Aerosol-generating device and method of operation

Abstract

The invention provides an aerosol generating device and an operation method. The aerosol generating device comprises a battery cell; a resonant circuit including an inductor and a capacitor; the switching circuit comprises a first switching tube and a second switching tube; the controller is configured to output a first pulse signal and a second pulse signal, and the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal are complementary and have dead time; a driver configured to drive the first switch tube based on the first pulse signal and drive the second switch tube based on the second pulse signal; and the receptor is configured to be capable of being penetrated by the changing magnetic field to generate heat so as to heat the aerosol-forming substrate. According to the aerosol generating device, on one hand, the dead zone time can be flexibly set, and direct connection of the switch tube is effectively prevented; on the other hand, the dead time can be reduced, the loss of the switch tube is reduced, and the efficiency of the whole machine is effectively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of electronic atomization, and in particular, to an aerosol generating device and an operation method thereof. Background Art

[0002] An existing aerosol generating device usually adopts an LCC symmetric half-bridge or an LC asymmetric half-bridge, so that an inductor generates a changing magnetic field, and then a receptor heats an aerosol to form a matrix.

[0003] The LCC symmetric half-bridge or LC asymmetric half-bridge is equipped with a corresponding switching circuit, and the switching circuit includes two switching tubes connected in series. Usually, an independent driver is used to drive the switching tubes so that the switching tubes are alternately turned on and off. Generally, the driver has a built-in dead time function, which can effectively prevent the switching tubes from being directly connected. However, the dead time corresponding to the driver is too long, resulting in large losses of the switching tubes and reducing the efficiency of the whole machine. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides an aerosol generating device and an operation method thereof to solve the problem that the existing aerosol generating device has too long dead time, resulting in large losses of the switching tubes and reducing the efficiency of the whole machine.

[0005] On the one hand, the present application provides an aerosol generating device, including:

[0006] A battery cell for providing power;

[0007] A resonant circuit including an inductor and a capacitor forming a series resonance;

[0008] A switching circuit electrically connected to the resonant circuit; the switching circuit includes a first switching tube and a second switching tube connected in series;

[0009] A controller configured to output a first pulse signal and a second pulse signal, the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal being complementary and having a dead time;

[0010] A driver configured to drive the first switching tube based on the first pulse signal and drive the second switching tube based on the second pulse signal to drive the first switching tube and the second switching tube to be alternately turned on and off, so that an alternating current flows through the inductor in the resonant circuit and generates a changing magnetic field; wherein, the dead time is greater than the sum of the rise time and the fall time of the driver; and

[0011] A receptor configured to be penetrated by the changing magnetic field and generate heat to heat an aerosol matrix to generate an aerosol.

[0012] On the other hand, the present application provides a method for operating an aerosol generating device, the aerosol generating device comprising:

[0013] a battery cell for providing power;

[0014] a resonant circuit comprising an inductor and a capacitor forming a series resonance;

[0015] a switching circuit electrically connected to the resonant circuit; the switching circuit comprising a first switching transistor and a second switching transistor;

[0016] a susceptor configured to be penetrated by a changing magnetic field and heated to heat an aerosol forming substrate to generate an aerosol;

[0017] The method comprises:

[0018] outputting a first pulse signal and a second pulse signal, the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal being complementary and having a dead time;

[0019] driving the first switching transistor based on the first pulse signal and driving the second switching transistor based on the second pulse signal to drive the first switching transistor and the second switching transistor to conduct and disconnect alternately, so that an alternating current flows through the inductor in the resonant circuit and a changing magnetic field is generated; wherein, the dead time is greater than the sum of the rise time and the fall time.

[0020] In the above aerosol generating device and operation method, two complementary pulse signals with a dead time are output by a controller, and the dead time is set to be greater than the sum of the rise time and the fall time of the driver; in this way, on the one hand, the dead time can be flexibly set to effectively prevent the switching transistors from being directly connected; on the other hand, the dead time can be reduced to reduce the loss of the switching transistors and effectively improve the efficiency of the whole machine. Description of the Drawings

[0021] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example in the pictures in the corresponding drawings, and these illustrative descriptions do not limit the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are represented as similar elements, unless otherwise stated, and the drawings in the drawings do not constitute a proportional limitation.

