Aerosol-generating product, and aerosol-generating system containing same

Abstract

An aerosol-generating product according to one embodiment may include: a medium segment; a cooling segment disposed downstream of the medium segment; a downstream filter segment disposed downstream of the cooling segment; an upstream perforation formed in the cooling segment; and a downstream perforation formed in the downstream filter segment.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The various embodiments below relate to an aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating system including the same.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Research has been conducted on non-combustion cigarettes. For example, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2017-0132823 discloses a non-combustion-type flavor inhaler, a flavor inhalation component source unit, and an atomizing unit.DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL GOALS

[0003] According to an embodiment, an aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating system including the same are to reduce a thermal sensation of an aerosol.

[0004] According to an embodiment, an aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating system including the same are not to change an air dilution rate (ADR) of an aerosol.

[0005] According to an embodiment, an aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating system including the same are to implement a thermal sensation reduction without substantially increasing a manufacturing cost.TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

[0006] According to an embodiment, an aerosol generating article includes a medium segment, a cooling segment disposed downstream of the medium segment, a downstream filter segment disposed downstream of the cooling segment, an upstream perforation formed on the cooling segment, and a downstream perforation formed on the downstream filter segment.

[0007] The aerosol generating article may further include an upstream filter segment disposed upstream of the medium segment.

[0008] A position of the downstream perforation may be set to reduce a thermal sensation of an aerosol transferred to the downstream filter segment.

[0009] The downstream perforation may be arranged to be spaced apart by 1 to 5 millimeters (mm) from a joint surface of the cooling segment and the downstream filter segment.

[0010] The cooling segment may have a tube-shaped structure including a longitudinal hollow portion.

[0011] The upstream perforation may be arranged to be spaced apart by 19 to 21 mm from a downstream end portion of the aerosol generating article.

[0012] A medium may include at least one of reconstituted tobacco sheets, cut tobacco leaves, caffeine, taurine, a pharmacological substance, a flavor material, or a sweetener.

[0013] According to another embodiment, an aerosol generating system includes an aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating device including a controller including at least one processor, an elongated cavity configured to accommodate the aerosol generating article, and a heater configured to heat a liquid composition or the aerosol generating article, wherein the aerosol generating article may include an upstream filter segment, a medium segment disposed downstream of the upstream filter segment, a cooling segment disposed downstream of the medium segment, and a downstream filter segment disposed downstream of the cooling segment, wherein an upstream perforation may be arranged on the cooling segment, a downstream perforation may be arranged on the downstream filter segment, and a position of the downstream perforation may be set to reduce a thermal sensation without causing a change in an air dilution rate (ADR).

[0014] The downstream perforation may be arranged to be spaced apart by 1 to 5 mm from a joint surface of the cooling segment and the downstream filter segment.

[0015] The upstream perforation may be arranged to be spaced apart by 19 to 21 mm from a downstream end portion of the aerosol generating article.EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0016] According to an embodiment, a thermal sensation of an aerosol may be reduced without substantially changing an air dilution rate (ADR).

[0017] According to an embodiment, a thermal sensation reduction may be implemented without substantially increasing a manufacturing cost of an aerosol generating article.

