aerosol generator

Abstract

An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment includes a housing, an oscillator housed within the housing and generating microwaves of a predetermined frequency, a resonator housed within the housing and generating an amplified electromagnetic field by resonating the microwaves, and a cartridge containing an aerosol-generating substance and insertable into the housing, wherein at least a portion of the electromagnetic field heats the aerosol-generating substance to generate an aerosol, and the housing is provided with a cartridge insertion port into which the cartridge is inserted, and the cartridge insertion port and the mouthpiece do not overlap.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The following various embodiments relate to aerosol generating devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Research into non-combustion cigarettes has been conducted. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0132823 discloses a non-combustion flavor inhaler, a flavor source unit, and an atomization unit. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] An aerosol generator according to one embodiment generates aerosols via microwave-induced electrical heating.

[0004] An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment has a cartridge that holds the aerosol-generating substance and that can be realized in various shapes.

[0005] An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment is intended to ensure a variety of aerosol-generating substances held in the cartridge. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment includes a housing having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a side surface between the first and second surfaces, and including a mouthpiece formed on the first surface; an oscillator housed within the housing and generating microwaves of a predetermined frequency; a resonator housed within the housing and generating an amplified electromagnetic field by resonating the microwaves; and a cartridge containing an aerosol-generating substance and insertable into the housing, wherein at least a portion of the electromagnetic field heats the aerosol-generating substance to generate an aerosol; the housing has a cartridge insertion port into which the cartridge is inserted, and the cartridge insertion port and the mouthpiece do not overlap.

[0007] In one embodiment, the cartridge insertion opening may be provided on either the side surface or the second surface of the housing.

[0008] In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating material may include at least one of tobacco cut, tobacco granules, reconstituted tobacco, and a nicotine-containing liquid-phase aerosol-forming substrate.

[0009] In one embodiment, the cartridge includes a cartridge body that surrounds the aerosol-generating substance, and the cartridge body can be made of a porous material.

[0010] The cartridge may further include a cartridge stopper arranged in one layer of the cartridge body, and at least a portion of the cartridge stopper may extend further than the cartridge body in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cartridge stopper and the cartridge body are arranged.

[0011] In one embodiment, the resonator may include a first plate and a second plate disposed on opposite sides of the cartridge.

[0012] In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device may further include a control unit housed within the housing, which controls the operation of the aerosol generating device and includes at least one processor, and a battery housed within the housing and which provides power to the aerosol generating device.

[0013] In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device further includes a shielding portion surrounding the oscillator and the resonator, and the shielding portion has a shielding portion opening into which a cartridge is inserted, and the shielding portion opening and the cartridge insertion port can be aligned next to each other.

[0014] In one embodiment, the air conditioner may further include an airflow path extending from an airflow inlet formed on one surface of the housing, through the cartridge, to the mouthpiece.

[0015] In one embodiment, the airflow inlet may be formed in a side surface of the housing.

[0016] In one embodiment, the airflow inlet may be formed on the second surface of the housing.

[0017] An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment includes a housing having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a side surface between the first and second surfaces, and including a mouthpiece formed on the first surface; an oscillator housed within the housing and generating microwaves having a frequency in the range of 300 MHz to 300 GHz; a resonator housed within the housing and generating an amplified electromagnetic field by resonating the microwaves; and a cartridge insertable into the housing and containing an aerosol-generating material, wherein at least a portion of the electromagnetic field heats the aerosol-generating material to generate an aerosol; the cartridge includes a cartridge body surrounding the outside of the aerosol-generating material, and the cartridge body may be made of a porous material.

[0018] In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating material may include at least one of tobacco cut, tobacco granules, reconstituted tobacco, and a nicotine-containing liquid-phase aerosol-forming substrate.

[0019] In one embodiment, the housing is provided with a cartridge insertion opening into which the cartridge is inserted, and the cartridge insertion opening may be provided on one of a side surface or a second surface of the housing.

[0020] In one embodiment, the device further includes an airflow path extending from an airflow inlet through the cartridge to the mouthpiece, and the airflow inlet may be formed on at least one of a side surface or a second surface of the housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] According to one embodiment, the aerosol can be generated via microwave-induced electrical heating.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the cartridge carrying the aerosol-generating material can be implemented in a variety of shapes.

[0023] According to one embodiment, it is possible to ensure a variety of aerosol-generating substances held in the cartridge.

[0024] The effects of the aerosol generating device according to one embodiment are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

[0026] [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0027] [Figure 3] 1 illustrates a cartridge for an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

[0028] [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a resonator of an aerosol generation device according to an embodiment.

[0029] [Figure 5] 1 illustrates the airflow path of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] The terms used in the embodiments have been selected as widely used terms as possible while taking into consideration the functions of the present invention, but this may vary depending on the intentions of those skilled in the art, precedents, the emergence of new technologies, etc. In addition, in certain cases, the applicant may have arbitrarily selected terms, and in such cases, their meanings will be described in detail in the relevant description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention should be defined not simply as names of terms, but based on the meanings that the terms possess and the overall content of the present invention.

[0031] Throughout the specification, when any part "includes" any component, this does not exclude other components, but means that it further includes other components, unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, terms such as "module" and "unit" used in the specification refer to a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and this may be embodied in hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0032] As used herein, when a phrase such as "at least one of" precedes an element in a sequence, it modifies the entire element and not each individual element in the sequence. For example, the phrase "at least one of a, b, and c" should be interpreted as including a, b, and c, or a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c.

