Method and device for measuring temperature of vibrator in non-contact mode

Abstract

A method of determining a temperature of a vibrator included in a cartridge includes: providing a signal to a drive circuit of an electronic device when the vibrator of the cartridge is coupled to the drive circuit; determining a phase difference between a voltage between an end of the vibrator and an end of the shunt resistor and a current of the vibrator and the shunt resistor; determining a reactance component of the vibrator based on a resistance value of the shunt resistor and the phase difference; and determining a temperature of the vibrator based on the reactance component.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The following embodiments relate to an apparatus for generating an aerosol, and more particularly, to a technique for measuring the temperature of a substance in a non-contact manner. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the demand for electronic cigarettes (i.e., e-cigarettes) has been continuously increasing. The rising demand for e-cigarettes has accelerated the continuous development of e-cigarette-related functions. E-cigarette-related functions may include, for example, functions designed according to the type and characteristics of e-cigarettes. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Technical Problem to be Solved

[0004] One embodiment may provide a method for measuring the temperature of a vibrator in a non-contact manner.

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

[0006] Technical Solution to Solve the Problem

[0007] According to one embodiment, a method for determining the temperature of a vibrator included in a cartridge by an electronic device includes: when the vibrator of the cartridge is coupled to a driving circuit of the electronic device, providing a signal to the driving circuit; determining a phase difference between a voltage between both ends of the vibrator and an end of a shunt resistor and a current of the vibrator and the shunt resistor; determining a reactance component of the vibrator based on a resistance value of the shunt resistor and the phase difference; and determining the temperature of the vibrator based on the reactance component.

[0008] Determining the phase difference may include: determining a first time point at which the current of the vibrator becomes 0 in response to a signal provided to the driving circuit; determining a second time point at which the voltage across the vibrator becomes 0 in response to a signal provided to the driving circuit; and determining the phase difference based on the first time point and the second time point.

[0009] Determining the phase difference may include: determining a third time point at which the current of the vibrator reaches a peak in response to a signal provided to the driving circuit; determining a fourth time point at which the voltage across the vibrator reaches a peak in response to a signal provided to the driving circuit; and determining the phase difference based on the third time point and the fourth time point.

[0010] Determining the temperature of the vibrator may include: determining the temperature based on the reactance component according to a characteristic that the capacitance of the vibrator changes with the temperature of the vibrator.

[0011] The method may further include controlling the signal based on the temperature.

[0012] The electronic device may be an aerosol generating device, and the aerosol generating material around the vibrator may be aerosolized by ultrasonic vibrations generated by the vibrator.

[0013] The non - transitory computer - readable storage medium may store instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the above - described method.

[0014] According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes: a controller configured to execute a program for determining the temperature of a vibrator of a cartridge connected to the electronic device; and a drive circuit including a shunt resistor, wherein the vibrator is electrically connected to the drive circuit through a physical connection between the cartridge and the electronic device. The controller may be configured to: provide a signal to the drive circuit; in response to the signal provided to the drive circuit, determine a phase difference between the voltage between both ends of the vibrator and both ends of the shunt resistor and the current of the vibrator and the shunt resistor; determine an inductive reactance component of the vibrator based on the resistance value of the shunt resistor and the phase difference; and determine the temperature of the vibrator based on the inductive reactance component.

[0015] The controller may also be configured to control the signal based on the temperature.

[0016] The electronic device may be an aerosol generating device, and the aerosol generating material around the vibrator may be aerosolized by ultrasonic vibrations generated by the vibrator.

[0017] Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to one embodiment, a method for measuring the temperature of a vibrator in a non - contact manner may be provided.

[0019] According to one embodiment, an aerosol generating device for generating an aerosol may be provided. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an example.

[0021] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0022] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a cartridge and a body of an aerosol generating device separated according to an example.

[0023] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cartridge and a body of an aerosol generating device coupled according to an example.

[0024] Figure 5 Shows a drive circuit according to an example.

[0025] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing a method for determining the temperature of a vibrator according to an embodiment.

[0026] Figure 7 Shows the impedance between both the ends of a vibrator and the ends of a shunt resistor according to an example.

[0027] Figure 8 is a flowchart of a method for determining a phase difference based on the zero-crossings of current and voltage according to an example.

[0028] Figure 9 is a flowchart of a method for determining a phase difference based on the peaks of current and voltage according to an example.

[0029] Figure 10 Shows waveforms of the current and voltage of a vibrator according to an example. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0030] The following detailed structural or functional descriptions are provided only as examples, and various changes and modifications can be made to these examples. Here, the example embodiments should not be construed as being limited to the present disclosure, but should be understood to include all variations, equivalents, and alternatives within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0031] Although terms such as "first" and "second" are used to explain various components, these components are not limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. For example, within the scope of the present disclosure, the first component can be referred to as the second component, and similarly, the second component can also be referred to as the first component.

[0032] It should be noted that if one component is described as being "connected", "coupled", or "joined" to another component, there may be a third component "connected", "coupled", and "joined" between the first component and the second component, although the first component may be directly connected, coupled, or joined to the second component.

[0033] The singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that when the terms "comprise / include" and / or "include / comprise" are used herein, the presence of the specified features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components is designated, but the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof is not excluded.

