Aerosol generating device and control method thereof

Abstract

The aerosol generating device according to the embodiment includes a heater for heating an aerosol generating material, a rechargeable battery for supplying power to the heater, and a processor for controlling the charging of the battery from an external power source and controlling the output of the battery to control the temperature of the heater. The processor monitors the charge / discharge cycle of the battery and controls the full charge voltage and battery output when charging the battery based on the charge / discharge cycle, thereby ensuring a reliable number of cigarettes for the user.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device and a control method thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] Demand for aerosol generating devices that generate aerosols in a non-combustion manner, replacing the method of generating aerosols by burning cigarettes, is increasing. The aerosol generating device is, for example, a device that generates aerosols in a non-combustion manner from an aerosol generating material and supplies the aerosol to a user, or a device that generates a flavored aerosol by passing vapor generated from the aerosol generating material through a flavor medium.

[0003] Aerosol generating devices generally use rechargeable batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries, as their power source, and the performance of the battery plays an important role in the reliability and safety of the aerosol generating device. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional aerosol generators do not have a function to control battery performance regardless of the period or number of times of use. Therefore, as battery use increases, internal resistance increases, causing voltage deviation. This leads to a decrease in battery performance and the battery may not be usable for the battery manufacturer's warranty period or the device may not be usable for the number of cigarettes guaranteed per charge, resulting in a decrease in user reliability. Furthermore, the decrease in battery performance and rapid battery deterioration can cause various problems in device stability.

[0005] Various embodiments of the present invention aim to not only increase the reliability of a user's device but also enhance battery efficiency and safety even when the battery is used for a long period of time by adjusting the full charge voltage depending on the number of battery charge / discharge cycles and the period of use.

[0006] The problems to be solved through the embodiments are not limited to the problems described above, and problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments pertain from this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a heater for heating an aerosol generating material, a rechargeable battery for supplying power to the heater, and a processor for controlling charging of the battery from an external power source, controlling the output of the battery, and controlling the temperature of the heater, wherein the processor monitors the charge / discharge cycle of the battery and controls the full charge voltage and the output of the battery when charging the battery based on the charge / discharge cycle.

[0008] The processor may determine that 100% charge and 100% discharge are one cycle based on the SOC (State of Charge) of the battery, and may set the full charge voltage to a first voltage lower than the initial full charge voltage if the accumulated number of cycles is greater than a first critical number of cycles.

[0009] The first critical number of cycles is a number of cycles that is less than the number of charge / discharge cycles that is preset by the manufacturer to guarantee the performance of the battery.

[0010] The aerosol generating device may further include a puff sensor that senses a user's puffs, and the processor may monitor the charge / discharge cycle based on the accumulated number of puffs.

[0011] The processor may accumulate the number of puffs reflecting puff characteristic data including puff intensity and puff period.

[0012] The aerosol generating device further includes a connection terminal that detects the attachment and detachment of a cartridge storing a predetermined amount of aerosol generating material to and from the storage space of the aerosol generating device, and the processor can count the number of times the cartridge is replaced and monitor the charge / discharge cycle based on the accumulated number of replacements.

[0013] The aerosol generating device includes at least one temperature sensor selected from a temperature sensor that senses the ambient temperature of the aerosol generating device and a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the battery, and the processor may set a charging current to a current lower than a preset charging current when charging the battery if the temperature sensed by the at least one temperature sensor is lower than a critical temperature.

[0014] The processor may set a discharge current at the time of outputting the battery to a current lower than a preset discharge current when the temperature sensed by the at least one temperature sensor is lower than a critical temperature.

[0015] The aerosol generating device may further include a charging circuit unit that controls charging of the battery, and the charging circuit unit may determine the number of accumulated cycles based on a State of Charge (SOC) of the battery.

[0016] The charging circuit may adjust at least one of a full charge voltage and a charging current when charging the battery under the control of the processor.

[0017] The processor may set the full charge voltage to a second voltage lower than the first voltage when the accumulated number of cycles is greater than a second critical number of cycles that is greater than the first critical number of cycles.

[0018] A method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention includes monitoring a charge / discharge cycle of a battery, and controlling a full charge voltage and an output of the battery when charging the battery based on the charge / discharge cycle.

[0019] The method for controlling the aerosol generating device may further include determining that 100% charge and 100% discharge are one cycle based on the SOC (State of Charge) of the battery, and if the accumulated number of cycles is greater than a first critical number of cycles, setting the full charge voltage to a first voltage lower than an initial full charge voltage.

[0020] The first critical number of cycles is a number of cycles that is less than the number of charge / discharge cycles that is preset by the manufacturer to guarantee the performance of the battery.

[0021] The present invention also includes a recording medium having a program recorded thereon for causing a computer to execute a method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] The aerosol generating device according to various embodiments of the present invention can enhance battery efficiency and safety even when using the battery for a long period of time by adjusting the full charge voltage and output current depending on the number of times and duration of battery charge and discharge.

[0023] Furthermore, the user can use the aerosol generating device for the number of charge / discharge cycles guaranteed by the battery manufacturer without any deterioration in battery performance, thereby increasing the user's reliability of the device.

[0024] Furthermore, the increased efficiency and safety of the battery can solve various problems caused by battery fires.

[0025] The effects of the embodiments are not limited to those described above, and any unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments pertain from this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1]1 is a diagram showing an example in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing an example in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram showing an example in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [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. 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of functional modules of a processor according to the embodiment of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment. [Figure 9] 9 is an exemplary diagram illustrating the relationship between charge / discharge cycles and full charge voltage according to the embodiment of FIG. 8. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of an aerosol generating device according to yet another embodiment. [Figure 11] 11 is an exemplary diagram illustrating the relationship between temperature and charging current according to the embodiment of FIG. 10. FIG. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of an aerosol generating device according to yet another embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to yet another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The terms used in the embodiments are currently commonly used terms, and have been selected as much as possible while taking into consideration the functions of the present invention. However, this may vary depending on the intentions of engineers in the field, precedents, the emergence of new technologies, etc. In addition, in certain cases, the applicant may arbitrarily select terms, and in such cases, their meanings will be described in detail in the description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the overall content of the present invention, rather than simply the names of the terms.

