Control method of aerosol generating device and aerosol generating device

Abstract

This application discloses a control method for an aerosol generation device and an aerosol generation device. The control method includes: acquiring product information of the aerosol generation product; and controlling the operating parameters of the aerosol generation device when the laser heater heats the aerosol generation product according to the product information. The embodiment of this application uses a laser heater to heat the aerosol generation product. Laser heating technology has the characteristics of high energy density and fast power response speed, allowing for rapid energy radiation to the aerosol generation product without prior heating of the heating element, thereby quickly generating aerosols without requiring long waiting times for the user, resulting in a better user experience. Furthermore, by acquiring product information of the aerosol generation product and controlling the operating parameters of the aerosol generation device when the laser heater heats the aerosol generation product according to the product information, the operating parameters of the aerosol generation device can be differentiated for different aerosol generation products, thereby obtaining a better suction experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of aerosol generation technology, and in particular to a control method for an aerosol generation device and an aerosol generation device. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the heating methods for aerosol generation devices are mainly resistance heating and electromagnetic heating. The heating principle involves first providing energy to the heating element, and then transferring the heat from the heating element to the aerosol generating matrix through heat conduction to produce aerosols. However, this heating method requires a sufficient amount of time for the aerosol generating matrix to reach the appropriate temperature through heat conduction before the first suitable amount of aerosol can be obtained, resulting in a poor user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a control method for an aerosol generating apparatus and an aerosol generating apparatus to solve at least one of the aforementioned technical problems.

[0004] The control method for an aerosol generating apparatus according to an embodiment of this application, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus includes a laser heater, includes:

[0005] Obtain product information for aerosol-generated products;

[0006] The operating parameters of the aerosol generating device when the laser heater is controlled to heat the aerosol-generated product according to the product information.

[0007] In some embodiments, the product information includes any one or more of the following: production date, place of origin, manufacturer, product number, matrix type, and matrix flavor.

[0008] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generated article has a pre-set article image, and the step of obtaining article information of the aerosol-generated article includes:

[0009] Image recognition is performed on the product image to obtain product information.

[0010] In some embodiments, the control method further includes:

[0011] The aerosol generating device is used to detect whether the aerosol-generated product is in place.

[0012] The acquisition of product information for aerosol-generated products includes:

[0013] When the aerosol-generated article is in the in-situ state, the article information is obtained.

[0014] In some embodiments, detecting whether the aerosol-generating article is in place in the aerosol generating apparatus includes:

[0015] Based on any one or more of voltage changes, current changes, resistance changes, magnetic field changes, capacitance changes, and dielectric constant changes, the aerosol generating product in the aerosol generating device is detected to be in the in-situ state.

[0016] In some embodiments, when the laser heater is controlled to heat the aerosol-generated product according to the product information, the operating parameters of the aerosol generating device include:

[0017] Based on the product information, obtain the historical usage information about the aerosol-generated product stored in the aerosol generating device;

[0018] The operating parameters of the aerosol generating device when the laser heater is controlled to heat the aerosol-generated product based on the historical usage information.

[0019] In some implementations, the historical usage information includes the number of suction ports and / or heating time.

[0020] In some embodiments, the operating parameters of the aerosol generating device include the heating parameters of the laser heater.

[0021] In some embodiments, the aerosol generating apparatus further includes a motor for driving the aerosol generating article to move, so that there is relative motion between the laser heater and the aerosol generating article, and the operating parameters of the aerosol generating apparatus include the motion parameters of the motor.

[0022] The aerosol generating apparatus of this application includes one or more processors and a memory. The memory stores a computer program, which, when executed by the processor, implements the control method of the aerosol generating apparatus of any of the above embodiments.

[0023] The control method and aerosol generating apparatus of this application utilize a laser heater to heat the aerosol generating product. Laser heating technology features high energy density and fast power response, allowing for rapid energy radiation to the aerosol generating product without prior heating of the heating element, thus quickly generating aerosols without requiring long waiting times, resulting in a better user experience. Furthermore, by acquiring product information of the aerosol generating product and controlling the operating parameters of the aerosol generating apparatus based on this information when the laser heater heats the product, the operating parameters can be differentiated for different aerosol generating products, thereby achieving a better suction experience.

[0024] Additional aspects and advantages of embodiments of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of embodiments of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this application will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic flowchart of the control method of the aerosol generating apparatus according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an aerosol generating apparatus according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a schematic flowchart of the control method of the aerosol generating apparatus according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0029] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing product images of certain embodiments of this application;

[0030] Figure 5 This is a schematic flowchart of the control method of the aerosol generating apparatus according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0031] Figure 6 This is a schematic flowchart of the control method of the aerosol generating apparatus according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0032] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of whether the aerosol-generating article is in place in the aerosol generating apparatus of certain embodiments of this application.

[0033] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of whether the aerosol-generating article is in place in the aerosol generating apparatus of certain embodiments of this application.

[0034] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of whether the aerosol-generating article is in place in the aerosol generating apparatus of certain embodiments of this application.

[0035] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of whether the aerosol-generating article is in place in the aerosol generating apparatus of certain embodiments of this application.

[0036] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of whether the aerosol-generating article is in place in the aerosol generating apparatus of certain embodiments of this application.

[0037] Figure 12 This is a schematic flowchart of the control method of the aerosol generating apparatus according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0038] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of a motor driving the movement of an aerosol generating article in certain embodiments of this application;

[0039] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the control device of the aerosol generating apparatus according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0040] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of a module of an aerosol generating apparatus according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0041] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection state between a computer-readable storage medium and a processor according to certain embodiments of this application.

