Method for determining the state of an ultrasonic transducer and electronic device for performing said method

Abstract

In one example, an aerosol generating device changes the frequency of a signal applied to an ultrasonic transducer one or more times, measures the impedance of the ultrasonic transducer depending on the frequency, and determines the state of the ultrasonic transducer based on the measured impedance value.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The following embodiments relate to devices for generating aerosols, and in particular to methods for determining the state of an ultrasonic transducer in an aerosol generating device. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, the demand for electronic cigarettes has been gradually increasing. In addition, as the demand for electronic cigarettes has increased, the functions related to electronic cigarettes have been continuously developed. In particular, the functions related to the types and characteristics of electronic cigarettes have been continuously developed. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] One embodiment provides an aerosol generating device for generating an aerosol.

[0004] One embodiment provides a method for determining the condition of an ultrasound transducer inserted into an aerosol generating device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In one embodiment, a method for determining the state of an ultrasonic transducer performed by an electronic device includes the steps of changing the frequency of a signal applied to an ultrasonic transducer via a drive circuit of the electronic device one or more times, measuring the impedance of the ultrasonic transducer at the frequency, and determining the state of the ultrasonic transducer based on the measured impedance value.

[0006] Changing the frequency of the signal may include changing the frequency of the signal to a non-resonant frequency different from a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic transducer.

[0007] Measuring the impedance may include measuring a current flow through the ultrasonic transducer and determining the impedance value from the current flow.

[0008] The step of determining the state of the ultrasonic transducer may include a step of determining that the ultrasonic transducer is in a normal state if the measured impedance value exceeds a first threshold value at a non-resonant frequency, and the first threshold value may be the lowest impedance value of preset impedances corresponding to the normal state of the ultrasonic transducer at the non-resonant frequency.

[0009] The step of determining the state of the ultrasonic transducer may include a step of determining that the state of the ultrasonic transducer is normal if a difference between a first impedance value measured at a first frequency and a second impedance value measured at a second frequency is greater than or equal to a second threshold value.

[0010] The first frequency or the second frequency may be a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic transducer.

[0011] a drive circuit for driving a vibrator of a cartridge that is detachably coupled to the electronic device;

[0012] According to one embodiment, the electronic device may include a control unit that changes the frequency of a signal applied to an ultrasonic transducer one or more times via a frequency generator included in the driving circuit, measures the impedance of the ultrasonic transducer according to the frequency, and determines the state of the ultrasonic transducer based on the measured impedance value. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] A driving circuit for driving the vibrator of the aerosol generating device according to the embodiment may be provided.

[0014] According to an embodiment, a method for determining the state of an ultrasonic transducer of an aerosol generating device may be provided.

[0015] An aerosol generating device for generating an aerosol according to an embodiment may be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an example.

[0017] [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of an example aerosol generating device; FIG.

[0018] [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of an aerosol generating device in which a cartridge and a main body are separated.

[0019] [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of an example of an aerosol generating device in which a cartridge and a main body are joined together. FIG.

[0020] [Figure 5a] 1 shows a driving circuit according to an embodiment.

[0021] [Figure 5b] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0022] [Figure 5c] 1 shows an impedance measurement graph of an ultrasound transducer according to one embodiment.

[0023] [Figure 6] 1 illustrates a full-bridge mode drive circuit according to an embodiment.

[0024] [Figure 7] 1 illustrates a drive circuit capable of switching between full-bridge mode and half-bridge mode according to one embodiment.

[0025] [Figure 8]1 illustrates an equivalent circuit of a drive circuit operating in half-bridge mode according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Specific structural or functional descriptions of the embodiments are disclosed for illustrative purposes only and may be modified in various forms. Therefore, the embodiments are not limited to the specific disclosed forms, and the scope of this specification includes modifications, equivalents, or alternatives that fall within the technical ideas described in the embodiments.

[0027] Although terms such as "first" or "second" may be used to describe multiple components, such terms should be construed only to distinguish one component from the other components. For example, a first component may be designated as a second component, and similarly, a second component may be designated as a first component.

[0028] When any component is referred to as being "connected" to another component, it is directly linked or connected to the other component, but it should be understood that there may be other components in between.

[0029] The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this specification, the words "comprise" or "have" and the like indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0030] As used herein, each of the phrases such as "A or B," "at least one of A and B," "at least one of A or B," "A, B or C," "at least one of A, B and C," "at least one of A, B and C," and "at least one of A, B, or C" can include any one of the items listed with the corresponding phrase in the phrase, or all possible combinations thereof.

[0031] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. Commonly used, predefined terms should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning they have in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted as having an ideal or overly formal meaning unless expressly defined herein.

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. When describing with reference to the drawings, the same components will be given the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the aerosol generating device 100 shown in Fig. 1 includes a control unit 110, a detection unit 120, an output unit 130, a battery 140, an atomization unit 150, a user input unit 160, a memory 170, and a communication unit 180. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 100 is not limited to that shown in Fig. 1. That is, a person skilled in the art will understand that some of the components shown in Fig. 1 may be omitted or new components may be added depending on the design of the aerosol generating device 100.

[0035] The detection unit 120 detects the state of the aerosol generation device 100 or the state around the aerosol generation device 100, and transmits the detected information to the control unit 110. Based on the detected information, the control unit 110 can control the aerosol generation device 100 to perform various functions, such as controlling the operation of the atomization unit 150, restricting smoking, determining whether an aerosol-generating article (e.g., an aerosol-generating article, cartridge, etc.) is inserted, and displaying notifications.

[0036] The detection unit 120 includes at least one of a temperature sensor 122, an insertion detection sensor 124, and a puff sensor 126, but is not limited to these.

[0037] The temperature sensor 122 detects the temperature of the atomizing unit 150 (or the aerosol-generating material). The aerosol-generating device 100 may include a separate temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the atomizing unit 150, or the atomizing unit 150 itself may function as a temperature sensor. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 122 may be disposed near the battery 140 to monitor the temperature of the battery 140.

[0038] The insertion detection sensor 124 detects the insertion and / or removal of an aerosol-generating article. For example, the insertion detection sensor 124 may 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 may detect a signal change due to the insertion and / or removal of an aerosol-generating article.

[0039] The puff sensor 126 detects a user's puff based on various physical changes in the airflow passage or channel, for example, the puff sensor 126 may detect a user's puff based on any one of a temperature change, a flow change, a voltage change, and a pressure change.

[0040] The detection unit 120 further includes at least one of a temperature / humidity sensor, an atmospheric 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 above-mentioned sensors 122 to 126. The function of the angle sensor can be intuitively inferred by a person skilled in the art from its name, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0041] The output unit 130 outputs and provides to a user information regarding the status of the aerosol generating device 100. The output unit 130 includes, but is not limited to, at least one of a display unit 132, a haptic unit 134, and an audio output unit 136. When the display unit 132 and the touchpad form a layered structure to form a touch screen, the display unit 132 may be used as an input device in addition to an output device.

