Aerosol generating device and control method thereof

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment includes a heater for heating an aerosol-generating substance, a battery which is a rechargeable battery and supplies power to the heater, and a processor controlling charging of the battery by an external power source and controlling an output of the battery to control a temperature of the heater; and a processor which monitors the charge-discharge cycle of the battery and controls the full charge voltage and the output of the battery when the battery is charged based on the charge-discharge cycle, thereby ensuring a reliable number of smoking times of a user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an aerosol generating device and a method for controlling the same. Background Art

[0002] As an alternative to burning cigarettes to generate aerosol, there is growing demand for aerosol-generating devices that generate aerosol without burning. Aerosol-generating devices, for example, generate aerosol from an aerosol-generating substance without burning and supply it to the user, or generate a flavored aerosol by passing vapor generated from the aerosol-generating substance through a flavoring medium.

[0003] Typically, a rechargeable battery, such as a lithium-ion battery, is used as a power source for an aerosol generating device. The performance of the battery plays an important role in the reliability and safety of the aerosol generating device. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0005] Conventional aerosol-generating devices lack the ability to control battery performance independently of usage time or frequency. Consequently, as the battery ages, internal resistance increases, causing voltage deviations that degrade battery performance. This can lead to usage times that fall short of the manufacturer's guaranteed duration or the device failing to meet the guaranteed number of puffs per charge, thus undermining user confidence in the device. Furthermore, reduced battery performance and rapid battery degradation can lead to numerous issues with device stability.

[0006] Various embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to adjust the full charge voltage according to the number of battery charge and discharge cycles or usage time, so as to improve user confidence in the device and enhance battery efficiency or safety even when the battery is used for a long time.

[0007] Problems solved by the embodiments are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and unmentioned problems can be clearly understood from the present specification and the accompanying drawings by those having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the embodiments pertain.

[0008] Means used to solve problems

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an aerosol generating device includes: a heater for heating an aerosol generating substance, a battery, which is a rechargeable battery and supplies power to the heater, and a processor, which controls the charging of the battery by an external power source and controls the output of the battery to control the temperature of the heater; the processor monitors the charge and discharge cycle of the battery and controls the full charge voltage of the battery during charging and the output of the battery based on the charge and discharge cycle.

[0010] The processor may determine 100% charging and 100% discharging as one cycle based on the state of charge (SOC) of the battery, and when the accumulated number of cycles is greater than a first critical number of cycles, set the full charge voltage to a first voltage lower than an initial full charge voltage.

[0011] The first critical cycle number may be a cycle number that is smaller than a charge and discharge cycle number preset by a manufacturer to ensure performance of the battery.

[0012] The aerosol generating device may further comprise a puff sensor for sensing a puff taken by a user, and the processor may monitor the charge and discharge cycle based on a cumulative number of puffs.

[0013] The processor may accumulate the number of puffs by reflecting puff characteristic data including puff intensity and puff cycle.

[0014] The aerosol generating device may further include: a connection terminal for sensing the installation and removal of a cartridge within a receiving space of the aerosol generating device, the cartridge being used to store a predetermined amount of aerosol generating substance; the processor counting the number of times the cartridge is replaced and monitoring the charge and discharge cycle based on the accumulated number of replacements.

[0015] The aerosol generating device may include at least one temperature sensor for sensing the ambient temperature of the aerosol generating device and a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the battery; when the temperature sensed by the at least one temperature sensor is lower than a critical temperature, the processor sets the charging current of the battery to a current less than a preset charging current.

[0016] When the temperature sensed by the at least one temperature sensor is lower than a critical temperature, the processor sets a discharge current of the battery to a current smaller than a preset discharge current.

[0017] The aerosol generating device may further include: a charging circuit unit for controlling the charging of the battery; the charging circuit unit may determine the accumulated number of cycles based on the state of charge of the battery.

[0018] The charging circuit unit may adjust at least one of a full charge voltage and a charging current when charging the battery according to the control of the processor.

[0019] The processor may set the full charge voltage to a second voltage lower than the first voltage when the accumulated number of cycles is greater than a second critical number of cycles, the second critical number of cycles being greater than the first critical number of cycles.

[0020] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for controlling an aerosol generating device includes the steps of monitoring a charge and discharge cycle of a battery, and controlling a full charge voltage of the battery and an output of the battery when charging based on the charge and discharge cycle.

[0021] The control method of the aerosol generating device may further include the following steps: determining 100% charging and 100% discharging as one cycle based on the state of charge of the battery, and when the accumulated number of cycles is greater than a first critical number of cycles, setting the full charge voltage to a first voltage lower than the initial full charge voltage.

[0022] The first critical cycle number may be a cycle number that is smaller than a charge and discharge cycle number preset by a manufacturer to ensure performance of the battery.

[0023] According to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, a recording medium stores a program for executing a method for controlling an aerosol generating device on a computer.

[0024] Effects of the Invention

[0025] According to various embodiments of the aerosol generating device of the present disclosure, the full charge voltage and output current are adjusted according to the number of charge and discharge times or usage time of the battery, so as to improve battery efficiency or safety even when the battery is used for a long time.

[0026] Furthermore, the user can use the aerosol generating device for the number of charge and discharge cycles guaranteed by the battery manufacturer without degrading the battery performance, thereby increasing the user's confidence in the device.

[0027] In addition, various problems that may arise from battery fires can be solved by improving battery efficiency and enhancing safety.

[0028] Effects according to the embodiments are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and those having ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments pertain will clearly understand unmentioned effects from this specification and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figures 1 to 3 FIG2 is a diagram showing an example of inserting a cigarette into an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 4 and Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of a cigarette according to an embodiment.

[0031] Figure 6 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0032] Figure 7 is based on Figure 6A block diagram of the functional modules of a processor of an embodiment.

[0033] Figure 8 is a flowchart for explaining a method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment.

[0034] Figure 9 Is used to explain the Figure 8 An example diagram of the relationship between the charge and discharge cycle and the full charge voltage of an embodiment.

[0035] Figure 10 is a flowchart for explaining a method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to yet another embodiment.

[0036] Figure 11 Is used to explain the Figure 10 An example graph of the relationship between temperature and charging current of an embodiment.

[0037] Figure 12 is a flowchart for explaining a method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to yet another embodiment.

[0038] Figure 13 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to yet another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The terms used in the embodiments are currently widely used terms, as much as possible, in consideration of the effects of the present invention. However, the terms may be changed according to the intentions of those skilled in the art, precedents, or the emergence of new technologies in the field. In addition, the applicant may arbitrarily select certain terms in specific circumstances, and in such cases, the meaning of the selected terms will be described in detail in the explanatory part of this specification. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention should be defined based on the meaning of the terms and the content of the entire specification, rather than simply the term names.

[0040] Throughout this specification, when a section "includes" a certain component, unless otherwise specified, it indicates that the section may also include other components, not exclude them. Furthermore, terms such as "unit" and "module" used in this specification refer to a unit that performs at least one function or action and may be implemented as hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0041] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different ways and is not limited to the embodiments described here.

[0042] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] Figures 1 to 3 1 is a diagram showing an example of a cigarette being inserted into an aerosol generating device.

[0044] Reference Figure 1 The aerosol generating device 1 includes a battery 11, a control unit 12 and a heater 13. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The aerosol generating device 1 further includes a vaporizer 14. In addition, the cigarette 2 can be inserted into the inner space of the aerosol generating device 1.