[0042] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0043] Aerosol generating device 100, laser heater 10, aerosol generated product 20, product image 21, conductor 22, conductive contact 23, controller circuit 30, conductive contact 31, battery 40, accommodating cavity 50, transparent area 51, motor 60, image detector 70, processor 101, memory 102, control device 200 for aerosol generating device 100, acquisition module 210, control module 220, detection module 230, computer-readable storage medium 300, program 310, processor 320. Detailed Implementation

[0044] The embodiments of this application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. Furthermore, the embodiments of this application described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the embodiments of this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.

[0045] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 This application provides a control method for an aerosol generating device 100. The aerosol generating device 100 includes a laser heater 10. The control method includes:

[0046] 010: Obtain product information for aerosol-generated product 20;

[0047] 020: Operating parameters of the aerosol generating device 100 when the laser heater 10 heats the aerosol to generate product 20 according to the product information.

[0048] The control method of the aerosol generating device 100 in this application embodiment heats the aerosol generating product 20 by a laser heater 10. Laser heating technology has the characteristics of high energy density and fast power response speed, allowing for rapid energy radiation to the aerosol generating product 20 without prior heating of the heating element, thus quickly generating aerosols without requiring long waiting times for the user, resulting in a better user experience. Furthermore, by acquiring product information of the aerosol generating product 20 and controlling the operating parameters of the aerosol generating device 100 when the laser heater 10 heats the aerosol generating product 20 based on this product information, the operating parameters of the aerosol generating device 100 can be differentiated for different aerosol generating products 20, thereby obtaining a better suction experience.

[0049] Specifically, the aerosol generating device 100 can be a heated non-combustible appliance (HNB appliance). When the laser heater 10 heats the aerosol generating article 20, the matrix in the aerosol generating article 20 is heated to generate aerosol. The aerosol generated in the aerosol generating device 100 can be used for various purposes such as food, medicine, and industrial production.

[0050] The aerosol-generating product 20 can be a solid, gel, or liquid product of heated tobacco. It is understood that traditional tobacco produces a large number of harmful substances during combustion. Heated tobacco, as a new type of tobacco, only requires heating a specially made cartridge to less than or close to 350°C to produce sufficient smoke. At this temperature, the production of harmful substances is significantly reduced, and compared to other e-liquid electronic cigarette products, its taste is closer to that of traditional cigarettes. Of course, the aerosol-generating product 20 may also exclude tobacco components and include other herbal ingredients or any raw materials; there are no restrictions on this.

[0051] In related technologies, HNB (Heated Tobacco Bulb) devices primarily use resistance heating and electromagnetic heating. The heating principle involves first providing energy to the heating element, then transferring the heat to the cigarette through heat conduction. This requires sufficient time for the tobacco to reach the appropriate temperature before the first puff of smoke can be produced. To further reduce this waiting time and achieve an instant-stop effect, the heating element temperature would need to exceed 350°C. Furthermore, due to the close proximity of the heating element to the cigarette, nearby tobacco would also reach excessively high temperatures, generating a large amount of harmful substances. Therefore, current technology cannot achieve an instant-stop effect.

[0052] In the embodiments of this application, laser heating technology (such as semiconductor laser heating technology) has the characteristics of high energy density, no need for the heating element to contact the cigarette through laser radiation heating, and fast laser power response speed. It can heat the cigarette to a temperature close to 350°C in a very short time (millisecond level), providing a solution for realizing instant smoking and stopping.

[0053] Research has shown that laser-heated aerosol generation allows for immediate stopping and drawing, and compatible aerosol generators can be drawn more than 50 times. These generators can be solid or liquid matrices with diverse formulations. Therefore, different heating powers are required for different aerosol generators to achieve optimal drawing comfort. Furthermore, high-draw-rate aerosol generators (defined as those with more than 14 draws per generator) may require individual draw-by-draw adjustment of heating power or other matching parameters during the drawing process. The parameters of aerosol generators also present a problem: when a user removes a large-puff aerosol generator from the heating device and replaces it with a new aerosol generator (which may have a different flavor or matrix form, or the same flavor and matrix form but no puffs, or a few puffs but a different number of puffs than the one just removed), the device still remembers the number of puffs from the removed aerosol generator and will continue to heat the new aerosol generator according to the original parameter settings. This can lead to a mismatch in parameters affecting the taste.

[0054] Current heated tobacco products do not have the ability to identify the type of cigarette, the number of puffs, or other information. Therefore, they lack the ability to differentiate heating parameters for different aerosol-generating products, which affects the user experience.

[0055] Please see Figure 2 In a specific example of this application, the aerosol generating device 100 may include a laser heater 10, a controller circuit 30, a battery 40, and a accommodating cavity 50.

[0056] The laser heater 10 can be a semiconductor laser emitter. There can be one or more laser heaters 10. Each laser heater 10 can consist of a single laser emitting element or multiple laser emitting elements connected in series and parallel. The laser emitting element is, for example, a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) chip. Multiple laser emitting elements can be packaged within a single structure to form one laser heater 10, or they can be individually packaged to form multiple laser heaters 10, such as packaging a VCSEL chip within a dedicated hermetically sealed Quad-Flat No-leads (QFN) package.

[0057] VCSEL chips emit lasers in the wavelength range of 400-1000 nm. For example, VCSEL chips emit lasers at wavelengths of 400 nm, 500 nm, 600 nm, 700 nm, 800 nm, 900 nm, and 1000 nm. Within this wavelength range, the laser can interact well with matter, producing an effective heating effect. Preferably, the laser emitted by a VCSEL chip has a wavelength range of 750-950 nm. Within this wavelength range, the laser exhibits better performance in terms of penetration and absorption efficiency.

