Method for generating aerosol using ultrasonic vibrator and electronic device for performing same

Abstract

A method performed by an electronic device for generating an aerosol is disclosed, the method comprising: measuring a temperature of a vibrator of a cartridge connected to the electronic device; determining a characteristic of the liquid in the cartridge based on the measured temperature; determining a control factor of the vibrator according to the determined characteristic; and generating an aerosol by controlling the vibrator based on the control factor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Disclosed is a method of generating aerosol using an ultrasonic vibrator and an electronic device for performing the method. Background Art

[0002] The cartridges connected to the aerosol generating device are usually of the same type, and the liquid contained in the cartridge of this type needs to be optimally controlled. However, if necessary, cartridges containing different types of liquids can be connected to the aerosol generating device to generate the aerosol. Therefore, the liquid needs to be controlled in different ways according to the characteristics of the liquid.

[0003] The above descriptions have been possessed by one or more inventors or obtained in the process of conceiving the present disclosure and are not necessarily known technologies before filing the present application. Summary of the invention

[0004] Technical issues

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

[0006] One embodiment may provide an aerosol generating device for controlling a vibrator according to the characteristics of a liquid in a cigarette cartridge.

[0007] Technical solutions to the problem

[0008] According to one aspect, a method for generating an aerosol performed by an electronic device includes: measuring the temperature of a vibrator of a cigarette cartridge connected to the electronic device; determining the characteristics of a liquid in the cigarette cartridge based on the measured temperature; determining a control factor of the vibrator based on the determined characteristics; and generating an aerosol by controlling the vibrator based on the control factor.

[0009] Measuring the temperature of the vibrator may include measuring the temperature of the vibrator using a temperature sensor embedded in the electronic device or the cigarette cartridge.

[0010] Measuring the temperature of the vibrator may include measuring the temperature of the vibrator after a preset time has passed since the start of heating of the electronic device.

[0011] The property of the liquid may be a composition ratio of one or more substances constituting the liquid.

[0012] Determining the characteristics of the liquid in the cartridge based on the measured temperature may include: obtaining the characteristics of the liquid corresponding to the measured temperature by referring to a memory that stores characteristic information of the liquid at various temperatures of the vibrator; and determining the obtained characteristics of the liquid as the characteristics of the liquid in the cartridge.

[0013] The control factor of the vibrator may include at least one of: an initial warm-up time; a vibrator driving frequency; a vibrator driving voltage; a vibrator driving current; or a duty cycle of a vibrator driving signal.

[0014] According to one aspect, an electronic device includes: a memory configured to store characteristic information of a liquid at various temperatures of a vibrator of a cartridge connected to the electronic device; and a processor configured to control the electronic device. The processor is configured to perform the following: measuring the temperature of the vibrator; determining the characteristics of the liquid in the cartridge based on the measured temperature; determining a control factor of the vibrator based on the determined characteristics; and generating an aerosol by controlling the vibrator based on the control factor.

[0015] Measuring the temperature of the vibrator may include measuring the temperature of the vibrator using a temperature sensor embedded in the electronic device or the cigarette cartridge.

[0016] Measuring the temperature of the vibrator may include measuring the temperature of the vibrator after a preset time has passed since the start of heating of the electronic device.

[0017] The property of the liquid may be a composition ratio of one or more substances constituting the liquid.

[0018] Determining the characteristics of the liquid in the cartridge based on the measured temperature may include: obtaining the characteristics of the liquid corresponding to the measured temperature by referring to a memory that stores characteristic information of the liquid at various temperatures of the vibrator; and determining the obtained characteristics of the liquid as the characteristics of the liquid in the cartridge.

[0019] The control factor of the vibrator may include at least one of: an initial warm-up time; a vibrator driving frequency; a vibrator driving voltage; a vibrator driving current; or a duty cycle of a vibrator driving signal.

[0020] Advantageous Effects of the Invention

[0021] According to one embodiment, the properties of the liquid in the cartridge may be determined based on the temperature of the vibrator.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the amount of mist can be adjusted by optimizing the control of the vibrator according to the characteristics of the liquid in the cigarette cartridge. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0024] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0025] Figure 3 2 is a perspective view showing a cigarette cartridge and a body of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment being separated.

[0026] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing that a cartridge and a body of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment are connected.

[0027] Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method of generating an aerosol according to an embodiment.

[0028] Figure 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of generating an aerosol according to an embodiment.

[0029] Figure 7 is a diagram showing information about a substance constituting a liquid in a cartridge according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following detailed structural or functional description is provided only as an example, and various modifications and changes may be made to the examples. Here, the embodiments should not be interpreted as being limited by the disclosure, and should be understood to include all changes, equivalents or alternatives within the concept and technical scope of the disclosure.

[0031] Although the terms "first", "second", etc. are used to describe various components, these 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.

