Aerosol-generating device
By using photoelectric effect in the aerosol generation device and using optical signals at different frequencies to identify aerosol-generated products, the problem of inaccurate identification of existing devices is solved, and higher recognition accuracy and less false start-up is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422080196.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-26
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-29
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-08-26
Smart Images
Figure CN223157918U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the technical field of aerosols, and particularly to an aerosol generating device.
Background Art
[0002] Traditional tobacco products (such as cigarettes, cigars, etc.) burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. There are already products in the prior art that release compounds without burning by heating to replace these traditional tobacco products. Examples of such products are aerosol generating devices, which generally include a heating element and a receiving chamber for receiving an aerosol generating article used in conjunction with the aerosol generating device. The aerosol generating article can be a solid tobacco or non-tobacco filler, such as a cigarette stick. When the aerosol generating article is received in the receiving chamber, the heating element can heat the aerosol generating article, and at least a part of the active substances in the aerosol generating article volatilize by heating to produce an aerosol.
[0003] Existing aerosol generating devices usually use an infrared pair of tubes to detect whether the aerosol generating article is received in the receiving chamber. If it is detected that the aerosol generating article is received in the receiving chamber, the aerosol generating device controls the heating element to start heating.
[0004] However, the existing infrared pair of tubes is not accurate enough in identifying the aerosol generating article, and there is a probability of starting heating even when the aerosol generating article is not received in the receiving chamber.
Utility Model Content
[0005] This application provides an aerosol generating device to improve the accuracy of identifying an aerosol generating article using the photoelectric effect.
[0006] At least one embodiment of this application provides an aerosol generating device for heating an aerosol generating article to produce an aerosol, including:
[0007] A chamber for removably receiving at least a part of the aerosol generating article;
[0008] A first emitter for emitting a first incident light signal into the chamber;
[0009] A second emitter for emitting a second incident light signal into the chamber, the second incident light signal having a different emission frequency from the first incident light signal;
[0010] At least one receiver configured to receive the first incident optical signal and generate a first electrical signal, the first incident optical signal being configured to directly irradiate the receiver through the chamber, the receiver further configured to receive a reflected optical signal from the chamber and generate a second electrical signal, the reflected optical signal being an optical signal that is at least partially reflected by the aerosol-generating article of the second incident optical signal;
[0011] A controller electrically connected to the receiver, the controller being configured to control the aerosol-generating device to start heating based on the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal.
[0012] In one embodiment, the receiver includes a first receiver and a second receiver that are independent of each other, the first receiver being configured to receive the first incident optical signal and generate a first electrical signal, and the second receiver being configured to receive the reflected optical signal and generate a second electrical signal.
[0013] In one embodiment, the first receiver and the second receiver are integrated in the same module.
[0014] In one embodiment, the receiver includes a blood oxygen sensor, and the first emitter and the second emitter are driven to operate by a constant current source in the blood oxygen sensor.
[0015] In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating device includes a flexible circuit board that at least partially surrounds the chamber, and the first emitter, the second emitter, and the receiver are all disposed on the flexible circuit board.
[0016] In one embodiment, the flexible circuit board includes a first section, a second section, and a third section that extend linearly, the second section being located between the first section and the third section, the first section and the third section extending in parallel, the receiver being disposed on the first section, the first emitter being disposed on the third section, and the second emitter being disposed on the second section.
[0017] In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating device further includes a tubular body that is hollow, a hollow region of the tubular body being part of the chamber, and a lens through which the first incident optical signal and the second incident optical signal pass being disposed on the tubular body.
[0018] In one embodiment, a plurality of spaced convex ribs extend on an outer surface of the tubular body, and any two adjacent convex ribs define a light-blocking region, and the receiver, the first emitter, and the second emitter are correspondingly disposed in one of the light-blocking regions.
[0019] In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device further includes a movable member for shielding or exposing the chamber, and a sensing element for sensing the position of the movable member, and the sensing element is electrically connected to the controller.
[0020] In one embodiment, the included angle between the center lines of the receiver and the second transmitter in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device is substantially 45 degrees.
[0021] The aerosol generating device provided by the above embodiments receives the first incident light signal by using a receiver to generate a first electrical signal, and receives the emitted light signal after the second incident light signal is reflected by the aerosol generating article to generate a second electrical signal. The controller identifies the aerosol generating article based on the two groups of electrical signals of the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal, which can effectively improve the accuracy of identifying the aerosol generating article.
