Aerosol device comprising drive circuit for measuring signal provided to vibrator

Abstract

Disclosed is a driving circuit of an electronic device, the driving circuit comprising: a power supply configured to provide a signal to the driving circuit when a vibrator of a cartridge is connected to the driving circuit of the electronic device; one or more diodes configured to rectify a signal supplied to the vibrator of the cartridge; the divider resistor is configured to perform voltage division on the signal rectified by the one or more diodes; and a voltage measurement system configured to measure a target voltage across a first divider resistor in the divider resistors.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The following embodiments relate to a device for generating an aerosol, and more particularly, to a drive circuit for measuring a signal supplied to a vibrator of an aerosol generating device. Background Art

[0002] Recently, people's demand for electronic cigarettes has been on the rise. The rising demand for electronic cigarettes has accelerated the continuous development of electronic cigarette related functions. Electronic cigarette related functions can especially include types and characteristics of electronic cigarettes. Summary of the invention

[0003] Technical issues to be solved

[0004] One embodiment may provide a driving circuit for driving a vibrator of an aerosol generating device.

[0005] One embodiment may provide an aerosol generating device for generating an aerosol.

[0006] Technical solutions to the problem

[0007] According to one aspect, the driving circuit includes: a power supply configured to provide a signal to the driving circuit when the vibrator of the cigarette cartridge is connected to the driving circuit of the electronic device; one or more diodes configured to rectify the signal supplied to the vibrator of the cigarette cartridge; a voltage dividing resistor configured to divide the signal rectified by the one or more diodes; and a voltage measurement system configured to measure a target voltage across a first voltage dividing resistor among the voltage dividing resistors.

[0008] When the target voltage measured by the voltage measurement system exceeds a preset threshold voltage, the signal provided to the vibrator may be adjusted.

[0009] The signal provided to the vibrator may be adjusted by adjusting the duty cycle of the power supply.

[0010] The signal provided to the vibrator may be adjusted by reducing the amplitude of the signal.

[0011] The driving circuit may further include a peak-hold circuit, wherein the voltage measurement system may measure a result of the peak-hold circuit holding the target voltage.

[0012] The electronic device may be an aerosol generating device.

[0013] According to one aspect, an electronic device includes: a cartridge unit including a vibrator configured to generate an aerosol by vibrating an aerosol generating substance; and a body connected to the cartridge unit. The body includes: a drive circuit configured to operate the vibrator when the cartridge unit is connected to the body; and a controller configured to control the operation of the drive circuit, and the drive circuit includes: a power supply configured to provide a signal to the drive circuit when the vibrator of the cartridge is connected to the drive circuit of the electronic device; one or more diodes that rectify the signal supplied to the vibrator; a voltage divider resistor configured to divide the signal after rectification by the one or more diodes; and a voltage measurement system configured to measure a target voltage across the first voltage divider resistor in the voltage divider resistor.

[0014] According to one aspect, a method for measuring a voltage value of a vibrator performed by an electronic device includes the following operations: generating a signal of a vibrator to be provided to a driving circuit of the electronic device; and measuring a target voltage of the signal divided by a voltage-dividing resistor of the driving circuit, the target voltage being measured across a first voltage-dividing resistor among the voltage-dividing resistors.

[0015] The method may further include the following operations: determining whether the target voltage exceeds a preset threshold voltage; and when the target voltage exceeds the preset threshold voltage, adjusting the signal to be provided to the vibrator.

[0016] Beneficial Effects of the Invention

[0017] According to an embodiment, a drive circuit for operating a vibrator of an aerosol generating device may be provided.

[0018] According to an embodiment, an aerosol generating device for generating an aerosol may be provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0021] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a cigarette cartridge and a body of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the invention being separated.

[0022] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a cartridge and a body of an aerosol generating device coupled together according to an embodiment.

[0023] Figure 5A driving circuit according to an embodiment is shown.

[0024] Figure 6 is a flow chart of a method for measuring a voltage value of a vibrator according to an embodiment.

[0025] Figure 7 is a flow chart of a method for measuring a voltage value of a vibrator according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following specific structure or function description is provided only by way of example, and various changes or modifications may be made to the examples. Therefore, the embodiments are not limited by the disclosure, and should be understood to include all variations, equivalents or substitutes falling within the thought and technical scope of the disclosure.

[0027] Although terms such as "first", "second", etc. are used to explain various components, the components are not limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component. For example, within the scope of the present disclosure, a first component may be referred to as a second component, or similarly, a second component may also be referred to as a first component.

[0028] It should be noted that when a component is described as being “connected,” “coupled,” or “engaged” to another component, although the first component may be directly connected, coupled, or engaged to the second component, a third component may be “connected,” “coupled,” or “engaged” between the first and second components.

[0029] The singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It should also be understood that the use of the terms "include / comprise" and / or "include / comprises" in this specification indicates the presence of the described features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or presence of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0030] In the absence of other limitations, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the common meanings understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, commonly used terms that are the same as dictionary definitions should be understood to have the same meanings as those in the common content of the relevant technology, and should not be overly idealized or interpreted as formal meanings unless explicitly mentioned in this application.

[0031] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the process of describing the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements and repeated descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0032] Figure 1is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0033] According to one embodiment, Figure 1 The aerosol generating device 100 in the embodiment may include a controller 110, a sensing unit 120, an output unit 130, a battery 140, an atomizer 150, a user input unit 160, a memory 170, and a communication unit 180. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 100 is not limited to Figure 1 For those skilled in the art, it should be understood that the aerosol generating device 100 may be omitted according to different designs. Figure 1 Some of the components shown may be modified or new components may be added.

[0034] The sensing unit 120 can sense the state of the aerosol generating device 100 or the state of the surrounding environment of the aerosol generating device 100, and transmit the sensing information obtained by the sensing to the controller 110. The controller 110 can control the aerosol generating device 100 based on the sensing information to control the operation of the atomizer 150, restrict smoking, determine whether to insert an aerosol generating product (e.g., an aerosol generating product, a cigarette cartridge, etc.), display a notification, and perform other functions.

[0035] The sensing unit 120 may include at least one of a temperature sensor 122, an insertion detection sensor 124, and a suction sensor 126. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0036] The temperature sensor 122 can sense the temperature of the atomization unit 150 (or the aerosol generating substance). The aerosol generating device 100 may include a separate temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the atomizer 150, or the atomizer 150 itself may be used as a temperature sensor. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 122 may be disposed around the battery 140 to monitor the temperature of the battery 140.

