Method and apparatus for detecting dry puff formation

Abstract

The following disclosure relates to a dry puff generation detection method, and includes the steps of: detecting a user puff; controlling the heater temperature by PID (Proportional Integral Derivation) control of the heater of an aerosol generator based on the user puff; measuring the consumed power supplied to the heater based on the PID control; and detecting whether or not a dry puff has occurred based on a preset reference consumed power and consumed power.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The following disclosure relates to a dry puff detection method and apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, the demand for electronic cigarettes has been gradually increasing. Also, as the demand for electronic cigarettes increases in this way, the functions related to electronic cigarettes have been continuously developed. In particular, the related functions according to the types and characteristics of electronic cigarettes have been continuously developed.

[0003] The liquid-phase electronic cigarette can provide an appropriate liquid-phase flavor to the user through appropriate temperature control of the heater. Therefore, in order to provide an efficient and comfortable usage experience to electronic cigarette users, technologies for preventing dry puffs and enabling the generation of appropriate smoke are required.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] This disclosure aims to solve the above-described problems and other problems.

[0005] One embodiment is to provide an aerosol generating device that generates an aerosol.

[0006] One embodiment is to provide a dry puff detection method in an aerosol generating device.

[0007] However, the technical problems are not limited to the above-described technical problems, and other technical problems may exist.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] A dry puff generation detection method performed by an aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment may include the steps of: detecting a user's puff; controlling the heater temperature of the aerosol generating apparatus by PID (Proportional Integral Derivation) control based on the user's puff; measuring the consumed power supplied to the heater based on the PID control; and detecting whether or not a dry puff has occurred based on a preset reference consumed power and the consumed power.

[0009] An aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment includes a sensor unit for detecting user puffs, a heater unit for heating the aerosol generating substance, and a processor. The processor controls the heater temperature by PID control of the heater of the aerosol generating apparatus based on the user puffs, measures the consumed power supplied to the heater based on the PID control, and can detect whether or not a dry puff has occurred based on a preset reference consumed power and the consumed power. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for detecting dry puffs based on appropriate temperature control of the heater of an aerosol generator can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This figure shows an aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This figure shows an aerosol generating apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram of an aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart illustrating a dry puff generation detection method according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart illustrating a dry puff detection method according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart illustrating a dry puff detection method according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram illustrating PID control according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] The embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Regardless of the reference numerals used in the drawings, identical or similar components will be given the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0013] The suffixes "module" and "part" used with respect to the constituent elements in the following description are added or used interchangeably solely for the purpose of facilitating the creation of the specification, and do not inherently possess a distinct meaning or role from one another.

[0014] Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments disclosed herein, if it is determined that a specific description of the relevant prior art would 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 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 idea and scope of this disclosure.

[0015] Terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first," "second," etc., may be used to describe multiple components, but the components are not limited by such terms. The terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0016] When it is described that any component is "connected" or "attached" to another component, it should be understood that the different components may be directly connected or attached to each other, and other components may exist in between. On the other hand, when it is described that any component is "directly connected" or "directly attached" to another component, it should be understood that no other component exists in between.

[0017] Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the aerosol generating device 1 includes a body 10 and a cartridge 19. The aerosol generating device 10 may include at least one of a power source 11, a control unit 12, and a sensor 13. At least one of the power source 11, the control unit 12, and the sensor 13 may be disposed inside the body 10. A cartridge 19, which is an aerosol generating article, is attached to the body 10. The user can inhale the aerosol by biting the mouthpiece provided at one end of the cartridge 19 with the mouth.

[0020] The cartridge 19 may contain an aerosol generating substance having any one of states such as a liquid state, a solid state, a gaseous state, or a gel state in an internal chamber C0. The aerosol generating substance may include a liquid phase composition. For example, the liquid phase composition may be a liquid containing a tobacco-containing substance containing a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquid containing a non-tobacco substance.

[0021] The cartridge 19 may be detachably coupled to the body 10. The cartridge 19 may be inserted into the body 10 and attached to the body 10.

[0022] The body 10 is formed in such a way that outside air can flow into the body 10 when the cartridge 19 is inserted. Here, the outside air that flows into the body 10 can pass through the cartridge 19 and flow into the user's mouth via the airflow channel CN.

[0023] The cartridge 19 includes a chamber C0 containing an aerosol-generating material and / or a heater 24 for heating the aerosol-generating material in the chamber C0. A liquid transfer means 25 impregnated with (containing) the aerosol-generating material may be located inside the chamber C0. Here, the liquid transfer means 25 may include a wick such as cotton fibers, ceramic fibers, glass fibers, or porous ceramic. The electrically conductive track of the heater 24 may be formed in the form of a coil that winds the liquid transfer means 25 or in a structure that contacts one side of the liquid transfer means 25. The heater 24 may be referred to as a cartridge heater.

[0024] Cartridge 19 generates an aerosol. The aerosol is generated when the liquid transfer means 25 is heated by the cartridge heater 24. The generated aerosol is inhaled into the user's mouth through the airflow channel CN.

[0025] The airflow channel CN ​​is provided in the cartridge 19. The airflow channel CN ​​can communicate the chamber C1 (see Figure 3) where the heater 24 of the cartridge 19 is located with the outside of the cartridge. One end of the airflow channel CN ​​opens into the chamber C1 where the heater 24 is located, and the other end can communicate with the mouthpiece 35. For example, referring to Figure 1, the airflow channel CN ​​may extend along the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 19 on one side of the chamber C0 of the cartridge 19. For example, referring to Figure 2, the airflow channel CN ​​may extend along the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 19, penetrating the chamber C0 of the cartridge 10.

[0026] The power supply 11 provides power to the components of the aerosol generator. The power supply 11 may also be referred to as a battery. The power supply 11 can supply power to at least one of the control unit 12, the sensor 13, and the cartridge heater 24.

[0027] The control unit 12 controls the overall operation of the aerosol generator. The control unit may be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB). The control unit 12 may control the operation of at least one of the power supply 11, sensor 13, and cartridge 19. The control unit 12 controls the operation of a display, motor, etc., installed in the aerosol generator. The control unit 12 can check the status of each component of the aerosol generator and determine whether the aerosol generator is in an operational state.

