Aerosol generating apparatus cleaning method, aerosol generating apparatus and medium

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for cleaning an aerosol generating apparatus, an aerosol generating apparatus, and a medium. The method includes the steps of monitoring the insertion and removal state of the aerosol-forming substrate (200) in the aerosol generating apparatus (100), and, if the aerosol-forming substrate (200) is in the removed state, setting the temperature of the heating structure (11) to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature so that any material adhering to or accumulated on the heating structure (11) is released by heat. The operating temperature is the heating temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate (200) by the heating structure (11). The method allows for the timely removal of soot adhering to or accumulated on the heating structure (11), enabling energy savings, improved taste, and maintenance of equipment hygiene.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of heat non - combustion atomization, and particularly relates to a cleaning method of an aerosol generating device, an aerosol generating device, and a medium.

Background Art

[0002] The heat non - combustion cigarette is also called a low - temperature cigarette or a new - type cigarette. Its main feature is not to ignite the tobacco, but to use an external heat source to heat the tobacco. Since the heating temperature is much lower than the combustion temperature, it can effectively reduce the harmful components generated by thermal decomposition and thermal synthesis due to the high - temperature combustion of tobacco, and can greatly reduce the emission amount of chemical components in the mainstream smoke.

[0003] The inserted - type heat low - temperature cigarette is one of the relatively common forms. Generally, a long - shaped heater is inserted into an aerosol - forming substrate in a form similar to a normal cigarette to realize heating of the smoking substance. However, since natural tobacco leaf components and / or other smoking substances are used during the production of the smoking substance, during the heating process, a small amount of oily liquid substances containing tar will overflow. These liquid substances remain in the storage cavity of the aerosol - forming substrate of the device and the heater. If not removed in a timely manner, deposits will be formed during repeated use, which will affect the heating performance of the heater and may decompose to generate odor substances, greatly affecting the subsequent taste.

[0004] Therefore, timely removal of soot on the heating element has great advantages in terms of energy conservation, taste improvement, and hygiene. However, in the prior art, basically, cleaning is performed using a dedicated cleaning tool, so the operation is complicated and inconvenient.

[0005] The conventional patent US2015282525A1 discloses a method and apparatus for cleaning the heating structure of an aerosol generator. This method raises the temperature of the heating structure to a second temperature higher than the first temperature, thereby releasing heat from organic materials adhering to or deposited on the heating structure. By carbonizing and thermally decomposing the organic matter at high temperatures, it exhibits a relatively good effect in cleaning the heating element. However, the heating element of the aerosol generator needs to reach a temperature higher than the heating element's heating of the aerosol-forming substrate. The self-cleaning temperature of the aerosol generator must be higher than the operating temperature for baking the aerosol-forming substrate by the heating element. This is disadvantageous in terms of energy saving, makes temperature control complex, and requires further strengthening of the heat resistance of the heating element and the insulation of the equipment to withstand higher temperatures. Such a design is wasteful and costly. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a method for cleaning an aerosol generating apparatus, an aerosol generating apparatus, and a medium. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention employs a technical embodiment to solve the problem, which is a method for cleaning an aerosol generating apparatus, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus includes a heating structure, the heating structure is capable of heating an aerosol forming substrate at its operating temperature, and the method is Step S10 involves monitoring the insertion and removal state of the aerosol-forming substrate in the aerosol generating apparatus, The method for cleaning an aerosol generating apparatus includes step S20, which, when the aerosol-forming substrate is in a detached state, sets the temperature of the heating structure to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature, so that any material fixed to or deposited on the heating structure receives heat and is released.

[0008] Furthermore, in the cleaning method for an aerosol generating apparatus described in the present invention, step S20 is, If the aerosol-forming substrate is in an extracted state, step S21 includes setting the temperature of the heating structure to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature in response to a user input command, and heating the material by infrared radiation so that the material receives and releases heat.

[0009] Furthermore, in the cleaning method for an aerosol generating apparatus described in the present invention, step S21 is, The first heating method of the heating structure is activated in response to a user input command, so that the temperature of the heating structure is rapidly raised to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature. When the temperature of the heating structure reaches the self-cleaning temperature, the heating method of the heating structure is adjusted, and the material is heated by infrared radiation so that the material receives and releases heat.

[0010] Furthermore, in the cleaning method for an aerosol generating apparatus described in the present invention, the user input command is at least one of the following: a command by a mechanical key, a command by a touch key, and a command by voice.

[0011] Furthermore, in the cleaning method for an aerosol generating apparatus described in the present invention, step S20 is, If the aerosol-forming substrate is in an extracted state, step S22 determines whether the aerosol generating device has reached the preset clean conditions. If so, the method includes step S23, which involves setting the temperature of the heating structure to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature, and heating the material by infrared radiation so that the material receives and releases heat.

[0012] Furthermore, in the cleaning method for an aerosol generating apparatus described in the present invention, step S23 is, When the aerosol generator reaches the preset cleaning conditions, the first heating method of the heating structure is activated so that the temperature of the heating structure is rapidly raised to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature. When the temperature of the heating structure reaches the self-cleaning temperature, the heating method of the heating structure is adjusted, and the material is heated by infrared radiation so that the material receives and releases heat.

[0013] Furthermore, in the cleaning method for the aerosol generating apparatus described in the present invention, the preset cleaning condition is that the light transmittance of the tube body of the heating structure is less than a preset threshold, or that the color or hue of the outer wall of the tube body of the heating structure is within a preset color system.

[0014] Furthermore, in the cleaning method for the aerosol generating apparatus described in the present invention, the preset cleaning condition is that the quantity of aerosol-forming substrate consumed by the user reaches the preset quantity, or The preset cleaning condition is that the number of times the contact between the aerosol-forming substrate and the heat-generating structure is released reaches the preset number, or The preset cleaning conditions are the cumulative heating time of the heating structure since the most recent cleaning.

[0015] Furthermore, in the cleaning method for an aerosol generating apparatus described in the present invention, the first heating method is heating at a first preset power for a first preset time length, Adjusting the heating method of the aforementioned heating structure is The first heating method is adjusted to at least one of the following: heating with constant power over a second preset time length, heating with variable power over a second preset time length, and pulsed heating over a second preset time length.

