Aerosol generating apparatus using induction heating method and aerosol generating method using induction heating method

Abstract

To provide: an aerosol generating apparatus capable of uniformly heating a cigarette containing an aerosol generating substrate by an induction heating method; and a method of driving the aerosol generating apparatus.SOLUTION: An aerosol generating apparatus 1 using an induction heating method includes: a plurality of coils 830, 850 having different numbers of windings and configured to generate alternating magnetic fields when an alternating current is applied; a susceptor 810 for generating an aerosol by heating adjacent aerosol generating substrates through a method of generating heat in the alternating magnetic fields generated from the plurality of coils; and a controller 12 for controlling the existing alternating current to be supplied to the plurality of coils, the controller performing the control such that a first portion and a second portion of the susceptor are heated differentially by the alternating current supplied to the plurality of coils.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating apparatus using an induction heating method and a method for generating an aerosol using the induction heating method, and more particularly to an aerosol generating apparatus and method for generating an aerosol by utilizing a phenomenon in which a material constituting a susceptor is heated by an AC magnetic field generated by passing an AC current through a coil such as an inductor. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternative methods to overcome the shortcomings of conventional cigarettes. For example, there has been an increasing demand for methods that generate aerosol by heating an aerosol-generating material in a cigarette, rather than by burning the cigarette. As a result, research into heated cigarettes or heated aerosol-generating devices has been actively conducted. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an aerosol generating device capable of uniformly heating a cigarette containing an aerosol-generating substrate through an induction heating method, and a method for operating the aerosol generating device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] To solve the above technical problem, an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of coils having different numbers of windings that generate an AC magnetic field when an AC current is applied, a susceptor that generates an aerosol by heating an adjacent aerosol-generating substrate by generating heat within the AC magnetic field generated from the coil, and a control unit that controls the coils to be supplied with predetermined AC currents, and the control unit controls the first and second parts of the susceptor to be heated differentially by the AC currents supplied to the plurality of coils.

[0005] A method according to another embodiment of the present invention to solve the above technical problem includes a magnetic field generating step in which a control unit supplies an alternating current to a plurality of coils having different numbers of windings to generate an alternating current magnetic field, and a substrate heating step in which a susceptor is inductively heated by the alternating current magnetic field to heat an adjacent aerosol-generating substrate, wherein in the substrate heating step, a first portion and a second portion constituting the susceptor are differentially heated by the alternating current supplied to the plurality of coils. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, when a user smokes using an aerosol generating device that operates by induction heating, the user can be provided with a consistent smoking experience. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing an example in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram showing an example in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device. [Figure 4] 1 is a drawing showing an example of a cigarette. [Figure 5] 1 is a drawing showing an example of a cigarette. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an aerosol generating device according to the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing another example of an aerosol generating device according to the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a plurality of coils and a susceptor included in the induction heating type aerosol generation device described in FIG. 8. [Figure 10]9 is a diagrammatic view showing another example of a plurality of coils and a susceptor included in the induction heating type aerosol generation device described in FIG. 8. [Figure 11] 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating yet another example of a plurality of coils and susceptors included in the induction heating type aerosol generation device described in FIG. 8. [Figure 12] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for generating an aerosol using an induction heating method according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] To solve the above technical problem, an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of coils having different numbers of windings that generate an AC magnetic field when an AC current is applied, a susceptor that generates an aerosol by heating an adjacent aerosol-generating substrate by generating heat within the AC magnetic field generated from the coil, and a control unit that controls the coils to be supplied with predetermined AC currents, and the control unit controls the first and second parts of the susceptor to be heated differentially by the AC currents supplied to the plurality of coils.

[0009] In the above-described device, the susceptor further includes a third portion in addition to the first portion and the second portion, the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are continuously connected, and the plurality of coils are arranged so that the first portion and the third portion are heated differentially from the second portion.

[0010] In the device, the first and third parts are heated by an alternating magnetic field generated from a first coil having a preset interval and a number of turns of 0, and the second part is heated by an alternating magnetic field generated from a second coil arranged at the same interval.

[0011] In the device, the control unit controls the supply of AC current to the first coil and the second coil, and then stops the supply of AC current to the first coil after a preset time has elapsed.

[0012] In the device, at least two of the coils are arranged overlapping in a specific direction from the first portion so that the first portion is heated by the alternating magnetic field generated by the two coils.

[0013] In the device, the coil includes a first coil and a second coil, and the ratio of the second coil length to the first coil length is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

[0014] In the device, the control unit controls the supply of AC current to the plurality of coils at different times through field effect transistors (FETs).

[0015] A method according to another embodiment of the present invention to solve the above technical problem includes a magnetic field generating step in which a control unit supplies an alternating current to a plurality of coils having different numbers of windings to generate an alternating current magnetic field, and a substrate heating step in which a susceptor is inductively heated by the alternating current magnetic field to heat an adjacent aerosol-generating substrate, wherein in the substrate heating step, a first portion and a second portion constituting the susceptor are differentially heated by the alternating current supplied to the plurality of coils.