[0028] The control unit 12 analyzes the results detected by the sensor 13 and controls the subsequent processing. For example, based on the results detected by the sensor 13, the control unit 12 may control the power supplied to the cartridge heater 24 so that the operation of the cartridge heater 24 is disclosed or terminated. For example, based on the results detected by the sensor 13, the control unit 12 may control the amount of power supplied to the cartridge heater 24 and the duration for which power is supplied so that the cartridge heater 24 is heated to a predetermined temperature or maintains an appropriate temperature.

[0029] Sensor 13 includes at least one of the following: a temperature sensor, a puff sensor, a cartridge detection sensor, and a motion detection sensor. For example, sensor 13 may detect at least one of the following: the temperature of the cartridge heater 24, the temperature of the power supply 11, and the temperature inside and outside the body 10. For example, sensor 13 may detect a user's puff. For example, sensor 13 may detect whether a cartridge is installed or not. For example, sensor 13 may detect the movement of the aerosol generator.

[0030] Figure 3 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating apparatus 1100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] The aerosol generator 1100 (for example, aerosol generator 1 in Figure 1) may include a power supply 1110 (for example, power supply 11 in Figure 1), a control unit 1120 (for example, control unit 12 in Figure 1), a sensor 1130 (for example, sensor 13 in Figure 1), an output unit 1140, an input unit 1150, a communication unit 1160, a memory 1170, and at least one heater 1180, 1124 (for example, heater 24 in Figure 1). However, the internal structure of the aerosol generator 1100 is not limited to that shown in Figure 1. That is, a person with ordinary skill in the art relating to this embodiment will understand that, depending on the design of the aerosol generator 1100, some of the components shown in Figure 1 may be omitted or new components may be added.

[0032] The sensor 1130 can detect the state of the aerosol generator 1100 or the state of the area around the aerosol generator 1100 and transmit the detected information to the control unit 1120. Based on the detected information, the control unit 1120 can control the aerosol generator 1100 to perform various functions such as controlling the operation of the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180, restricting smoking, determining whether or not the stick S and / or cartridge 19 has been inserted, and displaying notifications.

[0033] The sensor 1130 may include at least one of the following: a temperature sensor 1131, a puff sensor 1132, an insertion detection sensor 1133, a reuse detection sensor 1134, a cartridge detection sensor 1135, a cap detection sensor 1136, and a motion detection sensor 1137.

[0034] The temperature sensor 1131 detects the temperature at which the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 heat. The aerosol generator 1100 may include a separate temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180, or the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 itself may perform the role of a temperature sensor.

[0035] The temperature sensor 1131 can output a signal corresponding to the temperature of the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180. For example, the temperature sensor 1131 may include a resistive element whose resistance changes in response to temperature changes in the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180. This may be implemented using a thermistor or other element that utilizes the property that resistance changes with temperature. Here, the temperature sensor 1131 can output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the resistive element as a signal corresponding to the temperature of the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180. For example, the temperature sensor 1131 may be configured as a sensor that detects the resistance value of the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180. Here, the temperature sensor 1131 can output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 as a signal corresponding to the temperature of the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180.

[0036] The temperature sensor 1131 is positioned around the power supply 1110 to monitor its temperature. The temperature sensor 1131 may also be positioned adjacent to the power supply 1110. For example, the temperature sensor 1131 may be attached to one side of the battery of the power supply 1110. For example, the temperature sensor 1131 may be mounted on one side of a printed circuit board.

[0037] The temperature sensor 1131 is located inside the body 10 and can detect the internal temperature of the body 10.

[0038] The puff sensor 1132 can detect user puffs based on various physical changes in the airflow path. The puff sensor 1132 outputs a signal corresponding to the puff. For example, the puff sensor 1132 may be a pressure sensor. The puff sensor 1132 can output a signal corresponding to the internal pressure of the aerosol generator. Here, the internal pressure of the aerosol generator 1100 corresponds to the pressure of the airflow path through which the gas flows. The puff sensor 1132 is positioned in the aerosol generator 1100 corresponding to the airflow path through which the gas flows.

[0039] The insertion detection sensor 1133 can detect the insertion and / or removal of the stick S. The insertion detection sensor 1133 can detect a signal change caused by the insertion and / or removal of the stick S. The insertion detection sensor 1133 may be provided around the insertion space. The insertion detection sensor 1133 can detect the insertion and / or removal of the stick S in accordance with the change in dielectric constant inside the insertion space. For example, the insertion detection sensor 1133 may be an inductive sensor and / or a capacitor sensor.

[0040] An induction sensor includes at least one coil. The coil of the induction sensor may be positioned adjacent to the insertion space. For example, if the magnetic field around a coil through which current flows changes, 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 may include the frequency of the alternating current, the current value, the voltage value, the inductance value, the impedance value, etc.

[0041] An inductive sensor can output a signal corresponding to the characteristics of the current flowing through a coil. For example, an inductive sensor may output a signal corresponding to the inductance value of the coil.

[0042] The capacitor sensor may include a conductor. The conductor of the capacitor sensor may be positioned adjacent to the insertion space. The capacitor sensor may output a signal corresponding to the surrounding electromagnetic properties, such as the capacitance around the conductor. For example, if a stick S including a metal wrapper is inserted into the insertion space, the wrapper of the stick S may alter the electromagnetic properties around the conductor.

[0043] The reuse detection sensor 1134 can detect whether or not the stick S is being reused. The reuse detection sensor 1134 may also be a color sensor. The color sensor detects the color of the stick S. The color sensor can detect the color of a portion of the wrapper surrounding the outside of the stick S. The color sensor detects a value for an optical property corresponding to the color of the object based on the light reflected from the object. For example, the optical property may be the wavelength of light. The color sensor may be implemented in a single configuration with the proximity sensor, or in a separate configuration separate from the proximity sensor.

[0044] At least a portion of the wrappers constituting the stick S may change color due to aerosols. The reuse detection sensor 1134 is positioned corresponding to the location where at least a portion of the wrappers that change color due to aerosols are located when the stick S is inserted into the insertion space. For example, before the stick S is used by the user, at least a portion of the wrappers may be the first color. Here, as the aerosols generated by the aerosol generator 1100 pass through the stick S, at least a portion of the wrappers may be wetted by the aerosols, thereby changing the color of at least a portion of the wrappers to the second color. On the other hand, at least a portion of the wrappers may remain the second color after changing from the first color to the second color.