[0016] Furthermore, in the cleaning method for an aerosol generating apparatus described in the present invention, the self-cleaning temperature is between 400°C and 550°C.

[0017] Furthermore, the present invention provides a computer storage medium storing a computer program, wherein when the computer program is executed by a processor, the steps of the cleaning method of the aerosol generating device described above are realized.

[0018] Furthermore, the present invention provides an aerosol generating device including a processor and a memory storing a computer program, wherein when the processor executes the computer program, the steps of the cleaning method of the aerosol generating device described above are realized.

[0019] Furthermore, in the aerosol generating device according to the present invention, the heat generating structure of the aerosol generating device includes a heating element and a tube body. The heating element includes a heat generating substrate and an infrared radiation layer provided on the outer surface of the heat generating substrate. The heat generating substrate is used to be energized and heated to excite the infrared radiation layer to emit infrared rays. At least a part of the heating element is provided spaced apart from the tube wall of the tube body. The tube wall of the tube body transmits the infrared rays, and the infrared rays are used to heat the aerosol forming substrate.

[0020] [[ID=​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Implementing the cleaning method, aerosol generating device, and medium according to the present invention has the following beneficial effects. That is, by utilizing the heating characteristics of the heating element of the aerosol generating device itself, there is no need to separately raise the operating temperature, and the soot adhering or depositing on the heating structure can be removed in a timely manner, which has great advantages in terms of energy conservation, taste improvement, and appliance hygiene. Furthermore, the temperature control logic is simple.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] Hereinafter, the present invention will be further described with reference to the drawings and embodiments. [Figure 1] It is a flowchart of an embodiment of the cleaning method of the aerosol generating device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a flowchart of some embodiments of the cleaning method of the aerosol generating device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a line graph of the self-cleaning temperature of some embodiments of the cleaning method of the aerosol generating device according to the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a line graph of the self-cleaning temperature of some embodiments of the cleaning method of the aerosol generating device according to the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a flowchart of some embodiments of the cleaning method of the aerosol generating device according to the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of the aerosol generating device according to the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a schematic diagram of the temperature control curve of the heating of the aerosol generating substrate according to some embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 8] It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the heating structure in the aerosol generating device shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 9] It is a cross-sectional view of the heating structure shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] It is a schematic exploded view of the structure of the heating structure shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 11] It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the heating structure of the aerosol generating device in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12]Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the heating structure from a different angle. [Figure 13] Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the heating structure. [Figure 14] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the heat-generating structure. [Figure 15] This is a transverse cross-sectional view of a heating element according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] To provide a clearer understanding of the technical features, objectives, and effects of the present invention, specific embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] In the following description, specific details such as particular system structures and techniques are provided for illustrative purposes, not limitation, so that embodiments of the present invention may be fully understood. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be realized in other embodiments without these specific details. In other cases, detailed descriptions of well-known systems, apparatus, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to interfere with the description of the present invention by unnecessary details.

[0027] In one preferred embodiment, with reference to Figure 1, the aerosol generating apparatus according to this embodiment includes a heating structure capable of heating an aerosol-forming substrate at its operating temperature, and the cleaning method for the aerosol generating apparatus includes the following steps S10 and S20. S10 monitors the insertion and removal state of the aerosol-forming substrate in the aerosol generating device. S20, if the aerosol-forming substrate is in the removed state, sets the temperature of the heating structure to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature so that any material fixed or deposited on the heating structure is heated and released, i.e., organic material is volatilized in the form of an aerosol or gas. The heating element of the heating structure can take various forms, for example, a heating sheet, heating needle, heating rod, heating wire, or wire, or the heating element may be a combination of two or more different forms of heating devices as described above. Outside the heating element, a tube, such as a quartz glass tube, is provided to allow infrared rays to pass through.

[0028] The aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid material in the form of shredded, sheet-like, or integrally molded material made from the leaves and / or stems of a plant (e.g., tobacco), and aroma components may be further added to the solid material.

[0029] Preferably, the operating temperature is a temperature range, and the self-cleaning temperature may be less than or equal to the maximum value of the preset operating temperature range.

[0030] The operating principle of this invention is to achieve self-cleaning by using high temperature to heat and decompose contaminants on the surface of the heating structure of the aerosol generator when there is no aerosol-forming substrate. When there is no aerosol-forming substrate, the outer wall of the quartz tube of the heating structure is heated to a temperature of 400°C to 550°C for a heating time of 3 to 30 seconds. When there is a properly functioning aerosol-forming substrate, the local maximum temperature of the surface of the heating structure of the aerosol generator can reach approximately 550°C, which not only ensures that the medium does not burn but also maintains a good taste.

[0031] The operating temperature is a set of quantities that change over time, and there is a maximum temperature. While the aerosol-forming substrate is atomized, the heat of the substrate is mainly obtained by optical radiation, meaning the heating rate of the aerosol-forming substrate is faster. However, the optical infrared cooling process is very fast, and the duration of the operating temperature is extremely short, so the substrate heated by optical infrared does not burn.

[0032] Selectively, during the high-temperature cleaning period, after the aerosol-forming substrate is removed, the quartz tube does not need to reach a self-cleaning temperature higher than the operating temperature at all times; it can achieve the cleaning objective simply by continuously maintaining the highest operating temperature.

[0033] Selectively, during the high-temperature cleaning period, the temperature at which organic matter adhering to the heat-generating structure is released does not need to reach the maximum operating temperature. Assuming the maximum operating temperature is 550°C, the temperature at which organic matter adhering to the heat-generating structure is released can be higher than 400°C. Therefore, the self-cleaning temperature range may be between 400°C and 550°C, or between 400°C and 430°C.

[0034] In this embodiment, soot adhering to or accumulated on the heating structure can be removed in a timely manner, offering significant advantages in terms of energy saving, improved taste, and hygiene of the equipment.

[0035] In a cleaning method for an aerosol generator according to some embodiments, referring to Figure 2, the cleaning mode of the aerosol generator may be a manual mode. That is, in S21, if the aerosol-forming substrate is in the extraction state, the temperature of the heating structure may be set to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature in response to a user input command, and the material may be heated by infrared radiation so that the material is released or volatilized by heat.