[0045] Figures 1 to 3 The aerosol generating device 1 shown in FIG. 1 only shows the components related to this embodiment. Therefore, a person skilled in the art of the present embodiment should understand that the aerosol generating device 1 may also include components other than Figures 1 to 3 Other common components other than the components shown in the figure.

[0046] in addition, Figure 2 and Figure 3 The aerosol generating device 1 is shown to include a heater 13 , but the heater 13 may be omitted as needed.

[0047] Figure 1 The battery 11, the control unit 12 and the heater 13 are arranged in a row. Figure 2 The battery 11, the control unit 12, the vaporizer 14 and the heater 13 are arranged in a row. Figure 3 The vaporizer 14 and the heater 13 are shown to be arranged in parallel. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 1 is not limited to Figures 1 to 3 In other words, the arrangement of the battery 11 , the control unit 12 , the heater 13 , and the vaporizer 14 can be changed according to the design of the aerosol generating device 1 .

[0048] When the cigarette 2 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, the aerosol generating device 1 activates the heater 13 and / or vaporizer 14 to generate aerosol. The aerosol generated by the heater 13 and / or vaporizer 14 passes through the cigarette 2 and is transferred to the user.

[0049] If necessary, the aerosol generating device 1 can heat the heater 13 even when the cigarette 2 is not inserted into the aerosol generating device 1 .

[0050] The battery 11 supplies the power required to operate the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the battery 11 can supply power to heat the heater 13 or the vaporizer 14, and can also supply power required for the operation of the control unit 12. Furthermore, the battery 11 can supply power required to operate the display, sensors, motors, and other components of the aerosol generating device 1.

[0051] The control unit 12 controls the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 1. Specifically, the control unit 12 controls not only the battery 11, heater 13, and vaporizer 14, but also the operations of other components of the aerosol generating device 1. Furthermore, the control unit 12 can also confirm the status of each component of the aerosol generating device 1 to determine whether the aerosol generating device 1 is in an operable state.

[0052] The control unit 12 includes at least one processor. The processor may be composed of an array of multiple logic gates, or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory storing a program executable by the microprocessor. Furthermore, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art of the present embodiment, the processor may also be implemented using other forms of hardware.

[0053] The heater 13 can be heated by the power supplied by the battery 11. For example, when a cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, the heater 13 can be located outside the cigarette. Therefore, the heated heater 13 can increase the temperature of the aerosol generating substance in the cigarette.

[0054] The heater 13 may be a resistive heater. For example, the heater 13 may include a conductive track, and the heater 13 is heated by current flowing through the conductive track. However, the heater is not limited to the above example and is not particularly limited as long as it can heat to a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may be pre-set in the aerosol generating device 1 or may be set by the user.

[0055] On the other hand, as another example, the heater 13 may be an induction heating heater. Specifically, the heater 13 may include a conductive coil for heating the cigarette in an induction heating manner, and the cigarette may include a heat-sensitive body that can be heated by the induction heating heater.

[0056] For example, the heater 13 may include a tubular heating element, a plate-shaped heating element, a needle-shaped heating element, or a rod-shaped heating element, and may heat the inside or outside of the cigarette 2 according to the shape of the heating element.

[0057] In addition, the aerosol generating device 1 may be provided with a plurality of heaters 13. In this case, the plurality of heaters 13 may be arranged to be inserted into the interior of the cigarette 2 or may be arranged outside the cigarette 2. In addition, some of the plurality of heaters 13 may be arranged to be inserted into the interior of the cigarette 2, while the other heaters may be arranged outside the cigarette 2. In addition, the shape of the heater 13 is not limited to Figures 1 to 3 The shape shown can also be made into many other shapes.

[0058] The vaporizer 14 can generate an aerosol by heating the liquid composition, and the generated aerosol can be delivered to the user via the cigarette 2. In other words, the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 14 can move along the airflow path of the aerosol generating device 1, and the airflow path can be configured to enable the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 14 to be delivered to the user via the cigarette.

[0059] For example, the vaporizer 14 may include a liquid storage portion, a liquid transfer unit, and a heating component, but is not limited thereto. For example, the liquid storage portion, the liquid transfer unit, and the heating component may be provided in the aerosol generating device 1 as independent modules.

[0060] The liquid storage unit can store a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition can be a liquid containing a tobacco-containing substance containing volatile tobacco flavor components, or a liquid containing a non-tobacco substance. The liquid storage unit can be detachable from or attachable to the vaporizer 14, or can be integral with the vaporizer 14.

[0061] For example, the liquid composition may include water, a solvent, ethanol, a plant extract, a fragrance, a flavoring agent, or a vitamin mixture. Flavoring agents may include, but are not limited to, menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, various fruit-flavored ingredients, and the like. Flavoring agents may include ingredients that can provide a variety of aromas or flavors to the user. A vitamin mixture may include, but is not limited to, a mixture of at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Furthermore, the liquid composition may include an aerosol former such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

[0062] The liquid transfer unit can transfer the liquid composition of the liquid storage portion to the heating component. For example, the liquid transfer unit can be a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic, but is not limited thereto.

[0063] The heating element is used to heat the liquid composition being transferred through the liquid transfer unit. For example, the heating element may be a metal heating wire, a metal hot plate, a ceramic heater, or the like, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the heating element may be formed of a conductive heating wire, such as a nickel-chromium wire, and may be arranged so as to be wound around the liquid transfer unit. The heating element is heated by the supply of electric current and transfers heat to the liquid composition in contact with the heating element, thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, an aerosol can be generated.

[0064] For example, the gasifier 14 may be referred to as a cartomizer or an atomizer, but is not limited thereto.

[0065] On the other hand, the aerosol generating device 1 may also include other common structures in addition to the battery 11, the control unit 12, the heater 13, and the vaporizer 14. For example, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a display for outputting visual information and / or a motor for outputting tactile information. Furthermore, the aerosol generating device 1 may include at least one sensor (a puff sensor, a temperature sensor, a cigarette insertion sensor, etc.). Furthermore, the aerosol generating device 1 may be configured to allow external air to flow in or internal gas to flow out even when a cigarette 2 is inserted.

[0066] Although Figures 1 to 3 Although not shown, the aerosol generating device 1 may also be combined with a separate cradle to form a system. For example, the cradle may be used to charge the battery 11 of the aerosol generating device 1. Alternatively, the cradle may be used to heat the heater 13 when the cradle is coupled to the aerosol generating device 1.

[0067] The cigarette 2 can be similar to a conventional combustion-type cigarette. For example, the cigarette 2 can be divided into a first portion including an aerosol-generating substance and a second portion including a filter, etc. Alternatively, the second portion of the cigarette 2 can also include an aerosol-generating substance. For example, an aerosol-generating substance in the form of particles or capsules can be inserted into the second portion.

[0068] The entire first portion may be inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, while the second portion is exposed to the outside. Alternatively, only a portion of the first portion may be inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, or the entire first portion and a portion of the second portion may be inserted into the aerosol generating device 1. The user can inhale the aerosol while holding the second portion in their mouth. In this case, external air passes through the first portion, generating an aerosol, which is then delivered to the user's mouth via the second portion.

[0069] For example, external air can flow in through at least one air passage formed in the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the opening and / or size of the air passage formed in the aerosol generating device 1 can be adjusted by the user. This allows the user to adjust the amount of atomization, the puffing sensation, and the like. As another example, external air can flow into the interior of the cigarette 2 through at least one hole formed in the surface of the cigarette 2.

[0070] Below, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , an example of cigarette 2 is described.

[0071] Figure 4 and Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of a cigarette.