[0028] When a part of the entire specification "includes" a certain component, this does not mean excluding other components, but means that other components are further included, 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 this may be realized by hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can easily understand and practice the present invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0031] 1 to 3 are diagrams showing an example in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

[0032] 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.

[0033] The aerosol generating device 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3 includes components related to the present embodiment. Therefore, a person skilled in the art will understand that the aerosol generating device 1 further includes other general components in addition to the components shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0034] 2 and 3 show that the aerosol generating device 1 includes the heater 13, but the heater 13 may be omitted if necessary.

[0035] In Fig. 1, the battery 11, the control unit 12, and the heater 13 are illustrated as being arranged in a row. In Fig. 2, the battery 11, the control unit 12, the vaporizer 14, and the heater 13 are illustrated as being arranged in a row. In Fig. 3, the vaporizer 14 and the heater 13 are illustrated as being arranged in parallel. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generation device 1 is not limited to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3. That is, the arrangement of the battery 11, the control unit 12, the heater 13, and the vaporizer 14 may be changed depending on the design of the aerosol generation device 1.

[0036] When the cigarette 2 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, the aerosol generating device 1 may activate the heater 13 and / or the vaporizer 14 to generate an aerosol. The aerosol generated by the heater 13 and / or the vaporizer 14 passes through the cigarette 2 and is delivered to the user.

[0037] If necessary, the aerosol generation device 1 can heat the heater 13 even when no cigarette 2 is inserted in the aerosol generation device 1.

[0038] The battery 11 supplies power used for operating the aerosol generation device 1. For example, the battery 11 can supply power to heat the heater 13 or the vaporizer 14, and can also supply power necessary for operating the control unit 12. The battery 11 can also supply power necessary for operating the display, sensors, motors, and the like provided in the aerosol generation device 1.

[0039] 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 status of each component of the aerosol generation device 1 and determine whether the aerosol generation device 1 is in an operable state.

[0040] The control unit 12 includes at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of a number of logic gates, or may be implemented by 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 processor may also be implemented as other types of hardware.

[0041] The heater 13 may 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 may be located outside the cigarette. Thus, the heated heater 13 may increase the temperature of the aerosol generating material within the cigarette.

[0042] 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 by passing a current through the conductive track. However, the heater is not limited to the above example, and may be any heater that can heat up 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.

[0043] Meanwhile, 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 that can be heated by the induction heater.

[0044] 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.

[0045] A plurality of heaters 13 may be arranged in the aerosol generating 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 may be produced.

[0046] 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.

[0047] For example, the vaporizer 14 may include, but is not limited to, a liquid storage unit, a liquid transfer means, and a heating element, and for example, the liquid storage unit, the liquid transfer means, and the heating element are included in the aerosol generation device 1 as independent modules.

[0048] The liquid storage unit can store a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition can be a liquid containing a tobacco-containing substance including a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquid containing a non-tobacco substance. The liquid storage unit can be configured to be detachable from or attached to the vaporizer 14, or can be configured as an integral part of the vaporizer 14.

[0049] For example, the liquid composition may contain water, solvent, ethanol, plant extract, fragrance, flavoring, or vitamin mixture. Flavoring may include, but is not limited to, menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, various fruit fragrance components, etc. Flavoring may include components that provide a variety of 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 composition may also include an aerosol-forming agent such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

[0050] The liquid transfer means can transfer the liquid composition of the liquid storage portion as a heating element. For example, the liquid transfer means can be a wick such as, but not limited to, cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic.

[0051] The heating element is an element for heating the liquid composition transferred by the liquid transfer means. For example, the heating element may be, but is not limited to, a metal hot wire, a metal hot plate, a ceramic heater, or the like. The heating element may also be made of a conductive filament such as a nichrome wire and arranged in a structure wound around the liquid transfer means. The heating element is heated by supplying an electric current and transfers heat to the liquid composition in contact with the heating element, thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, an aerosol may be generated.

[0052] For example, the vaporizer 14 may also be referred to as, but is not limited to, a cartomizer or an atomizer.

[0053] 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.

[0054] 1 to 3, the aerosol generation device 1 may constitute a system together with a separate cradle. For example, the cradle may be used to charge the battery 11 of the aerosol generation device 1. Alternatively, the heater 13 may heat the aerosol generation device 1 when the cradle and the aerosol generation device 1 are combined.

[0055] The cigarette 2 may be similar to a typical combustion cigarette. For example, the cigarette 2 may be divided into a first portion containing an aerosol-generating material and a second portion containing a filter or the like. Alternatively, the second portion of the cigarette 2 may also contain an aerosol-generating material. For example, the aerosol-generating material in the form of granules or capsules may be inserted into the second portion.

[0056] 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 portion of the first part may be inserted into the aerosol generation device 1, and the entire first part and a portion of the second part may be inserted. A user may inhale the aerosol while holding the second part in their mouth. In this case, the aerosol is generated by external air passing through the first part, and the generated aerosol passes through the second part and is delivered to the user's mouth.

[0057] 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.

[0058] An example of the cigarette 2 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0059] 4 and 5 are drawings showing examples of cigarettes.

[0060] 4, the cigarette 2 includes a tobacco rod 21 and a filter rod 22. The first portion 21 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 includes the tobacco rod 21, and the second portion 22 includes the filter rod 22.

[0061] 4 illustrates the filter rod 22 as a single segment, but is not limited to this. That is, the filter rod 22 may be composed of multiple segments. For example, the filter rod 22 may include a segment that cools the aerosol and a segment that filters a predetermined component contained in the aerosol. If necessary, the filter rod 22 may also include at least one additional segment that performs another function.

[0062] The cigarette 2 may have a diameter in the range of 5 mm to 9 mm and a length of approximately 48 mm, but is not limited thereto. For example, the tobacco rod 21 may have a length of approximately 12 mm, the first segment of the filter rod 22 may have a length of approximately 10 mm, the second segment of the filter rod 22 may have a length of approximately 14 mm, and the third segment of the filter rod 22 may have a length of approximately 12 mm, but is not limited thereto.

