Aerosol generator

Abstract

The aerosol generating apparatus includes a housing containing a containment space for containing aerosol products, and a heater located inside the housing that heats the aerosol products contained in the containment space by supplying power, the heater may include a polyimide (PI) film arranged to surround the aerosol products contained in the containment space, a conductive pattern arranged on the polyimide film that generates heat by supplying power, and a sensing pad arranged so as not to overlap with the conductive pattern for detecting the capacitance of the containment space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments relate to an aerosol generating device including a sensing pad disposed so as not to overlap with a conductive pad on a polyimide film.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternative methods to overcome the disadvantages of conventional cigarettes. For example, there has been an increasing demand for a system that generates an aerosol by heating a cigarette or an aerosol generating substance using an aerosol generating device, rather than by burning a cigarette to generate an aerosol. As a result, active research has been conducted on heat-type aerosol generating devices.

[0003] The aerosol generating device can detect whether a cigarette is housed inside the device through a sensor in order to shorten the smoking time of a user and improve convenience, and if it is confirmed that the cigarette is housed, power can be supplied to a heater to preheat the cigarette. Further, the aerosol generating device can detect whether the cigarette is in an over-wet state in order to prevent the supply of an aerosol at an overly high temperature to the user, and can adjust the temperature at which the cigarette is heated due to the over-wet state of the cigarette.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In existing aerosol generating devices, it is necessary to secure a space where a sensor for detecting whether a cigarette is housed or whether the cigarette is in an over-wet state is disposed, or a configuration (for example, a separate layer) where the sensor is mounted is further required, which has been a constraint in miniaturizing the overall size of the aerosol generating device.

[0005] Furthermore, in existing aerosol generators, the sensor is positioned at a certain distance from the storage space where the cigarettes are placed, making it difficult to precisely detect changes in the characteristics of the storage space (e.g., changes in capacitance) due to the way the cigarettes are stored or their humidity levels.

[0006] If precise detection of changes in the characteristics of the containment space is impossible, the heater may be activated even if no cigarettes are present due to a misjudgment of whether cigarettes are contained, or the cigarettes may not be heated to the specified temperature due to a misjudgment of their excessive humidity. Therefore, the need for miniaturization of the aerosol generator and improvement of the sensor's precision has emerged.

[0007] Various embodiments of the present invention aim to provide an aerosol generating device that can more precisely detect the state of cigarettes being contained or the state of excessive moisture in cigarettes, without adding any additional components, through a structure in which a sensor for detecting the state of excessive moisture in cigarettes is placed inside the heater.

[0008] The problems to be solved through embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and any problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments belong from this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] An aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment includes a housing that includes a containment space for containing an aerosol product, and a heater located inside the housing that heats the aerosol product contained in the containment space by supplying power, the heater may include a polyimide (PI) film arranged to surround the aerosol product contained in the containment space, a conductive pattern arranged on the polyimide film that generates heat by supplying power, and a sensing pad arranged so as not to overlap with the conductive pattern for detecting the capacitance of the containment space. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] Aerosol generating apparatuses according to various embodiments of the present invention can detect the capacitance of a containment space without adding any additional configurations for the placement of sensing pads.

[0011] Furthermore, aerosol generating devices according to various embodiments of the present invention can more accurately measure the capacitance of the containment space, and as a result, precisely detect whether the aerosol product is contained or whether the aerosol product is in an overly humid state.

[0012] 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]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing an aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a partial cross-section of the aerosol generating apparatus. [Figure 3] This is an exploded perspective view of the heater, fixing member, and heat insulating member of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] This diagram shows the arrangement structure of the heater components in an open state according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the process of rolling up the polyimide film shown. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the components of the heater when the polyimide film shown is fully wound up. [Figure 7] Another embodiment shows a perspective view illustrating a protective sheet for surrounding the outer surface of a polyimide film. [Figure 8] This block diagram shows some components of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a flowchart illustrating the control operation based on the capacitance value of the containment space detected through the sensing pad of an aerosol generator according to one embodiment. [Figure 10] This is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The terminology used in the embodiments is selected as widely used and general terms as possible, taking into account the function of the present invention, although this may vary depending on the intent of the articulators in the field, case law, the emergence of new technologies, etc. In certain cases, the applicant may have arbitrarily selected terms, in which case their meaning will be described in detail in the description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention are not merely names of terms, but must be defined based on the meaning of the term and the overall content of the present invention.

[0015] Throughout the specification, when a part "includes" a component, it means, unless otherwise specified, that it does not exclude other components, but rather that it may include other components. Furthermore, terms such as "...part" and "...module" used in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which is embodied by hardware or software, or by a combination of hardware and software.

[0016] Furthermore, in describing the embodiments disclosed herein, if a specific description of such prior art is deemed to obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein, such detailed description will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are merely for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein, and it should be understood that the accompanying drawings do not limit the technical ideas disclosed herein and include all modifications, equivalents, or substitutes that fall within the concept and technical scope of the present invention.

[0017] Terms including ordinal numbers such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are merely used to distinguish one component from another.

[0018] When it is mentioned that a certain component is "connected to" or "attached to" another component, it must be understood that it is directly connected to the other component, or although it is connected, other components may exist in between. On the other hand, when it is mentioned that a certain component is "directly connected to" or "directly attached to" another component, it must be understood that no other component exists in between.

[0019] Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0020] 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 them. However, the present invention can be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0021] Regardless of the reference numerals in the drawings, the same or similar components are given the same reference numbers, and duplicate descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, an aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment may include a housing 110 that houses at least a part of an aerosol generating article 10 (or "cigarette").

[0024] The housing 110 forms the overall appearance of the aerosol generator 100, and components of the aerosol generator 100 may be arranged in the internal space (or "packaging space") of the housing 110. For example, a heater for heating the aerosol product 10, a battery and / or a processor may be arranged in the internal space of the housing 110, but the components of the aerosol generator 100 arranged in the internal space of the housing 110 are not limited to these.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the housing 110 may include a containment space 110h (or "cavity") for containing at least a portion of the aerosol product 10. The aerosol product 10 is inserted into or contained within the housing 110 through the containment space 110h, and the aerosol product 10 contained within the housing 110 may be heated by a heater located within the internal space of the housing 110.

[0026] When the aerosol product 10 is heated by the heater assembly, an aerosol is generated from inside the housing 110, and the generated aerosol is discharged to the outside of the aerosol generator 100 through the aerosol product 10 or the open space between the aerosol product 10 and the containment space 110h, and can be supplied to the user.

[0027] Although the overall external shape of the aerosol generator 100 is shown in the drawings only for an embodiment in which the cross-section is formed in an elliptical column shape, the shape of the aerosol generator 100 is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. In other embodiments (not shown), the aerosol generator 100 may be formed in an overall cylindrical shape or in a polygonal prism shape (for example, a triangular or quadrangular prism shape).

[0028] According to one embodiment, the aerosol generator 100 may further include a cover 120 that is movably positioned in the housing 110 and for opening or closing the containment space 110h.

[0029] For example, the cover 120 is positioned to cover the containment space 110h in a first position (or "closed position"), preventing the containment space 110h from being exposed to the outside of the aerosol generator 100. By being in the first position and preventing the containment space 110h from being exposed to the outside, the cover 120 can protect the containment space 110h from external impacts or the inflow of external foreign matter.