[0058] The output power range of the laser heater 10 can be 3-30W. For example, the output power of the laser heater 10 can be 3W, 6W, 9W, 12W, 15W, 18W, 21W, 24W, 27W, 30W, etc. This output power range covers laser heaters 10 from low to medium power, meeting the needs of different application scenarios. Preferably, the output power range of the laser heater 10 is 10-20W. This output power range ensures that when the laser heater 10 is started, it can rapidly heat the matrix portion of the aerosol generation product 20 irradiated by the laser to a temperature sufficient to release a sufficient amount of aerosol, achieving rapid smoke emission, reducing preheating time, and avoiding excessive energy consumption of the aerosol generation device 100. The output power mode of the laser heater 10 during the suction period is either pulsed output mode or continuous output mode.

[0059] When the aerosol generating apparatus 100 is operating, one or more laser heaters 10 output laser light to heat the aerosol generating article 20. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the aerosol generating article 20 may be composed of a matrix and include components or ingredients that enhance structural strength, such as paper tape, aluminum foil, etc. When the laser heater 10 heats the aerosol generating article 20, the laser heater 10 irradiates the aluminum foil, and the aluminum foil then transfers heat to heat the matrix.

[0060] The aerosol generating product 20 can be a solid matrix, such as tobacco shreds, tobacco slices cast onto paper bags or aluminum foil using a slurry method, or tobacco granules; it can also be liquid e-liquid; or a mixture containing both solid and liquid matrices, such as paste, solid and liquid packaging forming an aerosol generating product 20. The aerosol generating product 20 can be in the form of a cylinder with internal pores, a roll-type large surface area form, a magnetic tape-type large surface area form, or other suitable forms that can be unfolded into a surface. After the laser heater 10 emits a laser to irradiate the aerosol generating product 20, the matrix is ​​heated to produce an aerosol that can be inhaled by the user.

[0061] The controller circuit 30 is configured to control the laser heater 10 to heat the aerosol-generated article 20. The controller circuit 30 can detect the supply voltage and / or current value of each laser heater 10, and use this as feedback to control the output power of the laser heater 10, thereby regulating the energy supply.

[0062] Battery 40 is used to power the entire aerosol generating apparatus 100. For example, battery 40 can be used to power the laser heater 10, the controller circuit 30, and, as described later, the motor 60, the image detector 70, etc.

[0063] The accommodating cavity 50 is used to accommodate the aerosol generating article 20. The accommodating cavity 50 can at least partially support and carry the aerosol generating article 20 to ensure that the aerosol generating article 20 can be stably and effectively radiated and heated by the laser heater 10 during the aerosol generation process. The accommodating cavity 50 is provided with a transparent region 51 for laser penetration, which allows the laser to penetrate and act on the aerosol generating article 20. The transparent region 51 can be made of a solid material with a laser transmittance greater than 90%, such as glass or transparent plastic, to have good laser penetration performance, sufficient strength, and sealing properties, thereby ensuring that laser energy can be efficiently transferred to the aerosol generating article 20.

[0064] In addition to the components mentioned above, the aerosol generating device 100 may also include other electrical hardware connected to the laser heater 10 and the battery 40, which are not limited here.

[0065] In this embodiment, when the aerosol generating device 100 is operating, it first acquires the product information of the aerosol-generating product 20, and then controls the operating parameters of the aerosol generating device 100 when the laser heater 10 heats the aerosol-generating product 20 according to the product information. In this way, the operating parameters of the aerosol generating device 100 can be differentiated for different aerosol-generating products 20, thereby obtaining a better suction experience. It should be noted that the operating parameters of the aerosol generating device 100 can be the operating parameters of the laser heater 10, or the operating parameters of other components in the aerosol generating device 100 (such as the motor 60), and are not limited here.

[0066] In some implementations, the product information includes any one or more of the following: production date, place of origin, manufacturer, product number, matrix type, and matrix flavor.

[0067] Specifically, the production date is used to ensure product quality and safety. By obtaining the production date, the aerosol generating device 100 can determine whether the aerosol-generated product 20 is still within its shelf life, avoiding safety issues or a decline in taste caused by using expired aerosol-generated products 20.

[0068] Aerosol-generating products 20 from different origins and manufacturers may have different quality standards and production processes. Knowing the origin and manufacturer helps to understand the source of the aerosol-generating product 20, thereby allowing for adjustments to the operating parameters of the aerosol-generating device 100 based on known quality differences.

[0069] Each aerosol-generating product 20 can be uniquely identified by a product number, facilitating identification and management by the aerosol-generating device 100. By recording the product number, the aerosol-generating device 100 can track the usage of the aerosol-generating product 20 and control its operating parameters accordingly, providing users with a better suction experience.

[0070] The type of matrix (such as solid matrix, liquid matrix, or mixed state) directly affects its heat sensitivity and evaporation rate. By obtaining the matrix type, the aerosol generating device 100 can adjust parameters such as the heating power, heating time, and heating area of ​​the laser heater 10 to ensure that the matrix in the aerosol generating product 20 can evaporate uniformly and efficiently, thus ensuring the suction taste.

[0071] Different base flavors may require different heating temperatures and evaporation rates to maintain their unique taste and aroma. By obtaining the base flavor, the aerosol generating device 100 can specifically adjust parameters such as the heating power, heating time, and heating area of ​​the laser heater 10 to meet the user's taste requirements.