Description of the Drawings
[0022] One or more embodiments are exemplarily illustrated by corresponding drawings. These exemplary illustrations do not limit the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings represent similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the drawings in the figures do not constitute a proportional limitation.
[0023] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generating device provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0024] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generating device provided by another embodiment of the present application;
[0025] Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the aerosol generating device provided by an embodiment of the present application after hiding the housing;
[0026] Figure 4 For Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the transmission route of the first incident light signal of the aerosol generating device in
[0027] Figure 5 For Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the transmission route of the second incident light signal of the aerosol generating device in
[0028] Figure 6 It is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generating device provided by another embodiment of the present application;
[0029] Figure 7 For Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the flexible circuit board of the aerosol generating device in one direction in
[0030] Figure 8FIG. 0 is a perspective view of the aerosol generating device 3 in another direction.
DETAILED IMPLEMENTATION MANNER
[0031] To facilitate the understanding of the present application, the present application will be described in more detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that when an element is expressed as "fixed to" / "secured to" another element, it can be directly on the other element, or there can be one or more intermediate elements therebetween. When an element is expressed as "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element, or there can be one or more intermediate elements therebetween. The terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner", "outer" and similar expressions used in this specification are only for the purpose of illustration.
[0032] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the technical field to which this application belongs. The terms used in the specification of this application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not used to limit this application. The term "and / or" used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.
[0033] In addition, the technical features involved in different embodiments of the present application described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.
[0034] In the embodiments of the present application, the "installation" includes fixing or restricting a certain element or device to a specific position or place by means such as welding, screwing, clamping, bonding, etc. The element or device can remain stationary at the specific position or place or can move within a limited range. After the element or device is fixed or restricted to a specific position or place, it can be disassembled or cannot be disassembled, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.
[0035] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features. In the description of the present application, the meaning of "a plurality" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.
[0036] An embodiment of the present application provides an aerosol generating device 100, as Figure 1 shown, the aerosol generating device 100 includes a battery cell 10, a main board 20 and a heating element 30. A controller of the aerosol generating device 100 is provided on the main board 20. The battery cell 10 and the heating element 30 are respectively electrically connected to the controller, so that the controller can control the battery cell 10 to supply electric energy to the heating element 30.
[0037] The aerosol generating device 100 is also provided with a longitudinally extending chamber 40 for receiving the aerosol generating article 200. When the aerosol generating article 200 is received in the chamber 40, the heating element 30 can heat the aerosol generating article 200 in the chamber 40, and at least a part of the active substance filled in the aerosol generating article 200 volatilizes when heated to generate aerosol. The battery cell 10 serves as the power supply for the aerosol generating device 10, and it can be a rechargeable battery cell or a non-rechargeable battery cell.
[0038] The aerosol generating device 100 further includes an air flow channel 50 that communicates the external air and the chamber 40. When the user sucks on the aerosol generating article 200, the external cold air can enter the chamber 40 through the air flow channel, then enter the aerosol generating article 200 and carry the aerosol in the aerosol generating article 200 out. The user can inhale the aerosol by sucking on the aerosol generating article 200.
[0039] The aerosol generating article 200 preferably uses a tobacco-containing material that releases volatile compounds from the article when heated; or it can also be a non-tobacco material that is suitable for electric heating and smoking after heating. The aerosol generating article 200 preferably uses a solid matrix, which can include one or more of powder, granule, fragment, thin strip, strip or flake of vanilla leaf, tobacco leaf, homogenized tobacco, expanded tobacco, etc.; or the solid matrix can contain additional tobacco or non-tobacco volatile flavor compounds to be released when the matrix is heated.
[0040] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 shown, the heating element 30 can be a resistance heating wire wound around the outer wall of the chamber 40, or a thick film heating material printed on the outer wall of the chamber 40. After the heating element 30 is energized, it generates heat and transfers the heat to the aerosol generating article 200 in the chamber 40, thereby heating the aerosol generating article 200.
[0041] In as Figure 2In another embodiment shown, the aerosol generating device 100 can also heat the aerosol generating article 200 by electromagnetic induction heating. Specifically, the heating element 30 extends at least partially into the chamber 40, and the end thereof extending into the chamber 40 is formed in a pin shape or a sheet shape so that the heating element 30 can be smoothly inserted into the aerosol generating article 200 for heating. A coil 60 is wound around the outer wall of the chamber 40. The controller controls the battery cell 10 to pass an alternating current into the coil 60. The coil 60 generates a changing magnetic field under the action of the alternating current. The changing magnetic field penetrates the heating element 30, and then the heating element 30 induces eddy currents. The heating element 30 generates heat under the action of the eddy current effect and the hysteresis effect, and then can heat the aerosol generating substrate 200.
