Aerosol generator

Abstract

An aerosol generating apparatus is disclosed. The aerosol generating apparatus of this disclosure includes a body, a strip-shaped aerosol product comprising a plurality of pouches containing an aerosol generating substance, which are detachably coupled to the body and connected inside, and a heater for heating the aerosol generating substance contained in a pouch to be heated, which is placed in a heating chamber among the plurality of pouches.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating device.

Background Art

[0002] An aerosol generating device is for extracting a predetermined component from a medium or a substance through an aerosol. The medium can contain substances with various components. The substances contained in the medium may be flavor substances with various components. For example, the substances contained in the medium can include a nicotine component, a herb component, and / or a coffee component, etc. In recent years, many studies have been conducted on such aerosol generating devices.

[0003] In the case of a user who inhales more aerosol than an average user, even if the user inhales the aerosol for the number of times or the time set by the aerosol generating device, a sufficient amount of aerosol cannot be inhaled.

[0004] In order to inhale a sufficient amount of aerosol, the user has to use a plurality of aerosol generating devices and, after using one device, use another device to additionally inhale the aerosol.

[0005] Thus, the conventional aerosol generating device has a problem that it cannot sufficiently provide the user with an aerosol inhalation amount.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The present disclosure aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and other problems.

[0007] Another object is to provide an aerosol generating device having a structure capable of accommodating an aerosol generating article in a strip form in which a plurality of pouches containing an aerosol generating substance are connected.

[0008] Another objective is to provide an aerosol generating device that can move the pouch to be heated into a heating chamber.

[0009] Another objective is to provide an aerosol generator that can identify the pouch to be heated and set a heating profile accordingly.

[0010] Another objective is to provide an aerosol generating device that can move the heater to press against the pouch to be heated.

[0011] Another objective is to provide an aerosol generating device that can cut the heated pouch after the heater heating is complete.

[0012] Another objective is to provide an aerosol generating device equipped with a filter and including a replaceable mouthpiece. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] According to one aspect of this disclosure for achieving the above-mentioned objectives, an aerosol generating apparatus is provided, comprising a body, a strip-shaped aerosol product comprising a plurality of pouches detachably coupled to the body and containing an aerosol generating substance inside, and a heater for heating the aerosol generating substance contained in a pouch to be heated, which is placed in a heating chamber among the plurality of pouches. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to at least one of the embodiments of this disclosure, a sufficient amount of aerosol can be provided to a user by containing and heating an aerosol product in the form of a strip, which is made up of multiple pouches containing aerosol-generating material linked together.

[0015] According to at least one of the embodiments of this disclosure, a variety of flavors can be provided to the user by heating a plurality of pouches containing different aerosol-generating substances.

[0016] According to at least one of the embodiments of this disclosure, the heating of the heater can be controlled to match the characteristics of the aerosol-generating material by identifying the pouch to be heated and setting a heating profile.

[0017] According to at least one of the embodiments of this disclosure, the heating efficiency can be improved by increasing the contact area between the heater and the aerosol-generating substance by moving the heater and pressing it against the pouch to be heated.

[0018] According to at least one of the embodiments of this disclosure, the used aerosol-generating material can be easily removed by cutting the heated pouch after the heater heating is completed.

[0019] According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the filter replacement cycle can be extended by including a filter and a replaceable mouthpiece.

[0020] Any additional applicable scope of this disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description. However, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of this disclosure are readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the detailed description and specific embodiments, such as preferred embodiments of this disclosure, should be understood to be given only as examples. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0021] [Figure 1] This figure shows an aerosol generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This figure shows the expanded state of an aerosol product coupled to an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] This figure shows the state in which the aerosol product is wound up and coupled to an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] A flowchart for the pouch heating operation of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] A diagram showing the pouch movement of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] A diagram showing the pressing of a pouch by a heater of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] A diagram showing the cutting of a pouch by a cutting part of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] [Figure 9] A diagram showing the removal of a pouch of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] A block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar components are given the same reference numerals even if they are illustrated in different drawings, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0024] The suffixes "module" and "part" for components used in the following description are used only for the ease of description in the specification. "Module" and "part" do not have distinct meanings or roles from each other.

[0025] Furthermore, in subsequent descriptions of the embodiments disclosed herein, detailed explanations of related known technologies will be omitted if they could obscure the essence of the embodiments disclosed herein. The accompanying drawings are provided to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein, and the accompanying drawings do not limit the technical ideas disclosed herein. Therefore, the accompanying drawings should be construed as including all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions included in the ideas and scope of this disclosure.

[0026] Terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first," "second," etc., can be used to describe a variety of components, but it should be understood that the components are not limited by such terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0027] When we say that one component is "linked" to another, it is understandable that other components may exist in between. On the other hand, when we say that one component is "directly linked" to another, it is understandable that there are no other components in between.

[0028] A singular expression includes plural expressions unless explicitly indicated otherwise in the context.