[0072] Of course, in other examples, product information may also include other information that affects aerosol generation efficiency, inhalation taste, and safety, and there are no restrictions on this.

[0073] In summary, by acquiring the aforementioned product information and controlling the operating parameters of the aerosol generating device 100 when the laser heater 10 heats the aerosol to generate product 20, the aerosol generating device 100 can maintain optimal operating parameters, thereby achieving a better suction experience.

[0074] Please see Figure 3In some embodiments, an article image 21 is pre-set on the aerosol-generating article 20. Obtaining article information (i.e., 010) of the aerosol-generating article 20 includes:

[0075] 011: Perform image recognition on product image 21 to obtain product information.

[0076] Specifically, the product image 21 can be positioned on the bottom of the aerosol-generating product 20 to avoid affecting laser irradiation of the aerosol-generating product 20. The product image 21 can be affixed to the aerosol-generating product 20 as a sticker, or it can be directly engraved or printed onto the structural surface of the aerosol-generating product 20. The product image 21 contains identifiable product information. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the product image 21 can be a rectangular dot matrix graphic, with different positions corresponding to different product information.

[0077] In this embodiment of the application, the aerosol generating device 100 may further include an image detector 70 (e.g., Figure 2 (As shown). The image detector 70 is used to read the product image 21 and perform image recognition on the product image 21 to obtain product information. Based on the recognized product information, the aerosol generating device 100 can distinguish different aerosol-generated products 20 in order to control the operating parameters in a targeted manner.

[0078] The image detector 70 can be composed of an optical lens and semiconductor devices. The image detector 70 can convert captured image information into digital information that the system circuitry can recognize and process. This conversion process relies on the combined action of the camera, integrated circuits, and information encoding and reading algorithms. In some examples, the image detector 70 can be the camera structure in a digital camera, an OID reading pen, or a barcode / QR code reader, etc.

[0079] Please see Figure 5 In some implementations, the control method further includes:

[0080] 030: Detect whether the aerosol-generated product 20 is in place in the aerosol generating device 100;

[0081] Obtain the product information (i.e., 010) of the aerosol-generated product 20, including:

[0082] 012: When the aerosol-generated product 20 is in place, obtain product information.

[0083] Specifically, the system first detects whether the aerosol-generating article 20 is in place within the aerosol generating device 100, that is, whether the aerosol-generating article 20 is correctly installed in the receiving cavity 50 of the aerosol generating device 100. Article information is only acquired when the aerosol-generating article 20 is in place. This ensures that the aerosol-generating article 20 is correctly installed, allowing the aerosol generating device 100 to operate normally and acquire article information, thus avoiding ineffective operation of the aerosol generating device 100. This embodiment requires the aerosol generating device 100 to have the function of detecting the presence of the aerosol-generating article 20, but the specific method of performing the presence detection is not limited.

[0084] Please see Figure 6 In some embodiments, detecting whether the aerosol generating article 20 is in place (i.e., 030) in the aerosol generating apparatus 100 includes:

[0085] 031: Based on any one or more of voltage changes, current changes, resistance changes, magnetic field changes, capacitance changes, and dielectric constant changes, detect whether the aerosol generating product 20 in the aerosol generating device 100 is in place.

[0086] The following describes the scheme for detecting whether the aerosol-generating product 20 is in place in the aerosol generating device 100 based on changes in voltage, current, resistance, magnetic field, capacitance, and dielectric constant.

[0087] (1) Detect whether the aerosol generating product 20 is in place in the aerosol generating device 100 based on voltage or current changes.

[0088] Research has shown that when a laser heater illuminates an object, some of the laser light is reflected. When this reflected laser light returns to the laser heater, the heater generates a photoelectric electromotive force due to the photoelectric effect; this is a detectable electrical signal. Therefore, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 7 and Figure 8In this embodiment, at least two independently powered laser heaters 10 can be used to detect whether the aerosol generating article 20 is in place within the aerosol generating apparatus 100. One laser heater 10 is appropriately energized and in an excited state, emitting laser light to the irradiated location. Reflected laser light will then irradiate the other laser heater 10, which is in an unexcited state. The unexcited laser heater 10 can then generate a voltage and / or current signal characterizing the intensity of the received reflected laser light, thus functioning as a reflected laser detector. When factors such as the type of substance present at the irradiated location, the surface reflectivity of the irradiated surface, the shape of the substance, and the position of the substance change, the intensity of the reflected laser light will change. Therefore, by monitoring the changes in the aforementioned electrical signals, changes in the object at the irradiated location can be sensed. When the irradiated location has an aerosol generating article 20 (e.g., ...), the intensity of the reflected laser light will change. Figure 8 As shown) In contrast, no aerosols were generated at the irradiated area in product 20 (e.g. Figure 7 As shown, the photoelectric effect voltage and / or current generated by the reflected laser will be at different levels. Therefore, based on the difference in the magnitude of the electrical signal, it is possible to accurately identify whether the aerosol generating product 20 is present at the irradiated location. It can be understood that the irradiated location is also the position in the accommodating cavity 50 used to install the aerosol generating product 20.