[0037] The insertion detection sensor 124 can sense whether the aerosol generating article is inserted and / or removed. For example, the insertion detection sensor 124 can include at least one of a membrane sensor, a pressure sensor, a light sensor, a resistance sensor, a capacitance sensor, an inductance sensor, and an infrared sensor, which can sense signal changes when the aerosol generating article is inserted and / or removed.

[0038] The suction sensor 126 can sense the user's suction based on various physical changes in the airflow path or airflow channel. For example, the suction sensor 126 can sense the user's suction based on any one of temperature change, flow change, voltage change and pressure change.

[0039] In addition to the above-mentioned sensors 122 to 126, the sensing unit 120 may further include at least one of a temperature / humidity sensor, an air pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a position sensor (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS)), a proximity sensor, and a red, green, and blue (RGB) sensor (e.g., an illumination sensor). Since a person of ordinary skill in the art can intuitively infer the function of each sensor from the name, a detailed description is omitted.

[0040] The output unit 130 may output information related to the state of the aerosol generating device 100 and provide the information to the user. The output unit 130 may include at least one of a display unit 132, a tactile unit 134, or a sound output unit 136. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto. When the display unit 132 and the touch panel are arranged in a stacked structure to form a touch screen, the display unit 132 may be used not only as an output device but also as an input device.

[0041] The display unit 132 can visually provide information about the aerosol generating device 100 to the user. For example, the information about the aerosol generating device 100 may include various information such as the charging / discharging state of the battery 140 of the aerosol generating device 100, the state of the atomizer 150, the insertion / removal state of the aerosol generating article, or the use restriction state of the aerosol generating device 100 (for example, abnormality is detected), and the display unit 132 can output the information to the outside. The display unit 132 may be a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light emitting display panel (OLED), etc. The display unit 132 may also be in the form of a light emitting diode (LED) device.

[0042] The haptic portion 134 may provide the user with information about the aerosol generating device 100 in a tactile manner by converting an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus or an electrical stimulus. For example, the haptic portion 134 may include a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0043] The sound output unit 136 may provide the user with information about the aerosol generating device 100 by means of sound. For example, the sound output unit 136 may convert an electrical signal into a sound signal and output the sound signal to the outside.

[0044] The battery 140 can provide the power required to operate the aerosol generating device 100. The battery 140 can supply power to operate the atomizer 150. In addition, the battery 140 can provide the power required to operate other components (such as the sensing unit 120, the output unit 130, the user input unit 160, the memory 170, and the communication unit 180) included in the aerosol generating device 100. The battery 140 can be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 140 can be, for example, a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0045] The nebulizer 150 may receive power from the battery 140 to nebulize the aerosol-generating substance. Figure 1 Although not shown in the figure, the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a direct current (DC) to direct current (DC / DC) converter) that converts the power of the battery 140 and supplies the converted power to the atomizer 150. In addition, when the aerosol generating device 100 adopts an ultrasonic vibration method to generate aerosol, the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a DC to alternating current (AC) (DC / AC) converter that converts the direct current of the battery 140 into alternating current.

[0046] The controller 110, the sensing unit 120, the output unit 130, the user input unit 160, the memory 170, and the communication unit 180 may receive power from the battery 140 to implement their functions. Figure 1 Although not shown in the figure, the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a power conversion circuit, for example, a low dropout (LDO) circuit or a voltage stabilization circuit, which converts the power of the battery 140 and supplies the converted power to the various components.

[0047] In one embodiment, the atomizer 150 may include a vibrator that generates ultrasonic vibrations by an applied signal (e.g., electricity). For example, the material of the vibrator may include piezoelectric ceramics. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto. The vibrator may include a piezoelectric body. According to one embodiment, the piezoelectric body may serve as a conversion element capable of converting electrical energy into mechanical energy, and may generate ultrasonic vibrations under the control of the controller 110. In one embodiment, when alternating current is applied to the piezoelectric body subjected to polarization treatment, the piezoelectric body may repeatedly expand and contract. When the piezoelectric body repeatedly expands and contracts, the vibrator may vibrate at a characteristic frequency. When a signal is applied to the vibrator, a short high-frequency vibration may be generated, and the generated vibration may break the aerosol-generating substance into small particles, thereby atomizing the aerosol-generating substance into an aerosol.

[0048] The user input unit 160 may receive information input by a user or may output information to the user. For example, the user input unit 160 may include a keyboard, a dome switch, a touch pad (e.g., a contact capacitance type, a pressure resistance film type, an infrared sensing type, a surface ultrasonic conduction type, an overall tension measurement type, a piezoelectric effect type, etc.), a roller, a roller switch, etc. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto. In addition, although Figure 1 Although not shown in the figure, the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a connection interface such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and may be connected to other external devices through a connection interface such as a USB interface to transmit and receive information, or to charge the battery 140.

[0049] The memory 170 is hardware for storing various data processed by the aerosol generating device 100, and can store data processed by the controller 110 and data to be processed by the controller 110. The memory 170 may include at least one storage medium selected from a flash memory, a hard disk memory, a multimedia card micro memory, a card memory (such as an SD or XD memory, etc.), a random access memory (RAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk. The memory 170 may store the operating time of the aerosol generating device 100, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature curve, data related to the user's smoking pattern, and the like.

[0050] The communication unit 180 may include at least one component for communicating with other electronic devices. For example, the communication unit 180 may include a short-range wireless communication unit 182 and a wireless communication unit 184 .

[0051] The short-range wireless communication unit 182 may include a Bluetooth communication unit, a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication unit, a near field communication unit, a wireless local area network (WLAN) (wireless fidelity (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, and an Ant+ communication unit. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0052] The wireless communication unit 184 may include, for example, 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, etc. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto. The wireless communication unit 184 may confirm and authenticate the aerosol generating device 100 within the communication network using subscriber information (e.g., an International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI)).

[0053] The controller 110 may control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 100. In one embodiment, the controller 110 may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of multiple logic gates, or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a program executable by the microprocessor. In addition, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the processor may be implemented as other forms of hardware.

[0054] The controller 110 may control the operation of the atomizer 150 by controlling the power supply from the battery 140 to the atomizer 150. For example, the controller 110 may control the power supply by controlling the switching of the switching element of the driving circuit 138 between the battery 140 and the atomizer 150.

[0055] The controller 110 may analyze the sensing result obtained by the sensing unit 120 and control the subsequent process to be performed. For example, the controller 110 may control the power provided to the atomizer 150 according to the sensing result obtained by the sensing unit 120, thereby starting or stopping the operation of the atomizer 150. For another example, the controller 110 may control the amount of power provided to the atomizer 150 and the power supply time according to the sensing result obtained by the sensing unit 120, so that the atomizer 150 can vibrate at a predetermined frequency or maintain an appropriate vibration frequency.

