Aerosol generating device and method of operation thereof

Abstract

According to one embodiment, the aerosol generating device includes a heater for heating the inserted cigarette, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the heater, an insertion detection sensor for detecting whether the cigarette is inserted, a puff sensor for detecting a user's puff, and a control unit for resetting at least one of the temperature sensor and the puff sensor in response to a sensing signal output from the insertion detection sensor.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device and a method of operation thereof. [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 of generating aerosols by heating an aerosol-generating material, rather than by burning a cigarette. As a result, research into heated cigarettes or heated aerosol generators has been actively conducted. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The aerosol generating device is equipped with various sensors, and for the aerosol generating device to operate stably, the sensors must operate normally.

[0004] The sensors installed in the aerosol generating device are sensitive to environmental changes, such as temperature changes, and therefore the sensors need to be reset from time to time to reduce errors caused by such environmental changes.

[0005] The present invention aims to maintain the state of various sensors mounted on an aerosol generating device in a stable state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problem is an aerosol generating device configured to allow a cigarette to be inserted, and includes a heater for heating the inserted cigarette, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the heater, an insertion detection sensor for detecting whether the cigarette has been inserted, a puff sensor for detecting a user's puff, and a control unit for resetting at least one of the temperature sensor and the puff sensor in response to a sensing signal output from the insertion detection sensor.

[0007] An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment is an aerosol generating device configured to allow a cigarette to be inserted, and includes a heater for heating the inserted cigarette, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the heater, an insertion detection sensor for detecting whether the cigarette has been inserted, and a control unit for setting the operating mode of the aerosol generating device to one of an ON mode and an OFF mode, and the control unit resets the insertion detection sensor and the temperature sensor when the heater is in a de-heating state in the ON mode.

[0008] A method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment includes the steps of operating the aerosol generating device in an ON mode, checking whether the heater is in a heating state, and resetting the insertion detection sensor and the temperature sensor if the heater is in a non-heating state. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, various sensors mounted on an aerosol generating device can be maintained in an optimal state. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a view showing an example in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]1 is a view showing an example in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a view showing an example in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cigarette according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cigarette according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment. [Figure 7] 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol generating device according to some embodiments. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side view of the aerosol generating device shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a top view of the aerosol generating device shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 10] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing one operating state of the aerosol generating device shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a top view of the aerosol generating device shown in FIG. 10. [Figure 12] 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an aerosol generating device according to some embodiments. [Figure 13] 1 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method for controlling an aerosol generating device, according to some embodiments. [Figure 14] 10 is a flow chart illustrating another example of a method for controlling an aerosol generating device, according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, an aerosol generating device is configured to have a cigarette inserted therein, and includes a heater for heating the inserted cigarette, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the heater, an insertion detection sensor for detecting whether the cigarette has been inserted, a puff sensor for detecting a user's puff, and a control unit for resetting at least one of the temperature sensor and the puff sensor in response to a sensing signal output from the insertion detection sensor.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, the puff sensor includes a pressure sensor, and the control unit resets a reference value of the pressure sensor.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, the aerosol generating device further includes an output unit that outputs information about the status of the aerosol generating device, and the control unit controls the output unit so that, when at least one of the temperature sensor and the puff sensor fails to reset, the output unit displays a notification corresponding to the reset failure.

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, the control unit controls the heater to perform a heating operation when the cigarette is inserted as a trigger.

[0015] According to one aspect of the present invention, an aerosol generating device configured to allow a cigarette to be inserted includes a heater for heating the inserted cigarette, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the heater, an insertion detection sensor for detecting whether the cigarette has been inserted, and a control unit for setting the operating mode of the aerosol generating device to one of an ON mode and an OFF mode, wherein the control unit resets the insertion detection sensor and the temperature sensor when the heater is in a de-heating state in the ON mode.

[0016] According to one aspect of the present invention, the control unit controls the heater to a heating operation state when an event occurs in the insertion sensor that detects the cigarette being inserted.

[0017] According to one aspect of the present invention, the control unit resets the insertion sensor and the temperature sensor if an event that detects the insertion of the cigarette does not occur in the insertion sensor for a preset period.

[0018] According to one aspect of the present invention, the aerosol generating device further includes a case into which the cigarette is inserted, a cover that opens and closes the cigarette insertion hole, and an opening / closing detection sensor that detects whether the insertion hole is open or closed, and the control unit determines whether the insertion hole is open or closed based on a signal sensed by the opening / closing detection sensor, and sets the operating mode of the aerosol generating device to either an ON mode or an OFF mode based on the determination result.

[0019] According to one aspect of the present invention, when the control unit determines that the insertion hole is open, the control unit sets the operation mode of the aerosol generating device to an ON mode and activates the insertion detection sensor.

[0020] According to one aspect of the present invention, when the control unit determines that the insertion hole is closed, it sets the operating mode of the aerosol generating device to an OFF mode and blocks the signal sensed by the insertion detection sensor.

[0021] The terms used in the embodiments are currently commonly used terms, and are selected as much as possible while taking into consideration the functions of the present invention. However, this may vary depending on the intentions or precedents of engineers in the field, 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 must 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can easily 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.

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0025] 1 to 3 are diagrams showing an example in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

[0026] 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 14. A cigarette 2 can be inserted into the internal space of the aerosol generator 1.

[0027] The components according to this embodiment are shown in the aerosol generating device 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3. Therefore, it will be understood by a person skilled in the art that this embodiment may further include other general-purpose components in addition to the components shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0028] 2 and 3 show that the aerosol generating device 1 includes the heater 13, but the heater 13 can be omitted as necessary.

[0029] In Fig. 1, the battery 11, the control unit 12, and the heater 13 are shown arranged in a row. In Fig. 2, the battery 11, the control unit 12, the vaporizer 14, and the heater 13 are shown arranged in a row. In Fig. 3, the vaporizer 14 and the heater 13 are shown 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 14 can be changed depending on the design of the aerosol generation device 1.

[0030] When the cigarette 2 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, the aerosol generating device 1 activates the heater 13 and / or vaporizer 14 to generate aerosol. The aerosol generated by the heater 13 and / or vaporizer 14 passes through the cigarette 2 and is delivered to the user.

[0031] If necessary, the aerosol generating device 1 can heat the heater 13 even when no cigarette 2 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1 .

[0032] The battery 11 supplies power used to operate the aerosol generation device 1. For example, the battery 11 can supply power to heat the heater 13 or the vaporizer 14, and can supply power necessary for the operation of the control unit 12. The battery 11 can also supply power necessary for the operation of a display, a sensor, a motor, and the like provided in the aerosol generation device 1.

[0033] 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 14, but also other components included in the aerosol generation device 1. The control unit 12 can also check the state of each component of the aerosol generation device 1 and determine whether the aerosol generation device 1 is in an operable state.

[0034] The control unit 12 includes at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of multiple logic gates or as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory storing a program executable by the microprocessor. Those skilled in the art will understand that the controller 12 may also be implemented by other forms of hardware.