[0042] The display unit 132 visually provides a user with information about the aerosol generating device 100. For example, the information about the aerosol generating device 100 may include various information such as the charging / discharging status of the battery 140 of the aerosol generating device 100, the preheating status of the atomizing unit 150, the insertion / removal status of an aerosol-generating article, or a status in which use of the aerosol generating device 100 is restricted (e.g., abnormal article detection), and the display unit 132 can output the information to the outside. The display unit 132 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an induced light emitting display panel (OLED), or the like. The display unit 132 may also be in the form of an LED light emitting element.

[0043] The haptic unit 134 converts an electrical signal into a mechanical or electrical stimulus to tactilely provide the user with information about the aerosol generating device 100. For example, the haptic unit 134 includes a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0044] The acoustic output unit 136 audibly provides the user with information relating to the aerosol generation device 100. For example, the acoustic output unit 136 can convert an electrical signal into an acoustic signal and output it to the outside.

[0045] The battery 140 supplies power used for operation of the aerosol generation device 100. The battery 140 supplies power to enable operation of the nebulization unit 150. The battery 140 may also supply power necessary for operation of other components provided within the aerosol generation device 100 (e.g., the detection unit 120, the output unit 130, the user input unit 160, the memory 170, and the communication unit 180). The battery 140 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 140 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited thereto.

[0046] The atomization unit 150 atomizes the aerosol-generating material by receiving power from the battery 140. Although not shown in Fig. 1, the aerosol generation device 100 further includes a power conversion circuit (e.g., a DC / DC converter) that converts the power of the battery 140 and supplies the converted power to the atomization unit 150. In addition, when the aerosol generation device 100 generates aerosol using an ultrasonic vibration method, the aerosol generation device 100 further includes a DC / AC converter that converts the DC power of the battery 140 into AC power.

[0047] The control unit 110, the detection unit 120, the output unit 130, the user input unit 160, the memory 170, and the communication unit 180 can function by receiving power from the battery 140. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the device further includes a power conversion circuit, for example, an LDO (low dropout) circuit or a voltage regulator circuit, that converts the power of the battery 140 and supplies it to each component.

[0048] In one embodiment, the atomization unit 150 includes a vibrator that generates ultrasonic vibrations in response to an applied signal (e.g., power). For example, the vibrator may be made of, but is not limited to, piezoelectric ceramic. The vibrator may also include a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element according to one embodiment is a conversion element that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, and can generate ultrasonic vibrations under the control of the control unit 110. In one embodiment, when AC power is applied to a polarized piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element repeatedly expands and contracts. The expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element allows the vibrator to vibrate at a characteristic frequency. When a signal is applied to the vibrator, short, high-frequency vibrations are generated, and the generated vibrations can break down the aerosol-generating substance into small particles and atomize them into aerosol.

[0049] The user input unit 160 can receive information input by a user and output information to a user. For example, the user input unit 160 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), a jog wheel, a jog switch, etc. Although not shown in FIG. 1 , the aerosol generating device 100 can further include a connection interface such as a USB (universal serial bus) interface, and can connect to other external devices via the connection interface such as the USB interface to send and receive information or charge the battery 140.

[0050] The memory 170 is hardware that stores various data processed within the aerosol generation device 100 and can store data that has been processed by the control unit 110 and data to be processed by the control unit 110. The memory 170 includes at least one type of storage medium selected from the group consisting of flash memory, hard disk, micro multimedia card, card-type memory (e.g., SD or XD memory), random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), magnetic memory, magnetic disk, and optical disk. The memory 170 may store the operating time of the aerosol generation device 100, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, and data regarding the user's smoking pattern.

[0051] The communication unit 180 includes at least one component for communicating with other electronic devices, such as a short-range communication unit 182 and a wireless communication unit 184.

[0052] The short-range wireless communication unit 182 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.

[0053] The wireless communication unit 184 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 184 may use subscriber information (e.g., an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)) to identify and authenticate the aerosol generating device 100 within the communication network.

[0054] The control unit 110 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 100. In one embodiment, the control unit 110 includes at least one processor. The processor may be realized as an array of multiple logic gates, or may be realized as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program that can be executed by the microprocessor is stored. Furthermore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art to which this embodiment pertains that the processor may be realized in other forms of hardware.

[0055] The control unit 110 can control the operation of the atomization unit 150 by controlling the supply of power from the battery 140 to the atomization unit 150. For example, the control unit 110 can control the power supply by controlling the switching of a switching element of the drive circuit 138 located between the battery 140 and the atomization unit 150.

[0056] The control unit 110 analyzes the results detected by the detection unit 120 and controls the processes to be executed thereafter. For example, the control unit 110 can control the power supplied to the atomization unit 150 so that the operation of the atomization unit 150 starts or ends based on the results detected by the detection unit 120. As another example, the control unit 110 can control the amount of power supplied to the atomization unit 150 and the time for which the power is supplied based on the results detected by the detection unit 120 so that the atomization unit 150 vibrates at a predetermined frequency or maintains an appropriate vibration frequency.

[0057] The control unit 110 controls the output unit 130 based on the result detected by the detection unit 120. For example, when the number of puffs counted via the puff sensor 126 reaches a preset number, the control unit 110 can notify the user via at least one of the display unit 132, the haptic unit 134, and the audio output unit 136 that the aerosol generating device 100 will immediately shut down.

[0058] In one embodiment, the control unit 110 can control the time and / or amount of power supply to the atomizing unit 150 by controlling the drive circuit 138 depending on the state of the aerosol product detected by the detection unit 120. For example, the control unit 110 can control the vibration frequency of the vibrator of the atomizing unit 150 depending on the type or remaining amount of the aerosol product.

[0059] An embodiment may also be realized in the form of a recording medium containing computer-executable instructions, such as a program module executed by a computer. Computer-readable media may be any solvent-compatible medium that can be accessed by a computer, including both volatile and nonvolatile media, and both separable and non-separable media. Computer-readable media also includes both computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and non-volatile, separable and non-separable media implemented by any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Communication media typically include computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, or other transmission mechanism, and include any information delivery media.

[0060] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an example.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 2, an aerosol generating device 200 (eg, the aerosol generating device 100 of FIG. 1) includes a cartridge 220 that holds an aerosol generating substance and a main body 210 that is connected to the cartridge 220.

[0062] The cartridge 220 of the aerosol generating device 200 can be coupled to the main body 210 while containing an aerosol-generating substance therein. For example, the cartridge 220 and the main body 210 may be coupled together by inserting at least a portion of the cartridge 220 into the main body 210. As a different example, the cartridge 220 and the main body 210 may be coupled together by inserting at least a portion of the main body 210 into the cartridge 220.

