Aerosol generating device

Abstract

The utility model discloses an aerosol generating device, and in the device, a heating cavity is used for removably accommodating an aerosol generating product. The foreign object sensing unit is arranged corresponding to the inlet section of the heating cavity and senses whether foreign objects are contained in the heating cavity or not. And the capacitance sensing unit is arranged corresponding to the inlet section of the heating cavity and is used for identifying a capacitance value variable caused by a foreign object contained in the heating cavity. The control unit is respectively connected with the foreign object sensing unit and the capacitance sensing unit, and the foreign object sensing unit and the capacitance sensing unit are combined to realize the accuracy of the type of the foreign object, so that the entering of the foreign object is quickly and effectively sensed, and the type is timely identified after the entering of the foreign object. The capacitance sensing unit and the inlet section are correspondingly arranged, so that the negative influence of an electrified material on the capacitance sensing unit can be reduced, and the type identification speed and the result accuracy are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of aerosol generation technology, and in particular to an aerosol generation device. Background Technology

[0002] Aerosol generating devices typically include heating elements. When the aerosol generating product is contained in the aerosol generating device, the heating elements can heat the aerosol generating product, causing at least a portion of the substances in the aerosol generating product to evaporate and generate an aerosol that can be inhaled by the user.

[0003] Such devices are typically designed with an automatic heating function, meaning that the aerosol generating device is equipped with a sensing element. When the aerosol generating product is inserted into the aerosol generating device, the sensing element is triggered to generate a sensing signal, which in turn controls the heating element to start heating.

[0004] Most existing sensing solutions are unable to identify foreign objects entering the heating chamber or are subject to interference from charged substances on other components, resulting in poor identification accuracy and failing to meet user needs. Utility Model Content

[0005] This invention provides an aerosol generating device to improve recognition accuracy and user experience.

[0006] This utility model provides an aerosol generating device, which includes:

[0007] A heating chamber for removably containing aerosol-generated articles;

[0008] A foreign object sensing unit is provided corresponding to the inlet section of the heating cavity and is configured to sense whether the heating cavity contains a foreign object;

[0009] A capacitance sensing unit, corresponding to the inlet section of the heating cavity, is configured to identify capacitance changes caused by the foreign object contained in the heating cavity;

[0010] The control unit is connected to the external object sensing unit and the capacitive sensing unit, respectively.

[0011] Optionally, the object sensing unit includes an infrared beam-transmitting component.

[0012] Optionally, the infrared beam assembly includes an infrared transmitter, an infrared receiver, a first lens, and a second lens;

[0013] The first lens and the second lens are distributed on the cavity walls on both sides of the central axis of the entrance section and penetrate the cavity walls; the infrared emitter and the infrared receiver are distributed outside the different lenses, so that when the heating cavity does not contain any foreign objects, the infrared beam emitted by the infrared emitter can pass through the first lens and the second lens in sequence and enter the infrared receiver.

[0014] Optionally, the capacitive sensing unit includes a first electrode and a second electrode, which are distributed on both sides of the central axis of the inlet section.

[0015] Optionally, the aerosol generating device includes an insulating member defining the heating chamber, wherein one or two gaps are maintained between the outer wall and the inner wall of the insulating member;

[0016] The capacitive sensing unit includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode is located in a gap near the inner wall, and the second electrode is disposed in a gap away from the inner wall or attached to the outer wall. The insulating material in the two gaps or the outer wall serves as the insulating medium between the first electrode and the second electrode.

[0017] Optionally, the aerosol generating apparatus further includes: a heating component, which is disposed corresponding to the heating section of the heating chamber, the heating component being used to heat the aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol for suction, wherein the inlet section is closer to the inlet of the heating chamber than the heating section;

[0018] The control unit is also connected to the heating assembly.

[0019] Optionally, the heating assembly includes a circumferential heating element that covers the outer wall of the heating section of the heating chamber and is configured to heat the aerosol-generated product through the chamber wall.

[0020] Optionally, the heating assembly includes a central heating element that extends into the heating section of the heating chamber to be inserted into the aerosol-generating article for heating.

[0021] Optionally, the aerosol generating apparatus further includes: a position sensing component disposed in the heating section of the heating chamber and configured to detect that the aerosol-generated article has reached a preset position;

[0022] The control unit is also connected to the position sensing component.

[0023] Optionally, the position sensing component includes a capacitive sensor.

