Aerosol generating apparatus and its operating method

Abstract

An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment includes a battery detachably disposed in a housing, a battery monitoring unit for measuring battery operation information, and a control unit including an internal resistance calculation unit that calculates the internal resistance value of the battery based on the battery operation information. The control unit compares the calculated internal resistance value with a pre-set reference range to determine whether the battery housing is properly installed.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device and a method for operating the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to an aerosol generating device and a method for operating the same that determines whether or not a removable battery has been properly installed in the housing of the aerosol generating device. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternative smoking methods to conventional cigarettes. For example, there is growing demand for methods that generate aerosols by heating the aerosol products within a cigarette, rather than by burning the cigarette to produce the aerosol. As a result, research into heated cigarettes or heated aerosol generators is progressing actively.

[0003] Aerosol generators can be powered by batteries for overall operation and heater heating. Recently, countries have shown a trend towards requiring electronic devices, including batteries, to be environmentally friendly and stable throughout their entire lifecycle, from battery production to recycling, in order to improve the global environment. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol generating device and its operating method that utilize the characteristics of a battery to easily and quickly determine whether a removable battery is properly installed or not.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol generating device and its operating method that improve the accuracy of determining whether a removable battery is properly installed by analyzing the battery characteristics in accordance with the battery's usage environment.

[0006] The problems to be addressed through these embodiments are not limited to those described above, and any problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which these embodiments belong, based on this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment includes a battery detachably disposed in a housing, a battery monitoring unit for measuring operational information of the battery, and a control unit including an internal resistance calculation unit that calculates the value of the battery's internal resistance based on the operational information of the battery. The control unit compares the calculated internal resistance value with a previously set reference range to determine whether the battery is properly installed in the housing.

[0008] An operating method for an aerosol generator according to one embodiment includes the steps of: installing a battery in a housing; measuring operational information of the battery; calculating the internal resistance value of the battery based on the operational information of the battery; and determining whether the battery has been properly installed in the housing by comparing the calculated internal resistance value with a previously set reference range. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The aerosol generating apparatus and its operating method according to various embodiments of the present invention can easily and quickly determine whether a removable battery is properly installed by utilizing its internal resistance, thereby activating the apparatus only when properly installed, preventing malfunctions and ensuring user safety.

[0010] Various embodiments of the present invention provide an aerosol generating apparatus and its operating method that can improve the accuracy of determining whether a removable battery is properly installed by analyzing the internal resistance of the battery based on at least one of the battery temperature, charge level, and number of charge / discharge cycles.

[0011] The effects of the embodiments are not limited to those described above, and any effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments pertain from this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This block diagram shows the hardware configuration of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. [Figure 2A] This diagram shows various embodiments of the aerosol generating apparatus shown in Figure 1. [Figure 2B] This diagram shows various embodiments of the aerosol generating apparatus shown in Figure 1. [Figure 2C] This diagram shows various embodiments of the aerosol generating apparatus shown in Figure 1. [Figure 2D] This diagram shows various embodiments of the aerosol generating apparatus shown in Figure 1. [Figure 2E] This diagram shows various embodiments of the aerosol generating apparatus shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is a simplified block diagram illustrating a method for determining whether or not the battery of an aerosol generator according to one embodiment has been properly installed. [Figure 4A] This is a diagram showing an exemplary equivalent circuit for a removable battery. [Figure 4B] This is a diagram illustrating a method for calculating the internal resistance of a removable battery. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the message displayed when a detachable battery is abnormally installed in an aerosol generator. [Figure 6] This is a simplified block diagram illustrating a method for determining whether the battery of an aerosol generator is properly installed according to another embodiment. [Figure 7A] This graph shows the change in internal resistance due to temperature. [Figure 7B] This graph shows the change in internal resistance due to State of Charge (SOC). [Figure 7C] It is a graph showing the change in internal resistance according to the number of charge and discharge cycles. [Figure 8] It is a flowchart for explaining an operation method of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] The terms used in the embodiments are, as much as possible, general terms that are currently widely used while considering the functions in the present invention. However, this may vary depending on the intentions or precedents of those skilled in the art, the emergence of new technologies, etc. Also, in certain cases, there are terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in such cases, the meaning thereof will be described in detail in the description part of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention are not merely the names of the terms, and must be defined based on the meaning of the terms and the overall content of the present invention.

[0014] Throughout the specification, when a certain part "includes" a certain component, it means that, unless there is a particularly contrary description, it does not exclude other components and may further include other components. Also, terms such as "… part" and "… module" described in the specification mean units that process at least one function or operation, and these are implemented by hardware or software, or by a combination of hardware and software.

[0015] Hereinafter, referring to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can easily implement it. However, the present invention can be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0018] Referring to Figure 1, the aerosol generator 100 may include a removable battery 110, a heater 120, a main processor 130, a user interface 140, a main memory 150, a sensor 160, and a battery monitoring unit 170. However, the internal hardware components of the aerosol generator 100 are not limited to those shown in Figure 1. A person with ordinary skill in the art related to this embodiment will understand that the design of the aerosol generator 100 may omit some of the hardware configurations shown in Figure 1, or that new configurations (e.g., connecting ports, other communication modules, etc.) may be added.

[0019] In the following, the operation of each component in the aerosol generator 100 will be described without limiting the spatial location of each component.

[0020] The removable battery 110 supplies power used to operate the aerosol generator 100. For example, the removable battery 110 can supply power to heat the heater 120. The removable battery 110 can also supply power necessary for the operation of other hardware components within the aerosol generator 100, namely the heater 120, main processor 130, user interface 140, main memory 150, sensor 160, or battery monitoring unit 170. The removable battery 110 is, for example, a lithium polymer (Lipoly) battery or a lithium-ion battery, but is not limited to these.