[0016] In the method, the susceptor further includes a third part in addition to the first part and the second part, the first part, the second part, and the third part are continuously connected, and the substrate heating step is characterized in that the first part and the third part are heated differentially from the second part by the multiple coils.

[0017] In the method, the substrate heating step includes a first coil heating step in which the first portion and the third portion are heated by an alternating current supplied by a first coil having a preset interval with a number of turns of 0, and a second coil heating step in which the second portion is heated by an alternating current supplied to a second coil arranged at the interval.

[0018] The method may further include a current supply stopping step of stopping the supply of AC current to the first coil after a predetermined time has elapsed after AC current is supplied to the first coil and the second coil.

[0019] In the method, the substrate heating step is characterized in that the first portion is heated by an alternating magnetic field generated by a plurality of coils arranged to overlap each other in a specific direction from the first portion.

[0020] In the method, the coil includes a first coil and a second coil, and a ratio of the second coil length to the first coil length is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

[0021] In the method, the magnetic field generating step may be performed by supplying alternating current to the coils at different times through field effect transistors (FETs).

[0022] The terms used in the examples are generally used as widely as possible, taking into consideration their functions in the present invention, but these may change depending on the intentions of those skilled in the art, precedents, the emergence of new technologies, etc. In addition, in certain cases, the applicant may arbitrarily select terms, and in such cases, their meanings will be described in detail in the description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the overall content of the present invention, rather than simply the names of the terms.

[0023] Throughout the specification, when a part "includes" a certain component, it does not mean that it excludes other components and may further include other components, unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, terms such as "... unit" and "... module" used in the specification refer to a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and may be realized by hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can easily understand and practice the present invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0026] 1 to 3 are diagrams showing an example in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

[0027] 1, the aerosol generator 1 includes a battery 11, a control unit 12, and a heater 13. 2 and 3, the aerosol generator 1 further includes a vaporizer 18. A cigarette 2 is inserted into the internal space of the aerosol generator 1.

[0028] The aerosol generating device 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3 includes components related to this embodiment. Therefore, a person having ordinary skill in the art related to this embodiment would understand that the aerosol generating device 1 further includes other general-purpose components in addition to the components shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0029] 2 and 3 show that the aerosol generating device 1 includes the heater 13, but the heater 13 may be omitted if necessary.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows that the battery 11, the control unit 12, and the heater 13 are arranged in a row. Fig. 2 shows that the battery 11, the control unit 12, the vaporizer 18, and the heater 13 are arranged in a row. Fig. 3 shows that the vaporizer 18 and the heater 13 are arranged in parallel. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generation device 1 is not limited to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3. That is, the arrangement of the battery 11, the control unit 12, the heater 13, and the vaporizer 18 may be changed depending on the design of the aerosol generation device 1.

[0031] When the cigarette 2 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, the aerosol generating device 1 can activate the heater 13 and / or the vaporizer 18 to generate an aerosol. The aerosol generated by the heater 13 and / or the vaporizer 18 passes through the cigarette 2 and is delivered to the user.

[0032] If necessary, the aerosol generation device 1 can heat the heater 13 even when no cigarette 2 is inserted into the aerosol generation device 1 .

[0033] The battery 11 supplies power used for operating the aerosol generation device 1. For example, the battery 11 can supply power to heat the heater 13 or the vaporizer 18, and can supply power necessary for operating the control unit 12. The battery 11 can also supply power necessary for operating the display, sensor, motor, and the like provided in the aerosol generation device 1.

[0034] The control unit 12 controls the overall operation of the aerosol generation device 1. Specifically, the control unit 12 controls the operation of not only the battery 11, the heater 13, and the vaporizer 18, but also other components included in the aerosol generation device 1. The control unit 12 can also check the status of each component of the aerosol generation device 1 and determine whether the aerosol generation device 1 is in an operable state.

[0035] The control unit 12 includes at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of multiple logic gates, or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory storing a program executed by the microprocessor. Those skilled in the art will understand that the processor may also be implemented as other types of hardware.

[0036] The heater 13 is heated by power supplied from the battery 11. For example, when a cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, the heater 13 can be located outside the cigarette. Therefore, the heated heater 13 can increase the temperature of the aerosol generating material inside the cigarette.

[0037] The heater 13 may also be an electrically resistive heater. For example, the heater 13 may include an electrically conductive track, and the heater 13 may be heated by passing an electric current through the electrically conductive track. However, the heater 13 is not limited to the above example, and may be any heater capable of heating to a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may be pre-set in the aerosol generating device 1, or may be set by a user.

[0038] Meanwhile, in another example, the heater 13 may be an induction heater. Specifically, the heater 13 may include an electrically conductive coil for inductively heating the cigarette, and the cigarette may include a susceptor that is heated by the induction heater.

[0039] For example, the heater 13 may include a tubular heating element, a plate-shaped heating element, a needle-shaped heating element, or a rod-shaped heating element, and may heat the inside or outside of the cigarette 2 depending on the shape of the heating element.