[0029] Throughout this specification, the orientation of the aerosol generator and cartridge can be defined with respect to a Cartesian coordinate system. In the Cartesian coordinate system, the x-axis can be defined as the left-right direction of the aerosol generator and cartridge. Here, with respect to the origin, the direction toward +x may mean the right direction, and the direction toward -x may mean the left direction. The y-axis can be defined as the front-back direction of the aerosol generator and cartridge. Here, with respect to the origin, the direction toward +y may mean the rear direction, and the direction toward -y may mean the front direction. The z-axis can be defined as the up-down direction of the aerosol generator and cartridge. With respect to the origin, the direction toward +z may mean the up direction, and the direction toward -z may mean the down direction.

[0030] Throughout this specification, “upstream” and “downstream” can be determined based on the direction of the airflow that flows so that the generated aerosol is drawn into the user’s mouth or lungs when the user inhales it. For example, in Figure 1, the generated aerosol flows from the heating chamber 44 to the mouthpiece 6, so the heating chamber 44 is located upstream of the mouthpiece 6. “Upstream” and “downstream” can be determined relative to the components.

[0031] Figure 1 shows an aerosol generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Referring to Figure 1, the aerosol generator 1 may include at least one of a power supply 11, a control unit 12, a sensor 13, and a heater 18. At least one of the power supply 11, control unit 12, sensor 13, and heater 18 may be located inside the body 10 of the aerosol generator 1.

[0033] The body 10 may be provided with a containment space that opens on one side into which the aerosol product 2 is inserted. The containment space that opens on one side can be called a containment chamber 43. The aerosol product 2 may contain an aerosol generating substance M. The aerosol product 2 may be in the form of a strip in which a plurality of pouches 21 (see Figures 2 and 3) containing the aerosol generating substance M are connected.

[0034] The containment chamber 43 can be formed by recessing into the body 10 to a predetermined depth so that it can contain the aerosol product 2. For example, the depth of the containment chamber 43 may correspond to the height of the strip when the aerosol product 2 is wound up.

[0035] A rotating shaft 41 may be positioned in the containment chamber 43. The rotating shaft 41 may be positioned in the center of the containment chamber 43 or adjacent to it. The rotating shaft 41 may be positioned along the longitudinal direction of the containment chamber 43. The rotating shaft 41 may be inserted into the hollow aerosol product 2 contained in the containment chamber 43. The rotating shaft 41 can rotate the aerosol product 2.

[0036] One end of the rotating shaft 41 can be coupled to a motor 42. The motor 42 can be located on one side of the housing chamber 43. For example, the motor 42 can be located on the underside of the housing chamber 43. The motor 42 can rotate the rotating shaft 41. The motor 42 can be operated by receiving power from the power supply 11 under the control of the control unit 12.

[0037] The body 10 may include a heating chamber 44. The heating chamber 44 may be positioned adjacent to the containment chamber 43. The heating chamber 44 may communicate with the containment chamber 43. The heating chamber 44 may communicate with the containment chamber 43 via a connecting chamber 45. The connecting chamber 45 is positioned between the heating chamber 44 and the containment chamber 43 and can connect the heating chamber 44 and the containment chamber 43. The heating chamber 44 may communicate with a discharge port 491. The discharge port 491 may face the connecting chamber 45 with respect to the heating chamber 44. The discharge port 491 may communicate with the outside of the body 10.

[0038] A heater 18 may be provided inside the heating chamber 44. The heater 18 can heat the pouch placed in the heating chamber 44. The heater 18 can heat the aerosol-generating substance M contained in the pouch to be heated.

[0039] The heater 18 may include a first heater plate 18A and a second heater plate 18B. The first heater plate 18A may have a flat plate shape. The first heater plate 18A may be positioned on one side of the heating chamber 44. For example, the first heater plate 18A may be positioned along the longitudinal direction (z-axis direction) of the heating chamber 44. The second heater plate 18B may have a flat plate shape. The second heater plate 18B may have a shape corresponding to the first heater plate 18A. The second heater plate 18B may be positioned on one side of the heating chamber 44. For example, the second heater plate 18B may be positioned along the longitudinal direction of the heating chamber 44. The second heater plate 18B may face the first heater plate 18A. The second heater plate 18B may be positioned parallel to the first heater plate 18A within the heating chamber 44.

[0040] The first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B may be arranged spaced apart in the depth direction (y-axis direction) of the heating chamber 44. The space formed between the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B may communicate with the housing chamber 43. The space formed between the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B may communicate with the housing chamber 43 via the connecting chamber 45. The space formed between the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B may communicate with the cartridge 19 and the mouthpiece 6. The space formed between the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B may communicate with the cartridge 19 and the mouthpiece 6 via the first flow path 47A on the lower side of the heating chamber 44 and the second flow path 47B on the upper side of the heating chamber 44.