[0021] The detachable battery 110 is a replaceable (separable) type power source that can be installed in a battery housing provided within the aerosol generator 100 or removed from the battery housing. The detachable battery 110 is equipped with electrical contacts, and when the detachable battery 110 is installed in the aerosol generator 100, the electrical contacts of the detachable battery 110 are electrically connected to electrical contacts provided in the aerosol generator 100, and may be configured to supply power to the aerosol generator 100. As another example, the detachable battery 110 may be equipped with a charging coil for supplying power to the aerosol generator 100 wirelessly, instead of separate electrical contacts. In other words, the power supply method of the detachable battery 110 is diverse, and the method of electrical connection between the detachable battery 110 and the aerosol generator 100 may differ depending on the power supply method supported by the detachable battery 110.

[0022] A removable battery 110 according to one embodiment may include at least one battery cell. The battery cell may be cylindrical in shape, with different electrodes formed at both ends along its longitudinal direction. However, the shape of the battery cell is not limited thereto. For example, the battery cell may be rectangular or pouch-shaped.

[0023] The heater 120 is powered by the removable battery 110 under the control of the main processor 130. The heater 120 can use the power supplied by the removable battery 110 to heat the cigarette inserted into the aerosol generator 100 or the cartridge attached to the aerosol generator 100. In other words, the heater 120 can generate an aerosol by heating the aerosol-generating material contained in the cigarette or cartridge.

[0024] The heater 120 may be located in the body of the aerosol generator 100. Alternatively, if the aerosol generator 100 consists of a body and a cartridge, the heater 120 may be located in the cartridge. If the heater 120 is located in the cartridge, it may be powered by a removable battery 110 located in the body.

[0025] The heater 120 can be embodied in an electrically resistive heating heater made of an electrically resistive material. For example, the electrically resistive material is a metal or metal alloy including, but is not limited to, titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, nichrome, etc. The heater 120 can be embodied in, but is not limited to, a metal heating wire, a metal heating plate on which conductive tracks are arranged, a ceramic heating element, etc.

[0026] The heater 120 may be embodied in an induction heating type heater. The heater 120 corresponds to a heater assembly embodied in a set of conductive coil and susceptor for heating a cigarette or cartridge by induction heating.

[0027] The heater 120 can heat a cigarette inserted into a containment space provided within the aerosol generator 100. Because the cigarette is contained within the containment space of the aerosol generator 100, the heater 120 can be located inside and / or outside the cigarette. This allows the heater 120 to heat the aerosol-generating material inside the cigarette and generate an aerosol.

[0028] On the other hand, the heater 120 may be embodied as a coil heater provided only within the cartridge. The cartridge includes a coil heater, a liquid transfer means, and a liquid storage section, and can generate an aerosol by transferring an aerosol-generating substance contained in the liquid storage section through the liquid transfer means, and by heating the aerosol-generating substance absorbed by the liquid transfer means with the coil heater. For example, if the heater 120 is a coil heater, it may be made of a material such as nickel-chromium and may be wound around the liquid transfer means or positioned adjacent to the liquid transfer means.

[0029] The main processor 130 is hardware that controls the overall operation of the aerosol generator 100. The main processor 130 may include at least one processing unit, such as an MCU (Micro Controller Unit). The main processor 130 may be embodied as an array of numerous logic gates, or as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and memory where the program executed by this microprocessor is stored. It will be understood by those ordinary skill in the art to which this embodiment belongs that it may also be embodied as hardware in other forms.

[0030] The main processor 130 can analyze the results sensed by the sensor 160 and control subsequent processing based on the sensing results. For example, the main processor 130 can control the power supplied to the heater 120 so that the heater 120 starts or stops operating, based on the results sensed by the sensor 160. The main processor 130 can also control the amount of power supplied to the heater 120 and the power supply time so that the heater 120 is heated to a predetermined temperature or maintains an appropriate temperature, based on the results sensed by the sensor 160.

[0031] The main processor 130 can control the operation of the heater 120 based on a pre-stored temperature profile. The main processor 130 can also control the temperature of the heater 120 after sensing the user's puffs using the puff sensor in the sensor 160. Furthermore, the main processor 130 can count the number of puffs using the puff sensor, and if the number of puffs reaches a pre-set number, it can interrupt the power supply to the heater 120.

[0032] The main processor 130 may control the user interface 140 based on the sensing results. For example, after counting the number of puffs using the puff sensor, if the number of puffs reaches a pre-set number, the main processor 130 may use a lamp, motor, or speaker to notify the user that the aerosol generator 100 will immediately shut down.

[0033] Furthermore, the main processor 130 can determine whether the removable battery 110 has been properly installed in the housing based on the operational information of the aerosol generator 100 provided by the battery monitoring unit 170. The specific method by which the main processor 130 determines whether the removable battery 110 has been properly installed will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 3 to 7.

[0034] The user interface 140 can provide the user with information regarding the status of the aerosol generator 100. The user interface 140 may include a variety of interface means, such as a display or lamp that outputs visual information (UI screen), a motor that outputs tactile information, a speaker that outputs sound information, input / output (I / O) interface means (e.g., buttons or touchscreens) that receive information input from the user or output information to the user, and terminals for supplying charging power.

[0035] The main memory 150 is hardware that stores various types of data processed within the aerosol generator 100, and the main memory 150 can store data processed by the main processor 130 and data being processed. The main memory 150 can be implemented in various types such as RAM (random access memory) such as DRAM (dynamic random access memory) and SRAM (static random access memory), ROM (read-only memory), and EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory).