[0018] The effects of the aerosol generating article and the aerosol generating system including the same according to an embodiment are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other unmentioned effects can be clearly understood from the following description by one of ordinary skill in the art.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates an aerosol generating article according to an embodiment. FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c) illustrate a position of a downstream perforation of an aerosol generating article, according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a graph showing an air dilution rate (ADR) and a thermal sensation (temperature) at a mouth, according to the position of the downstream perforation of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a graph showing an air inflow amount according to the position of the downstream perforation of FIG. 2. FIGS. 5(a) to 5(c) illustrate a position of a perforation of an aerosol generating article, according to Comparative Example 1. FIG. 6 is a graph showing an ADR and a thermal sensation (temperature) at a mouth, according to the position of the perforation of FIG. 5. FIGS. 7(a) to 7(c) illustrate a position of a perforation of an aerosol generating article, according to Comparative Example 2. FIG. 8 is a graph showing an ADR and a thermal sensation (temperature) at a mouth, according to the position of the perforation of FIG. 7. FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) illustrate a system in which an aerosol generating article is used, according to an embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an aerosol generating device using an aerosol generating article, according to an embodiment. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0020] The terms used in the embodiments are selected from among common terms that are currently widely used, in consideration of their function in the embodiments. However, the terms may become different according to an intention of one of ordinary skill in the art, a precedent, or the advent of new technology. In addition, in particular cases, the terms are discretionally selected by the applicant. In this instance, the meaning of those terms will be described in detail in the corresponding part of the detailed description. Therefore, the terms used in the disclosure are not merely designations of the terms, but the terms are defined based on the meaning of the terms and content throughout the disclosure.

[0021] It will be understood that when a certain part "includes" a certain component, the part does not exclude another component but may further include another component, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, terms such as "unit," "module," etc., as used in the specification may refer to a part for processing at least one function or operation and may be implemented as hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0022] As used herein, an expression such as "at least one of" that precedes listed components modifies not each of the listed components but all the components. For example, the expression "at least one of a, b, or c" should be construed as including a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c.

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates an aerosol generating article 110 in a non-combustion type, according to an embodiment.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, the aerosol generating article 110 according to an embodiment may include an upstream filter segment 111, a medium segment 112 disposed downstream of the upstream filter segment 111, a cooling segment 113 disposed downstream of the medium segment 112, and a downstream filter segment 114 disposed downstream of the cooling segment 113. The upstream filter segment 111, the medium segment 112, the cooling segment 113, and the downstream filter segment 114 may be sequentially connected in a longitudinal direction, and an end portion of the aerosol generating article 110 on a side of the downstream filter segment 114 may be brought into contact with a mouth. Here, the longitudinal direction may be defined in a direction parallel to a flow direction of an aerosol from the upstream filter segment 111 through the medium segment 112 and the cooling segment 113 to the downstream filter segment 114.

[0025] In an embodiment, the upstream filter segment 111 may be a cellulose acetate filter. In addition, the upstream filter segment 111 may include a paper filter and a porous molding. For example, the length of the upstream filter segment 111 may be 4 to 15 millimeters (mm) but is not limited thereto. In addition, the upstream filter segment 111 may be colored or flavored.

[0026] Alternatively, the upstream filter segment 111 may include an atomization segment. A moisturizing agent used to fill the atomization segment may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol but is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the atomization segment may include other additives such as a flavoring agent, a humectant, and / or organic acid. In addition, the atomization segment may contain flavoring liquid such as menthol or a moisturizing agent. The atomization segment may allow an aerosol to be generated even when a separate vaporizer is not provided in an aerosol generating device. For example, in this case, a vaporizer (e.g., a vaporizer 230 of FIG. 9) may be omitted from an aerosol generating device (e.g., an aerosol generating device 200 of FIG. 9), and a heater (e.g., a heater 250 of FIG. 9) may generate an aerosol by heating the atomization segment. The aerosol generated from the atomization segment may have relatively high temperature but cooled in the cooling segment 113 after passing through the medium segment 112.

[0027] In an embodiment, the medium segment 112 may include a cavity, and the cavity may be filled with a medium. For example, the medium used to fill the medium segment 112 may include at least one component of reconstituted tobacco sheets, cut tobacco leaves, and granular tobacco (tobacco granules). Alternatively, the medium used to fill the medium segment 122 may include a functional substance such as caffeine, taurine, a pharmacological material, a flavoring material, or a sweetener. For example, a desirable length of the medium segment 112 may be adopted from a range of 6 mm to 18 mm but is not limited thereto.