[0032] It should be noted that if one component is described as being “connected,” “coupled” or “linked” to another component, a third component may be “connected,” “coupled” or “linked” between the first and second components, but the first component may be directly connected, coupled or linked to the second component.

[0033] Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well. It will also be understood that the terms "include / comprise" and / or "comprising / including" when used herein indicate the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0034] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense, unless otherwise defined herein.

[0035] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. When describing the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals refer to like components and repeated descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0036] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0037] According to one embodiment, Figure 1 The aerosol generating device 100 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 The internal structure shown. A person skilled in the art of the present disclosure will understand that, depending on the design of the aerosol generating device 100, the Figure 1 Some of the components shown may be changed or new components may be added.

[0038] 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 an aerosol generating product (e.g., an aerosol generating product, a cigarette cartridge, etc.) is inserted, display a notification, and perform other functions.

[0039] The sensing unit 120 may include at least one of the temperature sensor 122, the insertion detection sensor 124, or the suction sensor 126. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0040] The temperature sensor 122 can sense the temperature of the atomizer 150 (or aerosol generating substance). The aerosol generating device 100 can include a separate temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the atomizer 150, or the atomizer 150 itself can be used as a temperature sensor to perform the function. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 122 can be arranged around the battery 140 to monitor the temperature of the battery 140.

[0041] The insertion detection sensor 124 can sense whether the aerosol generating article is inserted and / or removed. The insertion detection sensor 124 can include, for example, at least one of a film sensor, a pressure sensor, a light sensor, a resistance sensor, a capacitance sensor, an inductance sensor, or an infrared sensor, and the insertion detection sensor 124 can sense the signal change caused by the insertion and / or removal of the aerosol generating article.

[0042] The suction sensor 126 can sense the suction from the user based on various physical changes in the airflow path or airflow channel. For example, the suction sensor 126 can sense the suction from the user based on any one of temperature change, flow change, voltage change and pressure change.

[0043] In addition to the above-mentioned sensors 122 to 126, the sensing unit 120 may further include at least one of the following: a temperature / humidity sensor, an air pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a position sensor (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS)), a proximity sensor, or a red, green, and blue (RGB) sensor (e.g., an illuminance sensor). The function of each sensor can be intuitively inferred from its name by a person of ordinary skill in the art, so a more detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0044] The output unit 130 may output information about 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 132, a tactile portion 134, or a sound outputter 136. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. When the display 132 and a touch panel are provided in a layered structure to form a touch screen, the display 132 may be used as an input device in addition to being used as an output device.

[0045] The display 132 may provide information about the aerosol generating device 100 to the user in a visual manner. The information about the aerosol generating device 100 may include, for example, the charge / discharge 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 product, the use restriction state of the aerosol generating device 100 (for example, abnormal product detection), etc., and the display 132 may output the information to the outside. The display 132 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light emitting display panel (OLED), etc. The display 132 may also be in the form of a light emitting diode (LED) device.

[0046] The haptic portion 134 may provide information about the aerosol generating device 100 to the user in a tactile manner by converting an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus or an electrical stimulus. The haptic portion 134 may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0047] The sound outputter 136 may provide the user with information about the aerosol generating device 100 in the form of sound. For example, the sound outputter 136 may convert an electrical signal into a sound signal and output the sound signal to the outside.

[0048] The battery 140 may supply power for operating the aerosol generating device 100. The battery 140 may supply power to operate the atomizer 150. In addition, the battery 140 may supply power required for the operation of other components (e.g., 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 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 140 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0049] 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 DC (DC / DC) converter) that converts the power of the battery 140 and supplies the power to the atomizer 150. In addition, when the aerosol generating device 100 generates aerosol by an ultrasonic vibration method, the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a DC to alternating current (AC) (DC / AC) converter that converts the DC power of the battery 140 into AC power.

[0050] 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 perform 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 regulator circuit, which converts the power of the battery 140 and supplies the power to each component.

[0051] 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 embodiments are not limited thereto. The vibrator may include a piezoelectric body. The piezoelectric body according to one embodiment may be a conversion element that can convert electrical energy into mechanical energy and can generate ultrasonic vibrations under the control of the controller 110. In one embodiment, when AC power 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 and atomize the aerosol-generating substance into an aerosol.

[0052] The user input unit 160 may receive information input from the user or may output information to the user. For example, the user input unit 160 may include a key pad, 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 method, etc.), a roller, a roller switch, etc. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto. In addition, although Figure 1 Not shown in the figure, the aerosol generating device 100 may also include a connection interface such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and may be connected to another external device via a connection interface such as a USB interface to transmit and receive information or charge the battery 140.

[0053] The memory 170 is hardware for storing various data processed in the aerosol generating device 100, and the memory 170 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 type of storage medium among a flash memory type memory, a hard disk type memory, a multimedia card microtype memory, a card type memory (e.g., an SD or XD memory), 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, or an optical disk. The memory 170 can store the working time of the aerosol generating device 100, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature curve, data associated with the smoking pattern of the user, and the like.