[0041] On the other hand, the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B may be arranged along the width direction (x-axis direction) or depth direction (y-axis direction) of the heating chamber 44. In this case, the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B may be spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the heating chamber 44.

[0042] The heater 18 may include an electrical resistance heater and / or an induction heater.

[0043] For example, the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B may be resistive heaters. For example, the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B include an electrically conductive track, and the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B can be heated by current flowing through the electrically conductive track. The first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B can be electrically connected to a power supply 11. The first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B can directly generate heat by receiving power from the power supply 11.

[0044] For example, the aerosol generator 1 may include an induction coil surrounding at least one of the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B. The induction coil can heat the surrounding heater plate. The heater plate surrounded by the induction coil is a susceptor and can be heated by the magnetic field generated by the AC current flowing through the induction coil. The magnetic field penetrates the heater plate and can generate eddy currents inside the heater plate. The current can generate heat in the heater plate.

[0045] On the other hand, a susceptor can be included inside multiple pouches 21 of the aerosol product 2. The susceptor can be heated by the magnetic field generated by the AC current flowing through the induction coil.

[0046] A cartridge 19 can be attached to the body 10. The cartridge 19 may contain an aerosol-generating substance that is in one of the following states: liquid, solid, gaseous, or gel. The aerosol-generating substance may include a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid containing a tobacco-containing substance that includes volatile tobacco flavor components, or a liquid containing a non-tobacco substance.

[0047] The cartridge 19 can be detachably coupled to, housed in, or fitted into the body 10. The cartridge 19 may include a first chamber C1 and a second chamber C2. The first chamber C1 may be located above the second chamber C2. The first chamber C1 can store an aerosol-generating substance inside. The aerosol-generating substance may include a flavoring substance. The first chamber C1 may be formed of a transparent material such as plastic or glass.

[0048] The second chamber C2 may be located below the first chamber C1. The second chamber C2 may communicate with the first chamber C1. The first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 can communicate by providing a hole through which fluid can flow between them.

[0049] The second chamber C2 may be equipped with a wick 25 and a cartridge heater 24. The wick 25 is connected to the first chamber C1 and can receive liquid from the first chamber C1. The wick 25 may be impregnated with liquid. The wick 25 may be fixed inside the second chamber C2. The wick 25 may include cotton fibers, ceramic fibers, glass fibers, porous ceramics, and the like.

[0050] The cartridge heater 24 can wind the core 25. The electrically conductive track of the cartridge heater 24 may be formed in a coil-like structure for winding the core 25 or in a structure that contacts one side of the core 25. The cartridge heater 24 can generate heat to heat the core 25. The end of the cartridge heater 24 extends to one side of the second chamber C2 and may be electrically connected to an electrode located on one side of the cartridge 19.

[0051] A mouthpiece 6 can be detachably coupled to one side of the body 10. The mouthpiece 6 can communicate with the heating chamber 44. The mouthpiece 6 can communicate with the heating chamber 44 via a second flow path 47B above the heating chamber 44.

[0052] The mouthpiece 6 may include at least one filter 61 inside. The filter 61 may consist of multiple segments. For example, the filter 61 may include a first segment for cooling the aerosol and a second segment for filtering out predetermined components contained in the aerosol. If necessary, the filter 61 may further include at least one segment that performs other functions. The filter 61 may be a cellulose acetate filter.

[0053] When the cartridge heater 24 generates heat and heats the wick 25, an aerosol can be formed from the wick 25 into the second chamber C2. The air passing through the cartridge 19 is accompanied by the aerosol in the second chamber C2 and can flow into the heating chamber 44 through the first flow path 47A located at the upper end of the cartridge 19.

[0054] The aerosol generated in cartridge 19 can be mixed with the aerosol generated by heating the pouch to be heated, which is placed in the heating chamber 44, by the heater 18. The mixed aerosol can flow through the second channel 47B above the heating chamber 44 to the mouthpiece 6. The aerosol that has passed through the mouthpiece 6 can be inhaled by the user through the user's mouth.

[0055] Therefore, by supplying additional aerosol from cartridge 19, a rich amount of aerosol can be provided to the user, thereby increasing user satisfaction.

[0056] Furthermore, by providing an internal filter 61 and a detachable mouthpiece 6 relative to the body 10, the mouthpiece 6 can be replaced separately from the aerosol product 2, thereby extending the filter replacement cycle.

[0057] A first door 48 may be provided on one side of the body 10. The first door 48 can open and close the opening of the containment chamber 43. The first door 48 can open and close the opening of the containment chamber 43 by moving in a hinge or sliding manner. By opening and closing the opening of the containment chamber 43 with the first door 48, the aerosol product 2 can be easily inserted into the containment chamber 43, and foreign matter can be prevented from flowing into the containment chamber 43 from the outside.