[0063] The cigarette 2 may be wrapped using at least one wrapper 24. The wrapper 24 may have at least one hole formed therein, allowing external air to flow in or internal gas to 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 rewrapped using a single 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.

[0064] 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 oil paper and / or aluminum laminated paper wrapping material.

[0065] The third wrapper 243 may be made of hard wrapping paper. For example, the basis weight of the third wrapper 243 may be 88 g / m 2 ~96g / m 2 and preferably 90 g / m 2 ~94g / m 2 The thickness of the third wrapper 243 may be within the range of 120 μm to 130 μm, and is preferably 125 μm.

[0066] 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 may be within the range of 120 μm to 130 μm, and is preferably 125 μm.

[0067] 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 within the range of 60 g / m 2 The thickness of the fifth wrapper 245 is in the range of 64 μm to 70 μm, and is preferably 67 μm.

[0068] A predetermined material may be added to the fifth wrapper 245. Examples of the predetermined material include, but are 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 material other than silicon that has the above-mentioned properties may be applied (or coated) to the fifth wrapper 245 without limitation.

[0069] The fifth wrapper 245 can prevent the cigarette 2 from burning. For example, if the tobacco rod 210 is heated by the heater 13, the cigarette 2 may burn. 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 burn. Even in such a case, the fifth wrapper 245 can prevent the cigarette 2 from burning because it contains a non-combustible substance.

[0070] 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, a liquid substance (e.g., moisture) can be generated when the aerosol generated in the cigarette 2 is cooled by external air. By wrapping the cigarette 2 with the fifth wrapper 245, the liquid substance generated in the cigarette 2 can be prevented from leaking outside the cigarette 2.

[0071] The tobacco rod 21 includes an aerosol-forming material. For example, the aerosol-forming material may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol, but is not limited to these. The tobacco rod 21 may also include other additives, such as flavoring agents, humectants, and / or organic acids. A flavoring liquid, such as menthol or a humectant, may also be added to the tobacco rod 21 by being sprayed onto the tobacco rod 21.

[0072] The tobacco rod 21 may be manufactured in various ways. For example, the tobacco rod 21 may be manufactured in the form of a sheet or strand. The tobacco rod 21 may also be manufactured from shredded tobacco, which is a tobacco sheet cut into small pieces. The tobacco rod 21 may also be surrounded by a thermally conductive material. For example, the thermally conductive material may be a metal foil such as aluminum foil, but is not limited to this. In one embodiment, the thermally conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 21 may uniformly distribute heat transferred to the tobacco rod 21, improving the thermal conductivity of the tobacco rod and thereby improving the tobacco taste. The thermally conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 21 may also function as a susceptor that is heated by an induction heater. In this case, although not shown in the drawings, the tobacco rod 21 may further include a susceptor in addition to the thermally conductive material surrounding the exterior.

[0073] The filter rod 22 is also a cellulose acetate filter. However, the shape of the filter rod 22 is not limited. For example, the filter rod 22 may be a cylindrical rod or a tubular rod with a hollow interior. The filter rod 22 may also be a recessed rod. If the filter rod 22 is composed of multiple segments, at least one of the multiple segments may be manufactured to have a different shape.

[0074] The first segment of the filter rod 22 may also be a cellulose acetate filter. For example, the first segment may be a tubular structure having a hollow interior. When the heater 13 is inserted through the first segment, it may prevent the internal material of the tobacco rod 210 from being pushed back and may also have a cooling effect on the aerosol. The diameter of the hollow interior of the first segment may be, but is not limited to, an appropriate diameter within the range of 2 mm to 4.5 mm.

[0075] 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.

[0076] 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.

[0077] 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.

[0078] The length or diameter of the second segment may be determined in various ways depending on the shape of the cigarette 2. For example, the length of the second segment may be appropriately set within the range of 7 mm to 20 mm. Preferably, the length of the second segment is approximately 14 mm, but is not limited thereto.

[0079] The second segment may be made by weaving polymer fibers. In this case, a fragrance liquid may be applied to the polymer fibers. Alternatively, the second segment may be made by weaving a separate fiber coated with a fragrance liquid and a polymer fiber together. Alternatively, the second segment may be formed from a crimped polymer sheet.

[0080] 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.

[0081] When the second segment is formed from woven polymer fibers or a crimped polymer sheet, the second segment may include one or more longitudinally extending channels, where channel refers to a passageway through which a gas (e.g., air or aerosol) passes.

[0082] For example, the second segment of crimped polymer sheet can be made of a material having a thickness between about 5 μm and about 300 μm, e.g., between about 10 μm and about 250 μm, and the total surface area of ​​the second segment can be less than about 300 mm 2 / mm and approximately 1000mm 2 / mm. The aerosol cooling element has a specific surface area of ​​approximately 10 mm 2 / mg and about 100mm 2 / mg of material.

[0083] Meanwhile, the second segment may include 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.

[0084] The third segment of the filter rod 22 is also a cellulose acetate filter. The length of the third segment may be suitably within the range of 4 mm to 20 mm. For example, the length of the third segment may be approximately 12 mm, but is not limited thereto.

[0085] During the manufacturing process of the third segment, a flavoring liquid may be sprayed onto the third segment to generate a flavor. 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 via the third segment. Therefore, when a flavoring element is added to the third segment, the effect of improving the persistence of the flavor delivered to the user may be achieved.

[0086] The filter rod 22 may also include at least one capsule 23. The capsule 23 may function to generate a flavor or generate an aerosol. For example, the capsule 23 may have a structure that encases a liquid containing a flavoring agent with a coating. The capsule 23 may have, but is not limited to, a spherical or cylindrical shape.

[0087] 5, the cigarette 3 may further include a front-end plug 33. The front-end plug 33 may be located on one side of the tobacco rod 31 facing the filter rod 32. The front-end plug 33 prevents the tobacco rod 31 from detaching to the outside, and may prevent aerosol liquefied from the tobacco rod 31 during smoking from flowing into the aerosol generating device (1 in FIGS. 1 to 3).