[0030] As another example, the cover 120 may move from a first position to a second position (or "open position"), exposing the containment space 110h to the outside, and when the cover 120 is in the second position, the aerosol product 10 may be contained or inserted into the containment space 110h.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the cover 120 slides between a first position and a second position along a groove formed in a region of the housing 110 (for example, a region in the z-direction), but the method of movement of the cover 120 is not limited to this. Furthermore, the cover 120, having moved from the first position to the second position, returns to the first position by elastic force (or "restoring force") even without any further operation by the user, but is not limited to this.

[0032] In the following section, with reference to Figure 2, the components of the aerosol generating device 100, which are arranged in the internal space of the housing 110, will be described in detail.

[0033] Figure 2 is a diagram showing a partial cross-section of the aerosol generating apparatus shown in Figure 1.

[0034] Referring to Figure 2, an aerosol generator 100 according to one embodiment may include a housing 110, a cover 120, and a heater 130. The components of the aerosol generator 100 are not limited thereto, and depending on the embodiment, at least one component may be added, or any one of the aforementioned components (for example, the cover 120) may be omitted.

[0035] The housing 110 forms the overall appearance of the aerosol generator 100, and the interior of the housing 110 is provided with space for arranging the components of the aerosol generator 100.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the housing 110 includes a containment space 110h, and at least a portion of the aerosol product (e.g., the aerosol product 10 in Figure 1) can be inserted into or contained within the housing 110 through the containment space 110h. The drawings show an embodiment in which the containment space 110h is formed in a region of the housing 110 in the z-direction, but the arrangement of the containment space 110h is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. In other embodiments (not shown), the containment space 110h may be formed in a region of the housing 110 in the y-direction or -y-direction.

[0037] The heater 130 is located in the internal space of the housing 110 and can generate an aerosol by heating the aerosol product 10 contained in the containment space 110h with power supplied from a battery (not shown). For example, the heater 130 is positioned to surround the outer surface of the aerosol product 10 contained in the containment space 110h and can generate heat by supplying power, thereby heating the aerosol product. In this case, vaporized particles generated by the heating of the aerosol product may mix with air flowing in from the outside through the containment space 110h to generate an aerosol.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the heater 130 may include a polyimide film 131, a conductive pattern 133, and a sensing pad 135.

[0039] The polyimide film 131 (or "base film") contains a heat-resistant or insulating polyimide (PI) and may form the base of the heater 130, and may be positioned inside the housing 110 to surround the outer surface of the aerosol product contained in the containment space 110h.

[0040] The conductive pattern 133 is placed on the polyimide film 131 and can heat the aerosol product by supplying power. For example, the conductive pattern 133 may be placed on a region of the polyimide film 131 facing the aerosol product (e.g., an inner region) and electrically connected to a battery (not shown). The conductive pattern 133 can generate heat by supplying power from the battery and heat the aerosol product.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the conductive pattern 133 includes stainless steel coated or printed on the polyimide film 131, but the method of arranging the conductive pattern 133 on the polyimide film 131 or the type of conductive pattern 133 is not limited thereto.

[0042] The sensing pad 135 is arranged on the polyimide film 131 so as not to overlap with the conductive pattern 133, and can perform the role of detecting capacitance in the containment space 110h. For example, the sensing pad 135 may include at least one electrode pattern that is arranged so as not to overlap with the conductive pattern 133. In the present invention, the expression "the sensing pad 135 is arranged so as not to overlap with the conductive pattern 133" means a structure in which the sensing pad 135 and the conductive pattern 133 are arranged so as not to overlap when viewed from the radial direction of the heater 130.

[0043] When the sensing pad 135 is arranged so as to overlap with the conductive pattern 133, the heat generated from the conductive pattern 133 due to the power supply to the conductive pattern 133 can reduce the detection performance of the sensing pad 135 relative to its capacitance, or damage the sensing pad 135 may occur. On the other hand, in one embodiment of the aerosol generating device 100, by arranging the conductive pattern 133 and the sensing pad 135 on the polyimide film 131 so as not to overlap, malfunction or damage to the sensing pad 135 due to heat generated from the conductive pattern 133 can be prevented.

[0044] The sensing pad 135 is electrically or operatively connected to a processor (not shown) located on a printed circuit board 170 via an electrical connecting member 160, and the processor can detect the capacitance value inside the housing space 110h through the sensing pad 135.

[0045] The processor detects whether aerosol products are contained in the containment space 110h or whether the aerosol products contained in the containment space 110h are in an overly humid state, based on changes in the capacitance value inside the containment space 110h detected through the sensing pad 135. A detailed explanation of this will be given later.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a fixing member 140 and a heat insulating member 150.

[0047] The fixing member 140 can serve to fix the position of the heater 130 inside the housing 110. According to one embodiment, the fixing member 140 may include an upper end fixing member 141 (or "first fixing member") and a lower end fixing member 142 (or "second fixing member").

[0048] The upper end fixing member 141 is located inside the housing 110 at the upper end of the heater 130 (for example, in the z-direction in Figure 2), and can fix the position of one end (or "upper end") of the heater 130 in the z-direction.

[0049] The lower end fixing member 142 is located inside the housing 110, separated from the upper end fixing member 141, at the lower end of the heater 130 (for example, in the -z direction in Figure 2), and can fix the position of the other end (or "lower end") of the heater 130 in the -z direction.

[0050] The heat insulating member 150 is positioned to surround the outer surface of the heater 130 from the inside of the housing 110, thereby blocking the transfer of heat generated from the heater 130 to the outer surface of the housing 110. For example, if heat generated from the heater 130 is transferred to the outer surface of the housing 110, the surface temperature of the housing 110 will rise excessively, making it difficult for the user to grasp the housing 110.

[0051] In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device 100 can improve user convenience by preventing an excessive rise in the surface temperature of the housing 110 due to the heat generated from the heater 130 through the heat insulating member 150.

[0052] In the following section, the relationship between the heater 130, the fixing member 140, and the heat insulating member 150 will be specifically explained with reference to Figure 3.

[0053] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the heater, fixing member, and heat insulating member of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. The heater 130, fixing member 140, and heat insulating member 150 shown in Figure 3 are one embodiment of the heater 130, fixing member 140, and heat insulating member 150 of the aerosol generating device 100 in Figure 2, and redundant explanations will be omitted below.

[0054] Referring to Figure 3, the fixing member 140 can serve to fix the position of the heater 130 inside the aerosol generator. For example, the fixing member 140 can be coupled to at least one region of the heater 130 and fix the position of the heater 130 so that the heater 130 does not move out of the housing (for example, the housing 110 in Figures 1 and 2) during the operation of the aerosol generator.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the fixing member 140 may include an upper end fixing member 141 that is connected to one end of the heater 130 and a lower end fixing member 142 that is connected to the other end of the heater 130 in the opposite direction from the one end.

[0056] The upper end fixing member 141 is connected to one end of the heater 130 that faces upward (for example, in the z-direction of degree 2), and the position of one end of the heater 130 can be fixed inside the housing.

[0057] The lower end fixing member 142 is separated from the upper end fixing member 141 and is connected to the other end of the heater 130 that is facing downwards (for example, in the -z direction in Figure 2), thereby fixing the position of the other end of the heater 130 inside the housing.

[0058] An aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment (for example, the aerosol generating apparatus 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2) can stably heat the aerosol product (for example, the aerosol product 10 shown in Figure 1) by fixing the position of the heater 130 inside the housing through the upper end fixing member 141 and / or the lower end fixing member 142.