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

[0035] Examples will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. When describing embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements, and repeated descriptions related thereto will be omitted.

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

[0037] According to an embodiment, Figure 1 the aerosol generating device 100 in 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 structure shown in. Those of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs should understand that, according to the design of the aerosol generating device 100, some components shown in Figure 1 may be omitted, or new components may be added.

[0038] The sensing unit 120 may sense the state of the aerosol generating device 100 or the state of the environment around the aerosol generating device 100, and transmit the sensing information obtained through sensing to the controller 110. Based on the sensing information, the controller 110 may control the aerosol generating device 100 to control the operation of the atomizer 150, restrict smoking, determine whether an aerosol generating article (e.g., an aerosol generating article, a cartridge, etc.) is inserted, display a notification, and perform other functions.

[0039] The sensing unit 120 may include at least one of a temperature sensor 122, an insertion detection sensor 124, or a puff sensor 126. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0040] The temperature sensor 122 may sense the temperature of the atomizer 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 perform the function of the temperature sensor. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 122 may be disposed 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 at least one of, for example, a thin film sensor, a pressure sensor, a light sensor, a resistance sensor, a capacitance sensor, an inductance sensor, or an infrared sensor, which can sense a signal change caused by the insertion and / or removal of the aerosol-generating article.

[0042] The puff sensor 126 can sense a user's puffing action based on various physical changes in the air flow path or air flow channel. For example, the puff sensor 126 can sense a puff from the user based on one of a temperature change, a flow rate change, a voltage change, and a pressure change.

[0043] In addition to the above sensors 122 to 126, the sensing unit 120 can further include at least one of the following: a temperature / humidity sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a position sensor (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS)), a proximity sensor, or a red, green, blue (RGB) sensor (e.g., an illuminance sensor). A person of ordinary skill in the art can intuitively infer the function from the name of each sensor, and thus, a more detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

[0044] The output unit 130 can output information about the state of the aerosol-generating device 100 and provide the information to the user. The output unit 130 can include at least one of a display 132, a haptic part 134, or a sound outputter 136. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto. When the display 132 and the touchpad are arranged in a stacked structure to form a touch screen, the display 132 can be used as an input device in addition to being used as an output device.

[0045] The display 132 can visually provide information about the aerosol-generating device 100 to the user. The information about the aerosol-generating device 100 can 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 article, the restricted use state of the aerosol-generating device 100 (e.g., an abnormal article is detected), etc., and the display 132 can output the information outward. The display 132 can be, for example, a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light emitting display panel (OLED), etc. The display 132 can also be in the form of a light emitting diode (LED) device.

[0046] The haptic part 134 can provide information about the aerosol-generating device 100 to the user haptically by converting an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus or an electrical stimulus. The haptic part 134 can include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

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

[0048] The battery 140 may provide power for operating the aerosol generating device 100. The battery 140 may provide power for operating the atomizer 150. In addition, the battery 140 may provide power required for operating other components included in the aerosol generating device 100 (e.g., the sensing unit 120, the output unit 130, the user input unit 160, the memory 170, and the communication unit 180). The battery 140 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. The battery 140 may be, for example, a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0049] The atomizer 150 may receive power from the battery 140 to atomize the aerosol generating material. Although not shown in Figure 1 , the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a direct current (DC)-direct current (DC / DC) converter), which converts the power of the battery 140 and provides 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 - alternating current (DC / AC) converter, which 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. Although not shown in Figure 1 , the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a power conversion circuit, e.g., a low dropout (LDO) circuit or a voltage regulator circuit, which converts the power of the battery 140 and provides the power to the corresponding components.

[0051] In one embodiment, the atomizer 150 may include a vibrator that generates ultrasonic vibrations due to an applied signal (e.g., electric power). 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 an alternating current power is applied to the polarized piezoelectric body, the piezoelectric body may expand and contract repeatedly. As the piezoelectric body expands and contracts repeatedly, the vibrator may vibrate at a characteristic frequency. When a signal is applied to the vibrator, short high-frequency vibrations may be generated, and the generated vibrations may break the aerosol generating material into small particles and atomize the aerosol generating material into an aerosol.

[0052] The user input unit 160 may receive input information from the user or may output information to the user. For example, the user input unit 160 may include a keypad, a dome switch, a touchpad (e.g., capacitive touch, piezoresistive film, infrared sensing, surface acoustic wave conduction, integral tension measurement, piezoelectric effect, etc.), a roller, a toggle switch, etc. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto. In addition, although not shown in Figure 1 , the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a connection interface such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface and may be connected to another external device through a connection interface such as a USB interface to transmit and receive information or charge the battery 140.

[0053] The memory 170 is a hardware for storing various data processed in the aerosol generating device 100. The memory may store data processed by the controller 110 and data to be processed by the controller 110. The memory 170 may include a storage medium of at least one of the following types of memories: flash type memory, hard disk type memory, multimedia card micro memory, card type memory (e.g., SD or XD memory), random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), programmable read only memory (PROM), magnetic memory, magnetic disk or 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, etc.