[0045] The cartridge detection sensor 1135 can detect the installation and / or removal of the cartridge 19. The cartridge detection sensor 1135 may be implemented by an inductance substrate sensor, a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor, or a Hall sensor (Hall IC) utilizing the Hall effect.

[0046] The cap detection sensor 1136 can detect the attachment and / or removal of the cap. When the cap is separated from the body 10, the cartridge 19 and a portion of the body 10 that were covered by the cap are exposed to the outside. The cap detection sensor 1136 can be implemented by a contact sensor, a Hall sensor (Hall IC), an optical sensor, or the like.

[0047] The motion detection sensor 1137 can detect the movement of the aerosol generator. The motion detection sensor 1137 can be implemented using at least one of an accelerometer and a gyro sensor.

[0048] Sensor 1130 may further include at least one of the following sensors in addition to the aforementioned sensors 1131-1137: a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, a position sensor (GPS), and a proximity sensor. The function of the angle sensor can be intuitively inferred by those skilled in the art from its name, so a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0049] The output unit 1140 can output and provide to the user information regarding the status of the aerosol generator 1100. The output unit 1140 includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the display 1141, the haptic unit 1142, and the acoustic output unit 1143. If the display 1141 and the touchpad are configured as a touchscreen without a layer structure, the display 1141 may be used as an input device in addition to an output device.

[0050] The display 1141 can visually provide the user with information regarding the aerosol generator 1100. For example, information regarding the aerosol generator 1100 could include various pieces of information such as the charging / discharging status of the power supply 1110 of the aerosol generator 1100, the preheating status of the heater 1180, the insertion / removal status of the stick S and / or cartridge 19, the attachment / removal status of the cap, or a state in which the use of the aerosol generator 1100 is restricted (e.g., detection of an abnormal object), and the display 1141 can output this information to the outside. For example, the display 1141 may be in an LED light-emitting state. For example, the display 1141 may be a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light-emitting display panel (OLED), etc.

[0051] The haptic unit 1142 can convert electrical signals into mechanical or electrical stimuli to provide the user with tactile information about the aerosol generator 1100. For example, the haptic unit 1142 can generate vibrations corresponding to the completion of initial preheating when initial power is supplied to the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 for a set time. The haptic unit 1142 may include a vibration motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulator.

[0052] The acoustic output unit 1143 can provide the user with auditory information regarding the aerosol generator 1100. For example, the acoustic output unit 1143 may convert electrical signals into acoustic signals and output them externally.

[0053] The power supply 1110 can supply the power used to operate the aerosol generator 1100. The power supply 1110 may also supply power to enable the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 to heat up. The power supply 1110 can also supply the power necessary for the operation of other components provided within the aerosol generator 1100, namely the sensor 1130, output unit 1140, input unit 1150, communication unit 1160, and memory 1170. The power supply 1110 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the power supply 1110 may be, but is not limited to, a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery.

[0054] Although not shown in Figure 3, the aerosol generator 1100 may further include a power protection circuit. The power protection circuit may be electrically connected to the power supply 1110 and may include a switching element.

[0055] The power protection circuit interrupts the circuit to the power supply 1110 according to predetermined conditions. For example, the power protection circuit may interrupt the circuit to the power supply 1110 if the voltage level of the power supply 1110 is equal to or greater than a first voltage corresponding to overcharging. For example, the power protection circuit may interrupt the circuit to the power supply 1110 if the voltage level of the power supply 1110 is less than a second voltage corresponding to over-discharge.

[0056] Heater 1180 can be powered by power supply 1110 to heat the medium or aerosol-generating material inside stick S. Although not shown in Figure 10, the aerosol generator 1100 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a DC / DC converter) that converts the power from power supply 1110 and supplies it to cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180. Also, if the aerosol generator 1100 generates aerosols by induction heating, the aerosol generator 1100 may further include a DC / AC converter that converts the DC power supply of power supply 1110 to AC power supply.

[0057] The control unit 1120, sensor 1130, output unit 1140, input unit 1150, communication unit 1160, and memory 1170 can function by receiving power from the power supply 1110. Although not shown in Figure 1, 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 power supply 1110 and supply it to each component. A noise filter may also be provided between the power supply 1110 and the heater 1180. The noise filter may be a low-pass filter. The low-pass filter includes 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 power supply 1110 to the heater 1180. The low-pass filter prevents the application of high-frequency noise to the sensor 1130, such as the insertion detection sensor 1133.

[0058] In one embodiment, the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 can be formed from any suitable electrical resistant material. For example, suitable electrical resistant materials may 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 heater 1180 may also be implemented as, but is not limited to, a metal heating wire, a metal heating plate on which an electrical conductive track is arranged, or a ceramic heating element.

[0059] In other embodiments, the heater 1180 may be an induction heating type heater, and for example, the heater 1180 may include a susceptor that generates heat by a magnetic field applied by a coil and heats the aerosol-generating substance.

[0060] The input unit 1150 can receive information input from the user and output information to the user. For example, the input unit 1150 may be a touch panel. The touch panel may include at least one touch sensor for detecting touches. For example, the touch sensor may include, but is not limited to, a capacitive touch sensor, a resistive touch sensor, a surface acoustic wave touch sensor, or an infrared touch sensor.

[0061] The display 1141 and the touch panel may be implemented in a single panel. For example, the touch panel may be embedded within the display 1141 (on-cell type or in-cell type). For example, the touch panel may be added on to the display panel 141 (add-on type).

[0062] On the other hand, the input section 1150 includes, but is not limited to, buttons, keypads, dome switches, jog wheels, jog switches, etc.

[0063] Memory 1170 is hardware for storing various data processed within the aerosol generator 1100, and can store data processed by the control unit 1120 and data to be processed. Memory 1170 may include at least one type of storage 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 1170 may store data such as the operating time of the aerosol generator 1100, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, and data on the user's smoking pattern.

[0064] The communication unit 1160 may include at least one component for communication with other electronic devices. For example, the communication unit 1160 may include at least one of a short-range communication unit and a wireless communication unit.

[0065] 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, and others.