[0088] Filter rod 32 may include a first segment 321 and a second segment 322. Here, first segment 321 may correspond to the first segment of filter rod 22 of FIG. 4, and second segment 322 may correspond to the third segment of filter rod 22 of FIG. 4.

[0089] The diameter and overall length of cigarette 3 may correspond to the diameter and overall length of cigarette 2 of Figure 4. For example, but not limited to, the length of front end plug 33 may be about 7 mm, the length of tobacco rod 31 may be about 15 mm, the length of first segment 321 may be about 12 mm, and the length of second segment 322 may be about 14 mm.

[0090] The cigarette 3 may be wrapped by 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 by a first wrapper 351, the tobacco rod 31 may be wrapped by a second wrapper 352, the first segment 321 may be wrapped by a third wrapper 353, and the second segment 322 may be wrapped by a fourth wrapper 354. The entire cigarette 3 may then be rewrapped by a fifth wrapper 355.

[0091] Additionally, 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 the area 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.

[0092] The second segment 322 may also include at least one capsule 34. The capsule 34 may function to generate a flavor or to generate an aerosol. For example, the capsule 34 may have a structure that encases a liquid containing a flavoring agent with a coating. The capsule 34 may have, but is not limited to, a spherical or cylindrical shape.

[0093] 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 It is also.

[0094] The second wrapper 352 and the third wrapper 353 may be made of common filter wrapping paper, for example, the second wrapper 352 and the third wrapper 353 may be porous wrapping paper or non-porous wrapping paper.

[0095] 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 It is also.

[0096] 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 a 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 It is also.

[0097] The fourth wrapper 354 may be made of PLA laminated paper. Here, PLA laminated paper refers to a triple layer of 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 It is also.

[0098] The fifth wrapper 355 may also 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 within the range of 60 g / m 2The thickness of the fifth wrapper 355 is in the range of 64 μm to 70 μm, and is preferably 67 μm.

[0099] A predetermined material may be added to the fifth wrapper 355. An example of the predetermined material may be, but is not limited to, silicon. For example, silicon has properties such as heat resistance (i.e., little change with temperature), oxidation resistance (i.e., no oxidation), resistance to various chemicals, water repellency, and electrical insulation. However, any material other than silicon that has the above-mentioned properties may be applied (or coated) to the fifth wrapper 355 without limitation.

[0100] The front end plug 33 may be made of cellulose acetate. For 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 may be in the range of 1.0 to 10.0, preferably in the range of 4.0 to 6.0. More preferably, the mono-denier of the filaments constituting the front end plug 33 may be 5.0. The cross section of the filaments constituting the front end plug 33 may be Y-shaped. The total denier of the front end plug 33 may be in the range of 20,000 to 30,000, preferably in the range of 25,000 to 30,000. More preferably, the total denier of the front end plug 33 may be 28,000.

[0101] Also, if desired, the front end plug 33 includes at least one channel, the cross-sectional shape of which can be made to vary.

[0102] The tobacco rod 31 may correspond 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.

[0103] 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 may be the same as the mono-denier and total denier of the front end plug 33.

[0104] The second segment 322 may be made of cellulose acetate. The mono-denier of the filaments constituting the second segment 322 may be within the range of 1.0 to 10.0, and 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 may be Y-shaped. The total denier of the second segment 322 may be within the range of 20,000 to 30,000, and preferably 25,000.

[0105] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

[0106] Referring to FIG. 6, the aerosol generating device includes a processor 600, a charging circuit unit 610, and a battery 611. The aerosol generating device according to the embodiment adjusts the full charge voltage and battery output during battery charging depending on the number of battery charge / discharge cycles and the length of use, thereby improving the reliability of the device for users. For example, in a cigarette-type aerosol generating device (the aerosol generating device described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3), the battery capacity is set so that a fully charged battery can be used to consume or smoke approximately one pack of cigarettes, i.e., 20 cigarettes. However, as a user uses the aerosol generating device for a longer period of time, the battery deteriorates. As a result, even if the battery is fully charged, the user cannot consume 20 cigarettes. Instead, the battery may be completely discharged after consuming 15 cigarettes. This causes the user the inconvenience of having to recharge the battery even though there are still 5 cigarettes remaining, which reduces the reliability of the aerosol generating device or the battery. The aerosol generating device according to the embodiment can provide the user with a sufficient number of cigarettes guaranteed by the aerosol generating device by lowering the full charge voltage when charging the battery or by lowering the battery output current to a certain level, taking into account the number of times the battery is charged and discharged and the length of use.

[0107] Referring again to FIG. 6, the processor 600 controls the overall operation of the aerosol generating device. The processor 600 controls charging of the battery 611 from an external power source, for example, a commercial power source, and controls the output of the battery 611 to control the temperature of the heater. Here, the heater (not shown) may include, but is not limited to, the heater 13 or the vaporizer 14 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. According to an embodiment, the processor 600 monitors the charge / discharge cycle of the battery 611 and controls the full charge voltage and output of the battery 611 when charging the battery 611 based on the charge / discharge cycle. Here, a charge / discharge cycle refers to a case where the battery 611 is 100% charged and then 100% discharged again. For example, based on the battery SOC (State of Charge, hereinafter referred to as SOC), one cycle may be defined as a total of 200% accumulated charge and discharge. Here, the full charge voltage refers to the voltage value when the battery is 100% charged. For example, in the case of a cylindrical lithium-ion battery, the full charge voltage is 4.2 V, the cut-off voltage is 3.0 V, and the nominal voltage is approximately 3.6 V to 3.8 V. This varies by approximately 0.1 to 0.2 V depending on the manufacturer. The processor 600 adjusts the full charge voltage, charging current, and output current during charging or discharging of the battery 6110 according to the charge / discharge cycle, thereby ensuring a sufficient number of cigarettes guaranteed by the aerosol generating device without reducing user confidence despite a decrease in battery performance.

[0108] The processor 600 may monitor the charge / discharge cycle of the battery 611 in various ways. In an embodiment, the processor 600 may count a cumulative 200%, which is the sum of 100% charge and 100% discharge, as one cycle based on the battery SOC. For example, if there is an 80% charge and an 80% discharge, it may not be counted immediately, but if there is a subsequent 20% charge and a 20% discharge, it may be determined that one cycle has been reached.