[0033] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an aerosol generation device 1 according to one embodiment, and Figure 2 is a block diagram of the aerosol generation device 1 according to one embodiment. Figure 3 shows a cartridge 18 of the aerosol generation device 1 according to one embodiment, Figure 4 shows a resonator 17 of the aerosol generation device 1 according to one embodiment, and Figure 5 shows an airflow path A of the aerosol generation device 1 according to one embodiment.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 1, an aerosol generating device 1 according to one embodiment includes a housing 11, a control unit 12, a battery 15, an oscillator 16, a resonator 17, and a cartridge 18.

[0035] An aerosol-generating substance is contained in the cartridge 18, and an aerosol is generated by heating the aerosol-generating substance. A user can smoke by inhaling the generated aerosol. The aerosol generator 1 may also employ a method of heating the aerosol-generating substance using an electromagnetic field generated by resonating microwaves, rather than a method of directly applying heat to the aerosol-generating substance. This method is called microwave induction heating.

[0036] In one embodiment, the housing 11 includes a first surface 111, a second surface 112, and a side surface 113, and the first surface 111 is provided with a mouthpiece 114. The second surface 112 is the surface opposite the first surface 111, and the side surface 113 is the surface between the first surface 111 and the second surface 112. The first surface 111, the second surface 112, and the side surface 113 of the housing 11 define an internal space of the housing 11, and the components of the aerosol generating device 1 described below can be accommodated in the internal space.

[0037] In one embodiment, an oscillator 16 and a resonator 17 are housed within the housing 11, the oscillator 16 generating microwaves at a preset frequency, and the resonator 17 resonating the microwaves to generate an amplified electromagnetic field.

[0038] The microwave means an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 00 MHz to 300 GHz. The microwave emitted from oscillator 16 may be an electromagnetic wave that is emitted with directionality.

[0039] For example, the oscillator 16 may be configured with an antenna, which may be, but is not limited to, a PIFA (Planar Inverted F Antenna), and may refer to any device capable of radiating microwaves, such as a loop antenna, a monopole antenna, or a dipole antenna. One or more antennas may also be provided. The antenna radiates microwaves upon receiving an electrical signal from a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) of the control unit 12. The PCB is a substrate containing electronic components and elements such as integrated circuits (ICs), resistors, capacitors, and switches, and may also include wiring that electrically connects the electronic components and elements.

[0040] As a further example, the oscillator 16 may include a signal source, such as an oscillator, and an amplifier. The signal source of the oscillator 16 generates microwaves at a preset frequency based on a control signal from the control unit 12. The amplifier amplifies the microwave power generated by the signal source to a high enough output to be used for heating a material. The amplifier can adjust the output power after the amplifier by adjusting the strength of the signal source based on the signal from the control unit 12. For example, the amplitude of the microwaves may be decreased or increased. Adjusting the microwave amplitude allows the microwave power to be adjusted.

[0041] Heating the aerosol-generating material requires a resonator 17 that generates high-density microwaves. A method of transmitting microwaves generated through a source such as oscillator 16 and supplying them to a medium (e.g., aerosol-generating material) only produces weak heating and has extremely low energy efficiency.

[0042] Resonator 17 absorbs microwaves of a specific frequency radiated from oscillator 16, and dielectric resonance can occur in resonator 17. Dielectric resonance means that microwaves resonate within resonator 17, causing resonator 17 to generate an alternating current electromagnetic field. The microwaves resonate in resonator 17 to generate an alternating current electromagnetic field, which is applied to the aerosol-generating material contained in cartridge 18, heating the aerosol-generating material and generating an aerosol.

[0043] 2, the aerosol generating device 1 further includes a sensor 13, an output unit 14, a communication unit 191, a memory 192, and an input unit 193. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 1 is not limited to that shown in Fig. 1 or 2. That is, it will be understood by a person skilled in the art related to this embodiment that some of the components shown in Fig. 1 or 2 may be omitted or new components may be added depending on the design of the aerosol generating device 1.

[0044] The sensor 13 detects the state of the aerosol generator 1 or the state around the aerosol generator 1, and transmits the detected information to the control unit 12. Based on the detected information, the control unit 12 can control the aerosol generator 1 so that various functions are performed, such as controlling the operation of the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17, restricting smoking, determining whether the cartridge 18 is inserted, and displaying notifications.

[0045] The sensors 13 may include at least one of a temperature sensor 131 , a puff sensor 132 , an insertion detection sensor 133 , a reuse detection sensor 134 , a cartridge detection sensor 135 , a cap detection sensor 136 , and a motion detection sensor 137 .

[0046] The temperature sensor 131 detects the temperature to which the resonator 17 heats up. The aerosol generating device 1 may include a separate temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the resonator 17. The temperature sensor 131 can output a signal corresponding to the temperature of the resonator 17. For example, the temperature sensor 131 may include a resistive element whose resistance value changes in response to a change in temperature of the resonator 17. The temperature sensor 131 may be realized by a thermistor, which is an element that utilizes the property of changing resistance with temperature. Here, the temperature sensor 131 may output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the resistive element as a signal corresponding to the temperature of the resonator 17. For example, the temperature sensor 131 may be formed by a sensor that detects the resistance value of the resonator 17. Here, the temperature sensor 131 may output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the resonator 17 as a signal corresponding to the temperature of the resonator 17.