[0024] The aerosol generating apparatus provided by this utility model includes a heating chamber, a foreign object sensing unit, a capacitance sensing unit, and a control unit. The heating chamber is used to removably contain the aerosol-generated article. The foreign object sensing unit, corresponding to the inlet section of the heating chamber, is configured to sense whether the heating chamber contains a foreign object. The capacitance sensing unit, also corresponding to the inlet section of the heating chamber, is configured to identify the capacitance change caused by the foreign object contained in the heating chamber. The control unit is connected to both the foreign object sensing unit and the capacitance sensing unit, achieving accurate identification of the foreign object type. Combining the foreign object sensing unit and the capacitance sensing unit not only enables rapid and effective sensing of the entry of foreign objects but also allows for timely type identification after the foreign object enters. The capacitance sensing unit's corresponding placement in the inlet section reduces the negative impact of charged materials on the capacitance sensing unit, significantly improving the speed and accuracy of type identification.

[0025] It should be understood that the description in this section is not intended to identify key or essential features of the embodiments of this utility model, nor is it intended to limit the scope of this utility model. Other features of this utility model will become readily apparent from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of a foreign object sensing unit in an aerosol generating device provided in this embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of another aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0030] Figure 4 A schematic diagram illustrating the composition of another aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0031] Figure 5 A schematic diagram illustrating the composition of another aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0032] Figure 6 A schematic diagram illustrating the composition of yet another aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0033] Figure 7 A schematic diagram illustrating the composition of yet another aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0034] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the state of an aerosol generating device at different working stages, provided for an embodiment of this utility model;

[0035] Figure 9 A schematic diagram illustrating the composition of yet another aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0036] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of another aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of this utility model at different working stages. Detailed Implementation

[0037] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0038] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this utility model are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of the utility model described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0039] As described in the background section, the sensing schemes of existing aerosol generating devices generally have poor accuracy, failing to meet user needs. Research by the inventor has revealed that existing technologies mostly employ infrared beam detection or capacitive sensing to detect foreign objects contained within the heating chamber. On one hand, using infrared beam detection alone can only identify whether a foreign object has entered the heating chamber, but it cannot distinguish the type of object. Some manufacturers combine infrared beam detection with reflective detection to differentiate object types; however, this method can only distinguish between light and dark colored objects, and still cannot identify the specific object type, resulting in poor accuracy. On the other hand, using capacitive sensing for object detection is significantly affected by interference from charged materials in the heating area, impacting accuracy.

[0040] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention proposes an aerosol generating device. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to... Figure 1 The aerosol generating apparatus 100 includes a heating chamber 101, a foreign object sensing unit 102, a capacitance sensing unit 103, and a control unit 104. The heating chamber 101 is used to removably contain the aerosol-generated article. The foreign object sensing unit 102, corresponding to the inlet section X of the heating chamber 101, is configured to sense whether the heating chamber 101 contains a foreign object. The capacitance sensing unit 103, corresponding to the inlet section X of the heating chamber 101, is configured to identify the capacitance change caused by the foreign object contained in the heating chamber 101. The control unit 104 is connected to both the foreign object sensing unit 102 and the capacitance sensing unit 103, and is configured to, when the foreign object sensing unit 102 detects that the heating chamber 101 contains a foreign object, activate the capacitance sensing unit 103 to identify the capacitance of the foreign object; and determine the type of foreign object based on the identification result of the capacitance sensing unit 103.

[0041] Specifically, aerosol-generating articles refer to material articles that can release inhalable compounds upon heating. Depending on their intended use, aerosol-generating articles may have different main materials. For example, the main material of aerosol-generating articles with medicinal effects may be medicinal compounds or traditional Chinese medicine; the main material of tobacco-based aerosol-generating articles may be tobacco or e-liquid; and the main material of aerosol-generating articles with stimulating and deodorizing effects may be at least one of the following fragrance substances: menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, and various fruit flavorings, but is not limited to these. Aerosol-generating articles may include liquid and / or solid matrices. Preferably, aerosol-generating articles use a solid matrix, wherein the solid matrix may include one or more of the following: vanilla leaves, tobacco leaves, homogenized tobacco, expanded tobacco, powders, granules, fragments, strips, bands, or flakes; the solid matrix may also contain additional volatile odor compounds of tobacco or non-tobacco, which can be released when the matrix is ​​heated for inhalation by the user.