[0028] Generally, tobacco granules have a significantly lower content of moisture and / or aerosol former than other types of tobacco materials (e.g., cut tobacco leaves, reconstituted tobacco sheets, and the like) and thus, may greatly reduce the generation of visible smoke, which may facilitate the implementation of a smokeless function of the aerosol generating device 200. However, the tobacco granules may vary in diameter, density, filling rate, composition ratio of constituent materials, heating temperature, and the like, depending on the embodiment. The diameter of the tobacco granules may be about 0.3 mm to 1.2 mm. Within this numerical range, the proper hardness and ease of manufacture of the tobacco granules may be guaranteed, and the probability of vortex airstream in the cavity may be increased.

[0029] In addition, the medium segment 112 may include an aerosol generating material such as glycerin or the like. Furthermore, the medium segment 112 may include other additives such as a flavoring agent, a humectant, and / or organic acid. In addition, the medium segment 112 may include a flavoring liquid such as menthol or a moisturizing agent that is added as being sprayed onto the medium segment 112.

[0030] In an embodiment, the cooling segment 113 may cool an aerosol that passes through the medium segment 112. For example, the cooling segment 113 may be made of cellulose acetate and may have a tubular structure including a hollow therein. For example, the cooling segment 113 may be manufactured by adding a plasticizer (e.g., triacetin) to cellulose acetate tow. For example, the cooling segment 113 may be made of paper and may have a tubular structure including a hollow therein. A desirable diameter of the hollow included in the cooling segment 113 may be adopted from a range of 4 mm to 8 mm but is not limited thereto. A desirable length of the cooling segment 113 may be adopted from a range of 4 mm to 30 mm but is not limited thereto. The cooling segment 113 is not limited to the above example and may be applicable without limitation as long as it may perform a function of cooling an aerosol.

[0031] In an embodiment, the downstream filter segment 114 may be a cellulose acetate filter. For example, the downstream filter segment 114 may be configured with a filter including at least one fragrance capsule, and the downstream filter segment 114 may be a cellulose acetate filter having at least one fragrance capsule inserted therein. In addition, the downstream filter segment 114 may be configured with a filter in which flavoring materials are mixed.

[0032] In an embodiment, the aerosol generating article 110 may be wrapped with at least one wrapper 115. The wrapper 115 may have at least one hole through which outside air is introduced or gas therein is discharged. The wrapper 115 may include a material with high thermal conductivity.

[0033] For example, the upstream filter segment 111 may be wrapped with a first wrapper 1151, the medium segment 112 may be wrapped with a second wrapper 1152, the cooling segment 113 may be wrapped with a third wrapper 1153, and the downstream filter segment 114 may be wrapped with a fourth wrapper 1154. In addition, the aerosol generating article 110 may be entirely wrapped again with a fifth wrapper 1155.

[0034] In an embodiment, the first wrapper 1151 may include an aluminum component. The first wrapper 1151 may be a combination of general filter wrapping paper and metal foil such as aluminum foil. For example, the total thickness of the first wrapper 1151 may be in a range of 40 micrometers (µm) to 80 µm. In addition, the thickness of the metal foil of the first wrapper 1151 may be in a range of 6 µm to 20 µm.

[0035] In an embodiment, the second wrapper 1152 and the third wrapper 1153 may be formed with porous wrapping paper. For example, the porosity of the second wrapper 1152 may be about 35000 CU but is not limited thereto. Also, the thickness of the second wrapper 1152 may be in a range of 70 µm to 80 µm. In addition, the basis weight of the second wrapper 1152 may be in a range of 20 g / m 2< to 25 g / m 2< .

[0036] For example, the second wrapper 1152 may include an aluminum component. For example, the second wrapper 1152 may be a combination of general filter wrapping paper and metal foil such as aluminum foil. Furthermore, the second wrapper 1152 may be formed of sterile paper (e.g., MFW).

[0037] In an embodiment, the porosity of the third wrapper 1153 may be about 35000 CU but is not limited thereto. Also, the thickness of the third wrapper 1153 may be in a range of 70 µm to 80 µm. In addition, the basis weight of the third wrapper 1153 may be in a range of 20 g / m2 to 25 g / m2.