[0040] Furthermore, a plurality of heaters 13 may be arranged in the aerosol generation device 1. In this case, the plurality of heaters 13 may be arranged so as to be inserted inside the cigarette 2, or may be arranged outside the cigarette 2. Furthermore, among the plurality of heaters 13, some are arranged so as to be inserted inside the cigarette 2, and the rest are arranged outside the cigarette 2. Furthermore, the shape of the heater 13 is not limited to the shapes shown in Figs. 1 to 3, and various shapes may be produced.

[0041] The vaporizer 18 heats the liquid composition to generate an aerosol, which is then transmitted to the user through the cigarette 2. That is, the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 18 travels along an airflow passage in the aerosol generating device 1, and the airflow passage is configured to allow the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 18 to pass through the cigarette and be transmitted to the user.

[0042] For example, the vaporizer 18 may include, but is not limited to, a liquid storage unit, a liquid transfer means, and a heating element. For example, the liquid storage unit, the liquid transfer means, and the heating element may be included in the aerosol generation device 1 as independent modules.

[0043] The liquid storage unit can store a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition can be a liquid containing a tobacco-containing substance including a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquid containing a non-tobacco substance. The liquid storage unit can be configured to be detached from / attached to the vaporizer 18, or can be configured as an integral part of the vaporizer 18.

[0044] For example, the liquid composition may contain water, solvent, ethanol, plant extract, fragrance, flavoring, or vitamin mixture. Flavorings include, but are not limited to, menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, and various fruit-flavored ingredients. Flavorings may include ingredients that provide the user with a variety of flavors or tastes. The vitamin mixture may include, but is not limited to, a mixture of at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E. The liquid composition may also include an aerosol-forming agent such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

[0045] The liquid transfer means can transfer the liquid composition of the liquid reservoir to the heating element, and can be, for example, but not limited to, a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic.

[0046] The heating element is an element for heating the liquid composition transferred by the liquid transfer means. For example, the heating element may be, but is not limited to, a metal hot wire, a metal hot plate, a ceramic heater, or the like. The heating element may also be made of a conductive filament such as a nichrome wire and arranged by being wound around the liquid transfer means. The heating element is heated by supplying an electric current and transfers heat to the liquid composition in contact with the heating element, thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, an aerosol is generated.

[0047] For example, the vaporizer 18 may also be referred to as, but is not limited to, a cartomizer or an atomizer.

[0048] Meanwhile, the aerosol generator 1 may further include general-purpose components in addition to the battery 11, the control unit 12, the heater 13, and the vaporizer 18. For example, the aerosol generator 1 may include a display capable of outputting visual information and / or a motor for outputting tactile information. The aerosol generator 1 may also include at least one sensor. The aerosol generator 1 may also be configured such that external air flows in even when the cigarette 2 is inserted, or an internal gas can be inferred.

[0049] 1 to 3, the aerosol generation device 1 may form a system together with a separate cradle. For example, the cradle is used to charge the battery 11 of the aerosol generation device 1. Alternatively, the heater 13 may heat the aerosol generation device 1 while the cradle and the aerosol generation device 1 are coupled together.

[0050] The cigarette 2 may be similar to a typical combustion cigarette. For example, the cigarette 2 may be divided into a first portion containing an aerosol-generating material and a second portion containing a filter or the like. Alternatively, the second portion of the cigarette 2 may also contain an aerosol-generating material. For example, the aerosol-generating material in the form of granules or capsules may be inserted into the second portion.

[0051] The entire first part is inserted into the aerosol generation device 1, and the second part is exposed to the outside. Alternatively, only a part of the first part may be inserted into the aerosol generation device 1, and the entire first part and a part of the second part may be inserted. A user inhales the aerosol while holding the second part to their mouth. In this case, the aerosol is generated by external air passing through the first part, and the generated aerosol passes through the second part and is delivered to the user's mouth.

[0052] As one example, external air flows in through at least one air passage formed in the aerosol generation device 1. For example, the opening and / or closing of the air passage formed in the aerosol generation device 1 and / or the size of the air passage can be adjusted by the user. This allows the amount of atomization, smoking sensation, etc. to be adjusted by the user. As another example, external air may flow into the cigarette 2 through at least one hole formed in the surface of the cigarette 2.

[0053] An example of the cigarette 2 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0054] 4 and 5 are drawings showing examples of cigarettes.

[0055] 4, the cigarette 2 includes a tobacco rod 21 and a filter rod 22. The first portion 21 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 includes the tobacco rod 21, and the second portion 22 includes the filter rod 22.

[0056] 4, the filter rod 22 is shown as a single segment, but is not limited to this. That is, the filter rod 22 may be composed of multiple segments. For example, the filter rod 22 may include a segment that cools the aerosol and a segment that filters a predetermined component contained in the aerosol. If necessary, the filter rod 22 may also include at least one additional segment that performs another function.