[0072] Reference Figure 4, the cigarette 2 includes a tobacco rod 21 and a filter rod 22. Figures 1 to 3 As described above, the first part 21 includes a tobacco rod 21 , and the second part 22 includes a filter rod 22 .

[0073] Figure 4 The filter rod 22 shown in the figure has a single-segment structure, but is not limited to this. In other words, the filter rod 22 may also be composed of multiple segments. For example, the filter rod 22 may include a segment for cooling the aerosol and a segment for filtering specified components in the aerosol. In addition, as needed, the filter rod 22 may also include at least one segment that performs other functions.

[0074] The diameter of the cigarette 2 is in the range of 5 mm to 9 mm, and the length may be approximately 48 mm, but is not limited thereto. For example, the tobacco rod 21 may be approximately 12 mm long, the first section of the filter rod 22 may be approximately 10 mm long, the second section of the filter rod 22 may be approximately 14 mm long, and the third section of the filter rod 22 may be approximately 12 mm long, but is not limited thereto.

[0075] The cigarette 2 can be wrapped in at least one wrapping paper 24. The wrapping paper 24 can have at least one hole formed therein for allowing outside air to flow in or for allowing internal gas to flow out. For example, the cigarette 2 can be wrapped in a single wrapping paper 24. In another example, the cigarette 2 can be wrapped in two or more wrapping papers 24, overlapping each other. For example, the tobacco rod 21 can be wrapped in a first wrapping paper 241, and the filter rod 22 can be wrapped in wrapping papers 242, 243, and 244. Furthermore, the entire cigarette 2 can be wrapped again in a single wrapping paper 245. If the filter rod 22 is composed of multiple segments, each segment can be wrapped in wrapping papers 242, 243, and 244.

[0076] The first wrapping paper 241 and the second wrapping paper 242 can be made of conventional filter paper. For example, the first wrapping paper 241 and the second wrapping paper 242 can be porous or non-porous. Furthermore, the first wrapping paper 241 and the second wrapping paper 242 can be made of oil-resistant paper and / or aluminum-laminated paper.

[0077] The third wrapping paper 243 can be made of hard roll paper. For example, the basis weight of the third wrapping paper 243 can be 88g / m 2 ~96g / m 2 , preferably, it can be 90g / m 2 ~94g / m 2 In addition, the thickness of the third wrapping paper 243 may be 120 μm to 130 μm, and preferably, may be 125 μm.

[0078] The fourth wrapping paper 244 can be made of oil-resistant hard paper. For example, the basis weight of the fourth wrapping paper 244 can be 88g / m 2 ~96g / m2 , preferably, it can be 90g / m 2 ~94g / m 2 In addition, the thickness of the fourth wrapping paper 244 may be in the range of 120 μm to 130 μm, and preferably, may be 125 μm.

[0079] The fifth wrapping paper 245 may be made of sterilization paper (MFW). Sterilization paper (MFW) refers to a specially made paper that is superior to ordinary paper in terms of tensile strength, water resistance, smoothness, etc. For example, the basis weight of the fifth wrapping paper 245 may be 57 g / m 2 ~63g / m 2 , preferably, it can be 60g / m 2 In addition, the thickness of the fifth wrapping paper 245 may be 64 μm to 70 μm, and preferably, may be 67 μm.

[0080] The fifth wrapping paper 245 may contain a predetermined substance. Silicon is an example of a predetermined substance, but is not limited thereto. For example, silicon exhibits properties such as heat resistance that is minimally affected by temperature, oxidation resistance, resistance to various chemicals, water resistance, and electrical insulation. However, any substance other than silicon, as long as it possesses the aforementioned properties, may be applied (or coated) to the fifth wrapping paper 245 without restriction.

[0081] The fifth wrapper 245 prevents the cigarette 2 from burning. For example, when the tobacco rod 210 is heated by the heater 13, there is a possibility that the cigarette 2 will burn. Specifically, if the temperature rises above the ignition point of any substance contained in the tobacco rod 310, the cigarette 2 may burn. Even in this case, since the fifth wrapper 245 contains a non-combustible material, the cigarette 2 can be prevented from burning.

[0082] Furthermore, the fifth wrapping paper 245 prevents contamination of the aerosol generating device 1 by substances generated in the cigarette 2. Liquid substances may be generated in the cigarette 2 through inhalation by the user. For example, the aerosol generated in the cigarette 2 may be cooled by external air, thereby generating liquid substances (e.g., moisture). When the fifth wrapping paper 245 is wrapped around the cigarette 2, the liquid substances generated in the cigarette 2 are prevented from leaking outside the cigarette 2.

[0083] The tobacco rod 21 includes an aerosol-generating substance. For example, the aerosol-generating substance may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol, but is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the tobacco rod 21 may contain other additives such as flavoring agents, humectants, and / or organic acids. Furthermore, a flavoring liquid such as menthol or a moisturizer may be added to the tobacco rod 21 by spraying the tobacco rod 21.

[0084] The tobacco rod 21 can be made in a variety of ways. For example, the tobacco rod 21 can be made of tobacco sheets or tobacco strands. In addition, the tobacco rod 21 can be made of tobacco leaves obtained by cutting tobacco sheets into small pieces. In addition, the tobacco rod 21 can be surrounded by a heat-conducting material. For example, the heat-conducting material can be a metal foil such as aluminum foil, but is not limited thereto. As an example, the heat-conducting material surrounding the tobacco rod 21 can evenly disperse the heat transferred to the tobacco rod 21, thereby increasing the thermal conductivity applied to the tobacco rod, thereby improving the taste of the tobacco. In addition, the heat-conducting material surrounding the tobacco rod 21 can function as a heat-sensitive body heated by the induction heating heater. At this time, although not shown in the figure, the tobacco rod 21 can also include other heat-sensitive bodies in addition to the heat-conducting material surrounding the outside.

[0085] The filter rod 22 may be a cellulose acetate filter. Furthermore, the shape of the filter rod 22 is not limited. For example, the filter rod 22 may be cylindrical or hollow tubular. Furthermore, the filter rod 22 may be a concave rod. If the filter rod 22 is composed of multiple segments, at least one of the multiple segments may be manufactured in a different shape.

[0086] The first section of the filter rod 22 can be a cellulose acetate filter. For example, the first section can be a tubular structure with a hollow interior. This prevents the contents of the tobacco rod 210 from being pushed backward when inserted through the first section into the heater 13, and also produces a cooling effect on the aerosol. The diameter of the hollow interior of the first section can be, but is not limited to, a suitable diameter within the range of 2 mm to 4.5 mm.

[0087] The length of the first section may be an appropriate length in the range of 4 mm to 30 mm, but is not limited thereto. Preferably, the length of the first section may be 10 mm, but is not limited thereto.

[0088] When manufacturing the first section, the hardness of the first section can be adjusted by adjusting the content of the plasticizer. In addition, the first section can be manufactured by inserting a structure such as a film or a tube made of the same or different materials into the interior (e.g., hollow).

[0089] The second section of the filter rod 22 cools the aerosol generated by heating the tobacco rod 21 by the heater 13. Therefore, the user can inhale the aerosol that has been cooled to an appropriate temperature.

[0090] The length or diameter of the second segment can be determined in various ways according to the shape of the cigarette 2. For example, the length of the second segment can be an appropriate length within the range of 7 mm to 20 mm. Preferably, the length of the second segment can be about 14 mm, but is not limited thereto.

[0091] The second section can be made by weaving polymer fibers. In this case, the polymer fibers can also be coated with a perfumed liquid. Alternatively, the second section can be made by weaving together individual fibers coated with a perfumed liquid and polymer fibers. Alternatively, the second section can be formed from a curled polymer sheet.

