Aerosol generating device including a vibrator

Abstract

The aerosol generating device may include a storage unit in which an aerosol-generating substance is stored, a wick that absorbs the aerosol-generating substance stored in the storage unit, an atomizer that generates ultrasonic vibrations to atomize the aerosol-generating substance absorbed in the wick into an aerosol, an airflow passage through which the atomized aerosol passes, a mouthpiece that includes an outlet through which the aerosol that has passed through the airflow passage is discharged to the outside, and a cartridge that includes a mesh-type heater arranged in the airflow passage in a direction transverse to the extension direction of the airflow passage, and a main body that includes a control unit and a connecting unit to which the cartridge is detachably connected.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device, and more particularly to an aerosol generating device for further reducing particles of aerosol generated by an ultrasonic vibration method using a vibrator. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternative methods to overcome the shortcomings of conventional cigarettes. Research is being conducted into methods for supplying a flavored aerosol by generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating substance in a liquid, solid, or gel state, or by generating vapor from an aerosol-generating substance in a liquid state and then passing the generated vapor through a flavor medium in a solid state. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an aerosol that is further atomized in an aerosol generating device that utilizes an ultrasonic vibration method.

[0004] Problems to be solved through the embodiments are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, 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]

[0005] According to one embodiment, the aerosol generating device includes a storage unit in which an aerosol-generating substance is stored, a wick that absorbs the aerosol-generating substance stored in the storage unit, an atomizer that generates ultrasonic vibrations to atomize the aerosol-generating substance absorbed in the wick into an aerosol, an airflow passage through which the atomized aerosol passes, a mouthpiece that includes an outlet through which the aerosol that has passed through the airflow passage is discharged to the outside, and a cartridge that includes a mesh-type heater arranged within the airflow passage in a direction transverse to the extension direction of the airflow passage, and a main body that includes a control unit and a connecting unit to which the cartridge is detachably connected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the aerosol generating device of the embodiment, it is possible to generate aerosol that is further atomized in the aerosol generating device that uses an ultrasonic vibration method.

[0007] The aerosol generating device according to the embodiment generates aerosol at a relatively low temperature compared to when a heating method is used, and also provides an effect of atomizing the aerosol, thereby providing a more satisfying smoking experience to the user.

[0008] The effects of the embodiments are not limited to the effects described above, and 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]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

[0010] [Figure 2A] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment, with the cartridge and main body separated.

[0011] [Figure 2B]FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the aerosol generating device according to the embodiment of FIG. 2A, in which the main body and cartridge are combined.

[0012] [Figure 3A] 2B is a diagram showing one aspect of a cartridge for the embodiment of FIG. 2A.

[0013] [Figure 3B] 2B is a diagram showing another aspect of the cartridge for the embodiment of FIG. 2A.

[0014] [Figure 4] FIG. 2B is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge according to the embodiment of FIG. 2A.

[0015] [Figure 5] 2B is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to the embodiment of FIG. 2A.

[0016] [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the airflow passages in the cartridge with the mouthpiece open.

[0017] [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The terms used in the embodiments are currently commonly used terms, and are selected as much as possible while taking into consideration the functions of the present invention. However, this may vary depending on the intentions or precedents of engineers in the field, the emergence of new technologies, etc. In addition, in certain cases, the applicant may arbitrarily select terms, and in such cases, their meanings will be described in detail in the description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention must be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the overall content of the present invention, rather than simply the names of the terms.

[0019] Throughout the specification, when a part "includes" a certain component, it does not mean that it excludes other components and may further include other components, unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, terms such as "... unit" and "... module" used in the specification refer to a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and may be realized by hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0020] As used herein, when a phrase such as "at least one of" precedes an array of elements, it modifies the entire array and not each individual element in the array. 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.

[0021] 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 many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0022] Additionally, terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first" or "second," may be used herein to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are used merely to distinguish one component from another.

[0023] In addition, the size and proportion of some components in the drawings are exaggerated, and components shown in one drawing are not shown in the other drawings.

[0024] Throughout the specification, the term "embodiment" is an arbitrary division for easily describing the present invention, and the embodiments do not necessarily have to be mutually exclusive. For example, a configuration disclosed in one embodiment may be applied and / or embodied in another embodiment, and may be changed, applied and / or embodied within the scope of the present invention.

[0025] Furthermore, the terms used in the present invention are for the purpose of describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, the singular form includes the plural form.

[0026] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, an aerosol generating device 1 includes a cartridge 10 that contains an aerosol generating substance and a body 20 that supports the cartridge 10 .

[0029] The cartridge 10 may be coupled to the main body 20 while containing the aerosol-generating material therein. For example, the cartridge 10 and the main body 20 may be coupled together by inserting at least a portion of the cartridge 10 into the main body 20. As another example, the cartridge 10 and the main body 20 may be coupled together by inserting at least a portion of the main body 20 into the cartridge 10.

[0030] The cartridge 10 and the main body 20 are connected by at least one of a snap-fit ​​method, a screw-fit method, a magnetic coupling method, and a fitting method, but the method of connecting the cartridge 10 and the main body 20 is not limited to the examples mentioned above.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the cartridge 10 may include a housing 100 , a mouthpiece 10 m , a storage portion 200 , a wick 300 , an atomizer 400 , and a terminal 500 .

[0032] The housing 100, together with the mouthpiece 10m, forms the overall appearance of the cartridge 10, and components for operating the cartridge 10 may be disposed inside the housing 100. In one embodiment, the housing 100 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, but the shape of the housing 100 is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Depending on the embodiment, the housing 100 may be formed in a polygonal prism shape (e.g., a triangular prism shape, a pentagonal prism shape) or a cylindrical shape.

[0033] The mouthpiece 10m is disposed in one region of the housing 100 and may include an outlet 10e for discharging the aerosol generated from the aerosol-generating material to the outside. In one embodiment, the mouthpiece 10m is disposed in another region of the cartridge 10 located opposite to the region of the cartridge 10 that is coupled to the main body 20, and the user can receive the aerosol from the cartridge 10 by contacting the mouthpiece 10m with the oral cavity and inhaling.

[0034] When the user inhales or puffs, a pressure difference occurs between the outside of the cartridge 10 and the inside of the cartridge 10, and due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cartridge 10, the aerosol generated from inside the cartridge 10 can be discharged to the outside of the cartridge 10 through the outlet 10e.

[0035] The reservoir 200 is located in the interior space of the housing 100 and is capable of containing an aerosol-generating substance. In one embodiment, the exterior wall of the reservoir 200 is the housing 100 that forms the exterior of the cartridge 10.

[0036] In the embodiments, the expression "the storage unit contains the aerosol-generating material" means that the storage unit 200 simply functions to hold the aerosol-generating material, as in the case of a container. Alternatively, it means that the storage unit 200 contains an element impregnated with (containing) the aerosol-generating material, such as a sponge, cotton, cloth, or porous ceramic structure, inside the storage unit 200. The above expressions may also be used in the following description with the same meaning.

[0037] The storage unit 200 may contain an aerosol-generating material in any one of the following states: liquid, solid, gas, and gel.

[0038] In one embodiment, the aerosol-forming material comprises a liquid composition, which may be a liquid containing tobacco-containing material, including volatile tobacco flavor components, or a liquid containing non-tobacco material.

[0039] The liquid composition may contain, for example, any one or a mixture of water, solvent, ethanol, plant extract, fragrance, flavoring agent, and vitamin mixture. Flavoring agents may include, but are not limited to, menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, and various fruit flavoring ingredients.

[0040] The flavoring agent may include ingredients that can 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.

[0041] For example, the liquid composition may include a glycerin and propylene glycol solution in any weight ratio to which a nicotine salt is added. The liquid composition may include two or more nicotine salts. The nicotine salt may be formed by adding a suitable acid, including an organic acid or an inorganic acid, to nicotine. The nicotine may be naturally occurring nicotine or synthetic nicotine, and may have any suitable weight concentration relative to the total solution weight of the liquid composition.

[0042] The acid for forming the nicotine salt may be appropriately selected taking into consideration the rate of nicotine absorption in the blood, the operating temperature of the aerosol generating device 1, the flavor or taste, solubility, etc. For example, the acid for forming the nicotine salt may be, but is not limited to, a single acid selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, lauric acid, sorbic acid, levulinic acid, pyruvic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, citric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, phenylacetic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, saccharinic acid, malonic acid, or malic acid, or a mixture of two or more acids selected from the group.