[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 2 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a switching circuit and a resonant circuit provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of a driving circuit provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 5 It is a block diagram of a controller provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of a pulse signal provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 7 It is a waveform schematic diagram of a switching tube provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 8 It is another waveform schematic diagram of a switching tube provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Figure 9 It is a schematic diagram of a method for operating an aerosol generating device provided by an embodiment of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0031] For ease of understanding the present application, the present application will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementation manners. It should be noted that when an element is described as "fixed to" another element, it can be directly on the other element, or there can be one or more intermediate elements therebetween. When an element is described as "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element, or there can be one or more intermediate elements therebetween. The terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner", "outer" and similar expressions used in this specification are only for the purpose of illustration.

[0032] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the technical field to which this application belongs. The terms used in this specification in the description of the present application are only for the purpose of describing specific implementation manners and are not used to limit the present application. The term "and / or" used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.

[0033] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0034] As Figure 1 shown, the aerosol generating device includes an atomizer 10 and a power supply assembly 20.

[0035] In one example, the atomizer 10 is removably connected to the power supply assembly 20, and the atomizer 10 and the power supply assembly 20 can be connected by snap connection, magnetic connection, etc. In another example, it is also feasible that the atomizer 10 and the power supply assembly 20 are integrally formed.

[0036] The atomizer 10 includes a carrier or a container for carrying a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and the susceptor 11 may be incorporated in the carrier or the container. For example, the container for carrying a liquid aerosol-forming substrate has a liquid storage cavity, and the susceptor 11 is installed in the container; the position of the susceptor 11 in the container is fixed, which is conducive to more efficient coupling with the inductor 21 when the atomizer 10 is matched with the power supply assembly 20.

[0037] The receptor 11 is configured to be coupled with the inductor 21, and generates heat when penetrated by the changing magnetic field, thereby heating the liquid aerosol-forming matrix, causing at least one component of the liquid aerosol-forming matrix to volatilize, forming an aerosol for inhalation.

[0038] The susceptor 11 may be in direct contact with the liquid aerosol-forming substrate in the liquid storage chamber, or the susceptor 11 may be in indirect contact with the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. For example, a wicking material is provided between the susceptor 11 and the liquid storage chamber, and the wicking material is used to transfer the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the susceptor 11. The optional wicking material includes a porous material or a fiber material.

[0039] The sensor 11 can be made of at least one of the following materials: aluminum, iron, nickel, copper, bronze, cobalt, ordinary carbon steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, martensitic stainless steel or austenitic stainless steel.

[0040] The power supply assembly 20 includes an inductor 21 , a circuit 22 and a battery cell 23 .

[0041] The inductor 21 generates a changing magnetic field under an alternating current, and the inductor 21 includes but is not limited to an induction coil.

[0042] The circuit 22 may control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device. The circuit 22 controls not only the operation of the battery cell 23 and the inductor 21, but also the operation of other components in the aerosol generating device.

[0043] The battery cell 23 provides power for operating the aerosol generating device. The battery cell 23 may be a rechargeable battery cell or a disposable battery cell.

[0044] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device provided in another embodiment of the present application.

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown, the aerosol generating device comprises:

[0046] A chamber in which a solid aerosol-forming substrate is removably received; the solid aerosol-forming substrate may be a portion of an aerosol-generating article A, such as a cigarette.

[0047] The sensor 110, at least a part of which extends in the chamber and is configured to be coupled to the inductor 210, generates heat when penetrated by a changing magnetic field, thereby heating the solid aerosol forming substrate and causing at least one component of the solid aerosol forming substrate to volatilize to form an aerosol for inhalation.

[0048] In one example, the sensor 110 is generally in the shape of a pin or blade, which is beneficial for insertion into the solid aerosol forming substrate. At the same time, the sensor 110 can have a length of about 12 mm, a width of about 4 mm, and a thickness of about 0.5 mm, and can be made of grade 430 stainless steel (SS430). As an alternative embodiment, the sensor 110 can have a length of about 12 mm, a width of about 5 mm, and a thickness of about 0.5 mm, and can be made of grade 430 stainless steel (SS430).

[0049] In another example, the sensor 110 can also be configured in a cylindrical or tubular shape. During use, its internal space forms a chamber for receiving the solid aerosol forming substrate, and an aerosol for inhalation is generated by heating the outer periphery of the solid aerosol forming substrate. These sensors can also be made of grade 420 stainless steel (SS420) and an iron / nickel-containing alloy material (such as permalloy).