[0066] The wireless communication section includes, but is not limited to, a cellular network communication section, an Internet communication section, and a computer network (e.g., LAN or WAN) communication section.

[0067] The aerosol generator 1100 may further include a connection interface such as a USB (universal serial bus) interface, and may be connected to other external devices via the connection interface to send and receive information or charge the power supply 1110.

[0068] The control unit 1120 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generator 1100. In one embodiment, the control unit 1120 includes at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of logic gates, or as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and memory storing a program run on that microprocessor. It will also be understood by those ordinary skill in the art to which this embodiment belongs that it may be implemented in other forms of hardware.

[0069] The control unit 1120 can control the temperature of heater 1180 by controlling the power supplied to heater 1180 from power supply 1110. The control unit 1120 can control the temperature of cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 based on the temperature of cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 detected by temperature sensor 1131. The control unit 1120 can adjust the power supplied to cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 based on the temperature of cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180. For example, the control unit 1120 can determine a target temperature for cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 based on a temperature profile stored in memory 1170.

[0070] The aerosol generator 1100 may include a power supply circuit electrically connected to the power supply 1110 between the power supply 1110 and the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180. The power supply circuit may be electrically connected to the cartridge heater 1124, heater 1180, or induction coil. The power supply circuit includes at least one switching element. The switching element can be implemented by a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), a field-effect transistor (FET), or the like. The control unit 1120 can control the power supply circuit.

[0071] The control unit 1120 can control the power supply by controlling the switching of the switching elements of the power supply circuit. The power supply circuit may be an inverter that converts the DC power output from the power supply 1110 into AC power. For example, the inverter may consist of a full-bridge circuit or a half-bridge circuit including multiple switching elements.

[0072] The control unit 1120 can turn on the switching element so that power is supplied from the power supply 1110 to the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180. The control unit 1120 can turn off the switching element so that the power supply to the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 is cut off. The control unit 1120 can adjust the current supplied from the power supply 1110 by adjusting the frequency and / or duty cycle of the current pulse input to the switching element.

[0073] The control unit 1120 can control the voltage output from the power supply 1110 by controlling the switching of the switching elements of the power supply circuit. The power conversion circuit can convert the voltage output from the power supply 1110. For example, the power conversion circuit may include a buck converter that boosts the voltage output from the power supply 1110. For example, the power conversion circuit may be implemented via a buck-boost converter, a Zener diode, or the like.

[0074] The control unit 1120 can adjust the voltage level output from the power conversion circuit by controlling the on / off operation of the switching elements included in the power conversion circuit. When the switching elements remain in the on state, the voltage level output from the power conversion circuit corresponds to the voltage level output from the power supply 1110. The duty cycle for the on / off operation of the switching elements corresponds to the ratio of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit to the voltage output from the power supply 1110. The lower the duty cycle for the on / off operation of the switching elements, the lower the voltage level output from the power conversion circuit may be. The heater 1180 is heated based on the voltage output from the power conversion circuit.

[0075] The control unit 1120 can control the supply of power to the heater 1180 using at least one of the following methods: pulse width modulation (PWM) and proportional-integral-differential (PID).

[0076] For example, the control unit 1120 may use a PWM method to control the supply of current pulses having a predetermined frequency and duty cycle to the heater 1180. The control unit 1120 can adjust the frequency and duty cycle of the current pulses to control the power supplied to the heater 1180.

[0077] For example, the control unit 1120 may determine a target temperature for control based on the temperature profile. The control unit 1120 can control the power supplied to the heater 1180 using a PID method, which is a feedback control method that uses the difference between the temperature of the heater 1180 and the target temperature, the integral of the difference over time, and the derivative of the difference over time.

[0078] The control unit 1120 can prevent the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 from overheating. For example, the control unit 1120 can control the operation of the power conversion circuit so that the power supply to the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 is interrupted based on the temperature of the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 exceeding a preset limit temperature. For example, the control unit 1120 can reduce the amount of power supplied to the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 by a certain percentage based on the temperature of the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 exceeding a preset limit temperature. For example, the control unit 1120 can determine that the aerosol-generating material contained in the cartridge 19 has been consumed based on the temperature of the cartridge heater 1124 exceeding a limit temperature and cut off the power supply to the cartridge heater 1124.

[0079] The control unit 1120 can control the charging and discharging of the power supply 1110. The control unit 1120 can check the temperature of the power supply 1110 based on the output signal of the temperature sensor 1131.

[0080] When a power line is connected to the battery terminal of the aerosol generator 1100, the control unit 1120 can check whether the temperature of the power supply 1110 is above a first limiting temperature, which is the criterion for shutting off the charging of the power supply 1110. If the temperature of the power supply 1110 is below the first limiting temperature, the control unit 1120 can control the power supply 1110 to be charged based on a preset charging current. If the temperature of the power supply 1110 is above the first limiting temperature, the control unit 1120 can shut off the charging of the power supply 1110.

[0081] With the aerosol generator 1100 powered on, the control unit 1120 can check whether the temperature of the power supply 1110 is above the second limiting temperature, which is the criterion for shutting off the discharge of the power supply 1110. If the temperature of the power supply 1110 is below the second limiting temperature, the control unit 1120 can control the use of the power stored in the power supply 1110. If the temperature of the power supply 1110 is above the second limiting temperature, the control unit 1120 interrupts the use of the power stored in the power supply 1110.

[0082] The control unit 1120 can calculate the remaining capacity of the power supply 1110 relative to the power stored in the power supply 1110. For example, the control unit 1120 may calculate the remaining capacity of the power supply 1110 based on the voltage and / or current detected values ​​of the power supply 1110.

[0083] The control unit 1120 can determine whether or not the stick S is inserted into the insertion space via the insertion detection sensor 1133. Based on the output signal of the insertion detection sensor 1133, the control unit 1120 determines that the stick S has been inserted. If it determines that the stick S has been inserted into the insertion space, the control unit 1120 can control the supply of power to the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180. For example, the control unit 1120 may supply power to the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 based on a temperature profile stored in the memory 1170.

[0084] The control unit 1120 can determine whether or not the stick S is removed from the insertion space. For example, the control unit 1120 may determine whether or not the stick S is removed from the insertion space via the insertion detection sensor 1133. For example, the control unit 1120 may determine that the stick S has been removed from the insertion space if the temperature of the heater 1180 is above a limit temperature, or if the slope of the temperature change of the heater 1180 is above a set slope. If the control unit 1120 determines that the stick S has been removed from the insertion space, it may cut off the power supply to the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180.