[0089] In one example, when the irradiated location has an aerosol generating product 20, the voltage signal generated by the reflected laser is V1; when the irradiated location does not have an aerosol generating product 20, the voltage signal generated by the reflected laser is V2. Wherein, V1 ≠ V2. The aerosol generating device 100 can pre-store the threshold range of the voltage signal V1 (Vth1, Vth2) when the irradiated location has an aerosol generating product 20, and pre-store the threshold range of the voltage signal V2 (Vth3, Vth4) when the irradiated location does not have an aerosol generating product 20. By designing the material, shape, color, and other parameters of the accommodating cavity 50 to match the aerosol generating product 20, it is possible to make (Vth1, Vth2) ∩ (Vth3, Vth4) an empty set, i.e., Vth1 > Vth4 or Vth3 > Vth2, thus ensuring that V1 ≠ V2, facilitating the identification of whether the aerosol generating product 20 is in place.

[0090] (2) Based on the resistance change detection, it is determined whether the aerosol generating product 20 is in place in the aerosol generating device 100.

[0091] Please see Figure 9 The aerosol generating device 100 has two conductive contacts 31 connected to the controller circuit 30. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 10The aerosol generating product 20 is provided with a conductor 22, with conductive contacts 23 extending from both ends. When the aerosol generating product 20 is in the in-position state, the conductive contacts 23 at both ends of the conductor 22 are in contact with the two conductive contacts 31 of the controller circuit 30 respectively (e.g., Figure 11 As shown in the figure, a specific change in resistance between the two pairs of contacts indicates that the aerosol-generated product 20 is in place.

[0092] (3) Detect whether the aerosol generating product 20 is in place in the aerosol generating device 100 based on the magnetic field change detection.

[0093] This embodiment utilizes a magnetic sensor to detect changes in the magnetic field, thereby detecting whether the aerosol generating product 20 is in place within the aerosol generating apparatus 100. Specifically, the aerosol generating product 20 may be equipped with a magnet or a ferromagnetic material, metal, magnetic shielding material, etc., that can affect the magnetic field. The aerosol generating apparatus 100 is equipped with a magnet and a magnetic sensor (such as a Hall sensor). When the aerosol generating product 20 changes from an inactive state to an inactive state, the magnet on the aerosol generating product 20 interacts with the magnet on the aerosol generating apparatus 100, and the magnetic sensor detects a specific change in the magnetic field, thereby determining that the aerosol generating product 20 is in place.

[0094] (4) Detect whether the aerosol generating product 20 is in place in the aerosol generating device 100 based on the change in capacitance or the change in dielectric constant.

[0095] This application utilizes changes in capacitance or dielectric constant to detect whether the aerosol generating product 20 is in place within the aerosol generating apparatus 100. Specifically, conductive electrode plates for detecting changes in dielectric constant or capacitance within the cavity are provided on the accommodating cavity 50. When the aerosol generating product 20 is not in place, the dielectric constant (or capacitance change) within the cavity is the same as that of air; when the aerosol generating product 20 is in place, the dielectric constant changes (the dielectric constant is a combination of the outer shell material, the matrix material, and other component materials of the aerosol generating product 20, and is different from that of air), thereby determining that the aerosol generating product 20 is in place.

[0096] In other embodiments, other in-situ detection schemes for aerosol-generated articles 20 can also be adopted, such as: electromagnetic induction scheme: using an induction coil to detect changes in magnetic permeability within the accommodating cavity 50; optical scheme: placing an infrared emitter and an infrared receiver on the accommodating cavity 50, and determining the in-situ presence of aerosol-generated articles 20 by observing changes in the intensity of infrared radiation received by the infrared receiver after the aerosol-generated articles 20 are in place; deformation electronic switch scheme: when the aerosol-generated articles 20 are in place, squeezing the deformation electronic switch causes a change in the impedance of the electronic switch, thereby determining the in-situ presence of aerosol-generated articles 20; or any other scheme that can achieve in-situ detection of aerosol-generated articles 20 can be adopted, without limitation.

[0097] It should be noted that the above-mentioned multiple methods can be combined to comprehensively determine whether the aerosol generating product 20 in the aerosol generating device 100 is in place, so as to improve the accuracy of detection.

[0098] Please see Figure 12 In some embodiments, when the laser heater 10 is controlled to heat the aerosol to generate the product 20 according to the product information, the operating parameters (i.e., 020) of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 include:

[0099] 021: Based on product information, obtain historical usage information about aerosol-generated product 20 stored in aerosol generating device 100;

[0100] 022: Operating parameters of the aerosol generating device 100 when the laser heater 10 heats the aerosol-generated product 20 according to historical usage information.

[0101] Specifically, for each aerosol-generating article 20, during the operation of the aerosol generating device 100, historical usage information about the aerosol-generating article 20 is recorded using the information storage medium within the controller circuit 30. For example, when the aerosol-generating article 20 is in place, as it is used for suction, the aerosol generating device 100 records the number of suction ports and / or heating time corresponding to that aerosol-generating article 20. That is to say, the historical usage information includes the number of suction ports and / or heating time.

[0102] When the aerosol-generated article 20 is removed from the aerosol-generating device 100 and subsequently placed back into the aerosol-generating device 100, the aerosol-generating device 100 will identify the aerosol-generated article 20 based on article information (such as article number), thereby obtaining stored historical usage information about the aerosol-generated article 20, namely the number of suction ports and / or heating time. Furthermore, depending on the number of suction ports and / or heating time, the operating parameters of the aerosol-generating device 100 can be adjusted to obtain a better suction experience. It is understood that when the number of suction ports is different, the subsequent control of the motion parameters of the motor 60 usually needs to be different; when the heating time is different, the moisture content of the matrix in the aerosol-generated article 20 may change, and therefore the subsequent control of the heating parameters of the laser heater 10 may differ, thus ensuring a better suction experience.

[0103] In some embodiments, the operating parameters of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 include the heating parameters of the laser heater 10.