[0092] For example, the polymer may be made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid (PLA), cellulose acetate (CA), and aluminum foil.

[0093] When the second section is formed of woven polymer fibers or curled polymer sheets, the second section may include a single or multiple channels extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the channels refer to channels through which gas (eg, air or aerosol) passes.

[0094] For example, the second segment made of a rolled polymer sheet can be made of a material having a thickness between about 5 μm and about 300 μm (e.g., between about 10 μm and about 250 μm). In addition, the total surface area of the second segment can be about 300 mm 2 / mm to 1000mm 2 In addition, the aerosol-cooling element can be made of a material with a specific surface area of about 10 mm 2 / mg to about 100mm 2 / mg of material is formed.

[0095] On the other hand, the second segment may include a thread containing a volatile flavor component. The volatile flavor component may be, but is not limited to, menthol. For example, the thread may be filled with a sufficient amount of menthol to provide more than 1.5 mg of menthol to the second segment.

[0096] The third section of the filter rod 22 may be a cellulose acetate filter. The length of the third section may be an appropriate length within the range of 4 mm to 20 mm. For example, the length of the third section may be about 12 mm, but is not limited thereto.

[0097] During the production of the third segment, the aroma can be generated by spraying a flavoring liquid onto the third segment. Alternatively, separate fibers coated with the flavoring liquid can be inserted into the interior of the third segment. The aerosol generated in the tobacco rod 21 is cooled as it passes through the second segment of the filter rod 22, and the cooled aerosol is delivered to the user via the third segment. Therefore, when a flavoring element is added to the third segment, the persistence of the aroma delivered to the user can be improved.

[0098] Filter rod 22 may also include at least one capsule 23. Capsule 23 can generate both fragrance and aerosol. For example, capsule 23 may be a structure consisting of a liquid containing fragrance encapsulated in a membrane. Capsule 23 may be spherical or cylindrical, but is not limited thereto.

[0099] Reference Figure 5 The cigarette 3 may further include a front plug-in 33. The front plug-in 33 is located on the side of the tobacco rod 31 facing the filter rod 32. The front plug-in 33 can prevent the tobacco rod 31 from escaping from the outside and can also prevent the aerosol liquefied from the tobacco rod 31 from flowing into the aerosol generating device ( Figures 1 to 3 1).

[0100] The filter rod 32 may include a first section 321 and a second section 322. Here, the first section 321 may correspond to Figure 4 The first section of the filter rod 22, the second section 322 may correspond to Figure 4 The third section of the filter rod 22.

[0101] The diameter and overall length of the cigarette 3 may correspond to Figure 4 For example, the length of the front end plug 33 may be about 7 mm, the length of the tobacco rod 31 may be about 15 mm, the length of the first section 321 may be about 12 mm, and the length of the second section 322 may be about 14 mm, but are not limited thereto.

[0102] The cigarette 3 can be wrapped in at least one wrapping paper 35. The wrapping paper 35 can have at least one hole formed therein for allowing air to flow in or gas to flow out. For example, the front insert 33 can be wrapped in a first wrapping paper 351, the tobacco rod 31 can be wrapped in a second wrapping paper 352, the first section 321 can be wrapped in a third wrapping paper 353, and the second section 322 can be wrapped in a fourth wrapping paper 354. Furthermore, the entire cigarette 3 can be rewrapped in a fifth wrapping paper 355.

[0103] In addition, at least one perforation 36 may be formed on the fifth wrapping paper 355. For example, the perforation 36 may be formed in the area surrounding the tobacco rod 31, but is not limited thereto. The perforation 36 can play a role in Figure 2 and Figure 3 The heater 13 shown has the effect of transferring heat to the interior of the tobacco rod 31 .

[0104] Furthermore, the second section 322 may include at least one capsule 34. Capsule 34 can generate both fragrance and aerosol. For example, capsule 34 may be a structure in which a liquid containing fragrance is encapsulated within a membrane. Capsule 34 may have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0105] The first wrapping paper 351 can be made of a combination of ordinary filter paper and a metal foil such as aluminum foil. For example, the total thickness of the first wrapping paper 351 can be 45 μm to 55 μm, preferably 50.3 μm. In addition, the thickness of the metal foil of the first wrapping paper 351 can be 6 μm to 7 μm, preferably 6.3 μm. In addition, the basis weight of the first wrapping paper 351 can be 50 g / m 2 ~55g / m 2 , preferably, it can be 53g / m 2 .

[0106] The second wrapping paper 352 and the third wrapping paper 353 can be made of common filter roll paper.For example, the second wrapping paper 352 and the third wrapping paper 353 can be porous roll paper or non-porous roll paper.

[0107] For example, the porosity of the second wrapping paper 352 may be 35000 CU, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the thickness of the second wrapping paper 352 may be 70 μm to 80 μm, preferably 78 μm. In addition, the basis weight of the second wrapping paper 352 may be 20 g / m 2 ~25g / m 2 , preferably, it can be 23.5g / m 2 .

[0108] For example, the porosity of the third wrapping paper 353 may be 24000 CU, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the thickness of the third wrapping paper 353 may be 60 μm to 70 μm, preferably 68 μm. In addition, the basis weight of the third wrapping paper 353 may be 20 g / m 2 ~25g / m 2 , preferably, it can be 21g / m 2 .

[0109] The fourth wrapping paper 354 may be made of polylactic acid (PLA) laminated paper. PLA laminated paper refers to a three-layer paper including a paper layer, a PLA layer, and a paper layer. For example, the thickness of the fourth wrapping paper 354 may be 100 μm to 120 μm, preferably 110 μm. In addition, the basis weight of the fourth wrapping paper 354 may be 80 g / m 2 ~100g / m 2 , preferably, it can be 88g / m 2 .

[0110] The fifth wrapping paper 355 may be made of sterilization paper (MFW). Sterilization paper (MFW) refers to a specially made paper that is superior to ordinary paper in terms of tensile strength, water resistance, smoothness, etc. For example, the basis weight of the fifth wrapping paper 355 may be 57 g / m 2 ~63g / m2 , preferably, it can be 60g / m 2 In addition, the thickness of the fifth wrapping paper 355 may be 64 μm to 70 μm, and preferably, may be 67 μm.

[0111] The fifth wrapping paper 355 may contain a predetermined substance. Silicon is an example of a predetermined substance, but is not limited thereto. For example, silicon exhibits properties such as heat resistance that is minimally affected by temperature, oxidation resistance, resistance to various chemicals, water resistance, and electrical insulation. However, any substance other than silicon, as long as it possesses the aforementioned properties, may be applied (or coated) to the fifth wrapping paper 355 without restriction.

[0112] The front end plug 33 can be made of cellulose acetate. As an example, the front end plug 33 can be made by adding a plasticizer (e.g., triacetin) to the cellulose acetate tow. The mono denier of the filaments constituting the cellulose acetate tow can be 1.0 to 10.0, preferably, 4.0 to 6.0. More preferably, the mono denier of the filaments of the front end plug 33 can be 5.0. In addition, the cross-section of the filaments constituting the front end plug 33 can be Y-shaped. The total denier of the front end plug 33 can be 20,000 to 30,000, preferably, 25,000 to 30,000. More preferably, the total denier of the front end plug 33 can be 28,000.

[0113] In addition, as needed, the front end plug-in 33 may include at least one channel, and the cross-sectional shape of the channel may be made into various shapes.