[0056] The controller 110 may control the output unit 130 according to the sensing result obtained by the sensing unit 120. For example, when the number of puffs counted by the puff sensor 126 reaches a preset number, the controller 110 may notify the user through at least one of the display unit 132, the tactile unit 134, or the sound output unit 136 that the aerosol generating device 100 is about to stop.

[0057] In one embodiment, the controller 110 can control the power supply time and / or power supply amount of the atomizer 150 by controlling the driving circuit 138 according to the state of the aerosol generating product sensed by the sensing unit 120. For example, the controller 110 can control the vibration frequency of the vibrator of the atomizer 150 according to the type or remaining amount of the aerosol generating product.

[0058] One embodiment can be implemented as a storage medium, which includes instructions executable by a computer, such as a program module executable by a computer. Computer-readable media can be any available media accessible by a computer, and include volatile media, non-volatile media, removable media, and non-removable media. In addition, computer-readable media may include computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media include volatile media, non-volatile media, removable media, and non-removable media implemented by any method or technology 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 such as program modules in modulated data signals, or other transmission mechanisms, and include any information transmission medium.

[0059] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0060] Reference Figure 2 , aerosol generating device 200 (e.g., Figure 1 The aerosol generating device 100 may include a cartridge 220 containing an aerosol generating substance and a body 210 connected to the cartridge 220 .

[0061] The cartridge 220 of the aerosol generating device 200 may be coupled to the body 210 while containing an aerosol generating substance in the cartridge. For example, when at least a portion of the cartridge 220 is inserted into the body 210, the cartridge 220 and the body 210 may be coupled. In another example, when at least a portion of the body 210 is inserted into the cartridge 220, the cartridge 220 and the body 210 may be coupled.

[0062] The cartridge 220 and the body 210 may be connected by at least one of a snap-fit ​​method, a screw connection method, a magnetic connection method, or an interference fit method, but the connection method of the cartridge 220 and the body 210 is not limited to the above examples.

[0063] According to an embodiment, the cigarette cartridge 220 may include a housing 222 , a mouthpiece 224 , a storage portion 230 , a transmission portion 240 , a vibrator 250 , and an electrical terminal 260 .

[0064] The housing 222 of the aerosol generating device 200 can constitute the overall appearance of the cartridge 220 together with the mouthpiece 224, and the components used for the operation of the cartridge 220 can be arranged inside the housing 222. For example, the housing 222 can be formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, but the shape of the housing 222 is not limited to the above embodiment. According to one embodiment, the housing 222 can be formed in the shape of a polygonal column (for example, a triangular column or a pentagonal column) or a cylindrical column.

[0065] The mouthpiece 224 of the aerosol generating device 200 may be disposed in an area of ​​the housing 222, and may include an outlet 224e for discharging the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating substance to the outside. For example, the mouthpiece 224 may be disposed in another area opposite to an area of ​​the cartridge 220 coupled to the body 210, and when the user brings the mouthpiece 224 into contact with the aerosol and inhales the aerosol, the user may receive the aerosol from the cartridge 220.

[0066] Due to the user's inhalation or suction operation, a pressure difference may be generated between the outside of the cartridge 220 and the inside of the cartridge 220, and due to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the cartridge 220, the aerosol generated in the cartridge 220 may be discharged to the outside of the cartridge 220 through the outlet 224e. That is, when the user contacts the mouthpiece 224 with the mouthpiece and inhales the aerosol, the user may receive the aerosol discharged to the outside of the cartridge 220 through the outlet 224e.

[0067] The storage unit 230 of the aerosol generating device 200 may be positioned in the internal space of the housing 222 and may contain an aerosol generating substance. In the present disclosure, the expression "the storage unit contains an aerosol generating substance" means that the storage unit 230 simply performs a function of containing an aerosol generating substance, such as the use of a container, and the storage unit 230 includes an element impregnated (containing) with an aerosol generating substance, such as a sponge, cotton, cloth, or a porous ceramic structure. In addition, the above expression may be used as the same meaning hereinafter.

[0068] The storage part 230 may contain the aerosol generating substance in any one of a liquid state, a solid state, a gas state, and a gel state.

[0069] In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating substance may include a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco material including volatile tobacco flavor components, or a liquid including a non-tobacco material.

[0070] For example, the liquid composition may include any one of water, solvent, ethanol, plant extract, spices, flavoring agents and vitamin mixtures or a mixture of these ingredients. For example, spices may include menthol, mint, spearmint oil, various fruity ingredients, etc. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0071] The flavoring agent may include ingredients that provide a variety of flavors or aromas to the user. The vitamin mixture may be a mixture of at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, or vitamin E. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto. The liquid composition may also include an aerosol former, such as glycerol and propylene glycol.

[0072] For example, the liquid composition may include glycerol and propylene glycol to which nicotine salts are added in any weight ratio. The liquid composition may also include two or more nicotine salts. Nicotine salts may be formed by adding a suitable acid to nicotine, and this suitable acid includes an organic acid or an inorganic acid. Nicotine may be naturally occurring nicotine or synthetic nicotine, and nicotine may be present in a concentration of any suitable weight relative to the total solution weight of the liquid composition.

[0073] The acid forming the nicotine salt can be appropriately selected according to factors such as the absorption rate of nicotine in the blood, the operating temperature of the aerosol generating device 200, the aroma or taste, and the solubility. For example, the acid used to form the nicotine salt may include a single acid selected from the following or a combination of two or more acids selected from the following: benzoic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, lauric acid, sorbic acid, levulinic acid, pyruvic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, citric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, phenylacetic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, saccharic acid, malonic acid, or malic acid. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0074] The transmission part 240 of the aerosol generating device 200 may absorb the aerosol generating substance. For example, the aerosol generating substance stored or contained in the storage part 230 may be transferred from the storage part 230 to the vibrator 250 through the transmission part 240, and the vibrator 250 may generate an aerosol by atomizing the aerosol generating substance of the transmission part 240 or the aerosol generating substance received from the transmission part 240. In this case, the transmission part 240 may include at least one of cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic, but the transmission part 240 is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0075] According to an embodiment, the transmission part 240 may be disposed adjacent to the storage part 230 to receive the liquid aerosol generating substance from the storage part 230. For example, the aerosol generating substance stored in the storage part 230 may be discharged to the outside of the storage part 230 through a liquid supply port formed in a region of the storage part 230 facing the transmission part 240, and the transmission part 240 may absorb at least a portion of the aerosol generating substance discharged from the storage part 230, thereby absorbing the aerosol generating substance from the storage part 230.

