Heater having plurality of heating regions and aerosol-generating device including same

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a heater comprising multiple heating zones and an aerosol generation device including the same, and more particularly, to a heater comprising multiple heating zones formed directly on a heating pipe, that is capable of improving vapor production and power efficiency by controlling the heating zones individually, and an aerosol generation device including the same. In embodiments, the heater includes: a pipe-shaped metallic structure capable of receiving a cigarette; a first insulating layer formed directly on an outer peripheral surface of the metallic structure; an electrode layer formed directly on an outer peripheral surface of the first insulating layer; a heating layer formed directly on the outer peripheral surface of the first insulating layer and electrically connected to the electrode layer; and a second insulating layer protecting the first insulating layer, the electrode layer, and the heating layer, wherein the heating layer comprises multiple heating zones arranged in a direction of airstream flow, and heating of each heating zone is individually controlled.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Embodiments relate to a heater comprising multiple heating zones and an aerosol generation device including the same, and more particularly, to a heater comprising multiple heating zones formed directly on a heating pipe, that is capable of improving vapor production and power efficiency by controlling the heating zones individually, and an aerosol generation device including the same.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Fine particles in air, that is, an aerosol, can be inhaled in the form of recreational substances, commonly through smoking. Conventionally, smoking tobacco cigarettes has been largely the only way to inhale such recreational substances, but electronic cigarettes have become established as another option these days. An electronic cigarette generates fine particles when inhalable substances are vaporized by heat or ultrasonic waves applied to a cartridge in which the inhalable substances are contained in liquid form. As such, electronic cigarettes work completely different than traditional cigarettes which produce smoke through combustion, and consequently offer benefits, especially when it comes to preventing various harmful substances that can be produced from combustion.

[0003] Moreover, keeping pace with the consumer demands who prefer products that resemble traditional tobacco cigarettes, aerosol-forming articles similar in appearance to traditional cigarettes that have a filter segment and a tobacco segment are being introduced. These aerosol-forming articles are configured in such a way that, as an aerosol-forming substrate contained in the tobacco segment (substrate segment) of a tobacco cigarette-type aerosol-forming article is vaporized by an electric heater, the user inhales through the filter segment having a construction equivalent to regular cigarettes. That is, by fitting the tobacco cigarette-type aerosol-forming article to the holder and having the aerosol-forming substrate within the substrate segment vaporize as the heater in the holder is heated, the user can inhale the aerosol-forming substrate which vaporizes through the filter segment.

[0004] A heater included in an aerosol generation device is a key element in the aerosol generation device that is directly linked to user experience. In particular, it is important that the heater is quickly brought up to an operating temperature, and that heat is delivered evenly across the aerosol-forming article which remains inserted in the aerosol generation device during an entire heating cycle. Another factor important to user experience is to provide a consistent taste and rich vapor from the start of the aerosol generation device to the very end. In this regard, Korean Patent Registration No. 10-2323782 discloses a heater structure including a heat-resistant metal pipe, a heating pattern, and a sensor pattern, as a conventional art technology for improving heater structures. However, there is room for improvement in terms of enhancing user experience by providing high volumes of vapor and a consistent taste.

[0005] FIG. 1 is a view depicting an example of a heater of an aerosol generation device according to the conventional art. The heater of the aerosol generation device according to the conventional art is a blade type, and the blade-type heater is inserted into an aerosol-forming article A. The blade-type heater is electrically insulated, with a plurality of electrically conductive tracks 13 formed on a rigid substrate 11, and a connection 15 applying power to the conductive tracks 13, that is drawn out of the substrate 11.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a view depicting another example of a heater of an aerosol generation device according to the conventional art. The heater of the aerosol generation device has a conductive track 23 formed on an electrically insulated substrate 21, and includes a first part 29 including a connection 25 for applying electric power to the conductive tracks 23 and a second part 31 with a thermally insulating reflective honeycomb structure formed on the electrically insulated substrate 21. The heater is formed by winding in a tube shape such that the first part 29 is located on the inside and the second part 31 is located on the outside.

[0007] However, the heater of the aerosol generation device according to the conventional art is disadvantageous in that installing a sensor for measuring heater temperature is complicated, and in that it is difficult to transfer heat generated from the conductive track 23 uniformly to the aerosol generating article.

[0008] To solve this, the applicant proposed a structure for installing a heating element 20 with a heating pattern attached on an insulating film on an outer surface of a cylindrical metallic structure 10. A heating layer 20 was fixed to the metallic structure 10 by installing a temperature sensor 30 on an outer surface of the heating element 20 and then shrinking a shrinkable tube 40 by heating. Incidentally, the shrinkable tube 40 used herein is made of PTFE which is a fluorine-containing material, and accordingly releases toxic chemicals when heated to or above 200 °C.DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to providing a heater comprising multiple heating zones and an aerosol generation device including the same, that make assembling easier and improve heat efficiency by forming a heating pattern directly on an outer peripheral surface of a heating pipe.

[0010] Furthermore, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to providing a heater comprising multiple heating zones and an aerosol generation device including the same, that can increase preheating rate and heating efficiency by controlling heating selectively for each of the multiple heating zones, and that can improve user experience by increasing vapor production.

[0011] Furthermore, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to providing a heater comprising multiple heating zones and an aerosol generation device including the same, that can improve power efficiency and prevent a burnt taste by controlling the heating zones individually.

[0012] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a heater comprising multiple heating zones, which, when a cigarette including a substrate segment located upstream in an airstream flow and a filter segment located downstream therein is inserted, generates an aerosol by heating the cigarette, the heater comprising: a pipe-shaped metallic structure capable of receiving a cigarette; a first insulating layer formed directly on an outer peripheral surface of the metallic structure; an electrode layer formed directly on an outer peripheral surface of the first insulating layer; a heating layer formed directly on the outer peripheral surface of the first insulating layer and electrically connected to the electrode layer; and a second insulating layer protecting the first insulating layer, the electrode layer, and the heating layer, wherein the heating layer may comprise multiple heating zones arranged in a direction of airstream flow, and heating of each heating zone may be individually controlled.

[0013] In other embodiments, in the heater comprising multiple heating zones, the first insulating layer may be formed by applying and then sintering a glass component.

[0014] In other embodiments, in the heater comprising multiple heating zones, the heating layer may be formed by applying and then sintering a metallic paste.

[0015] In other embodiments, in the heater comprising multiple heating zones, the metallic paste may be formed by a combination of at least one of graphene, platinum ruthenium (Ruthenox), palladium, and silver.

[0016] In other embodiments, in the heater comprising multiple heating zones, each heating zone may include a single heating pattern, a plurality of heating patterns, or a planar heating element.

[0017] In other embodiments, in the heater comprising multiple heating zones, the first insulating layer, the heating layer, and the second insulating layer may have a hole at the same position, with the metallic structure being exposed through the hole, wherein a thermocouple wire for sensing a temperature of the heater may be connected directly to the metallic structure exposed through the hole.