[0057] The cigarette 2 is wrapped by at least one wrapper 24. The wrapper 24 has at least one hole formed therein through which external air can flow in or internal gas can flow out. As an example, the cigarette 2 is wrapped by one wrapper 24. As another example, the cigarette 2 may be wrapped by two or more wrappers 24 in a stacked manner. For example, the tobacco rod 21 is wrapped by a first wrapper 241, and the filter rod 22 is wrapped by wrappers 242, 243, and 244. The entire cigarette 2 is then rewrapped by a single wrapper 245. If the filter rod 22 is composed of multiple segments, each segment is wrapped by a wrapper 242, 243, and 244.

[0058] The tobacco rod 21 contains an aerosol-forming material. For example, the aerosol-forming material may include, but is not limited to, at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol. The tobacco rod 21 may also contain other additives, such as flavoring agents, humectants, and / or organic acids. A flavoring liquid, such as menthol or a humectant, may be added to the tobacco rod 21 by spraying it onto the tobacco rod 21.

[0059] The tobacco rod 21 may be manufactured in various ways. For example, the tobacco rod 21 may be manufactured from a sheet or strand. Alternatively, the tobacco rod 21 may be manufactured from shredded tobacco, which is a tobacco sheet cut into small pieces. The tobacco rod 21 may also be wrapped with a thermally conductive material. For example, the thermally conductive material may be a metal foil such as aluminum foil, but is not limited to this. For example, the thermally conductive material wrapping the tobacco rod 21 may uniformly disperse heat transferred to the tobacco rod 21, improving the thermal conductivity of the tobacco rod and thereby improving the tobacco taste. The thermally conductive material wrapping the tobacco rod 21 may also function as a susceptor heated by an induction heater. Although not shown in the drawings, the tobacco rod 21 may further include an additional susceptor in addition to the thermally conductive material wrapping the exterior.

[0060] The filter rod 22 is also a cellulose acetate filter. However, the shape of the filter rod 22 is not limited. For example, the filter rod 22 may be a cylindrical rod or a tubular rod with a hollow interior. The filter rod 22 may also be a recessed rod. If the filter rod 22 is composed of multiple segments, at least one of the multiple segments may be manufactured to have a different shape.

[0061] The filter rod 22 also includes at least one capsule 23. The capsule 23 functions to generate flavor and may also generate aerosol. For example, the capsule 23 has a structure in which a liquid containing a flavoring agent is enclosed in a coating. The capsule 23 may have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0062] 5, the cigarette 3 may further include a front-end plug 33. The front-end plug 33 may be located on one side of the tobacco rod 31 facing the filter rod 32. The front-end plug 33 prevents the tobacco rod 31 from detaching to the outside and prevents aerosol liquefied from the tobacco rod 31 during smoking from flowing into the aerosol generating device (1 in FIGS. 1 to 3).

[0063] Filter rod 32 may include a first segment 321 and a second segment 322, where first segment 321 corresponds to the first segment of filter rod 22 of FIG. 4 and second segment 322 corresponds to the third segment of filter rod 22 of FIG. 4.

[0064] The diameter and overall length of cigarette 3 correspond to those of cigarette 2 in FIG.

[0065] The cigarette 3 is wrapped by at least one wrapper 35. The wrapper 35 has at least one hole formed therein through which external air can flow in or internal gas can flow out. For example, the front end plug 33 is wrapped by the first wrapper 351, the tobacco rod 31 is wrapped by the second wrapper 352, the first segment 321 is wrapped by the third wrapper 353, and the second segment 322 is wrapped by the fourth wrapper 354. The entire cigarette 3 is then rewrapped by the fifth wrapper 355.

[0066] In addition, at least one perforation 36 is formed in the fifth wrapper 355. For example, but not limited to, the perforation 36 is formed in the area surrounding the tobacco rod 31. The perforation 36 can serve to transfer heat generated by the heater 13 shown in Figures 2 and 3 to the interior of the tobacco rod 31.

[0067] The second segment 322 also includes at least one capsule 34. The capsule 34 functions to generate a flavor and may also generate an aerosol. For example, the capsule 34 may have a structure in which a liquid containing a flavoring agent is enclosed in a coating. The capsule 34 may have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0068] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an aerosol generating device according to the present invention.

[0069] 6, it can be seen that the aerosol generating device 1 according to the present invention includes a battery 11, a control unit 12, a first coil 13a, a second coil 13b, a pulse width modulation processing unit 14a, an AMP 14b, a display unit 15, a motor 16, a storage device 17, and a vaporizer 18. For the sake of convenience, the general functions of each component included in the aerosol generating device 1 will be first described, and then the operation of the control unit 12 according to the embodiment will be described in detail.

[0070] The battery 11 supplies power to the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b, and the magnitude of the power supplied to the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b is adjusted by a control signal generated by the control unit 12. Depending on the embodiment, a regulator may be included between the battery 11 and the control unit 12 to maintain the battery voltage constant.