[0063] The cartridge 220 and the main body 210 can be connected by at least one of a snap-fit ​​method, a screw-fit method, a magnetic coupling method, or a forced fitting method, but the method of connecting the cartridge 220 and the main body 210 is not limited to the examples given above.

[0064] According to one embodiment, cartridge 220 includes a housing 222 , a mouthpiece 224 , a storage portion 230 , a transmission portion 230 , a vibrator 250 , and an electrical terminal 260 .

[0065] The housing 222 of the aerosol generating device 200, together with the mouthpiece 224, can form the overall appearance of the cartridge 220, and components for operating the cartridge 220 can be arranged inside the housing 222. For example, the housing 222 may be formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, but the shape of the housing 222 is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. Depending on the embodiment, the housing 222 may be formed in the shape of a polygonal prism (e.g., a triangular prism, a pentagonal prism) or a cylinder.

[0066] The mouthpiece 224 of the aerosol generating device 200 is disposed in one region of the housing 222 and includes an outlet 224e for discharging the aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material to the outside. For example, the mouthpiece 224 is disposed in another region of the cartridge 220 located opposite to one region of the cartridge 220 that is coupled to the main body 210, and the user can receive the aerosol from the cartridge 220 by contacting the mouthpiece 224 with the oral cavity and inhaling.

[0067] A pressure difference occurs between the outside of cartridge 220 and the inside of cartridge 220 due to the user's inhalation or puffing action, and aerosol generated inside cartridge 220 due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of cartridge 220 can be discharged to the outside of cartridge 220 through outlet 224e. That is, when the user inhales by contacting the mouthpiece 224 with the oral cavity, aerosol can be supplied to the outside of cartridge 220 through outlet 224e.

[0068] The storage unit 230 of the aerosol generating device 200 is located in the internal space of the housing 222 and can store an aerosol-generating substance. In this disclosure, the expression "the storage unit stores an aerosol-generating substance" means that the storage unit 230 simply functions to hold the aerosol-generating substance, as in the case of a container, and also means that the storage unit 230 includes an element impregnated with (containing) the aerosol-generating substance, such as a sponge, cotton, cloth, or porous ceramic structure, inside the storage unit 230. The above expressions will also be used with the same meaning hereinafter.

[0069] The storage section 230 may contain an aerosol-generating substance in any one of a liquid state, a solid state, a gas state, a gel state, or the like.

[0070] In one embodiment, the aerosol-forming material may comprise a liquid phase composition, which may be a liquid containing tobacco-containing material including volatile tobacco flavor components, or a liquid containing non-tobacco material.

[0071] The liquid phase composition may contain any one or a mixture of ingredients, such as water, solvent, ethanol, plant extracts, fragrances, flavorings, and vitamin blends, including, but not limited to, menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, and various fruit flavorings.

[0072] The flavoring agent may include ingredients that can provide various flavors or tastes to the user. 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 phase composition may also include an aerosol forming agent, such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

[0073] For example, the liquid phase composition may comprise a glycerin and propylene glycol solution with a nicotine salt added thereto in any weight ratio. The liquid phase composition may comprise two or more nicotine salts. The nicotine salt may be formed by adding a suitable acid, including an organic acid or an inorganic acid, to nicotine. The nicotine may be naturally occurring or synthetic nicotine in any suitable weight concentration relative to the total solution weight of the liquid phase composition.

[0074] The acid for forming the nicotine salt can be appropriately selected taking into consideration the blood nicotine absorption rate, the operating temperature of the aerosol generating device 200, the flavor or taste, solubility, etc. For example, the acid for forming the nicotine salt may be, but is not limited to, a single acid selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, lauric acid, sorbic acid, levulinic acid, pyruvic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, citric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, phenylacetic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, saccharinic acid, malonic acid, or malic acid, or a mixture of two or more acids selected from the group.

[0075] The transfer unit 240 of the aerosol generating device 200 can absorb the aerosol-generating material. For example, the aerosol-generating material stored or accommodated in the storage unit 230 can be transferred from the storage unit 230 to the vibrator 250 via the transfer unit 240, and the vibrator 250 can atomize the aerosol-generating material in the transfer unit 240 or the aerosol-generating material transferred from the transfer unit 240 to generate an aerosol. Here, the transfer unit 240 includes at least one of cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, and porous ceramic, but the transfer unit 240 is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0076] According to one embodiment, transfer unit 240 is disposed adjacent to storage unit 230, and a liquid-phase aerosol-generating substance can be supplied from storage unit 230. For example, the aerosol-generating substance stored in storage unit 230 is discharged to the outside of storage unit 230 through a liquid-phase supply port formed in a region of storage unit 230 facing transfer unit 240, and transfer unit 240 can absorb at least a portion of the aerosol-generating substance discharged from storage unit 230, thereby absorbing the aerosol-generating substance from storage unit 230.

[0077] According to one embodiment, cartridge 210 may further include an absorber (not shown) disposed to cover at least a portion of transducer 250, where the aerosol is generated, and which transmits the aerosol-generating substance absorbed by transmission unit 240 to transducer 250. The absorber may be made of a material capable of absorbing the aerosol-generating substance. For example, the absorber may include at least one of SPL30(H), SPL50(H)V, NP100(V8), SPL60(FC), and melamine. By further including an absorber in cartridge 220, the aerosol-generating substance is absorbed not only by transmission unit 240 but also by the absorber, thereby improving the amount of aerosol-generating substance absorbed.

[0078] The vibrator 250 of the aerosol generating device 200 is located inside the housing 222 and can generate an aerosol by changing the phase of the aerosol generating material stored inside the cartridge 220. For example, the vibrator 250 can generate an aerosol by heating or vibrating the aerosol generating material.

[0079] Furthermore, by arranging the absorber so as to cover at least a portion of the vibrator 250, the absorber functions as a physical barrier that prevents particles that are not sufficiently atomized during the aerosol generation process from "scattering," which is the direct discharge to the outside of the aerosol generation device 200. Here, "scattering" refers to relatively large particles of the aerosol-generating material that are not sufficiently atomized being discharged to the outside of the cartridge 220. The inclusion of an absorber in the cartridge 220 reduces the possibility of liquid scattering, thereby improving the user's smoking satisfaction.

[0080] In one embodiment, the absorber is located between one surface of the oscillator 250 where the aerosol is generated and the transmitter 240, and can transmit the aerosol supplied to the transmitter 240 to the oscillator 250. For example, one region of the absorber may be in contact with one region of the transmitter 240 facing in the -z direction, and another region of the absorber may be in contact with one region of the oscillator 250 facing in the +z direction. That is, the absorber is located on the upper surface (e.g., in the +z direction) of the oscillator 250, and can supply the aerosol-generating substance absorbed in the transmitter 240 to the oscillator 250.