[0076] According to one embodiment, the cartridge 220 may further include an absorber, which is arranged to cover at least a portion of the vibrator 250 for generating aerosol, and transmits the aerosol generating substance absorbed by the transmission part 240 to the vibrator 250. The absorber may be made of a material capable of absorbing aerosol generating substances. For example, the absorber may include at least one material of SPL 30 (H), SPL50 (H) V, NP 100 (V8), SPL 60 (FC) and melamine. Since the cartridge 220 also includes an absorber, the aerosol generating substance can be absorbed not only in the transmission part 240, but also in the absorber, thereby increasing the absorption amount of the aerosol generating substance.

[0077] The vibrator 250 of the aerosol generating device 200 may be positioned inside the housing 222, and may generate aerosol by converting the phase of the aerosol generating substance stored in the cartridge 220. For example, the vibrator 250 may generate aerosol by heating or vibrating the aerosol generating substance.

[0078] In addition, since the absorber is configured to cover at least a portion of the vibrator 250, the absorber can act as a physical barrier to prevent the "spraying" phenomenon in which particles that are not fully atomized are directly discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 200 during the aerosol generation process. Here, "spraying" may mean that particles with relatively large sizes in the aerosol generating substance are discharged to the outside of the cartridge 220 due to insufficient atomization. Since the cartridge 220 also includes the absorber, the possibility of "spraying" can be reduced, thereby improving the smoking satisfaction of the user.

[0079] In one embodiment, the absorber may be positioned between one surface of the vibrator 250 generating the aerosol and the transmission part 240, and transmit the aerosol provided to the transmission part 240 to the vibrator 250. For example, one area of ​​the absorber may be in contact with an area of ​​the transmission part 240 facing the -z direction, and another area of ​​the absorber may be in contact with an area of ​​the vibrator 250 facing the +z direction. That is, the absorber may be positioned on the top surface (e.g., +z direction) of the vibrator 250, and provide the aerosol generating substance absorbed by the transmission part 240 to the vibrator 250.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the vibrator 250 of the aerosol generating device 200 can change the physical phase of the aerosol generating substance by using an ultrasonic vibration method, which uses ultrasonic vibration to atomize the aerosol generating substance. For example, the vibrator 250 can generate short-period vibrations, and the vibrations generated by the vibrator 250 can be ultrasonic vibrations. The frequency of the ultrasonic vibrations may be in the range of about 100kHz to about 10MHz (preferably in the range of about 100kHz to 3.5MHz). However, the embodiment is not limited to this. When the vibrator generates ultrasonic vibrations in the above-mentioned frequency band, the vibrator may vibrate along the longitudinal direction (e.g., z-axis direction) of the cigarette cartridge 220 or the housing 222. However, the embodiment is not limited to the direction in which the vibrator generates vibrations, and the direction in which the vibrator generates vibrations can be changed to various directions (e.g., any one of the x-axis direction, the y-axis direction, and the z-axis direction or a combination thereof). The aerosol generating substance provided from the storage part 230 to the vibrator 250 may be vaporized and / or changed into particles to be atomized into aerosol by the vibration having a short period generated by the vibrator 250 .

[0081] For example, the vibrator 250 may include piezoelectric ceramics, which may be a functional material that can generate electricity (voltage) through physical force (pressure) and generate vibration (mechanical force) when electricity is applied thereto, thereby converting electricity and mechanical force into each other. That is, when electricity is applied to the vibrator 250, vibration with a short period (physical force) may be generated, and the generated vibration may break the aerosol generating substance into small particles and atomize the aerosol generating substance broken into small particles into an aerosol.

[0082] The vibrator 250 may be electrically connected to other components of the aerosol generating device 200 via an electrical terminal 260. The electrical terminal 260 may be positioned on one surface of the cartridge 220. For example, the electrical terminal 260 may be positioned on a coupling surface of the cartridge 220 where the cartridge 220 is coupled to the body 210 of the aerosol generating device 20. The electrical terminal 260 may be positioned on one surface of the housing 222 opposite to the mouthpiece 224.

[0083] According to one embodiment, the vibrator 250 may be electrically connected to at least one of the driving circuit 212 , the controller 214 , or the battery 216 of the body 210 through an electrical terminal 260 positioned inside the housing 222 of the cigarette cartridge 220 .

[0084] For example, the vibrator 250 can be electrically connected to the electrical terminal 260 located inside the cigarette cartridge 220 through the first conductor, and the electrical terminal 260 can be electrically connected to the driving circuit 212 of the body 210 through the second conductor. That is, the vibrator 250 can be electrically connected to the components of the body 210 through the electrical terminal 260.

[0085] The vibrator 250 can generate ultrasonic vibrations by receiving power from the battery 216 of the body 210 through the electrical terminal 260. In addition, the vibrator 250 can be electrically connected to the controller 214 of the body 210 through the electrical terminal 260, and the controller 214 can control the operation of the vibrator 250 through the driving circuit 212.

[0086] For example, the electrical terminal 260 may include at least one of a shuttle needle, a wire, a cable, a printed circuit board (PCB), a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), or a C-clip. However, the electrical terminal 260 is not limited to the above examples.

[0087] In one embodiment, the vibrator 250 can be implemented as a mesh or plate-shaped vibration containing portion, which performs the function of absorbing the aerosol generating substance and maintaining the absorbed aerosol generating substance in an optimal state for conversion into an aerosol, and also performs the function of transmitting vibration to the aerosol generating substance to generate an aerosol, without using a separate transmission portion 240.

[0088] The aerosol generated by the vibrator 250 may be discharged to the outside of the cartridge 220 through the airflow path 223 and provided to the user.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the airflow path 223 may be positioned inside the cartridge 220 and may be connected to the vibrator 250 and the outlet 224e of the mouthpiece 224. Therefore, the aerosol generated by the vibrator 250 may flow along the airflow path 223 and may be discharged through the outlet 224e to the outside of the cartridge 220 or the aerosol generating device 200. When the user brings the mouth into contact with the mouthpiece 224 and inhales the aerosol discharged from the outlet 224e, the user may receive the aerosol.

[0090] Although not shown in the figure, the airflow path 223 may include at least one inlet through which air outside the cartridge 220 is introduced into the cartridge 220. The inlet may be positioned on at least a portion of the housing 222 of the cartridge 220. For example, the inlet may be positioned on a coupling surface (e.g., a bottom surface) of the cartridge 220, where the cartridge 220 and the body 210 are coupled.