[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 low - power Bluetooth (BLE) communication unit, a near - field communication unit, a wireless local area network (WLAN) (Wi - Fi) communication unit, a ZigBee communication unit, an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication unit, a Wi - Fi Direct (WFD) communication unit, an ultra - wideband (UWB) communication unit, and an Ant+ communication unit. 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., local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)) communication unit, etc. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto. The wireless communication unit 184 may use user information (e.g., International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)) to identify and authenticate the aerosol - generating device 100 in a 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 storing a program executed by the microprocessor. In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains should understand that the controller may be implemented with 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 located between the battery 140 and the atomizer 150.

[0059] The controller 110 may analyze the sensing results obtained by the sensing of the sensing unit 120 and control the subsequent processes to be executed. For example, based on the sensing results obtained by the sensing unit 120, the controller 110 may control the power supply to the atomizer 150 to start or end the operation of the atomizer 150. In another example, the controller 110 may control the amount of power supplied to the atomizer 150 and the power - supply time so that the atomizer 150 can vibrate at a predetermined frequency or maintain a desired vibration frequency based on the sensing results obtained by the sensing unit 120.

[0060] The controller 110 may control the output unit 130 based on the sensing results 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 that the aerosol - generating device 100 is about to end its use through at least one of the display 132, the tactile part 134, or the sound outputter 136.

[0061] In one embodiment, the controller 110 may control the power supply time and / or power supply amount of the atomizer 150 by controlling the drive circuit 138 according to the state of the aerosol-generating article 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 article.

[0062] One embodiment may be implemented in the form of a recording medium including computer-executable instructions, such as computer-executable program modules. The computer-readable medium may be any available medium accessible by a computer and includes all volatile media, non-volatile media, removable media, and non-removable media. In addition, the computer-readable medium may include computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes all 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 includes computer-readable commands, data structures, or other data regarding modulated data signals such as program modules, or other transmission mechanisms, and includes any information transmission medium.

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

[0064] Referring to Figure 2 , the aerosol-generating device 200 (e.g., Figure 1 the aerosol-generating device 100 in

[0065] may include a cartridge 220 containing an aerosol-generating substance and a body 210 connected to the cartridge 220.

[0066] 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, when at least a part 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 part of the body 210 is inserted into the cartridge 220, the cartridge 220 and the body 210 may be coupled.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the cartridge 220 may include a housing 222, a mouthpiece 224, a storage portion 230, a transmission portion 240, a vibrator 250, and electrical terminals 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 components for the operation of the cartridge 220 may be provided inside the housing 222. For example, the housing 222 may be formed in a cuboid 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 a polygonal columnar shape (e.g., triangular prism or pentagonal prism) or a cylindrical shape.

[0069] The mouthpiece 224 of the aerosol generating device 200 may be provided in a region of the housing 222 and may include an outlet 224e for discharging the aerosol generated from the aerosol generating substance to the outside. For example, the mouthpiece 224 may be provided in a region of the cartridge 220 opposite to the region where the body 210 is coupled, and when the user brings the mouth into contact with the mouthpiece 224 and inhales the aerosol, the user may receive the aerosol from the cartridge 220.

[0070] Due to the inhalation or sucking operation of the user, a pressure difference may be generated between the outside 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 part 230 of the aerosol generating device 200 may be located in the internal space of the housing 222 and may accommodate the aerosol generating substance. In the present disclosure, the expression "the storage part accommodates the aerosol generating substance" means that the storage part 230 performs a function of simply accommodating the aerosol generating substance, such as the use of a container, and the storage part 230 includes an element in which the aerosol generating substance is impregnated (accommodated), such as a sponge, cotton, cloth, or porous ceramic structure. In addition, the above expression may be used with the same meaning hereinafter.

[0072] The storage part 230 may accommodate the aerosol generating substance in any one of a liquid state, a solid state, a gaseous state, and a gel state.

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

[0074] The liquid composition may include, for example, one of water, a solvent, ethanol, a plant extract, a fragrance, a flavoring agent, or a vitamin mixture, or a mixture of these components. The fragrance may include, for example, menthol, mint, spearmint oil, various fruit flavor components, etc. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0075] The flavoring agent may include components that provide various 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 embodiments are not limited thereto. The liquid composition may also include aerosol-forming agents such as glycerol and propylene glycol.

[0076] The liquid composition may, for example, include glycerol and propylene glycol in any weight ratio, and a nicotine salt may be added thereto. The liquid composition may also include two or more types of nicotine salts. The nicotine salt may be formed by adding a suitable acid including an organic acid or an inorganic acid to nicotine. The nicotine may be naturally occurring nicotine or synthetic nicotine, and may have a content that may be any suitable weight relative to the total solution weight of the liquid composition.

[0077] The acid for forming the nicotine salt may be appropriately selected according to the absorption rate of nicotine in the blood, the operating temperature of the aerosol generating device 200, flavor or taste, solubility, etc. For example, the acid for forming the nicotine salt may include a single acid selected from 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, or a mixture of two or more acids selected from the above group. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0078] The transmission part 240 of the aerosol generating device 200 may absorb the aerosol generating substance. For example, the aerosol generating substance stored or accommodated in the storage part 230 may be transmitted 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 transmitted through 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 embodiments.