[0042] The heating chamber 101 refers to a receiving structure that provides a relatively enclosed and stable heating space for the aerosol-generating article. It can removably accommodate the aerosol-generating article and, either on its own or through auxiliary mechanisms, can stabilize the position of the aerosol-generating article, making the heated area of ​​the aerosol-generating article more stable. It should be noted that the heating chamber 101 can accommodate either a portion of the aerosol-generating article or the entire aerosol-generating article within the heating chamber 101; no limitation is made here. The shape of the heating chamber 101 can be adapted to the shape of the aerosol-generating article. For example, if the aerosol-generating article is cylindrical, the cavity of the heating chamber 101 can also be cylindrical, allowing the aerosol-generating article to be stably and adaptably placed within the heating chamber 101. Along the extension direction of the central axis O, the heating chamber 101 can be divided into at least two sections: an inlet section X and a heating section Y. The inlet section X refers to a pre-defined section of the heating chamber 101 near the inlet, while the heating section Y refers to a pre-defined section equipped with heating components capable of heating the aerosol-generated product. The heating section Y is closer to the bottom of the heating chamber 101 than the inlet section X, and the inlet section X is closer to the inlet of the heating chamber 101 than the heating section Y.

[0043] Based on the heating chamber 101, in some embodiments the aerosol generating device 100 may further include an air channel connecting the heating section Y of the heating chamber 101 with external air. When a user inhales the aerosol-generated product, external air enters the heating chamber 101 through the air channel and further enters the aerosol-generated product, then carries the aerosol in the aerosol-generated product out along the airflow channel for the user to inhale.

[0044] The foreign object sensing unit 102 is a sensing component that senses whether a foreign object has entered the heating cavity 101. In this embodiment, the sensing electrical signal generated by the foreign object sensing unit 102 serves as the wake-up basis for the capacitive sensing unit 103. The foreign object sensing unit 102 is configured correspondingly to the entrance section X of the heating cavity 101. It can immediately obtain the sensing signal and generate the corresponding sensing electrical signal after a foreign object enters the entrance section X from the entrance of the heating cavity 101. For example, the foreign object sensing unit 102 may include at least one of an infrared sensor, a laser sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a microwave radar sensor. It uses the principles of infrared beam transmission, laser blocking / reflection, ultrasonic wave reflection, and microwave echo analysis to sense the foreign object entering the heating cavity 101 through the entrance.

[0045] The capacitance sensing unit 103 refers to a sensing component that identifies the change in capacitance caused by the proximity of a foreign object. The capacitance sensing unit 103 includes a sensing capacitor and a sensing circuit. The sensing capacitor is located in the entrance section X of the heating cavity 101. The sensing capacitor is configured such that the movement of a foreign object entering the heating cavity 101 in the entrance section X causes a change in the dielectric of its sensing capacitor, thereby causing a change in the capacitance value. The sensing circuit can use an oscillation circuit to detect capacitance variables such as the frequency, trend, and amplitude of the capacitance change. For example, the two electrodes of the sensing capacitor in the capacitance sensing unit 103 are respectively located on both sides of the central axis O of the entrance section X. When a foreign object enters the entrance section X of the heating cavity 101 through the entrance, it becomes part of the dielectric between the two electrodes of the sensing capacitor. Different materials and shapes of foreign objects have different dielectric constants, resulting in different capacitance changes. The capacitance sensing unit 103 can determine the type of foreign object by identifying the corresponding capacitance change caused by the foreign object.

[0046] The control unit 104 is the control center of the aerosol generating device 100, specifically handling signal analysis, processing, and device control functions. Exemplarily, the control unit 104 may include a microcontroller chip or a control chip dedicated to the aerosol generating device 100 (or electronic cigarettes). It is specifically noted that the control unit 104 is constructed from hardware circuitry, and the scope of protection of this application does not involve any improvements related to software methods. The control unit 104 is connected to both the foreign object sensing unit 102 and the capacitance sensing unit 103. It can monitor the sensing electrical signal of the foreign object sensing unit 102. When the sensing electrical signal indicates that the foreign object sensing unit 102 has detected a foreign object in the heating chamber 101, the control unit 104 can activate the capacitance sensing unit 103, enabling the capacitance sensing unit 103 to promptly identify the capacitance change caused by the foreign object. After activating the capacitance sensing unit 103, the control unit 104 can also determine the type of foreign object based on the capacitance change identified by the capacitance sensing unit 103. Optionally, the control unit 104 can also control the operating state of the heating component according to the type of external object. The operating state may include the start / stop of heating, heating temperature, and heating method, which are not limited here.