[0035] The heater 13 can be 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. Thus, the heated heater 13 can increase the temperature of the aerosol generating material inside the cigarette.

[0036] The heater 13 may also be an electrical resistance heater. For example, the heater 13 may include a conductive track, and the heater 13 may be heated when a current flows through the 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 preset in the aerosol generation device 1, or may be set to a desired temperature by a user.

[0037] On the other hand, as another example, the heater 13 may be an induction heater. Specifically, the heater 13 may include a conductive coil for heating the cigarette by induction heating, and the cigarette may include a susceptor heated by the induction heater.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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, some of the plurality of heaters 13 may be arranged so as to be inserted inside the cigarette 2, and the rest may be 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 can be produced.

[0040] The vaporizer 14 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 14 travels along an airflow passage in the aerosol generating device 1, and the airflow passage may be configured to allow the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 14 to pass through the cigarette and be transmitted to the user.

[0041] For example, the vaporizer 14 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.

[0042] The liquid storage unit can store a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may 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 may be configured to be detachable from / attachable to the vaporizer 14, or may be configured integrally with the vaporizer 14.

[0043] 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 fragrance components. Flavorings may include components capable of providing the user with a variety of flavors or tastes. The vitamin mixture may be, 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 contain an aerosol-forming agent, such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

[0044] The liquid transfer means can transfer the liquid composition in the liquid reservoir to the heating element, for example, but not limited to, a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic.

[0045] The heating element is an element for heating the liquid composition delivered by the liquid delivery 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 delivery 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.

[0046] For example, the vaporizer 14 may also be referred to as, but is not limited to, a cartomizer or an atomizer.

[0047] 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 14. 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 (such as a puff sensor, a temperature sensor, or a cigarette insertion sensor). The aerosol generator 1 may also be constructed so that external air can flow in or internal gas can flow out even when a cigarette 2 is inserted.

[0048] 1 to 3, the aerosol generation device 1 can also be used to configure 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 be heated while the cradle and the aerosol generation device 1 are coupled together.

[0049] The cigarette 2 is similar to a typical combustion cigarette. For example, the cigarette 2 is 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 also contains an aerosol-generating material. For example, the aerosol-generating material in granular or capsule form may be inserted into the second portion.

[0050] The entire first part may be inserted into the aerosol generation device 1, and the second part may be exposed to the outside. Alternatively, only a part of the first part may be inserted into the aerosol generation device 1, or the entire first part and a part of the second part may be inserted. A user inhales the aerosol while holding the second part in their mouth. At this time, 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.

[0051] As one example, external air may be introduced through at least one air passage formed in the aerosol generation device 1. For example, the opening and / or closing and / or size of the air passage formed in the aerosol generation device 1 may be adjusted by the user. This allows the user to adjust the amount of atomization, smoking sensation, etc. As another example, external air may be introduced into the cigarette 2 through at least one hole formed in the surface of the cigarette 2.

[0052] An example of the cigarette 2 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0053] 4 and 5 are drawings showing examples of cigarettes.

[0054] 4, the cigarette 2 includes a tobacco rod 21 and a filter rod 22. The first portion includes the tobacco rod 21 and the second portion includes the filter rod 22, as described above with reference to FIGS.

[0055] Although filter rod 22 is shown in Figure 4 as a single segment, it is not limited to this. That is, filter rod 22 may be composed of multiple segments. For example, 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, filter rod 22 may also include at least one additional segment that performs another function.

[0056] The cigarette 2 has a diameter ranging from 5 mm to 9 mm and a length of approximately 48 mm, but is not limited thereto. For example, but not limited to, the tobacco rod 21 has a length of approximately 12 mm, the first segment of the filter rod 22 has a length of approximately 10 mm, the second segment of the filter rod 22 has a length of approximately 14 mm, and the third segment of the filter rod 22 has a length of approximately 12 mm.

[0057] The cigarette 2 may be wrapped using at least one wrapper 24. The wrapper 24 may have 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 may be wrapped using one wrapper 24. As another example, the cigarette 2 may be wrapped by two or more wrappers 24 stacked one on top of the other. For example, the tobacco rod 21 may be wrapped using a first wrapper 241, and the filter rod 22 may be wrapped using wrappers 242, 243, and 244. The entire cigarette 2 may then be re-wrapped using a single fifth wrapper 245. If the filter rod 22 is composed of multiple segments, each segment may be wrapped using one of the wrappers 242, 243, and 244.

[0058] The first wrapper 241 and the second wrapper 242 may be made of common filter wrapping paper. For example, the first wrapper 241 and the second wrapper 242 may be porous or non-porous wrapping paper. The first wrapper 241 and the second wrapper 242 may also be made of oil-resistant paper and / or aluminum-clad wrapping material.

[0059] The third wrapper 243 may be made of hard wrapping paper. For example, the basis weight of the third wrapper 243 is 88 g / m 2 ~96g / m 2 and preferably 90 g / m 2 ~94g / m 2 The thickness of the third wrapper 243 is within the range of 120 μm to 130 μm, and preferably 125 μm.

[0060] The fourth wrapper 244 may be made of oil-resistant hard wrapping paper. For example, the basis weight of the fourth wrapper 244 is 88 g / m 2 ~96g / m 2 and preferably 90 g / m 2 ~94g / m 2 The thickness of the fourth wrapper 244 is within the range of 120 μm to 130 μm, and preferably 125 μm.

[0061] The fifth wrapper 245 may be made of sterilized paper (MFW). Here, sterilized paper (MFW) refers to paper specially manufactured to have improved tensile strength, water resistance, smoothness, etc. compared to general paper. For example, the basis weight of the fifth wrapper 245 is 57 g / m 2 ~63g / m 2 and preferably 60 g / m 2 The thickness of the fifth wrapper 245 is in the range of 64 μm to 70 μm, and preferably 67 μm.

[0062] A predetermined substance may be added to the fifth wrapper 245. An example of the predetermined substance is, but is not limited to, silicon. For example, silicon has properties such as heat resistance (i.e., small changes due to temperature), oxidation resistance (i.e., resistance to various chemicals), water repellency, and electrical insulation. However, any substance other than silicon that has the above properties may be applied (or coated) to the fifth wrapper 245 without limitation.

[0063] The fifth wrapper 245 can prevent the cigarette 2 from being burned. For example, if the tobacco rod 210 is heated by the heater 13, the cigarette 2 may be burned. Specifically, if the temperature of any one of the substances contained in the tobacco rod 310 rises above the ignition point, the cigarette 2 may be burned. Even in this case, the fifth wrapper 245 contains a non-combustible substance, so the cigarette 2 is prevented from being burned.

[0064] Furthermore, the fifth wrapper 245 can prevent the aerosol generation device 1 from being contaminated by a substance generated in the cigarette 2. A liquid substance can be generated in the cigarette 2 when the user puffs. For example, the aerosol generated in the cigarette 2 is cooled by external air, generating a liquid substance (e.g., moisture). The fifth wrapper 245 wraps the cigarette 2, thereby preventing the liquid substance generated in the cigarette 2 from leaking out of the cigarette 2.