[0038] In an embodiment, the fourth wrapper 1154 may be formed with polylactic acid (PLA) laminated paper. Here, the PLA laminated paper may refer to three-ply paper including a paper layer, a PLA layer, and a paper layer. For example, the thickness of the fourth wrapper 1154 may be in a range of 100 µm to 120 µm. In addition, the basis weight of the fourth wrapper 1154 may be in a range of 80 g / m2 to 100 g / m2.

[0039] In an embodiment, the fifth wrapper 1155 may be formed of sterile paper (e.g., MFW). For example, the basis weight of the fifth wrapper 1155 may be in a range of 57 g / m2 to 63 g / m2. Also, the thickness of the fifth wrapper 1155 may be in a range of 64 µm to 70 µm.

[0040] In an embodiment, an upstream perforation 1161 may be formed on the cooling segment 113, and a downstream perforation 1162 may be formed on the downstream filter segment 114.

[0041] The upstream perforation 1161 may be formed in an area surrounding the cooling segment 113, and a plurality of upstream perforations 1161 may be formed around the cooling segment 113 in a row.

[0042] The downstream perforation 1162 may be formed in an area surrounding the downstream filter segment 114, and a plurality of downstream perforations 1162 may be formed around the downstream filter segment 114 in a row.

[0043] Air outside the aerosol generating article 110 may be introduced through the upstream perforation 1161 or the downstream perforation 1162, and the air introduced from the outside may contact the aerosol passing through the cooling segment 113 or the downstream filter segment 114 to cool the aerosol. Additionally, the aerosol may be diluted to an appropriate level by the air introduced from the outside.

[0044] Furthermore, a position of the upstream perforation 1161 or the downstream perforation 1162 may be set to reduce a thermal sensation without causing a change in an air dilution rate (ADR). This is described in detail below.

[0045] FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c) illustrate a position of a downstream perforation of an aerosol generating article, according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a graph showing an ADR and a thermal sensation (mouth end (ME) max T) at a mouth according to the position of the downstream perforation of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a graph showing an air inflow amount according to the position of the downstream perforation of FIG. 2.

[0046] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, in an embodiment, the upstream perforation 1161 may be arranged to be spaced apart by a first distance d1 from a downstream end portion of the aerosol generating article 110. The downstream perforation 1162 may be arranged to be spaced apart by a second distance d2 from a joint surface of the cooling segment 113 and the downstream filter segment 114.

[0047] When the aerosol generating article 110 has a two-row perforation arrangement (e.g., the first perforation 1161 and the second perforation 1162), the second distance d2, which is an optimal position of the perforation (e.g., the second perforation 1162) arranged on the downstream filter segment 114, may be 1 to 5 mm.

[0048] FIG. 2(a) shows a case in which the second distance d2 is set to 1 mm, FIG. 2(b) shows a case in which the second distance d2 is set to 3 mm, and FIG. 2(c) shows a case in which the second distance d2 is set to 5 mm. FIG. 3 is a graph showing the ADR and temperature (thermal sensation) at a mouth in each of the cases of FIG. 2(a), FIG. 2(b), and FIG. 2(c), together with a reference case in which the downstream perforation 1162 is not formed. A left vertical axis of FIG. 3 may represent the ADR, and a right vertical axis may represent the thermal sensation at the mouth (ME max T).

[0049] Particularly, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it may be identified that the thermal sensation at the mouth is reduced in the case in which the downstream perforation 1162 is formed compared to the case in which the downstream perforation 1162 is not formed (reference). Comparing the case without the downstream perforation 1162 (reference) to the case of FIG. 2(c), it may be identified that the thermal sensation at the mouth has decreased from about 65 degree Celsius (°C) to 56 °C.

[0050] Here, it may be identified that the ADR is similar. The unchanged ADR may indicate that the amount of air transferred from a medium remains the same, so it may be identified that there is no adverse effect such as a reduction in aerosols. Particularly, referring to FIG. 4, it may be identified that the sum of air inflow amounts of the upstream perforation 1161 and the downstream perforation 1162 does not differ significantly from the reference case. Here, in adjacent bar graphs, a left bar graph may represent an air inflow amount from the upstream perforation 1161, and a right bar graph may represent an air inflow amount from the downstream perforation 1162.