[0018] Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides an aerosol generation device comprising: a heater according to any of claims 1 to 6; a case forming an exterior and protecting internal components; a controller that individually controls multiple heating zones of the heater; and a battery for supplying power, wherein the multiple heating zones may include a first heating zone located farthest downstream, the first heating zone extending further downstream from a downstream edge of a substrate segment of a cigarette received in a metallic structure.

[0019] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, a length by which the first heating zone may extend further downstream from the downstream edge of the substrate segment is 7 mm or less.

[0020] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the controller may control temperatures of the heating zones by using a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the heating layer.

[0021] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the substrate segment of the cigarette received in the metallic structure may comprise a tobacco body layer and an aerocore layer, and different heating zones among the multiple heating zones of the heater may heat the tobacco body layer and the aerocore layer, respectively.

[0022] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the cigarette received in the metallic structure has a sensible pattern including cigarette information, the aerosol generation device may further comprise an inductive sensor sensing the sensible pattern of the cigarette, and the metallic structure may have an opening formed by partially removing a bottom thereof so that the sensible pattern is exposed to be sensed by the inductive sensor.

[0023] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the inductive sensor may extend to a position where the inductive sensor overlaps the opening.

[0024] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the controller may perform control such that at least one of the multiple heating zones has a different heating timing.

[0025] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, heating temperatures of the multiple heating zones may not exceed 350 °C.

[0026] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the controller may control the multiple heating zones such that the first heating zone is heated first within one heating cycle.

[0027] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the controller may control the multiple heating zones to be heated in order from downstream to upstream within one heating cycle.

[0028] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the heating layer may comprise at least three heating zones.

[0029] In other embodiments, the aerosol generation device may further comprise an air heater disposed further upstream than the heater, for heating an airstream admitted into the heater.

[0030] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the heating layer may comprise a second heating zone located immediately upstream of the first heating zone, a third heating zone located immediately upstream of the second heating zone, and a fourth heating zone located immediately upstream of the third heating zone.

[0031] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the controller may perform control such that any one of the first heating zone and the second heating zone and any one of the third heating zone and the fourth heating zone are simultaneously heated.

[0032] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, a driver may be connected to an electrical pathway between the battery and the heater to apply power from the battery to the multiple heating zones included in the heating layer of the heater.

[0033] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the multiple heating zones may be connected one-to-one to multiple drivers, and the controller may control a heating temperature of each heating zone by controlling each driver.

[0034] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, a switching element may be connected to an electrical pathway between the driver and the heater, and the multiple heating zones may be connected one-to-one to multiple switching elements, and the controller may control a heating temperature of each heating zone by controlling each driver and each switching element.

[0035] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the controller may perform control by outputting a signal with a fixed duty cycle to the first heating zone.

[0036] In other embodiments, the aerosol generation device may further comprise a first temperature sensor sensing a temperature of the first heating zone, wherein the controller may perform feedback control by modulating the duty cycle of a signal outputted to the first heating zone, based on what is sensed by the first temperature sensor.

[0037] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, one heating cycle performed by the controller may include a preheating step and a subsequent aerosol generation step divided into multiple phases, wherein the controller may control the multiple heating zones such that at least two active zones which receive power and at least one inactive zone which does not receive power are included in every phase of the aerosol generation step.

[0038] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, in the event of a phase transition in the aerosol generation step, the controller may switch at least one active zone to an inactive zone.

[0039] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, in the event of a phase transition in the aerosol generation step, the controller may switch at least one inactive zone to an active zone.

[0040] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the controller may perform control such that, at each phase transition in the aerosol generation step, at least one active zone is not switched to an inactive zone.

[0041] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the controller may control the multiple heating zones such that, in the aerosol generation step, each heating zone goes active at least once.

[0042] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the controller may control the multiple heating zones such that, in the aerosol generation step, each heating zone goes inactive at least once.

[0043] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the controller may control the active zones such that, in the aerosol generation step, heating temperatures of the active zones are kept at or above a predetermined aerosol generation temperature.

[0044] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, at least two heating zones may have different predetermined aerosol generation temperatures.

[0045] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, one heating cycle performed by the controller may include a preheating step and a subsequent aerosol generation step, wherein the controller may control the multiple heating zones such that at least one heating zone is kept at or above a predetermined aerosol generation temperature throughout the aerosol generation step.

[0046] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device the controller may control the multiple heating zones such that, in the aerosol generation step, a heating temperature of each heating zone reaches a predetermined aerosol generation temperature or higher at least once.

[0047] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the controller may perform control such that an average heating temperature of the multiple heating zones is kept at or below a predetermined threshold temperature throughout the aerosol generation step.

[0048] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the controller may perform control such that an average heating temperature of the multiple heating zones is kept at or above a predetermined aerosol generation temperature throughout the aerosol generation step.

[0049] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the controller may control the multiple heating zones such that, in the aerosol generation step, each heating zone is heated with a predetermined phase, amplitude, cycle, and waveform.

[0050] In other embodiments, in the aerosol generation device, the controller may control the multiple heating zones to be all heated with the same amplitude, cycle, and waveform in the aerosol generation step.

[0051] According to the present disclosure, a heating pattern can be formed directly on a heating pipe, rather than being formed on a separate film and then installed on an outer peripheral surface of a heating pipe, in which case a film assembly process may be omitted, and separate parts, such as a shrinkable tube, for fixing and firmly attaching a film may be omitted as well.

[0052] Furthermore, according to embodiments, since a heater comprises multiple heating zones, heating can be customized for each zone of a cigarette by controlling heating temperatures and heating timings.

[0053] Furthermore, according to embodiments, increased initial vapor production and enhanced sensory experiences can be achieved by controlling the multiple heating zones individually.

[0054] Furthermore, according to embodiments, since at least two of the multiple heating zones are simultaneously heated in a heating step, a larger heating surface area can be achieved as compared with conventional simple alternating heating control, thereby increasing vapor production and allowing for a quicker temperature rise than a single heater construction.

[0055] Furthermore, according to embodiments, at least one heating zone may be heated for two consecutive phases in the heating step, thereby preventing a decrease in vapor production during transition intervals.

[0056] Furthermore, according to embodiments, in the heating step, at least one heating zone is not activated, thereby preventing overheating, a burnt taste, and wasted power.