[0059] For example, the fixing member 140 is positioned adjacent to the heater 130 that generates aerosols, and is made of a polymer material (e.g., polyetheretherketone (PEEK)) that has excellent chemical resistance and stiffness, but the material of the fixing member 140 is not limited to this.

[0060] The heat insulating member 150 is positioned to surround the outer surface of the heater 130 and can block the release of heat generated from the heater 130 to the outside. For example, the heat insulating member 150 is positioned to surround the outer surface of the heater 130 and can block the heat generated from the heater 130 during the heating process of the aerosol product from reaching the outer surface of the housing.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the thermal insulation member 150 may include a first thermal insulation member 151 and a second thermal insulation member 152 coupled to the first thermal insulation member 151. For example, the first thermal insulation member 151 and the second thermal insulation member 152 are coupled to each other in such a way that the protrusion of the second thermal insulation member 152 is coupled to the recess of the first thermal insulation member 151, but the coupling method of the first thermal insulation member 151 and the second thermal insulation member 152 is not limited to this.

[0062] When the first insulating member 151 and the second insulating member 152 are joined together, the first insulating member 151 may be positioned to surround at least one side of the heater 130, and the second insulating member 152 may be positioned to surround the remaining side of the heater 130.

[0063] In one embodiment of the aerosol generating apparatus, when the first insulating member 151 and the second insulating member 152 are joined together, the first insulating member 151 and the second insulating member 152 are arranged to completely surround the heater 130 in the circumferential direction, thereby effectively blocking the release of heat generated from the heater 130 to the outside.

[0064] For example, the heat insulating member 150 is made of a polymer material with excellent heat resistance (e.g., polyetheretherketone (PEEK)), but the material of the heat insulating member 150 is not limited to this.

[0065] The manufacturing process of the heater 130 will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 4 to 6.

[0066] Figure 4 is a diagram showing the arrangement of heater components in an open state according to one embodiment; Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the rolling process of the polyimide film shown in Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the heater components when the polyimide film shown in Figure 5 is completely rolled up.

[0067] Referring to Figures 4 to 6, one embodiment of the heater 130 may include a polyimide film 131, an internal sheet 132, a conductive pattern 133, an external sheet 134, and a sensing pad 135. The heater 130 shown in Figures 4 to 6 is one embodiment of the heater 130 applicable to the aerosol generating apparatus 100 of Figures 1 to 2, and redundant explanations will be omitted below.

[0068] The internal sheet 132 can be placed in one region of the polyimide film 131 when the polyimide film 131 is open, as shown in Figure 4. For example, the internal sheet 132 may include a material with high thermal conductivity and elasticity (e.g., stainless steel) and be placed at one end of the polyimide film 131 when the polyimide film 131 is open.

[0069] The outer sheet 134 may be located in another region of the polyimide film 131 that is separated from the inner sheet 132 when the polyimide film 131 is open. For example, the outer sheet 134 may contain a material that is highly thermally conductive and elastic, like the inner sheet 132 (e.g., stainless steel), and may be located in another region of the polyimide film 131 that is separated from the inner sheet 132 by a length of the inner sheet 132.

[0070] By arranging the internal sheet 132 and the external sheet 134 on the polyimide film 131 at a distance from each other, a region is formed between the internal sheet 132 and the external sheet 134 of the polyimide film 131 where no sheets are placed, and the conductive pattern 133 can be printed or coated in this region. In other words, when the polyimide film 131 is open, the internal sheet 132, the conductive pattern 133, and the external sheet 134 can be arranged sequentially on the polyimide film 131.

[0071] At least a portion of the conductive pattern 133 (hereinafter referred to as the "terminal region") is arranged to be exposed to the outside of the polyimide film 131, and the terminal region of the conductive pattern 133 can be electrically connected to a battery (not shown) and powered by the battery.

[0072] The sensing pad 135 is positioned on the internal sheet 132 and / or the external sheet 134 and can perform a role in detecting changes in capacitance values. The sensing pad 135 includes at least one electrode pattern printed or mounted on the internal sheet 132 and / or the external sheet 134, and the aerosol generator (e.g., the aerosol generator 100 in Figures 1 and 2) can detect changes in capacitance values ​​based on the magnitude and / or frequency of an electrical signal received from at least one electrode pattern.

[0073] In one embodiment, the sensing pad 135 is positioned in the lower end region of the internal sheet 132 and / or the external sheet 134, as shown in Figure 4, but the arrangement of the sensing pad 135 is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the sensing pad 135 may be positioned in the upper end region or center of the internal sheet 132 and / or the external sheet 134, provided that it is positioned so as not to overlap with the conductive pattern 133.

[0074] Furthermore, although the drawings only show embodiments in which the sensing pad 135 is placed on both the internal sheet 132 and the external sheet 134, the sensing pad 135 may be placed on only one of the internal sheet 132 or the external sheet 134 depending on the embodiment.

[0075] The heater 130 can be formed by winding an open polyimide film 131 into a circular or elliptical shape. For example, as shown in Figure 5, one end of the polyimide film 131 with the internal sheet 132 located therein is rolled up with the other end of the polyimide film 131. When the polyimide film 131 is completely rolled up, as shown in Figure 6, a tubular heater 130 with a circular or elliptical cross-section can be formed. The tubular heater 130 is positioned inside the aerosol generator to surround the outer surface of the aerosol product (e.g., the aerosol product 10 in Figure 1), and can heat the aerosol product by supplying power to the conductive pattern 133 to generate heat.

[0076] When the polyimide film 131 is fully wound (or the heater 130 is fully manufactured), the inner sheet 132 may be positioned on the inner surface of the heater 130, and the outer sheet 134 may be positioned radially away from the inner sheet 132.

[0077] The conductive pattern 133 and the sensing pad 135, which is placed on the internal sheet 132 and / or external sheet 134, are positioned between the internal sheet 132 and the external sheet 134, and the outer peripheral surface of the external sheet 134 is covered and wrapped by the polyimide film 131, thereby stably fixing the positions of the internal sheet 132, the conductive pattern 133, the sensing pad 135, and the external sheet 134.

[0078] The sensing pad 135 may be positioned between the inner sheet 132 and the outer sheet 134 so as not to overlap with the conductive pattern 133. If the sensing pad 135 overlaps with the conductive pattern 133, the heat generated from the conductive pattern 133 may cause malfunction or damage to the sensing pad 135. On the other hand, according to one embodiment, the heater 130 can prevent damage or malfunction of the sensing pad 135 due to heat generated from the conductive pattern 133 by positioning the sensing pad 135 so as not to overlap with the conductive pattern 133.

[0079] In one embodiment, the heater 130 is manufactured by arranging an internal sheet 132, a conductive pattern 133, an external sheet 134, and a sensing pad 135 on a polyimide film 131 and then rolling the polyimide film 131. This simplifies the manufacturing process of the heater 130 by eliminating the need to bond the internal sheet 132, the conductive pattern 133, the external sheet 134, etc.

[0080] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the heater 130 can utilize the sensing pad 135 without requiring a separate configuration (e.g., an additional layer) on which the sensing pad 135 is placed, through a structure in which the sensing pad 135 is placed on an internal sheet 132 and / or an external sheet 134 for fixing the conductive pattern 133. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the aerosol generator is reduced, the space (or "mounting space") occupied by the sensing pad 135 inside the aerosol generator is minimized, and the aerosol generator can be made smaller.