[0109] As an example, the processor 600 may calculate a count over the period of use of the aerosol generating device, in addition to or in parallel with the charge / discharge cycle of the battery, for example, counting once each day based on a timer.

[0110] As another example, processor 600 may count a number of puffs determined through a user's inhalation count, i.e., puff count, for example, 300 puffs, and determine this as one cycle, in addition to or in parallel with the battery charge / discharge cycle. Here, processor 600 may extract puff characteristics data for each user, including puff strength and puff period, and reflect such puff characteristic data in the number of puffs.

[0111] As yet another example, processor 600 may calculate a count based on the number of times a cartridge that stores aerosol-generating material is replaced, supplementary to or in parallel with the charge / discharge cycle of a battery. For example, if a liquid cartridge stores liquid aerosol-generating material for 20 cigarettes (14 puffs per cigarette), replacing such a cartridge 100 times may be determined to be 100 cycles.

[0112] As another example, the charging circuit unit 610 may count the charge / discharge cycles based on the SOC of the battery. The charging circuit unit 610 may transmit the counted number of charge / discharge cycles to the processor 600. The charging circuit unit 610 may also be a charging IC or a charger IC. The charging circuit unit 610 may monitor three factors, i.e., voltage, current, and temperature, during charging, and perform optimal charging control in terms of safely extending the life of the battery 611. The charging circuit unit 610 may charge the battery 611 through various charging methods, such as constant current charging (CC), constant voltage charging (CV), constant power charging (CP), and constant current / constant voltage charging (CCCV). Constant current constant voltage charging (CCCV) is a typical charging method for secondary batteries such as lithium-ion batteries. It switches between CC charging, which maintains a constant charging current, and CV charging, which maintains a constant voltage, depending on the battery voltage.

[0113] In yet another example, the processor 600 may adjust the cycle determination or full charge voltage reference ratio based on the battery degradation determination. That is, in addition to the cycle determination criteria according to the above-described embodiment, the processor 600 may add an additional weight to the full charge voltage value or the battery output current value according to the degree of battery degradation, and adjust the ratio at which the voltage value or the current value is reduced.

[0114] As yet another example, the battery 611 is not only provided in the aerosol generating device, but is also composed of the aerosol generating device (holder) and a case (cradle), and it goes without saying that when the aerosol generating device is inserted into the case for storage and charging, monitoring the charge / discharge cycle of the battery in the case (cradle) is equally applicable.

[0115] The processor 600 according to the embodiment determines the charge / discharge cycle of the battery 611 using the various methods described above, and it goes without saying that the methods may be applied in a complementary manner or in parallel to each other. Specific functional modules of the processor 600 will be described later with reference to FIG. 7.

[0116] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of functional modules of a processor according to the embodiment of FIG.

[0117] 7, processor 600 may include a charge / discharge condition setting unit 700, a charge / discharge cycle determination unit 710, a low temperature condition determination unit 720, a puff counting unit 730, a puff characteristic determination unit 740, and a cartridge replacement detection unit 750. It goes without saying that each component or determination function module may be implemented as a whole, partially omitted, or selectively implemented. It also goes without saying that processor 600 may perform each function as a whole, without being divided into individual function modules.

[0118] The charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 sets the full charge voltage during battery charging or the output current during discharge to a lower full charge voltage or output current depending on the monitoring result of the charge / discharge cycle. Also, if the temperature sensed from the ambient temperature of the aerosol generating device or the battery temperature is low, i.e., a low temperature condition, the charge current during battery charging is set to a current lower than the preset charge current. Also, the charge / discharge conditions may be set depending on the monitoring result of the charge / discharge cycle that reflects the number of inhalations or inhalation characteristics of the user. Also, the charge / discharge conditions may be set depending on the monitoring result of the charge / discharge cycle that reflects the number of cartridge replacements.

[0119] The charge / discharge cycle determination unit 710 determines whether the accumulated number of cycles is greater than a first critical number of cycles, determining that 100% charge and 100% discharge are one cycle based on the battery's SOC. If the accumulated number of cycles is greater than the first critical number of cycles, the charge / discharge cycle determination unit 710 outputs a control signal to the charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 to change the charge / discharge conditions.

[0120] The charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 sets conditions for changing the full charge voltage of the battery during charging or the output current of the battery during discharging according to the control signal. If the accumulated number of cycles is greater than a first critical cycle number, the charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 may set the full charge voltage to a first voltage lower than the initial full charge voltage or may set the output current to a first current lower than the initial output.

[0121] Here, the first critical cycle number is an arbitrary number. The first critical cycle number may be a number of cycles that is less than the number of charge / discharge cycles preset by the battery manufacturer to guarantee battery performance. For example, if the basic battery specifications provided by the battery manufacturer guarantee 80% efficiency after 300 charge / discharge cycles, the first critical cycle number may be 200, which is less than 300 cycles. Therefore, the aerosol generator can guarantee a sufficient number of smoking times (e.g., 20 cigarettes can be consumed or 20 liquid cartridges can be consumed with one 100% charge) by adjusting or reducing the full charge voltage during charging or the output current during discharging before performance degradation occurs due to battery deterioration.

[0122] 8 and 9, the regulation of the charge / discharge cycle and full charge voltage will be described.

[0123] 8, the number of charge / discharge cycles of the battery is determined in step 800. If the number of charge / discharge cycles is greater than the critical number in step 802, the full charge voltage is set to a value lower than the initial full charge voltage when charging the battery in step 804.

[0124] Referring to FIG. 9, when the battery's charge / discharge cycle count is between 0 and 200, the full charge voltage is maintained at 4.1V. When the charge / discharge cycle count is greater than 200, the full charge voltage is reduced to 3.8V. When the charge / discharge cycle count is greater than 300, the full charge voltage is reduced to 3.2V. Here, 300 charge / discharge cycles is the standard at which the battery manufacturer guarantees a battery efficiency of 80%. The full charge voltage is reduced based on 200 charge / discharge cycles, which is lower than the number of charge / discharge cycles guaranteed by the manufacturer, and can be further reduced when the number of charge / discharge cycles is greater than 300. While the full charge voltage is shown as being fixed based on the charge / discharge cycle count, this is not a limitation and the full charge voltage can be varied in proportion to the number of charge / discharge cycles. The full charge voltage and the number of charge / discharge cycles shown are merely examples and are not limiting. The full charge voltage and the charge / discharge cycle count may vary depending on the battery type, manufacturer specifications, usage conditions, and environment.