[0057] Furthermore, according to embodiments, since at least two of the multiple heating zones have different heating temperatures, an aearosol-forming substrate can be properly heated depending on how its transfer rate varies by region, thereby preventing a burnt taste and increasing power efficiency.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] FIG. 1 is a view depicting an example of a heater of an aerosol generation device according to the conventional art. FIG. 2 is a view depicting another example of a heater of an aerosol generation device according to the conventional art. FIG. 3 is a view depicting a heating element installation structure of a heater of an aerosol generation device according to another conventional art. FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view of a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to a first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a view depicting temperature sensor welding points of a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a heating layer of a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to a second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a heating layer of a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to a third embodiment. FIG. 8 is a view depicting temperature sensor welding points of a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to the third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a view schematically depicting a cross-section of an aerosol generation device including a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a view depicting a metallic structure of a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view schematically depicting an aerosol generation device including a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram depicting a cigarette being sensed in an aerosol generation device including a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing an internal configuration of an aerosol generation device including a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a block diagram depicting functional components to explain control relationships in the aerosol generation device. FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the heater comprising multiple heating zones and the cigarette inserted therein, shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 13. FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram for explaining connections among the controller, battery, multiple heating zones, and air heater of an aerosol generation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a control method for the aerosol generation device, performed by the controller according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining sub-steps of the aerosol generation step, performed by the controller according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 is a table showing a method of controlling multiple heating zones in the aerosol generation step performed by the controller according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure and a method of controlling multiple heating zones according to the conventional art. FIG. 20 is a table showing a method of controlling multiple heating zones in the aerosol generation step performed by the controller of an aerosol generation device according to another embodiment. FIG. 21 is a graph showing heating temperatures of multiple heating zones in the aerosol generation step, for explaining a control method performed by the controller of an aerosol generation device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 22 is a graph showing heating temperatures of multiple heating zones in the aerosol generation step, for explaining a control method performed by the controller of an aerosol generation device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 23 is a graph showing heating temperatures of multiple heating zones, for explaining a control method performed by the controller of an aerosol generation device according to the conventional art. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0059] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0060] FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view of a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to a first embodiment. The heater may be used in an aerosol generation device to create an aerosol. Particularly, the heater heats a cigarette-type aerosol-forming article (hereinafter, referred to as "cigarette") held inside and converts an aerosol-forming substrate contained in the cigarette into an aerosol so that the user can inhale the aerosol. In this instance, when the user takes a puff, a flow of air is generated, which is directed from the bottom toward the top with respect to FIG. 4 and the subsequent figures, allowing the user to inhale an aerosol produced from the aerosol-forming substrate. Assuming that air flows from bottom to top during use of the aerosol generation device, the bottom side may be referred to as "upstream", and the top side may be referred to as "downstream", for convenience of explanation.

[0061] A cigarette inserted into the heater comprising multiple heating zones may include, for example, a substrate segment located upstream and a filter segment located downstream. The substrate segment may include an aerosol-forming substrate, such as nicotine or vegetable glycerin (VG) or propylene glycol (PG), which is converted into an aerosol. The filter segment is a portion that comes into contact with the user's lips, and includes a filter for filtering out an incompletely vaporized liquid and may additionally include a cooling structure for cooling a heated air stream, for example, a cavity of a certain length.

[0062] As for a structure of the heater according to this embodiment, a first insulating layer 120 is formed on an outer peripheral surface of a pipe-shaped metallic structure 100 capable of receiving a cigarette, an electrode layer 130 and a heating layer 140 are formed on an outer periphery of the first insulating layer 120, and a second insulating layer 150 for protecting these layers.

[0063] The metallic structure 100 is usually made from stainless steel, and has sufficient strength and heat resistance. The heating layer 140 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the metallic structure 100 is applied directly as a coating on the outer peripheral surface of the metallic structure 100 and then sintered, as opposed to a conventional one which is made of a separate heating film and attached on the metallic structure 100.

[0064] First, the first insulating layer 120 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the metallic structure 100, and the first insulating layer 120 forms a glass coating layer with high strength through a process of applying and sintering a glass layer. The first insulating layer 120 is formed by heating the glass layer up to 1,000 °C and then sintering it. The first insulating layer 120 formed by sintering the glass coating layer is about 0.1 mm thick, thus facilitating the transfer of heat from the heating layer 140 to the metallic structure 100.

[0065] Afterwards, the electrode layer 130 and the heating layer 140 are patterned with a metallic paste on the outer peripheral surface of the first insulating layer 120 and then sintered again. The metallic paste forming the electrode layer 130 is formed by a combination of at least one of graphene, platinum ruthenium (Ruthenox), palladium, and silver.

[0066] The heating layer 140 may include multiple heating zones arranged in the direction of airstream flow. In this embodiment, the heating layer 140 includes a first heating zone 141 located farthest downstream, for heating a downstream portion of the substrate segment of the inserted cigarette and a second heating zone 142 located immediately upstream of the first heating zone 141, for heating an upstream portion of the substrate segment of the inserted cigarette. In embodiments, the heating of the multiple heating zones 141 and 142 included in the heating layer 140 may be controlled separately. In this embodiment, the heating layer 140 is not in the form of hot wire but is formed as a planar heating layer.

[0067] Thereafter, the second insulating layer 150 is formed, and the second insulating layer 150 may be formed using a glass layer, like the first insulating layer 120.

[0068] In this instance, masking zones 125, 135, 145, and 155 may be formed on the first insulating layer 120, the electrode layer 130, the heating layer 140, and the second insulating layer 150 in order to attach a temperature sensor for measuring a heating temperature of the heater. Masking zones exposing the metallic structure 100 may be formed by performing masking using a masking member before the formation of the first insulating layer 120, the electrode layer 130, the heating layer 140, and the second insulating layer 150 and removing the masking member after the formation of the first insulating layer 120, the electrode layer 130, the heating layer 140, and the second insulating layer 150.

[0069] FIG. 5 is a view depicting temperature sensor welding points of a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to the first embodiment. The masking zones may be used as temperature sensor welding points attached directly to the metallic structure 100. Since the metallic structure 100 has separate heated regions formed by the multiple heating zones 141 and 142, the separate heated regions may be provided with respective temperature sensors.

[0070] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a heating layer of a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to a second embodiment. The heating layer depicted in FIG. 6 is an illustration of one of the multiple heating zones formed in the metallic structure. In the heating layer of the heater according to the second embodiment, each heating zone includes a single heating pattern. In other words, for example, the first heating zone includes a single heating pattern, and the second heating zone includes a single heating pattern.

[0071] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a heating layer of a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to a third embodiment. In the heating layer of the heater according to the third embodiment, each heating zone includes a plurality of heating patterns formed in parallel. In other words, for example, a plurality of parallel heating patterns is formed between electrodes that apply power to the first heating zone, and a plurality of parallel heating patterns is formed between electrodes that apply power to the second heating zone.

[0072] FIG. 8 is a view depicting temperature sensor welding points of a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to the third embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the heater according to the third embodiment has no masking zones. Instead, the temperature of the heater may be controlled by using a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the heating layer.

[0073] FIG. 9 is a view schematically depicting a cross-section of an aerosol generation device including a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to a fourth embodiment. A cigarette, which is an aerosol generating article used for the aerosol generation device, includes a substrate segment and a filter segment, as described previously. In this embodiment, particularly, the substrate segment includes a first substrate segment T1 which is an aerocore layer and a second substrate segment T2 which is a tobacco body layer. The first substrate segment T1 and the second substrate segment T2 may be formed of different compositions. For example, the first substrate segment T1, which is the aerocore layer, may be a mixture including at least one of vegetable glycerin (VG), propylene glycol (PG), flavoring agents, and drugs, as an aerosol-forming substrate that is in liquid or gel or solid form at room temperature. The second substrate segment T2, which is the tobacco body layer, may include a cut tobacco filler which is generally used for conventional cigarettes. In this example, an aerosol generated from the first substrate segment T1 which is the aerocore layer serves to increase vapor production by assisting an aerosol generated by heating the second substrate segment T2 which is the tobacco body layer. The aerosols generated from the first substrate T1 and the second substrate T2 are inhaled by the user through the filter segment F. Also, in this embodiment, the second substrate segment T2 which is the tobacco body layer is located upstream of the cigarette, and the first substrate segment T1 which is the aerocore layer is located downstream of the cigarette.