[0081] Furthermore, in the aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment, the sensing pad 135 is positioned adjacent to the containment space (for example, the containment space 110h in Figures 1 and 2) whose capacitance is to be detected, through the arrangement structure of the sensing pad 135 described above. This allows for more precise detection of changes in the capacitance of the containment space. As a result, the aerosol generating apparatus can more accurately determine whether the aerosol product is contained in the containment space or whether the contained aerosol product is in an overly humid state, thereby improving user convenience.

[0082] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a protective sheet for surrounding the outer surface of a polyimide film according to another embodiment.

[0083] Referring to Figure 7, according to other embodiments, the heater 130 may include a polyimide film 131, an internal sheet 132, a conductive pattern 133, an external sheet 134, a sensing pad 135, and a protective sheet 136. The heater 130 shown in Figure 7 is the same as the heater 130 in Figure 6, with the addition of the protective sheet 136, and a redundant explanation will be omitted below.

[0084] The protective sheet 136 is positioned on the outermost edge of the heater 130 and serves to secure the polyimide film 131, internal sheet 132, conductive pattern 133, and external sheet 134 of the heater 130. For example, with respect to the radial direction of the heater 130, the internal sheet 132, conductive pattern 133, external sheet 134, polyimide film 131, and protective sheet 136 are arranged in that order, with the protective sheet 136 positioned on the outermost edge of the heater 130, preventing external impacts or the inflow of foreign matter into the heater 130.

[0085] The sensing pad 135 is positioned on the inner surface of the protective sheet 136 facing the polyimide film 131 so as not to overlap with the conductive pattern 133, and the aerosol generator (e.g., the aerosol generator 100 in Figures 1 and 2) can detect the capacitance of the containment space (e.g., the containment space 110h in Figures 1 and 2) containing the aerosol product through the sensing pad 135.

[0086] For example, the processor of the aerosol generator can calculate the difference between the capacitance value of the containment space detected through a sensing pad 135 (or "internal sensing pad") located between the internal sheet 132 and the external sheet 134, and the capacitance value of the containment space detected through a sensing pad 135 (or "external sensing pad") located on the protective sheet 136. Based on the calculated difference in capacitance values, the processor can control the operation of the aerosol generator. A detailed explanation of the processor's control process for the operation of the aerosol generator will be provided later.

[0087] The drawings show, but are not limited to, embodiments in which the sensing pad 135 is positioned both in the area between the inner sheet 132 and the outer sheet 134 and on the inner surface of the protective sheet 136 facing the polyimide film 131.

[0088] In other embodiments, the sensing pad 135 may be located only on the inner surface of the protective sheet 136 facing the polyimide film 131. In this case, the processor can detect the change in the capacitance value of the containment space detected through the sensing pad 135 located on the inner surface of the protective sheet 136 facing the polyimide film 131 (self-capacitance sensing), and control the operation of the aerosol generator based on the detected change in capacitance value.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the sensing pad 135 may include a plurality of sensing pads 1351, 1352. For example, the sensing pad 135 may include a first sensing pad 1351 and a second sensing pad 1352 positioned spaced apart from the first sensing pad 1351. In this case, the processor can calculate the difference between the capacitance value of the containment space detected through the first sensing pad 1351 and the detected capacitance value of the containment space detected through the first sensing pad 1351 (mutual-capacitance sensing), and control the operation of the aerosol generator based on the calculated difference in capacitance values.

[0090] In the following section, with reference to Figures 8 and 9, we will specifically describe the process of controlling the operation of the aerosol generator based on the capacitance value detected through the processor's sensing pad 135.

[0091] Figure 8 is a block diagram showing some components of an aerosol generator according to one embodiment. At least one of the components of the aerosol generator 100 shown in Figure 8 is substantially identical or similar to at least one of the components of the aerosol generator 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2, and redundant explanations will be omitted below.

[0092] Referring to Figure 8, an aerosol generator 100 according to one embodiment may include a sensing pad 135 (for example, the sensing pad 135 in Figures 2, 6, and 7), a processor 171, and a battery 172. Figure 8 shows only some of the components of the aerosol generator 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the components of the aerosol generator 100 are not limited to those shown.

[0093] The sensing pad 135 can perform the role of detecting the capacitance inside the containment space (for example, the containment space 110h in Figures 1 and 2). The sensing pad 135 outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the change in capacitance of the containment space, and the output electrical signal can be transmitted to the processor 171 which is electrically connected to the sensing pad 135.

[0094] The processor 171 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generator 100. For example, the processor 171 is located on a printed circuit board inside the aerosol generator 100 (e.g., printed circuit board 160 in Figure 2) and is electrically or operationally connected to the sensing pad 135 and the battery 172, and can control the overall operation of the aerosol generator 100.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the processor 171 can detect the capacitance value inside the containment space through the sensing pad 135 and control the operation of the aerosol generator 100 based on the detected capacitance value. For example, the magnitude of the resistance of the sensing pad 135 changes depending on the capacitance value inside the containment space, and as a result, the magnitude of the electrical signal generated from the sensing pad 135 may also change. The processor can detect the change in the capacitance value inside the containment space based on the magnitude of the electrical signal transmitted from the sensing pad 135 and / or the frequency of the power supplied to the sensing pad 135. In this case, the aerosol generator 100 further includes, but is not limited to, a filter (not shown) located on the electrical path between the sensing pad 135 and the battery 172 for detecting the frequency of the power supplied from the battery 172 to the sensing pad 135.

[0096] As an example, the processor 171 can detect the change in capacitance value inside the containment space through the sensing pad 135 and determine whether or not an aerosol product (for example, the aerosol product 10 in Figure 1) is contained in the containment space based on the detected change in capacitance value. As another example, the processor 171 may determine whether or not the aerosol product contained in the containment space is in an overly humid state based on the change in capacitance value detected through the sensing pad 135.

[0097] The battery 172 can supply power to the components of the aerosol generator 100 so that they can operate. For example, the battery 172 can supply power to components such as a heater (e.g., heater 130 in Figure 2) or a processor 171. In this case, the battery 172 is either rechargeable or disposable. For example, the battery 172 is a lithium polymer (Lipoly) battery, but the type of battery 172 is not limited to this.

[0098] In the following section, with reference to Figure 9, the control process of the operation of the aerosol generator 100 will be specifically described based on the capacitance value of the containment space detected by the processor 171 through the sensing pad 135.

[0099] Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating the control operation based on the capacitance value of the containment space detected through the sensing pad of an aerosol generator according to one embodiment. In the following description of the control operation, the components of the aerosol generator 100 shown in Figure 8 will be referred to.

[0100] Referring to Figure 9, in operation 901, the processor 171 of the aerosol generator 100 according to one embodiment can detect the capacitance of the containment space (for example, the containment space 110h in Figures 1 and 2) through the sensing pad 135. For example, the processor 171 can detect the change in the capacitance value of the containment space in which the aerosol product (for example, the aerosol product 10 in Figure 1) is contained through the sensing pad 135.

[0101] In operation 902, the processor 171 of the aerosol generator 100 according to one embodiment can detect whether or not aerosol products are contained in the containment space or whether or not the contained aerosol products are in an over-humid state, based on the capacitance of the containment space detected in operation 901.

[0102] For example, the processor 171 can detect whether an aerosol product is contained within the containment space based on the change in capacitance of the containment space detected through the sensing pad 135. For instance, if the processor 171 confirms that an aerosol product is contained within the containment space, it can supply power to the heater (e.g., heater 130 in Figure 2) via the battery 172 to preheat the heater.