[0071] The control unit 12 collectively controls the battery 11, first coil 13a, second coil 13b, pulse width modulation processing unit 14a, display unit 15, motor 16, storage device 17, and vaporizer 18 included in the aerosol generation device 1 by generating and transmitting control signals. Although not shown in FIG. 6, depending on the embodiment, the control unit 12 may further include an input receiving unit (not shown) that receives a user's button input or touch input, and a communication unit (not shown) that can communicate with an external communication device such as a user terminal. Also, although not shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 12 may further include a module for performing proportional-integral-derivative control (PID) on the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b.

[0072] When an AC current is supplied to the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b, the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b generate an AC magnetic field. The direction and strength of the AC magnetic field generated by the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b vary depending on the direction of the AC current supplied to the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b and the number of windings of the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b. When an AC current is supplied to the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b, the AC magnetic field generates an AC magnetic field on the susceptor material located around the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b, heating the susceptor. This induction heating phenomenon is a well-known phenomenon explained by Faraday's Law of Induction and Ohm's Law, and refers to the phenomenon in which a changing electric field is generated within a conductor when the magnetic induction in the conductor changes.

[0073] As described above, in the present invention, when an electric field is generated in a conductor, eddy currents flow in the conductor according to Ohm's law, and the eddy currents generate heat proportional to the current density and the conductor resistance. When a cigarette containing an aerosol-generating substrate comes into contact with the susceptor, the susceptor generates heat by heating the aerosol-generating substrate, generating an aerosol.

[0074] The pulse width modulation (PWM) processing unit 14a controls the power supplied to the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b by the control unit 12 by transmitting a PWM (pulse width modulation) signal to the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b. According to an embodiment, the PWM processing unit 14a may be implemented as part of the control unit 12, and the PWM signal output from the PWM processing unit 14a may be a digital PWM signal. The PWM control signal transmitted from the PWM processing unit 14a may be amplified by an AMP 14b at a preset amplification factor.

[0075] The display unit 15 visually outputs various alarm messages generated in the aerosol generation device 1, allowing the user of the aerosol generation device 1 to check them. The user can check messages such as a low battery power message or a susceptor overheat warning message output on the display unit 15 and stop the operation of the aerosol generation device 1 or take appropriate measures before the aerosol generation device 1 is damaged.

[0076] The motor 16 is driven by the control unit 12 to allow the user to tactilely recognize that the aerosol generation device 1 is ready for use.

[0077] The memory device 17 stores various information that enables the control unit 12 to appropriately control the power supplied to the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b and provide a consistent flavor to the user of the aerosol generation device 1. The memory device 17 may be configured not only as a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, but also as a volatile memory that stores data only when powered on in order to ensure a faster data input / output (I / O) speed.

[0078] The vaporizer 18 heats the liquid composition to generate an aerosol, which is then transmitted to the user through the cigarette 200. As described with reference to Figures 2 and 3, the vaporizer 18 may include a liquid storage unit, a liquid transmission means, and a heating element. In particular, the vaporizer 18 includes a heating element for heating the liquid composition stored in the liquid storage unit, and the liquid storage unit may be detachable or attachable to the vaporizer 18, or may be integral with the vaporizer 18.

[0079] The switch 19 sequentially transmits an amplification control signal output from the AMP 14b to the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b. The controller 12 selectively transmits a PWM signal to either the first coil 13a or the second coil 13b, and depending on the embodiment, opens and closes (switches) the switch so that the PWM signal is transmitted to both the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b during a specific period. The switch 19 is opened and closed by the PWM signal or periodically opens and closes by incorporating a timer. Depending on the embodiment, the switch 19 may be replaced with a field effect transistor (FET).

[0080] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of another example of the aerosol generating device according to the present invention.

[0081] 7, the description of the configuration that overlaps with FIG. 6 will be omitted.

[0082] The PWM control signal output from the pulse width modulation processing unit 14a is transmitted to the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b via the AMP 14b. Unlike Figure 6, Figure 7 does not include a separate switch 19 for selectively transmitting the PWM signal to the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b. Instead, the control unit 12 generates the control signal to be transmitted to the first coil 13a or the second coil 13b, respectively, and transmits the PWM signal to the first coil 13a or the second coil 13b via the pulse width modulation processing unit 14a. Although not shown in Figures 6 and 7, a configuration for performing impedance matching is added to the receiving ends of the first coil 13a and the second coil 13b to maximize power supply.

[0083] 6 and 7, the control unit 12, the pulse width modulation processing unit 14a, the display unit 15, the storage device 17, and the vaporizer 18 may correspond to or include at least one processor. Thus, the control unit 12, the pulse width modulation processing unit 14a, the display unit 15, the storage device 17, and the vaporizer 18 may be driven by a form included in another hardware device such as a microprocessor or a general-purpose computer system.

[0084] Furthermore, the first coil 13a or the second coil 13b shown in Figures 6 and 7 is the simplest representation of multiple coils, and in some embodiments, the number of coils included in the aerosol generation device 1 may be more than two, and the multiple coils may have different inductances or numbers of windings per unit length.