[0091] Since at least one gap may be formed in a portion where the cartridge 220 is coupled to the body 210 , external air may be introduced through the gap between the cartridge 220 and the body 210 and move into the cartridge 220 through the inlet.

[0092] The air flow path 223 may be connected from the inlet to the space where the vibrator 250 generates the aerosol, and may be connected from the corresponding space to the outlet 224e.

[0093] Thus, the air introduced through the inlet may be transferred to the vibrator 250 , and the transferred air may move to the outlet 224 e together with the aerosol generated by the vibrator 250 , thereby circulating the air inside the cartridge 220 .

[0094] According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the airflow path 223 may be arranged so that it is surrounded by the storage portion 230 in the housing 222. In another example, at least a portion of the airflow path 223 may be arranged between the inner wall of the housing 222 and the outer wall of the storage portion 230. The arrangement structure of the airflow path 223 is not limited to the above example, and the airflow path 223 may be arranged in various structures to circulate the airflow between the inlet, the vibrator 250, and the outlet 224e.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the body 210 may include a driving circuit 212, a controller 214, and a battery 216, and one end of the body 210 may be connected to one end of the cartridge 220. For example, the body 210 may be connected to the bottom surface or the connection surface of the cartridge 220.

[0096] When the vibrator 250 of the cigarette cartridge 220 is electrically connected to the drive circuit 212 through the electrical terminal 260, the drive circuit 212 can supply power to the vibrator 250. For example, the amount of power supplied to the vibrator 250 can be determined by the controller 214. The vibration frequency of the vibrator 250 can be controlled by the amount of power. According to an embodiment, the drive circuit 212 can be in the form of a class E power amplifier circuit, a half-bridge circuit, or a full-bridge circuit. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0097] The controller 214 may control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 200. For example, the controller 214 may control the amount of aerosol generated by the vibrator 250 by controlling the power supplied from the battery 216 to the vibrator 250. For example, the controller 214 may control the power supplied to the vibrator 250 so that the vibrator 250 vibrates at a predetermined frequency.

[0098] The controller 214 may be implemented as an array of multiple logic gates, or as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory storing a program executable by the microprocessor. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the controller 214 may be implemented in other types of hardware.

[0099] The controller 214 analyzes the sensing result obtained by at least one sensor included in the aerosol generating device 200 and controls the subsequent process to be performed. For example, the controller 214 can control the power supplied to the vibrator 250 according to the sensing result obtained by the at least one sensor to start or end the operation of the vibrator 250. In addition, the controller 214 can also control the amount of power supplied to the vibrator 250 and the power supply time, so that the vibrator 250 can generate an appropriate amount of aerosol according to the sensing result obtained by the at least one sensor.

[0100] The battery 216 can provide power for operating the aerosol generating device 200. For example, when the body 210 is electrically connected to the cartridge 220, the battery 216 can supply power to the vibrator 250.

[0101] The battery 216 may provide the power required to operate other hardware components included in the aerosol generating device 200 (eg, sensors, user interface, memory, and controller 214). The battery 216 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery.

[0102] For example, the battery 216 may include a nickel-based battery (eg, a nickel metal hydride battery or a nickel cadmium battery) or a lithium-based battery (eg, a lithium cobalt battery, a lithium phosphate battery, a lithium titanate battery, a lithium ion battery, or a lithium polymer battery).

[0103] In one embodiment, the shape of the cross section of the aerosol generating device 200 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 220 and / or the body 210 may be circular, elliptical, square, rectangular, or various polygonal shapes. However, the cross-sectional shape of the cartridge 220 and / or the body 210 is not limited to the above shapes, nor is it limited to a shape that extends linearly when the aerosol generating device 200 extends in the longitudinal direction.

[0104] In one embodiment, the shape of the cross section of the aerosol generating device 200 may be extended longer so as to be bent in a streamlined manner or bent at a predetermined angle in a specific area to facilitate the user to hold it more easily with the hand, and the shape of the cross section of the aerosol generating device 200 may change along the longitudinal direction.

[0105] Figure 3 is a three-dimensional diagram of a cigarette cartridge and a body of an aerosol generating device separated according to an embodiment, and Figure 4 It is a stereoscopic diagram of a cigarette cartridge and a body of an aerosol generating device connected together according to one embodiment.

[0106] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The aerosol generating device 300 of the embodiment shown may be Figure 2 The aerosol generating device 200 (or Figure 1 An improved example of an aerosol generating device 100) and Figure 3 and Figure 4 The cigarette cartridge 220-1 and the body 210-1 of the embodiment shown in the figure can be respectively Figure 2 The illustrated cigarette cartridge 220 and the body 210 are improved examples, and therefore repeated descriptions will be omitted below.

[0107] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the cartridge 220-1 may be detachably coupled to the body 210-1. For example, as at least a portion of the cartridge 220-1 is inserted into the body 210-1, the cartridge 220-1 may be coupled to the body 210-1.

[0108] The cartridge 220-1 may include a mouthpiece 10m that can move between an open position and a closed position. For example, the mouthpiece 10m can be opened and closed by rotating between the open position and the closed position.

[0109] The body 10b of the cigarette cartridge 220-1 can be connected to the mouthpiece 10m by a rotating shaft. In one example, the mouthpiece 10m can be positioned in an open position. The open state of the mouthpiece 10m may refer to a state in which the mouthpiece 10m is stretched in the longitudinal direction of the cigarette cartridge 220-1 to facilitate the user to contact the mouth with the mouthpiece 10m. Here, the longitudinal direction may refer to the direction in which the cigarette cartridge 220-1 extends the longest in several directions. In another example, the mouthpiece 10m can be positioned in a closed position. The closed state of the mouthpiece 10m may refer to a state in which the mouthpiece 10m is folded in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the cigarette cartridge 220-1, so that the mouthpiece 10m is accommodated in the body 210-1 of the aerosol generating device 300.

[0110] The cigarette cartridge 220-1 may include a body 10b, which includes various components required to generate aerosol and discharge the generated aerosol. For example, the body 10b may include a storage portion, a vibrator, and at least a portion of an airflow path.

[0111] The body 210-1 may include a coupling portion 20a to which the cartridge 220-1 may be coupled. For example, the body 210-1 may include a receiving groove 20a-1, which may accommodate at least a portion of the cartridge 220-1. The body 10b of the cartridge 220-1 may be inserted into the receiving groove 20a-1. For example, the body 10b of the cartridge 220-1 may have a substantially rectangular column shape, and the four corners of the rectangular column may be chamfered or rounded. However, the shape of the body 10b of the cartridge 220-1 is not limited to the above examples, and may also be a cylindrical or polygonal column shape.