[0047] In one embodiment of this invention, the type of foreign object may include aerosol generating products and irrelevant debris. The capacitance change frequency caused by the aerosol generating product is within a preset frequency range, while the capacitance change frequency caused by irrelevant debris exceeds this preset frequency range. The preset frequency range can be set according to the material of the aerosol generating product corresponding to the aerosol generating device 100, the diameter of the heating chamber 101, the wall material of the heating chamber 101, and the circuit parameters of the sensing circuit in the capacitance sensing unit 103. This ensures that the capacitance change frequency of the sensing capacitor in the capacitance sensing unit 103 remains stably within the preset frequency range during the process of the aerosol generating product entering the heating chamber 101. Based on this, when the capacitance change frequency caused by the foreign object is within the preset frequency range, the control unit 104 can determine that the foreign object is an aerosol generating product and then control the heating component to start the heating process. Conversely, when the capacitance change frequency caused by the foreign object exceeds the preset frequency range, the control unit 104 can determine that the foreign object is other irrelevant debris and then control the heating component not to start the heating process.

[0048] Furthermore, as another embodiment of this utility model, in addition to the aforementioned aerosol-generating products and irrelevant debris, the aerosol-generating products can be further subdivided into different types based on their size and material. For example, aerosol-generating products can be subdivided into coarse aerosol-generating products and fine aerosol-generating products; they can also be subdivided into tobacco-based aerosol-generating products, tobacco-based aerosol-generating products, and tobacco oil-based aerosol-generating products; they can also be subdivided into pharmaceutical aerosol-generating products, tobacco aerosol-generating products, and aromatherapy aerosol-generating products, and so on. Each type of aerosol-generating product corresponds to a preset frequency sub-range, which is included within the aforementioned preset frequency range. When it is determined that the external object is an aerosol-generating product, the control unit 104 can further determine the subdivision type of the aerosol-generating product based on the preset frequency sub-range corresponding to the capacitance change frequency caused by the external object, and then control the heating component to adopt the corresponding heating method. For example, tobacco-based aerosol-generating products, tobacco-based aerosol-generating products, and tobacco oil-based aerosol-generating products can each adopt different heating temperatures.

[0049] The aerosol generating apparatus provided in this embodiment includes a heating chamber, a foreign object sensing unit, a capacitance sensing unit, and a control unit. The heating chamber is used to removably contain the aerosol-generated article. The foreign object sensing unit, corresponding to the inlet section of the heating chamber, is configured to sense whether the heating chamber contains a foreign object. The capacitance sensing unit, also corresponding to the inlet section of the heating chamber, is configured to identify the capacitance change caused by the foreign object contained in the heating chamber. The control unit is connected to both the foreign object sensing unit and the capacitance sensing unit, achieving accurate identification of the foreign object type. Combining the foreign object sensing unit and the capacitance sensing unit not only enables rapid and effective sensing of the entry of foreign objects but also allows for timely type identification after the foreign object enters. The capacitance sensing unit's corresponding placement in the inlet section reduces the negative impact of charged materials on the capacitance sensing unit, significantly improving the speed and accuracy of type identification.

[0050] Optionally, Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of a foreign object sensing unit in an aerosol generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Based on the aforementioned embodiments, and combined with... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The foreign object sensing unit 102 includes an infrared beam beam assembly 201. The infrared beam beam assembly 201 includes an infrared emitter 202, an infrared receiver 203, a first lens 204, and a second lens 205. The first lens 204 and the second lens 205 are distributed on and penetrate the cavity walls 206 on both sides of the central axis O of the entrance section X. The infrared emitter 202 and the infrared receiver 203 are distributed outside the different lenses, so that when the heating cavity 101 does not contain any foreign objects, the infrared beam emitted by the infrared emitter 202 can sequentially pass through the first lens 204 and the second lens 205 and enter the infrared receiver 203.

[0051] Specifically, the infrared beam-transmitting assembly 201 is an active photoelectric sensor based on infrared light. It uses an infrared emitter 202 to emit an infrared beam laterally into the entrance section X of the heating cavity 101, and a corresponding infrared receiver 203 to receive the infrared beam. The presence of a foreign object is determined by detecting whether the infrared beam is blocked. The infrared emitter 202 in the infrared beam-transmitting assembly 201 can emit intermittent or continuous infrared beams for detection by the receiver. Exemplarily, the infrared emitter 202 may include an infrared light-emitting diode, a driving circuit, and a modulation circuit. The infrared receiver 203 in the infrared beam-transmitting assembly 201 can detect the infrared beam emitted by the infrared emitter 202 and convert it into an electrical signal for subsequent processing.

[0052] Infrared emitter 202 and infrared receiver 203 are distributed on both sides of the central axis O of the entrance section X and are both located outside the cavity wall 206 of the entrance section X. The emission port of infrared emitter 202 and the receiving port of infrared receiver 203 are directly opposite each other, so that the infrared beam can smoothly enter the receiving port from the emission port when no foreign object enters the heating cavity 101. A first lens 204 corresponds to infrared emitter 202, is disposed through the cavity wall 206 of the entrance section X and is located between the emission port of infrared emitter 202 and the central axis O of the entrance section X; a second lens 205 corresponds to infrared receiver 203, is disposed through the cavity wall 206 of the entrance section X and is located between the infrared receiver 203 and the central axis O of the entrance section X. The first lens 204 and the second lens 205 can focus the passing infrared beam, improve the propagation stability of the infrared beam, and improve the detection reliability of the infrared beam-to-beam assembly 201.