[0036] Preferably, the first heating method of the heating structure is activated in response to a user input command, so that the temperature of the heating structure rises rapidly to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature. When the temperature of the heating structure reaches the self-cleaning temperature, the heating method of the heating structure is adjusted, and the material is heated by infrared radiation so that the material receives and releases heat. Selectively, the user input command may be a command by a mechanical key, a command by a touch key, or a voice command, but is not limited to these. It should be explained that the "rapid" in the above-mentioned "temperature rises rapidly" refers to the relevant prior art, and since the preheating time of the relevant prior art is generally about 15 seconds, in the present invention, anything of 10 seconds or less can be understood as being within the range of "rapid," and it is preferable that it be within 6 seconds.

[0037] Specifically, the first heating method is heating at a first preset power (e.g., high power) over a first preset time length. Adjusting the heating method of the heat-generating structure includes adjusting the first heating method to heating at a constant power over a second preset time length, heating at a variable power over a second preset time length, or pulsed heating over a second preset time length. It should be explained that "high power" refers to the heating power range of the aerosol generator. For example, if the heating power range of the aerosol generator is 2W to 30W, then "high power" could be 5W, 10W, 15W, 18W, 20W, 22W, 25W, 30W, etc., and is set specifically according to the specific needs. On the other hand, when adjusting the heating method of the heat-generating structure of the aerosol generator, it may also be adjusted according to a preset experience stored in advance. That is, when the heating time of the first heating method reaches a certain time length, the first heating method of the heat-generating structure may be switched to the second heating method while maintaining that certain time length. For example, based on preset experience, when the heating structure is heated with high power for 3 seconds, the temperature of the heating structure can reach its self-cleaning temperature. Therefore, once 3 seconds of high-power heating is reached, the heating method is switched to 10 seconds of variable-power heating. Based on experience, when heated with variable power for 10 seconds, all organic matter attached to the aerosol generator can be released by the heat.

[0038] For example, an aerosol generator may be equipped with one "power on / off" button and one "self-cleaning" function button. The "self-cleaning" function button is not mandatory and can be substituted by different pressing methods of the "power on / off" button. Specifically, pressing the "power on / off" button briefly turns on the aerosol generator and puts it into standby mode. Pressing the "power on / off" button again briefly allows the status of the aerosol generator to be checked. Pressing the "power on / off" button for a longer period, for example 3 seconds, puts the aerosol generator into normal operation mode and heats the aerosol-forming substrate, and vice versa. If there is dirt on the surface of the heating structure, pressing the "self-cleaning" button (or double-clicking the "power on / off" button) will put the aerosol generator into self-cleaning operation mode. After the aerosol-forming substrate is removed, the aerosol generator continuously heats the heating structure with high power, with a heating power range of 2W to 30W. When the temperature of the heating wires of the heating structure reaches 600°C to 1200°C and the temperature of the outer wall of the corresponding quartz tube reaches 400°C to 550°C, a constant power output is continuously maintained to keep the temperature of the quartz tube of the heating structure above 400°C for 3 to 30 seconds. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, during this period, heating may be constant power, high power, pulsed heating, or variable power heating. Selectively, the heating process may involve heating for a certain period, stopping for a certain period, and then heating again for a certain period, or heating may be repeated in more stages, or continuous heating without interruption may be performed. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, by heating at a constant power, it is possible to continuously heat while maintaining the self-cleaning temperature at a certain temperature value between 400°C and 550°C, and when the self-cleaning operation mode ends, the aerosol generator enters standby mode or automatically turns off.

[0039] In this embodiment, the semi-automatic cleaning mode, activated by user input commands, allows for the timely removal of soot adhering to or accumulated on the heating structure, offering significant advantages in terms of energy saving, improved taste, and hygiene of the appliance, while also being user-friendly.

[0040] In a cleaning method for an aerosol generator according to several embodiments, referring to Figure 5, the cleaning mode of the aerosol generator may be a fully automatic mode, that is, In S22, if the aerosol-forming substrate is in a detached state, the aerosol generator determines whether it has reached the preset clean conditions. In S23, if so, the temperature of the heating structure is set to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature, and the material is heated by infrared radiation so that the material receives and releases heat.

[0041] Preferably, when the aerosol generator reaches the preset cleanliness conditions, the first heating method of the heating structure is activated to rapidly raise the temperature of the heating structure to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature. When the temperature of the heating structure reaches the self-cleaning temperature, the heating method of the heating structure is adjusted, and the material is heated by infrared radiation so that the material receives and releases heat. Alternatively, if the aerosol generator has reached the preset cleanliness conditions, but there is still residual heat at the original operating temperature and sufficient to reach the self-cleaning temperature, in this case, it is not necessary to activate the first heating method of the heating structure. Instead, the heating method of the heating structure is directly adjusted, and the material is heated by infrared radiation using infrared light waves so that the material receives and releases heat.

[0042] Specifically, the first heating method is heating at a first preset power (e.g., high power) over a first preset time length. Adjusting the heating method of the heat-generating structure includes adjusting the first heating method to heating at a constant power over a second preset time length, heating at a variable power over a second preset time length, or pulsed heating over a second preset time length. It should be explained that "high power" refers to the heating power range of the aerosol generator. For example, if the heating power range of the aerosol generator is 2W to 30W, then "high power" could be 15W, 18W, 20W, 22W, 25W, 30W, etc., and is set specifically according to the specific needs. On the other hand, when adjusting the heating method of the heat-generating structure of the aerosol generator, it may also be adjusted according to a preset experience stored in advance. That is, when the heating time of the first heating method reaches a certain time length, the first heating method of the heat-generating structure may be switched to the second heating method while maintaining that certain time length. For example, based on preset experience, when the heating structure is heated with high power for 3 seconds, the temperature of the heating structure can reach its self-cleaning temperature. Therefore, once 3 seconds of high-power heating is reached, the heating method is switched to 10 seconds of variable-power heating. Based on experience, when heated with variable power for 10 seconds, all organic matter attached to the aerosol generator can be released by the heat.