[0047] The temperature sensor 131 may be disposed around the battery 15 to monitor the temperature of the battery 15. The temperature sensor 131 may be disposed adjacent to the battery 15. For example, the temperature sensor 131 may be attached to one side of the battery 15. For example, the temperature sensor 131 may be mounted on one side of a printed circuit board.

[0048] The temperature sensor 131 is disposed inside the housing 11 and is capable of detecting the internal temperature of the housing 11 .

[0049] The puff sensor 132 detects a user's puff based on various physical changes in the airflow path. The puff sensor 132 outputs a signal corresponding to the puff. For example, the puff sensor 132 may be a pressure sensor. The puff sensor 132 outputs a signal corresponding to the internal pressure of the aerosol generation device 1. Here, the internal pressure of the aerosol generation device 1 corresponds to the pressure of the airflow path through which the gas flows. The puff sensor 132 may be arranged in the aerosol generation device 1 corresponding to the airflow path through which the gas flows.

[0050] The insertion detection sensor 133 detects the insertion and / or removal of the cartridge 18. The insertion detection sensor 133 can detect a signal change accompanying the insertion and / or removal of the cartridge 18. The insertion detection sensor 133 is provided around the insertion space. The insertion detection sensor 133 can detect the insertion and / or removal of the cartridge 18 in response to a change in the dielectric constant within the insertion space. For example, the insertion detection sensor 133 may be an inductive sensor and / or a capacitive sensor.

[0051] The inductive sensor may include at least one coil. The coil of the inductive sensor may be disposed adjacent to the insertion space. For example, when a magnetic field changes around a coil through which a current flows, the characteristics of the current flowing through the coil may change according to Faraday's law. Here, the characteristics of the current flowing through the coil may include the frequency, current value, voltage value, inductance value, impedance value, etc. of the alternating current.

[0052] The inductive sensor outputs a signal corresponding to a characteristic of the current flowing through the coil. For example, the inductive sensor may output a signal corresponding to the inductance value of the coil.

[0053] The capacitive sensor includes a conductor. The conductor of the capacitive sensor may be disposed adjacent to the insertion space. The capacitive sensor may output a signal corresponding to a surrounding electromagnetic characteristic, such as the capacitance of the conductor. For example, when a cartridge 18 including a metal material is inserted into the insertion space, the metal material of the cartridge 18 may change the electromagnetic characteristic of the conductor.

[0054] The reuse detection sensor 134 detects whether the cartridge 18 has been reused. The reuse detection sensor 134 may be a color sensor. The color sensor detects the color of the cartridge 18. The color sensor detects the color of a portion of the exterior of the cartridge 18. The color sensor can detect a value for an optical characteristic corresponding to the color of an object based on light reflected from the object. For example, the optical characteristic may be the wavelength of light. The color sensor may be realized as a single component together with the proximity sensor, or may be realized as a separate component separate from the proximity sensor.

[0055] If a portion of the exterior of the cartridge 18 changes color due to aerosol, the reuse detection sensor 134 is disposed at a position corresponding to the position where the portion of the exterior of the cartridge 18 that changes color due to aerosol will be located when the cartridge 18 is inserted into the cartridge accommodating space. For example, before the cartridge 18 is used by a user, the color of the portion of the exterior of the cartridge 18 may be a first color. Here, as the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating device 1 passes through the cartridge 18, the portion of the exterior of the cartridge 18 becomes wet with the aerosol, causing the color of the portion of the exterior of the cartridge 18 to change to a second color. On the other hand, the color of the portion of the exterior of the cartridge 18 may be maintained at the second color after changing from the first color to the second color.

[0056] The cartridge detection sensor 135 can detect the installation and / or removal of the cartridge 18. The cartridge detection sensor 135 may be realized by an inductance-based sensor, a capacitance-type sensor, a resistance sensor, a Hall sensor (hall IC) using the Hall effect, or the like.

[0057] The cap detection sensor 136 detects the attachment and / or removal of the cap. When the cap is separated from the housing 11, parts of the cartridge 18 and the housing 11 that were covered by the cap are exposed to the outside. The cap detection sensor 136 may be realized by a contact sensor, a hall sensor (hall IC), an optical sensor, or the like.

[0058] The motion detection sensor 137 detects the motion of the aerosol generation device 1. The motion detection sensor 137 may be realized by at least one of an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor.

[0059] The sensor 13 may further include at least one of a humidity sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, a position sensor (GPS), and a proximity sensor in addition to the above-described sensors 131 to 137. The function of the angle sensor can be intuitively inferred by a person skilled in the art from its name, so a detailed explanation may be omitted.

[0060] The output unit 14 can output and provide to a user information regarding the status of the aerosol generating device 1. The output unit 14 includes, but is not limited to, at least one of a display 141, a haptic unit 142, and an audio output unit 143. When the display 141 and the touchpad form a layered structure to form a touch screen, the display unit 141 may be used as an input device in addition to an output device.