[0036] The main memory 150 can store various types of information, such as the operating time of the aerosol generator 100, the maximum number of puffs, the temperature profile, the user's smoking information, and information for battery authentication.

[0037] Furthermore, the main memory 150 can store operational information of the aerosol generator 100 measured by the battery monitoring unit 170.

[0038] The battery monitoring unit 170 can monitor operational information of the removable battery 110 based on the control of the main processor 130 and provide operational information to the main processor 130. In this case, the operational information of the removable battery 110 may include the battery's no-load voltage, battery temperature, battery's SOC (state of charge), and the number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery. In this case, the SOC calculation unit may be provided within the battery monitoring unit 170, or it may be implemented in a predetermined module in an area other than the battery monitoring unit 170 (for example, the main processor 130).

[0039] On the other hand, although not shown in Figure 1, the aerosol generator 100 may be configured with a separate cradle to form an aerosol generation system. For example, the cradle can be used to charge the removable battery 110 of the aerosol generator 100 while storing the aerosol generator 100. In other words, the cradle is a dedicated device solely for the aerosol generator 100, powered by the cradle's battery while the aerosol generator 100 is housed in the storage space inside the cradle, and power is supplied from the cradle's battery to charge the removable battery 110 of the aerosol generator 100.

[0040] Figures 2A to 2E are drawings illustrating various embodiments of the aerosol generator of Figure 1. Referring to Figures 2A to 2E, the aerosol generator 100 can be embodied as various types of aerosol generators 200a to 200e, such as utilizing an electric resistance heating method or an induction heating method, or a method further equipped with a vaporizer, or a cartridge method. Figures 2A to 2E show only some elements necessary to describe the types of aerosol generators 200a to 200e, and other general-purpose elements may be further included in the aerosol generators 200a to 200e in addition to the elements shown in Figures 2A to 2E.

[0041] In Figures 2A to 2E, the removable battery 110, heaters 120a to 120e, and main processor 130 are components corresponding to the removable battery 110, heater 120, and main processor 130 in Figure 1, respectively, and can perform the functions of the removable battery 110, heater 120, and main processor 130 described in Figure 1.

[0042] Figure 2A is a diagram illustrating an electrical resistance type aerosol generator 200a according to an exemplary embodiment. The aerosol generator 200a is a type of aerosol generator 100.

[0043] Referring to Figure 2A, the aerosol generator 200a may include a removable battery 110, a heater 120a, and a main processor 130.

[0044] A cigarette 20a can be inserted into the internal containment space of the aerosol generator 200a. Once the cigarette 20a is inserted into the aerosol generator 200a, the aerosol generator 200a can generate an aerosol from the cigarette 20a by heating it using the heater 120a. The generated aerosol is transmitted to the user through the cigarette 20a, allowing the user to smoke the cigarette 20a.

[0045] Heater 120a can be heated by power supplied from the removable battery 110. Heater 120a is an electrical resistive heater. For example, heater 120a includes a conductive track, and as current flows through the conductive track, heater 120a can be heated.

[0046] The conductive track of the heater 120a is made of an electrically resistive material, the heating temperature is determined by the power consumption of the resistor, and the resistance value of the conductive track can be set based on the power consumption of the resistor of the conductive track. The resistance value of the conductive track can be set in various ways depending on the constituent material, length, width, thickness, or pattern of the electrically resistive material.

[0047] Due to its temperature coefficient of resistance characteristic, the conductive track's internal resistance can increase as the temperature rises. For example, within a given temperature range, the temperature and resistance of the conductive track are proportional. Utilizing this principle, a heater 120a made of a conductive track can heat a cigarette 20a using an electrical resistance method.

[0048] Conductive tracks can be made from tungsten, gold, platinum, silver-copper, nickel-palladium, or combinations thereof. Conductive tracks may also be doped with appropriate doping materials and may include alloys.

[0049] The heater 120a can be manufactured in various shapes, such as tubular, plate-shaped, needle-shaped, or rod-shaped. Multiple heaters 120a may also be arranged. The heater 120a can be inserted into the cigarette 20a and used in an internal heating method to heat the inside of the cigarette 20a.

[0050] The detachable battery 110 can be separated from or attached to the aerosol generator 200a. When the detachable battery 110 is attached to the aerosol generator 200a, power is supplied from the detachable battery 110 to the heater 120a for heating operation of the heater 120d, and the temperature of the conductive track can be controlled.

[0051] The main processor 130 can control the heating operation of the heater 120a by controlling the power supplied to the heater 120a. For example, the main processor 130 can control the temperature at which the cigarette 20a is heated by the heater 120a using a temperature profile.

[0052] Figures 2B and 2C are diagrams illustrating aerosol generators 200b and 200c, further equipped with vaporizers 125b and 125c according to exemplary embodiments. Each of the aerosol generators 200b and 200c is a type of aerosol generator 100.

[0053] Referring to Figures 2B and 2C, the aerosol generators 200b and 200c further include vaporizers 125b and 125c. Cigarettes 20b and 20c can be inserted into the internal space of the aerosol generators 200b and 200c.

[0054] Figure 2B shows the steamer 125b and heater 120b arranged in a single row. However, Figure 2C shows the steamer 125c and heater 120c arranged in parallel. In other words, the aerosol generators 200b and 200c can be distinguished by the arrangement of the steamer 125b.

[0055] Heaters 120b and 120c may be heated by power supplied from a removable battery 110. Heaters 120b and 120c are electrically resistive heaters and may include, for example, conductive tracks.