[0043] Selectively, the preset cleaning conditions may be that the light transmittance of the heating structure's tube is less than a preset threshold or a first preset range, or that the hue or color of the heating structure's tube is within a preset color system, where the aerosol generator automatically detects whether the hue or color of the tube's tube is within a pre-stored color range. For example, assuming that the color of the tube is detected to be dark brown, which belongs to the dark color range, cleaning is required, or the cleaning intensity needs to be increased, for example, by setting a longer cleaning time. If it is light brown, which belongs to the light color range, cleaning may be set not to be required, or the cleaning intensity may be weakened, for example, by setting a shorter cleaning time. The preset cleaning conditions may also be that the quantity of aerosol-forming substrate consumed by the user has reached a preset quantity, or that the number of times the aerosol-forming substrate and the heating structure have been released from contact has reached a preset number. The preset cleaning conditions may be the cumulative heating time of the heating structure since the most recent cleaning, and if the preset cumulative heating time is reached, the cleaning process is triggered. Furthermore, the system may be configured to automatically determine the heating time and / or heating method of the self-cleaning temperature according to the level of the detected relevant parameters. For example, if the light transmittance of the heating structure's tube is 50% of the original, the aerosol generator will automatically adjust the heating time of the self-cleaning temperature to 5 seconds, indicating that a certain level of cleaning intensity is required at this time. If the light transmittance of the heating structure's tube is 30% of the original, the aerosol generator will automatically adjust the heating time of the self-cleaning temperature to 10 seconds or more, indicating that there is a lot of contamination on the surface of the heating structure and that a high level of cleaning intensity is required at this time. In this way, the heating time of the self-cleaning temperature is automatically determined.

[0044] In this embodiment, the fully automatic cleaning mode allows for the timely removal of soot adhering to or accumulated on the heating structure, offering significant advantages in terms of energy saving, improved taste, and equipment hygiene. This increases the variety of cleaning options available for aerosol generators and enhances the user experience.

[0045] In another preferred embodiment, the computer storage medium according to this embodiment stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the steps of the cleaning method for the aerosol generating apparatus described above are realized.

[0046] The computer-readable storage medium according to the present invention may be any computer-readable storage medium capable of storing program code, such as a USB flash drive, a portable hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0047] In another preferred embodiment, the aerosol generating apparatus according to this embodiment includes a processor and a memory storing a computer program, the processor, upon executing the computer program, performs the steps of the cleaning method for the aerosol generating apparatus described above.

[0048] The processor of the present invention is intended to provide computational and control capabilities to support the operation of the entire heating and non-combustion device. It should be understood that in the embodiments of this application, the processor may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or it may be another general-purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component, etc. Among these, the general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or it may be any common processor, etc.

[0049] Figure 6 shows an overall structural diagram of one embodiment of the aerosol generating apparatus according to the present invention. The aerosol generating apparatus 100 according to this embodiment can heat the aerosol forming substrate 200 using a low-temperature heating non-combustion method, and has good atomization stability and good atomized taste. In some applications, the aerosol forming substrate 200 is provided in the aerosol generating apparatus 100 so as to be insertable and removable, and the aerosol forming substrate 200 may be cylindrical, and specifically, the aerosol forming substrate may be a solid material in the form of shredded, sheet-like, or integrally molded material made from the leaves and / or stems of a plant (e.g., tobacco), and aroma components may be further added to the solid material.

[0050] In this embodiment, soot adhering to or accumulated on the heating structure can be removed in a timely manner, offering significant advantages in terms of energy saving, improved taste, and equipment hygiene. This increases the variety of cleaning options for aerosol generators and enhances the user experience.

[0051] In some embodiments of an aerosol generating apparatus, as shown in Figures 6 and 8, the aerosol generating apparatus 100 in this embodiment includes a heating structure 11 and a power supply assembly 20. The heating structure 11 is partially insertable into an aerosol forming substrate 200, specifically, a portion of which can be inserted into a media segment of the aerosol forming substrate 200. When energized, it generates infrared radiation to heat the media segment of the aerosol forming substrate 200, atomizing it and generating an aerosol. The heating structure 11 has the advantages of a simple structure, high atomization efficiency, strong stability, and a long service life. The power supply assembly 20 is for supplying power to the heating structure 11. Specifically, in some applications, the heating structure 11 is detachably mounted within the housing of the power supply assembly 20 and can be mechanically and / or electrically connected to a power source within the power supply assembly 20. By detachably mounting the heating structure 11 within the housing of the power supply assembly 20, the replacement of the heating structure 11 can be easily facilitated.

[0052] As shown in Figures 8 to 10, in this embodiment, the heating structure 11 includes a tube 111, a heating element 112, and a base 113. The tube 111 is covered over at least a portion of the heating element 112 and can transmit light waves to the aerosol-forming substrate 200. Specifically, in this embodiment, the tube 111 can transmit infrared rays and can further facilitate heating of the aerosol-forming substrate 200 by emitting infrared rays from the heating element 112. The base 113 is provided at the opening 1110 of the tube 111 and is used to fix the tube 111 or to seal the opening 1110 of the tube 111. The heating element 112 can take various forms, for example, a heating sheet, a heating needle, a heating rod, a heating wire, or a wire, or the heating element 112 may be a combination of two or more different forms of heating devices. The cross-section of the tube 111 may be circular, triangular, elliptical, or any other arbitrary shape.

[0053] What needs to be explained is that the operating temperature of the heating structure refers to the heating temperature of the tube 111, or the average temperature of the tube 111 during the heating process, or the maximum local temperature of the tube 111 during the heating process.