[0065] 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.

[0066] The tobacco rod 21 can be manufactured in various ways. For example, the tobacco rod 21 can be manufactured in the form of a sheet or a strand. Alternatively, the tobacco rod 21 can be manufactured from shredded tobacco, which is a tobacco sheet cut into small pieces. The tobacco rod 21 can also be surrounded by a thermally conductive material. For example, the thermally conductive material can be a metal foil such as aluminum foil, but is not limited to this. For example, the thermally conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 21 can uniformly distribute heat transferred to the tobacco rod 21, improving the thermal conductivity of the tobacco rod and thereby improving the tobacco flavor. The thermally conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 21 can also function as a susceptor heated by an induction heater. Although not shown, the tobacco rod 21 may further include a susceptor in addition to the thermally conductive material surrounding the exterior.

[0067] The filter rod 22 is also a cellulose acetate filter. However, there is no limitation on the shape of the filter rod 22. 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 in a different shape.

[0068] The first segment of the filter rod 22 is also a cellulose acetate filter. For example, the first segment is a tubular structure having a hollow interior. The first segment prevents the internal material of the tobacco rod 21 from being pushed backward when the heater 13 is inserted, and also produces a cooling effect on the aerosol. The diameter of the hollow interior of the first segment may be, but is not limited to, a suitable diameter within the range of 2 mm to 4.5 mm.

[0069] The length of the first segment may be an appropriate length within the range of 4 mm to 30 mm, but is not limited thereto. Preferably, the length of the first segment is 10 mm, but is not limited thereto.

[0070] The hardness of the first segment can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of plasticizer used during manufacturing of the first segment. The first segment can also be manufactured by inserting a structure such as a film or tube made of the same or different material into the interior (e.g., hollow) of the first segment.

[0071] The second segment of the filter rod 22 cools the aerosol generated by the heater 13 heating the tobacco rod 21. Thus, the user can inhale the aerosol that has been cooled to an appropriate temperature.

[0072] The length or diameter of the second segment can be determined in various ways depending on the form of the cigarette 2. For example, the length of the second segment is suitably set within the range of 7 mm to 20 mm. Preferably, the length of the second segment is about 14 mm, but is not limited to this.

[0073] The second segment can be made by weaving polymer fibers. In this case, a fragrance liquid can be applied to the polymer fibers. Alternatively, the second segment can be made by weaving a separate fiber coated with a fragrance liquid and a polymer fiber together. Alternatively, the second segment can be formed from a crimped polymer sheet.

[0074] For example, the polymer may be made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid (PLA), cellulose acetate (CA), and aluminum foil.

[0075] The second segment is formed from woven polymer fibers or a crimped polymer sheet, such that the second segment includes one or more longitudinally extending channels, where a channel refers to a passageway through which a gas (e.g., air or aerosol) passes.

[0076] For example, the second segment made of a crimped polymer sheet is formed from a material having a thickness of about 5 μm to about 300 μm, for example, about 10 μm to about 250 μm. The total surface area of ​​the second segment is about 300 mm 2 / mm ~ approx. 1000mm 2 / mm. The aerosol cooling element has a specific surface area of ​​approximately 10 mm 2 / mg ~ approx. 100mm 2 / mg of material.

[0077] The second segment, on the other hand, includes a thread containing a volatile flavor component, such as, but not limited to, menthol. For example, the thread may be loaded with a sufficient amount of menthol to provide 1.5 mg or more of menthol to the second segment.

[0078] The third segment of the filter rod 22 is also a cellulose acetate filter. The length of the third segment may be appropriately selected within a range of 4 mm to 20 mm. For example, the length of the third segment may be approximately 12 mm, but is not limited to this.

[0079] During the manufacturing process of the third segment, the third segment may be manufactured so that a flavor is generated by spraying a flavoring liquid onto the third segment. Alternatively, separate fibers coated with a flavoring liquid may be inserted into the third segment. The aerosol generated in the tobacco rod 21 is cooled as it passes through the second segment of the filter rod 22, and the cooled aerosol is delivered to the user through the third segment. Therefore, when a flavoring element is added to the third segment, the effect of enhancing the persistence of the flavor delivered to the user may be achieved.

[0080] The filter rod 22 also includes at least one capsule 23. The capsule 23 may function to generate a flavor or aerosol. For example, the capsule 23 may have a structure in which a liquid containing a flavoring agent is surrounded by a coating. The capsule 23 may have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0081] 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 can prevent the tobacco rod 31 from detaching to the outside and can prevent aerosol liquefied from the tobacco rod 31 during smoking from flowing into the aerosol generating device 1 (FIGS. 1 to 3).

[0082] The filter rod 32 includes a first segment 321 and a second segment 322. Here, the first segment 321 corresponds to the first segment of the filter rod 22 in FIG. 4, and the second segment 322 corresponds to the third segment of the filter rod 22 in FIG.

[0083] The diameter and overall length of cigarette 3 correspond to those of cigarette 2 in Figure 4. For example, but not limited to, the length of front end plug 33 is approximately 7 mm, the length of tobacco rod 31 is approximately 15 mm, the length of first segment 321 is approximately 12 mm, and the length of second segment 322 is approximately 14 mm.

[0084] The cigarette 3 may be wrapped using at least one wrapper 35. The wrapper 35 may have 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 may be wrapped using a first wrapper 351, the tobacco rod 31 may be wrapped using a second wrapper 352, the first segment 321 may be wrapped using a third wrapper 353, and the second segment 322 may be wrapped using a fourth wrapper 354. The entire cigarette 3 may then be repackaged using a fifth wrapper 355.

[0085] In addition, at least one perforation 36 may be formed in the fifth wrapper 355. For example, but not limited to, the perforation 36 may be formed in a region surrounding the tobacco rod 31. The perforation 36 may serve to transfer heat generated by the heater 13 shown in Figures 2 and 3 to the interior of the tobacco rod 31.

[0086] The second segment 322 also includes at least one capsule 34. The capsule 34 may function to generate a flavor or may function to generate an aerosol. For example, the capsule 34 may have a structure in which a coating surrounds a liquid containing a flavoring agent. The capsule 34 may have, but is not limited to, a spherical or cylindrical shape.

[0087] The first wrapper 351 may be a general filter wrapper with a metal foil such as aluminum foil bonded to it. For example, the total thickness of the first wrapper 351 is within the range of 45 μm to 55 μm, and preferably 50.3 μm. The thickness of the metal foil of the first wrapper 351 is within the range of 6 μm to 7 μm, and preferably 6.3 μm. The basis weight of the first wrapper 351 is 50 g / m 2 ~55g / m 2 and preferably 53 g / m 2 is.

[0088] The second wrapper 352 and the third wrapper 353 may be made of common filter wrapping paper, for example, porous or non-porous wrapping paper.

[0089] For example, the porosity of the second wrapper 352 is 35000 CU, but is not limited thereto. The thickness of the second wrapper 352 is within the range of 70 μm to 80 μm, and preferably 78 μm. The basis weight of the second wrapper 352 is 20 g / m 2 ~25g / m 2 and preferably 23.5 g / m 2 is.