[0085] FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0086] 8, it can be seen that the aerosol generating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery 11, a control unit 12, a susceptor 810, a first coil 830, a second coil 850, and a bobbin 870. Components other than those described above are omitted for convenience of explanation, and the battery 11 and the control unit 12 perform the same functions as those described in FIGS.

[0087] The susceptor 810 is made of a material that is heated by the AC magnetic field generated by the first coil 830 and the second coil 850 when an AC current is applied. The susceptor 810 refers to a material that can convert electromagnetic energy into heat, and eddy currents induced in the susceptor 810 by the AC magnetic field heat the susceptor 810. At this time, magnetic hysteresis loss within the susceptor 810 further heats the susceptor 810. When a cigarette containing an aerosol-generating substrate is inserted into the susceptor 810, the aerosol-generating substrate of the cigarette comes into direct or indirect contact with the heated susceptor 810, heating the aerosol-generating substrate and generating an aerosol.

[0088] 8 includes a susceptor heating portion 810a and a portion excluding the susceptor heating portion 810a. The susceptor heating portion 810a is a portion that is heated by the magnetic fields of the first coil 830 and the second coil 850 and includes a susceptor material such as iron or aluminum. The portion of the susceptor 810 excluding the susceptor heating portion 810a is a portion that comes into contact with a cigarette filter inserted into the susceptor 810 or a portion that does not include an aerosol-generating substrate. If the portion excluding the susceptor heating portion 810a is heated, the cigarette filter inserted into the susceptor 810 may melt or a hot aerosol may be generated, causing an unpleasant smoking sensation for the user. Therefore, the susceptor heating portion 810a does not include the susceptor material.

[0089] The first coil 830 and the second coil 850 are supplied with an AC current from the control unit 12 to generate an AC magnetic field, and the magnetic field generated around the first coil 830 and the second coil 850 heats the susceptor heater 810a of the susceptor 810. The principle of heating the susceptor heater 810a has been described above, so a detailed description will be omitted. Since the first coil 830 and the second coil 850 have different physical properties and AC currents of different magnitudes are supplied to the first coil 830 and the second coil 850 from the control unit 12, the heating state of the susceptor heater 810a can be effectively controlled according to the present invention, thereby optimizing the flavor of the cigarette provided to the user. According to the present invention, a time-varying alternative current determined based on experimentally or empirically accumulated data can be supplied to the first coil 830 and the second coil 850 to generate a susceptor-based aerosol by induction heating.

[0090] The bobbin 870 functions as a bobbin for smoothly winding the windings of the first coil 830 and the second coil 850.

[0091] According to the prior art, multiple susceptors made of materials with different Curie temperatures are used, or even if a single susceptor is used, it is difficult to uniformly heat the aerosol-generating substrate using a single coil, resulting in problems such as the aerosol-generating substrate burning or difficulty in controlling the temperature of the susceptor. However, as described in Figure 8, according to the present invention, multiple coils heat the susceptor using an induction heating method based on a susceptor made of a single material, making it possible to uniformly heat the aerosol-generating substrate and providing the user with a high-level smoking experience.

[0092] FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a plurality of coils and a susceptor included in the induction heating type aerosol generation device described in FIG.

[0093] For convenience of explanation, Fig. 9 only shows the multiple coils that generate an AC magnetic field and the susceptor heating unit 810a that is heated by the multiple coils in Fig. 8, and it is assumed that the other omitted components are the same as the components shown in Fig. 8. In the following description, the first coil 950 and the second coil 970 receive an AC current from the control unit 12 to form an AC magnetic field.

[0094] First, the susceptor heater 810a includes a first heater 910 heated by a first coil 950 and a second heater 930 heated by a second coil 970. When an AC magnetic field is generated by supplying an AC current to the first coil 950, the first heater 910 is heated by the AC magnetic field. The first heater 910 is heated mainly by the AC magnetic field generated by the first coil 950, but is also partially heated by the expansion of the AC magnetic field generated by the second coil 970.

[0095] When an AC current is supplied to the second coil 970 to generate an AC magnetic field, the second heating unit 930 is heated by the influence of the AC magnetic field. The second heating unit 930 is heated mainly by the influence of the AC magnetic field generated by the second coil 970, but is also heated partially by the influence of the expansion of the AC magnetic field generated by the first coil 950. The second heating unit 930 is disposed on both sides or above and below the first heating unit 910, and the susceptor heating unit 810a is formed by connecting the second heating unit 930, the first heating unit 910, and the second heating unit 930 in series. Here, the directions determining both sides, above, and below the first heating unit 910 depend on the orientation of the aerosol generation device 1 including the susceptor 810.

[0096] The first heating unit 910 and the second heating unit 930 are differentially heated as their temperatures increase due to the influence of the AC magnetic field generated by the first coil 950 and the second coil 970, respectively. According to the present invention, the first heating unit 910 and the second heating unit 930 are differentially heated by adjusting the physical properties of the first coil 950 and the second coil 970 or the amount of AC current flowing through the first coil 950 and the second coil 970, and the aerosol-generating substrate is heated using the above characteristics. This allows the aerosol-generating substrate in contact with the first heating unit 910 and the second heating unit 930 to be uniformly heated, thereby generating aerosol with consistent properties.