[0054] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 8 to 10 and Figure 15, the heating element 112 includes a heating portion 1120 and a conductive portion 1121. The heating portion 1120 includes a heating substrate 1122 and an infrared radiation layer 1124 covering the outside of the heating substrate 1122. That is, the infrared radiation layer 1124 is provided on the outer surface of the heating substrate 1122. The heating substrate 1122 is heated by applying an electric current using the cleaning method described above. When the heating substrate 1122 is heated by applying an electric current, it can excite the infrared radiation layer 1124 to generate and emit infrared radiation. Selectively, the heating element 112 is located inside the tube 111, and at least a portion of the tube 111 is used to insert the aerosol-forming substrate. Alternatively, the heating element 112 is located outside the tube 111, and a receiving cavity is formed inside the tube 111. The receiving cavity is used to accommodate at least a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0055] Specifically, the heating element 1122 includes a metal substrate having high-temperature oxidation resistance, such as a metal wire. The heating element 1122 may be a metallic material having good high-temperature oxidation resistance, high stability, and resistance to deformation, such as a nickel-chromium alloy substrate (e.g., nickel-chromium alloy wire) or an iron-chromium-aluminum alloy substrate (e.g., iron-chromium-aluminum alloy wire). In some embodiments, the diameter of the metal wire may be 0.15 mm to 0.8 mm. The metal wire can be bent or wound into various shapes, such as spiral, mesh, M-shaped, or N-shaped, and the heating element 112 after bending or winding may have a columnar, sheet-shaped, cylindrical, spiral, mesh-shaped, or other three-dimensional or planar shape with bent parts.

[0056] In one specific embodiment, the heating element 112 is strip-shaped with a circular cross-section. The heating element 112 is provided so that at least a portion of it can be bent, forming a columnar heating section 1120 as a whole, and may be bent to form a helical columnar heating section 1120. To form the heating substrate 1122, one heating substrate forming substrate may be selected, and for example, one infrared light wave metal wire (e.g., nickel-chromium alloy wire or iron-chromium-aluminum alloy wire) may be selected and the metal wire may be wound around to form a heating section 1120 having a single helix. Of course, it can be understood that in some other embodiments, the heating element 112 is not limited to being wound as a single helix heating section 1120, and the heating element 112 can employ different winding methods such as a double helix, M-shape, N-shape, etc.

[0057] Preferably, referring to Figure 15, the heating element 112 further includes an oxidation-resistant layer 1123, which is formed between the heating substrate 1122 and the infrared radiation layer 1124. Specifically, the oxidation-resistant layer 1123 may be an oxide film, and the heating substrate 1122 undergoes high-temperature heat treatment to form a dense oxide film on its surface, and this oxide film forms the oxidation-resistant layer 1123. Of course, it can be understood that in some other embodiments, the oxidation-resistant layer 1123 is not limited to including an oxide film formed on itself, and in some other embodiments, it may be an oxidation-resistant coating applied to the outer surface of the heating substrate 1122. The thickness of the oxidation-resistant layer 1123 may be selected from 1 μm to 150 μm.

[0058] Selectively, the infrared radiation layer 1124 may be an infrared layer. This infrared layer may be formed on the side of the oxidation-resistant layer 1123 furthest from the heat-generating substrate 1122 by high-temperature heat treatment of an infrared layer-forming substrate. Specifically, the infrared layer-forming substrate may be silicon carbide, spinel, or a composite substrate thereof. Understandably, in some other embodiments, the infrared radiation layer 1124 is not limited to an infrared layer. In some other embodiments, the infrared radiation layer 1124 may be a composite infrared layer. Specifically, this infrared layer may be formed on the side of the oxidation-resistant layer 1123 furthest from the heat-generating substrate 1122 by methods such as immersion, spraying, or brushing. The thickness of the infrared radiation layer 1124 may be 10 μm to 300 μm.

[0059] Furthermore, the wall of the tube 111 is spaced apart from the entire heating element 112, and for example, a gap 1114 is left between the tube 111 and the heating element 112, and this gap 1114 may be filled with air, and, understandably, in some other embodiments, the gap 1114 may be filled with a reducing gas or an inert gas. Leaving a gap 1114 prevents the tube 111 and the heating element 112 from coming into direct contact. In some embodiments, a portion of the heating element 112 may be spaced apart from the wall of the tube 111, specifically, the radial dimension of a portion of the heating element 1120 may be larger than the radial dimension of other portions of the heating element 1120, and the radial dimension of a portion of the heating element 1120 may be equal to the inner diameter of the tube 111, thereby serving as a positional restraint. Of course, it is understandable that in some embodiments, a portion of the inside of the tube wall 111 may protrude toward the heating element 112 and come into contact with it, thereby serving a positional regulating role. Of course, it is understandable that in some other embodiments, the heating element 112 or the tube wall of the tube body 111 may be provided with an isolation positioning structure, for example, a ceramic ring or the like may be provided around a portion of the heating element 112, thereby preventing direct contact between the heating element 112 and the tube wall of the tube body 111. It should be explained that the gaps mentioned above refer to gaps into which air can enter, and do not necessarily mean the presence of air or other gases; a vacuum is also one form of gap. To obtain a better smoking experience and extend the service life of the heating element, the tube body 111 may be provided with a vacuum or with its open end sealed.

[0060] Furthermore, the heating element 1120 includes a first heating element 112a and a second heating element 112b, with one end of the first heating element 112a and the second heating element 112b connected. The first heating element 112a and the second heating element 112b are integrally molded and may be formed by bending a single heating element 112. Understandably, in some other embodiments, the first heating element 112a and the second heating element 112b may be separate structures, and the first heating element 112a and the second heating element 112b may each be two heating elements 112. Understandably, in some other embodiments, the second heating element 112b may be omitted, and instead, a non-heating conductive rod may be used. Also, the conductive element 1121 may be fixed to the heating element 1120 by welding. Of course, it is understandable that in some other embodiments, the heating element 1120 may be integrally molded with the conductive element 1121, and two conductive elements 1121 may be formed by the first free end 112d and the second free end 112e of the heating element 112, that is, one conductive element 1121 may be formed by the first free end 112d of the first heating element 112a and the other conductive element 1121 may be formed by the second free end 112e of the second heating element 112b. In some other embodiments, the conductive element 1121 may be a lead wire that can be welded to the heating element 1120. Of course, it is understandable that in some other embodiments, the conductive element 1121 is not limited to a lead wire and may be other conductive structures.

[0061] Selectively, the tube 111 may be a quartz glass tube. Of course, it is understandable that in some other embodiments, the tube 111 is not limited to a quartz tube, but may be other light wave-transmitting window materials such as infrared-transmitting glass, transparent ceramics, or diamond.