[0090] For example, the porosity of the third wrapper 353 is 24000 CU, but is not limited thereto. The thickness of the third wrapper 353 is within the range of 60 μm to 70 μm, and preferably 68 μm. The basis weight of the third wrapper 353 is 20 g / m 2 ~25g / m 2 and preferably 21 g / m 2 is.

[0091] The fourth wrapper 354 may be made of PLA laminated paper. Here, PLA laminated paper refers to a three-layer paper including a paper layer, a PLA layer, and another paper layer. For example, the thickness of the fourth wrapper 354 is within the range of 100 μm to 120 μm, and preferably 110 μm. The basis weight of the fourth wrapper 354 is 80 g / m 2 ~100g / m 2 and preferably 88 g / m 2 is.

[0092] The fifth wrapper 355 may be made of sterilized paper (MFW). Here, sterilized paper (MFW) refers to paper that is specially manufactured to have improved tensile strength, water resistance, smoothness, etc. compared to general paper. For example, the basis weight of the fifth wrapper 355 is 57 g / m 2 ~63g / m 2 and preferably 60 g / m 2The thickness of the fifth wrapper 355 is within the range of 64 μm to 70 μm, and preferably 67 μm.

[0093] A predetermined substance may be added to the fifth wrapper 355. An example of the predetermined substance is, but is not limited to, silicon. For example, silicon has properties such as heat resistance (i.e., small changes due to temperature), oxidation resistance (i.e., resistance to various chemicals), water repellency, and electrical insulation. However, any substance other than silicon that has the above properties may be applied (or coated) to the fifth wrapper 355 without limitation.

[0094] The front end plug 33 may be made of cellulose acetate. As an example, the front end plug 33 may be made by adding a plasticizer (e.g., triacetin) to cellulose acetate tow. The mono-denier of the filaments constituting the cellulose acetate tow is within the range of 1.0 to 10.0, preferably within the range of 4.0 to 6.0. More preferably, the mono-denier of the filaments constituting the front end plug 33 is 5.0. The cross section of the filaments constituting the front end plug 33 is also Y-shaped. The total denier of the front end plug 33 is within the range of 20,000 to 30,000, preferably within the range of 25,000 to 30,000. More preferably, the total denier of the front end plug 33 is 28,000.

[0095] Optionally, the front end plug 33 also includes at least one channel, the cross-sectional shape of which can be varied.

[0096] The tobacco rod 31 corresponds to the tobacco rod 21 described above with reference to Figure 4. Therefore, a detailed description of the tobacco rod 31 will be omitted below.

[0097] The first segment 321 may be made of cellulose acetate. For example, the first segment may be a tubular structure having a hollow interior. The first segment 321 may be made of cellulose acetate tow with a plasticizer (e.g., triacetin). For example, the mono-denier and total denier of the first segment 321 are the same as those of the front end plug 33.

[0098] The second segment 322 may be made of cellulose acetate. The mono-denier of the filaments constituting the second segment 322 is within the range of 1.0 to 10.0, preferably within the range of 8.0 to 10.0. More preferably, the mono-denier of the filaments of the second segment 322 is 9.0. The cross section of the filaments of the second segment 322 is also Y-shaped. The total denier of the second segment 322 is within the range of 20,000 to 30,000, preferably 25,000.

[0099] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device 600 according to another embodiment.

[0100] The aerosol generating device 600 includes a control unit 610, a sensing unit 620, an output unit 630, a battery 640, a heater 650, a user input unit 660, a memory 670, and a communication unit 680. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 600 is not limited to that shown in Fig. 6. That is, a person skilled in the art of this embodiment can understand that some of the components shown in Fig. 6 may be omitted or new components may be added depending on the design of the aerosol generating device 600.

[0101] The sensing unit 620 can sense the state of the aerosol generating device 600 or the state around the aerosol generating device 600 and transmit the sensed information to the control unit 610. Based on the sensed information, the control unit 610 can control the aerosol generating device 600 to perform various functions such as controlling the operation of the heater 650, restricting smoking, determining whether an aerosol product (e.g., cigarette, cartridge, etc.) is inserted, and displaying notifications.

[0102] The sensing unit 620 includes at least one of, but is not limited to, a temperature sensor 622, an insertion sensor 624, and a puff sensor 626.

[0103] The temperature sensor 622 can sense the temperature to which the heater 650 (or the aerosol-generating substance) is heated. The aerosol-generating device 600 can include a separate temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the heater 650, or the heater 650 itself can function as a temperature sensor. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 622 can be disposed around the battery 640 to monitor the temperature of the battery 640.

[0104] The insertion detection sensor 624 can detect the insertion and / or removal of an aerosol product article. For example, the insertion detection sensor 624 can include at least one of a film sensor, a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, and an infrared sensor, and can detect a signal change due to the insertion and / or removal of an aerosol product article.

[0105] The puff sensor 626 can detect a user's puff based on various physical changes in the airflow passage or airflow channel. The puff sensor 626 may include at least one pressure sensor. For example, the puff sensor 626 can detect a user's puff based on any one of a temperature change, a flow change, a voltage change, and a pressure change. The puff sensor 626 can transmit a puff detection signal to the controller 610 when the pressure in the aerosol generating device is equal to or lower than a reference pressure. The controller 610 can heat the heater 650 in response to the puff detection signal.

[0106] The open / close detection sensor 628 is also a sensor that detects whether the cigarette insertion hole formed in the aerosol generating device is open or closed. For example, the open / close detection sensor 628 is also an on / off switch that generates an on signal when the cover moves to open the cigarette insertion hole and an off signal when the cover moves to close the cigarette insertion hole.

[0107] The sensing unit 620 may further include at least one of a temperature / humidity sensor, an air pressure sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a position sensor (e.g., GPS), a proximity sensor, and an RGB (illuminance) sensor, in addition to the temperature sensor 622, the insertion sensor 624, and the puff sensor 626. The function of each sensor can be intuitively inferred by a person skilled in the art from its name, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0108] The output unit 630 can output information about the status of the aerosol generating device 600 to provide it to a user. The output unit 630 includes, but is not limited to, at least one of a display unit 632, a haptic unit 634, and an audio output unit 636. When the display unit 632 and the touchpad are layered to form a touch screen, the display unit 632 is used as an input device in addition to being an output device.

[0109] The display unit 632 can visually provide a user with information about the aerosol generating device 600. For example, the information about the aerosol generating device 600 refers to various information such as the charge / discharge status of the battery 640 of the aerosol generating device 600, the preheating status of the heater 650, the insertion / removal status of an aerosol product, or a status in which use of the aerosol generating device 600 is restricted (e.g., abnormal item detection), and the display unit 632 can output the information to the outside. The display unit 632 can be, for example, a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light emitting display panel (OLED), or the like. The display unit 632 can also be in the form of an LED light emitting element.