[0053] In the aerosol generation device provided in this embodiment, the foreign object sensing unit includes an infrared beam-transmitting assembly. The infrared beam-transmitting assembly includes an infrared emitter, an infrared receiver, a first lens, and a second lens. The first and second lenses are distributed on the cavity walls on both sides of the central axis of the inlet section and penetrate the cavity walls. The infrared emitter and infrared receiver are distributed outside different lenses, so that when the heating cavity does not contain a foreign object, the infrared beam emitted by the infrared emitter can sequentially pass through the first and second lenses and enter the infrared receiver. The infrared beam-transmitting assembly achieves foreign object sensing in the inlet section of the heating cavity. The infrared beam-transmitting assembly has high stability and a short response time, further improving the speed and accuracy of type identification in the aerosol generation device.

[0054] Optionally, Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Based on the foregoing embodiments, refer to... Figure 3 The capacitive sensing unit 103 includes a first electrode 301 and a second electrode 302, which are distributed on both sides of the central axis O of the entrance section X.

[0055] Specifically, the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302 can be formed from a conductive metal plate or a flexible circuit board, and the material can include conductive metals such as copper, aluminum, iron, silver, or stainless steel. The first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302 are symmetrically arranged on the inner side of the cavity wall of the heating chamber 101 about the central axis O of the inlet section X. The first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302, as well as the air medium between the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302, form an inductive capacitor. Once a foreign object enters the inlet section X of the heating chamber 101, the composition of the medium between the two electrodes of the inductive capacitor changes, and the capacitance of the inductive capacitor also changes accordingly, realizing the detection of the capacitance change caused by the foreign object.

[0056] Furthermore, the inventor of this utility model has discovered that capacitive sensors can also change the capacitance value of the sensing capacitor through edge effect without changing the insulating medium between the two electrodes. Edge effect refers to the additional electric field effect that occurs at the edge of the capacitor when the distance between the electrodes is less than a certain value, due to the bending of the electric field lines. This additional electric field effect causes the effective capacitance value of the capacitor to change, and is called edge effect.

[0057] Based on this, optionally, Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the composition of another aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Based on the aforementioned embodiments, and combined with... Figure 4 and Figure 5 The aerosol generating device 100 includes an insulating member 303 defining a heating chamber 101, with one or two gaps maintained between the outer and inner walls of the insulating member 303. The capacitive sensing unit 103 includes a first electrode 301 and a second electrode 302. The first electrode 301 is located in the gap near the inner wall, and the second electrode 302 is disposed in the gap away from the inner wall or attached to the outer wall. The insulating material in the two gaps or the outer wall serves as the insulating medium between the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302. This arrangement can reduce the size of the device and is conducive to the miniaturization of the device.

[0058] Specifically, refer to Figure 4 In one embodiment of this invention, at least one gap is provided in the insulating member 303 of the entrance section X. The first electrode 301 of the capacitive sensor is disposed in this gap corresponding to the insulating member 303 of the entrance section X, while the second electrode 302 is attached to the outer wall of the insulating member 303 corresponding to the entrance section X. The outer wall of the insulating member 303 of the entrance section X serves as the medium between the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302, thereby forming a sensing capacitor. The first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302 are distributed on both sides of the outer wall, and the distance between them is very small, causing the sensing capacitor to produce the aforementioned edge effect. When a foreign object enters the heating chamber 101, the movement of the foreign object changes the degree of the edge effect, thereby changing the capacitance value of the sensing capacitor. The control unit 104 can then determine the type of foreign object based on the capacitance change caused by the foreign object.

[0059] Reference Figure 5In another embodiment of this utility model, at least two gaps are provided in the insulating member 303 of the entrance section X. The first electrode 301 of the capacitive sensor is disposed in the gap near the inner wall of the insulating member 303, while the second electrode 302 is disposed in the gap away from the inner wall of the insulating member 303, such that the insulating material layer between the two gaps serves as the medium between the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302. The first electrode 301, the second electrode 302, and the insulating material between the two electrodes combine to form an inductive capacitor. The first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302 are distributed on both sides of a single layer of insulating material, and the distance between the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302 is very small, which causes the inductive capacitor to produce the aforementioned edge effect. When a foreign object enters the heating chamber 101, the movement of the foreign object will change the degree of the edge effect, thereby changing the capacitance value of the inductive capacitor. The control unit 104 can then determine the type of foreign object based on the capacitance change caused by the foreign object.

