium.

[0177] The description of the above embodiments is merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will understand that various variations and equivalents can be made therein. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure should be determined by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope equal to those described in the claims shall be interpreted as included within the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device, wherein, The aerosol generating device includes: The housing includes a receiving space for accommodating an aerosol-generating article and a heater configured to heat the aerosol-generating article; A cover, which is coupled to the housing and includes a conductive pad; A printed circuit board disposed within the internal space formed by the housing and the cover; An electrical connection member configured to electrically connect the conductive pad to the printed circuit board; and A damaging structure is disposed on the cover and configured to damage the electrical connection member when the cover is removed from the housing.

2. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The damaging structure protrudes from the area of ​​the cover in a direction toward the printed circuit board, and the damaging structure damages the electrical connection member by impacting it when the cover is removed from the housing.

3. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The destructive structure has a curved shape that bends in the direction toward the electrical connection member.

4. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The destructive structure has an arc-shaped shape that bends in the direction toward the electrical connection member.

5. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The damaged structure includes: A first portion, the first portion extending from the cover in a first direction toward the printed circuit board; and The second part extends from the end of the first part along a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the second part is configured to damage the electrical connection member by impact when the cover is removed.

6. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, The destructive structure further includes a third portion that protrudes from the end of the second portion along a third direction intersecting the second direction, and the third portion is configured to damage the electrical connection member by impact when the cover is removed.

7. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, The third part includes a tip portion that contacts the electrical connection member when the cover is removed.

8. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The electrical connection component includes a conductive clip having an area that contacts the conductive pad and another area that contacts the printed circuit board.

9. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The conductive pad functions as a grounding element when electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

10. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The heater includes: A coil, the coil being configured to generate an alternating magnetic field; and A base configured to generate heat in response to an alternating magnetic field generated by the coil.

11. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The aerosol generating device further includes: A processor is disposed on the printed circuit board and configured to detect whether the cover has been removed based on changes in the electrical characteristics between the printed circuit board and the conductive pad in response to damage to the electrical connection member.

12. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, The processor is also configured to detect whether the cover has been removed based on changes in the current or voltage applied to the printed circuit board.

13. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, The processor is also configured to determine that the cover is removed from the housing when the change in current or voltage applied to the printed circuit board is greater than or equal to a specified value.

14. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, The processor is also configured to stop the operation of the aerosol generating device when the removal of the cover is detected.

15. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, The processor is also configured to stop the operation of the heater when the removal of the cover is detected.

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