[0050] The inductor 210 is used to generate a changing magnetic field under an alternating current. According to the settings during product use, the inductor 210 can include a cylindrical inductor coil wound in a spiral shape.

[0051] The circuit 220 is electrically connected to the battery cell 230 and is used to convert the direct current output from the battery cell 230 into an alternating current with a suitable frequency and then supply it to the inductor 210.

[0052] The battery cell 230 provides the power for operating the aerosol generating device. The battery cell 23 can be a rechargeable battery cell or a disposable battery cell.

[0053] Based on the above aerosol generating device, Figures 3 - 5 A schematic diagram showing the basic components of an embodiment of the circuit is presented; the circuit includes:

[0054] The switch circuit 221 includes a switch tube Q1 and a switch tube Q2 connected in series. The switch circuit 221 is used to form an alternating current flowing through the inductor L when the switch tube Q1 and the switch tube Q2 alternately conduct and disconnect.

[0055] Resonant circuit 222, an LCC symmetric half-bridge circuit composed of inductor L, capacitor C1, and capacitor C2; in other examples, an LC asymmetric half-bridge circuit composed only of inductor L and capacitor C1 (or capacitor C2) is also feasible. The resonant circuit 222 is used to generate an alternating magnetic field in the inductor L during resonance to induce the receptor to heat up.

[0056] In terms of connection, the first end of capacitor C1 is connected to power supply Vbat, and the second end is connected to the first end of capacitor C2; the second end of capacitor C2 is grounded through resistor R1; the first end of switch Q1 is connected to Vbat, and the second end is connected to the first end of switch Q2. The second end of switch Q2 is grounded through resistor R1; of course, the control ends of switch Q1 and switch Q2 are both connected to driver U1, and then conduct and disconnect under the drive of driver U1; switch Q1 and switch Q2 include but are not limited to transistors such as IGBT and MOS. In a preferred implementation, switch Q1 and switch Q2 are both NMOS transistors. The first end of inductor L is connected to the second end of switch Q1, and the second end is connected to the second end of capacitor C1.

[0057] In the resonant circuit 222 with the above structure, the connection states of capacitor C1 and capacitor C2 with inductor L change under the switching states of switch Q1 and switch Q2. When switch Q1 is conducting and switch Q2 is off, capacitor C1 and inductor L together form a closed LC series loop, while capacitor C2 and inductor L form an LC series loop with both ends connected to Vbat and ground respectively (this loop starts from Vbat, passes through inductor L and capacitor C2 in sequence, and ends at the grounded end); when switch Q1 is off and switch Q2 is conducting, the formed loop is opposite to the above state, capacitor C1 and inductor L form an LC series loop with both ends connected to Vbat and ground respectively, while capacitor C2 and inductor L together form a closed LC series loop. In their respective different states, capacitor C1 and capacitor C2 can both form their own LC series loops with inductor L.

[0058] Controller 223, configured to output two complementary pulse signals with dead time, that is, output a first pulse signal and a second pulse signal, and the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal are complementary and have dead time. As Figure 6 shown, the first pulse signal S1 and the second pulse signal S2 are two complementary pulse signals with dead time. The amplitudes of the first pulse signal S1 and the second pulse signal S2 are the same and the phases are opposite. The t in the figure d is the dead time of the first pulse signal S1 and the second pulse signal S2.

[0059] As Figure 5As shown, in one example, the controller 223 includes a reference signal generation module, a dead zone generator, and an output control module;

[0060] The reference signal generation module is configured to output a reference signal based on the natural frequency of the resonant circuit 222;

[0061] In a specific example, the reference signal generation module includes a frequency multiplier and a prescaler; the frequency multiplier is configured to multiply the reference frequency signal to generate a multiplied signal; the prescaler is configured to divide the multiplied signal to obtain a divided signal that approaches the natural frequency of the resonant circuit.

[0062] In a specific example, the register in the reference signal generation module can be configured so that the reference signal generation module outputs a reference signal based on the divided signal.

[0063] For example, configure the values of the automatic load register TIMx_ARR, the capture / compare register TIMx_CCRx, and the counter register TIMx_CNT to generate a PWM pulse signal with a certain frequency and duty cycle, that is, the reference signal.