[0103] As another example, when it is confirmed that an aerosol product is contained in the containment space, the processor 171 can estimate the moisture content of the aerosol product contained in the containment space based on the change in capacitance of the containment space detected through the sensing pad 135, and based on the estimated moisture content, it can detect whether or not the aerosol product is in an over-humid state.

[0104] In the present invention, the expression "over-humidified state of aerosol product" means a state in which the medium portion contained in the aerosol product contains a specified amount of moisture (for example, 15 wt%) or more relative to the total weight of the medium portion, and this expression may be used with the same meaning hereafter.

[0105] When aerosol products in a highly humid state are heated, the high moisture content generates high-temperature aerosols, which can cause discomfort if inhaled by the user.

[0106] In one embodiment of the aerosol generator 100, the processor 171 controls the power supplied to the heater from the battery 172 when the aerosol product contained in the containment space is in an overly humid state, thereby increasing the preheating time of the aerosol product compared to when heating a typical aerosol product. As a result, the aerosol generator 100 can prevent the generation of high-temperature aerosols and improve the user's smoking experience.

[0107] Figure 10 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment.

[0108] The aerosol generator 1 includes a battery 12, a control unit 13, a sensor unit 19, an output unit 40, an input unit 70, a communication unit 50, a memory 60, and at least one heater 15. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generator 1 is not limited to that shown in Figure 10. That is, a person with ordinary skill in the art according to this embodiment will understand that some of the components shown in Figure 10 may be omitted or new components may be added depending on the design of the aerosol generator 1.

[0109] The sensor unit 19 can sense the state of the aerosol generator 1 or the state of the area around the aerosol generator 1, and transmit the sensed information to the control unit 13. Based on the sensed information, the control unit 13 can control the aerosol generator 1 to perform various functions such as controlling the operation of the cartridge heater 15 and / or stick heater 15, restricting smoking, determining whether a stick and / or cartridge is inserted, and displaying notifications.

[0110] The sensor unit 19 includes at least one of the following: a temperature sensor 191, a puff sensor 192, an insertion sensor 193, a reuse sensor 194, a cartridge sensor 195, a cap sensor 196, and a motion sensor 197.

[0111] The temperature sensor 191 can sense the temperature at which the cartridge heater 15 and / or stick heater 15 are heated. The aerosol generator 1 may include a separate temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and / or stick heater 15, or the cartridge heater 15 and / or stick heater 15 themselves may act as the temperature sensor.

[0112] The temperature sensor 191 can output a signal corresponding to the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15. For example, the temperature sensor 191 includes a resistive element whose resistance changes in response to temperature changes in the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15. This is embodied by an element such as a thermistor, which utilizes the property that resistance changes with temperature. In this case, the temperature sensor 191 can output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the resistive element as a signal corresponding to the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15. For example, the temperature sensor 191 is composed of a sensor that detects the resistance value of the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15. In this case, the temperature sensor 191 can output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15 as a signal corresponding to the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15.

[0113] The temperature sensor 191 may be positioned around the battery 12 to monitor its temperature. The temperature sensor 191 may be positioned adjacent to the battery 12. For example, the temperature sensor 191 may be attached to one side of the battery 12. For example, the temperature sensor 191 may be mounted on one side of a printed circuit board.

[0114] The temperature sensor 191 is located inside the main unit and can sense the internal temperature of the main unit.

[0115] The puff sensor 192 can detect user puffs based on various physical changes in the airflow path. The puff sensor 192 can output a signal corresponding to a puff. For example, the puff sensor 192 is also a pressure sensor. The puff sensor 192 can output a signal corresponding to the internal pressure of the aerosol generator 1. Here, the internal pressure of the aerosol generator 1 corresponds to the pressure of the airflow path through which the gas flows. The puff sensor 192 can be positioned in the aerosol generator 1 corresponding to the airflow path through which the gas flows.

[0116] The insertion sensor 193 can detect the insertion and / or removal of the stick. The insertion sensor 193 can detect the signal change caused by the insertion and / or removal of the stick. The insertion sensor 193 can be installed around the insertion space. The insertion sensor 193 can detect the insertion and / or removal of the stick by the change in dielectric constant inside the insertion space. For example, the insertion sensor 193 is also an inductive sensor and / or a capacitance sensor.

[0117] An inductive sensor includes at least one coil. The coil of the inductive sensor is positioned adjacent to the insertion space. For example, if the magnetic field changes around a coil through which current flows, the characteristics of the current flowing through the coil may change according to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. Here, the characteristics of the current flowing through the coil include the frequency of the alternating current, the current value, the voltage value, the inductance value, the impedance value, etc.

[0118] An inductive sensor can output a signal that corresponds to the characteristics of the current flowing through a coil. For example, an inductive sensor can output a signal that corresponds to the inductance value of a coil.

[0119] A capacitance sensor includes a conductor. The conductor of the capacitance sensor is positioned adjacent to the insertion space. The capacitance sensor can output a signal corresponding to the surrounding electromagnetic properties, such as the capacitance around the conductor. For example, if a stick including a metal ferrule is inserted into the insertion space, the ferrule of the stick can alter the electromagnetic properties around the conductor.

[0120] The reuse detection sensor 194 can detect whether the stick has been reused. The reuse detection sensor 194 is also a color sensor. The color sensor can detect the hue of the stick. The color sensor can detect the hue of a portion of the trumpet surrounding the outside of the stick. The color sensor can detect values ​​related to the optical properties corresponding to the hue of an object, based on the light reflected from the object. For example, the optical properties are also the wavelength of light. The color sensor may be implemented as a single configuration with the proximity sensor, or as a separate configuration distinct from the proximity sensor.

[0121] At least a portion of the flaps that make up the stick may change hue due to aerosols. The reuse sensing sensor 194 may be positioned in a location corresponding to where at least a portion of the flaps whose hue changes due to aerosols are located when the stick is inserted into the insertion space. For example, before the stick is used by a user, at least a portion of the flaps has a first hue. In this case, as the aerosols generated by the aerosol generator 1 pass through the stick, at least a portion of the flaps may be wetted by the aerosols, causing at least a portion of the flaps to change to a second hue. On the other hand, at least a portion of the flaps may remain at the second hue after being changed from the first hue to the second hue.

[0122] The cartridge sensing sensor 195 can detect the insertion and / or removal of a cartridge. The cartridge sensing sensor 195 can be implemented as an inductance substrate sensor, a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor, or a Hall sensor (Hall IC) using the Hall effect.

[0123] The cap detection sensor 196 can detect the attachment and / or removal of the cap. When the cap is separated from the body, the cartridge and part of the body that were covered by the cap may be exposed to the outside. The cap detection sensor 196 can be implemented by a contact sensor, a Hall sensor (Hall IC), an optical sensor, or the like.

[0124] The motion sensing sensor 197 can detect the movement of the aerosol generator. The motion sensing sensor 197 is embodied by at least one of an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor.

[0125] In addition to the aforementioned sensors 191 to 197, the sensor unit 19 may further include at least one of the following: a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, a position sensor (GPS), and a proximity sensor. The function of each sensor can be intuitively inferred by an average engineer from its name, so a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0126] The output unit 40 can output and provide to the user information about the status of the aerosol generator 1. The output unit 40 includes, but is not limited to, a display unit 41, a haptic unit 42, and an acoustic output unit 43. When the display unit 41 and the touchpad form a layered structure and constitute a touchscreen, the display unit 41 can be used as an input device in addition to an output device.