[0079] According to one embodiment, the transmission part 240 may be disposed near 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 part of the aerosol generating substance discharged from the storage part 230 to absorb the aerosol generating substance discharged from the storage part 230.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the smoke cartridge 220 may further include an absorber, which is arranged to cover at least a portion of the vibrator 250 that generates an aerosol, and transmits the aerosol generating substance absorbed by the transmission portion 240 to the vibrator 250. The absorber may be made of a material capable of absorbing an aerosol generating substance. For example, the absorber may include at least one material of SPL30 (H), SPL50 (H) V, NP100 (V8), SPL60 (FC) and melamine. Since the smoke cartridge 220 also includes an absorber, the aerosol generating substance can be absorbed not only into the transmission portion 240, but also by the absorber, thereby increasing the amount of the aerosol generating substance absorbed.

[0081] The vibrator 250 of the aerosol generating device 200 may be located 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.

[0082] In addition, since the absorber is provided to cover at least a portion of the vibrator 250, the absorber can act as a physical barrier to prevent particles that are not fully atomized from being "spitted" during the aerosol generation process and directly discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 200. Here, "spitting" can mean that particles of aerosol generating material that are not fully atomized and relatively large in size are discharged to the outside of the cartridge 220. Since the cartridge 220 also includes the absorber, the possibility of spitting can be reduced, and the user's puff satisfaction can be improved.

[0083] In one embodiment, the absorber may be located between one surface of the vibrator 250 generating the aerosol and the transmission part 240, and transmit the aerosol supplied to the transmission part 240 to the vibrator 250. For example, one area of ​​the absorber may be in contact with one area of ​​the transmission part 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 located on the top surface of the vibrator 250 (for example, in the +z direction), and supply the aerosol generating substance absorbed by the transmission part 240 to the vibrator 250.

[0084] According to one embodiment, the vibrator 250 of the aerosol generating device 200 can change the phase state of the aerosol generating substance by using an ultrasonic vibration method that utilizes ultrasonic vibration to atomize the aerosol generating substance. For example, the vibrator 250 can generate vibrations of a short period, and the vibrations generated from the vibrator 250 can be ultrasonic vibrations. The frequency of the ultrasonic vibrations can be in the range of approximately 100 kilohertz (kHz) to approximately 10 megahertz (MHz) (preferably, in the range of approximately 100 kHz to 3.5 MHz). However, the embodiment is not limited thereto. When the vibrator generates ultrasonic vibrations in the above frequency band, the vibrator can vibrate in the longitudinal direction (e.g., the z-axis direction) of the cartridge 220 or the housing 222. However, the embodiment is not limited to the direction in which the vibrator vibrates, and the direction in which the vibrator vibrates can be changed to various directions (e.g., one direction or a combination of the x-axis direction, the y-axis direction, and the z-axis direction). Due to the short-period vibrations generated by the vibrator 250, the aerosol generating substance supplied from the storage part 230 to the vibrator 250 can be vaporized and / or turned into particles, and thus be atomized into an aerosol.

[0085] For example, the vibrator 250 can include a piezoelectric ceramic, and the piezoelectric ceramic can be a functional material that can mutually convert electric power and mechanical force by generating electric power (voltage) from physical force (pressure) and generating vibrations (mechanical force) when electric power is applied. That is, when electric power is applied to the vibrator 250, vibrations of a short period (physical force) can be generated, and the generated vibrations can break the aerosol generating substance into small particles and atomize the aerosol generating substance into an aerosol.

[0086] The vibrator 250 can be electrically connected to other components of the aerosol generating device 200 through the electrical terminal 260. The electrical terminal 260 can be located on one surface of the cartridge 220. For example, the electrical terminal 260 can be located on the coupling surface of the cartridge 220 that is coupled to the main body 210 of the aerosol generating device 20. The electrical terminal 260 can be located on one surface of the housing 222 that is opposite to the mouthpiece 224.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the vibrator 250 can be electrically connected to at least one of the drive circuit 212, the controller 214, or the battery 216 of the main body 210 through the electrical terminal 260 located 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 drive circuit 212 of the main body 210 through a second conductor. That is, the vibrator 250 can be electrically connected to the components of the main body 210 through the electrical terminal 260.

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

[0090] For example, the electrical terminal 260 can include at least one of a spring pin, a wire, a cable, a printed circuit board (PCB), a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), or a C-shaped 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-shaped or plate-shaped vibration accommodating portion that, without using a separate transfer portion 240, performs both the function of absorbing the aerosol generating material and maintaining the aerosol generating material in an optimal state for conversion into an aerosol, and the function of transmitting vibrations to the aerosol generating material to generate an aerosol.

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

[0093] According to one embodiment, the air flow path 223 can be located inside the cartridge 220 and can be connected to the vibrator 250 and the outlet 224e of the mouthpiece 224. Therefore, the aerosol generated by the vibrator 250 can flow along the air flow path 223 and be discharged to the outside of the cartridge 220 or the outside of 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 can receive the aerosol.

[0094] Although not shown in the drawings, the air flow path 223 can include at least one inlet through which air outside the cartridge 220 is introduced into the cartridge 220. The inlet can be located on at least a part of the housing 222 of the cartridge 220. For example, the inlet can be located on the coupling surface (e.g., the bottom surface) of the cartridge 220 where the cartridge 220 is coupled to the main body 210.

[0095] Since at least one gap can be formed in the portion where the cartridge 220 is coupled to the main body 210, external air can be introduced through the gap between the cartridge 220 and the main body 210 and enter the cartridge 220 through the inlet.