[0054] The communication unit 180 may include at least one component for communicating with another electronic device. For example, the communication unit 180 may include a short-range wireless communication unit 182 and a wireless communication unit 184 .

[0055] 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, etc. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0056] 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 embodiments are not limited thereto. The wireless communication unit 184 may use subscriber information (e.g., an International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI)) to identify and authenticate the aerosol generating device 100 within the communication network.

[0057] 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 a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs that the controller may be implemented in other types of hardware.

[0058] 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 a switching element of the drive circuit 138 positioned between the battery 140 and the atomizer 150.

[0059] The controller 110 may analyze the sensing result obtained by the sensing of the sensing unit 120 and control the process to be performed thereafter. For example, the controller 110 may control the power supplied to the atomizer 150 based on the sensing result obtained by the sensing unit 120 so that the operation of the atomizer 150 starts or ends. In another example, the controller 110 may control the amount of power supplied to the atomizer 150 and the time for which the power is to be supplied based on the sensing result obtained by the sensing unit 120 so that the atomizer 150 can vibrate at a predetermined frequency or maintain a desired vibration frequency.

[0060] The controller 110 may control the output unit 130 based on 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 132, the tactile portion 134, or the sound outputter 136 that the aerosol generating device 100 is about to stop.

[0061] In one embodiment, the controller 110 may control the power supply time and / or power supply amount for 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 may control the vibration frequency of the vibrator of the atomizer 150 according to the type or remaining amount of the aerosol generating product.

[0062] One embodiment may be implemented in the form of a recording medium including instructions that can be executed by a computer, such as a program module that can be executed by a computer. Computer-readable media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer, and include all of volatile media, non-volatile media, removable media, and non-removable media. In addition, computer-readable media may include both computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media include all of 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 in modulated data signals such as program modules or other transmission mechanisms, and communication media include any information transmission media.

[0063] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0064] 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.

[0065] The cartridge 220 of the aerosol generating device 200 may be coupled to the body 210 while accommodating the aerosol generating substance therein. For example, the cartridge 220 and the body 210 may be coupled when at least a portion of the cartridge 220 is inserted into the body 210. In another example, the cartridge 220 and the body 210 may be coupled when at least a portion of the body 210 is inserted into the cartridge 220.

[0066] The cartridge 220 and the body 210 may be coupled by at least one of a snap-fit ​​method, a threaded coupling method, a magnetic coupling method, or an interference fitting method, but the coupling method of the cartridge 220 and the body 210 is not limited to the above examples.

[0067] According to an embodiment, the cigarette cartridge 220 may include a housing 222 , a mouthpiece 224 , a storage portion 230 , a transfer portion 240 , a vibrator 250 , and an electrical terminal 260 .

[0068] The housing 222 of the aerosol generating device 200 may form the overall appearance of the cartridge 220 together with the mouthpiece 224, and the components for operating the cartridge 220 may be arranged inside the housing 222. For example, the housing 222 may be formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, but the shape of the housing 222 is not limited to the above embodiment. According to one embodiment, the housing 222 may be formed in the shape of a polygonal column (e.g., a triangular column or a pentagonal column) or a cylindrical column.

[0069] The mouthpiece 224 of the aerosol generating device 200 may be provided 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 provided in another area of ​​the cartridge 220 opposite to an area 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.

[0070] 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 brings the mouth into contact with the mouthpiece 224 and inhales the aerosol, the user may receive the aerosol discharged to the outside of the cartridge 220 through the outlet 224e.

[0071] The storage portion 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 portion contains an aerosol generating substance" means that the storage portion 230 performs a function of simply containing an aerosol generating substance, such as the use of a container, and the storage portion 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 below.

[0072] The storage portion 230 may contain the aerosol generating substance in one of a liquid state, a solid state, a gas state, and a gel state.

[0073] In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating substance may include a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containing material including volatile tobacco flavor components, or may be a liquid including a non-tobacco material.

[0074] The liquid composition may include, for example, water, solvent, ethanol, plant extract, spices, flavoring agent, or vitamin mixture, or one of the mixtures of these ingredients. Spices may include, for example, menthol, mint, spearmint oil, various fruity ingredients, etc. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0075] Flavoring agents may include ingredients that provide a variety of flavors or smells 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, embodiments are not limited thereto. The liquid composition may also include an aerosol former, such as glycerol and propylene glycol.

[0076] The liquid composition may include, for example, glycerol and propylene glycol in any weight ratio with nicotine salts added thereto. The liquid composition may also include two or more nicotine salts. Nicotine salts may be formed by adding appropriate acids including organic or inorganic acids to nicotine. Nicotine may be naturally occurring nicotine, or synthetic nicotine, and the nicotine may have any appropriate weight concentration relative to the total solution weight of the liquid composition.