[0058] The other side of the body 10 may be provided with a second door 492. The second door 492 can open and close the discharge port 491. The second door 492 can open and close the discharge port 491 by moving in a hinge or sliding manner. By opening and closing the discharge port 491 with the second door 492, the pouch inside the heating chamber 44 can be easily removed to the outside of the body 10.

[0059] The power supply 11 can supply power to the components of the aerosol generator so that they can operate. The power supply can be described as a battery. The power supply 11 can supply power to at least one of the control unit 12, sensor 13, heater 18, and cartridge 19. The power supply 11 can supply power to the motor 42. If the aerosol generator 1 includes an induction coil, the power supply 11 can supply power to the induction coil.

[0060] The control unit 12 can control the operation of the aerosol generator as a whole. The control unit 12 can control the operation of at least one of the following: the power supply 11, the sensor 13, the heater 18, and the cartridge 19. The control unit 12 can control the operation of the induction coil 181. The control unit 12 can control the operation of the display, motor, and other components installed in the aerosol generator.

[0061] Sensor 13 may include a pouch sensing sensor 138. The pouch sensing sensor 138 can sense an identification code 22 (see Figures 2 and 3) provided on a pouch placed in the connecting chamber 45. The pouch sensing sensor 138 may be embodied by an optical sensor capable of recognizing barcodes, 2D codes, etc.

[0062] The control unit 12 can analyze the results sensed by the sensor 13 and control subsequent processes. For example, the control unit 12 can control the power supplied to the heater 18 based on the results sensed by the sensor 13. For example, the control unit 12 can control the amount of power supplied to the heater 18 and / or the duration of power supply based on the results sensed by the sensor 13 so that the heater 18 is heated to a predetermined temperature or maintained at an appropriate temperature.

[0063] Figure 2 shows the aerosol product attached to an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure in an unfolded state, and Figure 3 shows the aerosol product attached to an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure in a wound state.

[0064] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the aerosol product 2 may be in the shape of a long, extended strap. The aerosol product 2 may also be in the shape of a strap formed by connecting multiple pouches 21. Each of the pouches 21A, 21B, and 21C may be connected to each other sequentially. Each of the pouches 21A, 21B, and 21C can contain the aerosol-generating substances M1, M2, and M3 inside.

[0065] For example, the aerosol-generating substances M1, M2, and M3 may contain, but are not limited to, at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol. Furthermore, each of the pouches 21A, 21B, and 21C may contain other additives such as flavoring agents, humectants, and / or organic acids. Additionally, each of the pouches 21A, 21B, and 21C may contain a fragrance liquid such as menthol or a humectant.

[0066] The aerosol-generating substances M1, M2, and M3 contained within each pouch 21A, 21B, and 21C may contain different substances from each other. The aerosol-generating substances M1, M2, and M3 contained within each pouch 21A, 21B, and 21C may contain different flavoring agents from each other.

[0067] Multiple pouches 21 can be made from flexible materials. Multiple pouches 21 can be made from common filter paper. For example, multiple pouches 21 can be made using porous paper, non-porous paper, PLA laminated paper, sterile paper, etc.

[0068] One side of pouches 21A, 21B, and 21C may be provided with an identification code 22. The identification code 22 may be printed on the surface of the pouch or affixed to the surface of the pouch. The identification code 22 may be a common barcode, a two-dimensional code, etc. One identification code 22 may be provided for each pouch. Within a single pouch, the identification code 22 may be located at the upper end of one side of the pouch. The identification code 22 may be located closer to the end of the strip than the aerosol-generating material, with the pouch positioned at the end of the strip.

[0069] The identification code 22 may include identification information about the pouch. For example, the identification code 22 may include at least one of the following: the type of aerosol-generating substance contained in the pouch, the volume of the aerosol-generating substance contained in the pouch, and the order in which the pouches are arranged on the strip.

[0070] Referring to Figure 3, the aerosol product 2 can be wound into a roll shape. Since the multiple pouches 21 are elastic, they can be wound into a roll shape. With the aerosol product 2 wound, it can be inserted into the containment chamber 43 of the body 10.

[0071] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0072] Referring to Figure 4, the aerosol product 2 can be inserted into the containment chamber 43 of the body 10. The aerosol product 2 can be inserted into the containment chamber 43 of the body 10, with a portion of the pouch 21A located at the very end of the strip being inserted into the connecting chamber 45 of the body 10, and the remaining rolled pouch 21 being inserted into the containment chamber 43 of the body 10.

[0073] The connecting chamber 45 may extend long in the left-right direction. The left-right width of the connecting chamber 45 may correspond to the left-right width of a single pouch. The pouch 21A located at the end of the strip may be placed inside the connecting chamber 45 in a flattened and spread-out state.

[0074] The first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B can move within the heating chamber 44. The heater movement circuit 182 can move at least one of the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B under the control of the control unit 12. For example, the heater movement circuit 182 may include a motor, rails, gears, etc. However, the heater movement circuit 182 is not limited to this and can be implemented in any form that can move the first and / or second heater plates 18A and 18B.