[0081] According to one embodiment, the vibrator 250 of the aerosol generating device 200 can convert the phase of the aerosol-generating substance by using an ultrasonic vibration method that atomizes the aerosol-generating substance using ultrasonic vibration. For example, the vibrator 250 may generate short-period vibrations, and the vibrations generated by the vibrator 250 may be ultrasonic vibrations. The frequency of the ultrasonic vibrations may be within the range of about 100 kHz to about 10 MHz (preferably, about 100 kHz to 3.5 MHz), but is not limited thereto. When the vibrator generates ultrasonic vibrations in the above-mentioned frequency band, the vibrator vibrates along the longitudinal direction (e.g., the z-axis direction) of the cartridge 220 or the housing 222. However, the embodiment is not limited by the direction in which the vibrator vibrates, and the vibration direction of the vibrator may be changed to various directions (e.g., any one of the x-axis direction, the y-axis direction, and the z-axis direction, or a combination of these directions). The aerosol-forming substance supplied from storage section 230 to oscillator 250 by the short-period vibrations generated by oscillator 250 is vaporized and / or atomized into an aerosol.

[0082] For example, vibrator 250 may include a piezoelectric ceramic, which may be a functional material capable of converting between electrical and mechanical forces by generating electrical power (voltage) when a physical force (pressure) is applied and, conversely, generating vibrations (mechanical force) when electrical power is applied. That is, when electrical power is applied to vibrator 250, short-period vibrations (physical force) are generated, and the generated vibrations can break down the aerosol-generating substance into small particles and atomize them into an aerosol.

[0083] The vibrator 250 is electrically connected to other components of the aerosol generation device 200 via the electrical terminal 260. The electrical terminal 260 may be arranged on one surface of the cartridge 220. For example, the electrical terminal 260 may be arranged on a coupling surface of the cartridge 220 where the cartridge 220 couples with the main body 210 of the aerosol generation device 20. The electrical terminal 260 may be arranged on one surface of the housing 222 facing the mouthpiece 224.

[0084] According to one embodiment, the vibrator 250 can be electrically connected to at least one of the drive circuit 212, the control unit 214, and the battery 216 of the main body 210 via electrical terminals 260 located inside the housing 222 of the cartridge 220.

[0085] For example, the vibrator 250 may be electrically connected to an electrical terminal 260 located inside the cartridge 220 via a first conductor, and the electrical terminal 260 may be electrically connected to the driving circuit 212 of the body 210 via a second conductor. That is, the vibrator 250 may be electrically connected to the components of the body 210 via the electrical terminal 260.

[0086] The vibrator 250 is supplied with power from the battery 216 of the main body 210 via an electrical terminal 260 and is capable of generating sonic vibrations. The vibrator 250 is also electrically connected to the control unit 214 of the main body 210 via the electrical terminal 260, and the control unit 214 can control the operation of the vibrator 250 via the drive circuit 212.

[0087] For example, the electrical terminal 260 may include at least one of a pogo pin, a wire, a cable, a printed circuit board (PCB), a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), and a C-clip, but the electrical terminal 260 is not limited to the above examples.

[0088] In one embodiment, the vibrator 250 can be realized as a mesh-shaped or plate-shaped vibration container that does not use a separate transmission unit 240 and performs both the function of absorbing the aerosol-generating material and maintaining it in an optimal state for converting it into an aerosol, and the function of transmitting vibrations to the aerosol-generating material to generate an aerosol.

[0089] The aerosol generated by the vibrator 250 can be discharged to the outside of the cartridge 220 via the airflow passage 223 and supplied to the user.

[0090] According to one embodiment, the airflow passage 223 may be located inside the cartridge 220 and connected to the vibrator 250 and the outlet 224e of the mouthpiece 224. Therefore, the aerosol generated by the vibrator 250 flows along the airflow passage 223 and is discharged to the outside of the cartridge 220 or the aerosol generation device 200 through the outlet 224e. The user may receive the aerosol by contacting the mouthpiece 224 with the oral cavity and inhaling the aerosol discharged from the outlet 224e.

[0091] Although not shown in the drawings, the airflow passage 223 may include at least one inlet through which air from outside the cartridge 220 flows into the interior of the cartridge 220. The inlet is disposed in at least a portion of the housing 222 of the cartridge 220. For example, the inlet may be disposed in a joining surface (e.g., a bottom surface) of the cartridge 220 where the cartridge 220 and the main body 210 are joined.

[0092] At least one gap is formed where the cartridge 220 and the main body 210 are joined, so that external air flows in through the gap between the cartridge 220 and the main body 210 and moves into the cartridge 220 through the inlet.

[0093] The airflow passage 223 is connected at its inlet to a space where aerosol is generated by the vibrator 250, and is connected from the space to the outlet 224e.

[0094] Therefore, air flowing in through the inlet is transmitted to the vibrator 250, and the transmitted air moves to the outlet 224e together with the aerosol generated by the vibrator 250, allowing airflow to circulate inside the cartridge 220.

[0095] According to one example, at least a portion of airflow passage 223 may be arranged such that its outer circumferential surface is surrounded by storage portion 230 inside housing 222. According to another example, at least a portion of airflow passage 223 may be provided between an inner wall of housing 222 and an outer wall of storage portion 230. The arrangement structure of airflow passage 223 is not limited to the above example, and airflow passage 223 may be arranged in various structures that allow airflow to circulate between the inlet, vibrator 250, and outlet 224e.

[0096] According to one embodiment, the main body 210 includes a drive circuit 212, a control unit 214, and a battery 216 therein, and one end of the main body 210 can be coupled to one end of the cartridge 220. For example, the main body 210 may be coupled to the bottom surface or coupling surface of the cartridge 220.

[0097] When the vibrator 250 of the cartridge 220 is electrically connected to the drive circuit 212 via the electrical terminal 260, the drive circuit 212 can supply power to the vibrator 250. For example, the magnitude of the power supplied to the vibrator 250 is determined by the control unit 214. The vibration frequency of the vibrator 250 can be controlled depending on the magnitude of the power. The form of the drive circuit 212 according to one embodiment may be a class E power amplifier circuit, a half-bridge circuit, or a full-bridge circuit, and is not limited to the described embodiment.

[0098] The control unit 214 controls the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 200. For example, the control unit 214 can control the power supplied from the battery 216 to the vibrator 250 and control the amount of aerosol generated by the vibrator 250. For example, the control unit 214 may control the power supplied to the vibrator so that the vibrator 250 can vibrate at a predetermined frequency.

[0099] The control unit 214 may be realized by an array of multiple logic gates, or by 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 control unit 214 may also be realized by other forms of hardware.