[0056] Unlike heater 120a described in Figure 2A, heaters 120b and 120c in Figures 2B and 2C can be implemented by an external heating method, where heaters are positioned around the outside of the cigarettes 20b and 20c and heat the outer surface of the cigarettes 20b and 20c.

[0057] The vaporizers 125b and 125c heat the liquid composition to generate an aerosol, which can then be transmitted to the user through the cigarettes 20b and 20c. That is, the aerosol generated by the vaporizers 125b and 125c is transported along the airflow passage of the aerosol generators 200b and 200c, and the airflow passage can be configured so that the aerosol generated by the vaporizers 125b and 125c is transmitted to the user through the cigarettes 20b and 20c.

[0058] The vaporizers 125b and 125c may include a liquid storage unit, a liquid transfer means, and a heating element (or vaporization element). However, the liquid storage unit, liquid transfer means, and heating element may each be an independent module and may be located in other locations within the aerosol generator 100, not inside the vaporizers 125b and 125c.

[0059] The liquid storage section can store a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid containing tobacco-containing substances, including volatile tobacco flavor components, or a liquid containing non-tobacco substances. The liquid storage section may be manufactured to detach from / adhere to the vaporizers 125b and 125c, or it may be manufactured integrally with the vaporizers 125b and 125c. For example, the liquid composition may include water, solvents, ethanol, plant extracts, fragrances, flavorings, or vitamin mixtures. The liquid composition may also include aerosol-forming agents such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

[0060] The liquid transfer means can transfer the liquid composition of the liquid storage section to the heating element. For example, the liquid transfer means may be a wick made of cotton fibers, ceramic fibers, glass fibers, or porous ceramic, but is not limited to these.

[0061] The heating elements provided within the vaporizers 125b and 125c are for heating (vaporizing) the liquid composition transmitted by the liquid transmission means. For example, the heating elements may be metal heating wires, metal heating plates, ceramic heaters, etc., but are not limited to these. Alternatively, the heating elements may consist of conductive filaments such as nichrome wire and be arranged in a structure that is wound around the liquid transmission means. The heating elements are heated by an electric current supply, and heat is transferred to the liquid composition in contact with the heating elements, thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, an aerosol may be generated. For this reason, the vaporizers 125b and 125c may also be referred to by other terms such as cartomizer or atomizer.

[0062] The detachable battery 110 can be separated from or attached to the aerosol generators 200b and 200c. When the detachable battery 110 is attached to the aerosol generators 200b and 200c, power can be supplied from the detachable battery 110 to the heaters 120b and 120c and the vaporizers 125b and 125c for heating operation.

[0063] The main processor 130 can control the heating operation of heaters 120b, 120c and vaporizers 125b, 125c by controlling the power supplied to these heaters. For example, the main processor 130 can control the heating temperature of cigarettes 20b, 20c using a temperature profile, with the heaters 120b, 120c and vaporizers 125b, 125c.

[0064] Figure 2D is a diagram illustrating an induction heating type aerosol generator 200d according to an exemplary embodiment. The aerosol generator 200d is a type of aerosol generator 100.

[0065] Referring to Figure 2D, the aerosol generator 200d may include a heater 120d with a coil 121d and a susceptor 122d, a removable battery 110, and a main processor 130.

[0066] The aerosol generator 200d can generate an aerosol by heating a cigarette 20d housed within it using an induction heating method. The induction heating method refers to a method of heating a magnetic material that generates heat in response to an external magnetic field by applying an alternating magnetic field that periodically changes direction. Therefore, the aerosol generator 200d can heat the cigarette 20d by applying an alternating magnetic field to the magnetic material, causing it to release thermal energy, and then transferring this released thermal energy to the cigarette. Here, the magnetic material that generates heat in response to the external magnetic field is a susceptor 122d. The susceptor 122d may be provided in the aerosol generator 200d. Alternatively, instead of being provided in the aerosol generator 200d, the susceptor 122d may be provided inside the cigarette 20d in the form of a section, slice, or strip.

[0067] The susceptor 122d is made of a ferromagnetic material. For example, the material of the susceptor 122d may include metal or carbon. The material of the susceptor 122d may include at least one of ferrite, ferromagnetic alloy, stainless steel, and aluminum (Al). In addition, the material of the susceptor 122d may include at least one of ceramics such as graphite and zirconia, transition metals such as nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co), and metalloids such as boron (B) and phosphorus (P).

[0068] The aerosol generator 200d can accommodate a cigarette 20d. The aerosol generator 200d may have a space for accommodating the cigarette 20d. A susceptor 122d may be positioned around the space for accommodating the cigarette 20d. For example, the susceptor 122d may have a cylindrical shape that surrounds the outside of the cigarette 20d. Therefore, when the cigarette 20d is accommodated in the aerosol generator 200d, the cigarette 20d is housed in the accommodation space of the susceptor 122d, and the susceptor 122d may be positioned to surround at least a portion of the outer surface of the cigarette 20d. However, the shape of the susceptor 122d is not limited to this and can be diverse.

[0069] The heater 120d uses an induction heating method and can heat the cigarette 20d contained in the aerosol generator 200d by utilizing a susceptor 122d that generates heat in response to an external magnetic field generated by the coil 121d.

[0070] The coil 121d is arranged to be wound along the outer surface of the susceptor 122d, and an alternating magnetic field can be applied to the susceptor 122d. When power is supplied to the coil 121d from the aerosol generator 200d, a magnetic field can be formed in the internal region of the coil 121d. When an alternating current is applied to the coil 121d, the direction of the magnetic field formed inside the coil 121d can be continuously changed. If the susceptor 122d is located inside the coil 121d and is exposed to a periodically changing alternating magnetic field, the susceptor 122d may generate heat, and the cigarette housed in the susceptor 122d may be heated. The shape of the coil 121d is cylindrical, wound along the longitudinal direction of the cigarette 20d, but is not limited thereto, and the coil 121d may be embodied in various types, such as a planar coil.