[0060] In addition, continue to combine Figure 4 and Figure 5 The second electrode 302 can also be configured as a shielding plate to shield parasitic capacitance. Since the sensing capacitance of the capacitance sensor uses the edge effect to change the capacitance value, the parasitic capacitance on the sensing capacitance will have a certain impact on the capacitance value. By designing the shielding of the second electrode 302, the impact of parasitic capacitance on the capacitance value can be effectively mitigated, further improving the accuracy of identifying the type of foreign object.

[0061] Optionally, Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the composition of another aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of another aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Based on the aforementioned embodiments, and combined with... Figure 6 and Figure 7 The aerosol generating apparatus 100 also includes a heating component 601, which is disposed corresponding to the heating section Y of the heating chamber 101. The heating component 601 is used to heat the aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol for aspiration. The inlet section X is closer to the inlet of the heating chamber 101 than the heating section Y. The control unit 104 is also connected to the heating component 601. The control unit 104 is also configured to activate the heating component 601 and deactivate the capacitance value recognition of the capacitance sensing unit 103 after determining that the foreign object is an aerosol generating article; and to deactivate the heating component 601 after the foreign object sensing unit 102 detects that the foreign object has been removed from the heating chamber 101.

[0062] Specifically, heating component 601 refers to the heating component 601 and its related circuitry for heating the aerosol-generated product, which is correspondingly arranged in the heating section Y of the heating cavity 101. Heating component 601 can employ at least one of several heating principles, such as infrared heating, resistance heating, or electromagnetic induction heating, to heat the aerosol-generated product. For example, when heating component 601 is an infrared heating component 601, the infrared radiation filament of heating component 601 can be wound around the heating section Y of the heating cavity 101 and closely adhered to the inner wall of the heating cavity 101. The winding radius can be approximately 5mm to 10mm, and the number of turns can be 5 to 20, forming a hollow structure through which the aerosol-generated product can pass, thereby efficiently and uniformly heating the aerosol-generated product. The control unit 104 is connected to the heating assembly 601. On one hand, the control unit 104 can automatically start the heating assembly 601 to heat the aerosol-generating product when it determines that the type of foreign object is an aerosol-generating product. On the other hand, when the foreign object sensing unit 102 senses that the aerosol-generating product in the heating chamber 101 has been removed, the control unit 104 can also control the heating assembly 601 to shut down its heating process. In addition, at the same time as or before starting the heating process of the heating assembly 601 to heat the aerosol-generating product, the control unit 104 can also shut down the capacitance recognition process of the capacitance sensing unit 103, so that the capacitance sensing unit 103 returns to a dormant state, preventing the heating from affecting the data of the capacitance sensing unit 103, reducing the power consumption of the device, and extending the standby time of the device.

[0063] Reference Figure 6 In some embodiments, the heating assembly 601 may include a circumferential heating element 602, which covers the outer wall of the heating section Y of the heating cavity 101 and is configured to heat the aerosol-generated article through the cavity wall. Exemplarily, the circumferential heating element 602 may be a mesh resistive heating element covering the outer wall of the cavity section Y and connected to a power supply circuit. When the circumferential heating element 602 is energized, it generates heat and transfers this heat to the aerosol-generated article within the heating cavity 101 through the cavity wall. The cavity wall of the heating cavity 101 may be made of a high thermal conductivity material to efficiently conduct the heat generated by the circumferential heating element 602 to the aerosol-generated article. The high thermal conductivity material may be a metal or a ceramic material, and the ceramic material may be any one of oxides, nitrides, carbides, borides, etc.

[0064] Reference Figure 7In other embodiments, the heating assembly 601 may include a central heating element 603, which extends into the heating section Y of the heating cavity 101 to be inserted into the aerosol-generating article for heating. Exemplarily, the central heating element 603 may use electromagnetic induction heating to heat the aerosol-generating article. The central heating element 603 extends at least partially into the heating cavity 101 of the heating section Y, and its end extending into the heating cavity 101 is pin-shaped or plate-shaped, so that the central heating element 603 can be inserted into the aerosol-generating article for heating. A coil may be wound correspondingly on the outer wall of the cavity of the heating section Y. An alternating current is controlled by the circuit to pass through the coil, so that the coil generates a changing magnetic field in space under the action of the alternating current. This changing magnetic field can penetrate the central heating element 603, thereby inducing eddy currents in the central heating element 603. The central heating element 603 generates heat under the action of eddy current effect and hysteresis effect, thereby heating the aerosol-generating article.