[0100] The control unit 214 analyzes the results detected by at least one sensor included in the aerosol generating device 200 and controls the processes to be subsequently executed. For example, the control unit 214 may control the power supplied to the vibrator 250 so as to start or end the operation of the vibrator 250 based on the results detected by the at least one sensor. Furthermore, the control unit 214 can control the amount of power supplied to the vibrator 250 and the time for which the power is supplied based on the results detected by the at least one sensor so that the vibrator 250 can generate an appropriate amount of aerosol.

[0101] The battery 216 supplies power used to operate the aerosol generating device 200. For example, the battery 216 electrically couples the main body 210 to the cartridge 220 and can supply power to the vibrator 250.

[0102] The battery 216 can provide the power necessary for the operation of other hardware elements (e.g., sensors, a user interface, a memory, and the control unit 214) included in the aerosol generating device 200. The battery 216 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery.

[0103] For example, battery 216 may include a nickel-based battery (e.g., a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-cadmium battery) or a lithium-based battery (e.g., a lithium-cobalt battery, a lithium-phosphate battery, a lithium titanate battery, a lithium-ion battery, or a lithium-polymer battery).

[0104] In one embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the cartridge 220 and / or the main body 210 of the aerosol generation device 200 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction may be a circle, an ellipse, a square, a rectangle, or any of various polygonal shapes. However, the cross-sectional shape of the cartridge 220 and / or the main body 210 is not limited to the above-mentioned shapes, and does not necessarily have to be formed into a structure that extends linearly when the aerosol generation device 200 extends in the longitudinal direction.

[0105] In one embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol generating device 200 may be streamlined and curved to make it easier for a user to grip in their hand, or may be bent at a predetermined angle in certain areas and extended, and the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol generating device 200 may vary along its length.

[0106] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example of an aerosol generation device in which the cartridge and the main body are separated, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example of an aerosol generation device in which the cartridge and the main body are joined together.

[0107] The aerosol generating device 300 relating to the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 is a modified example of the aerosol generating device 200 shown in Figure 2 (or the aerosol generating device 100 in Figure 1), and the cartridge 220-1 and main body 210-1 relating to the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 are modified examples of the cartridge 220 and main body 210 shown in Figure 2, respectively, and duplicate content will be omitted below.

[0108] 3 and 4, the cartridge 220-1 may be detachably coupled to the main body 210-1. For example, at least a portion of the cartridge 220-1 may be coupled to the main body 210-1 by being inserted into the main body 210-1.

[0109] The cartridge 220-1 may include a mouthpiece 10m that is movable between an open position and a closed position. For example, the mouthpiece 10m may be opened and closed by rotating between the open position and the closed position.

[0110] The main body 10b of the cartridge 220-1 can be coupled to the mouthpiece 10m via a rotation axis. As an example, the mouthpiece 10m may be positioned in an open position. The open state of the mouthpiece 10m refers to a state in which the mouthpiece 10m is extended in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 220-1 so that the mouthpiece 10m can easily contact the user's mouth. Here, the longitudinal direction refers to the direction in which the cartridge 220-1 extends the longest among various directions. As another example, the mouthpiece 10m may be positioned in a closed position. The closed state of the mouthpiece 10m refers to a state in which the mouthpiece 10m is folded in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 220-1 so as to be accommodated in the main body 210-1 of the aerosol generation device 300.

[0111] Cartridge 220-1 includes a main body 10b that includes multiple components necessary for generating aerosol and discharging the generated aerosol. For example, main body 10b may include a housing, a vibrator, and at least a portion of an airflow passage.

[0112] The main body 210-1 includes a coupling portion 20a to which the cartridge 220-1 can be coupled. For example, the main body 210-1 may include a receiving groove 20a-1 in which at least a portion of the cartridge 220-1 is received. The main body 10b of the cartridge 220-1 can be inserted into the receiving groove 20a-1. For example, the main body 10b of the cartridge 220-1 may be in the form of a substantially rectangular prism, and the corners of the rectangular prism may be chamfered or rounded. However, the shape of the main body 10b of the cartridge 220-1 is not limited to the above example and may be in the form of a cylinder or a polygonal prism.

[0113] 2, the cartridge 220-1 may be coupled to the main body 210-1 by at least one of a snap-fit ​​method, a screw-fit method, a magnetic coupling method, and a forced-fit method. For example, the cartridge 220-1 may include a first magnetic body, and the main body 210-1 may include a second magnetic body, and the cartridge 220-1 and the main body 210-1 may be coupled to each other by magnetic force. However, the strength of the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body may be designed in consideration of ease of attachment and detachment of the cartridge 220-1 and the main body 210-1 and / or operational stability of the aerosol generation device 300.

[0114] The main body 210-1 includes a button 20b. The button 20b may be arranged on one surface of the main body 210-1. For example, the button 20b may be arranged on one surface of the main body 210-1 corresponding to the first step 20c-1 of the cover 20c. When using the aerosol generation device 300, a user can use the button 20b to operate the aerosol generation device 300.

[0115] The main body 210-1 further includes a storage section 20s that can store the mouthpiece 10m of the cartridge 220-1 when the mouthpiece 10m is moved to the closed position. The storage section 20s is located on one side of the main body 210-1 and has a shape or size that corresponds to the mouthpiece 10m.

[0116] As shown in Figure 4, when the mouthpiece 10m is moved to the closed position, the portion that protrudes outside the aerosol generating device 100 in the closed position, i.e., the portion that protrudes outward from the outer surface of the main body 210-1, is minimized, thereby improving portability.

[0117] In one embodiment, the main body 210-1 may further include a cover 20c coupled to a portion of the main body 210-1. The cover 20c may be coupled to at least one surface of the main body 210-1. For example, the cover 20c may be coupled to one side of the main body 210-1 where the coupling portion 20a is located. Alternatively, the cover 20c may be coupled to one side of the main body 210-1 where the storage portion 20s is located.

[0118] The cover 20c includes an opening 20c-o. The cover 20c has an opening 20c-o of a size corresponding to the mouthpiece 10m. For example, the opening 20c-o may have a predetermined length and width. Here, the width of the opening 20c-o may be smaller than or the same as that of the main body of the cartridge 220-1 and larger than or the same as that of the mouthpiece 10m. The length of the opening 20c-o may be longer than or the same as that of the mouthpiece 10m.

[0119] The cover 20c extends from one end 20c-1 to the other end 20c-2 and can be placed on the mounting portion 20c' of the main body 210-1. For example, the mounting portion 20c' has a size and shape corresponding to the cover 20c. The mounting portion 20c' is recessed to a predetermined depth and extends in both directions from the entrance side of the coupling portion 20a and the storage portion 20s so that the cover 20c can be coupled thereto.

[0120] When the cartridge 220-1 is coupled to the main body 210-1, the cover 20c can be coupled to the main body 210-1 after the cartridge 220-1 is coupled to the main body 210-1. The cover 20c can be coupled to one side of the main body 210-1 by at least one of a snap fit, a forced fit, or a magnetic coupling, but is not limited to these.