[0043] The wick 300 can absorb the aerosol-generating material. For example, the aerosol-generating material stored or contained in the storage unit 200 is transferred from the storage unit 200 to the atomizer 400 through the wick 300, and the atomizer 400 atomizes the aerosol-generating material in the wick 300 or the aerosol-generating material transferred from the wick 300 to generate an aerosol. In this case, the wick 300 may include at least one of cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, and porous ceramic, but is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0044] The atomizer 400 is located inside the housing 100 and generates an aerosol by changing the phase of the aerosol-generating material stored inside the cartridge 10. The atomizer 400 can generate an aerosol, for example, by vibrating the aerosol-generating material.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the atomizer 400 of the aerosol generating device 1 can change the phase of the aerosol generating material by using an ultrasonic vibration method to atomize the aerosol generating material with ultrasonic vibration.

[0046] For example, the atomizer 400 includes a vibrator that generates short-period vibrations, and the vibrations generated by the vibrator are ultrasonic vibrations. The frequency of the ultrasonic vibrations is about 100 kHz to 3.5 MHz, but is not limited thereto.

[0047] The aerosol-generating material supplied from the storage unit 200 to the atomizer 400 may be vaporized and / or atomized by the short-period vibration generated by the vibrator, and then atomized into an aerosol.

[0048] The vibrator may include, for example, a piezoelectric ceramic, which is a functional material that converts electricity and mechanical force into each other by generating electricity (voltage) when a physical force (pressure) is applied and, conversely, generating vibrations (mechanical force) when electricity is applied. That is, when electricity is applied to the vibrator, short-period vibrations (physical force) are generated, and the generated vibrations can break down the aerosol-generating substance into small particles and atomize them into an aerosol.

[0049] The vibrator may be electrically connected to other components of the aerosol generation device 1 through the terminal 500. The terminal 500 may be located on one surface of the cartridge 10. For example, the terminal 500 may be located on the coupling surface of the cartridge 10 where the cartridge 10 couples with the main body 20 of the aerosol generation device 1. For example, the terminal 500 may be located on one surface of the housing 100 facing the mouthpiece 10m.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the vibrator may be electrically connected to at least one of the battery 600 of the main body 20, the control unit 700, and the driving circuit of the aerosol generating device 1 through a terminal 500 located inside the housing 100 of the cartridge 10.

[0051] For example, the vibrator may be electrically connected to a terminal 500 located inside the cartridge 10 through a first conductor, and the terminal 500 may be electrically connected to the battery 600, the control unit 700, and / or other driving circuits of the main body 20 through a second conductor. That is, the vibrator may be electrically connected to components of the main body 20 via the terminal 500.

[0052] The vibrator generates ultrasonic vibrations when current or voltage is supplied from the battery 600 of the main body 20 through the terminal 500. The vibrator is also electrically connected to the control unit 700 of the main body 20 through the terminal 500, and the control unit 700 can control the operation of the vibrator.

[0053] The terminal 500 may include, for example, at least one of a pogo pin, a wire, a cable, a printed circuit board (PCB), a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), and a C-clip, but is not limited to the above examples.

[0054] In another embodiment, the atomizer 400 may be implemented as a mesh- or plate-shaped vibration container that absorbs the aerosol-generating material without using a separate wick 300, maintains it in an optimal state for converting it into an aerosol, and transmits vibrations to the aerosol-generating material to generate the aerosol.

[0055] The aerosol generated by the atomizer 400 can be discharged to the outside of the cartridge 10 through the airflow passage 150 and supplied to the user.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the airflow passage 150 may be located inside the cartridge 10 and connected to the atomizer 400 and the outlet 10e of the mouthpiece 10m. Thus, the aerosol generated from the atomizer 400 may flow along the airflow passage 150 and be discharged to the outside of the cartridge 10 or the aerosol generation device 1 through the outlet 10e.

[0057] Although not shown in the drawings, the airflow passage 150 may include at least one inlet for allowing outside air from the cartridge 10 to flow into the interior of the cartridge 10. The inlet may be located in at least a portion of the housing 100 of the cartridge 10. For example, the inlet may be located on a joining surface (e.g., a bottom surface) of the cartridge 10 where the cartridge 10 and the main body 20 are joined.

[0058] At least one gap is formed where the cartridge 10 and the main body 20 are joined, so that outside air can flow into the gap between the cartridge 10 and the main body 20 and move into the cartridge 10 through the inlet.

[0059] The airflow passage 150 may be connected from the inlet to a space where aerosol is generated by the atomizer 400. The airflow passage 150 may be connected to the outlet 10e. As a result, air flowing in through the inlet is delivered to the atomizer 400, and the delivered air moves to the outlet 10e together with the aerosol generated from the atomizer 400, thereby circulating air within the cartridge 10.

[0060] As one example, at least a portion of the airflow passage 150 may be arranged inside the housing 100 such that its outer periphery is surrounded by the storage unit 200. As another example, at least a portion of the airflow passage 150 may be arranged between the inner wall of the housing 100 and the outer wall of the storage unit 200. The arrangement structure of the airflow passage 150 is not limited to the above example, and the airflow passage 150 may be arranged in various structures that circulate air between the inlet, the atomizer 400, and the outlet 10e.

[0061] The main body 20 includes a battery 600 and a control unit 700 therein, and one end of the main body 20 can be coupled to one end of the cartridge 10. For example, the main body 20 can be coupled to the bottom surface or coupling surface of the cartridge 10.

[0062] The battery 600 supplies power used for the operation of the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the battery 600 can supply power to the atomizer 400 when the main body 20 is electrically coupled to the cartridge 10.

[0063] The battery 600 can also supply the power necessary for the operation of other hardware elements (e.g., sensors, a user interface, a memory, and the control unit 700) provided in the aerosol generating device 1. The battery 600 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery.

[0064] For example, the battery 600 may include a nickel-based battery (e.g., a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-cadmium battery) or a lithium-based battery (e.g., a lithium-cobalt battery, a lithium-phosphate battery, a lithium-titanate battery, a lithium-ion battery, or a lithium-polymer battery).

[0065] The control unit 700 controls the overall operation of the aerosol generation device 1. For example, the control unit 700 can control the power supplied from the battery 600 to the atomizer 400 and control the amount of aerosol generated by the atomizer 400. As an example, the control unit 700 can control the current or voltage supplied to the vibrator of the atomizer 400 so that the vibrator vibrates at a predetermined frequency.

[0066] The control unit 700 may be implemented as an array of a large number of 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 control unit 700 may also be implemented in other forms of hardware.

[0067] The control unit 700 analyzes the results sensed by at least one sensor included in the aerosol generating device 1 and controls successive processes. For example, the control unit 700 can control the power supplied to the atomizer 400 so that the operation of the atomizer 400 starts or ends based on the results sensed by the at least one sensor. Furthermore, the control unit 700 can control the amount and duration of power supplied to the atomizer 400 so that the atomizer 400 generates an appropriate amount of aerosol based on the results sensed by the at least one sensor.

[0068] In one embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the cartridge 10 and / or the main body 20 of the aerosol generating device 1 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction is a circle, an ellipse, a square, a rectangle, or a polygon of various shapes. However, the cross-sectional shape of the cartridge 10 and / or the main body 20 is not limited to the above-mentioned shapes, and is not necessarily a structure that extends linearly when the aerosol generating device 1 is extended in the longitudinal direction.

[0069] In other embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol generation device 1 may be curved in a streamlined manner to be easily gripped by a user's hand, or may be elongated in a shape bent at a predetermined angle in a specific region. The cross-sectional shape of the aerosol generation device 1 may also vary along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generation device 1.

[0070] 2A is a perspective view of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment in which the cartridge and the main body are separated, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the aerosol generating device according to the embodiment of FIG. 2A in which the main body and the cartridge are combined.

[0071] The aerosol generating device 1 relating to the embodiment shown in Figures 2A and 2B is a modified example of the aerosol generating device 1 shown in Figure 1, and the cartridge 10 relating to the embodiment is a modified example of the cartridge 10 shown in Figure 1, and duplicate explanations will be omitted below.

[0072] 2A and 2B, an aerosol generating device 1 according to another embodiment may include a main body 20 and a cartridge 10. The cartridge 10 may be detachably coupled to the main body 20. For example, at least a portion of the cartridge 10 may be coupled to the main body 20 by being inserted into the main body 20.

[0073] The cartridge 10 may include a mouthpiece 10m that is movable between an open position and a closed position. For example, the mouthpiece 10m may be opened and closed by rotating between the open and closed positions.

[0074] The cartridge 10 may include a main body 10b that includes various components necessary for generating an aerosol and discharging the generated aerosol. Although not shown, the main body 10b may include a storage section (not shown), an atomizer (not shown), and a portion of an airflow passage (not shown). Meanwhile, depending on the embodiment, the atomizer may be located outside the cartridge 10 (e.g., in the main body 20).