[0062] Furthermore, the tube 111 is a hollow tubular shape and has two ends distributed in the axial direction. Specifically, the tube 111 includes a main body 1111 and a apex 1112 provided at one end of the main body 1111, and the heating element 112 is provided spaced apart from the inner wall of the main body 1111. Of course, it can be understood that in some other embodiments, the cross-section of the tube 111 is not limited to a circle. The main body 1111 is a hollow structure with an opening 1110 at one end. The apex 1112 is provided at the end of the main body 1111 furthest from the opening 1110, and the provision of the main body 1111 facilitates the insertion and removal of at least a portion of the heating structure 11 from the aerosol-forming substrate 200. In this embodiment, a first receiving cavity 1113 is formed inside the tube 111, and the first receiving cavity 1113 is a columnar cavity. In some other embodiments, the heating element 112 may be provided at a distance from the outer circumference of the tube 111, and a second receiving cavity for receiving the aerosol-forming substrate 200 may be formed inside the tube 111.

[0063] Furthermore, the wall of the tube 111 is spaced apart from the entire heating element 112, and for example, a gap 1114 is left between the tube 111 and the heating element 112, and this gap 1114 may be filled with air, and, understandably, in some other embodiments, the gap 1114 may be filled with a reducing gas or an inert gas. Leaving a gap 1114 prevents the tube 111 and the heating element 112 from coming into direct contact. In some embodiments, a portion of the heating element 112 may be spaced apart from the wall of the tube 111, specifically, a conductive portion 1121 is provided at one end of the heating portion 1120, and the conductive portion 1121 may be connected to the heating portion 1120, drawn out from one end of the tube 111, exit the base 113, and electrically connected to the power supply assembly 20. The radial dimension of one segment of the heating element 1120 may be larger than the radial dimension of other segments, and the radial dimension of one segment of the heating element 1120 may be equal to the inner diameter of the pipe 111, thereby allowing it to serve as a positional restraint.

[0064] Preferably, at least a portion of the top of the heating element 112 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the pointed portion 1112. In this way, the end of the heating element 112 closest to the pointed portion 1112 serves a role in mounting and positioning, and ensures that the middle portion of the heating element 112 does not directly contact the inner wall of the pipe 111. Furthermore, it is possible to increase the heat dissipation area and prevent the temperature of the end of the heating element 112 closest to the pointed portion 1112 from becoming too high.

[0065] In some embodiments of the aerosol generating apparatus, as shown in Figures 11 to 14, the heating structure 11 is not limited to being partially inserted into the aerosol forming substrate 200 to heat the aerosol forming substrate 200. In this embodiment, the heating structure 11 may be provided around the outer circumference of the media segment of the aerosol forming substrate 200, and the aerosol forming substrate inside the aerosol forming substrate 200 may be heated using an ambient heating method. In this embodiment, the tube 111 includes a first tube 111a and a second tube 111b, and the first tube 111a has a hollow structure with both ends penetrating. The first tube 111a may be cylindrical, and its inner diameter may be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the aerosol forming substrate 200. Inside the first tube 111a, a second receiving cavity 1115 may be formed to receive the aerosol forming substrate 200 and to form a heating space for heating the media segment of the aerosol forming substrate 200. The axial length of the first tube 111a may be greater than the axial length of the second tube 111b. The second tube 111b may be arranged around the outer circumference of the first tube 111a, and the second tube 111b may be cylindrical in shape. The radial dimension of the second tube 111b may be greater than the radial dimension of the first tube 111a. In other words, there is a gap between the second tube 111b and the first tube 111a, and this gap can form a first receiving cavity 1113, which is used to receive the heating element 112. In some embodiments, the heating element 112 is provided around the outer circumference of the first tube 111a, and a gap 1114 is left between the inner wall of the second tube 111b and the outer wall of the first tube 111a. This creates a constant temperature difference between the inner wall of the first receiving cavity 1113 and the heating element 112, thereby providing insulation. In some embodiments, the inner wall of the second tube 111b may be provided with a reflective layer that reflects the heat from the heating element 112 and radiates it to the aerosol-forming substrate 200 to improve the energy efficiency of heating.

[0066] In some other embodiments, the heating element 112 is not limited to being provided entirely at a distance from the first pipe 111a or the second pipe 111b. In some other embodiments, a portion of the heating element 112 may be provided at a distance from the first pipe 111a, and the radial dimension of a portion of the heating element 1120 may correspond to the outer diameter of the first pipe 111a, thereby serving as a positional regulating function. In some embodiments, a portion of the heating element 112 may be provided at a distance from the second pipe 111b, and the radial dimension of a portion of the heating element 1120 may correspond to the radial dimension of the second pipe 111b.

[0067] Unlike conventional heating elements, the heating of the aerosol-forming substrate 200 by the heating structure 11 is primarily achieved by the optical infrared radiation of the infrared radiation layer 1124, with the heating being supplemented by the heat conduction of the heating element 112. Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of the temperature control curve for heating the aerosol-forming substrate 200. The temperature of the heating element 112 in this embodiment can reach a maximum of 1300°C, and is generally 500-1000°C, and is a steady-state heating process. While 600-800°C is preferred (the local maximum temperature of a heating element in the prior art is generally around 420°C), the maximum operating temperature of the tube 111 can also reach 550°C, the steady-state heating temperature is maintained at around 350°C, the heat retention temperature is maintained at 180°C-300°C, and the infrared radiation layer of the heating element mainly emits light waves with wavelengths of 2-14 μm, which is the wavelength range that tobacco substrates most readily absorb, and preferably emits light waves with wavelengths of 2-4.75 μm and 8-11 μm.