[0071] The detachable battery 110 can be separated from or attached to the aerosol generator 200d, and when the detachable battery 110 is attached to the aerosol generator 200d, it can, for example, supply power to the coil 121d for the heating operation of the heater 120d.

[0072] The main processor 130 can control the heating operation of the heater 120d by controlling the power supplied to the coil 121d. For example, the main processor 130 can control the heating temperature of the cigarette 20d by inductive heating of the susceptor 122d by adjusting the magnetic field strength induced by the coil 121d using a temperature profile.

[0073] Figure 2E is a diagram illustrating an aerosol generator 200e equipped with a replaceable cartridge 210e containing an aerosol generating substance 20e according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0074] The aerosol generator 200e in Figure 2E includes a cartridge 210e containing an aerosol generating substance 20e and a main body 220e supporting the cartridge 210e. The aerosol generator 200e is one type of the aerosol generator 100 in Figure 1. In this case, the hardware configuration included in the aerosol generator 100 in Figure 1 can be divided and located as the main body 220e and the cartridge 210e.

[0075] Cartridge 210e can be attached to the main body 220e with the aerosol-generating substance 20e contained inside. Cartridge 210e can be attached to the main body 210 by inserting a portion of cartridge 210e into the receptacle of the main body 210.

[0076] Cartridge 210e contains an aerosol-generating substance 20e in the form of a liquid composition, but is not limited thereto; it may also contain an aerosol-generating substance 20e in any one of the following states: solid, gaseous, or gel-like. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid containing a tobacco-containing substance that includes volatile tobacco flavor components, or a liquid containing a non-tobacco substance.

[0077] The heater 120e located inside the cartridge 210e performs a heating operation in response to an electrical signal or wireless signal transmitted from the main unit 220e. As a result, the aerosol-generating substance 20e inside the cartridge 210e is vaporized by the heating of the heater 120e, which can generate an aerosol.

[0078] The heater 120e generates heat through electrical resistance to heat the aerosol-generating substance transmitted to the liquid transmission means. It is embodied in conductive filaments of metal materials such as copper, nickel, or tungsten, or ceramic heating elements, and may be wound around the liquid transmission means or positioned adjacent to the liquid transmission means.

[0079] The detachable battery 110 can be separated from or attached to the aerosol generator 200e, and when the detachable battery 110 is attached to the aerosol generator 200e, power can be supplied from the detachable battery 110 to the heater 120e for heating operation.

[0080] The main processor 130 can control the heating operation of the heater 120e by controlling the power supplied to the heater 120e. For example, the main processor 130 can control the temperature at which the aerosol-generating substance 20e is heated by the heater 120e using a temperature profile.

[0081] On the other hand, although not shown in Figures 2A to 2E, the aerosol generators 200a to 200e may be configured as a system with a separate cradle. For example, the cradle can store the aerosol generators 200a to 200e or charge the removable batteries 110 of the aerosol generators 200a to 200e.

[0082] In various embodiments, the aerosol generator 100 in Figure 1 is embodied as at least one of the types of aerosol generators 200a to 200e shown in Figures 2A to 2E, but is not necessarily limited to these and can be embodied as other types as well.

[0083] The aerosol generators 200a to 200e shown in Figures 2A to 2E can all utilize a detachable battery 110 as a power source. The detachable battery 110 is a battery that is replaced by being attached to or detached from the aerosol generators 200a to 200e.

[0084] Figure 3 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a method for determining whether the battery of an aerosol generator according to one embodiment is properly installed. Figure 4A is a diagram showing an exemplary equivalent circuit of a removable battery. Figure 4B is a diagram illustrating a method for calculating the internal resistance of a removable battery. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a message displayed when a removable battery is abnormally installed in the aerosol generator.

[0085] Referring to Figure 3, one embodiment of the aerosol generator 100 may include a removable battery 110, a battery monitoring unit 170, a main processor 130, and a main memory 150.

[0086] The battery monitoring unit 170 can measure operational information of the removable battery 110. The battery monitoring unit 170 can measure the status of the removable battery 110, such as voltage, current, and temperature. For this purpose, the battery monitoring unit 170 may include a voltage sensor 172 for measuring voltage, a current sensor 174 for measuring current, a temperature sensor 176 for measuring temperature, and so on. Although not shown in the drawings, the battery monitoring unit 170 may also include a State of Charge (SOC) calculation unit and a charge / discharge cycle count calculation unit.

[0087] In this case, the operational information of the removable battery 110 may include the battery's no-load voltage, battery temperature, battery's SOC (state of charge), and the number of charge-discharge cycles. The SOC calculation unit and the charge-discharge cycle calculation unit may be provided within the battery monitoring unit 170, or they may be implemented in a predetermined module in an area other than the battery monitoring unit 170 (for example, the main processor 130).

[0088] On the other hand, although Figure 3 shows the detachable battery 110 containing one battery cell for the sake of explanation, depending on the embodiment, the battery 110 may contain multiple battery cells. The battery monitoring unit 170 can measure the state of the battery pack and battery cells, such as current and voltage. The battery monitoring unit 170 may measure the state of each of the multiple battery cells, or it may measure the state of the battery pack which is a combination of multiple battery cells. For this purpose, the battery monitoring unit 170 may include multiple sensors. That is, it may include at least one voltage sensor 172, at least one current sensor 174, and at least one temperature sensor 176.