[0075] The main body 20 includes a coupling portion 20a to which the cartridge 10 is detachably coupled. For example, the main body 20 may include a receiving groove 20ah in which at least a portion of the cartridge 10 is received. The main body portion 10b of the cartridge 10 may be inserted into the receiving groove 20ah.

[0076] For example, the coupling part 20a may include a connection terminal (not shown) electrically connected to the atomizer 400 and the mesh-type heater 155. One or more connection terminals may be provided, each connected to the atomizer 400 and the mesh-type heater 155. When the cartridge 10 is received in the receiving groove ah of the main body 20, the connection terminals may be electrically connected to the atomizer 400 and the mesh-type heater 155.

[0077] For example, the main body 10b of the cartridge 10 may be substantially rectangular prism-shaped, and the corners of the rectangular prism may be chamfered or rounded. However, the shape of the main body 10b of the cartridge 10 is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and may be cylindrical or polygonal prism-shaped.

[0078] As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the cartridge 10 may be coupled to the main body 20 by at least one of a snap-fit ​​method, a screw-fit method, a magnetic coupling method, and a fitting method. For example, the cartridge 10 may include a first magnetic body, and the main body 20 may include a second magnetic body, and the cartridge 10 and the main body 20 may be coupled to each other by magnetic force. However, the strength of the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body may be designed in consideration of ease of attachment and detachment of the cartridge 10 and the main body 20 and / or operational stability of the aerosol generating device 1.

[0079] The main body 20 may include a button 20b. The button 20b may be located on one side of the main body 20. For example, the button 20b may be located on one side of the main body 20 corresponding to one end 20c-1 of the cover 20c. When using the aerosol generation device 1, a user can use the button 20b to operate the aerosol generation device 1.

[0080] The main body 20 may further include a storage portion 20s that stores the mouthpiece 10m when the mouthpiece 10m of the cartridge 10 is moved to the closed position. The storage portion 20s may be located on one side of the main body 20 and may have a shape or size corresponding to the mouthpiece 10m.

[0081] As shown in Figure 2B, when the mouthpiece 10m is moved to the closed position, the portion that protrudes from the closed position to the outside of the aerosol generating device 1, i.e., the portion that protrudes from the outer surface of the main body 20 to the outside, is minimized, thereby improving portability.

[0082] 2A, in one embodiment, the main body 20 may further include a cover 20c coupled to a portion of the main body 20. The cover 20c may be coupled to at least one surface of the main body 20. For example, the cover 20c may be coupled to one side of the main body 20 where the coupling portion 20a is located. Alternatively, the cover 20c may be coupled to one side of the main body 20 where the storage portion 20s is located.

[0083] The cover 20c may include an opening 20c-3. The cover 20c may have the opening 20c-3 sized to correspond to the mouthpiece 10m. For example, the opening 20c-3 may have a predetermined length and width. Here, the width of the opening 20c-3 is smaller than or equal to the body of the cartridge 10 and larger than or equal to the mouthpiece 10m. The length of the opening 20c-3 is larger than or equal to the mouthpiece 10m.

[0084] The cover 20c may extend from one end 20c-1 to the other end 20c-2 and be disposed on the mounting portion 20f of the main body 20. For example, the mounting portion 20f may have a size and shape corresponding to the cover 20c. The mounting portion 20f is a recessed portion that extends in both directions from the entrance side portion of the coupling portion 20a and the storage portion 20s to a predetermined depth so that the cover 20c can be coupled thereto.

[0085] When the cartridge 10 is coupled to the main body 20, the cover 20c may be coupled to the main body 20 after the cartridge 10 is coupled to the main body 20. The cover 20c may be coupled to one side of the main body 20 by at least one of a snap-fit ​​method, a mating method, or a magnetic coupling method, but is not limited to these.

[0086] The cover 20c includes an opening 20c-3 through which the mouthpiece 10m can pass freely, so that when the cartridge 10 is connected to the main body 20, the cover 20c protects the cartridge 10 without interfering with the opening and closing operation of the mouthpiece 10m, and maintains the connection between the cartridge 10 and the main body 20.

[0087] FIG. 2B shows the aerosol generating device 1 in which the cartridge 10 and the cover 20c are both coupled to the main body 20, and the mouthpiece 10m is in the closed position.

[0088] 2A, the main body 20 may include a storage portion 20s having a size and shape corresponding to the mouthpiece 10m, a mounting portion 20f having a size and shape corresponding to the cover 20c, and the cover 20c may include an opening 20c-3 having a size and shape corresponding to the mouthpiece 10m. Through such shapes, the aerosol generating device 1 has a solid and elegant overall finish, as shown in FIG. 2B.

[0089] According to one embodiment, when separating the cartridge 10 from the main body 20, the cover 20c may be separated from the main body 20 first, and then the cartridge 10 may be separated from the main body 20. In this manner, the cover 20c and the cartridge 10 may be separated from the main body 20 sequentially or may be coupled to the main body 20 sequentially.

[0090] FIG. 3A is a diagram showing one aspect of the cartridge related to the embodiment of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing another aspect of the cartridge related to the embodiment of FIG. 2A.

[0091] 3A and 3B, the main body 10b of the cartridge 10 can be coupled to a mouthpiece 10m through a rotation shaft, and the mouthpiece 10m can rotate between an open position and a closed position.

[0092] 3A, in one embodiment, the mouthpiece 10m may be positioned in an open position. The open position of the mouthpiece 10m refers to a state in which the mouthpiece 10m extends in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 10 to facilitate contact with the user's mouth. Here, the longitudinal direction refers to the direction in which the cartridge 10 extends the longest (e.g., the z-axis direction in FIG. 3A).

[0093] 3B, in another embodiment, the mouthpiece 10m may be in a closed position. The closed state of the mouthpiece 10m means that the mouthpiece 10m is folded in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 10 (e.g., the x-axis direction in FIG. 3B) so as to be housed in the main body 20 of the aerosol generation device 1.

[0094] As another example, the mouthpiece 10m may be opened and closed by sliding between an open position and a closed position, but the manner in which the mouthpiece 10m moves is not limited to the example described above.

[0095] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge for the embodiment of FIG. 2A.

[0096] The cartridge 10 shown in FIG. 4 is the cartridge 10 shown in FIG. 2A or a modified version thereof, and a duplicated description will be omitted below.

[0097] Referring to FIG. 4, in one embodiment, the cartridge 10 may include a mouthpiece 10m and a body portion 10b.

[0098] In one embodiment, the body portion 10 b of the cartridge 10 may include at least a portion of the housing 100 , the wick 300 , and the atomizer 400 .

[0099] In one embodiment, the mouthpiece 10m may be movably coupled or connected to the main body 10b of the cartridge 10. The components of the cartridge 10 according to one embodiment are not limited to the examples described above, and additional components may be added or some components may be omitted depending on the embodiment.

[0100] In one embodiment, the housing 100 forms the overall appearance of the cartridge 10 while forming an internal space within the housing 10 to accommodate components of the cartridge 10 (e.g., at least a portion of the storage portion 200, wick 300, and atomizer 400).

[0101] The housing 100 of the aerosol generating device 1 may include a first housing 110, a second housing 120 connected to one region of the first housing 110, and a third housing 130 connected to another region of the first housing 110.

[0102] For example, the second housing 120 may be coupled to a region located at the lower end (e.g., in the -z direction) of the first housing 110, and an internal space in which the components of the cartridge 10 are arranged may be formed between the first housing 110 and the second housing 120.

[0103] In one embodiment, the third housing 130 is coupled to a region located at the upper end (e.g., in the +z direction) of the first housing 110, and at least a portion of the mouthpiece 10m may be disposed on one side of the third housing 130.

[0104] In the present invention, the "upper end" refers to the "+z" direction in FIG. 4, and the "lower end" refers to the "z" direction in FIG. 4, which is opposite to the upper end, and these expressions may be used with the same meaning hereinafter.

[0105] The first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may be connected to each other to form a first airflow passage 151 through which air (e.g., air, aerosol) moves inside the main body 10b. For example, the first housing 110 may form a part of the first airflow passage 151, and the second housing 120 may form the remaining part of the first airflow passage 151.

[0106] In addition, the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are combined to form an internal space in which various components necessary for the operation of the cartridge 10 can be accommodated or disposed.

[0107] The first housing 110 and the second housing 120 can protect the components housed in the internal space, and the third housing 130 can protect the mouthpiece 10m and other components coupled or connected to the mouthpiece 10m.

[0108] In one embodiment, the mouthpiece 10m is a portion that comes into contact with the user's oral cavity, and the mouthpiece 10m may be disposed in or coupled to a region of the housing 100. For example, the mouthpiece 10m may be coupled to the third housing 130.