[0074] In the heater comprising multiple heating zones, different heating zones, out of the multiple heating zones included in the heating layer, may heat the different substrate segments T 1 and T2. For example, the first heating zone 141 may heat the first substrate segment T1 which is the aerocore layer, and the second heating zone 142 may heat the second substrate segment T2 which is the tobacco body layer.

[0075] In this case, it is preferable that the first heating zone located farthest downstream, out of the multiple heating zones, extends further downstream from a downstream edge of the substrate segment of the cigarette to be received in the metallic structure. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 9, a position h2 of a downstream end of the first heating zone 141 is preferably higher than a position h1 of a downstream edge of the first substrate segment T1. That is, the first heating zone 141 may extend further downstream than an end of the substrate segment to heat part of the filter F as well. Accordingly, the first substrate segment T1 may vaporize into an aerosol more easily, especially when the first substrate segment T1 is an aerocore layer, thereby increasing vapor production.

[0076] FIG. 10 is a view depicting a metallic structure 100a of a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view schematically depicting an aerosol generation device including a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram depicting a cigarette being sensed in an aerosol generation device including a heater comprising multiple heating zones according to the fifth embodiment.

[0077] Similarly to the fourth embodiment, a cigarette, which is an aerosol generating article used for the aerosol generation device according to the fifth embodiment, includes a first substrate segment T1 which is an aerocore layer, a second substrate segment T2 which is a tobacco body layer, and a filter segment F. In this embodiment, an upstream end of the second heating zone 142 may be preferably positioned at the same level as or extend farther downstream past an upstream end of the second substrate segment T2. FIG. 11 depicts an example in which the upstream end of the second heating zone 142 is located at the same level as the upstream end of the second substrate segment T2. The cigarette received in the metallic structure 100a of the aerosol generation device according to the fifth embodiment includes cigarette information on wrapping paper, and may have a sensible pattern P by which the aerosol generation device is capable of automatically controlling a heating profile of the cigarette. The sensible pattern P may be printed with a conducting material, for example, and may be sensed by an inductive sensor S included in the aerosol generation device.

[0078] Incidentally, the metallic structure 100a constituting the heater in which the cigarette is inserted makes it impossible for the inductive sensor S to sense the sensible pattern P. Thus, an opening 102a may be formed by partially removing a bottom of the metallic structure 100a so that the sensible pattern P is exposed to be sensed by the inductive sensor S. The remaining part of the bottom is used as a supporter 103a for setting a height for the heater to be installed within the device.

[0079] In this case, preferably, an upper end (downstream end) of the inductive sensor S may extend to a position higher than a lower end of the supporter 103a, that is, to a position where the upper end of the inductive sensor S overlaps the opening 102a.

[0080] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration of an aerosol generation device 1 including a heater 1000 comprising multiple heating zones according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a block diagram depicting functional components to explain control relationships in the aerosol generation device 1. The aerosol generation device 1 of this embodiment is a portable aerosol generation device that, when a cigarette-type aerosol-forming article (cigarette) including a substrate segment T and a filter segment F is inserted, generates an aerosol by heating the cigarette-type aerosol-forming article, and may include a case 210 forming an exterior, for holding and protecting different components, and the aforementioned heater 1000 comprising multiple heating zones, that holds and heats the cigarette in the case 210. In the figures below, the heater 1000 comprising multiple heating zones is illustrated as including a metallic structure 100, a heating layer 140, and heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144, and illustrations of the first insulating layer 120, the electrode layer 130, and the second insulating layer 150 are omitted. This is merely for ease of description, and it should be made clear that such omissions do not preclude implementation of these layers.

[0081] The aerosol generation device 1 of FIG. 13 also includes a controller 300 that individually controls the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 of the heater 1000 and a battery 400 for supplying power to the components. Besides, other well-known elements for operating the aerosol generation device 1 may be included. For example, an input unit such as an operation button and a display means such as an LED may be included, but detailed illustrations and descriptions of well-known components obvious to a person skilled in the art will be omitted.

[0082] The case 210 may be made of a rigid material, with a size that can be carried around, and may hold and protect other components inside. At least one side of an airstream path 230 may communicate to the outside of the case 210, and the other side may communicate to the inside of the heater 1000, i.e., the inside of the metallic structure 100, so that outside air is admitted into the heater 1000 and then mixed with an aerosol generated from the inserted cigarette by the heater 1000, thereby generating an intake flow. Accordingly, as the user takes a puff, the aerosol mixed with the outside air along the airstream path 230 may flow in the direction of airstream flow indicated in the arrows and be inhaled by the user.

[0083] The heater 1000 is configured to generate an aerosol by heating at least the substrate segment T of the inserted cigarette. The multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 included in the heater 1000 may be controlled individually by the controller 300. In this embodiment and the embodiments below, the heating layer 140 of the heater 1000 includes four heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 as a preferred example. That is, in this embodiment, the heating layer 140 of the heater 1000 is configured to include a first heating zone 141 located farthest downstream, a second heating zone 142 located immediately upstream of the first heating zone 141, a third heating zone 143 located immediately upstream of the second heating zone 142, and a fourth heating zone 144 located immediately upstream of the third heating zone 143. Needless to say, this is only an example, and the number of heating zones is not limited as long as there are two or more heating zones; more preferably, the heating layer 140 may include three or more heating zones. Advantageous effects to be described and inferred below can be expected as long as two or more heating zones are included in the heater 1000.

[0084] The controller 300 may include, for example, a microcontroller unit (MCU) capable of processing of instructions, various arithmetic operations, and device control, and controls the heating of the heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 by controlling the power supplied to the heater 1000. For example, the controller 300 may control heating temperatures of the heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 by PWM control which is the controlling of the duty cycle of an output signal. Also, the controller 300 may control the heating temperatures of the heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 to follow a preset and stored temperature profile which is a time-dependent temperature change scenario. The controller 300 may use a means such as a PID (proportional-integral-differential) controller or / and an RTD (resistance temperature detector) sensor, in order to control the heating temperatures to follow a predetermined stored temperature profile. Besides, the controller 300 may perform a device control function throughout an entire operating cycle of the aerosol generation device 1. In particular, the controller 300 may control the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 included in the heating layer 140 of the heater 1000 individually; more preferably, the controller 300 may perform control such that at least one of the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 has a different heating timing or heating temperature within one heating cycle.