[0077] The acid used to form the nicotine salt can be appropriately selected in consideration of the rate of nicotine absorption in the blood, the operating temperature of the aerosol generating device 200, the aroma or flavor, the solubility, etc. For example, the acid used to form the nicotine salt may include a single acid selected from the group consisting of the following or a mixture of two or more acids selected from the group: 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, sugar acid, malonic acid or malic acid. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0078] The transfer 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 transfer part 240, and the vibrator 250 may generate an aerosol by atomizing the aerosol generating substance of the transfer part 240 or the aerosol generating substance received from the transfer part 240. In this case, the transfer part 240 may include at least one of cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic, but the transfer part 240 is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0079] According to an embodiment, the transfer portion 240 may be disposed adjacent to the storage portion 230 to receive the liquid aerosol generating substance from the storage portion 230. For example, the aerosol generating substance stored in the storage portion 230 may be discharged to the outside of the storage portion 230 through a liquid supply port formed in a region of the storage portion 230 facing the transfer portion 240, and the transfer portion 240 may absorb at least a portion of the aerosol generating substance discharged from the storage portion 230, thereby absorbing the aerosol generating substance from the storage portion 230.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the cartridge 220 may further include an absorber (not shown), which is arranged to cover at least a portion of the vibrator 250 for aerosol generation, and transfer the aerosol generating substance absorbed by the transfer portion 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), SPL 50 (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 transfer portion 240, but also in the absorber, so that the amount of the absorbed aerosol generating substance can be increased.

[0081] The vibrator 250 of the aerosol generating device 200 may be positioned inside the housing 222, and may generate an aerosol by converting the phase of the aerosol generating substance stored in the cartridge 220. For example, the vibrator 250 may generate an aerosol by heating the aerosol generating substance or vibrating the aerosol generating substance.

[0082] In addition, since the absorber is configured to cover at least a portion of the vibrator 250, the absorber can be used as a physical barrier to prevent particles that are not fully atomized from being "splashed" during the aerosol generation process and being directly discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 200. Here, "splashing" can 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 "splashing" can be reduced, and the user's smoking satisfaction can be improved.

[0083] In one embodiment, the absorber may be positioned between one surface of the vibrator 250 for aerosol generation and the transfer portion 240, and transfer the aerosol supplied to the transfer portion 240 to the vibrator 250. For example, one area of ​​the absorber may be in contact with one area of ​​the transfer portion 240 facing the -z direction, and another area of ​​the absorber may be in contact with one area of ​​the vibrator 250 facing the +z direction. That is, the absorber may be positioned on the top surface (e.g., in the +z direction) of the vibrator 250, and supply the aerosol generating substance absorbed by the transfer portion 240 to the vibrator 250.

[0084] According to one embodiment, the vibrator 250 of the aerosol generating device 200 can change the 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 a vibration with a short period, and the vibration generated by the vibrator 250 can be an ultrasonic vibration. The frequency of the ultrasonic vibration may be in the range of about 100 kilohertz (kHz) to about 10 megahertz (MHz) (preferably, in the range of about 100kHz to 3.5MHz). However, the embodiments are not limited to this. When the vibrator generates ultrasonic vibrations of 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 embodiments are not limited to the direction along which the vibrator vibrates, and the direction along which the vibrator vibrates can be changed to various directions (e.g., one or a combination of the x-axis direction, the y-axis direction, and the z-axis direction). The aerosol generating substance supplied from the storage part 230 to the vibrator 250 by the vibration having a short period generated by the vibrator 250 may be vaporized and / or changed into particles to be atomized into aerosol.

[0085] For example, the vibrator 250 may include piezoelectric ceramics, and the piezoelectric ceramics may be a functional material capable of converting electricity and mechanical force into each other by generating electricity (voltage) from a physical force (pressure) and generating vibration (mechanical force) when electricity is applied to the piezoelectric ceramics. In other words, when electricity is applied to the vibrator 250, a vibration (physical force) with a short period may be generated, and the generated vibration may split the aerosol generating substance into fine particles and atomize the aerosol generating substance into an aerosol.

[0086] The vibrator 250 may be electrically connected to other components of the aerosol generating device 200 through 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 the mouthpiece 224.

[0087] 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 cartridge 220 .

[0088] For example, the vibrator 250 can be electrically connected to the electrical terminal 260 located inside the cartridge 220 through a first conductor, and the electrical terminal 260 can be electrically connected to the driving circuit 212 of the body 210 through a second conductor. That is, the vibrator 250 can be electrically connected to the body 210 component through the electrical terminal 260.

[0089] The vibrator 250 may generate ultrasonic vibrations by receiving power from the battery 216 of the body 210 via the electrical terminal 260. In addition, the vibrator 250 may be electrically connected to the controller 214 of the body 210 through the electrical terminal 260, and the controller 214 may control the operation of the vibrator 250 through the driving circuit 212.

[0090] For example, the electrical terminal 260 may include at least one of a pogo pin, 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.