[0065] For example, Figure 8 This utility model provides a schematic diagram of the state of an aerosol generating device at different working stages, in conjunction with... Figure 6 and Figure 8In the first stage, the infrared beam detector 201 continuously detects whether any foreign object enters the entrance section X. In the second stage, when a foreign object enters the heating chamber 101 through the inlet of the aerosol generating device 100, the infrared receiver 203 cannot receive the infrared beam emitted by the infrared transmitter 202 due to the obstruction of the foreign object, and sends an electrical signal containing a foreign object presence warning to the control unit 104. After determining that the heating chamber 101 contains a foreign object based on this electrical signal, the control unit 104 immediately wakes up the capacitive sensing unit 103 and enters the third stage. In the third stage, the foreign object continues to enter the heating chamber 101, and the capacitive sensing unit 103 activates to identify the frequency of capacitance changes caused by the foreign object entering the heating chamber 101 and feeds it back to the control unit 104. The control unit 104 can determine whether the foreign object is an aerosol-generated product based on the identification result of the capacitive sensing unit 103. If the foreign object is determined to be irrelevant debris, the control unit 104 controls the capacitive sensing unit 103 to return to sleep mode, and the current detection ends. If the foreign object is determined to be an aerosol-generating product, the control unit 104 controls the capacitive sensing unit 103 to return to sleep mode and starts the heating assembly 601 to heat the aerosol-generating product. In the fourth stage, the user can suction the aerosol-generating product during the heating process. In the fifth stage, after the user completes suction, if the aerosol-generating product is pulled out of the heating chamber 101, it will no longer block the propagation of the infrared beam. The infrared receiver 203 will then return to a state where it can receive the infrared beam and send an electrical signal containing a warning message indicating the absence of the foreign object to the control unit 104. The control unit 104 then determines that the foreign object has been removed from the heating chamber 101 based on this electrical signal and terminates the heating process of the heating assembly 601.

[0066] The aerosol generating device provided in this embodiment also includes a heating component, which is configured corresponding to the heating section of the heating chamber. The heating component is used to heat the aerosol generating product to generate an aerosol for suction. The inlet section is closer to the inlet of the heating chamber than the heating section. The control unit is also connected to the heating component. The setting section of the heating device differs from that of the capacitive sensing unit, reducing the influence of potentially charged materials in the heating device on the capacitive sensing unit, improving the accuracy of automatic heating start-up timing, and greatly enhancing the user experience.

[0067] Optionally, Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the composition of another aerosol generating device provided in an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to... Figure 9The aerosol generating device 100 also includes a position sensing component 901, disposed in the heating section Y of the heating chamber 101, for detecting when the aerosol-generated product reaches a preset position. The control unit 104 is also connected to the position sensing component 901, and is configured to, after determining that the external object is an aerosol-generated product, activate the heating component 601 and deactivate the capacitance recognition of the capacitance sensing unit 103 if the aerosol-generated product reaches the preset position.

[0068] Specifically, the position sensing component 901 is a position sensor used to detect whether the aerosol-generated product is placed in a preset position. It is configured corresponding to the heating section Y of the heating chamber 101. Preferably, the position sensing component 901 can be disposed at the bottom of the heating chamber 101. The position sensor can detect whether the aerosol-generated product is placed in the preset position. For example, the position sensing component 901 can be a capacitive sensor, and its two electrodes can be configured in the same way as the sensing capacitor in the capacitive sensing unit 103 in the aforementioned embodiment, which will not be elaborated further here. Like the capacitive sensing unit 103, the position sensing component 901 can be activated when the external object sensing unit 102 detects that the heating chamber 101 contains an external object, or when the control unit 104 determines that the external object is an aerosol-generated product. The position sensing component 901 detects whether the aerosol-generated product is placed in the preset position and feeds back the position sampling result of the aerosol-generated product to the control unit 104. After determining that the external object is an aerosol-generating product, the control unit 104 also needs to determine whether the aerosol-generating product has reached a preset position. If the aerosol-generating product has reached the preset position, the control unit 104 will activate the heating component 601 and disable the capacitance value recognition of the capacitance sensing unit 103.