[0112] As mentioned above Figure 2 The cartridge 220-1 and the body 210-1 may be connected by at least one of a snap-fit ​​method, a screw connection method, a magnetic connection method, or an interference fit method. For example, the cartridge 220-1 may include a first magnetic body, and the body 210-1 may include a second magnetic body, whereby the cartridge 220-1 and the body 210-1 may be connected by magnetic force. However, the strength of the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body may be designed taking into account the ease of installation and disassembly of the cartridge 220-1 and the body 210-1 and / or the operational stability of the aerosol generating device 300.

[0113] The body 210-1 may include a button 20b. The button 20b may be positioned on one surface of the body 210-1. For example, the button 20b may be positioned on one surface of the body 210-1 corresponding to one end 20c-1 of the cover 20c. The user may use the button 20b to control the operation of the aerosol generating device 300 when using the aerosol generating device 300.

[0114] The body 210-1 may further include a housing 20s, which can accommodate the mouthpiece 10m of the cartridge 220-1 when the mouthpiece 10m is moved to the closed position. The housing 20s may be positioned on one surface of the body 210-1, and may have a shape or size corresponding to the mouthpiece 10m.

[0115] like Figure 4 As shown, the mouthpiece 10m moved to the closed position can minimize the portion of the aerosol generating device 1 protruding to the outside, that is, minimize the portion protruding from the outer surface of the body 210-1 to the outside in the closed position, thereby improving portability.

[0116] In one embodiment, the body 210-1 may further include a cover 20c coupled to a portion of the body 210-1. The cover 20c may be coupled to at least one surface of the body 210-1. For example, the cover 20c may be coupled to a side of the body 210-1 where the coupling portion 20a is located. In addition, the cover 20c may also be coupled to a side of the body 210-1 where the receiving portion 20s is located.

[0117] The cover 20c may include an opening 20c-o. The cover 20c may include an opening 20c-o having a size corresponding to the size of the mouthpiece 10m. For example, the opening 20c-o may have a predetermined length and width. Here, the width of the opening 20c-o may be less than or equal to the width of the body of the cartridge 220-1 and may be greater than or equal to the width of the mouthpiece 10m. The length of the opening 20c-o may be longer than or equal to the length of the mouthpiece 10m.

[0118] The cover 20c may extend from one end 20c-1 to the other end 20c-2 so as to be disposed on the seat portion 20c' of the body 210-1. For example, the seat portion 20c' may have a size and shape corresponding to that of the cover 20c. The seat portion 20c' may be in the form of a recess extending to a predetermined depth in both directions along the inlet side of the coupling portion 20a and the accommodating portion 20s so that the cover 20c can be coupled to the recess.

[0119] When the cartridge 220-1 is coupled to the body 210-1, the cover 20c may be coupled to the body 210-1 after the cartridge 220-1 is coupled to the body 210-1. The cover 20c may be coupled to one side of the body 210-1 by at least one of a snap-fit ​​method, an interference fit method, or a magnetic coupling method. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0120] Since the cover 20c includes an opening 20c-o through which the mouthpiece 10m can pass, when the cigarette cartridge 220-1 is connected to the body 210-1, the opening and closing operations of the mouthpiece 10m can be protected without interfering with the connection between the cigarette cartridge 220-1 and the body 210-1.

[0121] Figure 4 The aerosol generating device 300 is shown with both the cartridge 220-1 and the cover 20c coupled to the body 210-1 and the mouthpiece 10m in a closed position. Figure 4 As shown, since the body 210-1 includes a receiving portion 20s having a size and shape corresponding to the mouthpiece 10m, and a seating portion 20c' having a size and shape corresponding to the cover 20c, and the cover 20c includes an opening 20c-o having a size and shape corresponding to the mouthpiece 10m, the overall surface of the aerosol generating device 300 is solid and smooth.

[0122] To separate the cartridge 220-1 from the body 210-1, the cover 20c may be separated from the body 210-1 first, and then the cartridge 220-1 may be separated from the body 210-1. As described above, the cover 20c and the cartridge 220-1 may be separated from the body 210-1 or coupled to the body 210-1 in sequence.

[0123] Figure 5 A driving circuit according to an embodiment is shown.

[0124] According to one embodiment, in order to provide a signal to the vibrator 510 (e.g., Figure 1 Atomizer 150 or Figure 2 The vibrator 250) is powered, and the driving circuit 500 (for example, Figure 1 The driving circuit 138 or Figure 2The driving circuit 212 of the vibrator 510 may include: a first electrical contact 511 connected to a first terminal of the vibrator 510; a second electrical contact 513 connected to a second terminal of the vibrator 510; an inductor (e.g., a coil) L1 connected to the first electrical contact 511, wherein the first terminal of the inductor is connected to the first electrical contact 511; a first switch SW1 531 having a drain terminal connected to the second terminal of the inductor L1, wherein the source terminal of the first switch 531 is connected to the ground; a second switch 533 having a drain terminal connected to the second electrical contact 513, wherein the source terminal of the second switch 533 is connected to the ground; a first power supply 501 providing a voltage to the drain terminal of the first switch 531 and the drain terminal of the second switch 533; a second power supply V2 502 providing a voltage to the gate terminal of the first switch 531; and a third power supply V3 503 providing a voltage to the gate terminal of the second switch 533. For example, the first switch 531 and the second switch 533 may be switches based on field effect transistors (FETs). According to an embodiment, the driving circuit 500 may include one or more diodes 520 connected to the second electrical contact 513 and the second switch 533. Voltage dividing resistors 541 and 543 may be connected to the diodes 520 and the voltage measurement system 550.

[0125] According to one embodiment, the vibrator 510 may be included in the cartridge unit. When the cartridge unit is mechanically coupled to the body, the vibrator 510 may be electrically connected to the first electrical contact 511 and the second electrical contact 513 of the drive circuit 500. When the first electrical contact 511 and the second electrical contact 513 are connected through the vibrator 510, the controller 214 may recognize that the vibrator 510 has been coupled and may supply power to the vibrator 510 through the drive circuit 500.