[0075] The first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B can move away from each other or towards each other in the front-to-back direction (y-axis direction) within a set separation distance range. When no pouch is placed in the heating chamber 44, the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B can be separated by a distance equal to or greater than the depth of the connecting chamber 45 in the front-to-back direction. When no pouch is placed in the heating chamber 44, the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B can be separated by a distance equal to or greater than the depth of the discharge port 491 in the front-to-back direction. When a pouch is placed in the heating chamber 44, the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B can be separated by a distance less than the depth of the connecting chamber 45 in the front-to-back direction.

[0076] The cutting section 46 may be positioned adjacent to the heating chamber 44. The cutting section 46 may be located between the housing chamber 43 and the heating chamber 44. The cutting section 46 may be positioned on one side of the connecting chamber 45. The cutting section 46 may include a cutter 46A with a sharply formed end and a cutter drive circuit 46B that moves the cutter 46A in the front-rear direction of the connecting chamber 45. The cutter drive circuit 46B may include a motor, rails, gears, etc. However, the cutter drive circuit 46B is not limited to these and can be implemented in any form that can move the cutter 46A.

[0077] The cutting unit 46 may be positioned within the connecting chamber 45, adjacent to the heating chamber 44. The cutting unit 46 can cut the pouch to be heated, which is placed inside the heating chamber 44, from the strip.

[0078] The pouch sensing sensor 138 may be positioned adjacent to the heating chamber 44. The pouch sensing sensor 138 may be positioned adjacent to the heating chamber 44 within the connecting chamber 45. The pouch sensing sensor 138 may face the cutting section 46 with respect to the connecting chamber 45. The pouch sensing sensor 138 may be positioned offset to the left or right from the cutter 46A of the cutting section 46. The pouch sensing sensor 138 can sense the identification code 22 provided on one side of each of the multiple pouches 21.

[0079] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the pouch heating operation of an aerosol generator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 6 is a diagram showing the pouch movement of an aerosol generator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 7 is a diagram showing the pouch pressing by the heater of an aerosol generator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 8 is a diagram showing the pouch cutting by the cutting section of an aerosol generator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and Figure 9 is a diagram showing the pouch removal of an aerosol generator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0080] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the control unit 12 can control the movement of the aerosol product 2 contained in the containment chamber 43. The control unit 12 can move pouch 21A, which is located at the end of the strip, from among the multiple pouches 21 of the aerosol product 2 into the heating chamber 44 (S510).

[0081] The control unit 12 can control the operation of the motor 42. The control unit 12 can control the power supply 11 to supply power to the motor 42. The motor 42 can rotate by a certain angle under the control of the control unit 12. The rotation of the motor 42 allows the pouch 21A of the aerosol product 2 to move into the heating chamber 44 within the connecting chamber 45. The pouch 21A that moves into the heating chamber 44 can be called the pouch 21A to be heated. The pouch 21A to be heated can move into the space between the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B within the heating chamber 44. The pouch 21A to be heated can move so that the aerosol generating substance M contained inside is positioned between the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B.

[0082] The control unit 12 can identify the pouch 21A to be heated (S520). The control unit 12 can identify the pouch 21A to be heated in response to the signal received from the pouch sensing sensor 138. The control unit 12 can identify at least one of the following: the type of aerosol-generating substance M contained in the pouch 21A to be heated, the volume of the aerosol-generating substance M, and the order in which the pouches 21A to be heated are arranged on the strip.

[0083] The pouch sensing sensor 138 can sense the identification code 22 provided on the pouch 21A to be heated. The pouch sensing sensor 138 can sense the identification code 22 when the pouch 21A to be heated is housed in the connecting chamber 45, or it can sense the identification code 22 during the process of the pouch 21A moving into the heating chamber 44.

[0084] The control unit 12 can determine a heating profile based on the identification result (S530). The control unit 12 can determine a heating profile for heating the aerosol-generating substance M in the pouch 21A to be heated. The heating profile may include a preheating section and at least one of the at least one heating section. The preheating section and at least one heating section may include information such as the target heating temperature and heating time for each section. The control unit 12 can determine the target heating temperature and heating time for each section based on the type of identified aerosol-generating substance M, the volume of the aerosol-generating substance M, etc.

[0085] Therefore, by identifying the pouch to be heated and setting a heating profile, the heater's heating can be controlled to match the characteristics of the aerosol-generating substance.

[0086] Referring to Figure 7 together with Figure 5, the control unit 12 can control the power supplied to the heater 18 based on the determined heating profile (S540). The control unit 12 can control at least one of the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B to move. The control unit 12 can control the heater movement circuit 182 to move at least one of the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B.

[0087] With the pouch 21A to be heated placed inside the heating chamber 44, at least one of the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B can be moved in the front-rear direction so as to reduce the distance between them. As at least one of the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B moves, the pouch 21A to be heated is pressed in the front-rear direction by the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B and can come into contact with the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B.