[0091] In one embodiment, the vibrator 250 can be implemented as a mesh or plate-shaped vibration receiving portion, which performs the following two functions: absorbing the aerosol generating substance and maintaining the aerosol generating substance in an optimal state for conversion into an aerosol without using a separate transfer portion 240, and transferring the vibration to the aerosol generating substance to generate an aerosol.

[0092] The aerosol generated by the vibrator 250 may be discharged to the outside of the cartridge 220 through the airflow path 223 and supplied to the user.

[0093] 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 to the outside of the cartridge 220 or the aerosol generating device 200 through the outlet 224e. 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.

[0094] 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.

[0095] 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.

[0096] The air flow path 223 may be connected from the inlet to the space where the aerosol is generated by the vibrator 250, and may be connected from the corresponding space to the outlet 224e.

[0097] 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 .

[0098] According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the airflow path 223 may be 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 allow the airflow to circulate between the inlet, the vibrator 250, and the outlet 224e.

[0099] According to an 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 coupled to one end of the cartridge 220. For example, the body 210 may be coupled to the bottom surface or coupling surface of the cartridge 220.

[0100] 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 and the like can be controlled by the amount of power. According to one 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 embodiments are not limited to the embodiments.

[0101] 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.

[0102] The controller 214 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 storing a program executable by the microprocessor. In addition, those skilled in the art of the present disclosure will appreciate that the controller 214 may be implemented in other types of hardware.

[0103] 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 based on the sensing result obtained by the at least one sensor, so that the operation of the vibrator 250 starts or ends. In addition, the controller 214 can also control the amount of power supplied to the vibrator 250 and the time when the power is supplied, so that the vibrator 250 can generate an appropriate amount of aerosol based on the sensing result obtained by the at least one sensor.

[0104] The battery 216 may supply power for operating the aerosol generating device 200. For example, when the body 210 is electrically coupled to the cartridge 220, the battery 216 may supply power to the vibrator 250.

[0105] The battery 216 may supply power required for the operation of other hardware components (eg, sensors, user interface, memory, and controller 214) included in the aerosol generating device 200. The battery 216 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery.

[0106] 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).

[0107] 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 shape of the cross section of the cartridge 220 and / or the body 210 is not limited to the above shapes, or is not limited to a shape that extends linearly when the aerosol generating device 200 extends in the longitudinal direction.

[0108] In one embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol generating device 200 may be extended to be curved in a streamline shape or bend at a predetermined angle in a specific area to make it easier for the user to hold with the hand, and the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol generating device 200 may change along the longitudinal direction.

[0109] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a cigarette cartridge and a main body of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment being separated, and Figure 4 1 is a perspective view showing that a cartridge and a main body of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment are connected.

[0110] according to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The aerosol generating device 300 of the illustrated embodiment may be Figure 2 The aerosol generating device 200 (or Figure 1 A modified example of the aerosol generating device 100) and according to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The cigarette cartridge 220-1 and the body 210-1 of the embodiment shown can be Figure 2 The illustrated cartridge 220 and the body 210 are modified examples, and therefore repeated description will be omitted below.

[0111] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the cartridge 220-1 may be detachably coupled to the body 210-1. For example, when 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.

[0112] 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 may be opened and closed by rotating between the open position and the closed position.

[0113] The body portion 10b of the cigarette cartridge 220-1 may be coupled to the mouthpiece 10m via a rotating shaft. In one example, the mouthpiece 10m may 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 so that it is easier for 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 among a plurality of directions. In another example, the mouthpiece 10m may 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.

[0114] The cartridge 220-1 may include a body portion 10b including various components required to generate aerosol and discharge the generated aerosol. For example, the body portion 10b may include at least a portion of each of a storage portion, a vibrator, and an airflow path.

[0115] The body 210-1 may include a coupling portion 20a to which the cartridge 220-1 can be coupled. For example, the body 210-1 may include a receiving groove 20a-1, in which at least a portion of the cartridge 220-1 may be received. The body portion 10b of the cartridge 220-1 may be inserted into the receiving groove 20a-1. For example, the body portion 10b of the cartridge 220-1 may have a substantially rectangular columnar shape, and the corners of the rectangular column may be chamfered or rounded. However, the shape of the body portion 10b of the cartridge 220-1 is not limited to the above examples, and may be a cylindrical shape or a polygonal columnar shape.

[0116] 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 threaded 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, so that the cartridge 220-1 and the body 210-1 may be connected by magnetic force. However, the strength of the first magnetic material and the strength of the second magnetic material may be designed taking into account the ease of installation and removal of the cartridge 220-1 and the body 210-1 and / or the operational stability of the aerosol generating device 300.

[0117] 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.

[0118] The body 210-1 may further include a receiving portion 20s capable of receiving the mouthpiece 10m of the cartridge 220-1 when the mouthpiece 10m is moved to the closed position. The receiving portion 20s may be positioned on one surface of the body 210-1 and may have a shape or size corresponding to that of the mouthpiece 10m.