[0051] Therefore, the aerosol generating article 110 according to an embodiment effectively reduced the thermal sensation in the mouth without causing a large change in the ADR.

[0052] When the aerosol generating article 110 according to an embodiment is compared to the reference case, the ADR may not be changed significantly even though one row of the downstream perforation 1162 is added. The ADR may be affected by a pressure resistance distribution within a liquid flow path to an intake side, and since the cooling segment 113 has a tube-shaped structure including a hollow portion, the pressure within an airflow path of the tube may be the same. Therefore, the air inflow amount into the upstream perforation 1161 may be almost similar. However, the downstream perforation 1162 positioned in the downstream filter segment 114 may have a slightly different air inflow amount depending on the position, because the pressure resistance distribution is a function of position. Here, since the pressure resistance of the downstream filter segment 114 is greater than that of the hollow portion of the cooling segment 113, so the air inflow amount itself may be small. Therefore, a fluctuation range may be finely adjusted through the downstream perforation 1162. These two rows of perforations (the upstream perforation 1161 and the downstream perforation 1162) may allow fine-control of the thermal sensation.

[0053] In an embodiment, the second distance d2 in which the downstream perforation 1162 is spaced apart from the joint surface may be 1 mm or more, and in an area where the second distance d2 is less than 1 mm, it may be difficult to form a row of perforations. For example, the downstream perforation 1162 may be formed in a laser perforation method, and the area where the second distance d2 is less than 1 mm may be included in an error range of the laser perforation method.

[0054] In an embodiment, the second distance d2 in which the downstream perforation 1162 is spaced apart from the joint surface may be 5 mm or less. When the second distance d2 exceeds 5 mm, air inflow into the downstream perforation 1162 may be difficult due to contact with the mouth. Even if the length of the downstream filter segment 114 is increased, this may affect the suction resistance.

[0055] In an embodiment, the upstream perforation 1161 may be arranged to be spaced apart by 19 to 21 mm from the downstream end portion of the aerosol generating article 110, and for example, the first distance d1 may be 20 mm.

[0056] FIG. 5 illustrates Comparative Example 1 in which two rows of perforations are both formed on a cooling segment. FIG. 5(a) shows a case in which a separation distance between the two rows of perforations is 3 mm, FIG. 5(b) shows a case in which the separation distance between the two rows of perforations is 4 mm, and FIG. 5(c) shows a case in which the separation distance between the two rows of perforations is 5 mm. FIG. 6 illustrates an ADR and a thermal sensation (ME max T) at a mouth in Comparative Example 1 of FIG. 5.

[0057] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in Comparative Example 1 in which two rows of perforations are both on the cooling segment, the thermal sensation (temperature) decreased from about 65 °C to about 38 °C compared to a reference case. However, the ADR increased significantly compared to the reference case. Therefore, Comparative Example 1 may not be suitable for product application because the ADR is too high.

[0058] FIG. 7 illustrates Comparative Example 2 in which two rows of perforations are both formed on a downstream filter segment. FIG. 7(a) shows a case in which a separation distance between the two rows of perforations is 1 mm, FIG. 7(b) shows a case in which the separation distance between the two rows of perforations is 2 mm, and FIG. 7(c) shows a case in which the separation distance between the two rows of perforations is 4 mm. FIG. 8 illustrates an ADR and a thermal sensation (ME max T) at a mouth in Comparative Example 2 of FIG. 7.

[0059] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in Comparative Example 2 in which two rows of perforations are both on the downstream filter segment, the thermal sensation (temperature) increased significantly compared to a reference case, and the ADR decreased too much. Therefore, Comparative Example 2 may not be suitable for product application.

[0060] FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) illustrate an aerosol generating system 10 according to an embodiment.