[0085] For example, a heating cycle is a period from the start of application of power from the battery 400 to the heater 1000 to create an aerosol until normal completion of the application, and may correspond to a typical single use of the aerosol generation device. For example, instead of the user's arbitrary discontinuation of heating, the number of puffs may be counted, or the amount of consumption of the aerosol-forming substrate contained in the inserted cigarette may be measured. If the count or the measurement reaches a certain reference value, or a requirement for normal completion of heating is satisfied, such as the elapse of a certain heating period, the heating may be discontinued by control from the controller 300, meaning that one operating cycle is complete.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 13, the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 included in the heating layer 140 of the heater 1000 are arranged in order in the direction of airstream flow (as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 13), that is, from bottom to top. The configuration of multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 which are individually controlled, as in this embodiment, provides a heater having separate zones that can be controlled independently. Since the flow of airstream in the aerosol generation device 1 moves from upstream to downstream, that is, from bottom to top as shown in the drawing. The heating timings of different heating zones arranged in the direction of airstream flow may be individually controlled, thereby providing advantageous effects to the user. Also, each individual heating zone 141, 142, 143, and 144 has a smaller heating surface area, compared to one heating zone that fully covers the substrate segment T, and therefore the temperature of the heating zone in question can be quickly raised with much less power.

[0087] In embodiments, the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144, particularly, include a first heating zone 141 for heating a downstream end of the substrate segment T of the inserted cigarette. Preferably, the first heating zone 141 is located farthest downstream, among the multiple heating zones. As previously described, the first heating zone 141 is characterized by heating of the downstream end of the substrate segment T, that is, a portion of the substrate segment T that borders on the filter segment F.

[0088] It can be said that the downstream end of the substrate segment T contributes most heavily to initial vapor formation compared to any other parts of the substrate segment T, being located farthest downstream of the substrate segment T and closest to the filter segment F. For example, once a heating cycle is started as the aerosol generation device 1 is activated, the controller 300 may control the first heating zone 141 to be heated first before the rest of the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144.

[0089] As described above, since the individual heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 have a smaller heating surface area than a single heating zone that fully covers the substrate segment T, the temperature of the first heating zone 141 may be raised more quickly compared to the heater of the aerosol generation device according to the conventional art. Also, the created aerosol may immediately enter the filter segment F and be inhaled by the user because the first heating zone 141 heats the farthest downstream portion of the substrate segment T. If a portion of the substrate segment T that is not contiguous to but distant from the filter segment F is heated first by the partial heating method described above, the created aerosol moves downstream along the airstream, and may be cooled as it passes through an unheated portion of the substrate segment T, which makes it hard to take full advantage of the partial heating.

[0090] Based on this mechanism, the controller 300 may control the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 to be heated in the order of downstream to upstream within one heating cycle. That is, the first heating zone 141, the second heating zone 142, the third heating zone 143, and the fourth heating zone 144 may be heated in the order listed, and therefore rich vapor production can be achieved from the beginning as mentioned previously. Also, as the third heating zone 143 and the fourth heating zone 144 which heat an upstream portion of the substrate segment T are heated in a latter part of the heating cycle, the sensory experience in the latter part can be enhanced.

[0091] Moreover, the controller 300 may control two or more of the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 to be heated simultaneously. Preferably, once a heating cycle is started, the first heating zone 141 is heated first as described previously, and at the same time, the controller 300 may perform control such that any one of the second heating zone 142, the third heating zone 143, and the fourth heating zone 144, for example, is heated. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller 300 may control one of the first heating zone 141 and the second heating zone 142 and one of the third heating zone 143 and the fourth heating zone 144 to be heated simultaneously. In this way, the heater 1000 may perform heating separately on each individual heating zone, thereby providing various user experiences compared to a conventional single heater.

[0092] Preferably, the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 are all heated in a temperature range that does not exceed 350 °C.

[0093] An air heater 500 is an element for heating outside air admitted from the outside to the heater 1000 when the user takes a puff. To this end, the air heater 500 may be disposed upstream of the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 of the heater 1000. Preferably, the air heater 500 is configured to heat an airstream path 230 between the outside and the heater 1000, as illustrated in FIG. 13. The air heater 500 also includes a heating element that substantially generates heat when power is applied, which may be a heating element that generates heat by resistance heating or induction heating. The air heater 500 also may be controlled independently by the controller 300.

[0094] FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the heater 1000 comprising multiple heating zones and the cigarette inserted therein, shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 13. As described previously, the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 may be disposed in the direction of airstream flow (from bottom to top). In particular, the first heating zone 141 is disposed in such a way as to heat the downstream end of the substrate segment T of the inserted cigarette. To this end, it is preferable that the first heating zone 141 may be located farthest downstream among the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144, and the first heating zone 141 may also extend up to 7 mm further downstream from a downstream edge of the substrate segment T of the inserted cigarette. For example, the first heating zone 141 may extend upward from the boundary between the substrate segment T and the filter segment F, with a margin k1 of up to 7 mm. Experimentally, this arrangement and extension length of the first heating zone 141 allows for sufficiently heating the downstream end of the substrate segment T and heating some of the filter segment F as well, thereby achieving the intended effect, that is, rich initial vapor production.

[0095] FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram for explaining connections among the controller 300, battery 400, multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144, and air heater 500 of an aerosol generation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 may be connected to one or more drivers 310 and 320 that are controlled independently by the controller 300. The drivers 310 and 320 may be installed on an electrical pathway between the battery 400 and the heater 1000 and receive power from the battery 400 to supply electric current to the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 of the heater 1000. The controller 300 controls the operation of the drivers 310 and 320, and may control the heating temperatures of the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144. The air heater 500 also may be supplied with power from the battery 400 through a driver 330.

[0096] In some embodiments, each heating zone may be connected one-to-one to the drivers, in order that the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 are controlled independently by the controller 300. Alternatively, as in the embodiment of FIG. 16, switching elements 311, 312, 321, and 322 may be connected to an electrical pathway between the drivers 310 and 320 and the heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144. In this instance, the heating of the heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 may be controlled by controlling the drivers 310 and 320 and the switching elements 311, 312, 321, and 322.

[0097] In cases where the multiple heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 are connected one-to-one to the multiple switching elements 311, 312, 321, and 322, as in this embodiment, the controller 300 may control the heating timings or heating temperatures of the heating zones 141, 142, 143, and 144 independently by controlling the drivers 310 and 320 and the switching elements 311, 312, 321, and 322. For example, the switching elements 311, 312, 321, and 322 may be FETs, more specifically, N-channel MOSFETs or P-channel MOSFETs. The connections to the drivers, the switching elements, and the battery 400 may also apply equally to the air heater 500.

[0098] The controller 300 may output a predetermined signal with a varying or fixed duty cycle to the drivers 310, 320, and 330, particularly, to control the heating temperatures of the heating zones connected to the drivers 310, 320, and 330. Also, the controller 300 may output a signal of a predetermined voltage to the switching elements 311, 312, 321, and 322 so as to cause an electrical current to flow to the heating zones connected to the switching elements 311, 312, 321, and 322 or so as to prevent it from flowing there.