[0114] The tobacco rod 31 can be compared with the reference Figure 4 The tobacco rod 21 corresponds to the above-mentioned tobacco rod 21. Therefore, the detailed description of the tobacco rod 31 will be omitted below.

[0115] The first segment 321 can be made of cellulose acetate. For example, the first segment can be a tubular structure with a hollow interior. The first segment 321 can be made by adding a plasticizer (e.g., triacetin) to cellulose acetate tow. For example, the single denier and total denier of the first segment 321 can be the same as those of the front insert 33.

[0116] The second segment 322 can be made of cellulose acetate. The single denier of the filaments comprising the second segment 322 can be 1.0 to 10.0, preferably 8.0 to 10.0. More preferably, the single denier of the filaments of the second segment 322 can be 9.0. Furthermore, the cross-section of the filaments of the second segment 322 can be Y-shaped. The total denier of the second segment 322 can be 20,000 to 30,000, preferably 25,000.

[0117] Figure 6 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0118] Reference Figure 6 The aerosol generating device includes a processor 600, a charging circuit unit 610, and a battery 611. The aerosol generating device according to the embodiment can adjust the full charge voltage and the battery output when the battery is charged according to the number of times the battery is charged and discharged or the usage time, thereby improving the user's trust in the device. For example, in a cigarette-type aerosol generating device (refer to Figures 1 to 3 In the aerosol generating device described above, the battery capacity is set so that when the battery is fully charged, approximately one pack of cigarettes (i.e., 20 cigarettes) can be consumed or smoked. However, as the user uses the aerosol generating device for a longer period of time, battery aging occurs. As a result, even when the battery is fully charged, the user cannot consume 20 cigarettes. After consuming 15 cigarettes, the battery is in a fully discharged state. Even though there are still 5 cigarettes left, the user still needs to recharge the battery, which causes inconvenience to the user and may reduce the user's trust in the aerosol generating device or battery. According to the aerosol generating device of the embodiment, the full charge voltage of the battery during charging can be reduced or the output current of the battery can be reduced to a certain level based on the number of charge and discharge times or usage time of the battery, thereby providing the user with a sufficient number of puffs guaranteed by the aerosol generating device.

[0119] Refer again Figure 6 The processor 600 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device. The processor 600 controls the charging of the battery 611 by an external power source (eg, a common power source), and controls the temperature of the heater by controlling the output of the battery 611. The heater (not shown) may include Figures 1 to 3The heater 13 or vaporizer 14 shown is, but not limited to, the heater 13 or vaporizer 14 shown. The processor 600 according to the embodiment monitors the charge and discharge cycle of the battery 611, and controls the full charge voltage of the battery 611 when charging and the output of the battery 611 based on the charge and discharge cycle. The charge and discharge cycle refers to the situation where the battery 611 is 100% charged and then 100% discharged again. For example, based on the state of charge (SOC) of the battery, the sum of 100% charge and 100% discharge, that is, a cumulative 200%, is defined as one cycle. The full charge voltage or full charge voltage refers to the voltage value when the battery is 100% charged. For example, the full charge voltage of a cylindrical lithium-ion battery is 4.2V, the termination voltage is 3.0V, and the nominal voltage is approximately 3.6V to 3.8V. Depending on the manufacturer, this value may differ by about 0.1V to 0.2V. The processor 600 adjusts the full charge voltage and charging current of the battery 6110 when charging, and the output current of the battery 611 when discharging or outputting according to the charge and discharge cycle, so that the user's reliability will not be reduced even when the battery performance deteriorates, and a sufficient number of puffs guaranteed by the aerosol generating device can be guaranteed.

[0120] The processor 600 can monitor the charge and discharge cycles of the battery 611 using various methods. In one embodiment, the processor 600 can count the sum of 100% charge and 100% discharge based on the battery SOC, i.e., 200%, as one cycle. For example, when the battery is 80% charged and 80% discharged, counting is not performed immediately. Then, when the battery is 20% charged and 20% discharged, it is determined to be one cycle.

[0121] As an example, as an auxiliary means or in parallel with the charge and discharge cycle of the battery, the processor 600 may count the usage time of the aerosol generating device. For example, when one day passes based on the timer, one time may be counted.

[0122] As another example, as an auxiliary or parallel means to the battery charge and discharge cycle, the processor 600 may count the user's inhalation (i.e., puff count) and determine that a cycle occurs when a certain number of puffs (e.g., 300 puffs) is counted. Alternatively, puff characteristic data including puff characteristics (e.g., puff intensity and puff period) may be extracted for each user and reflected in the puff count.

[0123] As another example, as an auxiliary means or in parallel with the battery charge and discharge cycles, the processor 600 may count the number of times the aerosol-generating material cartridge is replaced. For example, if the liquid aerosol-generating material stored in the liquid cartridge is used for 20 puffs (14 puffs / 1 puff), if the cartridge is replaced 100 times, it can be determined as 100 cycles.

[0124] As another example, the charging circuit unit 610 can count the charge and discharge cycles based on the SOC of the battery. The charging circuit unit 610 can transmit the counted number of charge and discharge cycles to the processor 600. The charging circuit unit 610 can be a charging integrated circuit (IC) or a charger IC. Considering that the charging circuit unit 610 can monitor the three elements of voltage, current, and temperature during charging while safely extending the life of the battery 611, etc., it can perform optimal charging control. The charging circuit unit 610 can charge the battery 611 through various charging methods, such as constant current (CC) charging, constant voltage (CV) charging, constant power (CP) charging, constant current, constant voltage (CCCV) charging, etc. Constant current, constant voltage charging (CCCV) is a representative charging method for secondary batteries such as lithium-ion batteries. It is a method that can maintain a constant charging current and charge according to the voltage conversion of the battery while maintaining a constant CC charging and a constant voltage charging method.

[0125] As another example, the processor 600 may adjust the cycle determination or full charge voltage reference ratio based on battery aging. That is, in addition to the cycle determination criteria according to the aforementioned embodiment, the ratio of the voltage or current value reduction may be adjusted by assigning an additional weight to the full charge voltage value or the battery output current value based on the degree of battery aging.

[0126] As another example, the battery 611 can be set in the aerosol generating device, and of course the following method can also be applied in the same way: it is composed of an aerosol generating device (holder) and a shell (bracket), so that when the aerosol generating device is inserted into the shell for storage and charging, the charge and discharge cycle of the battery in the shell (bracket) is monitored.

[0127] According to the embodiment, the processor 600 can determine the charge and discharge cycle of the battery 611 by the various methods mentioned above. Of course, each method can be used in a complementary manner or in parallel. Figure 7 The specific functional modules of the processor 600 are described.

[0128] Figure 7 is based on Figure 6 A block diagram of the functional modules of a processor of an embodiment.

[0129] Reference Figure 7 The processor 600 may include a charge / discharge condition setting unit 700, a charge / discharge cycle determination unit 710, a low temperature condition determination unit 720, a puff count counter 730, a puff characteristics determination unit 740, and a cartridge replacement detection unit 750. Of course, each component or determination function module may be implemented as an integrated unit, with some components omitted, or selectively implemented. Furthermore, the processor 600 may perform each function as a whole, without being divided into individual functional modules.

[0130] The charge-discharge condition setting unit 700 sets the full charge voltage during battery charging or the output current during battery discharge to a reduced full charge voltage or output current based on the monitoring results of the charge-discharge cycle. Furthermore, when the temperature sensed from the ambient temperature of the aerosol generating device or the battery temperature is low, i.e., when the temperature is low, the charging current during battery charging is set to a current less than a preset charging current. Furthermore, the charge-discharge conditions can be set based on the monitoring results of the charge-discharge cycle that reflects the number of inhalations or inhalation characteristics of the user. Furthermore, the charge-discharge conditions can be set based on the monitoring results of the charge-discharge cycle that reflects the number of cartridge changes.