[0085] The control unit 1120 can control the power supply time and / or power supply amount to the heater 1180 according to the state of the stick S detected by the sensor 1130. The control unit 1120 can check the level range that includes the level of the capacitor sensor signal based on the lookup table. Based on the checked level range, the control unit 1120 can determine the amount of moisture in the stick S.

[0086] If the stick S is in an over-humidified state, the control unit 1120 can control the power supply time to the heater 1180, thereby increasing the preheating time of the stick S compared to the normal state.

[0087] The control unit 1120 can determine whether the stick S inserted into the insertion space is reusable via the reuse detection sensor 1134. For example, the control unit 1120 may compare the detected value of the signal from the reuse detection sensor with a first reference range that includes a first color, and if the detected value falls within the first reference range, it may determine that the stick S is not being used. For example, the control unit 1120 may compare the detected value of the signal from the reuse detection sensor with a second reference range that includes a second color, and if the detected value falls within the second reference range, it may determine that the stick S has been used. If it is determined that the stick S has been used, the control unit 1120 may cut off the power supply to the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180.

[0088] The control unit 1120 can determine whether the cartridge 19 can be attached and / or removed via the cartridge detection sensor 1135. For example, the control unit 1120 may determine whether the cartridge 19 can be attached and / or removed based on the detected value of the signal from the cartridge detection sensor.

[0089] The control unit 1120 can determine whether the aerosol-generating material in the cartridge 19 is decreasing. For example, the control unit 1120 preheats the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 by applying power, determines whether the temperature of the cartridge heater 1124 exceeds a limit temperature during the preheating period, and determines that the aerosol-generating material in the cartridge 19 has been consumed if the temperature of the cartridge heater 1124 exceeds the limit temperature. If it determines that the aerosol-generating material in the cartridge 19 has been consumed, the control unit 1120 cuts off the power supply to the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180.

[0090] The control unit 1120 can determine whether or not the cartridge 19 is usable. For example, based on the data stored in the memory 1170, the control unit 1120 may determine that the cartridge 19 is usable if the current number of puffs is equal to or greater than the maximum number of puffs set for the cartridge 19. For example, the control unit 1120 may determine that the cartridge 19 is unusable if the total time the heater 1124 has heated is equal to or greater than a preset maximum time, or if the total amount of power supplied to the heater 1124 is equal to or greater than a preset maximum amount of power.

[0091] The control unit 1120 can make decisions regarding the user's inhalation via the puff sensor 1132. For example, the control unit 1120 may determine whether or not a puff has occurred based on the detected signal value of the puff sensor. For example, the control unit 1120 may determine the intensity of the puff based on the detected signal value of the puff sensor 1132. If the number of puffs reaches a preset maximum number of puffs, or if no puff has been detected for a preset period of time or longer, the control unit 1120 may cut off the power supply to the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180.

[0092] The control unit 1120 can determine whether the cap can be attached and / or removed via the cap detection sensor 1136. For example, the control unit 1120 may determine whether the cap can be attached and / or removed based on the detected value of the signal from the cap detection sensor.

[0093] The control unit 1120 can control the output unit 1140 based on the results detected by the sensor 1130. For example, when the number of puffs counted via the puff sensor 1132 reaches a preset number, the control unit 1120 may notify the user that the aerosol generator 1100 will immediately shut down via at least one of the display 1141, the haptic unit 1142, and the acoustic output unit 1143. For example, the control unit 1120 may notify the user via the output unit 1140 based on the determination that there is no stick S in the insertion space. For example, the control unit 1120 may notify the user via the output unit 1140 based on the determination that the cartridge 19 and / or cap is not installed. For example, the control unit 1120 may transmit information regarding the temperature of the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180 to the user via the output unit 1140.

[0094] The control unit 1120 can store and update a history of events in the memory 1170 based on the occurrence of a predetermined event. Events may include operations performed by the aerosol generator 1100, such as detection of stick S insertion, heating of stick S, puff detection, puff completion, detection of overheating of cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180, detection of overvoltage application to cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180, completion of stick S heating, turning the aerosol generator 1100 on / off, charging of power supply 1110, detection of overcharge of power supply 1110, and completion of charging of power supply 1110. The history of events may include 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 S insertion, the log data corresponding to the event may include data on the detection value of the insertion detection sensor 1133, etc. For example, if a predetermined event is the detection of overheating of the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180, the log data corresponding to the event may include data on the temperature of the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180, the voltage applied to the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180, and the current flowing through the cartridge heater 1124 and / or heater 1180.

[0095] The control unit 1120 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 1120 removes any restrictions on the use of at least one function of the aerosol generator 1100. Here, the authentication data may include data indicating the completion of user authentication for the user corresponding to the external device. The user may perform user authentication via the external device. The external device may determine whether the user data is valid based on the user's date of birth, a unique number identifying the user, etc., and may receive data from an external server regarding the right to use the aerosol generator 1100. Based on the data regarding the right to use, the external device may send data to the aerosol generator 1100 indicating the completion of user authentication. Once user authentication is complete, the control unit 1120 may remove any restrictions on the use of at least one function of the aerosol generator 1100. For example, once user authentication is complete, the control unit 1120 may remove any restrictions on the use of the heating function that supplies power to the heater 1180.

[0096] The control unit 1120 can transmit data regarding the status of the aerosol generator 1100 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 power supply 1110 of the aerosol generator 1100, the operating mode, etc., via the external device's display.

[0097] An external device can send a location search request to the aerosol generator 1100 based on an input disclosing the location search of the aerosol generator 1100. When the control unit 1120 receives a location search request from the external device, it controls 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 1142 may generate vibrations in response to the location search request. For example, the display 1141 may output an object corresponding to the location search and the completion of the search in response to the location search request.

[0098] The control unit 1120 can control the aerosol generator 1100 to perform a firmware update upon receiving firmware data from an external device. The external device checks the current version of the firmware of the aerosol generator 1100 and determines whether a new firmware version exists. If 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 1100. Upon receiving the new firmware version data, the control unit 1120 can control the aerosol generator 1100 to perform a firmware update.