[0104] Specifically, the heating parameters of the laser heater 10 can be adjusted according to the different product information. The heating parameters of the laser heater 10 include, but are not limited to, heating power, heating time, and heating area. For example, for different matrix types, such as e-liquid, tobacco solids, and pastes, and different matrix flavors within each matrix type, the aerosol generating device 100 can adjust the heating strategy to obtain a heating power curve for the aerosol generating product 20 that is adapted to the matrix type and / or the matrix flavor, thereby achieving a better vaping experience.

[0105] In this embodiment, when the laser heater 10 heats the aerosol generating article 20, the laser heater 10 heats a portion of the aerosol generating article 20. Because laser heating technology has good energy radiation directionality, it can heat only a localized area of ​​the aerosol generating article 20 rather than the entire article, thereby accelerating the heating of the matrix portion of the laser-irradiated aerosol generating article 20 to a temperature sufficient to release a sufficient amount of aerosol, further facilitating the immediate stopping of aerosol generation.

[0106] Since the laser radiation direction must avoid the surface of the aerosol generating product 20 after heating during each suction period, so as to prevent the laser from continuously irradiating the same position and causing the material at that position to overheat or be damaged, or the position to be unable to generate enough aerosol for one suction, there needs to be relative movement between the radiation direction of the laser heater 10 and the aerosol generating product 20.

[0107] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 13In some embodiments, the aerosol generating apparatus 100 further includes a motor 60. The motor 60 is used to drive the aerosol generating article 20 to move, so that there is relative motion between the laser heater 10 and the aerosol generating article 20. The operating parameters of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 include the motion parameters of the motor 60.

[0108] The motor 60 in this embodiment can be a micro motor. The motor 60 can drive the aerosol generating article 20 to move, so that there is relative motion between the laser heater 10 and the aerosol generating article 20. In this way, the radiation pointing position of the laser heater 10 and the aerosol generating article 20 can be relative to each other, so that the laser heater 10 radiates to different positions of the aerosol generating article 20 in sequence.

[0109] like Figure 13 As shown, motor 60 can be a rotary motor. The motion parameter of motor 60 is the rotation angle of motor 60. Motor 60 is located at the bottom of aerosol generating article 20 to drive aerosol generating article 20 to rotate. As aerosol generating article 20 rotates, laser heater 10 can sequentially radiate to different positions of aerosol generating article 20.

[0110] The aerosol generating product 20 can be a thin strip of solid tobacco matrix. The strip has two ends; one end is wound with most of the strip matrix onto a driven shaft structure, and the other end is wound with a smaller portion of the strip matrix onto a rotating shaft, thus forming a roll shape. This design reduces the volume of the aerosol generating product 20 and, due to its longer length, provides more puffs compared to other aerosol generating products 20. During inhalation, the unfolded strip matrix within the irradiation zone of the laser heater 10 is heated and atomized to generate aerosol. After irradiation, the rotating shaft, driven by the motor 60, rewinds the strip matrix, moving new, unirradiated matrix into the laser irradiation zone for the next puff. However, a control strategy issue arises: if the motor 60 rotates at the same angle each time, the diameter of the rotating shaft increases as it rewinds the strip matrix, resulting in a longer travel distance for the strip matrix. Consequently, the interval between irradiated areas on the strip matrix increases, reducing the utilization rate of the strip matrix and thus decreasing the number of puffs required for the aerosol generating product 20. Therefore, the aerosol generating device 100 needs to calculate the diameter of the rotating shaft after winding the thin strip matrix based on fixed parameters such as the thickness of the thin strip matrix, according to the different number of suction ports. This allows for adjustment of the corresponding rotation angle, ensuring that the intervals of the irradiated areas are as close as possible throughout the process, achieving a high utilization rate of the thin strip matrix and a high number of suction ports. At this point, the aerosol generating device 100 needs to have the function of recognizing the usage history of the aerosol-generated product 20, especially the suction port count recording function (which may also include heating time, etc.). If an aerosol-generated product 20 has been suctioned a certain number of times, is removed from the aerosol generating device 100, and then subsequently placed back into the aerosol generating device 100, the device can identify how many suction ports were drawn, thereby determining the angle to be adjusted for the next rotation of the motor 60 to ensure a high utilization rate of the thin strip matrix.

[0111] The control method of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 of this application is described below with reference to specific application examples.

[0112] A product image 21 containing product information is encoded using a dot matrix image. Product image 21 can be used as follows: Figure 4 As shown, the image 21 is composed of rectangular dot matrix graphics, with different positions corresponding to different product information. In other examples, the product image 21 can also be a QR code, barcode, or other specific combination of patterns and numbers; this is not limited here. The image detector 70 can translate the product image 21 into a digital code according to the corresponding information protocol, allowing the system processor and read / write storage medium to read, store, and define its meaning. Meanings include: production date, place of origin, manufacturer, product number, substrate type, substrate flavor, and other product information.

[0113] The aerosol generating apparatus 100 includes at least two laser heaters 10. One laser heater 10 emits short-pulse laser light, and the other laser heater 10 receives reflected laser light. Figure 7 As shown, if the aerosol generating article 20 is not in place (i.e., the aerosol generating article 20 is not placed in the receiving cavity 50 of the aerosol generating device 100), the image detector 70 will not be activated. Figure 8 As shown, if the aerosol generating article 20 is in place (i.e., the aerosol generating article 20 is placed in the receiving cavity 50 of the aerosol generating device 100), the aerosol generating device 100 detects the presence of the aerosol generating article 20 by observing the intensity change of the reflected laser received by the other laser heater 10. At this time, the image detector 70 is activated.