[0088] The control unit 12 can control the power supplied from the power supply 11 to the heater 18. The first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B generate heat, which allows aerosols to be generated from the aerosol-generating substance M in the pouch 21A to be heated.

[0089] Therefore, by moving the heater and pressing it against the pouch to be heated, the contact area between the heater and the aerosol-generating substance can be increased, thereby improving heating efficiency.

[0090] Referring to Figures 8 and 9 together with Figure 5, the control unit 12 can control the cutting of the pouch 21A after the heating of the pouch 21A has finished (S550). The control unit 12 controls the cutting unit 46, and the cutter 46A can cut the pouch 21A to be heated.

[0091] The cutter drive circuit 46B can move the cutter 46A under the control of the control unit 12. The cutter drive circuit 46B can move the cutter 46A so that it crosses the connecting chamber 45 in the depth direction of the connecting chamber 45. As the cutter 46A moves, the pointed part on one side of the cutter 46A can cut between the pouch 21A to be heated and the pouch 21B connected to the pouch 21A to be heated.

[0092] The control unit 12 can control the movement of at least one of the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B after the heating of the pouch 21A to be heated is completed. The control unit 12 can control the heater movement circuit 182 to move at least one of the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B.

[0093] At least one of the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B can move in the front-rear direction so as to increase the distance between them. By moving at least one of the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B, the pouch 21A to be heated can be separated from the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B in the front-rear direction.

[0094] The pouch 21A to be heated, which has been cut from the aerosol product 2 strip, can be removed from the body 10. After cutting the pouch 21A to be heated, the control unit 12 can control the output unit 14 (see Figure 10) and output information to guide the removal of the pouch. The user can open the second door 492 and remove the cut pouch 21A from the body 10.

[0095] Therefore, after the heater heating is complete, the heated pouch can be easily cut to remove the used aerosol-generating substance.

[0096] After the pouch 21A to be heated is removed, the control unit 12 can control the movement of the aerosol product 2 contained in the containment chamber 43. The control unit 12 can move pouch 21B, which is located at the end of the strip among the multiple pouches 21 of the aerosol product 2, into the heating chamber 44.

[0097] The control unit 12 can control the operation of the motor 42. The control unit 12 can control the operation of the motor 42 based on the identification information of the pouch 21A identified in the previous S520 process. The control unit 12 can control the rotation angle of the motor 42 based on the order information of the pouch 21A arranged on the strip. The control unit 12 can control the rotation angle of the motor 42 to increase as the order of the pouches arranged on the strip increases.

[0098] Memory 17 (see Figure 10) can pre-store information matching the order in which the pouches are placed on the strip with the rotation angle of the motor. The control unit 12 compares the matching information stored in memory 17 with the order in which the pouches 21A are placed on the strip, and can control the rotation angle of the motor 42 based on the comparison result.

[0099] In the aerosol product 2 strip, the further inside the roll a pouch is located, the greater the angle at which the roll must be rotated in order to move that pouch into the heating chamber 44. The control unit 12 can accurately move the pouch into the heating chamber 44 by controlling the rotation angle of the motor 42 based on the order information of the pouches 21A being placed on the strip.

[0100] Figure 10 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0101] The aerosol generator 1 may include a power supply unit 11, a control unit 12, a sensor 13, an output unit 14, an input unit 15, a communication unit 16, a memory 17, and at least one heater 18, 24. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generator 1 is not limited to that shown in Figure 10. In other words, it will be understood by those with ordinary skill in the art relating to this embodiment that the design of the aerosol generator 1 may allow for the omission of some of the components shown in Figure 10 or the addition of new components.

[0102] The sensor 13 can sense the state of the aerosol generator 1 or the state of the area around the aerosol generator 1, and transmit the sensed information to the control unit 12. Based on the sensed information, the control unit 12 can control the aerosol generator 1 to perform various functions such as controlling the operation of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18, restricting smoking, determining whether a stick S and / or cartridge 19 has been inserted, and displaying notifications.

[0103] Sensor 13 may include at least one of the following: temperature sensor 131, puff sensor 132, insertion sensor 133, reuse sensor 134, cartridge sensor 135, upper case sensor 136, motion sensor 137, and battery sensor 138.

[0104] The temperature sensor 131 can sense the temperature at which the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 are heated. The aerosol generator 1 may include a separate temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18, or the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 themselves may act as a temperature sensor.

[0105] The temperature sensor 131 can output a signal corresponding to the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18. For example, the temperature sensor 131 may include a resistive element whose resistance changes in response to temperature changes in the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18. The temperature sensor 131 can be implemented using a thermistor or other element that utilizes the property that resistance changes with temperature. Here, the temperature sensor 131 can output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the resistive element as a signal corresponding to the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18. For example, the temperature sensor 131 may be configured as a sensor that detects the resistance value of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18. Here, the temperature sensor 131 can output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 as a signal corresponding to the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18.