[0096] The air flow path 223 can be connected from the inlet to the space where the vibrator 250 generates the aerosol and can be connected from the corresponding space to the outlet 224e.

[0097] Accordingly, the air introduced through the inlet can be transmitted to the vibrator 250, and the transmitted air can move together with the aerosol generated by the vibrator 250 to the outlet 224e, thereby circulating the air inside the cartridge 220.

[0098] According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the airflow path 223 can be arranged such that its outer circumferential surface is surrounded by the storage portion 230 in the housing 222. In another example, at least a portion of the airflow path 223 can 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 examples, and the airflow path 223 can be arranged in various structures to circulate the airflow between the inlet, the vibrator 250, and the outlet 224e.

[0099] According to one embodiment, the body 210 can include a drive circuit 212, a controller 214, and a battery 216 therein, and one end portion of the body 210 can be connected to one end portion of the cartridge 220. For example, the body 210 can be coupled to the bottom surface or the coupling surface of the cartridge 220.

[0100] When the vibrator 250 of the 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 magnitude of the power supplied to the vibrator 250 can be determined by the controller 214. The vibration frequency of the vibrator 250, etc. can be controlled by the amplitude of the power. The drive circuit 212 according to one embodiment 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 described embodiments.

[0101] The controller 214 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 200. For example, the controller 214 can 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 can control the power supplied to the vibrator 250 such that the vibrator 250 can vibrate at a predetermined frequency.

[0102] The controller 214 can be implemented as an array of multiple logic gates, or can be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory storing a program executable by the microprocessor. In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains should understand that the controller 214 can be implemented in other types of hardware.

[0103] The controller 214 analyzes the sensing results obtained by at least one sensor included in the aerosol generating device 200 and controls the subsequent processes to be executed. For example, the controller 214 may control the supply of power to the vibrator 250 to start or end the operation of the vibrator 250 based on the sensing results obtained by the at least one sensor. In addition, the controller 214 may control the amount of power supplied to the vibrator 250 and the power supply time such that the vibrator 250 can generate an appropriate amount of aerosol based on the sensing results 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 provide the power required for operating other hardware components (e.g., sensors, user interfaces, memories, and the 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 (e.g., nickel-metal hydride battery or nickel-cadmium battery) or a lithium-based battery (e.g., lithium cobalt oxide battery, lithium iron phosphate battery, lithium titanate battery, lithium-ion battery, or lithium polymer battery).

[0107] In one embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol generating device 200 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 220 and / or the body 210 may be circular, oval, 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, or to a shape that linearly extends 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 extend long and be curved in a streamline shape, or be curved at a predetermined angle in a specific area to facilitate the user's hand-holding, and the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol generating device 200 may vary along the longitudinal direction.

[0109] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the separation of the cartridge and the body parts of the aerosol generating device according to one embodiment, and Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the coupling of the cartridge and the body parts of the aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

[0110] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The aerosol generating device 300 according to one embodiment shown in Figure 2 may be the aerosol generating device 200 shown in Figure 1An improved example of the aerosol generating device 100), and Figure 3 and Figure 4 The cartridge 220-1 and the main body 210-1 according to this embodiment shown in Figure 2 can be improved examples of the cartridge 220 and the main body 210 shown in

[0111] Referring to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the cartridge 220-1 can be detachably coupled to the main body 210-1. For example, when at least a part of the cartridge 220-1 is inserted into the main body 210-1, the cartridge 220-1 can be coupled to the main body 210-1.

[0112] The cartridge 220-1 can 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.

[0113] The body portion 10b of the cartridge 220-1 can be coupled to the mouthpiece 10m by a rotating shaft. In one example, the mouthpiece 10m can be in the open position. The open state of the mouthpiece 10m can refer to the state in which the mouthpiece 10m extends in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 220-1 to facilitate the user's contact of the mouth with the mouthpiece 10m. Here, the longitudinal direction can refer to the direction in which the cartridge 220-1 extends the longest among multiple directions. In another example, the mouthpiece 10m can be in the closed position. The closed state of the mouthpiece 10m can refer to the state in which the mouthpiece 10m is folded in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 220-1 so that the mouthpiece 10m is accommodated in the main body 210-1 of the aerosol generating device 300.

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

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

[0116] As referred toFigure 2 As described above, the cartridge 220-1 and the body 210-1 can be coupled by at least one of snap-fit, threaded connection, magnetic connection, or interference fit. For example, the cartridge 220-1 can include a first magnetic body, and the body 210-1 can include a second magnetic body, so that the cartridge 220-1 and the body 210-1 can be magnetically coupled. However, the strength of the first magnetic material and the second magnetic material can be designed according to the ease of loading and unloading of the cartridge 220-1 and the body 210-1 and / or the operating stability of the aerosol generating device 300.

[0117] The body 210-1 can include a button 20b. The button 20b can be disposed on the surface of the body 210-1. For example, the button 20b can be disposed on a surface of the body 210-1 corresponding to one end portion 20c-1 of the cover 20c. When the user uses the aerosol generating device 300, the button 20b can be used to control the operation of the aerosol generating device 300.

[0118] The body 210-1 can further include a receiving portion 20s that can receive the mouthpiece 10m of the cartridge 220-1 when the mouthpiece 10m moves to the closed position. The receiving portion 20s can be located on a surface of the body 210-1, and the shape or size of the receiving portion can correspond to the shape or size of the mouthpiece 10m.