[0069] For example, Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the state of another aerosol generating device at different working stages, as provided in this embodiment of the invention. Figure 9 and Figure 10In the first stage, the infrared beam detector 201 continuously detects whether any foreign object enters the entrance section X. In the second stage, when a foreign object enters the heating chamber 101 through the inlet of the aerosol generating device 100, the infrared receiver 203 cannot receive the infrared beam emitted by the infrared transmitter 202 due to the obstruction of the foreign object, and sends an electrical signal containing a foreign object presence warning to the control unit 104. After determining that the heating chamber 101 contains a foreign object based on this electrical signal, the control unit 104 immediately wakes up the capacitive sensing unit 103 and enters the third stage. In the third stage, the foreign object continues to enter the heating chamber 101, and the capacitive sensing unit 103 activates to identify the frequency of capacitance changes caused by the foreign object entering the heating chamber 101 and feeds it back to the control unit 104. The control unit 104 can determine whether the foreign object is an aerosol-generated product based on the identification result of the capacitive sensing unit 103. If the foreign object is determined to be irrelevant debris, the control unit 104 controls the capacitive sensing unit 103 to return to sleep mode, and the current detection ends. In the fourth stage, if the foreign object is determined to be an aerosol-generating product, the control unit 104 activates the position sensing component 901 to detect whether the aerosol-generating product has reached the preset position. If the aerosol has reached the preset position, the control unit 104 further activates the heating component 601 to heat the aerosol-generating product. Afterward, the user can then aspirate the aerosol-generating product. It should be noted that if the aerosol-generating product is not in the preset position after the heating component 601 is activated, the control unit 104 can stop the heating process of the heating component 601 and resume heating once the product has returned to its original position. In the fifth stage, after the user completes aspiration, if the aerosol-generating product is pulled out of the heating chamber 101, the aerosol-generating product will no longer block the propagation of the infrared beam. The infrared receiver 203 will then return to a state where it can receive the infrared beam and send an electrical signal containing a warning message indicating the absence of the foreign object to the control unit 104. The control unit 104 then determines that the foreign object has been removed from the heating chamber 101 based on this electrical signal and terminates the heating process of the heating component 601.

[0070] The aerosol generating device provided by this utility model also includes a position sensing component, which is disposed in the heating section of the heating chamber to detect when the aerosol-generated product reaches a preset position. The control unit is also connected to the position sensing component, realizing the position identification of the aerosol-generated product before heating. Only when the aerosol-generated product reaches the optimal heating position (i.e., the preset position) does the control unit control the heating component to heat it, thereby improving heating efficiency, reducing energy waste, and further enhancing the user experience.

[0071] The specific embodiments described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and substitutions can be made according to design requirements and other factors. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device, characterized in that, include: A heating chamber for removably containing aerosol-generated articles; A foreign object sensing unit is provided corresponding to the inlet section of the heating cavity and is configured to sense whether the heating cavity contains a foreign object; A capacitance sensing unit, corresponding to the inlet section of the heating cavity, is configured to identify capacitance changes caused by the foreign object contained in the heating cavity; The control unit is connected to the external object sensing unit and the capacitive sensing unit, respectively.

2. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The external object sensing unit includes an infrared beam-transmitting component.

3. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The infrared beam-through assembly includes an infrared transmitter, an infrared receiver, a first lens, and a second lens; The first lens and the second lens are distributed on the cavity walls on both sides of the central axis of the entrance section and penetrate the cavity walls; the infrared emitter and the infrared receiver are distributed outside the different lenses, so that when the heating cavity does not contain any foreign objects, the infrared beam emitted by the infrared emitter can pass through the first lens and the second lens in sequence and enter the infrared receiver.

4. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The capacitive sensing unit includes a first electrode and a second electrode, which are distributed on both sides of the central axis of the entrance section.

5. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The aerosol generating device includes an insulating member defining the heating chamber, wherein one or two gaps are maintained between the outer wall and the inner wall of the insulating member; The capacitive sensing unit includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode is located in a gap near the inner wall, and the second electrode is disposed in a gap away from the inner wall or attached to the outer wall. The insulating material in the two gaps or the outer wall serves as the insulating medium between the first electrode and the second electrode.

6. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A heating component is provided corresponding to the heating section of the heating chamber. The heating component is used to heat the aerosol generating product to generate an aerosol for suction. The inlet section is closer to the inlet of the heating chamber than the heating section. The control unit is also connected to the heating assembly.

7. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The heating assembly includes a circumferential heating element that covers the outer wall of the heating section of the heating chamber and is configured to heat the aerosol-generated product through the chamber wall.

8. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The heating assembly includes a central heating element that extends into the heating section of the heating chamber to be inserted into the aerosol-generating article for heating.

9. The aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of claims 5-7, characterized in that, Also includes: A positioning sensor component, disposed in the heating section of the heating chamber, is configured to detect when the aerosol-generated product reaches a preset position; The control unit is also connected to the position sensing component.

10. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The position sensing component includes a capacitive sensor.

Images