[0099] Moreover, the controller 300 may control the first heating zone 141, in particular, by outputting a signal with a fixed duty cycle, rather than performing feedback control. In other embodiments, the aerosol generation device 1 may further include a temperature sensor 600 that senses the temperature of the first heating zone 141, in particular. The controller 300 may perform feedback control by modulating the duty cycle of a signal outputted to the first heating zone 141, based on what is sensed by the temperature sensor 600, that is, the heating temperature of the first heating zone 141.

[0100] FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a control method for the aerosol generation device 1, performed by the controller 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Although not shown, the heater 1000 included in the aerosol generation device 1 of this embodiment includes three heating zones 141, 142, and 143 in total.

[0101] The controller 300 may start a heating cycle by means of automatic control when the user presses a button or upon sensing an inserted cigarette. Once the heating cycle is started, the controller 300 performs a preheating step s100 first to control the heating temperatures of at least two heating zones to reach a predetermined aerosol generation temperature or higher. Since the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 are near room temperature before the aerosol generation device is activated, the heating zones 141, 142, and 143 need to be heated to or above the predetermined aerosol generation temperature, so as to prepare for aerosol generation.

[0102] The predetermined aerosol generation temperature may refer to a temperature at which an aerosol is generated at a considerably high speed, and, although it may vary with the composition of an aerosol-forming substrate mixture contained in the inserted cigarette, the predetermined aerosol generation temperature may be generally set in the range of about 120 °C to 300 °C. The predetermined aerosol generation temperature may be preliminarily set by testing and stored as data in advance in the controller 300. Also, the predetermined aerosol generation temperature may not be the same for each heating zone 141, 142, and 143. That is, at least two of the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 may have different aerosol generation temperatures which may be stored in the controller 300. For example, the rate at which an aerosol-forming substrate is transferred to a region heated by each heating zone 141, 142, and 143 may vary, or the amount of an aerosol-forming substrate contained in each region may vary, or the composition of the aerosol-forming substrate contained in each region may vary. Thus, it is more efficient to set the aerosol generation temperature differently for each heating zone 141, 142, and 143 where necessary.

[0103] After the preheating step s100 in which the heating temperatures of at least two heating zones are raised to a predetermined aerosol generation temperature, the controller 300 performs an aerosol generation step s200 in which the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 are controlled individually so as to generate an aerosol. The aerosol generation step s200 is a step in which the controller 300 controls the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 individually so as to generate an aerosol on a full-scale. The aerosol generation step s200 may continue until completion of the heating cycle after the preheating step s100, for example.

[0104] FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining sub-steps of the aerosol generation step s200, performed by the controller 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The aerosol generation step s200 may be divided up into multiple phases. Accordingly, the aerosol generation step s200 may include steps s210 to s240 of performing control in phases. The phases may be separated by intervals of time, for example, and may continue for the same length of time or for different lengths of time. Alternatively, the phases may be separated based on the number of puffs the user takes, for example, and each phase may continue for the duration of a certain number of puffs. Alternatively, a phase transition may be made by user control such as pressing a button or the like. Although, in this embodiment, the aerosol generation step s200 includes four phases (first to fourth phases) in total, this is merely an example and the number of phases may vary according to the embodiment. Also, the steps s210 to s240 of performing control in phases may be repeated as necessary by the controller 300. In this case, the number of phases can be substantially increased, while lowering the complexity of control.

[0105] FIG. 19 is a table showing a method ((a) of FIG. 19) of controlling multiple heating zones in the aerosol generation step s200 performed by the controller 300 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure and a method ((b) of FIG. 19) of controlling multiple heating zones according to the conventional art. The controller 300 controls the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 such that at least two active zones and at least one inactive zone are included in every phase of the aerosol generation step s200. An active zone may refer to any of the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 that is heated by power applied from the battery 400 by control from the controller 300. An inactive zone may refer to any of the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 that is in inactive state where no power is applied from the battery 400 by control from the controller 300. Preferably, the active zone, in particular, may be controlled such that its heating temperature is kept at or above a predetermined aerosol generation temperature. Also, as described above, any two active zones may be set to different aerosol generation temperatures.

[0106] Referring to (a) of FIG. 19, the controller 300 performs control such that, in the first phase, the first heating zone 141 and the second heating zone 142 are included as active zones and the third heating zone 143 is included as an inactive zone. In the second phase, the second heating zone 142 and the third heating zone 143 are active zones, and the first heating zone 141 is an inactive zone. In the third phase, the first heating zone 141 and the third heating zone 143 are active zones, and the second heating zone 142 is an inactive zone. In the fourth phase, like the first phase, the first heating zone 141 and the second heating zone 142 are included as active zones and the third heating zone 143 is included as an inactive zone.

[0107] According to an exemplary embodiment, in the event of a phase transition in the aerosol generation step s200, the controller 300 may switch at least one active zone to an inactive zone and switch at least one inactive zone to an active zone. The switching between active and inactive zones makes it possible to uniformly heat multiple heated regions and lengthen the lifespan of each heating zone by inactivating them. Preferably, in the aerosol generation step s200, the controller 300 controls the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 such that each heating zone is switched to active zone and inactive zone at least once. This means that every heating zone 141, 142, and 143 participates in the generation of an aerosol through heating in the aerosol generation step s200. Since every heating zone 141, 142, and 143 participates in the generation of an aerosol, the inserted cigarette and the aerosol-forming substrate included therein can be uniformly heated, and the construction of the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 can bring about practical benefits.

[0108] As seen in this embodiment, a wider heating surface area can be achieved compared to conventional simple alternating heating control by ensuring that at least two of the multiple heating zones included in the heating layer of the heater are activated at every phase, thereby increasing vapor production and allowing for a quicker temperature rise than a single heater construction.

[0109] Preferably, the controller 300 performs control such that, at each phase transition in the aerosol generation step s200, at least one active zone is not switched to an inactive zone. For example, in the first embodiment of (a) of FIG. 19, in the event of a transition from the first phase to the second phase, the second heating zone 142 is not switched to an inactive zone. Likewise, in the event of a transition from the second phase to the third phase, the third heating zone 143 is not switched to an inactive zone, and in the event of a transition from the third phase to the fourth phase, the first heating zone 141 is not switched to an inactive zone but remains heated as an active zone during the two consecutive phases. In this exemplary embodiment, even with each phase transition, at least one heating zone is continuously kept at or above a predetermined aerosol generation temperature, which prevents a decrease in aerosol generation or at least minimizes the amount of decrease.

[0110] For example, referring to (b) of FIG. 19 which is the conventional art, in the construction of multiple heating zones, a single heating zone is alternately activated in each heating phase. That is, the first heating zone is included as a single active zone in the first phase, the second heating zone is included as a single active zone in the second phase, the third heating zone is included as a single active zone in the third phase, and the first heating zone is included again as a single active zone in the fourth phase.