[0061] The display 141 can visually provide the user with information about the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the information about the aerosol generating device 1 can mean various information such as the charging / discharging status of the battery 15 of the aerosol generating device 1, the preheating status of the heater, the insertion / removal status of the cartridge 18, the attachment / removal status of the cap, or a status that restricts the use of the aerosol generating device 1 (e.g., abnormal item detection), and the display 141 can output the information to the outside. For example, the display 141 may be an LED light-emitting diode (LED) panel. For example, the display 141 may be a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light-emitting display panel (OLED), etc.

[0062] The haptic unit 142 can convert an electrical signal into a mechanical or electrical stimulus and provide a user with tactile information about the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the haptic unit 142 can generate a vibration corresponding to the completion of initial preheating when initial power is supplied to the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17 for a set time. The haptic unit 142 may include a vibration motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0063] The acoustic output unit 143 can audibly provide the user with information relating to the aerosol generation device 1. For example, the acoustic output unit 143 may convert an electrical signal into an acoustic signal and output it to the outside.

[0064] The battery 15 can supply power used to operate the aerosol generating device 1. The battery 15 can supply power to the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17. The battery 15 can also supply power necessary for the operation of other components provided in the aerosol generating device 1, such as the sensor 13, the output unit 14, the communication unit 191, the memory 192, and the input unit 193. The battery 15 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 15 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited to this.

[0065] Although not shown in Fig. 1, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a power supply protection circuit. The power supply protection circuit may be electrically connected to the battery 15 and may include a switching element.

[0066] The power supply protection circuit can cut off the electrical path to the battery 15 according to a predetermined condition. For example, the power supply protection circuit can cut off the electrical path to the battery 15 when the voltage level of the battery 15 is equal to or higher than a first voltage corresponding to overcharging. For example, the power supply protection circuit can cut off the electrical path to the battery 15 when the voltage level of the battery 15 is lower than a second voltage corresponding to overdischarging.

[0067] The input unit 193 receives information input by a user and outputs information to a user. For example, the input unit 193 may be a touch panel. The touch panel may include at least one touch sensor that detects a touch. For example, the touch sensor may include, but is not limited to, a capacitive touch sensor, a resistive touch sensor, a surface acoustic wave touch sensor, an infrared touch sensor, etc.

[0068] The display 141 and the touch panel can be realized by one panel. For example, the touch panel may be inserted (on-cell type or in-cell type) into the display 141. For example, the touch panel may be an add-on type on the display panel 141.

[0069] Meanwhile, the input unit 193 includes, but is not limited to, a button, a keypad, a dome switch, a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

[0070] The memory 192 is hardware that stores various data processed within the aerosol generation device 1, and can store data that has been processed by the control unit 12 and data to be processed. The memory 192 may include 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 192 may store the operating time of the aerosol generation device 1, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, and data regarding the user's smoking pattern.

[0071] The communication unit 16 includes at least one component for communicating with other electronic devices. For example, the communication unit 16 may include at least one of a short-range communication unit and a wireless communication unit.

[0072] The short-range wireless communication unit includes, but is not limited to, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) 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.

[0073] The wireless communication unit includes, but is not limited to, a cellular network communication unit, an Internet communication unit, a computer network (eg, LAN or WAN) communication unit, and the like.

[0074] Although not shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 1 further includes a connection interface such as a USB (universal serial bus) interface, and can be connected to other external devices via the connection interface to send and receive information or charge the battery 15.

[0075] The control unit 12 controls the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 1. In one embodiment, the control unit 12 may include at least one processor. The processor may be realized as an array of multiple logic gates, or as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory storing a program executed by the microprocessor. Those skilled in the art will understand that the controller 12 may also be realized in other forms of hardware.

[0076] The control unit 12 controls the temperature of the heater by controlling the supply of power from the battery 15 to the heater. The control unit 12 controls the temperature of the cartridge heater and / or heater based on the temperature of the cartridge heater and / or heater detected by the temperature sensor 131. The control unit 12 adjusts the power supplied to the cartridge heater and / or heater based on the temperature of the cartridge heater and / or heater. For example, the control unit 12 may determine a target temperature for the cartridge heater and / or heater based on a temperature profile stored in the memory 192.

[0077] The aerosol generating device 1 may include a power supply circuit (not shown) electrically connected to the battery 15 between the battery 15 and the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17. The power supply circuit may be electrically connected to the oscillator 16 or the resonator 17. The power supply circuit may include at least one switching element. The switching element may be realized by a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), a field effect transistor (FET), or the like. The control unit 12 can control the power supply circuit.

[0078] The control unit 12 can control the power supply by controlling the switching of the switching elements of the power supply circuit. The power supply circuit may be an inverter that converts DC power output from the battery 15 into AC power. For example, the inverter may be configured as a full-bridge circuit or a half-bridge circuit including a plurality of switching elements.

[0079] The control unit 12 may turn on the switching element so that power is supplied to the cartridge heater and / or the heater from the battery 15. The control unit 12 may turn off the switching element so that power supply to the cartridge heater and / or the heater is cut off. The control unit 12 can adjust the frequency and / or duty ratio of the current pulse input to the switching element to adjust the current supplied by the battery 15.

[0080] The control unit 12 can control the voltage output from the battery 15 by controlling the switching of the switching elements of the power supply circuit. The power conversion circuit converts the voltage output from the battery 15. For example, the power conversion circuit may include a buck converter that boosts the voltage output from the battery 15. For example, the power conversion circuit is realized via a buck-boost converter, a Zener diode, or the like.