[0131] Based on the battery's SOC, charge / discharge cycle determination unit 710 determines a cycle consisting of 100% charge and 100% discharge. The unit then determines whether the accumulated number of cycles exceeds a first threshold number of cycles. If the accumulated number of cycles exceeds the first threshold number of cycles, charge / discharge cycle determination unit 710 outputs a control signal to charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 for changing the charge / discharge conditions.

[0132] The charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 sets conditions for changing the battery's full charge voltage during charging or the battery's output current during discharging based on the control signal. When the accumulated number of cycles exceeds a first critical number of cycles, the charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 sets the full charge voltage to a first voltage lower than the initial full charge voltage. Alternatively, the output current may be set to a first current lower than the initial output current.

[0133] Among them, the first critical number of cycles is a number that can be determined arbitrarily. The first critical number of cycles may be a number of cycles that is less than the number of charge and discharge cycles preset by the manufacturer to ensure the performance of the battery. For example, in the basic battery specifications provided by the battery manufacturer, if 80% efficiency is guaranteed at 300 charge and discharge cycles, the first critical number of cycles may be 200 cycles that are less than 300 cycles. Therefore, the aerosol generating device can adjust or reduce the full charge voltage during charging or the output current during discharge before the performance deteriorates due to battery aging, thereby ensuring a sufficient number of smoking times guaranteed by the aerosol generating device (for example, 20 cigarettes can be consumed when 100% charged or a liquid cartridge that can be smoked 20 times can be consumed).

[0134] Reference Figure 8 and Figure 9 , explaining the adjustment of charge and discharge cycles and full charge voltage.

[0135] Reference Figure 8 In step 800, the charge and discharge cycle of the battery is determined. In step 802, when the charge and discharge cycle is greater than the critical cycle, in step 804, when charging the battery, the full charge voltage is set to be lower than the initial battery full charge voltage.

[0136] Reference Figure 9 When the battery has been cycled from 0 to 200 times, the full charge voltage is maintained at 4.1V. When the charge and discharge cycles exceed 200, the full charge voltage is reduced to 3.8V. When the charge and discharge cycles exceed 300 again, the full charge voltage is reduced to 3.2V. The 300 charge and discharge cycles can be the benchmark for the battery manufacturer to guarantee 80% battery efficiency. Based on the manufacturer's guaranteed charge and discharge cycles, the full charge voltage is reduced to 200, which is a lower benchmark. If the charge and discharge cycles exceed 300, the full charge voltage can be further reduced to an even lower value. In addition, although the full charge voltage is shown as being fixed according to the charge and discharge cycles, it is not limited to this, and the full charge voltage can be changed in a manner proportional to the number of charge and discharge cycles. In addition, the values of the full charge voltage and the number of charge and discharge cycles shown are exemplary and not limited to this. The full charge voltage and charge and discharge cycles may vary depending on the type of battery, the manufacturer's specifications, the usage conditions, and the environment.

[0137] The low temperature condition determination unit 720 receives the ambient temperature of the aerosol generating device and the battery temperature, and determines whether it corresponds to a low temperature condition. For example, the low temperature condition determination unit 720 can receive temperature values from a temperature sensor for sensing the external or ambient temperature of the aerosol generating device, or a battery temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the battery. When the received temperature is lower than the critical temperature (for example, 10°C), the low temperature condition determination unit 720 sends a control signal to the charge and discharge condition setting unit 700, and the control signal is used to reduce the charging current to a value lower than the preset charging current or reduce the output current to a value lower than the preset output current. Among them, 10°C is exemplary, and of course it can be set to different temperatures or subdivided temperature ranges according to normal temperature conditions and environment.

[0138] The charge and discharge condition setting unit 700 sets a condition for changing the charging current of the battery during charging or the output current during discharging based on the control signal of the low temperature condition determination unit 720 .

[0139] Reference Figure 10 and Figure 11 , explains the adjustment of low temperature conditions and charging current.

[0140] Reference Figure 10 In step 1000, the ambient temperature or battery temperature of the aerosol generating device is sensed.

[0141] In step 1002, when the ambient temperature or the battery temperature is lower than the critical temperature, in step 1004, the battery is charged at a charging current lower than the initial charging current. In step 1006, the battery is discharged at a discharging current lower than the initial discharging current. Steps 1004 and 1006 may be performed selectively or in parallel.

[0142] Reference Figure 11 When the ambient temperature or battery temperature is 20°C, the normal charging current of 2A is maintained. When the ambient temperature or battery temperature is below 20°C, the charging current is reduced to 1.5A. When it is below 10°C, the charging current can be reduced to 1.2A. Among them, 20°C or 10°C is exemplary, and of course it can be set to different temperatures or subdivided temperature ranges according to normal temperature conditions and environment. In addition, charging currents such as 2A, 1.5A, and 1.2A are exemplary values and are not limited to these. They can vary according to the type of battery, manufacturer's specifications, usage conditions, and environment.

[0143] The puff counting unit 730 counts the number of puffs taken by the user and also counts the cumulative number of puffs. The puff counting unit 730 may receive the number of puffs from a pressure sensor or a puff sensor located within the aerosol generating device, located in the airflow path for the user's inhalation. Furthermore, the user's puffs may be estimated based on temperature changes detected by a temperature sensor that detects changes in the heater's temperature, changes in the power supplied to the heater, or changes in the dielectric constant detected by a sensor located near the aerosol-generating substance, and the number of puffs may be counted based on this information. The puff counting unit 730 provides the cumulatively counted number of puffs to the charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 or the charge / discharge cycle determination unit 710.

[0144] The charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 or the charge / discharge cycle determination unit 710 can use only the cumulative number of puffs to determine the charge / discharge cycle. This can also improve the accuracy of the charge / discharge cycle by determining that 100% charge and 100% discharge based on the battery SOC constitute one cycle and then accumulating the charge / discharge cycles. For example, a cumulative number of 60,000 puffs corresponds to 200 cycles of 100% charge and 100% discharge based on the battery SOC. Therefore, when the cumulative number of puffs reaches 60,000, the charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 can set a condition that lowers the battery's full charge voltage. Furthermore, the charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 can determine the charge / discharge cycle as a weighted average of the number of charge / discharge cycles determined based on the battery SOC and the cumulative number of puffs from the puff count unit 730 to improve accuracy.

[0145] The puff characteristic determination unit 740 determines puff characteristic data including puff intensity and puff cycle. Since inhalation intensity and inhalation cycle may vary between users, the puff characteristic determination unit 740 determines these characteristics and provides them to the puff count unit 730, which then reflects the puff characteristic data in the actual number of puffs counted.

[0146] The cartridge replacement detection unit 750 detects the number of times the cartridge has been replaced. The cartridge stores a predetermined amount of aerosol-generating substance and is provided with connection terminals for installation and removal in the accommodation space of the aerosol generating device. The aerosol-generating substance may be a liquid, and when the amount of liquid capable of smoking 20 times is exhausted, it is necessary to replace it with a new cartridge. In an embodiment, these connection terminals are sensed, and the installation and removal of the cartridge are sensed, and such installation and removal are detected in the form of the number of replacements. For example, replacing the cartridge once may correspond to 1 charge and discharge cycle, and when the cartridge has been replaced 200 times, the charge and discharge condition setting unit 700 may set a condition for lowering the full charge voltage of the battery. In addition, the charge and discharge condition setting unit 700 may determine the weighted average of the number of charge and discharge cycles judged based on the battery SOC and the number of replacements detected by the cartridge replacement detection unit 750 as the charge and discharge cycle to improve accuracy. Reference Figure 12 , explaining the replacement of the cartridge and the adjustment of the full charge voltage.