[0127] The display unit 41 can visually provide the user with information about the aerosol generator 1. For example, information about the aerosol generator 1 can include various types of information such as the charge / discharge status of the battery 12 of the aerosol generator 1, the preheating status of the stick heater 15, the insertion / removal status of the stick and / or cartridge, the attachment / removal status of the cap, or a state in which the use of the aerosol generator 1 is restricted (e.g., detection of an abnormal object), and the display unit 41 can output this information to the outside. For example, the display unit 41 can also be in the form of an LED light-emitting element. For example, the display unit 41 can be a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light-emitting display panel (OLED), etc.

[0128] The haptic unit 42 can convert electrical signals into mechanical or electrical stimuli, providing the user with tactile information about the aerosol generator 1. For example, the haptic unit 42 generates vibrations corresponding to the completion of initial preheating when initial power is supplied to the cartridge heater 15 and / or stick heater 15 for a set time. The haptic unit 42 may include a vibration motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulator.

[0129] The acoustic output unit 43 can provide the user with auditory information about the aerosol generator 1. For example, the acoustic output unit 43 can convert electrical signals into acoustic signals and output them externally.

[0130] The battery 12 can supply power used to operate the aerosol generator 1. The battery 12 can supply power to heat the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15. The battery 12 can also supply power necessary for the operation of other components provided in the aerosol generator 1, namely the sensor unit 19, output unit 40, input unit 70, communication unit 50, and memory 60. The battery 12 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 12 is a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited to that.

[0131] Although not shown in Figure 10, the aerosol generator 1 may further include a power protection circuit. The power protection circuit is electrically connected to the battery 12 and may include a switching element.

[0132] The power protection circuit can shut off the circuit to the battery 12 under predetermined conditions. For example, the power protection circuit can shut off the circuit to the battery 12 if the voltage level of the battery 12 is equal to or greater than a first voltage corresponding to overcharging. For example, the power protection circuit can shut off the circuit to the battery 12 if the voltage level of the battery 12 is less than a second voltage corresponding to over-discharge.

[0133] The stick heater 15 is powered by the battery 12 and can heat the medium or aerosol-generating material inside the stick. Although not shown in Figure 10, the aerosol generator 1 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a DC / DC converter) that converts the power from the battery 12 and supplies it to the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15. Also, if the aerosol generator 1 generates aerosols by induction heating, the aerosol generator 1 may further include a DC / AC converter that converts the DC power from the battery 12 to AC power.

[0134] The control unit 13, sensor unit 19, output unit 40, input unit 70, communication unit 50, and memory 60 can function by being powered by the battery 12. Although not shown in Figure 10, a power conversion circuit, such as an LDO (low dropout) circuit or a voltage regulator circuit, may be further included to convert the power from the battery 12 and supply it to each component. Also, although not shown in Figure 10, a noise filter may be provided between the battery 12 and the stick heater 15. The noise filter is also a low-pass filter. The low-pass filter may include at least one inductor and a capacitor. The cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter corresponds to the frequency of the high-frequency switching current applied from the battery 12 to the stick heater 15. The low-pass filter prevents high-frequency noise components from being applied to the sensor unit 19, such as the insertion sensing sensor 193.

[0135] In one embodiment, the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15 may consist of any suitable electrical resistant material. Suitable electrical resistant materials include, but are not limited to, metals or metal alloys, such as titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, and nichrome. The stick heater 15 may also be embodied by, but is not limited to, a metal heating wire, a metal heating plate on which a conductive track is arranged, or a ceramic heating element.

[0136] In other embodiments, the stick heater 15 is also an induction heating type heater. For example, the stick heater 15 may include a susceptor that generates heat via a magnetic field applied by a coil to heat the aerosol-generating material.

[0137] The input unit 70 can receive information input from the user or output information to the user. For example, the input unit 70 is also a touch panel. The touch panel may include at least one touch sensor that detects touch. For example, the touch sensor includes, but is not limited to, a capacitive touch sensor, a resistive touch sensor, an ultrasonic touch sensor (surface acoustic wave touch sensor), or an infrared touch sensor.

[0138] The display unit 41 and the touch panel can be realized as a single panel. For example, the touch panel can be inserted into the display unit 41 (on-cell type or in-cell type). For example, the touch panel can be added on top of the display unit 41 (add-on type).

[0139] On the other hand, the input section 70 includes, but is not limited to, buttons, keypads, dome switches, jog wheels, jog switches, etc.

[0140] Memory 60 is hardware that stores various data processed within the aerosol generator 1, and can store data processed by the control unit 13 and data being processed. Memory 60 includes at least one type of recording medium from among flash memory type, hard disk type, multimedia card micro type, card type memory (e.g., SD or XD memory), RAM (random access memory), SRAM (static random access memory), ROM (read-only memory), EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory), PROM (programmable read-only memory), magnetic memory, magnetic disk, and optical disk. Memory 60 can store data such as the operating time of the aerosol generator 1, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, and data related to the user's smoking pattern.

[0141] The communication unit 50 includes at least one component for communication with other electronic devices. For example, the communication unit 50 includes at least one of a short-range communication unit and a wireless communication unit.

[0142] The short-range wireless communication unit includes, but is not limited to, Bluetooth® communication units, BLE (Bluetooth® Low Energy) communication units, Near Field Communication units, WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication units, Zigbee® communication units, infrared (IrDA: infrared Data Association) communication units, WFD (Wi-Fi Direct) communication units, UWB (ultra wideband) communication units, Ant+ communication units, etc.

[0143] The wireless communication unit includes, but is not limited to, a cellular network communication unit, an Internet communication unit, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or WAN) communication unit.

[0144] Although not shown in Figure 10, the aerosol generator 1 further includes a connection interface such as a USB (universal serial bus) interface, and can connect to other external devices via the USB interface to send and receive information or charge the battery 12.

[0145] The control unit 13 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generator 1. In one embodiment, the control unit 13 includes at least one processor. The processor may be embodied as an array of numerous logic gates, or as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and memory storing a program executable by the microprocessor. It will be understood by those ordinary skill in the art to which this embodiment belongs that it may also be embodied by other forms of hardware.

[0146] The control unit 13 can control the temperature of the stick heater 15 by controlling the supply of power from the battery 12 to the stick heater 15. The control unit 13 can control the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15 based on the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15 sensed by the temperature sensor 191. The control unit 13 can adjust the power supplied to the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15 based on the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15. For example, the control unit 13 can determine a target temperature for the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15 based on a temperature profile stored in the memory 60.

[0147] The aerosol generator 1 may include a power supply circuit (not shown) electrically connected to the battery 12 between the battery 12 and the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15. The power supply circuit may be electrically connected to the cartridge heater 15, the stick heater 15, or the induction coil 181. The power supply circuit includes at least one switching element. The switching element is embodied by a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), a field-effect transistor (FET), etc. The control unit 13 can control the power supply circuit.

[0148] The control unit 13 can control the power supply by controlling the switching of the switching elements in the power supply circuit. The power supply circuit is also an inverter that converts the DC power output from the battery 12 into AC power. For example, the inverter is composed of a full-bridge circuit or a half-bridge circuit that includes multiple switching elements.