[0064] The dead zone generator is configured to generate two complementary pulse signals with a dead zone time based on the reference signal and the preset dead zone time, that is, generate the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal;

[0065] In a specific example, the dead zone generator includes a dead zone time register for generating the dead zone time. For example, configure the DTG[7:0] part in the brake and dead zone register TMIx_BDTR of the timer to generate the corresponding dead zone time.

[0066] The output control module is configured to output the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal generated by the dead zone generator through the corresponding pins of the controller.

[0067] In a specific example, the signal output by the dead zone generator is divided into two paths, one is the original signal and the other is the inverted signal, which is specifically controlled by the bits CCxP and CCxNP of the register CCER. Whether the signal after polarity selection is output from the OCx pin to the external pin CHx / CHxN (that is, whether it is enabled) is configured by the bits CxE / CxNE of the register CCER.

[0068] Driver U1 is configured to convert two complementary pulse signals with dead time output by controller 223 into two drive signals, that is, drive the first switching tube based on the first pulse signal and drive the second switching tube based on the second pulse signal, so as to drive switching tubes Q1 and Q2 to conduct and disconnect alternately, thereby enabling an alternating current to flow through inductor L in resonant circuit 222 and generating a changing magnetic field.

[0069] In one example, the switch tube driver of model UCC27212 is adopted for driver U1. A bootstrap diode is integrated in driver U1, eliminating the need for an external discrete diode.

[0070] The first input pin of driver U1 (shown as pin 7 in the figure) and the second input pin (shown as pin 8 in the figure) are electrically connected to controller 223 respectively. The first input pin receives the first pulse signal output by controller 223 (shown as LC_PWM_HI in the figure), and the second input pin receives the second pulse signal output by controller 223 (shown as LC_PWM_LI in the figure).

[0071] The first output pin of driver U1 (shown as pin 3 in the figure) is electrically connected to the control end of switching tube Q1 (shown as LC_HO in the figure), and the second output pin of driver U1 (shown as pin 10 in the figure) is electrically connected to the control end of switching tube Q2 (shown as LC_LO in the figure).

[0072] A bootstrap capacitor C3 is connected between the first power supply pin (shown as pin 2 in the figure) and the second power supply pin (shown as pin 4 in the figure) of driver U1, that is, one end of bootstrap capacitor C3 is electrically connected to the first power supply pin, the other end of bootstrap capacitor C3 is electrically connected to the second power supply pin, and the second power supply pin of driver U1 is electrically connected between switching tubes Q1 and Q2 (shown as BOOST_HS in the figure).

[0073] In one example, the dead time generated by the dead time register is greater than the sum of the rising edge time and the falling edge time of driver U1, which can avoid the direct connection of switching tubes Q1 and Q2 due to the transmission delay of driver U1.

[0074] In one example, the dead time can be between 5 and 50 ns; alternatively, the dead time is between 10 and 50 ns; alternatively, the dead time is between 10 and 30 ns; alternatively, the dead time is between 20 and 30 ns.

[0075] Please refer to again Figures 7 - 8, assuming that switch Q1 and switch Q2 are both NMOS transistors, AM4 in the figure is the current waveform across the drain and source of switch Q1, VF1 is the input voltage waveform at the gate of switch Q1, VF2 is the input voltage waveform at the gate of switch Q2, and VM1 is the voltage V across the drain and source of switch Q1 DS .

[0076] As Figure 7 shown, in the prior art, due to the built-in dead-time function of the driver, the corresponding dead-time Δt0 is about 70 ns. It can be seen from the waveforms corresponding to AM4 and VM1 that during the dead-time, the value of VM1 * AM4 is relatively large, so the power loss of the switch is relatively high.

[0077] As Figure 8 shown, by the controller 223 outputs two complementary pulse signals with dead-time, and the dead-time is set to be greater than the sum of the rise time and the fall time of the driver U1. Among them, the dead-time Δt1 is about 15 ns. It can be seen from the waveforms corresponding to AM4 and VM1 that during the dead-time, the value of VM1 * AM4 is relatively small, so the power loss of the switch is relatively low.