[0109] The mouthpiece 10m is movable between an open position and a closed position. The cartridge 10 may further include a first elastic body 10m-1 that provides an elastic force to the mouthpiece 10m. For example, the first elastic body 10m-1 can elastically support the mouthpiece 10m toward the open position.

[0110] The first elastic body 10m-1 may be disposed around the rotation axis of the mouthpiece 10m. The mouthpiece 10m may be moved from a closed position to an open position by the elastic force of the first elastic body 10m-1. The first elastic body 10m-1 may be made of a metal material (e.g., SUS).

[0111] In one embodiment, the mouthpiece 10m is rotatable about a rotation axis, and the first elastic body 10m-1 is a torsion spring located on the rotation axis of the mouthpiece 10m. The first elastic body 10m-1 is in a relatively large deformation state when the mouthpiece 10m is in the closed position, and in a relatively small deformation state when the mouthpiece 10m is in the open position. This provides a biased elastic force to the mouthpiece 10m so that it can be opened from the closed position to the open position.

[0112] In one embodiment, the mouthpiece 10m may be rotatably coupled to the third housing 130 together with the support portion 10m-2. The support portion 10m-2 may be disposed between the mouthpiece 10m and the third housing 130 and may cover at least a portion of the other side of the mouthpiece 10m.

[0113] The mouthpiece 10m, the support 10m-2, and the third housing 130 may be interconnected by a rotation shaft, so that the mouthpiece 10m is not only firmly coupled to the third housing 130 but also rotatable relative to the third housing 130, allowing it to move between an open position and a closed position.

[0114] In one embodiment, the cartridge 10 may further include a first seal 161 for maintaining the coupling between the first housing 110 and the third housing 130 and for sealing the storage portion 200 .

[0115] The first sealing body 161 may be disposed between the first housing 110 and the third housing 130. For example, the first sealing body 161 may be coupled to an upper end of the first housing 110 and a lower end of the third housing 130, thereby firmly maintaining the coupling between the first housing 110 and the third housing 130.

[0116] In addition, the first sealing body 161 may have a structure that does not seal the first airflow passage 151 but seals the storage unit 200. For example, the first sealing body 161 may have a structure that includes a hole in a portion where the first airflow passage 151 is located and does not include a hole in a portion where the storage unit 200 is located when coupled to the upper end of the first housing 110. As a result, the first sealing body 161 can prevent the first airflow passage 151-1 from being blocked and can separate or space the storage unit 200 and the first airflow passage 151 from each other at the upper end of the first housing 110.

[0117] The cartridge 10 may further include a second seal 162 that is coupled to the third housing 130 and seals the area around the connection port (111 in FIG. 5). The second seal 162 may be coupled to the upper end of the third housing 130. The second seal 162 may include a hole of a size corresponding to the connection port (111 in FIG. 5) to prevent the connection port (111 in FIG. 5) from being blocked, and may seal the area where the first air flow passage 151 and the second air flow passage 152 are connected.

[0118] The cartridge 10 may include both a first sealing body 161 and a second sealing body 162. The first sealing body 161 and the second sealing body 162 are respectively coupled to the upper and lower ends of the third housing 130, and at least a portion of the first sealing body 161 and the second sealing body 162 may be partially coupled inside the third housing 130. As a result, the first housing 110 and the third housing 130 may be more firmly coupled via the first sealing body 161 and the second sealing body 162.

[0119] The first sealing body 161 and the second sealing body 162 are coupled to the first housing 110 and / or the third housing 130 by a press fit method, but the coupling method of the first sealing body 161 and the second sealing body 162 is not limited to the above example.

[0120] On the other hand, the first sealing body 161 and the second sealing body 162 may comprise a material (e.g., silicone) that has a predetermined rigidity and is waterproof, and may be firmly attached to the first housing 110 and / or the third housing 130 and function as part of the inner wall of the first air flow passage 151.

[0121] In one embodiment, the aerosol atomized by the atomizer 400 is discharged to the outside of the cartridge 10 through the first airflow passage 151, the second airflow passage 152, and the outlet 10e, and can be supplied to a user.

[0122] For example, the aerosol generated by the atomizer 400 flows along the first airflow passage 151 formed to connect or communicate the atomization space (e.g., 401 in FIG. 5) with the second airflow passage 152 of the mouthpiece 10m, and after flowing through the second airflow passage 152, can be discharged to the outside of the cartridge 10 through an outlet (e.g., 10e in FIG. 5).

[0123] In one embodiment, the first airflow passage 151 may be connected (eg, connected in the +z direction) along the internal structure of the second housing 120 and the first housing 110 to the mouthpiece 10m.

[0124] In one embodiment, the storage portion 200 may be disposed inside the first housing 110 .

[0125] In one embodiment, the wick 300 may be located between the storage unit 200 and the atomizer 400. The aerosol-generating substance stored in the storage unit 200 may be supplied to the atomizer 400 through the wick 300.

[0126] According to one embodiment, the wick 300 may receive the aerosol-generating material from the storage unit 200 and transfer the aerosol-generating material to the atomizer 400. For example, the wick 300 may absorb the aerosol-generating material from the storage unit 200, and the aerosol-generating material absorbed by the wick 300 may be transferred to the atomizer 400.

[0127] According to one embodiment, the core 300 may include a transmission member 310. According to another embodiment, the core 300 may further include an absorber plate 320.

[0128] The transmitting member 310 is disposed adjacent to the storage unit 200 and may receive a liquid aerosol-generating material from the storage unit 200. For example, the aerosol-generating material stored in the storage unit 200 may be discharged to the outside of the storage unit 200 through a liquid supply port (not shown) formed in a region of the storage unit 200 facing the transmitting member 310. The transmitting member 310 may absorb at least a portion of the aerosol-generating material discharged from the storage unit 200, thereby absorbing the aerosol-generating material from the storage unit 200.

[0129] The absorbent plate 320 may be supplied with the aerosol-generating substance through the transmitting member 310. By further including the absorbent plate 320 in the cartridge 10, the aerosol-generating substance is absorbed not only by the transmitting member 310 but also by the absorbent plate 320, thereby improving the amount of aerosol-generating substance absorbed.

[0130] The absorbent plate 320 may be made of a material that absorbs the aerosol-forming substance. For example, the absorbent plate 320 may include at least one of the following materials: SPL 30(H), SPL 50(H)V, NP 100(V8), SPL 60(FC), and melamine.

[0131] Furthermore, since the absorbent plate 320 is disposed to cover at least a portion of the atomizer 400, the absorbent plate 320 can function as a physical barrier to prevent "splash," which occurs when particles that are not sufficiently atomized during the aerosol generation process are promptly discharged outside the aerosol generation device 1. Here, "splash" refers to relatively large particles of the aerosol-generating material that have not been sufficiently atomized being discharged outside the cartridge 10. The inclusion of the absorbent plate 320 in the cartridge 10 reduces the likelihood of splash, thereby improving the user's smoking satisfaction.

[0132] In one embodiment, the absorption plate 320 is located between one surface of the atomizer 400 where the aerosol is generated and the transmitting member 310 , and can transmit the aerosol supplied to the transmitting member 310 to the atomizer 400 .

[0133] For example, one area of ​​the absorption plate 320 may contact one area of ​​the transmitting member 310 facing in the -z direction, and another area of ​​the absorption plate 320 may contact one area of ​​the atomizer 400 facing in the +z direction. That is, the absorption plate 320 is located on the upper end surface (e.g., in the +z direction) of the atomizer 400, and can supply the aerosol-generating substance absorbed in the transmitting member 310 to the atomizer 400.

[0134] The transmission member 310, the absorption plate 320 and the atomizer 400 are arranged sequentially along the longitudinal direction (e.g., the z-axis direction) of the cartridge 10 or the housing 100, so that the absorption plate 320 and the transmission member 310 are stacked sequentially on the atomizer 400.

[0135] Through the above-described arrangement structure, at least a portion of the aerosol-generating material supplied from the storage unit 200 to the transmitting member 310 moves to the absorbing plate 320 in contact with the transmitting member 310, and the aerosol-generating material that has moved to the absorbing plate 320 can move along the absorbing plate 320 to reach the area adjacent to the atomizer 400.

[0136] As a result, the aerosol-generating material is stably delivered to the atomizer 400, a uniform amount of aerosol is continuously generated, and through the above-mentioned arrangement structure, a physical double barrier that prevents the above-mentioned liquid splashing can be realized by the delivery member 310 and the absorption plate 320.

[0137] Although the drawings show an embodiment in which the core 300 includes one transmission member 310 and one absorbent plate 320, cartridge 10 in other embodiments may include two or more of at least one of the transmission member 310 and the absorbent plate 320.