[0149] The control unit 13 can turn on the switching element so that power is supplied from the battery 12 to the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15. The control unit 13 can turn off the switching element so that the power supply to the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15 is cut off. The control unit 13 can adjust the current supplied from the battery 12 by adjusting the frequency and / or duty cycle of the current pulse input to the switching element.

[0150] The control unit 13 can control the voltage output from the battery 12 by controlling the switching of the switching elements in the power supply circuit. The power conversion circuit can convert the voltage output from the battery 12. For example, the power conversion circuit includes a buck converter that steps down the voltage output from the battery 12. For example, the power conversion circuit is implemented through a buck-boost converter, a Zener diode, etc.

[0151] The control unit 13 can control the on / off operation of the switching element included in the power conversion circuit and adjust the level of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit. When the switching element remains in the on state, the level of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit corresponds to the level of the voltage output from the battery 12. The duty cycle for the on / off operation of the switching element corresponds to the ratio of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit to the voltage output from the battery 12. The lower the duty cycle for the on / off operation of the switching element, the lower the level of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit may be. The stick heater 15 can be heated based on the voltage output from the power conversion circuit.

[0152] The control unit 13 can control the supply of power to the stick heater 15 using at least one of the following methods: pulse width modulation (PWM) and proportional-integral-differential (PID).

[0153] For example, the control unit 13 can use a PWM method to control the supply of current pulses having a predetermined frequency and duty cycle to the stick heater 15. The control unit 13 can adjust the frequency and duty cycle of the current pulses to control the power supplied to the stick heater 15.

[0154] For example, the control unit 13 can determine a target temperature for control based on the temperature profile. The control unit 13 can control the power supplied to the stick heater 15 using a PID method, which is a feedback control method that uses the difference between the temperature of the stick heater 15 and the target temperature, the integral of the difference over time, and the derivative of the difference over time.

[0155] The control unit 13 can prevent the cartridge heater 15 and / or stick heater 15 from overheating. For example, the control unit 13 can control the operation of the power conversion circuit so that the power supply to the cartridge heater 15 and / or stick heater 15 is interrupted based on the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and / or stick heater 15 exceeding a predetermined limit temperature. For example, the control unit 13 can reduce the amount of power supplied to the cartridge heater 15 and / or stick heater 15 by a certain percentage based on the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and / or stick heater 15 exceeding a predetermined limit temperature. For example, the control unit 13 can determine that the aerosol-generating material contained in the cartridge has been exhausted based on the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 exceeding a limit temperature and cut off the power supply to the cartridge heater 15.

[0156] The control unit 13 can control the charging and discharging of the battery 12. The control unit 13 can check the temperature of the battery 12 based on the output signal of the temperature sensor 191.

[0157] When a power line is connected to the main body electrode of the aerosol generator 1, the control unit 13 can check whether the temperature of the battery 12 is equal to or above a first limiting temperature, which is the criterion for shutting off the charging of the battery 12. If the temperature of the battery 12 is below the first limiting temperature, the control unit 13 can control the charging of the battery 12 based on a predetermined charging current. If the temperature of the battery 12 is equal to or above the first limiting temperature, the control unit 13 can shut off the charging of the battery 12.

[0158] With the aerosol generator 1 powered on, the control unit 13 can check whether the temperature of the battery 12 is above the second limit temperature, which is the criterion for shutting off the discharge of the battery 12. If the temperature of the battery 12 is below the second limit temperature, the control unit 13 can control the system to use the power stored in the battery 12. If the temperature of the battery 12 is above the second limit temperature, the control unit 13 can interrupt the use of the power stored in the battery 12.

[0159] The control unit 13 can calculate the remaining capacity of the battery 12 relative to the power stored in the battery. For example, the control unit 13 can calculate the remaining capacity of the battery 12 based on the voltage and / or current sensing values ​​of the battery 12.

[0160] The control unit 13 can determine whether or not a stick is inserted into the insertion space via the insertion sensing sensor 193. Based on the output signal of the insertion sensing sensor 193, the control unit 13 can determine that a stick has been inserted. If it determines that a stick has been inserted into the insertion space, the control unit 13 can control the supply of power to the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15. For example, the control unit 13 can supply power to the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15 based on a temperature profile stored in the memory 60.

[0161] The control unit 13 can determine whether or not the stick has been removed from the insertion space. For example, the control unit 13 can determine whether or not the stick has been removed from the insertion space through the insertion sensing sensor 193. For example, the control unit 13 can determine that the stick has been removed from the insertion space if the temperature of the stick heater 15 is above a limit temperature, or if the temperature change gradient of the stick heater 15 is above a set gradient. If the control unit 13 determines that the stick has been removed from the insertion space, it can cut off the power supply to the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15.

[0162] The control unit 13 can control the power supply time and / or power supply amount to the stick heater 15 based on the state of the stick sensed by the sensor unit 19. The control unit 13 can determine the level range that includes the level of the capacitance sensor signal based on a lookup table. The control unit 13 can determine the amount of moisture in the stick based on the determined level range.

[0163] If the stick is in an over-humidified state, the control unit 13 can control the power supply time to the stick heater 15, increasing the preheating time of the stick compared to normal conditions.

[0164] The control unit 13 can determine whether the stick inserted into the insertion space is to be reused through the reuse sensing sensor 194. For example, the control unit 13 can compare the sensing value of the reuse sensing sensor signal with a first reference range that includes a first hue, and if the sensing value falls within the first reference range, it can determine that the stick is not being used. For example, the control unit 13 can compare the sensing value of the reuse sensing sensor signal with a second reference range that includes a second hue, and if the sensing value falls within the second reference range, it can determine that the stick has been used. If it is determined that the stick has been used, the control unit 13 can cut off the power supply to the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15.

[0165] The control unit 13 can determine whether to connect and / or remove the cartridge through the cartridge sensing sensor 195. For example, the control unit 13 can determine whether to connect and / or remove the cartridge based on the sensing value of the signal from the cartridge sensing sensor.

[0166] The control unit 13 can determine whether or not the aerosol-generating material in the cartridge has been exhausted. For example, the control unit 13 can preheat the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15 by applying power, and determine whether or not the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 exceeds a limit temperature during the preheating period. If the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 exceeds the limit temperature, the control unit 13 can determine that the aerosol-generating material in the cartridge has been exhausted. If the control unit 13 determines that the aerosol-generating material in the cartridge has been exhausted, it can cut off the power supply to the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15.

[0167] The control unit 13 can determine whether or not the cartridge can be used. For example, based on the data stored in the memory 60, the control unit 13 can determine that the cartridge cannot be used if the current number of puffs is greater than or equal to the maximum number of puffs set for the cartridge. For example, the control unit 13 can determine that the cartridge cannot be used if the total time the cartridge heater 15 has been heated is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum time, or if the total amount of power supplied to the cartridge heater 15 is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum amount of power.

[0168] The control unit 13 can make decisions regarding the user's inhalation through the puff sensor 192. For example, the control unit 13 can determine whether or not a puff has occurred based on the sensing value of the signal from the puff sensor. For example, the control unit 13 can determine the intensity of the puff based on the sensing value of the signal from the puff sensor 192. If the number of puffs reaches a predetermined maximum number of puffs, or if no puff is detected for a predetermined time or longer, the control unit 13 can cut off the power supply to the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15.

[0169] The control unit 13 can determine whether the cap is attached and / or removed via the cap sensing sensor 196. For example, the control unit 13 can determine whether the cap is attached and / or removed based on the sensing value of the signal from the cap sensing sensor.