[0078] As Figure 9 shown, another embodiment of the present application further provides a method for operating an aerosol generating device, and the aerosol generating device may refer to the foregoing content. The method includes the steps:

[0079] S11. Output a first pulse signal and a second pulse signal, the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal are complementary and have a dead-time;

[0080] S12. Drive the first switch based on the first pulse signal, and drive the second switch based on the second pulse signal, so as to drive the first switch and the second switch to conduct and disconnect alternately, so that the inductor in the resonant circuit flows through an alternating current and generates a changing magnetic field; wherein, the dead-time is greater than the sum of the rise time and the fall time.

[0081] It should be noted that the description and drawings of the present application give preferred embodiments of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. These embodiments are not additional limitations to the content of the present application. The purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the understanding of the disclosure content of the present application more thorough and comprehensive. And, the above technical features continue to be combined with each other to form various embodiments not listed above, all of which are regarded as the scope described in the specification of the present application; further, for those of ordinary skill in the art, they can be improved or transformed according to the above description, and all these improvements and transformations should fall within the protection scope of the appended claims of the present application.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device, characterized in that, Comprising: a battery cell for providing electric power; a resonant circuit including an inductor and a capacitor forming a series resonance; a switching circuit electrically connected to the resonant circuit; the switching circuit includes a first switching transistor and a second switching transistor; a controller configured to output a first pulse signal and a second pulse signal, the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal being complementary and having a dead time; a driver configured to drive the first switching transistor based on the first pulse signal and drive the second switching transistor based on the second pulse signal to drive the first switching transistor and the second switching transistor to conduct and disconnect alternately, so that an alternating current flows through the inductor in the resonant circuit and a changing magnetic field is generated; wherein, the dead time is greater than the sum of the rise time and the fall time of the driver; and a sensor configured to be penetrated by the changing magnetic field and generate heat to heat an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein, The dead time is between 5 and 50 ns; or, the dead time is between 10 and 50 ns; or, the dead time is between 10 and 30 ns; or, the dead time is between 20 and 30 ns.

3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein The controller includes a reference signal generation module, a dead time generator, and an output control module; the reference signal generation module is configured to output a reference signal based on the natural frequency of the resonant circuit; the dead time generator is configured to generate the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal based on the reference signal and the preset dead time; the output control module is configured to output the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal generated by the dead time generator through corresponding pins of the controller.

4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 3, wherein, The reference signal generation module includes a frequency multiplier and a prescaler; the frequency multiplier is configured to multiply the frequency of a reference frequency signal to generate a multiplied frequency signal; the prescaler is configured to divide the multiplied frequency signal to obtain a divided frequency signal approaching the natural frequency of the resonant circuit.

5. The aerosol generating device according to claim 3, wherein, The dead time generator includes a dead time register for generating the dead time.

6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein, The driver includes a first input pin, a second input pin, a first output pin, and a second output pin; the first input pin is electrically connected to the controller to receive the first pulse signal output by the controller; the second input pin is electrically connected to the controller to receive the second pulse signal output by the controller; the first output pin is electrically connected to the control end of the first switching transistor, and the second output pin is electrically connected to the control end of the second switching transistor.

7. The aerosol generating device according to claim 6, wherein The driver further includes a first power supply pin, a second power supply pin, and a bootstrap capacitor; one end of the bootstrap capacitor is electrically connected to the first power supply pin, the other end of the bootstrap capacitor is electrically connected to the second power supply pin, and the second power supply pin is electrically connected between the first switching transistor and the second switching transistor.

8. The aerosol generating device according to claim 7, wherein, A bootstrap diode is integrated in the driver.

9. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the first switching transistor and the second switching transistor are NMOS transistors.

10. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The resonant circuit includes an LC asymmetric half-bridge resonant circuit or an LCC symmetric half-bridge resonant circuit.

11. A method of operating an aerosol generating device, characterized in that, The aerosol generating device includes: a battery cell for providing power; a resonant circuit including an inductor and a capacitor forming a series resonance; a switching circuit electrically connected to the resonant circuit; the switching circuit includes a first switching transistor and a second switching transistor; a susceptor configured to be penetrated by a changing magnetic field to generate heat for heating an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol; The method includes: outputting a first pulse signal and a second pulse signal, the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal being complementary and having a dead time; driving the first switching transistor based on the first pulse signal and driving the second switching transistor based on the second pulse signal to drive the first switching transistor and the second switching transistor to alternately turn on and off, so that an alternating current flows through the inductor in the resonant circuit to generate a changing magnetic field; wherein, the dead time is greater than the sum of the rise time and the fall time.

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