[0114] Image detector 70 reads the product information contained in product image 21 on aerosol-generated product 20. If the aerosol-generated product 20 has not been used, the aerosol generating device 100 establishes an information file for the aerosol-generated product 20; if the aerosol-generated product 20 has been used, the aerosol generating device 100 obtains historical usage information (such as the number of suction ports and / or heating time) corresponding to its stored file data.

[0115] The aerosol generating device 100 displays the remaining number of ports based on historical usage information and configures suitable operating parameters for the aerosol-generated product 20 (such as the heating parameters of the laser heater 10 and the motion parameters of the motor 60). Then, the aerosol generating device 100 operates with these parameters, controlling the laser heater 10 to heat the aerosol-generated product 20. During heating, the aerosol generating device 100 continues to record the historical usage information of the aerosol-generated product 20. The use of the aerosol-generated product 20 ends when all ports have been used.

[0116] If the aerosol generating product 20 is removed from the aerosol generating device 100 before all ports are used, and then returns to its original position, the aforementioned steps of "one laser heater 10 emitting a short pulse laser and another laser heater 10 receiving the reflected laser" are repeated to re-detect whether the aerosol generating product 20 is in place, and the subsequent process continues.

[0117] The control method of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 of this application, after recognizing that the aerosol generating product 20 is in place, relies on the image detector 70 to have the function of recognizing the product information of the aerosol generating product 20 based on the preset product image 21 on the aerosol generating product 20. In this way, different aerosol generating products 20 can be distinguished and information such as the number of remaining suction ports of the aerosol generating product 20 can be obtained. Furthermore, based on these differences, the heating parameters of the laser heater 10 and / or the motion parameters of the motor 60 are adjusted to obtain a better suction experience.

[0118] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 14 This application also provides a control device 200 for an aerosol generating apparatus 100. The aerosol generating apparatus 100 includes a laser heater 10. The control device 200 includes an acquisition module 210 and a control module 220. The acquisition module 210 acquires product information of the aerosol-generated product 20. The control module 220 controls the operating parameters of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 when the laser heater 10 heats the aerosol-generated product 20 according to the product information.

[0119] In some implementations, the product information includes any one or more of the following: production date, place of origin, manufacturer, product number, matrix type, and matrix flavor.

[0120] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generated article 20 has a pre-set article image 21. The acquisition module 210 is specifically used to perform image recognition on the article image 21 to obtain article information.

[0121] In some embodiments, the control device further includes a detection module 230. The detection module 230 is used to detect whether the aerosol-generated article 20 is in place in the aerosol generating apparatus 100. The acquisition module 210 is specifically used to acquire article information when the aerosol-generated article 20 is in place.

[0122] In some embodiments, the detection module 230 is specifically used to detect whether the aerosol generating article 20 in the aerosol generating device 100 is in place based on any one or more of voltage changes, current changes, resistance changes, magnetic field changes, capacitance changes, and dielectric constant changes.

[0123] In some embodiments, the control module 220 is specifically used to: obtain historical usage information about the aerosol-generated product 20 stored in the aerosol generating device 100 based on product information; and control the operating parameters of the aerosol generating device 100 when the laser heater 10 heats the aerosol-generated product 20 according to the historical usage information.

[0124] In some implementations, historical usage information includes the number of suction ports and / or heating time.

[0125] In some embodiments, the operating parameters of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 include the heating parameters of the laser heater 10.

[0126] In some embodiments, the aerosol generating apparatus 100 further includes a motor 60. The motor 60 is used to drive the aerosol generating article 20 to move, so that there is relative motion between the laser heater 10 and the aerosol generating article 20. The operating parameters of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 include the motion parameters of the motor 60.

[0127] The control device 200 of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 in this embodiment heats the aerosol generating product 20 via a laser heater 10. Laser heating technology features high energy density and fast power response, allowing for rapid energy radiation to the aerosol generating product 20 without the need for preheating the heating element, thus quickly generating aerosols without requiring long waiting times, resulting in a better user experience. Furthermore, by acquiring product information of the aerosol generating product 20 and controlling the operating parameters of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 when heating the aerosol generating product 20 based on this information, the operating parameters of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 can be differentiated for different aerosol generating products 20, thereby achieving a better suction experience.

[0128] It should be noted that the explanation of the control method of the aerosol generating device 100 in the foregoing embodiments also applies to the control device 200 of the aerosol generating device 100 in the embodiments of this application, and will not be described in detail here.

[0129] Please see Figure 15 This application also provides an aerosol generating apparatus 100. The aerosol generating apparatus 100 includes one or more processors 101 and a memory 102, the memory 102 storing a computer program. When the computer program is executed by the processor 101, it implements the control method of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 according to any of the above embodiments.

[0130] For example, when the computer program is executed by the processor 101, the following control method for the aerosol generating device 100 is implemented:

[0131] 010: Obtain product information for aerosol-generated product 20;

[0132] 020: Operating parameters of the aerosol generating device 100 when the laser heater 10 heats the aerosol to generate product 20 according to the product information.

[0133] For example, when the computer program is executed by the processor 101, the following control method for the aerosol generating device 100 is implemented:

[0134] 011: Perform image recognition on product image 21 to obtain product information.

[0135] It should be noted that the explanation of the control method of the aerosol generating device 100 in the foregoing embodiments also applies to the aerosol generating device 100 of the embodiments of this application, and will not be elaborated here.