[0121] The cover 20c includes an opening 20c-o through which the mouthpiece 10m can pass, thereby protecting the cartridge 220-1 while not interfering with the opening and closing operation of the mouthpiece 10m when the cartridge 220-1 is connected to the main body 210-1, and maintaining the connection between the cartridge 220-1 and the main body 210-1.

[0122] 4 shows the aerosol generation device 300 in which the cartridge 220-1 and the cover 20c are all coupled to the main body 210-1, and the mouthpiece 10m is in the closed position. As shown in the figure, the main body 210-1 includes a storage section 20s having a size and shape corresponding to the mouthpiece 10m and a mounting section 20c' having a size and shape corresponding to the cover 20c, and the cover 20c includes an opening 20c-o having a size and shape corresponding to the mouthpiece 10m, thereby completing the overall closure of the aerosol generation device 300 in a strong and elegant manner.

[0123] When the cartridge 220-1 is separated from the body 210-1, the cover 20c is separated from the body 210-1 first, and then the cartridge 220-1 is separated from the body 210-1. In this manner, the cover 20c and the cartridge 220-1 can be sequentially separated from or coupled to the body 210-1.

[0124] FIG. 5a shows a drive circuit according to one embodiment.

[0125] 5a, a vibrator C510 (e.g., the atomizing unit 150 in FIG. 1 or the vibrator 250 in FIG. 2) according to one embodiment may be included in a cartridge 500-1 (e.g., the cartridge 220 in FIG. 2), and when the cartridge 220 is mechanically coupled to the main body 210, the vibrator 510 may be electrically connected to a first electrical contact 511 and a second electrical contact 513 of a drive circuit 500 (e.g., the drive circuit 138 in FIG. 1 or the drive circuit 212 in FIG. 2). When the first electrical contact 511 and the second electrical contact 513 are connected via the vibrator 510, the control unit 214 can recognize the coupling of the vibrator 510 and supply power to the drive circuit 500.

[0126] More specifically, the driving circuit 500 of one embodiment may be connected to a first end of the vibrator 510 via a first electrical contact 511 and to a second end of the vibrator 510 via a second electrical contact 513.

[0127] The cartridge 500-1 according to one embodiment includes a vibrator C510, and when the cartridge 220 is mechanically coupled to the main body 210, the cartridge 500-1 can be electrically connected to the drive circuit 500.

[0128] The drive circuit 500 according to one embodiment includes a switch SW514, a first power supply 516, and a second power supply 517. In the described embodiment, the "drive circuit 500" refers to a state in which the main body 210 and the cartridge 500-1 are coupled together, and a state in which the main body 210 and the cartridge 500-1 are not coupled together.

[0129] In one embodiment, the drain terminal of the switch 514 may be connected to the first electrical contact 511, and the source terminal may be connected to ground. In one embodiment, the switch 514 may be a field effect transistor (FET)-based switch.

[0130] According to one embodiment, the first power supply 516 may provide a voltage to the gate terminal of the switch 514, and the second power supply 517 may provide a voltage to the drain terminal of the switch 514. According to one embodiment, the first power supply 516 may provide an AC voltage to the gate terminal of the switch 514. For example, the peak value of the AC voltage may be 4 V or less, but is not limited to the described embodiment. According to one embodiment, the second power supply 517 may provide a DC voltage to the drain terminal of the switch 514 and the first terminal (e.g., the first electrical contact) of the vibrator 510. For example, the DC voltage may be 15 V or less (e.g., 10 V), but is not limited to the described embodiment.

[0131] In one embodiment, the drive circuit 500 further includes an inductor 515 and a resistor 518 .

[0132] According to an embodiment, the inductor 515 may be connected between the first electrical contact 511 and the second power source 517. The inductor 515 may be a boost converter added to the drain terminal of the switch 514 to obtain a high voltage and apply the high voltage to the vibrator.

[0133] In one embodiment, a resistor 518 is connected between the gate terminal of the switch 514 and ground.

[0134] The aerosol generation device 200 according to one embodiment measures the current flowing through the cartridge 500-1, and the aerosol generation device 200 can grasp the impedance characteristics of the oscillator C510 based on the measured current.

[0135] FIG. 5b is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0136] For ease of explanation, the following steps 521-523 are described as being performed using the aerosol generating device 200 shown in Figure 2. However, the steps 521-525 can be performed through any other suitable electronic device and within any suitable system.

[0137] Furthermore, although the operations in Fig. 5b are performed in the order and manner shown, the order of some operations may be changed or some operations may be omitted without departing from the spirit and scope of the illustrated embodiment. Multiple operations shown in Fig. 5b may be performed in parallel or simultaneously. Hereinafter, the aerosol generating device 200 according to one embodiment may be referred to as an electronic cigarette or an electronic device.

[0138] In step 521, the aerosol generating device 200 changes the frequency of the signal applied to the ultrasonic transducer one or more times. For example, a signal having a frequency of 3 MHz may be applied to the ultrasonic transducer, and the frequency of the signal may be changed to 1.2 MHz, 1.5 MHz, or the like.

[0139] In step 522, the aerosol generation device 200 measures the impedance of the ultrasonic transducer based on the signal whose frequency has been changed. For example, when the signal frequency is 1.2 MHz, the impedance of the ultrasonic transducer of the cartridge can be calculated by measuring the resistance of the cartridge part. When the cartridge is connected to the aerosol generation device 200, the aerosol generation device 200 applies a signal to the drive circuit to measure the current flowing through the ultrasonic transducer, and determines (or calculates) the impedance value of the ultrasonic transducer based on the measured current value. Because the frequency of the signal applied to the ultrasonic transducer can be changed one or more times, the aerosol generation device 200 can continuously measure the impedance of the ultrasonic transducer for each signal frequency.

[0140] In step 523, the aerosol generating device 200 determines the state of the ultrasonic transducer based on the measured impedance value of the ultrasonic transducer. According to one embodiment, if it is determined in step 523 that the state of the ultrasonic transducer is abnormal, a notification is output to the user via the output unit 130. For example, the notification may indicate that the cartridge or the ultrasonic transducer should be replaced. In this manner, the user may be notified of the timing when the cartridge or the ultrasonic transducer should be replaced. A method for determining whether the ultrasonic transducer is normal based on the impedance value will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5c below.

[0141] FIG. 5c shows an impedance measurement graph of an ultrasound transducer according to one embodiment.

[0142] The description with reference to FIGS. 5a and 5b also applies to FIG. 5c, and duplicate content will be omitted.

[0143] The graph in Figure 5c shows impedance measurements for an ultrasonic transducer having a resonant frequency of approximately 3 MHz under various measurement conditions, including an unused ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic transducer that has been used for a short period of time, and an ultrasonic transducer that has been overused.