[0111] In the conventional art, in the event of a transition from the first phase to the second phase, for example, preheating time is required to heat the second heating zone which is an inactive zone up to an aerosol generation temperature. Thus, the heating temperatures of both the first heating zone and the second heating zone may be lowered to below the aerosol generation temperature during the transition interval. Accordingly, in the conventional art, no aerosol or only an extremely small amount, if any, of aerosol may be generated during the interval between each phase, which may significantly degrade the user's experience.

[0112] In contrast, according to the first embodiment of (a) of FIG. 19, even when the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 are controlled to be alternately activated for each phase, at least one heating zone is kept at or above the aerosol generation temperature. Accordingly, aerosol generation is not discontinued but may continue throughout the aerosol generation step s200.

[0113] FIG. 20 is a table showing a method of controlling multiple heating zones in the aerosol generation step s200 performed by the controller 300 of an aerosol generation device according to another embodiment. In particular, the embodiment in (a) and (b) of FIG. 20 illustrates another exemplary control method for an aerosol generation device comprising a total of four heating zones.

[0114] Throughout all the phases in (a) of FIG. 20, two active zones and two inactive zones are included. While the active zones and the inactive zones alternate with each phase transition, one active zone is not switched to an inactive zone. Throughout all the phases in (b) of FIG. 20, three active zones and one inactive zone are included. While the active zones and the inactive zones alternate with each phase transition, two active zones are not switched to an inactive zone.

[0115] Hereinafter, a control method by the controller 300 according to another embodiment will be described. The heater 1000 included in the aerosol generation device 1 according to this embodiment includes three heating zones 141, 142, and 143 in total.

[0116] In the aerosol generation step s200, in particular, the controller 300 may control the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 such that the heating temperature of at least one heating zone is kept at or above a predetermined aerosol generation temperature throughout the aerosol generation step s200. As such, even when the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 are controlled to be alternately activated, at least one heating zone is kept at or above the predetermined aerosol generation temperature. Accordingly, aerosol generation is not discontinued but may continue throughout the aerosol generation step s200.

[0117] Moreover, it is preferable that, in the aerosol generation step s200, the controller 300 controls the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 such that the heating temperature of each heating zone reaches a predetermined aerosol generation temperature or higher at least once. This means that every heating zone 141, 142, and 143 participates in the generation of an aerosol through heating in the aerosol generation step s200. Since every heating zone 141, 142, and 143 participates in the generation of an aerosol, the inserted cigarette and the aerosol-forming substrate included therein can be uniformly heated, and the construction of the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 can bring about practical benefits.

[0118] In addition, it is preferable that, in the aerosol generation step s200, the controller 300 may perform control such that an average heating temperature of the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 is kept at or below a predetermined threshold temperature throughout the aerosol generation step s200. This may prevent an abrupt increase in power consumption due to simultaneous operation of the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 and also prevent shortening of the heater's service life and a burnt taste, caused by overheating. Preferably, the predetermined threshold temperature may be preliminarily set by testing and stored as data in advance in the controller 300, like the predetermined aerosol generation temperature.

[0119] Furthermore, the controller 300 may perform control such that an average heating temperature of the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 is kept at or above a predetermined aerosol generation temperature throughout the aerosol generation step s200. This ensures that rich volumes of aerosol are generated without discontinuation throughout the aerosol generation step s200.

[0120] FIG. 21 is a graph showing heating temperatures of multiple heating zones, i.e., the first heating zone 141, the second heating zone 142, and the third heating zone 143, in the aerosol generation step s200, for explaining a control method performed by the controller 300 of an aerosol generation device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this graph, the X axis is the time measured in intervals of a certain length of time, and the Y axis is the heating temperature measured in degrees Celsius.

[0121] In the graph of FIG. 21, a guide line L representing the aerosol generation temperature, a guide line U representing the threshold temperature, and an average temperature curve V are illustrated. In this embodiment, the aerosol generation temperature exemplified herein is 130 °C as indicated by the guide line L representing the aerosol generation temperature. The exemplified threshold temperature is 210 °C as indicated by the guide line U representing the threshold temperature.

[0122] In a comparison of the graph of the heating temperatures of the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 and the line L representing the aerosol generation temperature, the controller 300 controls the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 such that the heating temperature of at least one heating zone is always kept at 130 °C or above throughout the aerosol generation step s200, which corresponds to the aerosol generation temperature.

[0123] Moreover, as can be seen from FIG. 21, the graph of the heating temperatures of multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 has certain periodic waveforms. That is, in the aerosol generation step s200, the controller 300 may control the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 to be heated with a predetermined phase, amplitude, cycle, and waveform. Particularly, it is preferable that the controller 300 controls the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 to be all heated with the same amplitude, cycle, and waveform which may mathematically simplify the heating control of each heating zone.

[0124] For example, in FIG. 21, the controller 300 controls the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 to be all heated with the same amplitude, cycle, and waveform, but with a different heating timing, i.e., a 120-degree phase shift, for each heating zone. In such cases, the average heating temperature of the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 may be always kept constant throughout the aerosol generation step s200 as can be seen from the average temperature curve V.

[0125] As described above, the controller 300 controls the multiple heating zones 141, 142, and 143 such that the average heating temperature V is kept at or below a predetermined threshold temperature U and at or above a predetermined aerosol generation temperature L.

[0126] FIG. 22 is a graph showing heating temperatures of multiple heating zones, i.e., the first heating zone 141 and the second heating zone 142, in the aerosol generation step s200, for explaining a control method performed by the controller 300 of an aerosol generation device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. This embodiment is identical to the previous embodiment of FIG. 21, except that the heating layer includes only two heating zones 141 and 142. It is assumed that the aerosol generation temperature and the threshold temperature are set equal to those in the embodiment of FIG. 21.

[0127] In this embodiment, the heating temperature curves of the multiple heating zones 141 and 142 have a periodic triangle wave. Particularly, the heating temperature curves of the first heating zone 141 and the second heating zone 142 have the same amplitude, cycle, and waveform, but with a 180-degree phase shift. The controller 300 performs control such that at least one heating zone is kept at 130 °C or above throughout the aerosol generation step s200, which corresponds to the aerosol generation temperature. Also, the controller 300 controls the multiple heating zones 141 and 142 such that the average heating temperature V is kept at or below a predetermined threshold temperature U and at or above a predetermined aerosol generation temperature L throughout the aerosol generation step s200.

[0128] A comparative example for emphasizing the effects of the foregoing embodiments is depicted in FIG. 23. FIG. 23 is a graph showing heating temperatures of multiple heaters, i.e., Heater A and Heater B, for explaining a control method performed by the controller of an aerosol generation device according to the conventional art. In this graph, even after completion of preheating, the heating temperatures of both Heater A and Heater B drop below 130 °C, which is the aerosol generation temperature L, in the intervals during which the two heaters transition between active and inactive, for example, the interval y1, the interval y2, and the interval y3. Accordingly, no aerosol or only an extremely small amount, if any, of aerosol may be generated during the intervals y1, y2, and y3, which may significantly degrade the user's experience.

[0129] The present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing specific exemplary embodiments, and various modifications may be made by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments pertain without departing from the subject matter of the present disclosure, and such modifications are intended to fall within the appended claims.