[0099] The control unit 1120 can transmit data for the detection values ​​of at least one sensor 1130 to an external server via the communication unit 1160, and can receive and store a learning model generated by learning the detection values ​​from the server via machine learning, such as deep learning. Using the learning model received from the server, the control unit 1120 performs operations such as determining the user's inhalation pattern and generating a temperature profile. The control unit 1120 stores the detection value data of at least one sensor 1130 and data for learning the artificial neural network (ANN) in the memory 1170. For example, the memory 1170 may store a database for each component of the aerosol generator 1100, weights forming the ANN structure, and biases for learning the artificial neural network (ANN). The control unit 1120 learns data stored in the memory 1170, such as the detection value of at least one sensor 1130, the user's inhalation pattern, and the temperature profile, and can generate at least one learning model used for determining the user's inhalation pattern and generating the temperature profile.

[0100] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a dry puff generation detection method according to one embodiment.

[0101] For the sake of explanation, operations 1210–1240 are described as being performed using aerosol generators 1 and 1100 as shown in Figures 1–3. However, operations 1210–1240 may also be used via any other suitable electronic device and within any suitable system.

[0102] Furthermore, while the operations in Figure 4 are performed in the order and manner shown, the order of some operations may be changed or some operations may be omitted, without deviating from the concept and scope of the illustrated embodiment. The multiple operations shown in Figure 4 may be performed in parallel or simultaneously. Also, the explanations referring to Figures 1 to 3 apply equally to Figure 4, and redundant content is omitted.

[0103] Dry puffs can occur if the aerosol-generating material is not properly supplied to the heater of the aerosol generator (e.g., aerosol generator 1100 in Figure 1 or aerosol generator 1100 in Figure 3) while the user is smoking. When dry puffs occur, the user experiences a taste or burnt smell while smoking. Dry puffs can occur, for example, when the heater of the aerosol generator overheats or when residual aerosol-generating material burns or evaporates. Dry puffs can also occur if the user inhales the aerosol too strongly or if the heater does not generate enough aerosol compared to the user's inhalation force.

[0104] In operation 1210, the aerosol generator detects the user's puff. For example, the puff sensor of the aerosol generator may include a pressure sensor, and the aerosol generator can detect the user's puff by using the pressure sensor to detect the pressure change caused by the airflow change indicated by the user's puff. The puff sensor can output the detected user's puff as a signal and transmit it to the control unit (or processor) of the aerosol generator.

[0105] In operation 1220, the aerosol generator controls the heater temperature by using PID (Proportional Integral Derivation) control on the heaters of the aerosol generator (e.g., heaters 1124 and 1180 in Figure 3) based on the user's puff. PID control is a control method that adjusts the actual output value to a desired target value (set-point) and maintains it as close to the target value as possible. The method of controlling the heater temperature through PID control will be explained in detail later with reference to Figure 8.

[0106] According to one embodiment, the aerosol generator may measure the current resistance of the heater using a circuit connected to the heater and determine the current temperature of the heater based on the measured resistance. The aerosol generator can control the power supplied to the heater based on the difference between the current temperature and the target temperature. The power supplied to the heater may be determined by PID control.

[0107] In operation 1230, the aerosol generator measures the consumed power supplied to the heater based on PID control. For example, the aerosol generator may measure the consumed power by measuring the power (or watts) supplied to heat the heater over a certain period of time.

[0108] In operation 1240, the aerosol generator detects whether or not a dry puff has occurred based on a preset reference power consumption and power consumption.

[0109] A preset reference power consumption (e.g., W1) may be set to correspond to the power consumed when the heater heats the aerosol-generating material.

[0110] The preset reference power consumption is set to a power value smaller than the power value that is normally supplied to the heater and consumed when heating the aerosol-generating material, as the power consumption required for the aerosol generator to detect dry puffs. In other words, the closer the preset reference power consumption is to the power value consumed when the heater heats the aerosol-generating material, the more sensitively the aerosol generator can detect dry puffs.

[0111] For example, if the cartridge is filled with an aerosol-generating substance, the power consumed per user puff may be 1W. In this case, the aerosol generator may have a preset reference power consumption of 0.8W. As a different example, if the power consumed when the user takes 15 puffs is 20W, the preset reference power consumption may be 16W. The preset reference power consumption may be set based on at least one of the following: the type of aerosol-generating substance, the type of heater (e.g., the coil's constituent materials, the coil's performance, etc.). Furthermore, the preset reference power consumption is not limited to the embodiments described and can be set in various ways to account for errors due to the user's puffing environment.

[0112] One embodiment of the aerosol generating apparatus is a method for detecting the presence or absence of dry puff formation by comparing a preset reference power consumption with the power consumption. The aerosol generating apparatus may determine that dry puff formation has occurred if the power consumption supplied to the heater is less than or equal to the preset reference power consumption.

[0113] For example, a dry puff occurs when the aerosol generator heats the heater, either because there is insufficient aerosol-generating material in the cartridge (e.g., cartridge 19 in Figure 1), or because the heater overheats. In such cases, the power consumed by the heater can be measured to be less than or equal to a preset reference power consumption. For example, if there is insufficient aerosol-generating material in the cartridge of the aerosol generator, the heater heats up faster because there is no material to heat. Therefore, the power consumed by the heater lacking aerosol-generating material is measured to be less than the power consumed by the heater that is heating the aerosol-generating material normally. That is, the heater heats up faster and reaches the target temperature, so the power consumed by the heater is measured to be less than or equal to a preset reference power consumption. In this case, the aerosol generator can detect that a dry puff has occurred.

[0114] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating a dry puff detection method according to one embodiment.

[0115] The explanations referring to Figures 1-4 also apply to Figure 13, and redundant content is omitted.

[0116] Operations 1310 to 1360 are performed by an aerosol generator (for example, the aerosol generator 1100 in Figure 1 or the aerosol generator 1100 in Figure 3).

[0117] In operation 1310, the aerosol generator detects the user's inhalation (or puff).

[0118] In operation 1320, the aerosol generator, having detected user inhalation, controls the temperature of the heaters (e.g., heaters 1124 and 1180 in Figure 3) based on PID control. Here, the aerosol generator can supply power to the heaters so that they track the target temperature.