[0125] The low temperature condition determination unit 720 receives the ambient temperature and battery temperature of the aerosol generating device and determines whether the low temperature condition exists. For example, the low temperature condition determination unit 720 may receive temperature values ​​from a temperature sensor that detects the temperature outside or around the aerosol generating device and a battery temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the battery. If the received temperature is lower than a critical temperature, e.g., 10°C, the low temperature condition determination unit 720 transmits a control signal to the charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 to reduce the charging current below a preset charging current or reduce the output current below a preset output current. Here, 10°C is merely an example, and it goes without saying that other temperatures or more detailed temperature ranges can be set depending on general temperature conditions and environments.

[0126] The charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 sets the conditions for changing the charging current of the battery during charging or the output current during discharging, based on a control signal from the low temperature condition determining unit 720 .

[0127] 10 and 11, the low temperature condition and adjusting the charging current will be described.

[0128] Referring to FIG. 10, in step 1000, the ambient temperature or battery temperature of the aerosol generating device is sensed.

[0129] If the ambient temperature or the battery temperature is lower than the critical temperature in step 1002, the charging current is set to be lower than the initial charging current when charging the battery in step 1004, and the discharging current is set to be lower than the initial discharging current when discharging the battery in step 1006. Here, steps 1004 and 1006 may be performed selectively or in parallel.

[0130] 11, when the ambient temperature or battery temperature is 20°C, the normal charging current is maintained at 2A. When the ambient temperature or battery temperature drops below 20°C, the charging current is reduced to 1.5A, and when the ambient temperature or battery temperature drops below 10°C, the charging current is reduced to 1.2A. Here, 20°C and 10°C are merely examples, and it goes without saying that other temperatures or more specific temperature ranges can be set depending on general temperature conditions and environments. Furthermore, the charging currents of 2A, 1.5A, 1.2A, etc. are merely examples and are not limiting, and may vary depending on the battery type, manufacturer specifications, usage conditions, and environment.

[0131] The puff counting unit 730 counts the number of puffs made by the user and counts the accumulated number of puffs. The puff counting unit 730 may receive the number of puffs from a pressure sensor or a puff sensor disposed in an airflow channel for user inhalation inside the aerosol generating device. The puff counting unit 730 may estimate the user's puffs from a temperature change detected by a temperature sensor that detects a temperature change in the heater, a change in power supplied to the heater, or a change in dielectric constant detected by a sensor disposed near the aerosol generating material, and count the number of puffs accordingly. The puff counting unit 730 provides the accumulated number of puffs to the charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 or the charge / discharge cycle determination unit 710.

[0132] The charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 or the charge / discharge cycle determination unit 710 may determine the charge / discharge cycle using only the accumulated number of puffs and may supplement the accuracy of the accumulated charge / discharge cycles by determining one cycle based on 100% charge and 100% discharge based on the battery's SOC. For example, if the accumulated number of puffs is 60,000, this may correspond to 200 cycles of 100% charge and 100% discharge based on the battery SOC. Therefore, if the accumulated number of puffs is 60,000, the charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 may set a condition for lowering the battery's full charge voltage. In addition, the charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 may determine the charge / discharge cycle as the weighted average of the number of charge / discharge cycles determined based on the battery SOC and the accumulated number of puffs by the puff counting unit 730, and supplement the accuracy.

[0133] The puff characteristic determination unit 740 determines puff characteristic data including puff strength and puff cycle. Since the inhalation strength and inhalation cycle differ from user to user, the puff characteristic determination unit 740 determines such characteristics and provides them to the puff counting unit 730. The puff counting unit 730 reflects the puff characteristic data in the number of puffs actually counted.

[0134] The cartridge replacement detection unit 750 detects the number of cartridge replacements. The cartridge stores a predetermined amount of aerosol generating material and has a connection terminal for attachment and detachment in the storage space of the aerosol generating device. The aerosol generating material is liquid, and when the amount of liquid required for 20 cigarettes is depleted, the cartridge must be replaced with a new one. In an embodiment, the connection terminal is sensed to detect cartridge attachment and detachment, and such attachment and detachment is detected as the number of cartridge replacements. For example, if one cartridge replacement corresponds to one charge / discharge cycle and the number of cartridge replacements has reached 200, the charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 may set a condition for lowering the battery full charge voltage. Furthermore, the charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 may determine the charge / discharge cycle as a weighted average of the number of charge / discharge cycles determined based on the battery SOC standard and the number of replacements detected by the cartridge replacement detection unit 750, thereby enhancing accuracy. Adjusting cartridge replacement and full charge voltage will be described with reference to FIG. 12.

[0135] In yet another example, if the cartridge is a liquid cartridge, the remaining amount of liquid can be detected using a sensor, such as a capacitor sensor, to set the charging or discharging conditions, or if the condition is low temperature, the amount of discharge current can be adjusted.

[0136] 12, the number of cartridge replacements is counted in step 1200. If the number of replacements is greater than the critical number of replacements in step 1202, the full charge voltage is set to a value lower than the initial full charge voltage when charging the battery in step 1024.

[0137] In an embodiment, the charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 may receive a result of monitoring the charge / discharge cycle from at least one of the charge / discharge cycle determining unit 710, the low temperature condition determining unit 720, the puff counting unit 730, the puff characteristic determining unit 740, and the cartridge replacement detecting unit 750, and may control the full charge voltage, charging current, and battery output current during battery charging based on the charge / discharge cycle. The charge / discharge condition setting unit 700 may transmit a control signal to a charging IC (the charging circuit unit 610 shown in FIG. 6) for controlling the full charge voltage and charging current during charging. It may also transmit a control signal to a heater (the heater shown in FIGS. 1 to 3) or a heating IC (not shown) for controlling the battery output current. The charging IC may combine the various charging methods described above and control battery charging based on the control signal (full charge voltage condition, discharge current condition) transmitted to the charge / discharge condition setting unit 700. The processor 600 may also adjust the output current according to a power profile provided to the heater, or adjust the output current of the heating IC (not shown).