[0042] The material of the suitable heating element 30 can be any one of graphite, molybdenum, silicon carbide, stainless steel, niobium, aluminum, nickel, iron, copper, nickel-containing compounds, titanium, and metal material composites. In some embodiments, in order to better induce eddy currents to improve the heating efficiency, the material of the heating element 30 is preferably a ferromagnetic material or composed of a ferromagnetic material. Ferromagnetic materials such as ferrite iron, ferromagnetic alloys (such as ferromagnetic steel or stainless steel), ferromagnetic particles, and ferrites.
[0043] Moreover, in some embodiments, when the heating element 30 is inserted into the aerosol generating article 200 for heating, the heating element 30 can also be a ceramic heating element. The ceramic heating element is a heating element made by sintering an electrothermal body and ceramics together at a high temperature. The heating element 30 is directly electrically connected to the controller of the main board 20. Then the controller can control the battery cell 10 to supply electrical energy to the heating element 30. After the heating element 30 obtains electrical energy, it can generate heat.
[0044] In some embodiments, as Figure 3 shown, the aerosol generating device 100 further includes a first emitter 70, a second emitter 80, and a receiver 90. The first emitter 70 is used to emit a first incident light signal such as infrared rays into the chamber 40. The second emitter 80 is used to emit a second incident light signal such as infrared rays into the chamber 40. The first incident light signal and the second incident light signal have different emission frequencies.
[0045] The receiver 90 and the first emitter 70 are oppositely arranged, and the chamber 40 is located between the receiver 90 and the first emitter 70. That is to say, the first emitter 70 and the receiver 90 are in a counter-irradiation relationship, so that the first incident light signal emitted by the first emitter 70 can pass through the chamber 40 and directly irradiate towards the receiver 90, as Figure 4As shown by the transmission path L1, the receiver 90 is configured to receive the first incident optical signal. Also, the receiver 90 and the second transmitter 80 are arranged at an angle such that the second incident optical signal emitted by the second transmitter 80 can be reflected by the part of the aerosol-generating article 200 housed in the chamber 40 to the receiver 90, as Figure 5 shown by the transmission path L2 in the figure, the receiver 90 is further configured to receive the reflected optical signal.
[0046] The receiver 90 generates a first electrical signal based on the received first incident optical signal and a second electrical signal based on the received reflected optical signal. The receiver 90 is electrically connected to the controller. Then, the controller can receive the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal sent by the receiver 90, and based on the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal, confirm whether the object housed in the chamber 40 is the aerosol-generating article 200. If so, the controller controls the heating element 30 to start heating, thereby realizing the automatic start heating function of the aerosol-generating device 100.
[0047] Specifically, since there is only one receiver 90, the receiver 90 is configured to receive the first incident optical signal and the reflected optical signal in a time-division manner. For example, the receiver 90 is configured to receive the first incident optical signal and the reflected optical signal every 5 ms. Since the first transmitter 70 and the second transmitter 80 have different transmission frequencies, by configuring the receiver 90, the receiver 90 can distinguish the first incident optical signal emitted by the first transmitter 70 and the second incident optical signal emitted by the second transmitter 80 according to the different transmission frequencies.
[0048] By means of this embodiment, the controller can make a comprehensive judgment based on the two electrical signals, the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal. Compared with a single electrical signal, it can more accurately judge whether the article housed in the chamber 40 is the aerosol-generating article 200.
[0049] For example, when the aerosol-generating article 200 is housed in the chamber 40, since the aerosol-generating article 200 blocks the first incident optical signal emitted by the first transmitter 70, at this time, the receiver 90 basically cannot receive the first incident optical signal or the intensity of the received first incident optical signal is very weak. Correspondingly, the receiver 90 basically does not generate the first electrical signal or generates a very weak first electrical signal. And at this time, the aerosol-generating article 200 can reflect part of the second incident optical signal to the receiver 90, and the receiver 90 generates a second electrical signal with a certain intensity according to the reflected optical signal. The controller can judge that the aerosol-generating article 200 is housed in the chamber 40 based on the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal, and thus control the heating element 30 to start heating.