[0138] In one embodiment, the cartridge 10 may further include a first support 330 for maintaining the wick 300 and / or the atomizer 400 within the first housing 110. The first support 330 may be disposed between the first housing 110 and the second housing 120.

[0139] The first support 330 is arranged to cover at least a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the transmitting member 310, the absorbing plate 320 and / or the atomizer 400, and can accommodate the transmitting member 310, the absorbing plate 320 and / or the atomizer 400.

[0140] According to one embodiment, the first support 330 may include a material (e.g., silicone or rubber) that has a predetermined rigidity and is waterproof. Therefore, it not only fixes the wick 300 and the atomizer 400 to the first housing 110 but also prevents leakage of the aerosol-generating substance from the storage unit 200. For example, the first support 330 may seal the area of ​​the storage unit 200 adjacent to the wick 300 or the atomizer 400, thereby preventing leakage of the aerosol-generating substance. In addition, the first support 330 may include an elastic material, such as rubber, to absorb ultrasonic vibrations generated by the atomizer 400.

[0141] The atomizer 400 can atomize the liquid aerosol-forming substance supplied from the wick 300 to generate an aerosol.

[0142] For example, the atomizer 400 may include a vibrator that generates ultrasonic vibrations. The frequency of the ultrasonic vibrations generated by the vibrator is about 100 kHz to 10 MHz, and preferably about 100 kHz to 3.5 MHz.

[0143] When the vibrator generates ultrasonic vibrations in the aforementioned frequency band, the vibrator can vibrate along the longitudinal direction (e.g., z-axis direction) of the cartridge 10 or the housing 100. However, the embodiment is not limited by the vibration direction of the vibrator, and the vibration direction of the vibrator can be changed to various directions (e.g., any one of the x-axis direction, y-axis direction, and z-axis direction, or a combination of these directions).

[0144] The atomizer 400 atomizes the aerosol-generating material using an ultrasonic method, which allows it to generate aerosol at a relatively low temperature compared to a method that heats the aerosol-generating material. For example, when using a heater to heat the aerosol-generating material, the aerosol-generating material may be unintentionally heated to a temperature of 200° C. or higher, causing the user to experience a burnt taste from the aerosol.

[0145] Meanwhile, the cartridge 10 according to one embodiment atomizes the aerosol-generating material using an ultrasonic method, thereby generating aerosol at a temperature range of about 100° C. to 160° C., which is relatively lower than that when heated with a heater. This minimizes the burnt taste from the aerosol and improves the user's smoking satisfaction.

[0146] According to an embodiment, the atomizer 400 is electrically connected to an external power source through a terminal 500, and the terminal 500 may include an electrical board.

[0147] The atomizer 400 can generate ultrasonic vibrations using power supplied from an external power source. For example, the atomizer 400 is electrically connected to a terminal 500 located inside the cartridge 10, and the terminal 500 is electrically connected to the main body 20, so that the atomizer 400 can receive power from a battery 600.

[0148] According to an embodiment, the atomizer 400 may be electrically connected to the terminal 500 through the first electrode body 410 and the second electrode body 420 .

[0149] In one embodiment, the first electrode body 410 includes a conductive material (eg, metal), is located at the top of the atomizer 400, and can electrically connect the atomizer 400 and the terminal 500.

[0150] For example, a portion (e.g., an upper end portion) of the first electrode body 410 may be disposed to cover at least a region of the outer circumferential surface of the atomizer 400 and contact the atomizer 400, and another portion (e.g., a lower end portion) of the first electrode body 410 may be formed to extend in a direction toward the terminal 500 and contact a region of the terminal 500. Due to the above-described contact structure of the first electrode body 410, the atomizer 400 and the terminal 500 may be electrically connected.

[0151] For example, an opening may be formed in a portion of the first electrode body 410, and at least a portion of the atomizer 400 may be exposed to the outside of the first electrode body 410. The region of the atomizer 400 exposed to the outside of the first electrode body 410 through the opening of the first electrode body 410 may come into contact with the wick 300 and atomize the aerosol-generating material contained in the wick 300.

[0152] In one embodiment, the second electrode body 420 includes a conductive material and is located at the bottom of the atomizer 400 or between the atomizer 400 and the terminal 500, electrically connecting the atomizer 400 and the terminal 500. For example, one end of the second electrode body 420 may contact the bottom region of the atomizer 400, and the other end may contact an area of ​​the terminal 500 facing the atomizer 400. The above-described contact structure of the second electrode body 420 allows the atomizer 400 and the terminal 500 to be electrically connected.

[0153] According to an embodiment, the second electrode body 420 includes an elastic conductive material and can serve not only to electrically connect the atomizer 400 and the terminal 500 but also to elastically support the atomizer 400. For example, the second electrode body 420 may include a conductive spring, but the second electrode body 420 is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0154] According to one embodiment, the terminal 500 may be located inside the second housing 120. The terminal 500 may be electrically connected to the atomizer 400 through the first electrode body 410 and the second electrode body 420, and may also be electrically connected to the main body 20 of the aerosol generation device 1.

[0155] Meanwhile, when power supply to the atomizer 400 is started or during the power supply process, unintended noise occurs in the electrical circuit between the atomizer 400 and the external power source. For example, noise occurs in the voltage signal supplied to the atomizer 400, and a voltage higher than the specified value is applied to the atomizer 400, which may cause the temperature of the atomizer 400 to rise sharply (for example, above the Curie temperature), resulting in damage to the atomizer 400.

[0156] According to one embodiment, the cartridge 10 may further include a resistor R for filtering noise included in a signal applied to the atomizer 400. For example, a resistor R may be disposed in one area of ​​the terminal 500 for filtering or filtering noise generated when power is supplied to the atomizer 400 from an external power source.

[0157] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to the embodiment of FIG. 2A.

[0158] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the mouthpiece 10m of the cartridge 10 is in the open position, and a duplicated description will be omitted below.

[0159] According to an embodiment, when a user inhales by contacting the mouthpiece 10m with the oral cavity, the pressure inside the cartridge 10 becomes lower than atmospheric pressure, and outside air may flow into the cartridge 10.

[0160] According to an embodiment, a predetermined gap may be formed at a portion where the first housing 110 and the third housing 130 are joined, and a predetermined gap may be formed at a portion where the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are joined. Outside air may flow into the cartridge 10 through such gaps.

[0161] The housing 100 may include at least one inlet 10i through which outside air flows into the cartridge 10. In one embodiment, the second housing 120 may include the inlet 10i. For example, the inlet 10i may be located on a lower end surface of the second housing 120 where the cartridge 10 is coupled to the main body 20.

[0162] The aerosol generated from the atomization space 401 can be mixed with air introduced from the outside through the inlet 10i and move in a direction toward the outlet 10e. The atomization space 401 is located on one side of the atomizer 400, and the atomization space 401 and the first airflow passage 151 can be connected to the upper end of the atomizer 400. As a result, the cartridge 10 has a linear aerosol discharge path, so the generated aerosol can be easily discharged to the outside of the cartridge 10.

[0163] According to an embodiment, a mesh-type heater 155 may be disposed in the first airflow passage 151. The aerosol generated from the atomizer 400 may be heated while passing through the mesh-type heater 155.

[0164] The mesh heater 155 may include any suitable electrically resistive material to generate heat by electrical resistance, for example, 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, and the like.

[0165] The mesh heater 155 may include a number of pores through which the aerosol passes. The mesh heater 155 may include a single wire or multiple wires including an electrically resistive material. The pores may be formed by bending the single wire or by crossing multiple wires. The pores may be formed in a rectangular shape. However, the shape of the pores is not limited thereto and may be formed in various other shapes.

[0166] The aerosol can be heated by passing through the pores of the mesh heater 155. The mesh heater 155 can be disposed on a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) or an FPCB (Flexible Printed Circuits Board) and electrically connected to the aerosol generation device 1. The mesh heater 155 can include a contact element electrically connected to the aerosol generation device 1.

[0167] A specific description of the arrangement of the mesh heater 155 will be given later with reference to FIG.

[0168] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the airflow passages in the cartridge with the mouthpiece open.

[0169] The airflow path shown in FIG. 6 indicates the direction of airflow when a user inhales using the mouthpiece 10m.

[0170] According to one embodiment, the aerosol atomized by the atomizer 400 may be discharged to the outside of the cartridge 10 through the airflow passage (150 in FIG. 1) and supplied to a user. For example, the aerosol generated by the atomizer 400 may flow along the airflow passage 150 formed to connect or communicate the atomization space 401 with the outlet 10e of the mouthpiece 10m, and then be discharged to the outside of the cartridge 10 through the outlet 10e.