[0119] like Figure 4 As shown, the mouthpiece 10m moved to the closed position can minimize the portion of the aerosol generating device 300 protruding to the outside at the closed position, that is, minimize the portion protruding to the outside from the outer surface of the body 210-1 at the closed position, thereby improving portability.

[0120] 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 portion of the body 210-1 where the coupling portion 20a is located. In addition, the cover 20c may also be coupled to a side portion of the body 210-1 where the accommodating portion 20s is located.

[0121] 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.

[0122] The cover 20c may extend from one end 20c-1 to the other end 20c-2 so as to be disposed on the seat 20c' of the body 210-1. For example, the seat 20c' may have a size and shape corresponding to that of the cover 20c. The seat 20c' may be in the form of a recess having a predetermined depth that extends in two directions from the inlet side of the coupling portion 20a and the accommodating portion 20s so that the cover 20c can be coupled to the recess.

[0123] When the cigarette cartridge 220-1 is coupled to the body 210-1, the cover 20c may be coupled to the body 210-1 after the cigarette 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, embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0124] Since the cover 20c includes an opening 20c-o through which the mouthpiece 10m can pass, the cartridge 220-1 can be protected without interfering with the opening and closing movement of the mouthpiece 10m when the cartridge 220-1 is connected to the body 210-1, and the connection between the cartridge 220-1 and the body 210-1 can be maintained.

[0125] 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 positioned 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 size and shape of the mouthpiece 10m, and a seating portion 20c' having a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the cover 20c, and the cover 20c includes an opening 20c-o having a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the mouthpiece 10m, the overall finish of the aerosol generating device 300 is continuous and smooth.

[0126] 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.

[0127] Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method of generating an aerosol according to an embodiment.

[0128] Operations 510 to 540 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).

[0129] In operation 510, the electronic device may measure the vibration of the cigarette cartridge connected to the electronic device (eg, Figure 1 Atomizer 150 or Figure 2 For example, the temperature measurement of the vibrator may include at least one of contact temperature measurement or non-contact temperature measurement.

[0130] According to one embodiment, the method of measuring the temperature of the vibrator may be a method of measuring a signal of a driving circuit including a power supply device connected to the vibrator to supply power to the vibrator. For example, the current of the driving circuit including the vibrator may be measured, and the temperature of the vibrator may be measured based on the measured current. In another example, the voltage of the driving circuit including the vibrator (e.g., the voltage at two terminals of the vibrator) may be measured, and the temperature of the vibrator may be measured based on the measured voltage.

[0131] According to an embodiment, a temperature sensor embedded in an electronic device may be used to measure the temperature of the vibrator. For example, the temperature of the vibrator of the cigarette cartridge may be measured in a non-contact manner by a temperature sensor embedded in an electronic device.

[0132] According to one embodiment, an infrared (IR) temperature sensor embedded in the electronic device can be used to measure the temperature of the vibrator. For example, the IR temperature sensor can measure the temperature of the vibrator through a lower hole of a cigarette cartridge connected to the electronic device.

[0133] According to one embodiment, the temperature of the vibrator can be measured using a temperature sensor embedded in a cigarette cartridge connected to an electronic device. For example, the temperature of the vibrator can be determined not only by the temperature of the vibrator itself, but also by further measuring the temperature of the transfer portion (e.g., Figure 2The temperature of the vibrator can be determined by measuring at least one of the temperature of the transfer element 240 in the cartridge or the temperature of the liquid in the cartridge (i.e., the aerosol-forming substance). In another example, the temperature of the vibrator can be determined by measuring at least one of the temperature of the transmission element or the temperature of the liquid in the cartridge as an alternative to measuring the temperature of the vibrator itself.

[0134] The temperature of the vibrator may be measured after a preset time has passed since the heating of the electronic device began. For example, the temperature of the vibrator may be measured during the initial warm-up of the electronic device or after the initial warm-up is completed. In another example, the temperature of the vibrator may be measured after a preset number of puffs by the user (e.g., one puff) are detected.

[0135] When measuring the temperature of the vibrator, the vibrator can be controlled based on the test control factor. The test control factor of the vibrator refers to a control factor for initially controlling the vibrator before controlling the vibrator based on the control factor of the vibrator determined according to the characteristics of the liquid in the cartridge after being driven by the electronic device. The test control factor of the vibrator can be set to maximize the amount of atomization of glycerin in the substance constituting the liquid in the cartridge.

[0136] In operation 520, the electronic device may determine the properties of the liquid in the cartridge based on the measured temperature of the vibrator. The properties of the liquid in the cartridge may include a composition ratio of one or more substances constituting the liquid.