[0081] The control unit 12 controls the on / off operation of a switching element included in the power conversion circuit to adjust the level of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit. When the on state of the switching element is maintained, the level of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit corresponds to the level of the voltage output from the battery 15. The duty ratio of the on / off operation of the switching element corresponds to the ratio of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit to the voltage output from the battery 15. As the duty ratio of the on / off operation of the switching element decreases, the level of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit decreases. The heater can be heated based on the voltage output from the power conversion circuit.

[0082] The control unit 12 can control the power supply to the heater using at least one of a pulse width modulation (PWM) method and a proportional-integral-differential (PID) method.

[0083] For example, the control unit 12 may control the heater to receive a current pulse having a predetermined frequency and duty ratio using a PWM method. The control unit 12 can adjust the frequency and duty ratio of the current pulse to control the power supplied to the heater.

[0084] For example, the control unit 12 can determine a target temperature based on the temperature profile. The control unit 12 can control the power supplied to the heater using a PID method, which is a feedback control method that uses the difference between the heater temperature and the target temperature, the value obtained by integrating the difference over time, and the value obtained by differentiating the difference over time.

[0085] The control unit 12 prevents the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17 from overheating. For example, the control unit 12 may control the operation of the power conversion circuit to interrupt the supply of power to the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17 when the temperature of the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17 exceeds a preset limit temperature. For example, the control unit 12 may reduce the amount of power supplied to the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17 by a certain ratio when the temperature of the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17 exceeds a preset limit temperature.

[0086] The control unit 12 controls the charging / discharging of the battery 15. The control unit 12 can check the temperature of the battery 15 based on the output signal of the temperature sensor 131.

[0087] When a power line is connected to the battery terminal of the aerosol generating device 1, the control unit 12 checks whether the temperature of the battery 15 is equal to or higher than a first limit temperature, which is a criterion for cutting off charging of the battery 15. When the temperature of the battery 15 is lower than the first limit temperature, the control unit 12 controls the battery 15 to be charged based on a preset charging current. When the temperature of the battery 15 is equal to or higher than the first limit temperature, the control unit 12 can cut off charging of the battery 15.

[0088] When the aerosol generating device 1 is powered on, the control unit 12 checks whether the temperature of the battery 15 is equal to or higher than a second limit temperature, which is a criterion for cutting off discharge of the battery 15. If the temperature of the battery 15 is lower than the second limit temperature, the control unit 12 controls the battery 15 to use the power stored in the battery 15. If the temperature of the battery 15 is equal to or higher than the second limit temperature, the control unit 12 can stop using the power stored in the battery 15.

[0089] The control unit 12 calculates the remaining capacity of the power stored in the battery 15. For example, the control unit 12 can calculate the remaining capacity of the battery 15 based on the detected voltage and / or current value of the battery 15.

[0090] The control unit 12 determines whether or not the cartridge 18 is inserted into the insertion space via the insertion detection sensor 133. The control unit 12 determines that the cartridge 18 has been inserted based on the output signal of the insertion detection sensor 133. When it is determined that the cartridge 18 has been inserted into the insertion space, the control unit 12 controls the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17 to be supplied with power. For example, the control unit 12 can supply power to the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17 based on a temperature profile stored in the memory 192.

[0091] The control unit 12 determines whether the cartridge 18 is removed from the insertion space. For example, the control unit 12 can determine whether the cartridge 18 is removed from the insertion space via the insertion detection sensor 133. For example, the control unit 12 determines that the cartridge 18 has been removed from the insertion space when the temperature of the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17 is equal to or higher than a limit temperature, or when the slope of the temperature change of the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17 is equal to or higher than a set slope. When it is determined that the cartridge 18 has been removed from the insertion space, the control unit 12 can cut off the supply of power to the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17.

[0092] The control unit 12 controls the time and / or amount of power supply to the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17 according to the state of the cartridge 18 detected by the sensor 13. The control unit 12 can check the level range that includes the level of the signal from the capacitive sensor based on a lookup table. The control unit 12 can determine the amount of moisture in the cartridge 18 based on the checked level range.

[0093] When the cartridge 18 is in an over-humid state, the control unit 12 may control the time for which power is supplied to the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17, and increase the pre-heating time of the cartridge 18 compared to when the cartridge 18 is in a normal state.

[0094] The control unit 12 determines whether the cartridge 18 inserted into the insertion space can be reused via the reuse detection sensor 134. For example, the control unit 12 compares the detection value of the signal of the reuse detection sensor 134 with a first reference range that includes a first color, and determines that the cartridge 18 has not been used if the detection value is within the first reference range. For example, the control unit 12 compares the detection value of the signal of the reuse detection sensor 134 with a second reference range that includes a second color, and determines that the cartridge 18 has been used if the detection value is within the second reference range. If it is determined that the cartridge 18 has been used, the control unit 12 can cut off the supply of power to the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17.

[0095] The control unit 12 can determine whether the user is inhaling via the puff sensor 132. For example, the control unit 12 can determine whether a puff has occurred based on the detected value of the signal from the puff sensor 132. For example, the control unit 12 can determine the strength of the puff based on the detected value of the signal from the puff sensor 132. If the number of puffs reaches a preset maximum number of puffs, or if no puffs have been detected for a preset time or longer, the control unit 12 can cut off the supply of power to the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17.