[0147] In another example, when the cartridge is a liquid cartridge, the charging or discharging conditions can be set by detecting the remaining amount of liquid through a sensor (e.g., a capacitive sensor), or the discharge current can be adjusted under low temperature conditions.

[0148] Reference Figure 12 In step 1200, the number of times the cartridge is replaced is counted. In step 1202, when the number of replacements is greater than the critical number of replacements, in step 1024, when charging the battery, a full charge voltage lower than the initial full charge voltage is set.

[0149] In an embodiment, the charge and discharge condition setting unit 700 may receive monitoring results of the charge and discharge cycle from at least one of the charge and discharge cycle determination unit 710, the low temperature condition determination unit 720, the puff count unit 730, the puff characteristics determination unit 740, and the cartridge replacement detection unit 750, and control the full charge voltage, charging current, and output current of the battery during charging based on the charge and discharge cycle. The charge and discharge condition setting unit 700 may transmit control signals for controlling the full charge voltage and charging current during charging to the charging IC ( Figure 6 In addition, a control signal for controlling the output current of the battery can be transmitted to the heater ( Figures 1 to 3 The charging IC can control the charging of the battery by combining the various charging methods described above, based on the control signals (full charge voltage condition, discharge current condition) transmitted by the charge and discharge condition setting unit 700. Furthermore, the processor 600 can adjust the output current in the power profile provided to the heater, or can adjust the output current of the heating IC (not shown).

[0150] The aerosol generating device according to the embodiment can ensure a sufficient number of puffs guaranteed by the device itself and delay the unusable state caused by battery aging to the greatest extent, thereby improving user trust and satisfaction.

[0151] Figure 13 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device 1300 according to another embodiment.

[0152] Reference Figure 13 The aerosol generating device 1300 may include a control unit 1310, a sensing unit 1320, an output unit 1330, a battery 1340, a heater 1350, a user input unit 1360, a memory 1370, and a communication unit 1380. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 1300 is not limited to Figure 13That is, a person skilled in the art in the art related to this embodiment can understand the design of the aerosol generating device 1300 based on the design of the aerosol generating device 1300. Figure 13 A part of the shown configurations may be omitted or a new configuration may be further added.

[0153] In an embodiment, the control unit 1310 may monitor the charge and discharge cycles of the battery 1340 and control the full charge voltage of the battery 1340 and the output of the battery 1340 based on the charge and discharge cycles.

[0154] The sensing unit 1320 can sense the state of the aerosol generating device 1300 or the surrounding state of the aerosol generating device 1300 and transmit the sensed information to the control unit 1310. The control unit 1310 can control the aerosol generating device 1300 based on the sensed information to perform various functions, such as controlling the operation of the heater 1350, restricting smoking, determining whether an aerosol-generating article (e.g., a cigarette, a cigarette cartridge, etc.) is inserted, displaying a notification, etc.

[0155] The sensing portion 1320 may include at least one of a temperature sensor 1322 , an insertion sensing sensor 1324 , and a suction sensor 1326 , but is not limited thereto.

[0156] The temperature sensor 1322 can sense the temperature at which the heater 1350 (or the aerosol-generating substance) is heated. The aerosol-generating device 1300 can include a separate temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heater 1350, or the heater 1350 itself can serve as a temperature sensor. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 1322 can be disposed around the battery 1340 to monitor the temperature of the battery 1340.

[0157] In an embodiment, the temperature sensor 1322 can transmit the external temperature or battery temperature to the control unit 1310 to determine the low temperature condition. When in the low temperature condition, the control unit 1310 can set the charging current of the battery 1340 to a current lower than the preset charging current.

[0158] The insertion sensing sensor 1324 can sense the insertion and / or removal of the aerosol-generating article. For example, the insertion sensing sensor 924 can include at least one of a film sensor, a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, a resistance sensor, a capacitance sensor, an inductive sensor, and an infrared sensor, and can sense a signal change when the aerosol-generating article is inserted and / or removed.

[0159] The puff sensor 1326 can sense the user's puff based on various physical changes in the airflow path or airflow channel. For example, the puff sensor 926 can sense the user's puff based on any one of temperature change, flow change, voltage change, and pressure change.

[0160] In an embodiment, when the puff sensor 1326 transmits the puff sensing result to the control portion 1310, the control portion 1310 may count and accumulate the number of puffs, or determine the puff characteristic data and monitor the charge and discharge cycle based on the above result.

[0161] In addition to the aforementioned sensors (1322 to 1326), the sensing unit 1320 may further include at least one of a temperature / humidity sensor, an air pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a position sensor (e.g., GPS), a proximity sensor, and an RGB sensor (illuminance sensor). A person skilled in the art can intuitively infer the function of each sensor from its name, and thus a detailed description thereof may be omitted.

[0162] The output unit 1330 can output information about the status of the aerosol generating device 1300 and provide it to the user. The output unit 1330 may include at least one of a display unit 1332, a tactile unit 1334, and an audio output unit 1336, but is not limited thereto. When the display unit 1332 and the touch panel form a layered structure to constitute a touch screen, the display unit 1332 can also be used as an input device in addition to being an output device.

[0163] The display unit 1332 can visually provide the user with information about the aerosol generating device 1300. For example, the information about the aerosol generating device 1300 can include various information, such as the charge and discharge status of the battery 1340 of the aerosol generating device 1300, the preheating status of the heater 1350, the insertion / removal status of an aerosol generating article, or a state in which the use of the aerosol generating device 1300 is restricted (e.g., sensing of an abnormal article), and the like. The display unit 1332 can output this information to the outside. The display unit 1332 can be, for example, a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light emitting display panel (OLED), or the like. Furthermore, the display unit 932 can also be in the form of an LED light emitting element.

[0164] The haptic portion 1334 may convert the electrical signal into mechanical stimulation or electrical stimulation and provide the user with information about the aerosol generating device 1300 in a tactile manner. For example, the haptic portion 1334 may include a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0165] The audio output unit 1336 may provide the user with information about the aerosol generating device 1300 in an auditory manner. For example, the audio output unit 1336 may convert an electrical signal into an audio signal and output the audio signal to the outside.

[0166] The battery 1340 can supply the power required for the operation of the aerosol generating device 1300. The battery 1340 can also supply power to heat the heater 1350. Furthermore, the battery 1340 can supply power required for the operation of other components of the aerosol generating device 1300 (e.g., the sensing unit 1320, the output unit 1330, the user input unit 1360, the memory 1370, and the communication unit 1380). The battery 1340 can be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 1340 can be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited thereto.

[0167] The heater 1350 may receive power from the battery 1340 to heat the aerosol-generating substance. Figure 13 Although not shown, the aerosol generating device 1300 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a DC / DC converter) for converting the power of the battery 1340 and supplying it to the heater 1350. In addition, when the aerosol generating device 1300 generates aerosol by induction heating, the aerosol generating device 1300 may further include a DC / AC converter for converting the DC power of the battery 1340 into AC power.