[0137] In one embodiment, the liquid in the cigarette cartridge may be composed of a substance including glycerin and water. For example, the composition ratio of glycerin to water may vary, such as 8:2 or 5:5. The above materials and composition ratios are only examples, and the embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0138] According to one embodiment, the electronic device may determine the composition ratio of the liquid corresponding to the measured temperature of the vibrator after a preset time has passed since the start of heating. For example, the temperature of the vibrator corresponding to each of the composition ratios of various liquids may be stored in a database in the electronic device in advance.

[0139] In operation 530, the electronic device may determine a control factor of the vibrator according to the determined characteristics of the liquid in the cigarette cartridge. For example, the control factor of the vibrator may include at least one of an initial preheating time, a vibrator driving frequency, a vibrator driving voltage, a vibrator driving current, or a duty cycle of a vibrator driving signal.

[0140] The preheating temperature required for atomizing (aerosolizing) the liquid may vary according to the properties (eg, composition ratio) of the liquid in the cartridge. Therefore, the appropriate initial preheating time may be determined according to the properties of the liquid.

[0141] The temperature rise rate and atomization amount of the liquid can be adjusted according to the vibrator driving frequency. The temperature rise rate required for the initial warm-up time may vary according to the characteristics of the liquid, so the appropriate vibrator driving frequency can be determined according to the characteristics of the liquid to achieve the required atomization amount.

[0142] The amount of power supplied to the vibrator and the time for which the power is supplied can be controlled so that: the liquid in the cartridge is heated to a predetermined temperature, or the appropriate temperature is maintained by the vibrator. The amount of power required for the vibrator and the time for which the power is supplied may vary according to the characteristics of the liquid in the cartridge, so at least one of the vibrator drive voltage, the vibrator drive current, or the duty cycle of the vibrator drive signal may be appropriately determined.

[0143] In operation 540, the electronic device may generate an aerosol by controlling the vibrator based on the control factor of the vibrator. Before performing operation 540, the test control factor of the vibrator may be set to maximize the amount of atomization of glycerin in the substance constituting the liquid in the cartridge. When determining the control factor of the vibrator based on the characteristics of the liquid in the cartridge, since the composition ratio of water to glycerin is relatively large, the control factor may be determined in a manner that further reduces the amount of atomization compared to the test control factor.

[0144] Figure 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of generating an aerosol according to an embodiment.

[0145] According to an embodiment, the electronic device may include a memory that stores information related to the electronic device (e.g., Figure 1 aerosol generating device 100, Figure 2 The aerosol generating device 200 or Figure 3 The characteristic information of the liquid at various temperatures of the vibrator of the cigarette cartridge connected to the aerosol generating device 300). Figure 7 Detailed description of the characteristics of the liquid in the cartridge at different temperatures of the vibrator.

[0146] Reference above Figure 5 Described operation 520 may include operations 610 and 620 described below.

[0147] In operation 610, the electronic device may acquire (or determine) a property of the liquid corresponding to the measured temperature of the vibrator by referring to the memory. For example, the property of the liquid may be a composition ratio of one or more substances constituting the liquid.

[0148] In operation 620 , the electronic device may determine the acquired property of the liquid as the property of the liquid in the cartridge.

[0149] In one embodiment, after determining the characteristics of the liquid in the cartridge, the corresponding characteristic information may be stored until the liquid in the cartridge is exhausted. For example, the characteristic information may be maintained while the cartridge is connected. For example, the characteristic information may be initialized when the cartridge is removed from the electronic device.

[0150] Figure 7 is a diagram showing information about a substance constituting a liquid in a cartridge according to an embodiment.

[0151] According to one embodiment, an electronic device (e.g., Figure 1 aerosol generating device 100, Figure 2 The aerosol generating device 200 or Figure 3 The characteristic information of the liquid at various temperatures of the vibrator of the cigarette cartridge connected to the aerosol generating device 300) may be stored in a memory included in the electronic device.

[0152] For example, the characteristic information of the liquid in the cartridge stored in the memory may indicate the temperature of the vibrator measured when the vibrator is controlled based on the test control factor. That is, since the characteristic information of the liquid in the cartridge stored in the memory is information obtained when the vibrator is controlled by the same control factor (i.e., the test control factor), the physical characteristic information may be consistent with the characteristic information of the liquid determined based on the temperature of the vibrator measured when the vibrator is controlled based on the test control factor.

[0153] For example, the property of the liquid in the cartridge may be a composition ratio of one or more substances constituting the liquid. For example, the liquid in the cartridge may be composed of substances including glycerin and water, but embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0154] Reference Figure 7 , the horizontal axis in the graph represents time, and the vertical axis represents the measured temperature of the vibrator. The graph shows the change in the temperature of the vibrator over time when each of the glycerin and the water is heated. Since the specific heats of glycerin and water are different from each other, the change in temperature over time, that is, the slope of the curve is different. While the vibrator is controlled by testing the control factor, the temperature of the liquid in the cartridge at a specific time is obtained, and then the composition ratio of the substances constituting the liquid in the cartridge can be calculated based on the specific heat information of each substance.