[0171] In one embodiment, the airflow passage (150 in FIG. 1) may be connected along the inlet 10i, the atomization space 401 where the aerosol is generated, and the outlet 10e. The airflow passage (150 in FIG. 1) may be formed by at least one component of the cartridge 10 (e.g., the first housing 110, the second housing 120, the mouthpiece 10m). Alternatively, as a modification, at least a portion of the airflow passage (150 in FIG. 1) may be formed as a tube inserted inside the housing 100.

[0172] The airflow can move from the inlet 10i through the atomization space 401 toward the outlet 10e. For example, this means the direction from the inlet 10i toward the atomization space 401 and the direction from the atomization space 401 toward the outlet 10e.

[0173] According to one embodiment, the airflow passage (150 in FIG. 1) may include a first airflow passage 151 that connects from the inlet 10i through the atomization space 401 to the connection port 111 that connects the main body 10b and the mouthpiece 10m, and a second airflow passage 152 located inside the mouthpiece 10m.

[0174] The first airflow passage 151 may be connected from the inlet 10i to the connection port 111 along the internal structure of the second housing 120 and the first housing 110, passing through the atomization space 401.

[0175] The first airflow passage 151 may be connected to the second airflow passage 152. The second airflow passage 152 refers to a passage inside the mouthpiece 10m.

[0176] When the mouthpiece 10m is in the open position, the second airflow passage 152 may be connected to the first airflow passage 151. When the mouthpiece 10m is in the closed position, the second airflow passage 152 may be disconnected from the first airflow passage 151.

[0177] In one embodiment, the mouthpiece 10m may include a second airflow passage 152 for discharging the aerosol generated inside the cartridge 10 to the outside of the cartridge 10. For example, one side of the second airflow passage 152 (e.g., the outlet 10e) may be connected to the outside, and the other side may be in an open position and connected to the first airflow passage 151. A user may inhale by bringing the mouthpiece 10m into contact with the mouth of the user's mouth, thereby receiving the aerosol discharged to the outside through the second airflow passage 152 and the outlet 10e of the mouthpiece 10m.

[0178] Meanwhile, the cartridge 10 according to one embodiment atomizes the aerosol-generating material using an ultrasonic method, thereby generating aerosol at a relatively lower temperature compared to a method that heats the aerosol-generating material using a heater, thereby minimizing the burnt taste of the aerosol.

[0179] However, when aerosol is generated using an ultrasonic method, the aerosol is generated at a relatively low temperature, which can result in relatively large aerosol particles. Furthermore, a portion of the atomized aerosol may liquefy within the airflow passage (150 in FIG. 1) to generate droplets. Alternatively, a portion of the aerosol-generating material may not be sufficiently atomized, resulting in relatively large droplets. These phenomena reduce the user's convenience and smoking satisfaction.

[0180] One embodiment of the cartridge 10 includes a mesh heater 155 within the airflow passage (150 in FIG. 1) to prevent larger particle droplets from passing through, improving the user's smoking experience.

[0181] Specifically, the mesh-type heater 155 may be disposed within the airflow passage (150 in FIG. 1) in a direction crossing the extension direction of the airflow passage (150 in FIG. 1). This allows the airflow to pass through the pores of the mesh-type heater 155 and flow in a direction toward the mouthpiece 10m. That is, the direction of passage of the aerosol and / or droplets may cross the mesh-type heater 155. However, the mesh-type heater 155 may be disposed in various ways and is not limited thereto.

[0182] In one embodiment, the mesh heater 155 may include a large number of pores with a short side length of 0.5 μm to 5 μm. The short side length of the pores of the mesh heater 155 may be 0.5 μm to 8 μm, or 0.5 μm to 3 μm, or 0.5 μm to 1 μm.

[0183] The diameter of the aerosol formed by the atomizer 400 including the vibrator according to an embodiment may be 0.2 μm to 15 μm. The aerosol is heated while passing through the pores of the mesh-type heater 155, and the aerosol particles may be atomized.

[0184] In one embodiment, the mesh heater 155 may be disposed in the first airflow passage 151. The mesh heater 155 disposed in the first airflow passage 151 can heat the aerosol that has been atomized to some extent through the atomizer 400. By disposing the mesh heater 155 in the first airflow passage 151, it is possible to atomize the aerosol into small particles even with the application of a relatively small amount of heat.

[0185] The mesh heater 155 may be formed in a multi-layer structure in which each layer is arranged in the extension direction of the first airflow passage 151. Each mesh heater 155 may be formed by bending a single metal wire to form multiple layers, or each layer may be formed using a different metal wire. Each layer of the mesh heater 155 may be electrically connected to a power source such as a battery (600 in FIG. 1) and heated individually, or may be connected to a single power source and heated together.

[0186] In one embodiment, when the mesh-type heater 155 has one or more layers, all of them may be disposed in the first airflow passage 151. The mesh-type heater 155 can efficiently atomize relatively large aerosol particles by heating them from both directions, thereby minimizing the release of large aerosol particles into the mouthpiece 10m. However, when formed in a multi-layer structure, all of them are not limited to being disposed in the first airflow passage 151.

[0187] In another embodiment, the cartridge 10 may further include an absorber 152a for absorbing droplets generated in the airflow passage 150. By absorbing the droplets, the absorber 152a prevents the inner walls of the airflow passage 150 from being narrowed or clogged by the droplets, thereby improving the user's smoking satisfaction.

[0188] The absorbent 152a may include at least one of felt, cotton, cloth, and activated carbon that absorb or adsorb liquid or solid residues, but is not limited to these.

[0189] In one embodiment, the absorber 152a may be disposed in the second airflow passage 152. The mesh-type heater 155 is disposed in the first airflow passage 151, and the absorber 152a is disposed in the second airflow passage 152, thereby enabling efficient use of the aerosol-generating material. The mesh-type heater 155 is disposed in the first airflow passage 151, thereby further atomizing the aerosol that has been atomized to some extent through the atomizer 400, thereby increasing atomization efficiency, and the absorber 152a is disposed in the second airflow passage 152, thereby minimizing the amount of aerosol absorbed by the absorber 152a without being inhaled by the user. However, the arrangement position and number of the absorbers 152a are not limited.

[0190] In another embodiment, one or more absorbers 152a may be disposed on the inner wall of the second airflow passage 152. By disposing the absorbers 152a on the inner wall of the second airflow passage 152, droplets can be absorbed without affecting the smooth flow of aerosol. For example, the absorbers 152a may be disposed on the inner wall of the second airflow passage 152 in a portion adjacent to the outlet 10e of the mouthpiece 10m.

[0191] The operation of the mesh-type heater 155 may be controlled by the control unit 700. The control unit 700 may analyze the results sensed by at least one sensor included in the aerosol generating device 1 and control the processes that are performed successively. The control unit 700 may control whether or not the mesh-type heater 155 operates, the operation time, the heating temperature, etc., according to the results sensed by at least one sensor.

[0192] For example, if the control unit 700 determines that smoking has ended, it can operate the mesh heater 155 for a certain period of time to dry out droplets remaining in the airflow passage (150 in FIG. 1). That is, the mesh heater 155, which was operated to atomize the aerosol after smoking began, can continue to operate for a predetermined certain period of time even after smoking has ended. If the control unit 700 determines that smoking has ended, it can control the heating temperature of the mesh heater 155 after smoking has ended to be lower than the heating temperature of the mesh heater 155 during smoking.

[0193] In another embodiment, when the control unit 700 recognizes that smoking has ended and operates the mesh heater 155 for a preset time, the control unit 700 may control the heating temperature of the mesh heater 155 to gradually decrease as the preset time elapses. For example, the control unit 700 may control the heating temperature of the mesh heater 155 to decrease by 3°C every 30 seconds after smoking has ended, but the control is not limited to this and various other control modes are possible. Furthermore, the control unit 700 may control the operation of the mesh heater 155 to end when the heating temperature decreases by more than a certain temperature.

[0194] According to one embodiment, the main body 20 of the aerosol generating device 1 may further include an input means (not shown) for passively controlling the heating temperature of the mesh heater 155. A user can increase or decrease the heating temperature of the mesh heater 155 through the input means, thereby improving the smoking satisfaction.

[0195] For example, the input means includes, but is not limited to, a button, a keypad, a dome switch, a jog wheel, a jog switch, a touch panel, and the like.

[0196] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

[0197] The aerosol generation device 1 includes a power supply 11, a control unit 12, a sensor 13, an output unit 14, an input unit 15, a communication unit 16, a memory 17, and at least one atomizer 18. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generation device 1 is not limited to that shown in Fig. 7. That is, a person skilled in the art of the present embodiment can understand that, depending on the design of the aerosol generation device 1, some of the components shown in Fig. 7 may be omitted or new components may be added.