[0144] An ultrasonic transducer according to an embodiment may be forcibly polarized during manufacturing. Polarization is a phenomenon in which the average positions of negative and positive charges are separated, resulting in a dipole moment. That is, forcibly polarized transducers have positive and negative charges on both sides of the transducer. As the ultrasonic transducer continues to be used, the forcibly polarized transducer tends to gradually return to its original state. Ultrasonic transducers are designed to generate ultrasound at a resonant frequency, and the forcibly polarized transducer acts as a frequency filter. The more the ultrasonic transducer is used, the weaker the forcibly polarized transducer becomes, resulting in a degradation of performance. If the polarization returns to its original state, the frequency filter function may be lost.

[0145] Referring to the graph of Figure 5c, the graph of the unused state (first state) shows that the impedance characteristics according to frequency are clear. The graph of the ultrasonic transducer in the short-term used state (second state) shows that the characteristics are still present, but are not as clear in the first state. According to one embodiment, the first state and the second state indicate that the ultrasonic transducer is in a normal state.

[0146] It can be seen from the graph that when the ultrasonic transducer is overused (state 3) or is in a faulty state, the measured impedance does not change significantly even when the signal frequency changes. State 3 above is a state in which the ultrasonic transducer is not operating normally.

[0147] In one embodiment, when a resonant frequency is used in step 521 to determine the state of an ultrasonic transducer, the frequency applied to the ultrasonic transducer must be different from the resonant frequency because the impedance of the ultrasonic transducer does not change significantly depending on the state of the transducer. For example, at the resonant frequency (e.g., 3 MHz), Figure 5c confirms that the impedance remains the same regardless of the state of the ultrasonic transducer. In other words, unless the frequency of the signal applied to the ultrasonic transducer is an appropriate value other than the resonant frequency (e.g., 1.3 MHz, 1.7 MHz, or 2.0 MHz), it is impossible to determine whether the ultrasonic transducer is in the first, second, or third state. In an embodiment according to the present disclosure, the frequencies that can be applied to the ultrasonic transducer are not limited to the frequencies shown in the graph of Figure 5c.

[0148] To determine the state of the ultrasonic transducer according to one embodiment, in step 523, the control unit of the aerosol generating device 200 determines whether the measured impedance value exceeds a first threshold. The first threshold may be equal to or less than the impedance value of the ultrasonic transducer in the first state or the impedance value of the ultrasonic transducer in the second state. For example, if the impedance value in the first state is approximately 120 Ω and the impedance value in the second state is approximately 170 Ω at a frequency of 1.3 MHz, both the first and second states are normal. Therefore, the lower of the two impedance values, 120 Ω, can be set as the impedance value in the normal state range taking error into consideration, and the first threshold can be set to approximately 100 Ω. Since the impedance value in the third state is smaller than 100 Ω, it is determined that the ultrasonic transducer in the third state is not operating normally.

[0149] To determine the state of the ultrasonic transducer according to one embodiment, in step 523, the aerosol generating device 200 determines that the state of the ultrasonic transducer is normal if the difference between the first impedance value measured at the first frequency of the signal and the second impedance value measured at the second frequency of the signal is equal to or greater than a second threshold. Here, either the first frequency or the second frequency may be a resonant frequency. At the resonant frequency, the ultrasonic transducers in the first, second, and third states all have extremely low impedances (e.g., approximately 10 Ω to 30 Ω). Meanwhile, at many frequencies other than the resonant frequency, the ultrasonic transducers in the first and second states have impedances above a certain value (e.g., 50 Ω). However, the ultrasonic transducer in the third state still has a low impedance (e.g., an impedance value below 50 Ω). Therefore, the change in the impedance value of the ultrasonic transducer in the third state is not as large as the impedance values ​​in the first and second states.

[0150] For example, the impedance of an ultrasonic transducer may be measured for a first frequency of 2.0 MHz and a second frequency of 3.0 MHz. In the first state, the first impedance value corresponding to the first frequency may be measured to be approximately 170 Ω, and the second impedance value corresponding to the second frequency may be measured to be approximately 30 Ω. In the second state, the first impedance value may be measured to be approximately 120 Ω, and the second impedance value may be measured to be approximately 30 Ω. That is, in an ultrasonic transducer in a normal state, the difference between the first and second impedance values ​​is approximately 140 Ω, so approximately 100 Ω is set as the second threshold. Here, in the third state, the first impedance value may be approximately 25 Ω, and the second impedance value may be close to 0 Ω. That is, the difference between the first and second impedance values ​​is smaller than the second threshold. Therefore, in this case, it can be determined that the performance of the ultrasonic transducer in the third state has deteriorated. The first frequency, the second frequency, the first threshold, and the second threshold may vary depending on the embodiment.

[0151] In the described embodiment, two elements being "connected" means that the elements are connected to each other when a removable part of the aerosol generating device 200 containing one element (e.g., cartridge 220) is coupled to another removable part of the aerosol generating device 200 containing the other element (e.g., main body 210).

[0152] FIG. 6 shows a full-bridge mode drive circuit according to one embodiment.

[0153] The description with reference to FIGS. 5a and 5b also applies to the description with reference to FIG. 6, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0154] The driving circuit 600 according to one embodiment includes a first electrical contact 611 connected to a first end of a vibrator 610 (e.g., the ultrasonic vibrator 222 in FIG. 2 ) to supply power to the vibrator 610, a second electrical contact 613 connected to a second end of the vibrator 610, an inductor 620 (e.g., a coil) connected to the first electrical contact 611 (a first end of the inductor 620 is connected to the first electrical contact 611), a first switch (SW1) 631 having a source end connected to the second end of the inductor 620, and a second switch (SW2) 633 having a drain end connected to the second end of the inductor 620 (the source of the second switch 633). The first switch 631 includes a first power supply 601 that provides a voltage to the drain terminal of the first switch 631 and the drain terminal of the third switch 635, a second power supply (V2) 603 that provides a voltage to the gate terminal of the first switch 631 and the gate terminal of the fourth switch 637, and a third power supply (V3) 605 that provides a voltage to the gate terminal of the second switch 633 and the gate terminal of the third switch 635. For example, the first switch 631, the second switch 633, the third switch 635, and the fourth switch 637 may each be a FET-based switch.

[0155] According to one embodiment, the vibrator 610 is included in the cartridge unit, and when the cartridge unit is mechanically coupled to the main body unit, the vibrator 610 is electrically connected to a first electrical contact 611 and a second electrical contact 613 of the drive circuit 600. When the first electrical contact 611 and the second electrical contact 613 are connected via the vibrator 610, the control unit 214 recognizes the coupling of the vibrator 610 and can supply power to the vibrator 610 via the drive circuit 600.