[0155] Figure 7 Point P in represents an example of determining the characteristics of the liquid in the cartridge by measuring the temperature of the vibrator at time t1. For example, when the y-axis value of point P is the middle value of the temperature of the glycerin and the temperature of the water measured at time t1, the composition ratio of the glycerin and water constituting the liquid in the cartridge can be determined to be 5:5.

[0156] The embodiments described in the text 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-purpose computers or special-purpose computers such as, for example, a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (arithmetic logic unit, ALU), a digital signal processor (digital signal processor), a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (field programmable array, FPA), a programmable logic unit (programmable logic unit, PLU), a microprocessor, or any other device that can respond to instructions and execute instructions in a limited manner. The processing device can run an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications running on the OS. The processing device can also access, store, manipulate, process and generate data in response to the execution of the software. For the purpose of simplicity, the description of the processing device is used as a singular; however, those skilled in the art will understand that the processing device may include multiple processing elements (processing element) and multiple types of processing elements. For example, the processing device may include multiple processors or a single processor, and a single controller. In addition, other processing configurations (processing configurations) such as parallel processors (parallel processors) are also feasible.

[0157] Software may include a computer program, a piece of code, instructions, or some combination thereof to independently or collectively instruct or configure a processing device to operate as desired. Software and data may be permanently or temporarily implemented in any type of machine, component, physical or virtual device, computer storage medium or device, or permanently or temporarily implemented in a propagating signal wave capable of providing instructions or data to or interpreted by a processing device. Software may also be distributed on network-coupled 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-transitory computer-readable recording media.

[0158] The method according to the embodiment may be recorded in a non-transitory 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 specially designed and configured for the purpose of the embodiment, or the program instructions recorded on the medium may be well-known and available types to technicians in the field of computer software. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include: magnetic media, such as hard disks, floppy disks, and tapes; optical media, such as CD-ROM disks, DVDs; magneto-optical media, such as optical disks; and hardware devices specially 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 both machine codes such as those generated by a compiler and files containing high-level codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter.

[0159] The above-described means may be configured to act as one or more software modules in order to perform the operations of the above-described examples, or vice versa.

[0160] As described above, although the embodiments are described with reference to limited figures, those skilled in the art may apply various technical changes and modifications based on the above embodiments. For example, appropriate results may be achieved when the techniques are performed in a different order, and / or when components in the system, architecture, device or circuit are combined in a different manner, or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents.

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

Claims

1. A method for generating an aerosol performed by an electronic device, the method comprising: measuring the temperature of a vibrator of a cigarette cartridge connected to the electronic device; determining a property of the liquid in the cartridge based on the measured temperature; determining a control factor of the vibrator according to the determined characteristic; as well as The aerosol is generated by controlling the vibrator based on the control factor.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Measuring the temperature of the vibrator comprises: The temperature of the vibrator is measured using a temperature sensor embedded in the electronic device or the cigarette cartridge.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Measuring the temperature of the vibrator comprises: After a preset time has passed from the start of heating of the electronic device, the temperature of the vibrator is measured.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The characteristic of the liquid is the composition ratio of one or more substances constituting the liquid.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Determining the characteristics of the liquid in the cartridge based on the measured temperature includes: acquiring a characteristic of the liquid corresponding to the measured temperature by referring to a memory storing characteristic information of the liquid at each temperature of the vibrator; and The acquired properties of the liquid are determined as the properties of the liquid in the cigarette cartridge.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The control factor of the vibrator includes at least one of: an initial preheating time; a vibrator driving frequency; a vibrator driving voltage; a vibrator driving current; or a duty cycle of a vibrator driving signal.

7. An electronic device comprising: A memory configured to store characteristic information of liquid at various temperatures of a vibrator of a cigarette cartridge connected to the electronic device; as well as A processor configured to perform the following: measuring a temperature of the vibrator; determining a property of the liquid in the cartridge based on the measured temperature; setting a control factor of the vibrator according to the determined characteristic; as well as An aerosol is generated by controlling the vibrator based on the control factor.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein: Measuring the temperature of the vibrator comprises: The temperature of the vibrator is measured using a temperature sensor embedded in the electronic device or the cigarette cartridge.

9. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein: Measuring the temperature of the vibrator comprises: After a preset time has passed from the start of heating of the electronic device, the temperature of the vibrator is measured.

10. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein: The characteristic of the liquid is the composition ratio of one or more substances constituting the liquid.

11. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein: Determining the characteristics of the liquid in the cartridge based on the measured temperature includes: acquiring a characteristic of the liquid corresponding to the measured temperature by referring to a memory storing the characteristic information of the liquid at each temperature of the vibrator; and The acquired properties of the liquid are determined as the properties of the liquid in the cigarette cartridge.

12. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein: The control factor of the vibrator includes at least one of the following: initial preheating time; vibrator driving frequency; vibrator driving voltage; vibrator driving current; Or the duty cycle of the vibrator drive signal.

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