[0136] Please see Figure 16This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium 300 storing a computer program 310. When the program is executed by the processor 320, it implements the control method of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 according to any of the above embodiments.

[0137] For example, when the program is executed by the processor 320, the following control method for the aerosol generating device 100 is implemented:

[0138] 010: Obtain product information for aerosol-generated product 20;

[0139] 020: Operating parameters of the aerosol generating device 100 when the laser heater 10 heats the aerosol to generate product 20 according to the product information.

[0140] For example, when the program is executed by the processor 320, the following control method for the aerosol generating device 100 is implemented:

[0141] 011: Perform image recognition on product image 21 to obtain product information.

[0142] It should be noted that the explanation of the control method of the aerosol generating device 100 in the foregoing embodiments also applies to the computer-readable storage medium 300 of the embodiments of this application, and will not be elaborated here.

[0143] In summary, the control method, control device 200, aerosol generating device 100, and computer-readable storage medium 300 of the aerosol generating device 100 of this application, through the laser heater 10 heating the aerosol generating product 20, utilize the characteristics of high energy density and fast power response speed of laser heating technology. It can rapidly radiate energy to the aerosol generating product 20 without first heating the heating element, thereby quickly generating aerosols without requiring long waiting times for the user, resulting in a better user experience. Furthermore, by acquiring product information of the aerosol generating product 20 and controlling the operating parameters of the aerosol generating device 100 when the laser heater 10 heats the aerosol generating product 20 based on the product information, the operating parameters of the aerosol generating device 100 can be differentiated for different aerosol generating products 20, thereby obtaining a better suction experience.

[0144] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0145] In the description of this specification, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features. In the description of this specification, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0146] In the description of this specification, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0147] Any process or method described in the flowchart or otherwise herein can be understood as representing a module, segment, or portion of code comprising one or more executable instructions for implementing a particular logical function or process, and the scope of the preferred embodiments of this application includes additional implementations in which functions may be performed not in the order shown or discussed, including substantially simultaneously or in reverse order depending on the function involved, as will be understood by those skilled in the art to which embodiments of this application pertain.

[0148] The logic and / or steps represented in the flowchart or otherwise described herein, for example, can be considered as a sequenced list of executable instructions for implementing logical functions, and can be embodied in any computer-readable storage medium for use by, or in conjunction with, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device (such as a computer-based system, a processor-included system, or other system that can fetch and execute instructions from, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device). For the purposes of this specification, a computer-readable storage medium can be any means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transmit programs for use by, or in conjunction with, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of computer-readable storage media include: an electrical connection having one or more wires (electronic device), a portable computer disk drive (magnetic device), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable and programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), fiber optic devices, and portable optical disc read-only memory (CDROM). Alternatively, the computer-readable storage medium could be paper or other suitable media on which the program can be printed, since the program can be obtained electronically, for example, by optically scanning the paper or other medium, followed by editing, interpreting, or otherwise processing as necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

[0149] It should be understood that various parts of this application can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In the above embodiments, multiple steps or methods can be implemented using software or firmware stored in memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system. For example, if implemented in hardware, as in another embodiment, it can be implemented using any one or a combination of the following techniques known in the art: discrete logic circuits having logic gates for implementing logical functions on data signals, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) having suitable combinational logic gates, programmable gate arrays (PGAs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc.

[0150] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of the methods in the above embodiments can be implemented by a program instructing related hardware. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, it includes one or a combination of the steps of the method embodiments. Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into a processing module, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into a module. The integrated module can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional module. If the integrated module is implemented as a software functional module and sold or used as an independent product, it can also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium mentioned above can be a read-only memory, a disk, or an optical disk, etc.

[0151] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting this application. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of this application, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A control method for an aerosol generating device, characterized in that, The aerosol generating device includes a laser heater, and the control method includes: Obtain product information for aerosol-generated products; The operating parameters of the aerosol generating device when the laser heater is controlled to heat the aerosol-generated product according to the product information.

2. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The product information includes any one or more of the following: production date, place of origin, manufacturer, product number, matrix type, and matrix flavor.

3. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The aerosol-generated product has a pre-set product image, and the acquisition of product information of the aerosol-generated product includes: Image recognition is performed on the product image to obtain product information.

4. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control method further includes: The aerosol generating device is used to detect whether the aerosol-generated product is in place. The acquisition of product information for aerosol-generated products includes: When the aerosol-generated article is in the in-situ state, the article information is obtained.

5. The control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The detection of whether the aerosol-generated product is in place in the aerosol generating device includes: Based on any one or more of voltage changes, current changes, resistance changes, magnetic field changes, capacitance changes, and dielectric constant changes, the aerosol generating product in the aerosol generating device is detected to be in the in-situ state.

6. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the laser heater is controlled to heat the aerosol-generated product according to the product information, the operating parameters of the aerosol generating device include: Based on the product information, obtain the historical usage information of the aerosol-generated product stored in the aerosol generating device; The operating parameters of the aerosol generating device when the laser heater is controlled to heat the aerosol-generated product based on the historical usage information.

7. The control method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The historical usage information includes the number of suction ports and / or heating time.

8. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operating parameters of the aerosol generating device include the heating parameters of the laser heater.

9. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The aerosol generating device also includes a motor, which drives the aerosol generating product to move so that there is relative motion between the laser heater and the aerosol generating product. The operating parameters of the aerosol generating device include the motion parameters of the motor.

10. An aerosol generating device, characterized in that, The aerosol generating device includes one or more processors and a memory, the memory storing a computer program, which, when executed by the processor, implements the control method of the aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1-9.

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