[0096] The control unit 12 determines whether the cap is attached and / or removed via the cap detection sensor 136. For example, the control unit 12 can determine whether the cap is attached and / or removed based on the detection value of the signal of the cap detection sensor 136.

[0097] The control unit 12 can control the output unit 14 based on the results detected by the sensor 13. For example, when the number of puffs counted by the puff sensor 132 reaches a preset number, the control unit 12 can notify the user via at least one of the display 141, the haptic unit 142, and the audio output unit 143 that the aerosol generating device 1 will soon be shut down. For example, the control unit 12 can provide a notification to the user via the output unit 14 based on a determination that the cartridge 18 is not present in the insertion space. For example, the control unit 12 can provide a notification to the user via the output unit 14 based on a determination that the cartridge 18 and / or the cap are not attached. For example, the control unit 12 can communicate information regarding the temperature of the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17 to the user via the output unit 14.

[0098] The control unit 12 stores and updates a history of an event that has occurred in 192 based on the occurrence of a predetermined event. The event may include, for example, detection of insertion of the cartridge 18, start of heating of the cartridge 18, detection of puffing, end of puffing, detection of overheating of the oscillator 16 and / or resonator 17, detection of overvoltage application to the oscillator 16 and / or resonator 17, end of heating of the cartridge 18, an operation such as turning on / off the power of the aerosol generator 1, start of charging the battery 15, detection of overcharging of the battery 15, and end of charging the battery 15, which are performed in the aerosol generator 1. The history of the event may include the date and time when the event occurred, log data corresponding to the event, etc. For example, if the predetermined event is detection of insertion of the cartridge 18, the log data corresponding to the event may include data on the detection value of the insertion detection sensor 133, etc. For example, if a predetermined event is the detection of overheating of oscillator 16 and / or resonator 17, the log data corresponding to the event may include data on the temperature of oscillator 16 and / or resonator 17, the voltage applied to oscillator 16 and / or resonator 17, the current flowing through oscillator 16 and / or resonator 17, etc.

[0099] The control unit 12 controls the establishment of a communication link with an external device, such as a user's mobile terminal. Upon receiving authentication-related data from the external device via the communication link, the control unit 12 may remove restrictions on the use of at least one function of the aerosol generating device 1. Here, the authentication-related data may include data indicating completion of user authentication for the user corresponding to the external device. The user may perform user authentication via the external device. The external device determines whether user data is valid based on the user's birthday, a unique number identifying the user, etc., and receives data regarding usage authorization for the aerosol generating device 1 from an external server. The external device transmits data indicating completion of user authentication to the aerosol generating device 1 based on the data regarding usage authorization. When user authentication is complete, the control unit 12 may remove restrictions on the use of at least one function of the aerosol generating device 1. For example, when user authentication is complete, the control unit 12 may remove restrictions on the use of a heating function that supplies power to the oscillator 16 and / or the resonator 17.

[0100] The control unit 12 transmits data on the status of the aerosol generating device 1 to the external device via a communication link formed with the external device. Based on the received status data, the external device can output the remaining capacity of the battery 15 of the aerosol generating device 1, the operating mode, etc. via a display of the external device.

[0101] The external device can send a location search request to the aerosol generation device 1 based on an input initiating a location search of the aerosol generation device 1. When receiving a location search request from an external device, the control unit 12 can control at least one of the output devices to perform an operation corresponding to the location search based on the received location search request. For example, the haptic unit 142 can generate vibrations in response to the location search request. For example, the display 141 can output objects corresponding to the location search and the end of the search in response to the location search request.

[0102] When the control unit 12 receives firmware data from an external device, it controls to perform a firmware update. The external device can check the current version of the firmware of the aerosol generation device 1 and determine whether a new version of the firmware exists. When the external device receives an input requesting a firmware download, it receives firmware data of the new version and transmits the firmware data of the new version to the aerosol generation device 1. By receiving the firmware data of the new version, the control unit 12 can control to perform a firmware update of the aerosol generation device 1.

[0103] The control unit 12 transmits data on the detection values ​​of at least one sensor 13 to an external server (not shown) via the communication unit 16 and receives and stores a learning model generated by learning the detection values ​​through machine learning, such as deep learning, from the external server. The control unit 12 can perform operations such as determining a user's inhalation pattern and generating a temperature profile using the learning model received from the external server. The control unit 12 stores the detection value data of at least one sensor 13 and data for training an artificial neural network (ANN) in the memory 192. For example, the memory 192 may store a database for each component included in the aerosol generating device 1, weights and biases for the artificial neural network (ANN) structure, and other information for training the artificial neural network (ANN). The control unit 12 can learn the data on the detection values ​​of at least one sensor 13, the user's inhalation pattern, the temperature profile, and the like stored in the memory 192, and generate at least one learning model used for determining a user's inhalation pattern, generating a temperature profile, and the like.

[0104] 1, cartridge 18 contains an aerosol-generating substance and is insertable into housing 11. Cartridge 18 can be inserted into the interior space of housing 11 through cartridge insertion opening 115 formed on one side of housing 11.

[0105] In one embodiment, the cartridge insertion opening 115 may be formed at a position that does not overlap with the mouthpiece 114. For example, when the cartridge insertion opening 115 is formed on the first surface 111 of the housing 11, the cartridge insertion opening 115 may be formed at any one position on the periphery of the mouthpiece 114. As another example, the cartridge insertion opening 115 may be formed on the side surface 113 or the second surface 112 of the housing 11.