[0168] The control unit 1310, the sensing unit 1320, the output unit 1330, the user input unit 1360, the memory 1370, and the communication unit 1380 may receive power supplied by the battery 1340 to perform functions. Figure 13 Although not shown in the figure, a power conversion circuit, such as a low dropout (LDO) circuit or a voltage stabilization circuit, for converting the power of the battery 1340 and supplying the power to each component may be further included.

[0169] In one embodiment, heater 1350 can be formed of any suitable resistive material. For example, suitable resistive materials can include metals or metal alloys such as titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, and nickel-chromium alloys, but are not limited thereto. Furthermore, heater 1350 can be implemented as a metal heating wire, a metal hot plate with a conductive track, a ceramic heating element, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0170] In another embodiment, the heater 1350 may be an induction heating heater. For example, the heater 1350 may include a base that generates heat by a magnetic field applied by a coil to heat the aerosol-generating substance.

[0171] In yet another embodiment, the heater 1350 may include a plurality of heaters. For example, the heater 1350 may include a first heater for heating cigarettes and a second heater for heating liquids.

[0172] The user input unit 1360 may receive information input by the user or output information to the user. For example, the user input unit 1360 may include a keyboard (key pad), a dome switch (dome switch), a touchpad (contact capacitance method, pressure resistance film method, infrared sensing method, surface ultrasonic wave conduction method, integral tension measurement method, piezoelectric effect method, etc.), a scroll wheel, a scroll wheel switch, etc., but is not limited thereto. In addition, although not in Figure 13 As shown in FIG, the aerosol generating device 1300 may further include a connection interface such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and may be connected to other external devices via the connection interface such as the USB interface to send and receive information or charge the battery 1340.

[0173] Memory 1370 is hardware for storing various data processed in aerosol generating device 1300. It can store data processed by control unit 1310 and data to be processed. Memory 1370 can include at least one type of storage medium selected from the group consisting of flash memory, hard disk 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 storage, magnetic disk, and optical disk. Memory 1370 can store data related to the operating time of aerosol generating device 1300, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, and the user's smoking pattern.

[0174] The communication unit 1380 may include at least one component for communicating with other electronic devices. For example, the communication unit 1380 may include a short-range communication unit 1382 and a wireless communication unit 1384.

[0175] The short-range communication unit (short-range wireless communication unit) 1382 may include a Bluetooth communication unit, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication unit, a short-range wireless communication unit (Near Field Communication unit), a WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication unit, a Zigbee communication unit, an infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication unit, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication unit, an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication unit, an Ant+ communication unit, etc., but is not limited to these.

[0176] The wireless communication unit 1384 may include, but is not limited to, a cellular network communication unit, an Internet communication unit, and a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN) communication unit. The wireless communication unit 984 may use subscriber information (e.g., an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)) to verify and authenticate the aerosol generating device 1300 in the communication network.

[0177] The control unit 1310 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 1300. In one embodiment, the control unit 1310 may include at least one processor. The processor can be implemented as an array of multiple logic gates or as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory, wherein the memory stores programs executable by the microprocessor. Furthermore, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the processor can also be implemented as other forms of hardware.

[0178] The control unit 1310 can control the temperature of the heater 1350 by controlling the power supplied from the battery 1340 to the heater 1350. For example, the control unit 1310 can control the power supply by controlling the switching of a switching element between the battery 1340 and the heater 1350. In another example, the direct heating circuit can also control the power supply to the heater 1350 according to a control command from the control unit 1310.

[0179] The control unit 1310 can analyze the results sensed by the sensing unit 1320 and control subsequent processing to be performed. For example, the control unit 1310 can control the power supplied to the heater 1350 based on the results sensed by the sensing unit 1320 to start or end the operation of the heater 1350. As another example, the control unit 1310 can control the amount of power supplied to the heater 1350 and the duration of the power supply based on the results sensed by the sensing unit 1320 so that the heater 1350 can be heated to a specified temperature or maintained at an appropriate temperature.

[0180] The control unit 1310 may control the output unit 1330 based on the result sensed by the sensing unit 1320. For example, when the number of puffs counted by the puff sensor 926 reaches a preset number, the control unit 1310 may notify the user through at least one of the display unit 932, the tactile unit 934, and the audio output unit 936 that the aerosol generating device 1300 is about to end.

[0181] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that variations of the present invention are possible without departing from the essential features described above. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered from an illustrative perspective, not a restrictive perspective. The scope of the invention is described in the claims, not in the foregoing description, and any differences within the scope of equivalence thereto are to be understood as encompassed by the present invention.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device, in, include: a heater for heating the aerosol-forming substance, a battery, which is a rechargeable battery, to supply power to the heater, and a processor that controls an external power source to charge the battery and controls an output of the battery to control a temperature of the heater; the processor, The charge and discharge cycles of the battery are monitored, and the full charge voltage of the battery and the output of the battery are controlled based on the charge and discharge cycles.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the processor, Based on the state of charge of the battery, 100% charging and 100% discharging are determined as one cycle. When the accumulated number of cycles is greater than a first critical number of cycles, the full charge voltage is set to a first voltage lower than an initial full charge voltage.

3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 2, wherein: The first critical cycle number is a cycle number that is less than a charge and discharge cycle number preset by the manufacturer to ensure the performance of the battery.

4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein Also includes: a puff sensor for sensing a user's puff; The processor monitors the charge and discharge cycles based on an accumulated number of puffs.

5. The aerosol generating device according to claim 4, wherein The processor accumulates the number of puffs by reflecting the puff characteristic data including the puff intensity and the puff cycle.

6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein Also includes: a connecting terminal for sensing installation and removal of a cigarette cartridge within a receiving space of the aerosol generating device, the cigarette cartridge being used to store a predetermined amount of aerosol generating substance; The processor counts the number of replacements according to the installation and removal of the cigarette cartridge, and monitors the charge-discharge cycle based on the accumulated number of replacements.

7. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein comprising at least one of a temperature sensor for sensing an ambient temperature of the aerosol generating device and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the battery; When the temperature sensed by the at least one temperature sensor is lower than a critical temperature, the processor sets a charging current during charging of the battery to a current less than a preset charging current.

8. The aerosol generating device according to claim 7, wherein: When the temperature sensed by the at least one temperature sensor is lower than a critical temperature, the processor sets a discharge current of the battery to a current smaller than a preset discharge current.

9. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein: Also includes: a charging circuit unit, used for controlling the charging of the battery; The charging circuit unit determines the accumulated number of cycles based on the state of charge of the battery.

10. The aerosol generating device according to claim 9, wherein: The charging circuit unit adjusts at least one of a full charge voltage and a charging current when charging the battery according to control of the processor.

11. The aerosol generating device according to claim 2, wherein: The processor sets the full charge voltage to a second voltage lower than the first voltage when the accumulated number of cycles is greater than a second critical number of cycles, and the second critical number of cycles is greater than the first critical number of cycles.

12. A method for controlling an aerosol generating device, wherein: The steps include: Monitor battery charge and discharge cycles, and A full charge voltage of the battery during charging and an output of the battery are controlled based on the charge and discharge cycles.

13. The method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to claim 12, wherein: The following steps are also included: 100% charging and 100% discharging are determined as one cycle based on the state of charge of the battery, and When the accumulated number of cycles is greater than a first critical number of cycles, the full charge voltage is set to a first voltage lower than an initial full charge voltage.

14. The method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to claim 13, wherein: The first critical cycle number is a cycle number that is less than a charge and discharge cycle number preset by a manufacturer to ensure performance of the battery.

15. A recording medium, wherein The recording medium stores a program for executing the control method of the aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 12 to 14 on a computer.

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