[0050] When the articles accommodated in the chamber 40 are implements such as cotton swabs and brushes for cleaning the chamber 40, since the diameters of the cotton swabs and brushes are usually small, they cannot well block the first incident light signal and cannot well reflect the second incident light signal. At this time, the intensity of the first incident light signal received by the receiver 90 will be relatively large, thereby generating a relatively strong first electrical signal, while the received reflected light signal is relatively weak, thereby not generating a second electrical signal or generating a very weak second electrical signal. The controller can determine based on the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal that the article accommodated in the chamber 40 is not the aerosol generating article 200, thereby controlling the heating element 30 not to start heating.
[0051] In some embodiments, the receiver 90 employs a blood oxygen sensor. The blood oxygen sensor has a constant current source inside, and this constant current source can be used to drive the first transmitter 70 and the second transmitter 80 to work, so that the drive currents of the first transmitter 70 and the second transmitter 80 are more stable, and further the light intensities emitted by the first transmitter 70 and the second transmitter 80 are more stable. The blood oxygen sensor also has a photoelectric sensor inside. Through this photoelectric sensor, the direct light signal and the reflected light signal can be received, and the direct light signal is converted into a first electrical signal, and the reflected light signal is converted into a second electrical signal. In this way, the accuracy of detecting the aerosol generating article 200 can be improved.
[0052] In some embodiments, as Figure 6 shown, the receiver 90 includes two independent first receivers 90a and second receivers 90b. The first receiver 90a and the first transmitter 70 are oppositely arranged on both sides of the chamber 40, so that the first receiver 90a and the first transmitter 70 are in a pair of shooting relationships, and further the first receiver 90a is only used to receive the first incident light signal and only generates the first electrical signal. The second receiver 90b and the second transmitter 80 are arranged at a certain angle, so that the second receiver 90b only receives the reflected light signal and generates the second electrical signal. In this way, the first receiver 90a and the second receiver 90b can continuously receive the first incident light signal and the reflected light signal respectively, without receiving them time-divisionally, thereby improving the detection efficiency of the aerosol generating article 200.
[0053] Further in some embodiments, as Figure 3 shown, to reduce the structural space occupied by the first receiver 90a and the second receiver 90b, the first receiver 90a and the second receiver 90b can be integrated on the same module.
[0054] In some embodiments, as Figure 3 and Figure 6As shown, the aerosol generating device 100 includes a fixing member 110, on which a flexible circuit board 111 is mounted. The flexible circuit board 111 partially surrounds the chamber 40. The first emitter 70, the second emitter 80 and the receiver 90 are all arranged on the flexible circuit board 111. Since the flexible circuit board 111 has the advantages of being easily bendable, light in weight and thin in thickness, on the one hand, it is convenient for wiring, thus saving structural space, and on the other hand, it can reduce the weight of the aerosol generating device 100.
[0055] Also, in some embodiments, such as Figure 7 As shown, the flexible circuit board 111 includes a first section 1111, a second section 1112 and a third section 1113 that extend linearly. The second section 1112 is located between the first section 1111 and the third section 1113. The first section 1111 and the third section 1112 extend in parallel. The receiver 90 is arranged on the first section 1111, the first emitter 70 is arranged on the third section 1113, and the second emitter 80 is arranged on the second section 1112. Thus, the first incident light signal emitted by the first emitter 70 can be directly irradiated to the receiver 90, and the second incident light signal emitted by the second emitter 80 can be partially reflected by the aerosol generating article 200 to the receiver 90. At the same time, by providing the linearly extending first section 1111, second section 1112 and third section 1113, it is also convenient to mount the flexible circuit board 111 on the fixing member 110. For example, the flexible circuit board 111 can be fixed on the fixing member 110 by coating an adhesive on the back of the first section 1111, the second section 1112 and the third section 1113.
[0056] In some embodiments, such as Figure 8 As shown, the aerosol generating device 100 further includes a tubular body 120 that is hollowly arranged. The hollow region 121 of the tubular body 120 is configured to be a part of the chamber 40. A through hole communicating with the hollow region 121 is formed on the tube wall of the tubular body 121. A lens 122 is arranged in the through hole. The lens 122 is in interference fit with the through hole to seal the through hole 122. The first incident light signal and the second incident light signal can pass through the lens 122 and enter the chamber 40, or exit from the chamber 40. By arranging the lens 122 in the through hole, it is possible to prevent the air flow in the chamber 40 from leaking through the through hole, resulting in a lower taste of the aerosol.
[0057] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, a plurality of spaced convex ribs 123 extend on the outer surface of the tubular body 120. Any two adjacent convex ribs 123 define a light-shielding region 1231. The receiver 90, the first emitter 70 and the second emitter 80 are correspondingly arranged in one of the light-shielding regions 1231, thereby avoiding the occurrence of light crosstalk.