[0106] In particular, referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the cartridge 18 includes a cartridge body 181 that surrounds the outside of the aerosol-generating substance, and a cartridge stopper 182 disposed on one level of the cartridge body 181.

[0107] The cartridge body 181 may include an outer shell that contains the aerosol-generating material, and the outer shell may be made of a porous material. For example, the cartridge body 181 may have a rectangular bag shape, and the outer shell made of a porous material allows free inflow and outflow of air while preventing the aerosol-generating material contained inside the cartridge body 181 from leaking out. The cartridge body 181 may be made of a metal mesh, a plastic mesh, or a woven mesh, but is not limited to these. The cartridge body 181 may be miniaturized depending on its shape; for example, the cartridge body 181 may be made of a hexahedron.

[0108] Because cartridge body 181 has a bag shape and does not need to be in a stick shape, it is possible to ensure a variety of shapes for resonator 17. For example, cartridge body 181 may be disposed between first plate 171 and second plate 172 of resonator 17, which will be described later. The electromagnetic field generated by resonator 17 is easily applied to the aerosol-generating material in cartridge body 181, and the aerosol generated by the heated aerosol-generating material can be easily discharged to the outside of cartridge body 181.

[0109] The cartridge stopper 182 is formed integrally with the cartridge body 181, and can serve as both a guide and a stop when the cartridge 18 is inserted into the housing 11 through the cartridge insertion opening 115. For example, the end of the cartridge stopper 182 may have a section that is expanded more than the cartridge body 181. At least a portion of the cartridge stopper 182 is expanded more than the outer shape of the cartridge body 181 in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cartridge body 181 and the cartridge stopper 182 are arranged, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cartridge body 181 is inserted into the housing 11 (for example, the ±Y direction in FIG. 3 ). By engaging the expanded section of the cartridge stopper 182 with at least a part of the cartridge insertion opening 115, the cartridge 18 can be guided to a position accommodated in the housing 11 and stopped at a predetermined position.

[0110] In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating material may include a medium and / or a liquid phase composition. For example, the medium may include at least one of cut tobacco, tobacco granules, or reconstituted tobacco. Reconstituted tobacco is classified into slurry-type reconstituted tobacco sheets and paper-type reconstituted tobacco sheets depending on its manufacturing method. The liquid phase composition may include an aerosol-forming agent such as glycerin and propylene glycol. The liquid phase composition may also include water, solvent, ethanol, plant extracts, flavors, flavoring agents, or a vitamin mixture. The flavoring agents may include, but are not limited to, menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, various fruit-flavored ingredients, and the like. The flavoring agents may include ingredients that can provide various flavors or tastes to the user. The vitamin mixture may include, but is not limited to, at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

[0111] In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating material comprises a liquid-phase aerosol-forming substrate. The liquid-phase aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a liquid-phase composition based on nicotine, tobacco extract, and / or various flavoring agents. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to such examples.

[0112] 1 and 4, the resonator 17 includes a first plate 171 and a second plate 172 disposed with at least a portion of the cartridge 18 sandwiched therebetween. The first plate 171 or the second plate 172 is a plate-like resonator and has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the cartridge body 181. For example, if the cartridge body 181 has a hexahedral shape, the first plate 171 and the second plate 172 may have a plate-like shape. As another example, if the cartridge body 181 has a cylindrical curved surface, the first plate 171 and the second plate 172 may have a curved plate shape that surrounds the cartridge body 181.

[0113] In one embodiment, the aerosol generator 1 may further include a shielding part 173 (e.g., a shield can) surrounding the oscillator 16 and the resonator 17. The shielding part 173 can block microwaves from being emitted to the outside. The material of the shielding part 173 may include a metal substance with high electrical conductivity. When microwaves are incident on a metal with high electrical conductivity, the microwaves are canceled out by free electrons present in the metal. The shielding part 173 can prevent microwaves from being emitted to the outside of the aerosol generator 1 and reaching the user.

[0114] The shielding portion 173 is provided with a shielding portion opening 1731 into which the cartridge body 181 of the cartridge 18 is inserted. The first plate 171 and the second plate 172 may be aligned to be spaced apart on the side adjacent to the shielding portion opening 1731 (e.g., the +X direction side in FIG. 4). The shielding portion opening 1731 and the cartridge insertion opening 115 may be aligned side by side. For example, the shielding portion opening 1731 may be disposed on the side adjacent to the cartridge insertion opening 115 (e.g., the +X direction side in FIG. 1). By aligning the cartridge insertion opening 115 and the shielding portion opening 1731 side by side, the cartridge body 181 can be easily inserted into the housing 11 without being restricted.

[0115] 5, the aerosol generating device 1 may include an airflow path A, which extends from an airflow inlet AO formed on one side of the housing 11, through the cartridge 18, and to the mouthpiece 114. Air introduced from outside the aerosol generating device 1 via the airflow path A passes through the cartridge 18 and is transferred to the user via the mouthpiece 114 together with the aerosol.

[0116] In one embodiment, the airflow inlet AO may be formed in the side surface 113 of the housing 11 .