[0110] The haptic unit 634 can convert an electrical signal into a mechanical or electrical stimulus and provide the user with tactile information about the aerosol generating device 600. For example, the haptic unit 634 may include a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0111] The acoustic output unit 636 can audibly provide the user with information about the aerosol generating device 600. For example, the acoustic output unit 636 can convert an electrical signal into an acoustic signal and output it to the outside.

[0112] The battery 640 can supply power used for operating the aerosol generating device 600. The battery 640 can supply power to heat the heater 650. The battery 640 can also supply power necessary for the operation of other components included in the aerosol generating device 600 (e.g., the sensing unit 620, the output unit 630, the user input unit 660, the memory 670, and the communication unit 680). The battery 640 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 640 is a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited thereto.

[0113] The heater 650 is supplied with power from the battery 640 and can heat the aerosol-generating material. Although not shown in Fig. 6, the aerosol-generating device 600 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a DC / DC converter) that converts the power of the battery 640 and supplies it to the heater 650. Furthermore, when the aerosol-generating device 600 generates an aerosol by an induction heating method, the aerosol-generating device 600 may further include a DC / AC converter that converts the DC power of the battery 640 into AC power.

[0114] The control unit 610, the sensing unit 620, the output unit 630, the user input unit 660, the memory 670, and the communication unit 680 can function by receiving power from the battery 640. Although not shown in FIG. 6, the device may further include a power conversion circuit, for example, an LDO (low dropout) circuit or a voltage regulator circuit, that converts the power of the battery 640 and supplies it to each component.

[0115] In one embodiment, heater 650 may be formed of any suitable electrically resistive material, such as, but not limited to, metals or metal alloys including titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, nichrome, etc. Additionally, heater 650 may be embodied as, but not limited to, a metal hot wire, a metal hot plate with a conductive track disposed thereon, a ceramic heating element, etc.

[0116] In other embodiments, heater 650 is an induction heater. For example, heater 650 may include a susceptor that generates heat through a magnetic field applied by a coil to heat the aerosol-generating material.

[0117] The user input unit 660 can receive information input by a user or output information to a user. For example, the user input unit 660 can be, but is not limited to, a keypad, a dome switch, a touchpad (e.g., a contact-type capacitance type, a pressure-type resistive film type, an infrared sensing type, a surface ultrasonic conduction type, an integral tension measurement type, a piezoelectric effect type, etc.), a jog wheel, a jog switch, etc. Although not shown in FIG. 6 , the aerosol generating device 600 can further include a connection interface such as a USB (universal serial bus) interface to connect to another external device through the connection interface such as the USB interface to transmit and receive information or charge the battery 640.

[0118] The memory 670 is hardware that stores various data processed within the aerosol generating device 600 and can store data that has been processed by the control unit 610 and data to be processed by the control unit 610. The memory 670 includes at least one type of recording medium selected from the group consisting of a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a micro multimedia card type, a card-type memory (e.g., SD or XD memory), a random access memory (RAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk. The memory 670 can store data related to the operating time of the aerosol generating device 600, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, and the user's smoking pattern.

[0119] The communication unit 680 includes at least one component for communication with other electronic devices. For example, the communication unit 680 may include a short-range communication unit 682 and a wireless communication unit 684.

[0120] The short-range wireless communication unit 682 includes, but is not limited to, a Bluetooth communication unit, a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication unit, a Near Field Communication unit, a WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication unit, a Zigbee communication unit, an IrDA (infrared Data Association) communication unit, a WFD (Wi-Fi Direct) communication unit, a UWB (ultra wideband) communication unit, an Ant+ communication unit, etc.

[0121] The wireless communication unit 684 includes, but is not limited to, a cellular network communication unit, an Internet communication unit, a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN) communication unit, etc. The wireless communication unit 684 can also identify and authenticate the aerosol generating device 600 within the communication network using subscriber information (e.g., an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)).

[0122] The control unit 610 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 600. In one embodiment, the control unit 610 includes at least one processor. The processor may be embodied as an array of multiple logic gates, or may be embodied as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory storing a program executable by the microprocessor. The control unit 610 may further include a real time clock (RTC). Those skilled in the art will understand that the control unit 610 may also be embodied in other forms of hardware.

[0123] The control unit 610 can control the temperature of the heater 650 by controlling the supply of power from the battery 640 to the heater 650. For example, the control unit 610 can control the power supply by controlling the switching of a switching element between the battery 640 and the heater 650. As another example, a heating direct circuit can control the power supply to the heater 650 according to a control command from the control unit 610.

[0124] The control unit 610 may analyze the results sensed by the sensing unit 620 and control subsequent processing. For example, the control unit 610 may control the power supplied to the heater 650 to start or stop operation of the heater 650 based on the results sensed by the sensing unit 620. As another example, the control unit 610 may control the amount of power and the power supply time supplied to the heater 650 based on the results sensed by the sensing unit 620 to heat the heater 650 to a predetermined temperature or maintain an appropriate temperature.

[0125] The control unit 610 may control the output unit 630 based on the result sensed by the sensing unit 620. For example, if the number of puffs counted via the puff sensor 626 reaches a preset number, the control unit 610 may notify the user through at least one of the display unit 632, the haptic unit 634, and the audio output unit 636 that the aerosol generating device 600 will soon be shut down.

[0126] The control unit 610 may include an RTC. The RTC can output time information measured from a reference time. For example, if the reference time is 0:00 on January 1, 1970, the RTC can measure the passage of time from 0:00 on January 1, 1970. If the RTC's reference time is 0:00 on January 1, 1970, and one year has passed since the RTC began measuring time information, the RTC can output time information for 0:00 on January 1, 1971.

[0127] The RTC can output time information measured from an initial reference time in real time while power is supplied. However, if power supply to the RTC is interrupted, the RTC's reference time may be initialized, resulting in the loss of the existing time information. For example, the RTC may be initialized when the control unit 610 is reset or booted, or when power supply to the RTC is interrupted due to the detection of an abnormal operation of the aerosol generating device 600. When the RTC is initialized, the RTC outputs time information measured from the initialization time. The initialization time corresponds to an initial value set in the RTC itself.

[0128] Meanwhile, since the initialization time of the RTC is determined regardless of the time when the aerosol generation device 600 is manufactured, the reference time of the RTC may be synchronized to the time when the aerosol generation device 600 is manufactured during the manufacturing process of the aerosol generation device 600. In this case, during the manufacturing process of the aerosol generation device 600, the initial synchronization time may be determined by the supplier, and the reference time of the RTC may be synchronized to the initial synchronization time.

[0129] There is also a time difference between the time when the aerosol generating device 600 is manufactured and the time when the aerosol generating device 600 is sold. When the aerosol generating device 600 is being transported or stored, the aerosol generating device 600 is not being used by a user, and therefore the number of days of use should not be calculated using the RTC. Therefore, measurement of time information using the RTC starts only when the aerosol generating device 600 is released from the shipping mode. For example, when a user purchases the aerosol generating device 600 and starts charging it (e.g., by connecting the charging port of the aerosol generating device 600 to an external power source), the shipping mode is released, and the number of days of use is calculated using the RTC from that point on.