[0061] Referring to FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), the aerosol generating system 10 according to an embodiment may include the aerosol generating article 110 according to an embodiment and the aerosol generating device 200 into which at least a portion of the aerosol generating article 110 is inserted.

[0062] In an embodiment, the aerosol generating device 200 may include a housing 210, a battery 220 disposed in the housing 210 and capable of supplying power, the vaporizer 230 for receiving power from the battery 220 and including a liquid storage cartridge and an aerosolizing element for aerosolizing liquid, a controller 240 for controlling the battery 220 or the vaporizer 230, and an aerosol generating article insertion portion (e.g., an elongated cavity) communicating with the vaporizer 230 and into which at least a portion of the aerosol generating article 110 is inserted.

[0063] FIG. 9(a) illustrates that the battery 220, the controller 240, the vaporizer 230, and the aerosol generating article insertion portion are arranged in a row. FIG. 9(b) is different from FIG. 9(a) in that the vaporizer 230 and the aerosol generating article insertion portion are illustrated as being arranged in parallel. However, the internal arrangement structure of the aerosol generating device 200 according to an embodiment is not limited to FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), and depending on the design of the aerosol generating device 200, the arrangement of the battery 220, the vaporizer 230, the controller 240, and the aerosol generating article insertion portion may be changed. For example, the heater 250 may be omitted, or the vaporizer 230 may be omitted.

[0064] In an embodiment, the battery 220 may supply power to be used to operate the aerosol generating device 200. For example, the battery 220 may supply power to heat the vaporizer 230 and may supply power required to operate the controller 240. In addition, the battery 220 may supply power required to operate a display, a sensor, a motor, or the like installed in the aerosol generating device 200.

[0065] In an embodiment, the controller 240 may control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 200. Specifically, the controller 240 may control respective operations of other components included in the aerosol generating device 200, in addition to the battery 220 and the vaporizer 230. In addition, the controller 240 may verify a state of each of the components of the aerosol generating device 200 to determine whether the aerosol generating device 200 is in an operable state. The controller 200 may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable by the microprocessor is stored.

[0066] In an embodiment, the vaporizer 230 may heat a liquid composition to generate an aerosol, and the generated aerosol may pass through the aerosol generating article 110 according to an embodiment and be transferred to a user. That is, the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 230 may travel along an airflow path of the aerosol generating device 200, and the airflow path may be configured such that the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 230 may pass through the aerosol generating article 110 according to an embodiment and be transferred to the user.

[0067] For example, the vaporizer 230 may include the liquid storage cartridge and the aerosolizing element (e.g., a liquid transfer means and a heating element, or an ultrasonic element) for aerosolizing liquid but is not limited thereto. For example, the liquid storage cartridge, the liquid transfer means, and the heating element may be included in the aerosol generating device 200 as independent modules. For example, the vaporizer 230 may be referred to as a cartomizer or an atomizer but is not limited thereto.

[0068] The liquid storage cartridge may store a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may include an aerosol former such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

[0069] When the aerosolizing element includes a liquid transfer means and a heating element (e.g., a cartridge heater), the liquid transfer means may transfer the liquid composition of the liquid storage cartridge to the heating element. The liquid transfer means may be, for example, a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic but is not limited thereto. The heating element may be an element for heating the liquid composition transferred by the liquid transfer means. The heating element may be, for example, a metal heating wire, a metal heating plate, a ceramic heater, or the like but is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the heating element may include a conductive filament such as a nichrome wire and may be arranged in a structure wound around the liquid transfer means. The heating element may be heated up as a current is supplied and may transfer heat to the liquid composition in contact with the heating element, thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, an aerosol may be generated.

[0070] Alternatively, the aerosolizing element may include a vibrator (e.g., an ultrasonic element) instead of the heating element. As voltage (e.g., alternating voltage) is applied to the vibrator, the vibrator may generate heat and / or ultrasonic vibration, and the heat and / or ultrasonic vibration generated by the vibrator may generate an aerosol. For example, the viscosity of the liquid composition may be lowered and the liquid composition may turn into fine particles due to the heat and vibration generated by the vibrator, thereby generating an aerosol. Such an ultrasonic aerosolization may have an advantage of reducing power usage compared to the heating method, and miniaturization of batteries and devices may be achieved through this.