[0106] The temperature sensor 131 may be positioned around the power supply unit 11 to monitor its temperature. The temperature sensor 131 may be positioned adjacent to the power supply unit 11. For example, the temperature sensor 131 may be attached to one side of the battery, which is the power supply unit 11. For example, the temperature sensor 131 may be mounted on one side of a printed circuit board.

[0107] The temperature sensor 131 is located inside the body 10 and can sense the internal temperature of the body 10. The temperature sensor 131 is located outside the body 10 or in a space communicating with the outside of the body 10 and can sense the external temperature of the body 10 or the ambient temperature.

[0108] The puff sensor 132 can detect a user's puff based on various physical changes in the airflow. The puff sensor 132 can output a signal corresponding to the puff. For example, the puff sensor 132 may be a pressure sensor. The puff sensor 132 can output a signal corresponding to the internal pressure of the aerosol generator. Here, the internal pressure of the aerosol generator 1 may correspond to the pressure of the airflow through which the gas flows. The puff sensor 132 may be positioned in the aerosol generator 1 in a manner corresponding to the airflow through which the gas flows.

[0109] The stick sensing sensor 133 can detect the insertion and / or removal of the stick S. The stick sensing sensor can be described as an insertion sensing sensor. The insertion sensing sensor 133 can detect a signal change caused by the insertion and / or removal of the stick S. The insertion sensing sensor 133 may be provided around the insertion space. The insertion sensing sensor 133 can detect the insertion and / or removal of the stick S by a change in dielectric constant inside the insertion space. For example, the insertion sensing sensor 133 may be an inductive sensor and / or a capacitance sensor.

[0110] An induction sensor may include at least one coil. The coil of the induction sensor may be positioned adjacent to the insertion space. For example, if the magnetic field changes around a coil through which current flows, the characteristics of the current flowing through the coil may change according to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. Here, the characteristics of the current flowing through the coil may include the frequency of the alternating current, the current value, the voltage value, the inductance value, the impedance value, etc.

[0111] Induction sensors can output signals that correspond to the characteristics of the current flowing through a coil. For example, an induction sensor can output a signal that corresponds to the inductance value of a coil.

[0112] A capacitance sensor may include a conductor. The conductor of the capacitance sensor may be positioned adjacent to the insertion space. The capacitance sensor can output a signal corresponding to the surrounding electromagnetic properties, such as the capacitance around the conductor. For example, if a stick 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.

[0113] The reuse detection sensor 134 can detect whether the stick S has been reused. The reuse detection sensor 134 may also be a color sensor. The color sensor can detect the hue of the stick S. The color sensor can detect the hue of a portion of the wrapper surrounding the outside of the stick S. The color sensor can detect a value for an optical property corresponding to the hue of an object based on light reflected from the object. For example, the optical property may be the wavelength of light. The color sensor may be implemented as an integrated configuration with the proximity sensor, or as a separate configuration separated from the proximity sensor.

[0114] At least a portion of the wrapper constituting the stick S can change hue due to aerosols. The reuse sensing sensor 134 may be positioned corresponding to the location where at least a portion of the wrapper whose hue changes due to aerosols is 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 wrapper may have a first hue. Here, as the aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 1 passes through the stick S, at least a portion of the wrapper becomes wet with the aerosol, causing the hue of at least a portion of the wrapper to change to a second hue. On the other hand, after the hue of at least a portion of the wrapper has changed from the first hue to the second hue, it may be maintained at the second hue.

[0115] The cartridge sensing sensor 135 can detect the insertion and / or removal of the cartridge 19. The cartridge sensing sensor 135 can be implemented as an inductance-based sensor, a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor, or a Hall sensor (Hall IC) using the Hall effect.

[0116] The upper case sensing sensor 136 can detect the installation and / or removal of the upper case. When the upper case 200 is separated from the body 10, the cartridge 19 and a portion of the body 10 that were covered by the upper case 200 may be exposed to the outside. The upper case sensing sensor 136 can be implemented as a contact sensor, a Hall sensor (Hall IC), an optical sensor, or the like.

[0117] The motion sensing sensor 137 can detect the movement of the aerosol generator. The motion sensing sensor 137 can be implemented using at least one of an accelerometer and a gyro sensor.

[0118] The pouch sensing sensor 138 can sense the identification code provided on the pouch. The pouch sensing sensor 138 can be implemented using an optical sensor that can recognize barcodes, 2D codes, etc.

[0119] Sensor 13 may further include at least one of the following, in addition to the sensors 131 to 138 described above: a humidity sensor, a position sensor (GPS), a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, and a proximity sensor. The function of each sensor can be intuitively inferred by a person skilled in the art from its name, so a detailed explanation can be omitted.