[0117] For example, the airflow inlet AO may be formed on the side surface 113 opposite the cartridge insertion opening 115. External airflow may flow in a first direction (e.g., the −X direction in FIG. 5 ) through the airflow inlet AO and transfer the aerosol through the cartridge body 181. Then, the airflow may be diverted together with the aerosol in a second direction (e.g., the +Y direction in FIG. 5 ) toward the mouthpiece 114.

[0118] As another example, the airflow inlet AO may be formed on the same side as the cartridge insertion opening 115. In this case, the airflow inlet AO may be configured as a gap formed between a part of the cartridge 18 (e.g., cartridge stopper 182) and the cartridge insertion opening 115. The external airflow that flows in through the airflow inlet AO flows in a third direction (e.g., the +X direction in FIG. 5 ), passes through the cartridge body 181, and is diverted to the second direction together with the aerosol, and is transferred to the mouthpiece 114.

[0119] In one embodiment, the airflow inlet AO may be formed on the second surface 112 of the housing 11. For example, external airflow may be introduced in the third direction through the airflow inlet AO formed on the second surface 112 and transferred to the mouthpiece 114 via the cartridge body 181.

[0120] The aerosol generating device 1 according to one embodiment can be operated as follows. A button B is provided on the side surface 113 of the housing 11 of the aerosol generating device 1, and the operation of the device can be controlled via button B. For example, when the device is started, a preheating process is carried out for about 17 to 20 seconds. After that, the aerosol is inhaled by the user. The device stops operating after a preset number of puffs. When the medium in the cartridge 18 is completely consumed, a change in the dielectric constant can be detected and microwave generation from the oscillator 16 and / or resonator 17 can be interrupted. At the same time, the user can be notified that the cartridge 18 is depleted.

[0121] The aerosol generating device 1 according to one embodiment generates an aerosol through microwave-induced electrical heating, and the cartridge 18 holding the aerosol-generating substance can have a variety of shapes. According to one embodiment, a variety of aerosol-generating substances can be held in the cartridge 18.

[0122] The above description of the embodiments is merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible. Therefore, the scope of protection of the invention should be determined by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope equivalent to the content described in the claims should be construed as being included in the scope of protection determined by the claims.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device, comprising: a housing including a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a side surface between the first surface and the second surface, the housing including a mouthpiece formed on the first surface; an oscillator housed within the housing for generating microwaves at a preset frequency; a resonator contained within the housing, the resonator resonating the microwaves to generate an amplified electromagnetic field; a cartridge insertable into the housing, the cartridge containing an aerosol-generating material; Including, an aerosol is generated by at least a portion of the electromagnetic field heating the aerosol-generating material; The aerosol generating device, wherein the housing is provided with a cartridge insertion port into which the cartridge is inserted, and the cartridge insertion port and the mouthpiece do not overlap.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge insertion port is provided on one of the side surface and the second surface of the housing.

3. 2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises at least one of tobacco cut, tobacco granules, reconstituted tobacco, and a liquid-phase aerosol-forming substrate containing nicotine.

4. the cartridge includes a cartridge body that surrounds the aerosol-generating material; The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge body is made of a porous material.

5. The cartridge further includes a cartridge stopper disposed in one stage of the cartridge body, 5. The aerosol generating device according to claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the cartridge stopper extends further than the cartridge body in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cartridge stopper and the cartridge body are arranged.

6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the resonator includes a first plate and a second plate disposed on opposite sides of the cartridge.

7. a control unit contained within the housing, controlling operation of the aerosol generating device and including at least one processor; a battery contained within the housing for powering the aerosol generating device; The aerosol generating device of claim 1 further comprising:

8. further comprising a shielding portion surrounding the oscillator and the resonator; the shielding portion is provided with a shielding portion opening into which a cartridge is inserted; The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the shield opening and the cartridge insertion opening are aligned side by side.

9. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , further comprising an airflow path extending from an airflow inlet formed on one surface of the housing through the cartridge to the mouthpiece.

10. The aerosol generating device according to claim 9 , wherein the airflow inlet is formed in a side surface of the housing.

11. The aerosol generating device according to claim 9 , wherein the airflow inlet is formed in the second surface of the housing.

12. An aerosol generating device, comprising: a housing including a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a side surface between the first surface and the second surface, the housing including a mouthpiece formed on the first surface; an oscillator housed within the housing for generating microwaves having a frequency in the range of 300 MHz to 300 GHz; a resonator contained within the housing, the resonator resonating the microwaves to generate an amplified electromagnetic field; a cartridge insertable into the housing, the cartridge containing an aerosol-generating material; Including, an aerosol is generated by at least a portion of the electromagnetic field heating the aerosol-generating material; The cartridge includes a cartridge body that surrounds the aerosol-generating substance, the cartridge body being made of a porous material. Aerosol generator.

13. 13. The aerosol generating device according to claim 12, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises at least one of tobacco cut, tobacco granules, reconstituted tobacco, and a liquid-phase aerosol-forming substrate containing nicotine.

14. The aerosol generating device according to claim 12, wherein the housing is provided with a cartridge insertion port into which the cartridge is inserted, the cartridge insertion port being provided on one of a side surface or a second surface of the housing.

15. The device further includes an airflow path extending from an airflow inlet through the cartridge to the mouthpiece, The aerosol generating device according to claim 12 , wherein the airflow inlet is formed in at least one of a side surface or a second surface of the housing.

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