Claims

1. A heater comprising multiple heating zones, which, when a cigarette including a substrate segment located upstream in an airstream flow and a filter segment located downstream therein is inserted, generates an aerosol by heating the cigarette, the heater comprising: a pipe-shaped metallic structure capable of receiving a cigarette; a first insulating layer formed directly on an outer peripheral surface of the metallic structure; an electrode layer formed directly on an outer peripheral surface of the first insulating layer; a heating layer formed directly on the outer peripheral surface of the first insulating layer and electrically connected to the electrode layer; and a second insulating layer protecting the first insulating layer, the electrode layer, and the heating layer, wherein the heating layer comprises multiple heating zones arranged in a direction of airstream flow, and heating of each heating zone is individually controlled.

2. The heater of claim 1, wherein the first insulating layer is formed by applying and then sintering a glass component.

3. The heater of claim 1, wherein the heating layer is formed by applying and then sintering a metallic paste.

4. The heater of claim 3, wherein the metallic paste is formed by a combination of at least one of graphene, platinum ruthenium (Ruthenox), palladium, and silver.

5. The heater of claim 1, wherein each heating zone includes a single heating pattern, a plurality of heating patterns, or a planar heating element.

6. The heater of claim 1, wherein the first insulating layer, the heating layer, and the second insulating layer have a hole at the same position, with the metallic structure being exposed through the hole, wherein a thermocouple wire for sensing a temperature of the heater is connected directly to the metallic structure exposed through the hole.

7. An aerosol generation device comprising: a heater according to any of claims 1 to 6; a case forming an exterior and protecting internal components; a controller that individually controls multiple heating zones of the heater; and a battery for supplying power, wherein the multiple heating zones include a first heating zone located farthest downstream, the first heating zone extending further downstream from a downstream edge of a substrate segment of a cigarette received in a metallic structure.

8. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, wherein a length by which the first heating zone extends further downstream from the downstream edge of the substrate segment is 7 mm or less.

9. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, wherein the controller controls temperatures of the heating zones by using a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the heating layer.

10. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, wherein the substrate segment of the cigarette received in the metallic structure comprises a tobacco body layer and an aerocore layer, and different heating zones among the multiple heating zones of the heater heat the tobacco body layer and the aerocore layer, respectively.

11. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, wherein the cigarette received in the metallic structure has a sensible pattern including cigarette information, the aerosol generation device further comprises an inductive sensor sensing the sensible pattern of the cigarette, and the metallic structure has an opening formed by partially removing a bottom thereof so that the sensible pattern is exposed to be sensed by the inductive sensor.

12. The aerosol generation device of claim 11, wherein the inductive sensor extends to a position where the inductive sensor overlaps the opening.

13. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, wherein the controller performs control such that at least one of the multiple heating zones has a different heating timing within one heating cycle.

14. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, wherein heating temperatures of the multiple heating zones do not exceed 350 °C.

15. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, wherein the controller controls the multiple heating zones such that the first heating zone is heated first within one heating cycle.

16. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, wherein, within one heating cycle, the controller controls the multiple heating zones to be heated in order from downstream to upstream.

17. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, wherein the heating layer comprises at least three heating zones.

18. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, further comprising an air heater disposed further upstream than the heater, for heating an airstream admitted into the heater.

19. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, wherein the heating layer comprises a second heating zone located immediately upstream of the first heating zone, a third heating zone located immediately upstream of the second heating zone, and a fourth heating zone located immediately upstream of the third heating zone.

20. The aerosol generation device of claim 19, wherein the controller performs control such that any one of the first heating zone and the second heating zone and any one of the third heating zone and the fourth heating zone are simultaneously heated.

21. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, wherein a driver is connected to an electrical pathway between the battery and the heater to apply power from the battery to the multiple heating zones included in the heating layer of the heater.

22. The aerosol generation device of claim 21, wherein the multiple heating zones are connected one-to-one to multiple drivers, and the controller controls a heating temperature of each heating zone by controlling each driver.

23. The aerosol generation device of claim 21, wherein a switching element is connected to an electrical pathway between the driver and the heater, and the multiple heating zones are connected one-to-one to multiple switching elements, and the controller controls a heating temperature of each heating zone by controlling each driver and each switching element.

24. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, wherein the controller performs control by outputting a signal with a fixed duty cycle to the first heating zone.

25. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, further comprising a first temperature sensor sensing a temperature of the first heating zone, wherein the controller performs feedback control by modulating the duty cycle of a signal outputted to the first heating zone, based on what is sensed by the first temperature sensor.

26. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, wherein one heating cycle performed by the controller includes a preheating step and a subsequent aerosol generation step divided into multiple phases, wherein the controller controls the multiple heating zones such that at least two active zones which receive power and at least one inactive zone which does not receive power are included in every phase of the aerosol generation step.

27. The aerosol generation device of claim 26, wherein, in the event of a phase transition in the aerosol generation step, the controller switches at least one active zone to an inactive zone.

28. The aerosol generation device of claim 27, wherein, in the event of a phase transition in the aerosol generation step, the controller switches at least one inactive zone to an active zone.

29. The aerosol generation device of claim 27, wherein the controller performs control such that, at each phase transition in the aerosol generation step, at least one active zone is not switched to an inactive zone.

30. The aerosol generation device of claim 26, wherein the controller controls the multiple heating zones such that, in the aerosol generation step, each heating zone goes active at least once.

31. The aerosol generation device of claim 26, wherein the controller controls the multiple heating zones such that, in the aerosol generation step, each heating zone goes inactive at least once.

32. The aerosol generation device of claim 26, wherein the controller controls the active zones such that, in the aerosol generation step, heating temperatures of the active zones are kept at or above a predetermined aerosol generation temperature.

33. The aerosol generation device of claim 32, wherein at least two heating zones have different predetermined aerosol generation temperatures.

34. The aerosol generation device of claim 7, wherein one heating cycle performed by the controller includes a preheating step and a subsequent aerosol generation step, wherein the controller controls the multiple heating zones such that at least one heating zone is kept at or above a predetermined aerosol generation temperature throughout the aerosol generation step.

35. The aerosol generation device of claim 34, wherein the controller controls the multiple heating zones such that, in the aerosol generation step, a heating temperature of each heating zone reaches a predetermined aerosol generation temperature or higher at least once.

36. The aerosol generation device of claim 34, wherein the controller performs control such that an average heating temperature of the multiple heating zones is kept at or below a predetermined threshold temperature throughout the aerosol generation step.

37. The aerosol generation device of claim 34, wherein the controller performs control such that an average heating temperature of the multiple heating zones is kept at or above a predetermined aerosol generation temperature throughout the aerosol generation step.

38. The aerosol generation device of claim 34, wherein the controller controls the multiple heating zones such that, in the aerosol generation step, each heating zone is heated with a predetermined phase, amplitude, cycle, and waveform.

39. The aerosol generation device of claim 38, wherein the controller controls the multiple heating zones to be all heated with the same amplitude, cycle, and waveform in the aerosol generation step.

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