[0071] In addition, the aerosol generating device 200 may further include general-purpose components in addition to the battery 220, the controller 240, and the vaporizer 230. For example, the aerosol generating device 200 may include a display that outputs visual information and / or a motor that outputs tactile information. In addition, the aerosol generating device 200 may include at least one sensor (e.g., a puff detection sensor, a temperature detection sensor, a cigarette insertion detection sensor, etc.). In addition, the aerosol generating device 200 may be manufactured to have a structure allowing external air to be introduced or internal gas to flow out even while the aerosol generating article 110 according to an embodiment is inserted.

[0072] In an embodiment, the heater 250 may be heated up by power supplied from the battery 220. For example, when the aerosol generating article 110 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 200, the heater 250 may be disposed outside the aerosol generating article 110. The heated heater 250 may thus raise the temperature of an aerosol generating material in the aerosol generating article 110. Alternatively, the heater 250 may have a rod-shaped structure in which the heater 250 is inserted into the aerosol generating article 110.

[0073] The heater 250 may be an electrically resistive heater. For example, the heater 250 may include an electrically conductive track, and the heater 250 may be heated up as a current flows through the electrically conductive track. However, the heater 250 is not limited to the above example, and any example of heating up the heater 250 up to the desired temperature may be applicable without limitation. Here, the desired temperature may be preset in the aerosol generating device 200 or may be set by a user.

[0074] In another example, the heater 250 may be an inductive heating-type heater. Specifically, the heater 250 may include an electrically conductive coil for heating the aerosol generating article 110 in an induction heating manner, and the aerosol generating article 110 may include a susceptor to be heated by the inductive heating-type heater. In addition, the heater 250 may be provided as a plurality of heaters in the aerosol generating device 200.

[0075] In an embodiment, the heater 250 may be disposed to surround the outer surface of the aerosol generating article insertion portion (e.g., an elongated cavity), thereby heating the aerosol generating article 110 that is accommodated in the aerosol generating article insertion portion. The heater 250 according to an embodiment may be disposed to surround at least a portion of the outer surface of the aerosol generating article insertion portion.

[0076] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the aerosol generating device 200 according to an embodiment.

[0077] Referring to FIG. 10, the aerosol generating device 200 may include the battery 220, the controller 240, the heater 250, a sensing unit 260, an output unit 270, a communication unit 280, a user input unit 291, and a memory 292. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 200 is not limited to what is shown in FIG. 10. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains that some of the components shown in FIG. 5 may be omitted or new components may be added according to the design of the aerosol generating device 200.

[0078] The sensing unit 260 may sense a state of the aerosol generating device 200 or a state of an environment around the aerosol generating device 200 and may transmit sensed information to the controller 240. Based on the sensed information, the controller 240 may control the aerosol generating device 200 to perform various functions, such as determining whether the aerosol generating article 110 according to an embodiment is inserted, displaying a notification, and the like. The sensing unit 260 may include a temperature sensor 261, an insertion detection sensor 262, or a puff sensor 263 but is not limited thereto.

[0079] The output unit 270 may output information about the state of the aerosol generating device 200 and provide the information to a user. The output unit 270 may include at least one of a display 271, a haptic portion 272, or a sound outputter 273 but is not limited thereto.

[0080] The user input unit 291 may receive information input from a user or may output information to the user. For example, the user input unit 291 may include a keypad, a dome switch, a touchpad (e.g., a contact capacitive type, a pressure resistive film type, an infrared sensing type, a surface ultrasonic conduction type, an integral tension measurement type, a piezoelectric effect type, etc.), a jog wheel, a jog switch, or the like but is not limited thereto. In addition, although not shown in FIG. 10, the aerosol generating device 200 may further include a connection interface such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface and may be connected to another external device through the connection interface such as a USB interface to transmit and receive information or to charge the battery 220.