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

[0120] In one embodiment, the body 210-1 can further include a cover 20c coupled to a portion of the body 210-1. The cover 20c can be coupled to at least one surface of the body 210-1. For example, the cover 20c can be coupled to a side of the body 210-1 where the coupling portion 20a is located. Similarly, the cover 20c can be coupled to a side of the body 210-1 where the receiving portion 20s is located.

[0121] The cover 20c can include an opening 20c-o. The cover 20c can include an opening 20c-o having dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the mouthpiece 10m. For example, the opening 20c-o can have a predetermined length and width. Here, the width of the opening 20c-o can be less than or equal to the width of the body of the cartridge 220-1 and can be greater than or equal to the width of the mouthpiece 10m. The length of the opening 20c-o can be greater than or equal to the length of the mouthpiece 10m.

[0122] The cover 20c can extend from one end 20c-1 to the other end 20c-2 to be disposed on the receiving portion 20c' of the main body 210-1. For example, the size and shape of the receiving portion 20c' can correspond to the size and shape of the cover 20c. The receiving portion 20c' can be a portion extending in two directions from the connecting portion 20a and the inlet side of the accommodating portion 20s and is slotted to a predetermined depth so that the cover 20c can be coupled to the receiving portion.

[0123] When the cartridge 220-1 is coupled to the main body 210-1, the cover 20c can be coupled to the main body 210-1 after the cartridge 220-1 is coupled to the main body 210-1. The cover 20c can be coupled to one side of the main body 210-1 by at least one of snap-fit, interference fit or magnetic coupling. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0124] Since the cover 20c includes an opening 20c-o through which the mouthpiece 10m can pass, in the state where the cartridge 220-1 is coupled to the main body 210-1, the cartridge 220-1 can be protected without disturbing the opening and closing movement of the mouthpiece 10m, and the connection between the cartridge 220-1 and the main body 210-1 can be maintained.

[0125] Figure 4 An aerosol generating device 300 is shown, in which the cartridge 220-1 and the cover 20c are both coupled to the main body 210-1, and the mouthpiece 10m is in the closed position. As shown, since the main body 210-1 includes a receiving portion 20s corresponding to the mouthpiece 10m in size and shape, and a receiving portion 20c' corresponding to the cover 20c in size and shape, and the cover 20c includes an opening 20c-o corresponding to the mouthpiece 10m in size and shape, the overall appearance of the aerosol generating device 300 is firm and smooth.

[0126] When the cartridge 220-1 is separated from the main body 210-1, the cover 20c can be separated from the main body 210-1 first, and then the cartridge 220-1 can be separated from the main body 210-1. As described above, the cover 20c and the cartridge 220-1 can be separated from the main body 210-1 in sequence, or coupled to the main body 210-1 in sequence.

[0127] Figure 5 A drive circuit according to an example is shown.

[0128] According to one embodiment, an aerosol generating device (e.g., Figure 1 the aerosol generating device 100 in Figure 2 the aerosol generating device 200 in Figure 3 or the aerosol generating device 300 inFigure 1 the drive circuit 138 in Figure 2 the drive circuit 212) may include an inductor 530 and a shunt resistor 540. In addition, the drive circuit 500 may further include a DC power supply 502 for supplying power to the drive circuit 500 (e.g., Figure 1 the battery 140 in Figure 2 the battery 216), and a plurality of switches 512, 514, 516, and 518. For example, the controller 550 (e.g., Figure 1 the controller 110 in Figure 2 the controller 214) may control the plurality of switches 512, 514, 516, and 518 to control the magnitude of the signal (e.g., the amplitude of the current or voltage) provided to the drive circuit 500.

[0129] According to one embodiment, when a cartridge of the aerosol generating device (e.g., Figure 2 the cartridge 220 in Figure 3 the cartridge 220-1) is coupled to the body (e.g., Figure 2 the body 210 in Figure 3 the body 210-1), the vibrator 520 of the cartridge (e.g., Figure 1 the atomizer 150 in Figure 2 the vibrator 250) may be electrically connected to the drive circuit 500.

[0130] According to one embodiment, the drive circuit 500 may further include a phase detector 560 for detecting: the phase difference between the voltage between both ends of the vibrator 520 and the ends of the shunt resistor 540 and the current of the vibrator 520 and the shunt resistor 540. In addition, the drive circuit 500 may further include an operational amplifier 570 connected to both ends of the shunt resistor 540.

[0131] According to one embodiment, the controller 550 may determine the reactance component of the vibrator 520 based on the resistance value of the shunt resistor 540 and the following phase difference determined by the phase detector 560, where the phase difference is the phase difference between the voltage between both ends of the vibrator 520 and the ends of the shunt resistor 540 and the current of the vibrator and the shunt resistor, and the controller may determine the temperature of the vibrator 520 based on the reactance component of the vibrator 520. For example, the controller 550 may utilize the characteristic that the capacitance of the vibrator 520 changes with the temperature of the vibrator 520 to determine the temperature of the vibrator 520 corresponding to the reactance component of the vibrator 520. The method for determining the temperature of the vibrator 520 will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 6 to 10 Detailed description.