[0156] In one embodiment, the first power supply 601 can provide a DC voltage to the drain terminal of the first switch 631 and the drain terminal of the third switch 635. For example, the DC voltage is 15 V or less (e.g., 10 V), and is not limited to the described embodiment.

[0157] According to one embodiment, the second power supply 603 can provide a first AC voltage to the gate terminal of the first switch 631 and the gate terminal of the fourth switch 637, and the third power supply 605 can provide a second AC voltage to the gate terminal of the second switch 633 and the gate terminal of the third switch 635. For example, the peak value of the first AC voltage and the peak value of the second AC voltage can each be 4 V or less, and are not limited to the described embodiment.

[0158] In one embodiment, the second power source and the third power source can operate alternately, i.e., the second power source and the third power source may not operate simultaneously. The voltage between the first end and the second end of the vibrator 610 provided by the driving circuit 600 may be 100 V or more, and is not limited to the described embodiment.

[0159] When using the driving circuit 600, a high voltage can be applied to generate vibration of the vibrator 610 even at a low voltage (e.g., 10V) compared to a driving circuit in the form of a boost converter, which requires a high voltage (e.g., 17V) for the switch.

[0160] The voltage applied to the switch of the drive circuit 600 is a voltage (e.g., 10 V) directly applied to the drain of the switch, so there is no need to use a switch that can withstand high voltages. Therefore, a switch with low Rds(on) resistance is used in the drive circuit 600, which can reduce overheating of components.

[0161] FIG. 7 shows a drive circuit capable of switching between full-bridge mode and half-bridge mode according to one embodiment.

[0162] According to one embodiment, compared to the drive circuit 500 shown in FIG. 5 , the drive circuit 700 may further include a fifth switch 738 connected to the second electrical contact 713, and a sixth switch 739 located between the drain terminal of the third switch 735 and the first power supply 701 (the source terminal of the sixth switch 739 is connected to the drain terminal of the third switch 735, and the drain terminal of the sixth switch 739 is connected to the first power supply 701). For example, a first control signal provided to the gate terminal of the fifth switch 738 and a second control signal provided to the gate of the sixth switch 739 are different from each other, and the first control signal and the second control signal are provided by the controller 214. When the first control signal is LOW and the second control signal is HIGH, the drive circuit 700 operates in full-bridge mode. Conversely, when the first control signal is HIGH and the second control signal is LOW, the drive circuit 700 operates in half-bridge mode. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an equivalent circuit 800 of the drive circuit 700 operating in half-bridge mode.

[0163] FIG. 8 shows an equivalent circuit of a drive circuit operating in half-bridge mode according to one embodiment.

[0164] According to one embodiment, when the second power supply 703 and the third power supply 705 are alternately operated, the direction of the current flowing through the vibrator 710 may also be alternated.

[0165] In the half-bridge mode, the maximum voltage applied to the vibrating unit 710 is reduced compared to the full-bridge mode, but the total power consumed by the driving circuit 700 is also reduced. Therefore, when the aerosol generating device 200 needs to generate a relatively small amount of aerosol, the half-bridge mode can be used.

[0166] The above-described embodiments may be implemented using hardware components, software components, and / or a combination of hardware and software components. For example, the devices, methods, and components described in the embodiments may be implemented using a general-purpose computer or a special-purpose computer, such as a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, or other adaptive supersampling device capable of executing and responding to commands. The processing device may execute an operating system (OS) and software applications that run on the operating system. The processing device may also access, store, manipulate, process, and generate data in response to the execution of software. For ease of understanding, a single processing device may be described as being used, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the processing device may include multiple processing elements and / or multiple types of processing elements. For example, the processing device may include multiple processors or one processor and one controller. Other processing configurations are also possible, such as parallel processors.

[0167] Software may include computer programs, code, instructions, or any combination thereof, capable of configuring a processing device or instructing the processing device, either individually or collectively, as desired. The software and / or data may be permanently embodied in any type of machine, component, physical device, virtual device, computer storage medium, or device, or transmitted signal wave, to be interpreted by the processing device or to provide instructions or data to the processing device. The software may be distributed over networked computer systems and stored or executed in a distributed manner. The software and data may be stored on a computer-readable recording medium.

[0168] The method according to the present invention may be embodied in the form of program instructions that can be executed by various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The recording medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like, alone or in combination. The recording medium and program instructions may be specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or may be well-known and available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape, optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, magneto-optical media such as floptical disks, and hardware devices specially configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine language code, such as that generated by a compiler, but also high-level language code that is executed by a computer using an interpreter, for example.

[0169] The hardware adaptive supersampling devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software models to perform the operations shown in this invention, and vice versa.

[0170] Although the embodiments have been described above with reference to limited drawings, those skilled in the art may apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above description. For example, the described techniques may be performed in a different order than described, and / or the components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, etc. may be combined or combined in a different manner than described, and may be replaced or substituted with other components or equivalents, while still achieving suitable results.

[0171] Accordingly, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents of the claims are intended to fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. A method for determining the state of an ultrasound transducer performed by an electronic device, comprising: changing the frequency of a signal applied to an ultrasonic transducer via a drive circuit of the electronic device one or more times; measuring the impedance of the ultrasonic transducer at the frequency; determining a state of the ultrasound transducer based on the measured impedance value; 10. A method for determining the state of an ultrasonic transducer, comprising:

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of changing the frequency of the signal includes the step of changing the frequency of the signal to a non-resonant frequency that is different from a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic transducer.

3. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of measuring the impedance includes the step of measuring a current flowing through the ultrasonic transducer and determining the impedance value from the current flow.

4. The step of determining the state of the ultrasound transducer comprises: determining that the ultrasonic transducer is in a normal state if the measured impedance value exceeds a first threshold at a non-resonant frequency; The method of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold value is a lowest impedance value of preset impedances corresponding to a normal state of the ultrasonic transducer at the non-resonant frequency.

5. 2. The method for determining the state of an ultrasonic vibrator according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the state of the ultrasonic vibrator includes a step of determining that the state of the ultrasonic vibrator is normal if a difference between a first impedance value measured at a first frequency and a second impedance value measured at a second frequency is equal to or greater than a second threshold value.

6. The method for determining a state of an ultrasonic transducer according to claim 5 , wherein the first frequency or the second frequency is a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic transducer.

7. A computer program stored on a computer-readable recording medium for performing the method of claim 1 in combination with hardware.

8. a drive circuit for driving a vibrator of a cartridge that is detachably coupled to the electronic device; A control unit that changes the frequency of the signal applied to the ultrasonic transducer one or more times via a frequency generator included in the driving circuit, measures the impedance of the ultrasonic transducer according to the frequency, and determines the state of the ultrasonic transducer based on the measured impedance value; 2. An electronic device comprising:

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