[0097] The first coil 950 and the second coil 970 generate an AC magnetic field when an AC current is supplied from the control unit 12. As described above, the first coil 950 and the second coil 970 effectively increase the temperature of the first heating unit 910 and the second heating unit 930, respectively.

[0098] The second coil 970 is a coil having a specific number of windings, but does not have the same number of windings over the entire length of the coil, and is characterized by having a preset interval (length) where the number of windings is 0. More specifically, the preset interval where the number of windings is 0 in the second coil 970 is determined based on the width or thickness of the first heating part 910. Here, the number of windings of the coil is defined as the number of windings per unit length of the coil.

[0099] Also, the first coil 950 is arranged at a predetermined interval when the number of turns of the second coil 970 is 0. In a preheating step of heating the susceptor 810, the control unit 12 supplies AC current to both the first coil 950 and the second coil 970, and controls the first heating unit 910 and the second heating unit 930 constituting the susceptor heating unit 810a so that they are both heated to the preheating temperature. After the first heating unit 910 and the second heating unit 930 reach the preheating temperature, if a predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 12 determines that the susceptor 810 has entered a temperature holding period and stops supplying AC current to the second coil 970.

[0100] In the present invention, the control unit 12 supplies only AC current to the first coil 950 during the temperature holding period, thereby preventing the melting of the cigarette filter or the generation of overheated aerosol, which may occur if the second heating unit 930 of the susceptor becomes excessively hot. Also, for convenience of explanation, the number of coils is limited to two in FIG. 9, but the present invention is not limited to a specific number, and the number of coils may be more than two depending on the embodiment.

[0101] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating another example of a plurality of coils and a susceptor included in the induction heating type aerosol generation device described in FIG.

[0102] For ease of explanation, Fig. 10 only shows the plurality of coils that generate an AC magnetic field and the susceptor heating unit 810a that is heated by the plurality of coils in Fig. 8, and it is assumed that the remaining omitted components are the same as the components shown in Fig. 8. Also, in the following description, the first coil 1050 and the second coil 1070 can generate an AC magnetic field when an AC current is applied thereto, as will be described with reference to Fig. 8.

[0103] First, the susceptor heater 810a includes a first heater 1010 heated by a first coil 1050 and a second heater 1030 heated by a second coil 1070. When an AC current is supplied to the first coil 1050 to generate an AC magnetic field, the first heater 1010 is heated by the AC magnetic field. The first heater 1010 is heated by the AC magnetic field generated by the first coil 1050, but is also heated by the expansion of the AC magnetic field generated by the second coil 1070.

[0104] Furthermore, when an AC current is supplied to the second coil 1070 to form an AC magnetic field, the susceptor heating unit 810a, including both the first heating unit 1010 and the second heating unit 1030, is heated by the AC magnetic field. The control unit 12 simultaneously supplies AC current to the first coil 1050 and the second coil 1070 to quickly bring the susceptor heating unit 810a to the preheating temperature, and then cuts off the AC current supplied to the second coil 1070, thereby inducing continuous heating of only the first heating unit 1010. During this process, the first heating unit 1010 is affected by both the AC magnetic fields formed by the first coil 1050 and the second coil 1070. In this alternative embodiment, the coil that heats the first heating unit 1010 can be understood as an equivalent coil in which the winding numbers of the first coil 1050 and the second coil 1070 are overlapped or added together. Also, although the number of coils is limited to two in FIG. 10, the number of coils may be more than two depending on the embodiment.

[0105] FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating yet another example of a plurality of coils and a susceptor included in the induction heating type aerosol generation device described in FIG.

[0106] For ease of explanation, Fig. 11 only shows the plurality of coils that generate an AC magnetic field and the susceptor heating unit 810a that is heated by the plurality of coils in Fig. 8, and it is assumed that the remaining omitted components are the same as the components shown in Fig. 8. Also, in the following description, the first coil 1150 and the second coil 1170 can generate an AC magnetic field when an AC current is applied to them, as will be described with reference to Fig. 8.

[0107] First, the susceptor heater 810a includes a first heater 1110 heated by a first coil 1150 and a second heater 1130 heated by a second coil 1170. When an AC current is supplied to the first coil 1150 to generate an AC magnetic field, the first heater 1110 is heated by the AC magnetic field. The first heater 1110 is heated by the AC magnetic field generated by the first coil 1150, but is also heated by the expansion of the AC magnetic field generated by the second coil 1170.

[0108] Also, when an AC current is supplied to the second coil 1170 to form an AC magnetic field, the second heating unit 1130 is heated by the AC magnetic field. The length ratio of the first coil 1150 to the second coil 1170 is n:1, where n is any real number determined mathematically or experimentally. Here, the coil length refers to the length of the coil itself in a wound state, and does not refer to the length of the metal wire after it is unwound and can no longer be called a coil.