[0130] The memory 670 can store time information output from the RTC. After the memory 670 is initialized at the time of manufacturing or shipping the aerosol generating device 600, the memory 670 can receive and store the time information output from the RTC once the RTC starts measuring time information.

[0131] The memory 670 stores time information output from the RTC periodically at an arbitrary cycle, but is not limited thereto. The memory 670 can also store time information when a preset operation is performed. The preset operation includes, but is not necessarily limited to, at least one of resetting or booting the control unit 610, exiting a shipping mode, ending a smoking operation (e.g., a heating operation of a heater), starting a charging operation, and receiving a user input (e.g., a touch or button input). The control unit 610 can store the time information output from the RTC in the memory 670 when it determines that a preset operation has been performed.

[0132] Figure 7 is a perspective view of an aerosol generating device according to some embodiments. Figure 8 is a side view of the aerosol generating device shown in Figure 7. Figure 9 is a top view of the aerosol generating device shown in Figure 7. Figure 10 is a perspective view showing one operating state of the aerosol generating device shown in Figure 7. Figure 11 is a top view of the aerosol generating device shown in Figure 10.

[0133] The aerosol generating device 5 according to the embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 11 includes a case 20 into which a cigarette 7 is inserted. The cigarette 7 corresponds to the cigarette 2 in Figures 1 to 4. Therefore, a duplicated description will be omitted.

[0134] The cap 10 is coupled to the top of the case 20. The cap 10 is coupled to the case 20 in a detachable manner. A cover 30 is slidably installed on the top surface of the cap 10. However, the structure of the aerosol generation device 5 shown in FIGS. 7 to 11 is merely an example and is not limited thereto. For example, the case 20 and the cap 10 may have an integral structure in which they are inseparably coupled to each other.

[0135] A rail 16 extending along the sliding direction of the cover 30 and a cigarette insertion hole 18 into which a cigarette 7 is inserted are provided on the upper surface of the cap 10. The rail 16 can be opened to connect the outside and the inside of the cap 10.

[0136] When the cover 30 moves along the rail 16 formed on the upper surface of the cap 10 to the position shown in FIG. 8, the cigarette insertion hole 18 is exposed to the outside, and the cigarette 7 is inserted into the cigarette insertion hole 18.

[0137] The manner in which the cover 30 is coupled to the cap 10 is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments shown in Figures 7 to 11. For example, the cover 30 may be coupled to the cap 10 by a hinge coupling method, allowing the cover 30 to open or close the cigarette insertion hole 18.

[0138] As the cover 30 slides along the upper surface of the cap 10, various preparatory operations are performed in conjunction with the operation of opening the cigarette insertion hole 18. For example, the moment the cover 30 opens the cigarette insertion hole 18, the operation mode of the aerosol generation device 5 is changed, a preliminary heating operation of the internal heater is performed, or an operation to recognize the user is performed. Hereinafter, with reference to Figures 12 to 14, a control method for the aerosol generation device 5 that is performed in conjunction with the operation of opening the cigarette insertion hole 18 as the cover 30 slides along the upper surface of the cap 10 will be described in detail.

[0139] On the other hand, on the outside of the case 20 of the aerosol generating device 5, there are provided a button 28 that can be operated by the user and an LED (light-emitting diode) 29, which is an example of an indicator that displays the internal operating status of the aerosol generating device 5 by selecting and emitting light in one of various predetermined hues.

[0140] The control unit installed inside the aerosol generating device 5 can indicate a "normal operating state" based on conditions such as the heater operating normally and / or the battery having sufficient remaining charge by illuminating the LED 29.

[0141] When the user presses button 28, LED 29 lights up, allowing the user to check the remaining charge of the battery from the color of the light emitted by LED 29. For example, when LED 29 emits a green light, it means that the battery has a sufficient amount of charge, and when LED 29 emits a red light, it means that the battery has an insufficient amount of charge.

[0142] Depending on the length of time that the user presses the button 28, different predetermined operations may be performed. For example, if the user presses the button 28 for a long time and the button 28 is pressed for a predetermined first pressing time, a reset (initialization) operation of the aerosol generating device 5 is performed. Also, if the user presses the button 28 for a predetermined second pressing time, a preliminary heating operation of the aerosol generating device 5 is performed.

[0143] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an aerosol generating device according to some embodiments.

[0144] Referring to Figure 12, the aerosol generating device 5 may further include a vaporizer 40, a heater 52, a battery 60, a first sensor 61, a second sensor 62, and a control unit 70 in addition to the cap 10, the case 20, the button 28, and the cover 30 shown in Figures 7 to 11.

[0145] Meanwhile, the aerosol generation device 5 shown in Fig. 12 only shows components related to this embodiment. Therefore, a person skilled in the art will understand that the aerosol generation device 5 may further include other general-purpose components in addition to the components shown in Fig. 12. For example, the aerosol generation device 5 may further include a memory (not shown).

[0146] The memory is hardware that stores various data processed within the aerosol generation device 5. For example, the memory can store data that has been processed by the aerosol generation device 5 and data to be processed. The memory can also store applications, drivers, etc. that are run by the aerosol generation device 5.

[0147] The memory may include RAM (random access memory) such as DRAM (dynamic random access memory), SRAM (static random access memory), ROM (read-only memory), EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory), CD-ROM, Blu-ray or other optical disk storage, HDD (hard disk drive), SSD (solid state drive), or flash memory, and may further include other external storage devices accessible to the aerosol generating device 5.

[0148] The first sensor 61 is also a sensor that detects whether the cigarette insertion hole 18 is open or closed. For example, the first sensor 61 is also an on / off switch that generates an on signal when the cover 30 moves to open the cigarette insertion hole 18 and generates an off signal when the cover 30 moves to close the cigarette insertion hole 18. However, the first sensor 61 is not limited thereto and may be any appropriate sensor for detecting the sliding of the cover 30. The first sensor 61 corresponds to the opening / closing detection sensor 628 in FIG. 6.

[0149] The second sensor 62 is also a sensor that detects whether or not a cigarette 7 has been inserted into the case 20. For example, the second sensor 62 may include at least one of a Hall sensor that detects a change in a magnetic field generated from a metal substance contained in the cigarette 7, a mechanical switch that detects a physical change that occurs when the cigarette 7 is inserted, an infrared sensor that detects the approach of the cigarette 7, and an optical sensor that detects a pattern printed on the surface of the cigarette 7. However, the second sensor 62 is not limited to the above examples, and may be any appropriate sensor for detecting whether or not a cigarette 7 has been inserted into the case 20. The second sensor 62 corresponds to the insertion detection sensor 624 in FIG. 6.

[0150] The heater 52 is disposed in the case 20 and heats the cigarette 7 inserted in the case 20. The heater 52 may be disposed inside the case 20 above the support tube so as to surround at least a portion of the side of the cigarette 7 inserted in the case 20. The heater 52 may also be fabricated in the form of a film having an electrically resistive pattern that generates heat when electricity is applied from the outside. The heater 52 may include, for example, a substrate including a material such as polyimide and an electrically resistive pattern disposed along the surface of the substrate.