[0198] The sensor 13 can sense the state of the aerosol generation device 1 or the state around the aerosol generation device 1 and transmit the sensed information to the control unit 12. Based on the sensed information, the control unit 12 can control the aerosol generation device 1 to perform various functions such as controlling the operation of the atomizer 18, restricting smoking, determining whether the cartridge 19 is inserted, and displaying notifications.

[0199] The sensor 13 includes at least one of a temperature sensor 131 , a puff sensor 132 , a cartridge detection sensor 135 , a cap detection sensor 136 , and a motion detection sensor 137 .

[0200] The temperature sensor 131 can sense the temperature of the atomizer 18. The aerosol generating device 1 may include a separate temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the atomizer 18, or the atomizer 18 itself may function as a temperature sensor.

[0201] The temperature sensor 131 can output a signal corresponding to the temperature of the atomizer 18. For example, the temperature sensor 131 includes a resistive element whose resistance value changes in response to a change in the temperature of the atomizer 18. This is implemented by a thermistor, which is an element that utilizes the property of changing resistance depending on temperature. In this case, the temperature sensor 131 can output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the resistive element as a signal corresponding to the temperature of the atomizer 18. For example, the temperature sensor 131 is configured with a sensor that detects the resistance value of the atomizer 18. In this case, the temperature sensor 131 can output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the atomizer 18 as a signal corresponding to the temperature of the atomizer 18.

[0202] Temperature sensor 131 may be disposed around power supply 11 to monitor the temperature of power supply 11. Temperature sensor 131 may be disposed adjacent to power supply 11. For example, temperature sensor 131 may be attached to one side of a battery that is power supply 11. For example, temperature sensor 131 may be mounted on one side of a printed circuit board.

[0203] The temperature sensor 131 is disposed inside the main body and is capable of sensing the internal temperature of the main body.

[0204] The puff sensor 132 can detect a user's puff based on various physical changes in the airflow path. The puff sensor 132 can output a signal corresponding to the puff. For example, the puff sensor 132 can also be a pressure sensor. The puff sensor 132 can output 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 can be arranged in the aerosol generation device 1 corresponding to the airflow path through which the gas flows.

[0205] The cartridge detection sensor 135 can detect the installation and / or removal of the cartridge 19. The cartridge detection sensor 135 can be implemented by an inductance-based sensor, a capacitance-type sensor, a resistance sensor, a hall sensor (hall IC) using the hall effect, or the like.

[0206] The cap detection sensor 136 can detect the attachment and / or removal of the cap. When the cap is separated from the body, the cartridge 19 and a part of the body that were covered by the cap may be exposed to the outside. The cap detection sensor 136 may be implemented by a contact sensor, a hall sensor (hall IC), an optical sensor, etc.

[0207] The motion detection sensor 137 can detect the motion of the aerosol generating device 1. The motion detection sensor 137 is implemented by at least one of an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor.

[0208] The sensor 13 may further include at least one of a humidity sensor, an air pressure sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, a position sensor (GPS), and a proximity sensor in addition to the above-mentioned sensors 131 to 137. The function of each sensor can be intuitively inferred by an ordinary engineer from its name, so a detailed description will be omitted.

[0209] The output unit 14 can output and provide to the user information about the status of the aerosol generation 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 141 is used as an input device in addition to an output device.

[0210] The display 141 can visually provide a user with information about the aerosol generation device 1. For example, the information about the aerosol generation device 1 can mean various information such as the charge / discharge status of the power supply 11 of the aerosol generation device 1, the insertion / removal status of the cartridge 19, the attachment / removal status of the cap, or a status that restricts the use of the aerosol generation device 1 (e.g., abnormal item detection), and the display 141 can output the information to the outside. For example, the display 141 can be in the form of an LED light-emitting element. For example, the display 141 can be a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light-emitting display panel (OLED), etc.

[0211] The haptic unit 142 converts an electrical signal into a mechanical or electrical stimulus and can provide a user with tactile information about the aerosol generation device 1. For example, when initial power is supplied to the atomizer 18 for a set time, the haptic unit 142 generates a vibration corresponding to the completion of initial preheating. The haptic unit 142 may include a vibration motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0212] The acoustic output unit 143 can audibly provide the user with information about the aerosol generation device 1. For example, the acoustic output unit 143 can convert an electric signal into an acoustic signal and output it to the outside.

[0213] The power source 11 can supply power used to operate the aerosol generation device 1. The power source 11 can supply power to operate the atomizer 18. The power source 11 can also supply power necessary for the operation of other components provided in the aerosol generation device 1, such as the sensor 13, the output unit 14, the input unit 15, the communication unit 16, and the memory 17. The power source 11 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the power source 11 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited thereto.

[0214] 7, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a power protection circuit. The power protection circuit is electrically connected to the power supply 11 and may include a switching element.

[0215] The power supply protection circuit can cut off the electrical path to the power supply 11 under predetermined conditions. For example, the power supply protection circuit can cut off the electrical path to the power supply 11 when the voltage level of the power supply 11 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 power supply 11 when the voltage level of the power supply 11 is lower than a second voltage corresponding to overdischarging.

[0216] Atomizer 18 is capable of atomizing the aerosol-generating substance by receiving power from power supply 11. Although not shown in FIG. 7, aerosol generating device 1 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a DC / DC converter) that converts the power of power supply 11 and supplies it to atomizer 18.

[0217] The control unit 12, the sensor 13, the output unit 14, the input unit 15, the communication unit 16, and the memory 17 can function by receiving power from the power supply 11. Although not shown in FIG. 7 , the device may further include a power conversion circuit, such as an LDO (low dropout) circuit or a voltage regulator circuit, that converts power from the power supply 11 and supplies it to each component. The input unit 15 may receive information input by a user or output information to a user. For example, the input unit 15 may also be a touch panel. The touch panel may include at least one touch sensor that detects 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.

[0218] The display 141 and the touch panel may be implemented as a single 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 141.

[0219] On the other hand, the input unit 15 includes, but is not limited to, a button, a keypad, a dome switch, a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

[0220] The memory 17 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 by the control unit 12. The memory 17 includes at least one type of recording 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 17 can store data related to 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 the user's smoking pattern.

[0221] The communication unit 16 includes at least one component for communicating with other electronic devices, such as at least one of a short-range communication unit and a wireless communication unit.

[0222] The short-range wireless communication unit includes, but is not limited to, a Bluetooth communication unit, a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication unit, a Near Field Communication unit, a WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication unit, a Zigbee communication unit, an IrDA (infrared Data Association) communication unit, a WFD (Wi-Fi Direct) communication unit, a UWB (ultra wideband) communication unit, an Ant+ communication unit, etc.

[0223] 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.

[0224] Although not shown in Figure 7, the aerosol generating device 1 further includes a connection interface such as a USB (universal serial bus) interface, and can connect to other external devices through the connection interface such as the USB interface to send and receive information or charge the power source 11.

[0225] The control unit 12 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 1. In one embodiment, the control unit 12 includes at least one processor. The processor may be embodied as an array of multiple logic gates, or may be embodied 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 embodied by other forms of hardware.

[0226] The aerosol generating device 1 may include a power supply circuit (not shown) electrically connected to the power supply 11 between the power supply 11 and the atomizer 18. The power supply circuit includes at least one switching element. The switching element may be implemented by a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), a field effect transistor (FET), or the like. The control unit 12 may control the power supply circuit.

[0227] 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 also functions as an inverter that converts DC power output from the power supply 11 into AC power. For example, the inverter is configured with a full-bridge circuit or a half-bridge circuit including multiple switching elements.

[0228] The control unit 12 can turn on the switching element so that power is supplied from the power source 11 to the atomizer 18. The control unit 12 can turn off the switching element so that power supply to the atomizer 18 is cut off. The control unit 12 can adjust the current supplied from the power source 11 by adjusting the frequency and / or duty ratio of the current pulse input to the switching element.

[0229] The control unit 12 controls the switching of the switching element of the power supply circuit to control the voltage output from the power supply 11. The power conversion circuit can convert the voltage output from the power supply 11. For example, the power conversion circuit includes a buck converter that reduces the voltage output from the power supply 11. For example, the power conversion circuit is implemented using a buck-boost converter, a Zener diode, etc.

[0230] 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 power source 11. 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 power source 11. 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 may decrease. The atomizer 18 may be operated based on the voltage output from the power conversion circuit.

[0231] The control unit 12 can control the supply of power to the atomizer 18 using at least one of a pulse width modulation (PWM) method and a proportional-integral-differential (PID) method.

[0232] For example, the control unit 12 can use a PWM method to control current pulses having a predetermined frequency and duty ratio to be supplied to the atomizer 18. The control unit 12 can adjust the frequency and duty ratio of the current pulses to control the power supplied to the atomizer 18.