[0170] The control unit 13 can control the output unit 40 based on the results sensed by the sensor unit 19. For example, if the number of puffs counted through the puff sensor 192 reaches a predetermined number, the control unit 13 can notify the user that the aerosol generator 1 will soon shut off through at least one of the display unit 41, the haptic unit 42, and the acoustic output unit 43. For example, the control unit 13 can notify the user through the output unit 40 based on the determination that there is no stick in the insertion space. For example, the control unit 13 can notify the user through the output unit 40 based on the determination that the cartridge and / or cap is not installed. For example, the control unit 13 can transmit information about the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and / or stick heater 15 to the user through the output unit 40.

[0171] The control unit 13 can save and update a history of events in the memory 60 based on the occurrence of a predetermined event. Events include operations performed by the aerosol generator 1, such as detecting the insertion of a stick, starting the heating of the stick, detecting puffing, ending the puffing, detecting overheating of the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15, detecting the application of overvoltage to the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15, ending the heating of the stick, turning the power of the aerosol generator 1 on / off, starting charging of the battery 12, detecting overcharging of the battery 12, and ending the charging of the battery 12. The history of events includes the date and time the event occurred, log data corresponding to the event, etc. For example, if a predetermined event is the detection of stick insertion, the log data corresponding to the event includes data such as the sensing value of the insertion detection sensor 193. For example, if a predetermined event is the detection of overheating in the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15, the log data corresponding to the event will include data on the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15, the voltage applied to the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15, and the current flowing through the cartridge heater 15 and / or the stick heater 15.

[0172] The control unit 13 can be controlled to form a communication link with an external device, such as a user's mobile terminal. Upon receiving authentication data from the external device via the communication link, the control unit 13 can remove the restriction on the use of at least one function of the aerosol generator 1. Here, the authentication 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 the user data is valid based on the user's date of birth, a unique number identifying the user, etc., and can receive data regarding the right to use the aerosol generator 1 from an external server. Based on the data regarding the right to use, the external device can transmit data indicating the completion of user authentication to the aerosol generator 1. Once user authentication is complete, the control unit 13 can remove the restriction on the use of at least one function of the aerosol generator 1. For example, once user authentication is complete, the control unit 13 can remove the restriction on the use of the heating function that supplies power to the stick heater 15.

[0173] The control unit 13 can transmit data related to the status of the aerosol generator 1 to the external device via a communication link formed with the external device. Based on the received status data, the external device can output the remaining capacity of the battery 12 of the aerosol generator 1, the operating mode, etc., through the external device's display.

[0174] An external device can transmit a location search request to the aerosol generator 1 based on an input that initiates a location search for the aerosol generator 1. When the control unit 13 receives a location search request from the external device, it can control at least one of the output devices to perform an operation corresponding to the location search based on the received location search request. For example, the haptic unit 42 may generate vibrations in response to the location search request. For example, the display unit 41 may output an object corresponding to the location search and the end of the search in response to the location search request.

[0175] The control unit 13 can control the aerosol generator 1 to perform a firmware update when it receives firmware data from an external device. The external device can check the current firmware version of the aerosol generator 1 and determine whether a new firmware version exists. When the external device receives an input requesting a firmware download, it can receive the new firmware version data and transmit the new firmware version data to the aerosol generator 1. Upon receiving the new firmware version data, the control unit 13 can control the aerosol generator 1 to perform a firmware update.

[0176] The control unit 13 can transmit data relating to the sensing values ​​of at least one sensor unit 19 to an external server (not shown) via the communication unit 50, and can receive and store a learning model generated by learning the sensing values ​​from the server through machine learning such as deep learning. Using the learning model received from the server, the control unit 13 can perform operations such as determining the user's inhalation pattern and generating a temperature profile. The control unit 13 can store sensing value data from at least one sensor unit 19 and data for learning an artificial neural network (ANN) in the memory 60. For example, the memory 60 can store a database relating to each component of the aerosol generator 1, weights and biases that make up the structure of the artificial neural network (ANN), for learning the artificial neural network (ANN). The control unit 13 learns data related to the sensing values ​​of at least one sensor unit 19, the user's inhalation pattern, temperature profile, etc., stored in the memory 60, and can generate at least one learning model used for determining the user's inhalation pattern, generating a temperature profile, etc.

[0177] The embodiments of the present invention described above are not mutually exclusive or distinct from each other. The respective configurations or functions of the embodiments of the present invention described above may be used in combination or in combination with each other.

[0178] For example, it means that configuration A described in a particular embodiment and / or drawing can be combined with configuration B described in another embodiment and / or drawing. In other words, even if the combination of configurations is not directly described, it means that combination is possible unless it is stated that such combination is impossible.

[0179] The detailed description set forth herein should not be interpreted restrictively in any way, but should be considered illustrative. The scope of the invention shall be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the equivalent scope of the invention shall be included within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A housing including a containment space for containing aerosol products, The housing includes a heater located inside the housing that heats the aerosol product contained in the containment space by supplying power, The aforementioned heater is A polyimide film is arranged to surround the aerosol product contained in the aforementioned containment space, A conductive pattern is placed on the polyimide film and generates heat when power is supplied, an aerosol generating apparatus comprising: a sensing pad, which is arranged so as not to overlap with the conductive pattern, for detecting the capacitance of the containment space.

2. The aforementioned heater is With the polyimide film open, an internal sheet is placed in one region of the polyimide film, The polyimide film is opened and further includes an outer sheet disposed in another region of the polyimide film separated from the inner sheet, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conductive pattern is arranged in the region between the inner sheet and the outer sheet of the polyimide film when the polyimide film is open.

3. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sensing pad is disposed on the internal sheet or the external sheet.

4. When the open polyimide film is wound up, the heater has a cylindrical or elliptical cross-section so as to surround the outer surface of the aerosol product. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, with the polyimide film wound up, the conductive pattern and the sensing pad are arranged between the inner sheet and the outer sheet.

5. The aforementioned heater is The present invention further includes a protective sheet that surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the polyimide film and protects the polyimide film, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensing pad is arranged on the protective sheet so as not to overlap with the conductive pattern.

6. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a processor electrically connected to the sensing pad.

7. A printed circuit board is disposed inside the housing, with the processor arranged in at least one region. The invention further includes an electrical connecting member that electrically connects the heater and the printed circuit board, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the processor is electrically connected to the sensing pad through the electrical connecting member.

8. The aforementioned processor, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 6, which detects whether an aerosol product is contained in the containment space based on the capacitance value of the containment space detected through the sensing pad.

9. The aforementioned processor, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 6, which detects whether or not the aerosol product contained in the containment space is in an over-humid state based on the capacitance value of the containment space detected through the sensing pad.

10. The aforementioned processor, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the power supplied to the heater is controlled based on whether or not the aerosol product contained in the containment space is in an overly humid state.

11. The aforementioned sensing pad is First sensing pad and, The system includes a second sensing pad positioned at a distance from the first sensing pad, The aforementioned processor, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 6, which detects whether an aerosol product is contained in the containment space based on the difference between the capacitance value of the containment space detected through the first sensing pad and the capacitance value of the containment space detected through the second sensing pad.

12. An upper end fixing member located inside the housing for fixing one end of the heater, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lower end fixing member located inside the housing and for fixing the other end of the heater which is located in the opposite direction to the one end.

13. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising an insulating member arranged to surround the outer circumferential surface of the heater, for blocking the transfer of heat generated from the heater to the housing.

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