[0119] In operation 1330, the aerosol generator calculates the cumulative power consumed (e.g., W2) supplied to the heater during a preset period. That is, the aerosol generator can measure power consumed by accumulating the power supplied to the heater during a preset period. The preset period may be any time from the moment the user begins inhaling and power is supplied to the heater. For example, assuming the preset period is 2 seconds, the aerosol generator can calculate the cumulative power consumed supplied to the heater during those 2 seconds.

[0120] In operation 1340, the aerosol generator compares the preset reference power consumption with the cumulative power consumption. As in the example above, if the preset reference power consumption is 0.8W and the cumulative power consumption supplied to the heater over 2 seconds is 1.2W, the aerosol generator determines that no dry puff has occurred. A cumulative power consumption of 1.2W supplied to the heater means that the heater heated the aerosol-generating material normally and generated an aerosol. That is, if there is insufficient aerosol-generating material, the heater can heat abnormally and reach the target temperature with less power, and once the heater reaches the target temperature, less power is consumed over 2 seconds because less additional power is needed to maintain the temperature. In the above example, if the cumulative power consumption supplied to the heater over 2 seconds is 0.6W, the aerosol generator can detect that a dry puff has occurred.

[0121] In operation 1350, if the preset reference power consumption is less than the cumulative power consumption, the aerosol generator performs a standby mode operation in response to user inhalation. If user inhalation is detected, the aerosol generator can repeat operations 1310 to 1340 described above. On the other hand, if user inhalation is not detected within a certain period of time (e.g., 5 seconds), the aerosol generator exits standby mode and stops heating the heater.

[0122] In operation 1360, if the preset reference power consumption exceeds the cumulative power consumption, the aerosol generator notifies the user of a shortage of aerosol-generating material. The aerosol generator also interrupts heating of the heater.

[0123] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating a dry puff detection method according to one embodiment.

[0124] The explanations referring to Figures 1-4 also apply to Figure 6, and any redundant content is omitted.

[0125] Operations 1410 to 1460 are performed by an aerosol generator (for example, the aerosol generator 1100 in Figure 1 or the aerosol generator 1100 in Figure 3).

[0126] In operation 1410, the aerosol generator detects the user's inhalation (or puff).

[0127] In operation 1420, the aerosol generator, having detected user inhalation, controls the temperature of the heaters (e.g., heaters 1124 and 1180 in Figure 3) based on PID control.

[0128] In operation 1430, the aerosol generator calculates the power consumption (e.g., W3) to the heater based on the time required for the user's puff. That is, the aerosol generator can measure power consumption by accumulating the power supplied to the heater during the time required for the user's puff. The time required for the user's puff is the time from when the user begins inhaling and power is supplied to the heater until when the user finishes inhaling.

[0129] In operation 1440, the aerosol generator enters standby mode in response to user inhalation. In standby mode, if the aerosol generator detects user inhalation, it repeats operations 1410 to 1430 described above. On the other hand, if a certain period of time (e.g., 10 seconds) has elapsed in standby mode and the aerosol generator determines that the user has finished inhaling, it switches to an operation to detect the generation of a dry puff.

[0130] In operation 1450, the aerosol generator compares the consumed power with a preset reference power consumption and detects whether or not a dry puff has occurred. Here, the preset reference power consumption may be set differently depending on the number of puffs and the time required per puff by the user.

[0131] For example, suppose the user takes 15 puffs, each lasting 2 seconds, from the time they begin inhaling until they finish. Here, the power consumption based on the time taken for the user's puffs may be measured as 20W. The aerosol generator may determine a preset reference power consumption of 16W for 15 puffs and 2 seconds per puff. Since the preset reference power consumption is less than the power consumption, the aerosol generator determines that no dry puffs have occurred.

[0132] On the other hand, if there is insufficient aerosol-generating material in the aerosol generator, the power consumption required to heat the heater will be even less, based on the time required for the user's puff. As in the example above, let's assume that the user takes 15 puffs from the time they start inhaling until they finish, with each puff taking 2 seconds. Here, the power consumption based on the time required for the user's puff may be measured as 10W. Since the power consumption of the aerosol generator is greater than or equal to the preset reference power consumption, the aerosol generator can detect the occurrence of a dry puff.

[0133] In operation 1460, if the preset reference power exceeds the consumed power, the aerosol generator notifies the user of a shortage of aerosol-generating material. The aerosol generator also interrupts heating of the heater.

[0134] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an aerosol generating device 1100 according to one embodiment.

[0135] According to one embodiment, the following operations 1510 and 1520 are performed after the execution of operation 1240 described above with reference to Figure 4. Operations 1510 and 1520 may be performed by an aerosol generator (for example, the aerosol generator 1100 in Figure 1 or the aerosol generator 1100 in Figure 3).

[0136] In operation 1510, if the aerosol generator determines that a dry puff has occurred, it outputs a notification that there is insufficient aerosol-generating material in the aerosol generator. Also, if the aerosol generator determines that a dry puff has occurred, it interrupts the power supply to the heater.

[0137] According to one embodiment, the aerosol generator can output a notification of a shortage of aerosol generating material via an output unit (for example, the output unit 1140 in Figure 11).

[0138] For example, the aerosol generator may use a display (e.g., display 1141 in Figure 3) to display a message corresponding to the notification. For example, the aerosol generator may use display 1141 to output messages such as "Liquid phase is low," "All liquid phase has been consumed," or "Please replace the liquid phase."

[0139] For example, the aerosol generator may output a notification as vibration using a haptic unit (e.g., the haptic unit 1142 in Figure 3) (or a haptic device). For example, the aerosol generator may output a notification by vibrating for 3 seconds using the haptic unit 1142, or by vibrating three times rapidly.

[0140] For example, the aerosol generator may output sound corresponding to the notification using an acoustic output unit (for example, the acoustic output unit 1143 in Figure 3) (or an acoustic output device). For example, the aerosol generator may output the notification using the acoustic output unit 1143 as a voice message such as "Liquid phase is low" or "All liquid phase has been consumed," or as a non-verbal sound such as a warning sound.

[0141] In operation 1520, the aerosol generator interrupts power supply to the heater if it determines that a dry puff has occurred. If a dry puff is detected, the aerosol generator may interrupt power supply to the heater along with a notification of insufficient aerosol material, in order to prevent the heater from overheating or causing the aerosol generator to malfunction, thereby inducing the user to refrain from further inhalation.