[0151] The heater 52 is wound, for example, in a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical shape corresponding to the shape of the heat transfer tube, and is disposed so as to surround at least a portion of the outer surface of the heat transfer tube. The terms "cylindrical" and "semi-cylindrical" do not necessarily mean that the cross-sectional shape of the heater 52 is limited to a circle or semicircle, but also include cases where the cross-sectional shape is close to a circle or an arc shape close to a semicircle.

[0152] The vaporizer 40 contains a liquid composition and is detachably connected to the case 20, and while connected to the case 20, it heats the liquid composition and transmits the generated aerosol to the cigarette 7 side.

[0153] The battery 60 can supply power used to operate the aerosol generation device 5. For example, the battery 60 can supply power to the control unit 70, the heater 52, and the vaporizer 40. The battery 60 can also supply power necessary for the operation of a display, a sensor, a motor, and the like provided in the aerosol generation device 5. The battery 60 is a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, but is not limited to the above example. For example, the battery 60 may be a lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) battery, a lithium titanate battery, or the like.

[0154] The control unit 70 includes at least one processor. The control unit 70 can generally control the operation of the aerosol generation device 5. For example, the control unit 70 controls the operation of the vaporizer 40, the heater 52, and the battery 60, and can also control the operation of other components included in the aerosol generation device 5. The control unit 70 can control the power supplied by the battery 60, the heating element included in the vaporizer 40, and the temperature of the heater 52. The control unit 70 can also check the status of each component of the aerosol generation device 5 and determine whether the aerosol generation device 5 is in an operable state.

[0155] Specifically, the control unit 70 determines whether the cigarette insertion hole 18 is open or closed based on the signal sensed by the first sensor 61, and based on the determination result, can set the operating mode of the aerosol generating device 5 to one of the ON mode and the OFF mode.

[0156] For example, when the control unit 70 determines that the cigarette insertion hole 18 is open, it can set the operation mode of the aerosol generation device 5 to the ON mode. When the operation mode of the aerosol generation device 5 is the ON mode, the control unit 70 can electrically connect the battery 60, the heater 52, and the vaporizer 40 so that the battery 60 supplies power to the heater 52 and the vaporizer 40, activate the button 28 to receive user input, and activate the second sensor 62 to sense whether a cigarette 7 has been inserted into the case 20.

[0157] In addition, when the operating mode of the aerosol generating device 5 is the ON mode, the control unit 70 can activate communication functions such as the Bluetooth function of the aerosol generating device 5, and activate various functions necessary for the operation of the aerosol generating device 5.

[0158] Since the battery 60, the heater 52, and the vaporizer 40 are electrically connected, the control unit 70 can control the battery 60 to supply power to at least one of the heater 52 and the vaporizer 40. Meanwhile, the activation of the button 28 or the second sensor 62 means that a signal input from the button 28 or the second sensor 62 is not interrupted. For example, the activation of the button 28 or the second sensor 62 may activate an interrupt function that waits for a signal input from the button 28 or the second sensor 62.

[0159] In some embodiments, when the operating mode of the aerosol generating device 5 is in the ON mode, the control unit 70 can control the power supply from the battery 60 to the heater 52 so that the heater 52 is preheated to a preset temperature by receiving user input through an activated button 28.

[0160] In addition, when the operating mode of the aerosol generating device 5 is the ON mode, the control unit 70 determines whether or not a cigarette 7 has been inserted into the case 20 based on the signal sensed by the activated second sensor 62, and can control the power supply from the battery 60 to the heater 52 so that the heater 52 is preheated to a predetermined temperature when it is determined that the cigarette 7 has been inserted into the case 20.

[0161] When the operation mode of the aerosol generation device 5 is in the ON mode, this means that the cigarette insertion hole 18 is open, and it is assumed that the user inserts a cigarette 7 into the cigarette insertion hole 18 and smokes. When the operation mode of the aerosol generation device 5 is in the ON mode, the control unit 70 can perform a preliminary heating operation of the heater 52 included in the aerosol generation device 5 by receiving a user input through the activated button 28 or a signal sensed by the second sensor 62.

[0162] Meanwhile, according to another embodiment, when the operation mode of the aerosol generation device 5 is set to the ON mode (i.e., when it is determined that the cigarette insertion hole 18 is open), the control unit 70 may perform a preliminary heating operation of the heater 52 without waiting for a user input through the activated button 28 or a signal detected by the activated second sensor 62, and is not limited to the above example. If the control unit 70 performs a preliminary heating operation of the heater 52 immediately upon detecting that the cigarette insertion hole 18 is open, without waiting for a user input through the button 28 or a signal detected by the second sensor 62, the waiting time for the user to smoke using the aerosol generation device 5 may be minimized.

[0163] When the control unit 70 determines that the cigarette insertion hole 18 is closed, it can set the operation mode of the aerosol generation device 5 to the OFF mode. When the operation mode of the aerosol generation device 5 is the OFF mode, the control unit 70 can cut off the electrical connection between the battery 60, the heater 52, and the vaporizer 40, cut off the user input input through the button 28, and cut off the signal sensed by the second sensor 62.

[0164] When the electrical connection between the battery 60, heater 52, and vaporizer 40 is cut off, the user input through the button 28 is cut off, and the signal detected by the second sensor 62 is cut off, undesired operation of the aerosol generating device due to the button 28 being accidentally pressed can be prevented, and unnecessary power consumption when the user is not smoking can be prevented.

[0165] In addition, when the operating mode of the aerosol generating device 5 is in the OFF mode, the control unit 70 can deactivate communication functions such as the Bluetooth function of the aerosol generating device 5, and deactivate unnecessary functions when the user is not using the aerosol generating device 5 to smoke.

[0166] Meanwhile, even when the operation mode of the aerosol generation device 5 is in the OFF mode, boot-related functions of the aerosol generation device 5 may be activated. The boot-related functions may include at least one of a clock function, an RTC function, and an interrupt function that waits for a signal sensed by the first sensor 61. Since the boot-related functions of the aerosol generation device 5 are activated even when the operation mode of the aerosol generation device 5 is in the OFF mode, unnecessary power consumption is minimized when the user does not smoke, and the aerosol generation device 5 can be smoothly booted when the user intends to smoke.

[0167] FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to some embodiments.

[0168] 13, the method for controlling an aerosol generation device is composed of steps that are processed in a time series manner in the aerosol generation device 1 or the aerosol generation device 5 shown in FIGS. 1 to 12. Therefore, even if the content is omitted below, it can be understood that the content described above regarding the aerosol generation device 1 or the aerosol generation device 5 of FIGS. 1 to 12 also applies to the method for controlling the aerosol generation device of FIG. 13.

[0169] In step S1310, the control unit may determine whether a cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device based on the signal detected by the insertion detection sensor.

[0170] In step S1320, the control unit may control the heater to perform a heating operation when the cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device as a trigger. For example, the control unit may control the battery to supply power to the heater based on a signal detected by the insertion detection sensor so that the heater is preheated to a preset temperature.