[0138] The aerosol generating device according to the embodiment can increase user trust and satisfaction by guaranteeing a sufficient number of smoking times guaranteed by the device itself and maximally delaying the battery from becoming unusable due to deterioration.

[0139] FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device 1300 according to another embodiment.

[0140] 13, the aerosol generating device 1300 may include a control unit 1310, a sensing unit 1320, an output unit 1330, a battery 1340, a heater 1350, a user input unit 1360, a memory 1370, and a communication unit 1380. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 1300 is not limited to that shown in Fig. 13. That is, a person skilled in the art of the present embodiment would understand that some of the components shown in Fig. 13 may be omitted or new components may be added depending on the design of the aerosol generating device 1300.

[0141] In an embodiment, the controller 1310 may monitor the charge / discharge cycle of the battery 1340 and control the full charge voltage and the output of the battery 1340 when charging the battery 1340 based on the charge / discharge cycle.

[0142] The sensing unit 1320 may sense the state of the aerosol generating device 1300 or the state around the aerosol generating device 1300, and transmit the sensed information to the control unit 1310. Based on the sensed information, the control unit 1310 may control the aerosol generating device 1300 to perform various functions such as controlling the operation of the heater 1350, restricting smoking, determining whether an aerosol product (e.g., cigarette, cartridge, etc.) is inserted, and displaying notifications.

[0143] The sensing unit 1320 may include, but is not limited to, at least one of a temperature sensor 1322, an insertion detection sensor 1324, and a puff sensor 1326.

[0144] The temperature sensor 1322 may sense the temperature to which the heater 1350 (or the aerosol-generating substance) is heated. The aerosol-generating device 1300 may include a separate temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the heater 1350, or the heater 1350 itself may function as a temperature sensor. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 1322 may be disposed around the battery 1340 to monitor the temperature of the battery 1340.

[0145] In an embodiment, the temperature sensor 1322 transmits the external temperature or the battery temperature to the controller 1310 to determine a low temperature condition, and if a low temperature condition is detected, the controller 1310 may set the charging current to a current lower than the preset charging current when charging the battery 1340.

[0146] The insertion detection sensor 1324 may detect the insertion and / or removal of an aerosol product. For example, the insertion detection sensor 924 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 change in signal due to the insertion and / or removal of an aerosol product.

[0147] The puff sensor 1326 may sense a user's puff based on various physical changes in the airflow passage or channel, such as a temperature change, a flow change, a voltage change, or a pressure change.

[0148] In an embodiment, if the puff sensor 1326 transmits the puff sensing result to the controller 1310, the controller 1310 may count and accumulate the number of puffs or determine puff characteristic data, and monitor the charge / discharge cycle based on the result.

[0149] The sensing unit 1320 may further include at least one of a temperature / humidity sensor, a barometric 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-described sensors 1322 to 1326. The function of each sensor can be intuitively inferred by a person skilled in the art from its name, and therefore detailed description thereof may be omitted.

[0150] The output unit 1330 may output and provide to a user information related to the status of the aerosol generating device 1300. The output unit 1330 may include, but is not limited to, at least one of a display unit 1332, a haptic unit 1334, and an audio output unit 1336. When the display unit 1332 and the touchpad are layered to form a touch screen, the display unit 1332 may be used as an input device in addition to an output device.

[0151] The display unit 1332 may visually provide a user with information related to the aerosol generating device 1300. For example, the information related to the aerosol generating device 1300 may include various information such as the charge / discharge status of the battery 1340 of the aerosol generating device 1300, the preheating status of the heater 1350, the insertion / removal status of an aerosol product, or a status in which use of the aerosol generating device 1300 is restricted (e.g., abnormal item detection), and the display unit 1332 may output the information to the outside. The display unit 1332 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light emitting display panel (OLED), etc. The display unit 1332 may also be in the form of an LED light emitting element.

[0152] The haptic unit 1334 may convert an electrical signal into a mechanical or electrical stimulus to provide the user with tactile information related to the aerosol generating device 1300. For example, the haptic unit 1334 may include a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0153] The acoustic output unit 1336 may audibly provide the user with information related to the aerosol generating device 1300. For example, the acoustic output unit 1336 may convert an electrical signal into an acoustic signal and output it to the outside.

[0154] The battery 1340 may supply power used to operate the aerosol generating device 1300. The battery 1340 may supply power to heat the heater 1350. The battery 1340 may also supply power necessary for the operation of other components included in the aerosol generating device 1300 (e.g., the sensing unit 1320, the output unit 1330, the user input unit 1360, the memory 1370, and the communication unit 1380). The battery 1340 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 1340 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited thereto.

[0155] The heater 1350 may heat the aerosol-generating material by receiving power from the battery 1340. Although not shown in Fig. 13, the aerosol-generating device 1300 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a DC / DC converter) that converts the power of the battery 1340 and supplies it to the heater 1350. Furthermore, when the aerosol-generating device 1300 generates aerosol by an induction heating method, the aerosol-generating device 1300 may further include a DC / AC converter that converts the DC power of the battery 1340 into AC power.

[0156] The control unit 1310, the sensing unit 1320, the output unit 1330, the user input unit 1360, the memory 1370, and the communication unit 1380 may perform their functions by receiving power from a battery 1340. Although not shown in FIG. 13, the device may further include a power conversion circuit, for example, an LDO (low dropout) circuit or a voltage regulator circuit, that converts power from the battery 1340 and supplies it to each component.

[0157] In one embodiment, the heater 1350 may be made of any suitable electrically resistive material. For example, suitable electrically resistive materials may be metals or metal alloys including, but not limited to, titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, nichrome, etc. The heater 1350 may also be embodied by, but not limited to, a metal hot wire, a metal hot plate with a conductive track disposed thereon, a ceramic heating element, etc.