[0068] In conventional technology, the local maximum temperature of the heating element 112 is within 420°C, and the temperature of the part in contact with the aerosol-forming substrate 200 is controlled to about 350°C (in some cases, the heating element 112 is in direct contact with the aerosol-forming substrate 200, while in other cases, a tube 111 is provided on the outer surface of the heating element 112, the heating element 112 is in close contact with the tube 111, and the tube 111 is in contact with the aerosol-forming substrate 200, heating is performed using heat conduction by physical contact). However, the temperature of the heating element 112 must not become too high. At temperatures exceeding 420°C, smoke is released from the aerosol-forming substrate 200 more quickly, but the temperature of the part in contact with the aerosol-forming substrate 200 also becomes too high. Because heat conduction is by physical contact, the heat capacity of the heating element is large, and the subsequent temperature decrease becomes very slow, inevitably causing the aerosol-forming substrate 200 to burn due to the high temperature for a long period of time. Therefore, this represents a contradiction between the pursuit of rapid smoke release in conventional products and the pursuit of a consistent taste, a problem that has not been effectively resolved to date. Conventional heating elements 112 have low heat conduction efficiency due to direct physical contact, as their temperature must not exceed 420°C. Consequently, the initial preheating time must be long, and generally, more than 15 seconds of preheating is required before normal inhalation is possible. Furthermore, due to the low heat conduction efficiency, the temperature during the warming phase between puffs must not become too low. Otherwise, the amount of smoke for the next puff will not keep up, requiring warming at a high temperature. As a result, it takes about 5 minutes to completely smoke an entire cigarette, as the tobacco base material is basically completely carbonized in about 5 minutes.

[0069] In this embodiment, the entire suction process can be divided into two main stages: a preheating stage and a steady-state heating stage. Preheating stage: This step involves preheating the aerosol-forming substrate 200 by controlling the heating element 112 using a power control mode. In this step, heating can be started by pressing and holding a button in the aerosol generator, or by automatically starting heating when the insertion of the aerosol-forming substrate 200 is detected. Moreover, after heating is started, the temperature measured by the temperature measurement module at this time has hysteresis and cannot accurately reflect the internal temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate 200. Therefore, in this preheating stage, the heating element is heated with high power using a power control mode. That is, the processor controls only the magnitude of the heating power and the length of the heating time. For example, the heating power is set to more than 10W, the heating time to 1 to 10 seconds, and the heating element is not controlled according to the temperature measured by the temperature measurement module. During the preheating stage, the heating element 112 is rapidly heated and emits infrared rays to heat the device. In this process, the local maximum temperature of the tube 111 can reach 550°C, and the preheating temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate 200 can reach 300°C to 400°C. Therefore, the aerosol-forming substrate 200 can be heated to a state where it can release smoke in a short time. In this invention, high power generally refers to power of 5W or more. The preheating time is very short, enabling rapid smoke release, and is generally controlled to become inhalable in about 3 seconds. The reason for this is that the heating element 1120 is rapidly heated to over 500°C, most of the energy is emitted as infrared radiation from the heating element 112, with wavelengths mainly concentrated in the 2-14 μm range, the tobacco substrate absorbs the radiant energy and rapidly heats up, some of the energy is conducted to the quartz tube via air, the quartz tube is heated and then the heat is conducted to the aerosol-forming substrate 200 (the proportion of energy in this case is small), and another portion of the energy is emitted in the form of light waves, which are then absorbed by the quartz tube and cause the quartz tube to heat up. Therefore, smoke is rapidly released from the tobacco, and the main reason for this is that the tobacco substrate absorbs light waves with wavelengths of 2-14 μm and generates heat, which is far more efficient than direct heat conduction, and the heat conduction of the quartz tube also plays a certain role.Therefore, even if the local temperature of the tube 111 reaches 550°C, the heating time is very short, the heat capacity of the heating element is small, and the heating element is positioned at a distance from the tube, so the rate of cooling of the tube is also very fast, and the aerosol-generating substrate does not burn. In some examples, from the start of heating by the heating element 112, the rate of heating of the tobacco substrate is faster than that of the quartz tube, so there is a certain period in which the temperature of the tobacco is higher than the temperature of the tube, and there is also a period in which the temperature of the quartz tube is higher than the temperature of the tobacco. However, as time passes, the temperatures of the tobacco and the quartz tube come into equilibrium and eventually reach about 350°C.

[0070] Steady-state heating stage: This step involves acquiring the temperature detected by the temperature measurement module and controlling the heating element 112 using the temperature control mode to maintain the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate 200 at the heat retention temperature. In this step, the heating stage can be entered after preheating, and the user can use suction during this heating stage. Furthermore, the temperature measured by the temperature measurement module at this time accurately reflects the temperature inside the aerosol-forming substrate 200. Therefore, by controlling the heating element 112 using the temperature control mode according to the temperature detected by the temperature measurement module, it is possible to maintain the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate 200 at the heat retention temperature, which is 180°C to 380°C. Specifically, when there is no suction, it is possible to control the heating element to cool down by not increasing or decreasing the power. When the temperature has cooled down to the retention temperature, it is maintained at that temperature. If suction by the user is detected, the temperature of the heating element will decrease rapidly. If the temperature decreases too quickly and falls below the retention temperature, the heating element is controlled to heat up again until it reaches the retention temperature, and then wait for the next puff to be suctioned. In some embodiments, during the retention phase, the aerosol-forming substrate 200 is in a state of continuously generating aerosol. This process corresponds to constantly storing at least one puff's worth of aerosol in advance. After suction, the temperature is lowered, and then heated again to store aerosol in advance, and this cycle is repeated. The retention temperature is preferably controlled to 200°C to 330°C. Specifically, after the preheating stage, at 3 seconds, the system indicates to the user that it is ready to inhale. If the user does not inhale, at approximately 6 seconds, the controller controls the heating element 112 to operate at low power. At this time, because the heating element 112 has a small heat capacity, it can cool down rapidly after the power is reduced. At this time, the light wave energy of the heating element 112 that can be absorbed by the tobacco substrate also decreases rapidly. Furthermore, because there is a gap between the heating element 112 and the quartz tube, heat conduction is greatly reduced, causing the temperature of the tobacco and the quartz tube to decrease rapidly.If inhalation occurs at this time, a large amount of heat is lost to the cold outside air, causing the temperature of the tobacco and quartz tube to drop rapidly. Subsequently, they are either kept warm at a low temperature or rapidly heated upon inhalation, generating an aerosol.