[0171] In steps S1330 to S1360, the control unit may reset at least one of the puff sensor and the temperature sensor. Here, the term "reset" refers to resetting or updating the baseline of the sensor or resetting or updating the reference value of the sensor. Specifically, the control unit may sequentially reset the puff sensor and the temperature sensor immediately after controlling the heater to perform a heating operation. Since the temperature sensor that detects the heater temperature and the puff sensor that detects the user's puff are often used after the heater performs a heating operation, it is efficient to reset them immediately after the heater performs a heating operation. In other words, performing the sensor reset operation at the timing when the sensor is actually used can reduce unnecessary power consumption. In one embodiment, the control unit may first reset the puff sensor and then reset the temperature sensor. In another embodiment, the control unit may first reset the temperature sensor and then reset the puff sensor.

[0172] In step S1330, the control unit may reset a puff sensor that detects a user's puff. In step S1340, the control unit may determine whether the reset of the puff sensor was successful. If the reset failed, the control unit may control the output unit to display a notification corresponding to the reset failure. For example, the control unit may control the output unit to output visual information or audio information indicating that the reset of the puff sensor failed (S1370).

[0173] In step S1350, the control unit may reset a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the heater. In step S1360, the control unit may determine whether the reset of the temperature sensor was successful. If the reset failed, the control unit may control the output unit to display a notification corresponding to the reset failure. For example, the control unit may control the output unit to output visual information or audio information indicating that the reset of the temperature sensor failed (S1370).

[0174] FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating another example of a method for controlling an aerosol generating device, according to some embodiments.

[0175] In step S1410, the control unit determines whether the cigarette insertion hole is open or not. The control unit can determine whether the cigarette insertion hole is open or not based on a signal detected by the open / close detection sensor.

[0176] The control unit can set the operation mode of the aerosol generation device to one of an ON mode and an OFF mode. When the control unit determines that the cigarette insertion hole is open, the control unit can set the operation mode of the aerosol generation device to the ON mode (S1420). When the control unit determines that the cigarette insertion hole is closed, the control unit can set the operation mode of the aerosol generation device to the OFF mode (S1430).

[0177] In step S1440, the control unit may determine whether the heater is in a heating state. The control unit may determine whether the heater is in a heating state by detecting whether power is supplied to the heater from the battery. If the heater is in a heating-off state, the control unit may reset the insertion detection sensor and the temperature sensor (S1460). If the heater is in a heating-off state, resetting the temperature sensor that detects the heater temperature does not affect normal operation of the aerosol generating device.

[0178] Specifically, if an event that detects the insertion of a cigarette does not occur in the insertion sensor for a preset period of time, the control unit may reset the insertion sensor and the temperature sensor (S1460). The insertion sensor and the temperature sensor may be reset sequentially. In one embodiment, the control unit may reset the insertion sensor first, and then reset the temperature sensor. In another embodiment, the control unit may reset the temperature sensor first, and then reset the insertion sensor. If the insertion hole is open but the heater is not in a heating state, and at the same time, an event that detects the insertion of a cigarette does not occur for a preset period of time, the aerosol generating device is likely to be in a standby mode. In this state, even if the insertion sensor and the temperature sensor are reset, normal operation of the aerosol generating device will not be affected.

[0179] In operation S1450, the control unit may determine whether an event that detects the insertion of a cigarette has occurred in the insertion sensor.

[0180] The control unit may reset the insertion sensor and the temperature sensor if an event that detects the insertion of a cigarette does not occur in the insertion sensor for a preset period (S1460). That is, the control unit may reset the insertion sensor and the temperature sensor if the insertion sensor does not detect the insertion of a cigarette for a preset period. The control unit may count the period during which an event that detects the insertion of a cigarette does not occur in the insertion sensor using the RTC.

[0181] The control unit may control the heater in a heating operation state when an event occurs in which the insertion sensor detects the insertion of a cigarette (S1470). That is, when the insertion sensor detects the insertion of a cigarette, the control unit may control the heater in a heating operation state.

[0182] 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 foregoing description, and all variations within the scope of the claims should be construed as being within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device configured to receive a cigarette, a heater for heating the inserted cigarette; a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the heater; an insertion detection sensor that detects the insertion of the cigarette; a puff sensor that detects a user's puff; a control unit that resets at least one of the temperature sensor and the puff sensor in response to a sensing signal output from the insertion detection sensor.

2. the puff sensor includes a pressure sensor; The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit resets a reference value of the pressure sensor.

3. an output unit that outputs information about the state of the aerosol generating device; The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the output unit so that, when at least one of the temperature sensor and the puff sensor fails to reset, the output unit displays a notification regarding the failure to reset.

4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the heater so that, when the cigarette is inserted, a heating operation is started according to a preset temperature profile.

5. An aerosol generating device configured to receive a cigarette, a heater for heating the inserted cigarette; a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the heater; an insertion detection sensor that detects the insertion of the cigarette; a control unit that sets the operation mode of the aerosol generating device to an ON mode or an OFF mode, The aerosol generating device, wherein the control unit resets the insertion detection sensor and the temperature sensor when the heater is in an inactive state in the ON mode.

6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit controls the heater to start a heating operation according to a preset temperature profile when the insertion sensor detects the insertion of the cigarette.

7. The aerosol generating device of claim 5 , wherein the control unit resets the insertion sensor and the temperature sensor when the insertion sensor does not detect the insertion of the cigarette for a preset period of time.

8. a case including an insertion hole into which the cigarette is inserted; a cover that opens and closes the insertion hole; An opening / closing detection sensor that detects whether the insertion hole is open or closed, The aerosol generating device according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit sets the operation mode of the aerosol generating device to an ON mode or an OFF mode based on a sensing signal from the open / close detection sensor.

9. The aerosol generating device of claim 8 , wherein the control unit sets the operating mode of the aerosol generating device to the ON mode and activates the insertion detection sensor when the sensing signal indicates that the insertion hole is open.

10. The aerosol generating device of claim 8, wherein the control unit sets the operating mode of the aerosol generating device to the OFF mode and deactivates the insertion detection sensor when the sensing signal indicates that the insertion hole is closed.

11. 1. A method for controlling an aerosol generating device including a heater for heating an inserted cigarette, a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heater, and an insertion detection sensor for sensing the insertion of the cigarette, comprising: operating the aerosol generating device in an ON mode; determining whether the heater is active; and resetting the insertion detection sensor and the temperature sensor if the heater is inactive.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling the heater to start a heating operation according to a preset temperature profile when the insertion sensor detects the insertion of the cigarette.

13. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the resetting step is based on the cigarette not being sensed inserted for a preset period of time.

14. determining whether the cigarette insertion hole is open or closed; The method according to claim 11 , further comprising: operating the aerosol generating device in the ON mode based on the opening of the insertion hole.

15. The method further includes determining whether the cigarette insertion hole is open or closed, The method according to claim 11, wherein the operation mode of the aerosol generating device is changed to an OFF mode when it is determined that the insertion hole is closed.

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