[0126] According to one embodiment, the vibrator 510 included in the cigarette cartridge unit has a natural frequency determined by the physical characteristics of the vibrator 510. When the signal frequency provided to the vibrator 510 is similar to the natural frequency of the vibrator 510, a stronger resonance will be generated. That is, when the vibrator 510 receives electric energy through the drive circuit 500, if the vibration frequency of the drive circuit 500 coincides with the natural frequency of the vibrator 510, the strongest resonance will be generated. In this case, the vibration frequency of the drive circuit 500 can be expressed as a resonant frequency or a characteristic frequency. The vibration frequency of the drive circuit 500 represents the frequency of the signal applied to the two terminals of the vibrator 510. Since the natural frequency of the vibrator 510 can vary according to the physical characteristics of the vibrator 510, the vibration frequency of the drive circuit 500 can vary according to the natural frequency of the vibrator 510 after the vibrator 510 is electrically connected. In other words, the resonance intensity of the vibrator 510 can vary according to the natural frequency of the vibrator 510 of the connected cigarette cartridge unit.

[0127] According to an embodiment, the vibration frequency of the driving circuit 500 can be adjusted to be consistent with the natural frequency of the vibrator 510 by: an inductor connected to the first electrical contact 511, wherein the first terminal of the inductor is connected to the first electrical contact 511; an inductor connected between the second terminal of the inductor and the first power source 501; and an inductor connected between the second electrical contact 513 and the first power source 501. When resonance occurs thereby, the vibration efficiency of the vibrator 510 can be improved and overheating can be prevented.

[0128] According to an embodiment, the first power source 501 may provide a DC voltage to the drain terminal of the first switch 531 and the drain terminal of the second switch 533. For example, the DC voltage may be less than or equal to 15V (eg, 10V), but is not limited thereto.

[0129] According to an embodiment, the second power supply 502 may provide a first AC voltage to the gate terminal of the first switch 531, and the third power supply 503 may provide a second AC voltage to the gate terminal of the second switch 533. For example, the peak value of the first AC voltage and the peak value of the second AC voltage may each be less than or equal to 4V, but the embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0130] According to an embodiment, the second power supply 502 and the third power supply 503 may operate alternately. That is, the second power supply 502 and the third power supply 503 may not operate at the same time. The voltage between the first terminal and the second terminal of the vibrator 510 provided by the driving circuit 500 may be greater than or equal to 100V, but the embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0131] When the driving circuit 500 is used, a high voltage can be applied to generate vibrations of the vibrator 510 even when the voltage (eg, 10 V) is lower than the voltage (eg, 17 V) applied to the switch of the driving circuit in the form of a boost converter.

[0132] Since a low voltage (eg, 10V) is applied to the drain terminal of the switch of the driving circuit 500, there is no need to use a switch that needs to withstand a high voltage. Therefore, a switch with a low Rds(on) resistance can be applied to the driving circuit 500, thereby reducing overheating.

[0133] Figure 5 The number, connection or arrangement of the power supplies and switches of the driving circuit 500 shown are only examples, and the embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the driving circuit 500 can operate in a full-bridge mode, a half-bridge mode, or other operating modes with two or less switches. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0134] According to an embodiment, the driving circuit 500 may include one or more diodes 520 connected to the second electrical contact 513 and the second switch 533. The one or more diodes 520 may rectify a signal (eg, an alternating voltage) provided to the vibrator 510.

[0135] According to an embodiment, the driving circuit 500 may include a plurality of voltage-dividing resistors for dividing the voltage of the signal rectified by the one or more diodes 520. For example, the voltage-dividing resistors may include a first voltage-dividing resistor 543 and a second voltage-dividing resistor 541. The target voltage measured by the voltage measurement system 550 may be a voltage value across the first voltage-dividing resistor 543 obtained by multiplying the resistance value of the second voltage-dividing resistor 541 by the voltage rectified by the one or more diodes 520 and dividing by the sum of the voltage values ​​of the first voltage-dividing resistor 543 and the second voltage-dividing resistor 541.

[0136] According to an embodiment, the driving circuit 500 may include capacitors connected to the output terminals of the signal rectified by the one or more diodes 520 and the target voltage divided by the voltage-dividing resistors 541 and 543. Each capacitor can reduce the noise of the signal leaked to the voltage measurement system 550 and stabilize the pulsating signal to a constant level, thereby improving the measurement accuracy.

[0137] According to an embodiment, the driving circuit 500 may include a voltage measurement system 550. The voltage measurement system 500 may include an analog to digital converter (ADC) and a processor, or may be a general term for the ADC and the processor. In addition, the voltage measurement system 500 may also be another term for a processor including an ADC. The components included in the voltage measurement system 550 are not limited to the present disclosure.

[0138] According to an embodiment, the ADC may convert the target voltage of the first voltage-dividing resistor 543 from an analog signal to a digital signal. The signal converted into the digital signal may be transmitted to the processor.

[0139] According to an embodiment, when the target voltage measured by the voltage measurement system 500 (i.e., the digital signal converted from the target voltage by the ADC and measured by the processor) exceeds a preset threshold voltage, the signal provided to the vibrator 510 may be adjusted. For example, the processor may adjust the duty cycle of the power source (e.g., the second power source 502 and / or the third power source 503). For example, the processor may reduce the amplitude of the signal.

[0140] According to an embodiment, the driving circuit 500 may further include a peak-hold circuit. For example, the voltage measurement system 550 may include a peak-hold circuit. For example, the peak-hold circuit may be arranged to be connected between the voltage-dividing resistors 541, 543 and the voltage measurement system 550. The voltage measurement system 550 may measure the target voltage result of the first voltage-dividing resistor 543 held by the peak-hold circuit. When the target voltage result measured by the voltage measurement system 550 exceeds a preset threshold voltage, the signal provided to the vibrator 510 may be adjusted.

[0141] Figure 6 is a flow chart of a method for measuring a voltage value of a vibrator according to an embodiment.

[0142] Operations 610 and 620 described below may be performed by an electronic device (e.g., Figure 1 aerosol generating device 100, Figure 2 The aerosol generating device 200 or Figure 3 aerosol generating device 300).

[0143] In operation 610 , the electronic device may generate a signal (eg, voltage) for providing to a vibrator of a driving circuit.

[0144] According to an embodiment, the signal provided to the vibrator can be rectified by one or more diodes. Noise in the rectified signal can be reduced by a grounded capacitor, thereby stabilizing the rectified signal. For example, the capacitor can be connected as a bypass capacitor.

[0145] According to one embodiment, the signal rectified by one or more diodes may be divided by a voltage divider resistor. For example, the final measured voltage at the voltage divider resistor (e.g., Figure 5 The resistance of the target voltage at both ends of the first voltage-dividing resistor 543 can be smaller than the resistance of other voltage-dividing resistors. The voltage-dividing resistors can be appropriately selected so that the target voltage is within the voltage range measurable by the voltage measurement system.