[0142] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating PID control according to one embodiment.

[0143] Referring to Figure 8, we can see the difference between graph 1610, which shows the heater temperature when the heater temperature is controlled without PID control (e.g., heaters 1124 and 1180 in Figure 3), and graph 1620, which shows the heater temperature when the heater temperature is controlled using PID control. PID control is one method used in control systems that use feedback on results, and it has three components: proportional, integral, and derivative control for the error between the target value and the current value.

[0144] Proportional control means that the control signal is proportional to the current error (the difference between the target temperature and the actual temperature). If the error is large, the proportional control signal will also be large, and the system will react more strongly. For example, if the current temperature is too low compared to the target temperature, the heater will operate more strongly. Conversely, if the error is small, the control signal will be small, and the system's reaction will decrease. Proportional control allows PID control systems to react more quickly.

[0145] Integral control means taking into account how much error accumulates over time. Integral control is effective when small errors accumulate over time. For example, if a PID control system is not reaching its target temperature gradually, integral control will gradually adjust the error so that the PID control system can reach the precise target temperature.

[0146] Differential control takes into account the rate of change of error. Differential control can predict and adjust the future behavior of a PID control system. For example, when the temperature rises or falls rapidly, differential control can stabilize the system in response to the rapid change. Differential control can prevent the system from overreacting and increase stability.

[0147] Graph 1610 shows that when the aerosol generator (e.g., aerosol generator 1100 in Figure 3) does not perform PID control on the heater, the temperature sensor readings fluctuate relative to the target temperature. That is, the heater reaches the target temperature and then decreases again, confirming that the heater temperature cannot be kept constant. Consequently, a continuous duty cycle occurs, and the aerosol generator must activate the heater for a longer period of time. In this case, carbonization occurs in the heater (accumulation of residual material on or inside the heater), shortening the heater's lifespan and reducing its efficiency.

[0148] In Graph 1620, it can be seen that when the aerosol generator performs PID control on the heater, the heater temperature reading from the temperature sensor is maintained to be similar to the target temperature. In other words, since the duty cycle does not occur continuously, the temperature can be maintained without overheating the heater in the aerosol generator. In this case, the heater is not exposed to continuous overvoltage or overcurrent, so the heater's efficiency can be maintained and its lifespan can be extended.

[0149] The method according to this embodiment is embodied in the form of program instructions that are implemented via various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The recording medium includes program instructions, data files, data structures, etc., individually or in combination. The recording medium and program instructions may be specifically designed and configured for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be known and usable by those skilled in the art who have technology in the field of computer software. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tapes, optical recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, magneto-optical media such as floppy disks, and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROMs, RAMs, and flash memory. Examples of program instructions include not only machine code generated by a compiler, but also high-level language code executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware adaptive supersampling device described above may be configured to operate as one or more software models to perform the operations shown in the present invention, and vice versa.

[0150] The software may include computer programs, code, instructions, or any combination thereof, and may configure or instruct a processing adaptive supersampling device as desired, independently or collectively. The software and / or data may be permanently embodied in any type of machine, component, physical adaptive supersampling device, virtual adaptive supersampling device, computer storage medium, or adaptive supersampling device, or transmitted signal waves, in order to be interpreted by the processing adaptive supersampling device or to provide instructions or data to the processing adaptive supersampling device. The software may be distributed on a networked computer system and stored or executed in a distributed manner. The software and data may be stored on a computer-readable recording medium.

[0151] As described above, although embodiments have been illustrated with limited drawings, a person with ordinary skill in the art can apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above description. For example, the described technique may be performed in a different order than described, and / or the described system, structure, apparatus, circuit, and other components may be combined or assembled in a different manner than described, or replaced or substituted by other components or equivalents, and still achieve the desired results.

[0152] Therefore, other embodiments, other embodiments, and claims equivalent to those described below also fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for detecting dry puff formation performed by an aerosol generating device, Steps to detect the user's puff, The steps include controlling the temperature of the heater of the aerosol generator by controlling the heater using PID (Proportional Integral Diversion) based on the user's puff, The steps include measuring the consumed power supplied to the heater based on the PID control, A step of detecting whether or not a dry puff has occurred based on a preset reference power consumption and the power consumption, A method for detecting the occurrence of dry puffs, including the method described above.

2. The dry puff detection method according to claim 1, wherein the step of measuring the consumed power includes measuring the consumed power by accumulating the power supplied to the heater over a predetermined period of time.

3. The dry puff detection method according to claim 1, wherein the step of measuring the consumed power includes measuring the consumed power based on the time required for the user's puff.

4. The dry puff generation detection method according to claim 1, wherein the reference power consumption is set in accordance with the power consumed when the heater heats the aerosol generating substance.

5. The dry puff generation detection method according to claim 4, wherein the reference power consumption is power determined based on at least one of the type of aerosol generating substance used in the aerosol generating device and the type of heater.

6. The dry puff detection method according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting whether or not the dry puff has occurred includes the step of determining that the dry puff has occurred if the consumed power is less than or equal to the reference consumed power.

7. The dry puff generation detection method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of outputting a notification that the aerosol generating device does not have enough aerosol generating material when it is determined that the dry puff has occurred.

8. The dry puff detection method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of interrupting the power supply to the heater if it is determined that the dry puff has occurred.

9. The dry puff generation detection method according to claim 7, wherein the step of outputting a notification that there is insufficient aerosol generating material includes the steps of displaying a message corresponding to the notification using the display of the aerosol generating device, outputting the notification as vibration using the haptic section of the aerosol generating device, or outputting sound corresponding to the notification using the acoustic output section of the aerosol generating device.

10. A computer program stored on a computer-readable recording medium for use in conjunction with hardware to perform the method described in claim 1.

11. Aerosol generating device, A sensor unit that detects the user's puff, A heater section for heating the aerosol-generating material, Processor and Includes, The aforementioned processor, Based on the user's puff, the heater temperature of the aerosol generator is controlled by PID control. Based on the PID control, the consumed power supplied to the heater is measured. An aerosol generating device that detects whether or not a dry puff has been generated based on a preset reference power consumption and the power consumption.

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