[0089] The voltage sensor 172, current sensor 174, and temperature sensor 176 can periodically measure the voltage, current, and temperature of the removable battery 110 and provide this information to the main processor 130. The measurement results can be provided to the main processor 130 as analog or digital signals. The voltage sensor 172 can measure the voltage applied between the positive and negative terminals of the removable battery 110. The voltage sensor 172 may include, as an example, a differential amplifier circuit that outputs a voltage signal corresponding to the voltage difference between the positive and negative terminals of the removable battery 110. Here, the voltage sensor 172 can measure the voltage every second and calculate the maximum, minimum, and average voltage values. Of course, the voltage sensor 172 may further include a voltage calculation unit (not shown) that measures the voltage of the removable battery 110 and calculates the maximum, minimum, and average voltage values ​​from the voltages measured every second. In this case, the voltage calculation unit may be provided within the battery monitoring unit 170, or it may be implemented in a predetermined module form in an area other than the battery monitoring unit 170 (for example, the main processor 130).

[0090] Furthermore, the current sensor 174 is either a sense resistor or a Hall sensor. The current sensor 174 can measure not only the charging current but also the magnitude of the discharge current. Here, the current sensor 174 can measure the AC current of the removable battery 110.

[0091] The temperature sensor 176 is an example of a thermocouple used for temperature measurement. The temperature sensor 176 can generate a signal corresponding to the temperature of the removable battery 110 and provide it to the main processor 130.

[0092] The main processor 130 may include an internal resistance calculation unit 132 that calculates the value of the internal resistance of the removable battery 110 based on operational information of the removable battery 110 provided by the battery monitoring unit 170.

[0093] If the aerosol generator 100 includes an integrated battery, there are no externally exposed contact terminals, so there is no need to check whether the battery is properly installed in the device. However, as in the embodiment of the present invention, if the aerosol generator 100 includes a detachable battery 110, it is necessary to check whether the device and the battery are properly connected. If the detachable battery 110 is not properly installed in the device or if foreign matter is attached to the contact terminals, operating the aerosol generator 100 without taking appropriate measures may result in malfunction or a safety accident.

[0094] In one embodiment of the present invention, the main processor 130 calculates the internal resistance, which is one of the inherent characteristics of the removable battery 110, through the internal resistance calculation unit 132, and uses this to quickly and easily determine whether the device and the removable battery 110 are properly connected.

[0095] Referring to Figure 4A, the removable battery 110 can be equivalent as a circuit including a DC voltage source Vdc, DC resistance R0, polarization resistance R1, and capacitive inductive resistance C. The DC resistance R0 can be affected by the battery's metal cover, electrodes, and contact resistance. The polarization resistance R1 is affected by the resistance due to polarization in the electrochemical reactions within the battery, electrolyte conductivity, ion mobility, and electrochemical system reaction rate. The capacitive inductive resistance C (or copesitance) can be generated by the electrodes and electrolyte forming a double-layer capacitor. The polarization resistance R1 and capacitive inductive resistance C serve as indicators of the battery's SOC (state of charge). On the other hand, the inductive resistance generally plays a negligible role in batteries, especially at low frequencies, and can therefore be omitted.

[0096] The internal resistance of a removable battery 110 according to one embodiment can be maintained constant throughout the battery's lifetime, regardless of the number of charge-discharge cycles. For example, if a removable battery 110 made of lead-acid or lithium-ion contains improved electrolyte additives to prevent internal corrosion, the value of the internal resistance of the removable battery 110 can be maintained substantially the same throughout the battery's lifetime.

[0097] The internal resistance of the detachable battery 110 can be calculated using one of the following methods: DC load method, AC conductance measurement method, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. For example, the internal resistance calculation unit 132 can calculate the internal resistance using the DC load method. Referring to Figure 4B, the voltage sensor 172 of the battery monitoring unit 170 applies a load R to the detachable battery 110. L When not connected, the no-load voltage V OC Measure the load R on the detachable battery 110. L With the connected state, the load voltage V L It is possible to measure the load R. L This is a resistor with a pre-set resistance value.

[0098] The internal resistance calculation unit 132 uses operational information (for example, no-load voltage V) provided by the battery monitoring unit 170. OC, the load voltage V L ) and the following formula 1 can be used to calculate the internal resistance R of the detachable battery 110.

[0099]

Number

[0100] At this time, R is the internal resistance, and V OC is the no-load voltage of the battery, and V L is the load voltage, and R L is the load resistance.

[0101] The main processor 130 can compare the calculated value of the internal resistance R of the detachable battery 110 with a preset reference value range to determine whether the accommodation part of the aerosol generator 100 of the detachable battery 110 is properly installed. For example, when the calculated internal resistance R is within the preset reference value range, the main processor 130 determines that the detachable battery 110 is properly installed in the accommodation part of the aerosol generator 100 and can activate the aerosol generator 100. On the other hand, when the calculated internal resistance R is outside the preset reference value range, the main processor 130 determines that the detachable battery 110 is abnormally installed in the accommodation part of the aerosol generator 100 and can deactivate the aerosol generator 100. At this time, the preset reference value is the internally resistive value of the detachable battery 110 estimated through experimental statistics.

[0102] The main processor 130 according to an embodiment can save the calculated value of the internal resistance R as a reference value when the aerosol generator 100 is turned off (or when the detachable battery 110 is removed from the accommodation part). The main processor 130 can determine whether the replaced battery 110 is properly installed by comparing the newly calculated value of the internal resistance R with the reference value recently saved in the main memory 150 when an exchange event of the detachable battery 110 occurs.