[0158] In another embodiment, heater 1350 is an induction heater. For example, heater 1350 may include a susceptor that generates heat through a magnetic field applied by a coil to heat the aerosol-generating material.

[0159] In yet other embodiments, heater 1350 may include multiple heaters. For example, heater 1350 may include a first heater for heating the cigarette and a second heater for heating the liquid.

[0160] The user input unit 1360 may receive information input by a user or output information to a user. For example, the user input unit 1360 may include, 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. 13 , the aerosol generating device 1300 may further include a connection interface such as a USB (universal serial bus) interface, and may connect to another external device through the connection interface such as the USB interface to transmit and receive information or charge the battery 1340.

[0161] The memory 1370 is hardware that stores various data processed within the aerosol generating device 1300 and may store data that has been processed by the control unit 1310 and data to be processed by the control unit 1310. The memory 1370 may include at least one type of recording medium selected from the group consisting of a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro 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 1370 may store data related to the operating time of the aerosol generating device 1300, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, and the user's smoking pattern.

[0162] The communication unit 1380 may include at least one component for communication with other electronic devices. For example, the communication unit 1380 may include a short-range communication unit 1382 and a wireless communication unit 1384.

[0163] The short-range wireless communication unit 1382 may include, but is not limited to, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication unit, a BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy) communication unit, a Near Field Communication unit, a WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication unit, a Zigbee (registered trademark) 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.

[0164] The wireless communication unit 1384 may include, 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 984 may also use subscriber information (e.g., an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)) to identify and authenticate the aerosol generating device 1300 within the communication network.

[0165] The control unit 1310 may control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 1300. In one embodiment, the control unit 1310 may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of multiple logic gates, and may be implemented 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 processor may also be implemented in other forms of hardware.

[0166] The control unit 1310 may control the temperature of the heater 1350 by controlling the supply of power from the battery 1340 to the heater 1350. For example, the control unit 1310 may control the power supply by controlling the switching of a switching element between the battery 1340 and the heater 1350. As another example, a heating direct circuit may control the power supply to the heater 1350 according to a control command from the control unit 1310.

[0167] The controller 1310 may analyze the results sensed by the sensing unit 1320 and control subsequent processing. For example, the controller 1310 may control the power supplied to the heater 1350 to start or stop operation of the heater 1350 based on the results sensed by the sensing unit 1320. As another example, the controller 1310 may control the amount of power supplied to the heater 1350 and the time for which the power is supplied based on the results sensed by the sensing unit 1320 so that the heater 1350 is heated to a predetermined temperature or maintained at an appropriate temperature.

[0168] The control unit 1310 may control the output unit 1330 based on the result sensed by the sensing unit 1320. For example, if the number of puffs counted through the puff sensor 926 reaches a preset number, the control unit 1310 may notify the user via at least one of the display unit 932, the haptic unit 934, and the audio output unit 936 that the aerosol generating device 1300 will soon be shut down.

[0169] 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. a heater for heating the aerosol generating material; a rechargeable battery for powering the heater; a processor that controls charging of the battery from an external power source, controls output of the battery, and controls the temperature of the heater; The processor: The aerosol generating device monitors the charge / discharge cycle of the battery, and controls the full charge voltage and the output of the battery when charging the battery based on the charge / discharge cycle.

2. The processor:

2. The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein 100% charge and 100% discharge are determined as one cycle based on the SOC (State of Charge) of the battery, and when the accumulated number of cycles is greater than a first critical number of cycles, the full charge voltage is set to a first voltage lower than an initial full charge voltage.

3. The first critical cycle number is The aerosol generating device according to claim 2 , wherein the number of charge / discharge cycles is less than the number of charge / discharge cycles preset by the manufacturer for guaranteeing the performance of the battery.

4. Further comprising a puff sensor for detecting a puff by a user; The processor: The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the charge / discharge cycle is monitored based on the accumulated number of puffs.

5. The processor: The aerosol generating device according to claim 4 , wherein the number of puffs is accumulated in accordance with puff characteristic data including puff intensity and puff period.

6. a connection terminal for detecting whether a cartridge storing a predetermined amount of aerosol generating material is attached to or detached from the storage space of the aerosol generating device; The processor: The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the number of times the cartridge is replaced by being attached and detached is counted, and the charge / discharge cycle is monitored based on the accumulated number of replacements.

7. At least one temperature sensor is included, the temperature sensor detecting the ambient temperature of the aerosol generating device and the temperature sensor is included, the temperature sensor is included, the temperature sensor is included, the temperature sensor is included, The processor: The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein when the temperature sensed by the at least one temperature sensor is lower than a critical temperature, a charging current is set to a current lower than a preset charging current when charging the battery.

8. The processor: The aerosol generating device according to claim 7 , wherein when the temperature sensed by the at least one temperature sensor is lower than a critical temperature, a discharge current during output from the battery is set to a current lower than a preset discharge current.

9. Further, a charging circuit unit that controls charging of the battery is included. The charging circuit unit The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the number of accumulated cycles is determined based on a state of charge (SOC) of the battery.

10. The charging circuit unit The aerosol generating device according to claim 9 , wherein at least one of a full charge voltage and a charging current is adjusted under the control of the processor when charging the battery.

11. The processor:

3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 2, wherein the full charge voltage is set to a second voltage lower than the first voltage when the accumulated number of cycles is greater than a second critical number of cycles that is greater than the first critical number of cycles.

12. 1. A method for controlling an aerosol generating device, comprising: monitoring the charge and discharge cycles of the battery; and controlling the full charge voltage and the output of the battery when the battery is charged based on the charge / discharge cycle.

13. determining 100% charge and 100% discharge as one cycle based on the SOC (State of Charge) of the battery; 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: setting the full charge voltage to a first voltage lower than an initial full charge voltage when the accumulated number of cycles is greater than a first critical number of cycles.

14. The first critical cycle number is The method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to claim 13, wherein the number of charge / discharge cycles is less than the number of charge / discharge cycles preset by the manufacturer that guarantees the performance of the battery.

15. A recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 12 to 14.

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