[0146] In operation 620, the electronic device may measure a target voltage of a signal divided by a voltage-dividing resistor of the driving circuit. The target voltage may be a voltage that appears in the first voltage-dividing resistor among the voltage-dividing resistors. For example, the electronic device may use a voltage measurement system (e.g., Figure 5 The target voltage is measured by a voltage measurement system 550. The noise in the divided signal can be reduced by a grounded capacitor to stabilize the divided signal. For example, the capacitor can be connected as a bypass capacitor.

[0147] Figure 7 is a flow chart of a method for measuring a voltage value of a vibrator according to an embodiment.

[0148] According to one embodiment, operations 710 and 720 may be performed as described above. Figure 6 The described operation 620 is performed after execution. For example, operations 710, 720 may be performed by a controller (eg, a processor) of the electronic device.

[0149] In operation 710 , the electronic device may determine whether a target voltage exceeds a preset threshold voltage.

[0150] According to an embodiment, the electronic device may determine whether the target voltage exceeds a preset threshold voltage. Specifically, the electronic device may determine whether a digital signal converted from the target voltage by an ADC and measured by a processor exceeds a preset threshold voltage.

[0151] According to an embodiment, the electronic device may determine whether the target voltage held by the peak hold circuit exceeds a preset threshold voltage.

[0152] In operation 720 , when the target voltage exceeds a preset threshold voltage, the electronic device may adjust a signal input to the vibrator.

[0153] According to one embodiment, when the target voltage exceeds a preset threshold voltage, the electronic device may stop generating and providing the power signal.

[0154] According to an embodiment, when the target voltage exceeds a preset threshold voltage, the electronic device may adjust the duty cycle (eg, frequency) of the power supply. Alternatively, the electronic device may modulate the pulse width of a signal generated by the power supply.

[0155] According to one embodiment, when the target voltage exceeds a preset threshold voltage, the electronic device may reduce the amplitude of the signal generated by the power supply.

[0156] The embodiments described herein can be implemented using hardware components, software components, and / or a combination of hardware components and software components. The processing device can be implemented using one or more general or special computers, such as, for example, a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, or any other device that can correspond and execute instructions in a limited manner. The processing device can run an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications running in the operating system. The processing device can also access, store, manipulate, process, and generate data in response to the execution of the software. For ease of understanding, the description of the processing device is in singular form, but those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the processing device can include multiple processing elements and multiple types of processing elements. For example, the processing device can include multiple processors, or a single processor and a single controller. In addition, different processing configurations, such as parallel processors, are also possible.

[0157] Software may include computer programs, codes, instructions, or some combination thereof, to independently or collectively instruct or configure a processing device to operate in a desired manner. Software and data may be implemented permanently or temporarily in any type of machine, component, physical or virtual device, computer storage medium or device, or in propagating signal waves capable of providing instructions or data to or being interpreted by a processing device. Software may also be distributed on networked computer systems so that the software is stored and executed in a distributed manner. Software and data may be stored by one or more non-temporary computer-readable recording media.

[0158] The method according to the embodiment may be recorded in a non-temporary computer-readable medium, which includes program instructions for implementing various operations of the embodiment. The medium may also include data files, data structures, etc., either alone or in combination with program instructions. The program instructions recorded on the medium may be program instructions designed and constructed specifically for the purpose of the embodiment, or may be program instructions known and available to technicians in the field of computer software. Examples of non-temporary computer-readable media include: magnetic media, such as hard disks, floppy disks, and tapes; optical media, such as CD-ROM disks and DVDs; magneto-optical media, such as optical disks; and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, etc. Examples of program instructions include machine code and files containing high-level code executed by a computer using an interpreter, and machine code is generated, for example, by a compiler.

[0159] The above-described means may be configured to function as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the above-described embodiments, and vice versa.

[0160] As described above, although the embodiments have been described with reference to limited drawings, those skilled in the art may apply various technical modifications and variations on this basis. For example, if the techniques are performed in a different order, and / or if the components in the systems, architectures, devices or circuits are combined in a different way, or the components are replaced or supplemented with other components or their equivalents, appropriate results may be achieved.

[0161] Accordingly, other implementations, other examples, and / or equivalents are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A driving circuit for an electronic device, the driving circuit comprising: a power source configured to provide a signal to the drive circuit when the vibrator of the cigarette cartridge is connected to the drive circuit of the electronic device; one or more diodes configured to rectify a signal supplied to the vibrator of the cartridge; a voltage-dividing resistor configured to divide the voltage of the signal rectified by the one or more diodes; as well as A voltage measurement system is configured to measure a target voltage across a first voltage dividing resistor among the voltage dividing resistors.

2. The driving circuit according to claim 1, wherein: When the target voltage measured by the voltage measurement system exceeds a preset threshold voltage, a signal to be provided to the vibrator is adjusted.

3. The driving circuit according to claim 2, wherein: The signal to be provided to the vibrator is adjusted by adjusting the duty cycle of the power supply.

4. The driving circuit according to claim 2, wherein: The signal to be provided to the vibrator is adjusted by reducing the amplitude of the signal.

5. The driving circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: Peak hold circuit, The voltage measurement system measures the result of the peak hold circuit holding the target voltage.

6. The driving circuit according to claim 1, wherein: The electronic device is an aerosol generating device.

7. An electronic device, comprising: a cartridge unit, the cartridge unit comprising a vibrator configured to generate an aerosol by vibrating an aerosol generating substance; as well as A main body, wherein the main body is connected to the cigarette cartridge unit, Wherein, the main body comprises: a driving circuit configured to operate the vibrator when the cigarette cartridge unit is connected to the body; and a controller configured to control the operation of the drive circuit, and Wherein, the driving circuit comprises: a power source configured to provide a signal to the drive circuit when the vibrator of the cigarette cartridge is connected to the drive circuit of the electronic device; one or more diodes configured to rectify a signal supplied to the vibrator; a voltage-dividing resistor configured to divide a voltage of the signal rectified by the one or more diodes; and A voltage measurement system is configured to measure a target voltage across a first voltage dividing resistor among the voltage dividing resistors.

8. A method for measuring a voltage value applied to a vibrator, the method being performed by an electronic device, the method comprising the following operations: generating a signal to be provided to a vibrator of a drive circuit of the electronic device; and A target voltage of the signal divided by the voltage-dividing resistors of the driving circuit is measured, wherein the target voltage is measured across both ends of a first voltage-dividing resistor among the voltage-dividing resistors.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the following operations: determining whether the target voltage exceeds a preset threshold voltage; and When the target voltage exceeds the preset threshold voltage, the signal to be provided to the vibrator is adjusted. 10 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method according to claim 8 .

Images