[0103] Referring to Figure 5, in one embodiment, if the calculated internal resistance R is outside the previously set reference range, the main processor 130 can provide the user with a message via the display DSP of the user interface 140 to confirm whether the removable battery 110 is properly installed in the housing of the aerosol generator 100. Through this, the user of the aerosol generator 100 can immediately confirm whether the removable battery 110 is properly installed in the device, thereby reducing the possibility of malfunctions and safety accidents of the aerosol generator 100.

[0104] Other embodiments will be described below. In the following embodiments, the same configurations as those described above will be omitted or simplified in their explanation, and the focus will be on the differences.

[0105] Figure 6 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a method for determining whether the battery of an aerosol generator is properly installed according to another embodiment. Figure 7A is a graph showing the change in internal resistance due to temperature, Figure 7B is a graph showing the change in internal resistance due to SOC, and Figure 7C is a graph showing the change in internal resistance due to the number of charge-discharge cycles.

[0106] The main processor 130 shown in Figure 6 differs from the main processor 130 shown in Figure 3, which includes only the internal resistance calculation unit 132, in that it also includes a reference value correction unit 134 in addition to the internal resistance calculation unit 132. The remaining configuration is substantially the same. The following explanation will focus on the function of the reference value correction unit 134.

[0107] In one embodiment of the present invention, the main processor 130 calculates the internal resistance R, which is one of the inherent characteristics of the removable battery 110, through the internal resistance calculation unit 132, calculates a reference value based on the operational information of the removable battery 110 through the reference value correction unit 134, and then compares the calculated internal resistance R with the calculated reference value range to determine whether or not the removable battery 110 has been properly installed in the housing of the aerosol generator 100.

[0108] Referring to Figure 7A, the internal resistance R of a removable battery 110 according to one embodiment can be changed with temperature. For example, the internal resistance R can gradually decrease as the battery temperature rises and, conversely, gradually increase as the battery temperature falls. In this case, Figure 7A is a graph illustrating the relationship between the internal resistance R value at different temperatures for a specific battery 110, and the relationship between the internal resistance R value at different temperatures differs for each type of battery 110. The main memory 150 can store the relationship between the internal resistance R value at different temperatures for each type of battery 110 in a lookup table format.

[0109] Referring to Figure 7B, the internal resistance R of a removable battery 110 according to one embodiment can be changed by the State of Charge (SOC), which is the charge state of the removable battery 110. For example, the internal resistance R can gradually decrease as the battery SOC decreases from 100% to 80%, and gradually increase as the battery SOC decreases from 80% to 0%. The internal resistance R of the battery 110 can be kept relatively low in the range of approximately 50% to 80%. In this case, Figure 7B is a graph illustrating the relationship between the value of the internal resistance R for a specific battery 110 and the SOC, and the relationship between the value of the internal resistance R for each type of battery 110 differs from one another. The main memory 150 can store the relationship between the value of the internal resistance R for each type of battery 110 and the SOC in a lookup table format.

[0110] Furthermore, referring to Figure 7C, the internal resistance R of the detachable battery 110 according to one embodiment can be changed depending on the number of charge-discharge cycles. For example, the internal resistance R can gradually increase as the number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery increases. The internal resistance R can converge to a specific value when the number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery reaches a specific number. In this case, Figure 7C is a graph illustrating the relationship between the value of internal resistance R for a specific battery 110 and the number of charge-discharge cycles, and the relationship between the value of internal resistance R and the number of charge-discharge cycles differs for each type of battery 110. The main memory 150 can store the relationship between the value of internal resistance R and the number of charge-discharge cycles for each type of battery 110 in a lookup table format.

[0111] In one embodiment, the reference value correction unit 134 can update (or correct) a previously set reference value based on at least one of the lookup tables stored in the main memory 150 for battery temperature, battery SOC, and battery charge / discharge cycle count.

[0112] The main processor 130 can compare the calculated internal resistance R of the removable battery 110 with the updated reference range to determine whether the removable battery 110 is properly installed in the housing of the aerosol generator 100. For example, if the calculated internal resistance R is within the updated reference range, the main processor 130 can determine that the removable battery 110 is properly installed in the housing of the aerosol generator 100 and activate the aerosol generator 100. On the other hand, if the calculated internal resistance R is outside the updated reference range, the main processor 130 can determine that the removable battery 110 is improperly installed in the housing of the aerosol generator 100 and deactivate the aerosol generator 100.

[0113] Thus, the aerosol generating device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can improve the accuracy of determining whether or not the removable battery 110 has been properly installed by updating the previously set reference values ​​through the reference value correction unit 134 in accordance with the conditions at the time the removable battery 110 is installed (for example, the battery temperature, the battery's SOC, and the number of battery charge / discharge cycles).

[0114] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation method of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

[0115] Referring to Figures 1 to 8, the operation method of an aerosol generator according to one embodiment may include the steps of: installing a removable battery 110 into the housing of the aerosol generator 100 (S100); measuring operational information of the removable battery 110 (S200); calculating the value of the battery's internal resistance R based on the operational information of the removable battery 110 (S300); and comparing the calculated value of the internal resistance R with a previously set reference range to determine whether the housing of the aerosol generator 100 of the removable battery 110 has been properly installed (S400).

[0116] Specifically, in S100, the user can connect the detachable battery 110 to the housing of the aerosol generator 100.