[0233] The control unit 12 can control the charging and discharging of the power supply 11. The control unit 12 can check the temperature of the power supply 11 based on the output signal of the temperature sensor 131.

[0234] When a power line is connected to the battery terminal of the aerosol generating device 1, the control unit 12 can check whether the temperature of the power source 11 is equal to or higher than a first limit temperature, which is a criterion for cutting off charging of the power source 11. When the temperature of the power source 11 is lower than the first limit temperature, the control unit 12 can control the power source 11 to be charged based on a predetermined charging current. When the temperature of the power source 11 is equal to or higher than the first limit temperature, the control unit 12 can cut off charging of the power source 11.

[0235] When the aerosol generating device 1 is powered on, the control unit 12 can check whether the temperature of the power source 11 is equal to or higher than a second limit temperature, which is a criterion for cutting off the discharge of the power source 11. If the temperature of the power source 11 is lower than the second limit temperature, the control unit 12 can control the power source 11 to use the power stored in the power source 11. If the temperature of the power source 11 is equal to or higher than the second limit temperature, the control unit 12 can stop the use of the power stored in the power source 11.

[0236] The control unit 12 may calculate the remaining capacity of the power stored in the power source 11. For example, the control unit 12 may calculate the remaining capacity of the power source 11 based on the voltage and / or current sensing value of the power source 11.

[0237] The control unit 12 can determine whether to connect and / or remove the cartridge 19 through the cartridge detection sensor 135. For example, the control unit 12 can determine whether to connect and / or remove the cartridge 19 based on the sensing value of the signal of the cartridge detection sensor 135.

[0238] The control unit 12 can determine whether the user is inhaling through the puff sensor 132. For example, the control unit 12 can determine whether a puff is occurring based on the sensed 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 sensed value of the signal from the puff sensor 132. If the number of puffs reaches a predetermined maximum number of puffs or if no puffs are sensed for a predetermined time or longer, the control unit 12 can cut off the supply of power to the atomizer 18.

[0239] The control unit 12 can determine whether the cap is attached and / or removed through the cap detection sensor 136. For example, the control unit 12 can determine whether the cap is attached and / or removed based on the sensing value of the signal of the cap detection sensor 136.

[0240] The control unit 12 can control the output unit 14 based on the results sensed by the sensor 13. For example, if the number of puffs counted by the puff sensor 132 reaches a predetermined number, the control unit 12 can notify the user through 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 notify the user through the output unit 14 based on the determination that the cartridge 19 and / or the cap are not attached. For example, the control unit 12 can transmit information about the temperature of the atomizer 18 or the frequency of the ultrasonic vibration to the user through the output unit 14.

[0241] The control unit 12 can store and update a history of an event that has occurred in the memory 17 based on the occurrence of a predetermined event. The event includes operations performed by the aerosol generation device 1, such as puff detection, end of puffing, overheat detection of the atomizer 18, detection of application of an overvoltage to the atomizer 18, turning the power of the aerosol generation device 1 on / off, start of charging the power supply 11, detection of overcharge of the power supply 11, and end of charging the power supply 11. The history of the event includes the date and time when the event occurred, log data corresponding to the event, etc. For example, if the predetermined event is overheat detection of the atomizer 18, the log data corresponding to the event includes data on the temperature of the atomizer 18, the voltage applied to the atomizer 18, the current flowing through the atomizer 18, etc.

[0242] The control unit 12 can control the establishment of a communication link with an external device, such as a user's mobile terminal. When the control unit 12 receives authentication-related data from the external device through the communication link, the control unit 12 can remove restrictions on the use of at least one function of the aerosol generation device 1. Here, the authentication-related data includes data indicating the completion of user authentication for the user corresponding to the external device. The user can perform user authentication through the external device. The external device can determine whether user data is valid based on the user's birthday, a unique number identifying the user, etc., and receive data regarding the usage authority of the aerosol generation device 1 from an external server. The external device can transmit data indicating the completion of user authentication to the aerosol generation device 1 based on the data regarding the usage authority. When user authentication is completed, the control unit 12 can remove restrictions on the use of at least one function of the aerosol generation device 1. For example, when user authentication is completed, the control unit 12 can remove restrictions on the use of a function that supplies power to the atomizer 18.

[0243] The control unit 12 can transmit data related to the status of the aerosol generation device 1 to the external device through a communication link formed with the external device. Based on the received status data, the external device can output the remaining capacity of the power supply 11 of the aerosol generation device 1, the operation mode, etc. through a display of the external device.

[0244] The external device may transmit a location search request to the aerosol generation device 1 based on an input to start a location search of the aerosol generation device 1. When receiving a location search request from the external device, the control unit 12 may 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 may generate a vibration in response to the location search request. For example, the display 141 may output an object corresponding to the location search and the end of the search in response to the location search request.

[0245] The control unit 12 can control to perform a firmware update when it receives firmware data from an external device. 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 can receive firmware data of the new version and transmit the firmware data of the new version to the aerosol generation device 1. The control unit 12 can control to perform a firmware update of the aerosol generation device 1 by receiving the firmware data of the new version.

[0246] The control unit 12 may transmit data related to sensing values ​​of at least one sensor 13 to an external server (not shown) via the communication unit 16 and receive and store a learning model generated by learning the sensing values ​​through machine learning, such as deep learning, from the server. The control unit 12 may perform operations such as determining a user's inhalation pattern and generating a temperature profile using the learning model received from the server. The control unit 12 may store sensing value data of at least one sensor 13 and data for training an artificial neural network (ANN) in the memory 17. For example, the memory 17 may store a database related to each component included in the aerosol generation device 1 for training the artificial neural network (ANN), as well as weights and biases constituting the artificial neural network (ANN). The control unit 12 may learn data related to sensing values ​​of at least one sensor 13, a user's inhalation pattern, a temperature profile, and the like stored in the memory 17, and generate at least one learning model used for determining a user's inhalation pattern, generating a temperature profile, and the like.

[0247] The above-described embodiments of the present invention or other embodiments are not mutually exclusive or distinct, and the respective configurations or functions of the above-described embodiments of the present invention or other embodiments may be used together or combined.

[0248] For example, it means that a configuration A described in a particular embodiment and / or drawing can be combined with a configuration B described in another embodiment and / or drawing. In other words, even if a combination between components is not directly described, it means that the combination is possible unless it is described that the combination is impossible.

[0249] The above detailed description should not be construed as limiting in any respect, but should be considered as illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the equivalent range of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. In the aerosol generating device, a cartridge including: a storage section in which an aerosol-generating material is stored; a wick that absorbs the aerosol-generating material stored in the storage section; an atomizer that generates ultrasonic vibrations to atomize the aerosol-generating material absorbed in the wick into an aerosol; an airflow passage through which the aerosol passes; a mouthpiece that includes an outlet through which the aerosol that has passed through the airflow passage is discharged to the outside; and a mesh-type heater that is disposed within the airflow passage in a direction crossing the extension direction of the airflow passage; An aerosol generating device comprising: a control unit; and a main body including a connecting portion to which the cartridge is detachably connected.

2. The air flow passage is a first airflow passage, one side of which is connected to the atomizer and the other side of which is connected to the mouthpiece; The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a second airflow passage formed within the mouthpiece, one side of which is connected to the first airflow passage and the other side of which is connected to the outside.

3. the mouthpiece being movable between an open position and a closed position; The aerosol generating device according to claim 2 , wherein the second airflow passage is connected to the first airflow passage in the open position.

4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 2 , wherein the mesh-type heater is disposed in the first airflow passage.

5. the cartridge further comprises one or more absorbents for absorbing droplets; The aerosol generating device according to claim 4 , wherein the absorber is disposed in the second airflow passage.

6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 5 , wherein the absorber is disposed on an inner wall of the second airflow passage.

7. The aerosol generating device according to claim 4 , wherein the mesh heater is formed in a multi-layer structure in which each layer is arranged in an extension direction of the first air flow passage.

8. 2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the mesh heater includes a large number of pores whose short sides have a length of 0.5 μm to 5 μm.

9. The core is a transfer member disposed adjacent to the storage portion and receiving the aerosol-generating substance from the storage portion; 2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, further comprising: an absorption plate positioned between the transmitting member and the atomizer, transmitting the aerosol generating material supplied to the transmitting member to the atomizer.

10. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling part includes a connection terminal electrically connected to the atomizer and the mesh-type heater.

11. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit, when it recognizes that smoking has ended, operates the mesh-type heater for a predetermined time to dry droplets remaining in the airflow passage.

12. The aerosol generating device according to claim 11 , wherein the control unit controls the temperature of the mesh heater to decrease as the preset time elapses.

13. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the main body further includes an input means for passively controlling the temperature of the mesh heater.

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