[0109] According to a known mathematical formula for calculating the magnetic field strength of a solenoid coil, if the number of windings per unit length changes, the strength of the magnetic field generated when an AC current flows through each coil also changes. By appropriately changing n, the heating speed of the first heater 1110 and the second heater 1130 also changes depending on the inherent physical properties of the first coil 1150 and the second coil 1170. As described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the control unit 12 may simultaneously heat the first heater 1110 and the second heater 1130 and then stop supplying AC current to the second coil 1170. When the supply of AC current to the second coil 1170 is stopped, the second heater 1130 is heated by the expansion of the AC magnetic field formed by the first coil 1150, or by conductive heat of the first heater 1110, at a rate slower than the heating speed of the first heater 1110.

[0110] According to this alternative embodiment, the value of n can be adjusted to adjust the heating rates of the first heating unit 1110 and the second heating unit 1130 to be different from each other, thereby allowing the aerosol-generating substrate in contact with the susceptor heating unit 810a to be heated to a desired characteristic. In this alternative embodiment, the ratio of the length of the second coil 1170 to the length of the first coil 1150 is also equal to or less than a predetermined value, and here, the ratio of the length of the second coil 1170 to the length of the first coil 1150 is 1 / n, as shown in FIG. 11 .

[0111] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for generating an aerosol using an induction heating method according to the present invention.

[0112] Since Figure 12 is implemented by the aerosol generating device shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, the following description will be made with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, and any description that overlaps with the above description will be omitted.

[0113] The control unit 12 controls the generation of PWM signals to be transmitted to at least two or more coils (S1210). After generating the control signal, the control unit 12 transmits the control signal to a pulse width modulation processing unit 14 located inside or outside the control unit 12, thereby generating the PWM control signal.

[0114] The PWM signals generated in step S1210 are transmitted to the coils (S1230).

[0115] The coils that receive the PWM signal simultaneously or sequentially form an AC magnetic field (S1250).

[0116] The susceptor 810 provided in the aerosol generating device 1 is differentially heated by a magnetic field that is formed differently depending on the arrangement direction or coil length ratio of the multiple coils (S1270). When a cigarette including an aerosol-generating substrate is brought into contact with the differentially heated susceptor in step S1270, the aerosol-generating substrate is differentially heated, thereby adjusting the characteristics of the generated aerosol in various ways. According to the present invention, a user can inhale an aerosol that provides an optimized smoking experience.

[0117] Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be embodied in various modified forms without departing from the essential characteristics of the above description. Therefore, the disclosed method should be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not the above description, and all variations within the scope of the claims should be construed as being within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0118] The present invention can be utilized to create next-generation electronic cigarettes that offer user convenience and a consistent smoking experience.

Claims

1. a plurality of coils each having a different number of turns, each of which generates an alternating magnetic field when an alternating current is applied thereto; a susceptor that heats an aerosol product inserted therein by generating heat in an alternating magnetic field generated by the plurality of coils; a control unit that controls the supply of predetermined AC currents to the plurality of coils, The susceptor is a first portion of the susceptor corresponding to a first coil and a second portion of the susceptor corresponding to a second coil of the plurality of coils, the first portion of the susceptor being disposed in parallel with the plurality of coils in a longitudinal direction of the susceptor; The control unit controlling the first portion and the second portion to be differentially heated by alternating current supplied to the plurality of coils; controlling the supply of AC current to the coils selectively in a preheating section in which the temperature of the susceptor is increased to a preheating temperature and in a temperature holding section in which the temperature of the susceptor is held; the first coil and the second coil have different inductances, a length ratio of the first coil and the second coil is 1:n, where n is a real number greater than 0; The control unit An aerosol generating device using an induction heating method, which controls the first coil and the second coil so that alternating currents of different magnitudes are supplied to them.

2. The susceptor is 10. The aerosol generating device using an induction heating system according to claim 1, which is made of a single material.

3. The control unit 2. The aerosol generating device using an induction heating method according to claim 1, configured to generate a first PWM control signal and a second PWM control signal for supplying alternating current to the first coil and the second coil, respectively.

4. The aerosol generating device using induction heating according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving side of each of the first coil and the second coil further includes an impedance matching circuit unit.

5. The susceptor is a remaining portion excluding the first portion and the second portion that are arranged in parallel with the plurality of coils in the longitudinal direction of the susceptor, The control unit 2. The aerosol generating device using an induction heating method according to claim 1, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the remaining portion are controlled so as to be heated differentially by the alternating current supplied to the plurality of coils.

6. 2. The aerosol generating device using an induction heating method according to claim 1, wherein when the supply of AC current to the second coil among the plurality of coils is stopped, the second portion is heated by the expansion of the AC magnetic field formed by the first coil.

7. 7. The aerosol generating device using an induction heating method according to claim 6, wherein the second portion is heated at a rate slower than a rate at which the first portion is heated by conductive heat of the first portion.

8. The aerosol generating device using induction heating according to claim 1 , wherein the value of n is adjusted to make the first portion and the second portion heated at different rates.

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