[0117] In S200, the battery monitoring unit 170 can measure operational information of the removable battery 110. The battery monitoring unit 170 can measure the voltage, current, and temperature of the removable battery 110. For this purpose, the battery monitoring unit 170 may include a voltage sensor 172 for measuring voltage, a current sensor 174 for measuring current, a temperature sensor 176 for measuring temperature, and so on. Although not shown in the drawings, the battery monitoring unit 170 may include a State of Charge (SOC) calculation unit and a charge / discharge cycle count calculation unit.

[0118] In this case, the operational information of the removable battery 110 may include the battery's no-load voltage, battery temperature, battery's SOC (state of charge), and the number of charge-discharge cycles. The SOC calculation unit and the charge-discharge cycle calculation unit may be provided within the battery monitoring unit 170, or they may be implemented in a predetermined module in an area other than the battery monitoring unit 170 (for example, the main processor 130).

[0119] In S300, the main processor 130 according to one embodiment of the present invention calculates the internal resistance, which is one of the intrinsic characteristics of the removable battery 110, through the internal resistance calculation unit 132, and uses this to easily and quickly determine whether the device and the removable battery 110 are properly coupled. The internal resistance calculation unit 132 receives operational information (for example, no-load voltage V) from the battery monitoring unit 170. OC , load voltage V L The internal resistance R of the detachable battery 110 can be calculated using the following formula 1.

[0120]

number

[0121] In this case, R is the internal resistance, and V OC This is the no-load voltage of the battery, V L R is the load voltage, L This is the load resistance.

[0122] In S400, the main processor 130 can compare the calculated internal resistance R value of the removable battery 110 with a previously set reference range to determine whether the housing of the removable battery 110 in the aerosol generator 100 has been properly installed. For example, if the calculated internal resistance R is within the previously set reference range, the main processor 130 can determine that the removable battery 110 has been properly installed in the housing of the aerosol generator 100 and activate the aerosol generator 100. On the other hand, if the calculated internal resistance R is outside the previously set reference range, the main processor 130 can determine that the removable battery 110 has been abnormally installed in the housing of the aerosol generator 100 and deactivate the aerosol generator 100.

[0123] In another embodiment of the present invention, the main processor 130 can compare the calculated internal resistance R value of the removable battery 110 with an updated reference range to determine whether the housing of the removable battery 110 in the aerosol generator 100 is properly installed. For example, if the calculated internal resistance R is within the updated reference range, the main processor 130 can determine that the removable battery 110 is properly installed in the housing of the aerosol generator 100 and activate the aerosol generator 100. On the other hand, if the calculated internal resistance R is outside the updated reference range, the main processor 130 can determine that the removable battery 110 is abnormally installed in the housing of the aerosol generator 100 and deactivate the aerosol generator 100.

[0124] Those with ordinary skill in the art related to this embodiment will understand that it will be embodied in modified forms that do not deviate from the essential characteristics described above. Therefore, the disclosed method should be considered in an explanatory rather than restrictive view. The scope of the invention is expressed in the claims, not in the above description, and all differences within an equivalent scope should be interpreted as being included in the invention.

Claims

1. A battery that can be detachably placed in the housing, A battery monitoring unit that measures the operational information of the aforementioned battery, The control unit includes an internal resistance calculation unit that calculates the value of the internal resistance of the battery based on the battery's operational information, The control unit compares the calculated internal resistance value with a previously set reference range to determine whether the battery is properly installed in the housing, in an aerosol generating device.

2. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operational information includes the no-load voltage, temperature, SOC (state of charge), and number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery.

3. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the internal resistance calculation unit includes a load resistor connected to the battery and measures the voltage across both ends of the load resistor.

4. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further includes a reference value correction unit that updates the reference value using at least one of the battery temperature, the battery's SOC, and the battery's charge / discharge cycle count.

5. The aforementioned reference value is, The aforementioned decrease due to the rise in battery temperature, The aforementioned battery SOC decreases as it drops from 100% to 80%, and gradually increases as it drops from 80% to 0%. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery increases with increasing frequency.

6. The control unit, If the calculated internal resistance is within the previously set reference value range, it is determined that the battery has been properly installed in the housing, and the device is activated. If the calculated internal resistance is outside the previously set reference range, the aerosol generating apparatus determines that the battery is abnormally installed in the housing and deactivates the apparatus, as described in claim 1.

7. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a display unit that displays a message to the user instructing them to properly install the battery when the control unit determines that the battery is abnormally installed in the housing.

8. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heater powered by the battery for heating the aerosol product.

9. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing the calculated internal resistance value as the reference value when the device is turned off.

10. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit determines whether the replaced battery has been properly installed by comparing the calculated internal resistance value with the reference value recently stored in the memory when the battery replacement event occurs.

11. Steps include installing the battery in the housing, A step of measuring the operational information of the aforementioned battery, A step of calculating the value of the internal resistance of the battery based on the battery's operational information, A method for operating an aerosol generator, comprising the step of determining whether the battery is properly installed in the housing by comparing the calculated internal resistance value with a previously set reference range.

12. The method for operating the aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the operational information includes the no-load voltage, temperature, SOC (state of charge), and number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery.

13. The method for operating an aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the step of calculating the value of the internal resistance includes measuring the voltage across the load resistor connected to the battery.

14. In the step of determining whether the battery is properly installed in the housing, if the calculated internal resistance is within the previously set reference value range, it is determined that the battery is properly installed in the housing and the device is activated. A method for operating an aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 11, comprising the step of determining whether the battery is properly installed in the housing, and if the calculated internal resistance is outside the previously set reference value range, determining that the battery is abnormally installed in the housing and deactivating the apparatus.

15. The method for operating an aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising the step of displaying a message on the display unit to guide the user to properly install the battery when it is determined that the battery has been abnormally installed in the housing unit.

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