[0132] Figure 6Flowchart of a method for determining the temperature of a vibrator according to an embodiment.

[0133] In operation 610, when the vibrator of the cartridge (e.g., Figure 2 cartridge 220 in Figure 3 or the vibrator of the cartridge 220-1 in Figure 1 the atomizer 150 in Figure 2 the vibrator 250 in Figure 5 or the vibrator 520 of the cartridge in Figure 1 is coupled to the drive circuit (e.g., Figure 2 the drive circuit 138 in Figure 3 the aerosol generating device 100, Figure 1 the drive circuit 212 in Figure 2 the aerosol generating device 200, or Figure 5 the drive circuit 500 in the aerosol generating device 300), the electronic device can provide a signal to the drive circuit. For example, the drive circuit can operate in a full-bridge mode, a half-bridge mode, or other operating modes with two or fewer switches. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0134] In operation 620, due to the signal provided to the drive circuit, the electronic device can use the shunt resistor of the drive circuit to determine the voltage between the ends of the vibrator and the phase difference between the current of the vibrator and the shunt resistor. For example, since the phase difference between the current and voltage across the vibrator is fixed at 90 degrees, the phase difference between the voltage between the ends of the vibrator and the shunt resistor and the current of the vibrator and the shunt resistor can be additionally determined.

[0135] In operation 630, the electronic device can determine the reactance component of the vibrator based on the resistance value of the shunt resistor and the phase difference.

[0136] According to one embodiment, when the phase difference is φ, the reactance component of the vibrator, i.e., the magnitude of the reactance, can be determined by multiplying the value of tan(φ) by the resistance value of the shunt resistor. Alternatively, the reactance component of the vibrator can be determined by multiplying the value of sin(φ) by the impedance between the ends of the vibrator and the shunt resistor. In other words, when the resistance component is removed from the impedance, the reactance component of the vibrator can be determined.

[0137] In operation 640, the electronic device can determine the temperature of the vibrator based on the reactance component of the vibrator by utilizing the characteristic that the capacitance of the vibrator changes with the temperature of the vibrator.

[0138] According to one embodiment, the electronic device may utilize the characteristic that the capacitance of the vibrator changes with the temperature of the vibrator to determine the temperature of the vibrator corresponding to the reactance component of the vibrator.

[0139] According to one embodiment, the electronic device may have data related to the correspondence between the reactance component (e.g., the magnitude of the reactance) of the vibrator and the temperature of the vibrator. This data may be pre-stored in a memory (e.g., Figure 1 the memory 170 in) as a database. The electronic device may determine the temperature of the vibrator corresponding to the determined reactance component of the vibrator according to the data stored in the memory.

[0140] Figure 7 Shows the impedance between both ends of the vibrator and both ends of the shunt resistor according to an example.

[0141] According to one embodiment, the impedance 710 that appears between both ends of the vibrator and both ends of the shunt resistor may be the vector sum of the resistance component 720 on the real axis that appears on the shunt resistor and the reactance component 730 on the imaginary axis that appears on the vibrator. The reactance component 730 may be a capacitive reactance component.

[0142] According to one embodiment, the magnitude of the reactance component 730 may change according to the change in the capacitance or temperature of the vibrator, and this change may be caused by the vibration of the vibrator. Therefore, even when the resistance component 720 remains unchanged, the change in the reactance component 730 may cause a change in the impedance 710. Therefore, in order to determine the temperature of the vibrator, it is necessary to determine the angle between the real axis and the impedance 710 that appears due to the change in the reactance component 730, that is, the phase difference φ between the voltage between both ends of the vibrator and the shunt resistor and the current of the vibrator and the shunt resistor. The unit of the phase difference may be degrees (°) or radians (rad).

[0143] Figure 8 Is a flowchart of a method for determining the phase difference based on the zero-crossing points of current and voltage according to an example.

[0144] According to one embodiment, the operation 620 referred to above Figure 6 described may include operations 810 to 830 to be described below.

[0145] In operation 810, the electronic device may determine the first time point when the current value of the vibrator becomes 0. For example, the electronic device may determine the time point when the current value changes from a positive number to a negative number or from a negative number to a positive number as the first time point.

[0146] In operation 820, the electronic device may determine a second time point at which the voltage value on the vibrator becomes 0. For example, the electronic device may determine as the second time point the time point at which the voltage value changes from a positive number to a negative number or the time point at which the voltage value changes from a negative number to a positive number.

[0147] In operation 830, the electronic device may determine a phase difference based on the first time point and the second time point. For example, the phase difference may be determined based on a first time between the first time point and the second time point.

[0148] Figure 9 is a flowchart of a method for determining a phase difference based on the peak values of current and voltage according to an example.

[0149] According to one embodiment, operation 620 described above may include operations 910 to 930 to be described below. Figure 6 The operations described above with reference to

[0150] In operation 910, the electronic device may determine a third time point at which the current value of the vibrator reaches a peak. For example, the electronic device may determine the third time point based on the time point at which the current value no longer increases.

[0151] In operation 920, the electronic device may determine a fourth time point at which the voltage value on the vibrator reaches a peak. For example, the electronic device may determine the fourth time point based on the time point at which the voltage value no longer increases.

[0152] In operation 930, the electronic device may determine a phase difference based on the third time point and the fourth time point. For example, the phase difference may be determined based on a second time between the third time point and the fourth time point.