[0081] The memory 292, which is hardware for storing various pieces of data processed in the aerosol generating device 200, may store data processed by the controller 240 and data to be processed thereby. The memory 292 may include at least one type of storage medium of a flash memory-type memory, a hard disk-type memory, a multimedia card micro-type memory, a card-type memory (e.g., an SD or XD memory), random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk. The memory 292 may store the operating time of the aerosol generating device 200, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, data associated with a smoking pattern of a user, and the like.

[0082] The communication unit 280 may include at least one component for communicating with another electronic device. For example, the communication unit 280 may include a short-range communication unit 291 and a wireless communication unit 292.

[0083] Since the aerosol generating article 110 according to an embodiment is heated in a non-combustion manner, different from a combustible cigarette, it is important to reduce the thermal sensation of the aerosol through the perforations in the aerosol generating article 110. For example, when vaporization is performed using a moisturizing agent, a hot thermal sensation may be generated as the moisturizing agent vaporizes, which may cause an unpleasant experience for a user. The aerosol generating article 110 according to an embodiment may effectively reduce this thermal sensation while not substantially changing the ADR.

[0084] The aerosol generating article 110 according to an embodiment may effectively control the thermal sensation only by forming the upstream perforation 1161 and the downstream perforation 1162 and thus, may not cause an increase in manufacturing cost, such as an increase in material cost.

[0085] The descriptions of the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and equivalents may be made thereto. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure should be defined by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope equivalent to those described in the claims will be construed as being included in the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating article comprising: a medium segment; a cooling segment disposed downstream of the medium segment; a downstream filter segment disposed downstream of the cooling segment; an upstream perforation formed on the cooling segment; and a downstream perforation formed on the downstream filter segment.

2. The aerosol generating article of claim 1, further comprising an upstream filter segment disposed upstream of the medium segment.

3. The aerosol generating article of claim 1 or 2, wherein a position of the downstream perforation is set to reduce a thermal sensation of an aerosol transferred to the downstream filter segment.

4. The aerosol generating article of claim 3, wherein the downstream perforation is arranged to be spaced apart by 1 millimeter (mm) or more from a joint surface of the cooling segment and the downstream filter segment.

5. The aerosol generating article of claim 4, wherein the downstream perforation is arranged to be spaced apart by 5 mm or less from the joint surface.

6. The aerosol generating article of claim 5, wherein the cooling segment has a tube-shaped structure including a longitudinal hollow portion.

7. The aerosol generating article of claim 6, wherein the upstream perforation is arranged to be spaced apart by 19 to 21 mm from a downstream end portion of the aerosol generating article.

8. The aerosol generating article of claim 1 or 2, wherein a medium includes at least one of reconstituted tobacco sheets, cut tobacco leaves, caffeine, taurine, a pharmacological substance, a flavor material, or a sweetener.

9. An aerosol generating system comprising: an aerosol generating article; and an aerosol generating device comprising a controller comprising at least one processor, an elongated cavity configured to accommodate the aerosol generating article, and a heater configured to heat a liquid composition or the aerosol generating article; wherein the aerosol generating article comprises: an upstream filter segment; a medium segment disposed downstream of the upstream filter segment; a cooling segment disposed downstream of the medium segment; and a downstream filter segment disposed downstream of the cooling segment, wherein an upstream perforation is arranged on the cooling segment, a downstream perforation is arranged on the downstream filter segment, and a position of the downstream perforation is set to reduce a thermal sensation without causing a change in an air dilution rate (ADR).

10. The aerosol generating system of claim 9, wherein the downstream perforation is arranged to be spaced apart by 1 to 5 millimeters (mm) from a joint surface of the cooling segment and the downstream filter segment.

11. The aerosol generating system of claim 10, wherein the upstream perforation is arranged to be spaced apart by 19 to 21 mm from a downstream end portion of the aerosol generating article.

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