[0071] To achieve rapid smoke release, the heating element 1120 rapidly heats up to over 500°C, and eventually reaches over 1000°C. The light waves, whose wavelengths are mainly distributed between 2 and 14 μm, can rapidly generate aerosols on the aerosol-forming substrate 200. Due to the transmission of light waves and uniform heating, the aerosol-forming substrate 200 does not burn. Furthermore, due to the gap between the heating element 112 and the quartz tube, the aerosol-forming substrate 200 does not burn because the temperature of the part of the aerosol-forming substrate 200 in contact with the quartz tube does not become excessively concentrated. Therefore, rapid heating is achieved without producing a burnt odor, meaning that suction can be performed at any time, and both the amount and taste of smoke can be guaranteed. Furthermore, because it can heat up quickly, the warming temperature can be kept as low as possible. This significantly reduces the consumption of tobacco base material during the warming phase, resulting in a much longer smoking time per cigarette. Users can wait a long time between two adjacent puffs without the taste being affected, reducing limitations for the user and greatly improving the experience.

[0072] In this embodiment, the user is not limited to completing suction in about 5 minutes, but can perform random suction over a long period of time, achieving the effect of being able to suction at any time. It should be noted that the heating temperature and heat retention temperature of the aerosol generating substrate described above may both be expressed as the temperature of the tube.

[0073] In some embodiments, the heating structure may be a plasma heating structure. Specifically, both the plasma heating structure and the laser heating structure are central heating structures, meaning that at least a portion of the heating element is inserted into an aerosol generating substrate. The plasma structure generally includes a glass tube and two electrodes located inside the glass tube, with the two electrodes spaced apart and facing each other. When current is passed through the two electrodes, a high voltage is generated between the electrodes, ionizing the gas medium and forming a high-voltage arc to generate heat. Therefore, the above method is also applicable to devices with a similar plasma structure, or to other heating structures that use light waves for heating and whose heating element's operating temperature can exceed 500°C.

[0074] It should be explained that the parameter ranges protected by the present invention all include values ​​at the endpoints of those ranges. For example, for light waves with wavelengths distributed between 2 and 14 μm, the range includes 2 μm, 14 μm, and any value in between.

[0075] It is understandable that the above embodiments only illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and while their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, this should not be understood as limiting the scope of the claims of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should note that, without departing from the conceptual framework of the present invention, the above technical features can be freely combined, and several modifications and improvements can be made, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent substitutions and modifications made to the claims of the present invention should also fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning an aerosol generating apparatus, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus includes a heating structure, the heating structure is capable of heating an aerosol-forming substrate at its operating temperature, and the method is: Step S10 involves monitoring the insertion and removal state of the aerosol-forming substrate in the aerosol generating apparatus, A method for cleaning an aerosol generating apparatus, characterized by including step S20, when the aerosol forming substrate is in a detached state, setting the temperature of the heating structure to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature so that any material fixed to or deposited on the heating structure receives heat and is released.

2. The aforementioned step S20 is, A cleaning method for an aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the aerosol forming substrate is in an extracted state, the method includes step S21, in response to a user input command, setting the temperature of the heating structure to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature, and heating the material by infrared radiation so that the material receives heat and is released.

3. Step S21 is, By activating the first heating method of the heating structure in response to a user input command, the temperature of the heating structure is to be rapidly raised to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature. A method for cleaning an aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that when the temperature of the heating structure reaches the self-cleaning temperature, the heating method of the heating structure is adjusted and the material is heated by infrared radiation so that the material receives and releases heat.

4. The cleaning method for an aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the user input command is at least one of a command by a mechanical key, a command by a touch key, and a command by voice.

5. The aforementioned step S20 is, Step S22 determines whether the aerosol generating device has reached the preset clean conditions when the aerosol forming substrate is in the extracted state, If so, the cleaning method for an aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising step S23, which involves setting the temperature of the heating structure to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature, and heating the material by infrared radiation so that the material receives and releases heat.

6. Step S23 is, When the aerosol generator reaches the preset cleaning conditions, the first heating method of the heating structure is activated so that the temperature of the heating structure is rapidly raised to a self-cleaning temperature below the operating temperature. A method for cleaning an aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that when the temperature of the heating structure reaches the self-cleaning temperature, the heating method of the heating structure is adjusted and the material is heated by infrared radiation so that the material receives and releases heat.

7. The cleaning method for an aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the preset cleaning condition is that the infrared transmittance of the tube body of the heating structure is less than a preset threshold, or that the color or hue of the outer wall of the tube body of the heating structure is within a preset color system.

8. The aforementioned preset cleaning conditions are that the quantity of aerosol-forming substrate consumed by the user reaches the preset quantity, or The preset cleaning condition is that the number of times the contact between the aerosol-forming substrate and the heat-generating structure is released reaches the preset number, or The cleaning method for an aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the preset cleaning conditions are the cumulative heating time of the heat-generating structure since the most recent cleaning.

9. The first heating method is heating at a first preset power for a first preset time length, Adjusting the heating method of the aforementioned heating structure is A method for cleaning an aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 3 or 6, characterized in that the first heating method is adjusted to at least one of the following: heating with constant power over a second preset time length, heating with variable power over a second preset time length, and pulsed heating over a second preset time length.

10. The cleaning method for an aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the self-cleaning temperature is between 400°C and 550°C.

11. A computer storage medium storing a computer program, characterized in that when the computer program is executed by a processor, the steps of the cleaning method for an aerosol generating apparatus described in any one of claims 1 to 10 are realized.

12. An aerosol generating apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing a computer program, wherein the processor, upon executing the computer program, realizes the steps of the cleaning method for the aerosol generating apparatus described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the heating structure of the aerosol generating apparatus includes a heating element and a tube, the heating element includes a heating substrate and an infrared radiation layer provided on the outer surface of the heating substrate, the heating substrate is used to be heated by passing an electric current through it and to excite the infrared radiation layer to emit infrared rays, at least a portion of the heating element is provided spaced apart from the tube wall of the tube, the tube wall of the tube transmits the infrared rays, and the infrared rays are used to heat the aerosol forming substrate.

14. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the heating element is located inside the tube, and at least a portion of the tube is used for inserting the aerosol forming substrate.

15. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the heating element is located outside the tube, a receiving cavity is formed inside the tube, and the receiving cavity is used to accommodate at least a portion of the aerosol forming substrate.

16. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the heating structure of the aerosol generating apparatus is a plasma heating structure.

Images