[0153] Figure 10 shows waveforms of the current and voltage of a vibrator according to an example.

[0154] According to one embodiment, a current waveform 1010 and a voltage waveform 1020 of a vibrator are shown.

[0155] For example, the time point 1015 at which the current waveform 1010 has a zero crossing may be determined as the first time point, and the time point 1025 at which the voltage waveform 1020 has a zero crossing may be determined as the second time point. The period 1050 between the time point 1015 and the time point 1025 may be determined as the first time.

[0156] In another example, the time point 1012 at which the peak 1011 of the current waveform 1010 appears may be determined as the third time point, and the time point 1022 at which the peak 1021 of the voltage waveform 1020 appears may be determined as the fourth time point. The period 1040 between the time point 1012 and the time point 1022 may be determined as the second time.

[0157] According to one embodiment, the electronic device may determine a phase difference based on a first time (i.e., period 1050) or a second duration (i.e., period 1040).

[0158] The embodiments described herein may be implemented using hardware components, software components, and / or combinations thereof. The processing device may be implemented using one or more general-purpose or special-purpose computers, such as, for example, a processor, a controller, and 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 capable of responding and executing instructions in a prescribed manner. The processing device may run an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications running on the operating system. The processing device may also access, store, operate, process, and create data in response to the execution of software. For the sake of simplicity of description, the processing device is presented in the singular form; however, those skilled in the art will understand that the processing device may include multiple processing elements 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, there may be different processing configurations, such as parallel processors.

[0159] The software may include a computer program, a piece of code, instructions, or some combination thereof to direct or configure the processing device to operate as desired, either independently or in unison. The software and data may be embodied permanently or temporarily in any type of machine, component, physical or virtual device, computer storage medium or device, or in a propagated signal wave capable of providing instructions or data to, or being interpreted by, the processing device. The software may also be distributed over network-connected computer systems so that the software is stored and executed in a distributed manner. The software and data may be stored by one or more non-transitory computer-readable recording media.

[0160] The methods according to these embodiments can be recorded in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, which includes program instructions for implementing the various operations of these embodiments. These media may also include data files, data structures, etc., either alone or in combination with the program instructions. The program instructions recorded on the medium may be specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the embodiments, or they may also be of the type well-known and available to those skilled in the computer software art. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes; optical media such as CD-ROM discs and DVDs; magneto-optical media such as optical discs; 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 machine code, such as that generated by a compiler, and files containing high-level code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter.

[0161] The above-described devices can be configured to act as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the above embodiments, and vice versa.

[0162] As described above, although these embodiments have been described with reference to a limited number of drawings, those skilled in the art can make various technical modifications and variations based thereon. For example, suitable results can be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and / or if the components in the described systems, architectures, devices, or circuits are combined in a different manner, or if the components are replaced or supplemented with other components or their equivalents.

[0163] Accordingly, other implementations, other embodiments, and / or equivalents of the claims are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A method for determining the temperature of a vibrator included in an atomizer, the method comprising: When the vibrator of the atomizer is coupled to a drive circuit of the electronic device, providing a signal to the drive circuit; Determining a phase difference between the voltage between both ends of the vibrator and the current of the vibrator and the shunt resistor; Determining the reactance component of the vibrator based on the resistance value of the shunt resistor and the phase difference; and Determining the temperature of the vibrator based on the reactance component.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein Determining the phase difference includes: Determining a first time point at which the current of the vibrator becomes 0 in response to the signal provided to the drive circuit; Determining a second time point at which the voltage across the vibrator becomes 0 in response to the signal provided to the drive circuit; and Determining the phase difference based on the first time point and the second time point.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein Determining the phase difference includes: Determining a third time point at which the current of the vibrator becomes a peak in response to the signal provided to the drive circuit; Determining a fourth time point at which the voltage across the vibrator becomes a peak in response to the signal provided to the drive circuit; and Determining the phase difference based on the third time point and the fourth time point.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein Determining the temperature of the vibrator includes: Based on the characteristic that the capacitance of the vibrator changes with the temperature of the vibrator, determining the temperature based on the reactance component.

5. The method according to claim 1, the method further comprising: Controlling the signal based on the temperature.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein The electronic device is an aerosol generating device, and The aerosol generating material around the vibrator is aerosolized by ultrasonic vibration generated by the vibrator.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that can be executed by a processor to perform the method according to claim 1.

8. An electronic device, the electronic device comprising: A controller configured to execute a program for determining the temperature of a vibrator of an atomizer connected to the electronic device; and A drive circuit including a shunt resistor, wherein the vibrator is electrically connected to the drive circuit through a physical connection between the atomizer and the electronic device, wherein the controller is configured to: Provide a signal to the drive circuit; In response to the signal provided to the drive circuit, determine a phase difference between the voltage between both ends of the vibrator and the current of the vibrator and the shunt resistor; Determine the reactance component of the vibrator based on the resistance value of the shunt resistor and the phase difference; and Determine the temperature of the vibrator based on the reactance component.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein, the controller is further configured to: Control the signal based on the temperature.

10. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein, the electronic device is an aerosol generating device, and wherein the aerosol generating substance around the vibrator is aerosolized by ultrasonic vibrations generated by the vibrator.

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