[0058] The set position of the second emitter 80 affects the reflection effect of the reflected light signal received by the receiver 90. Therefore, in some embodiments, to achieve a better reflection effect, the angle between the receiver 90 and the center line in the radial direction of the aerosol generating device 100 of the second emitter 80 is basically 45 degrees, as shown by the angle A in Figure 3 The phrase "basically 45 degrees" means that the angle between the receiver 90 and the first emitter 70 can fluctuate around 45 degrees. For example, the angle between the receiver 90 and the first emitter 70 can be 44.5 degrees, or 45.5 degrees.
[0059] In some embodiments, the aerosol generating device 100 further includes a movable member (not shown in the figure) for shielding or exposing the chamber 40. When the user does not need to use the aerosol generating device 100, the user can operate the movable member to move to a position where the chamber 40 is shielded, thereby shielding the chamber 40 to prevent dust in the air from falling into the chamber 40, which may affect the heating efficiency and service life of the aerosol generating device 100.
[0060] When the user needs to use the aerosol generating device 1, the user can operate the movable member to move to a position where the chamber 40 is exposed, and then the user can insert the aerosol generating article 200 into the chamber 40 for use.
[0061] The aerosol generating device 100 further includes a sensing element (not shown in the figure) for sensing the position of the movable member. The sensing element can be any one of a Hall sensor, a tactile switch, etc. The sensing element is electrically connected to the controller. When the sensing element senses that the movable member has moved to a position where the chamber 40 is exposed, the movable member triggers the sensing element to generate a sensing signal, and this sensing signal is further sent to the controller. The controller determines based on this sensing signal that the movable member has moved to a position where the chamber 40 is exposed, and then the controller controls the receiver 90, the first emitter 70, and the second emitter 80 to start working to save power consumption.
[0062] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, and are not intended to limit them; under the idea of the present application, the technical features in the above embodiments or different embodiments can also be combined, and the steps can be implemented in any order, and there are many other variations in different aspects of the present application as described above. For the sake of brevity, they are not provided in detail; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements on some of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.
Claims
1. An aerosol generating device for heating an aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol, characterized in that, Comprising: A chamber for removably receiving at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article; A first emitter for emitting a first incident light signal into the chamber; A second emitter for emitting a second incident light signal into the chamber, the second incident light signal having a different emission frequency from the first incident light signal; At least one receiver for receiving the first incident light signal and generating a first electrical signal, the first incident light signal being configured to directly irradiate through the chamber towards the receiver, the receiver further for receiving a reflected light signal from the chamber and generating a second electrical signal, the reflected light signal being a light signal at least partially reflected by the aerosol-generating article from the second incident light signal; A controller electrically connected to the receiver, the controller being configured to control the aerosol-generating device to start heating based on the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal.
2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein The receiver includes an independent first receiver and second receiver, the first receiver for receiving the first incident light signal and generating a first electrical signal, the second receiver for receiving the reflected light signal and generating a second electrical signal.
3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first receiver and the second receiver are integrated in the same module.
4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein, The receiver includes a blood oxygen sensor, and the first emitter and the second emitter are driven to operate by a constant current source in the blood oxygen sensor.
5. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein The aerosol-generating device includes a flexible circuit board at least partially surrounding the chamber, and the first emitter, the second emitter, and the receiver are all disposed on the flexible circuit board.
6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 5, wherein The flexible circuit board includes a first section, a second section, and a third section extending linearly, the second section being located between the first section and the third section, the first section and the third section extending in parallel, the receiver being disposed on the first section, the first emitter being disposed on the third section, and the second emitter being disposed on the second section.
7. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The aerosol-generating device further includes a tubular body provided with a hollow interior, the hollow region of the tubular body being part of the chamber, and the tubular body being provided with a lens through which the first incident light signal and the second incident light signal pass.
8. The aerosol generating device according to claim 7, characterized in that, A plurality of spaced-apart ridges extend on the outer surface of the tubular body, and any two adjacent ridges define a light-shielding region, and the receiver, the first emitter, and the second emitter are correspondingly disposed in one of the light-shielding regions.
9. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein The aerosol-generating device further includes a movable member for shielding or exposing the chamber, and a sensing element for sensing the position of the movable member, the sensing element being electrically connected to the controller.
10. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The included angle between the receiver and the second emitter with respect to the center line in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device is substantially 45 degrees.