[0120] The output unit 14 can output and provide to the user information about the status of the aerosol generator 1. The output unit 14 may include, but is not limited to, a display 141, a haptic unit 142, and an acoustic output unit 143. If the display 141 and the touchpad form a layered structure and constitute a touchscreen, the display unit 141 can be used as an input device in addition to an output device.

[0121] The display 141 can visually provide the user with information about the aerosol generator 1. For example, the information about the aerosol generator 1 can include various types of information such as the charging / discharging status of the power supply unit 11 of the aerosol generator 1, the preheating status of the heater 18, the insertion / removal status of the stick S and / or cartridge 19, the mounting / removal status of the upper case, or a state in which the use of the aerosol generator 1 is restricted (e.g., detection of an abnormal object), and the display 141 can output this information to the outside. For example, the display 141 may be in the form of an LED light-emitting element. For example, the display 141 may be a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light-emitting display panel (OLED), etc.

[0122] The haptic unit 142 can convert electrical signals into mechanical or electrical stimuli, providing the user with tactile information about the aerosol generator 1. For example, if initial power is supplied to the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 during a set time, the haptic unit 142 can generate vibrations corresponding to the completion of initial preheating. The haptic unit 142 may include a vibration motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulator.

[0123] The acoustic output unit 143 can provide the user with auditory information about the aerosol generator 1. For example, the acoustic output unit 143 can convert electrical signals into acoustic signals and output them externally.

[0124] The power supply unit 11 can supply the power used to operate the aerosol generator 1. The power supply unit 11 can supply power so that the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 can be heated. The power supply unit 11 can also supply the power necessary for the operation of other components provided in the aerosol generator 1, namely the sensor 13, output unit 14, input unit 15, communication unit 16, and memory 17. The power supply unit 11 may include at least one of a supercapacitor 111 and a battery 112. The battery 112 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 112 may be, but is not limited to, a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery.

[0125] Although not shown in Figure 10, the aerosol generator 1 may further include a power protection circuit. The power protection circuit is electrically connected to the power supply unit 11 and may include a switching element.

[0126] The power protection circuit can shut off the circuit to the power supply unit 11 under predetermined conditions. For example, the power protection circuit can shut off the circuit to the power supply unit 11 if the voltage level of the power supply unit 11 is equal to or greater than a first voltage corresponding to overcharging. For example, the power protection circuit can shut off the circuit to the power supply unit 11 if the voltage level of the power supply unit 11 is less than a second voltage corresponding to over-discharge.

[0127] The heater 18 receives power from the power supply unit 11 and can heat the medium or aerosol-generating material inside the stick S. Although not shown in Figure 10, the aerosol generator 1 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a DC / DC converter) that converts the power from the power supply unit 11 and supplies it to the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18. Furthermore, if the aerosol generator 1 generates aerosols using an induction heating method, the aerosol generator 1 may further include a DC / AC converter that converts the DC power supply from the power supply unit 11 to an AC power supply.

[0128] The control unit 12, sensor 13, output unit 14, input unit 15, communication unit 16, and memory 17 can function by receiving power from the power supply unit 11. Although not shown in Figure 10, a power conversion circuit, such as an LDO (low dropout) circuit or a constant voltage circuit, may be further included to convert the power from the power supply unit 11 and supply it to each component. Also, although not shown in Figure 10, a noise filter may be provided between the power supply unit 11 and the heater 18. The noise filter may be a low-pass filter. The low-pass filter may include at least one inductor and a capacitor. The cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter may correspond to the frequency of the high-frequency switching current applied from the power supply unit 11 to the heater 18. The low-pass filter prevents high-frequency noise components from being applied to the sensor 13, such as the insertion sensing sensor 133.

[0129] In one embodiment, the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 may be formed from any suitable electrical resistant material. For example, suitable electrical resistant materials may be, but are not limited to, metals or metal alloys including titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, nichrome, etc. Also, the heater 18 may be, but is not limited to, a metal heating wire, a metal heating plate on which an electrically conductive track is arranged, a ceramic heating element, etc.

[0130] In other embodiments, the heater 18 may be an induction heating type heater. For example, the heater 18 may include a susceptor that generates heat by a magnetic field applied by a coil and heats the aerosol-generating material.

[0131] The input unit 15 can receive information input from the user or output information to the user. For example, the input unit 15 may be a touch panel. The touch panel may include at least one touch sensor that senses touch. For example, the touch sensor may include, but is not limited to, a capacitive touch sensor, a resistive touch sensor, an ultrasonic touch sensor (surface acoustic wave touch sensor), or an infrared touch sensor. For example, the input unit 15 may include a biorecognition sensor. The biorecognition sensor can sense user-identifiable information such as the user's fingerprint or iris.

[0132] The display 141 and the touch panel can be realized by a single panel. For example, the touch panel can be embedded within the display 141 (on-cell type or in-cell type). For example, the touch panel may be added on top of the display panel 141 (add-on type).

[0133] On the other hand, the input section 15 may include, but is not limited to, buttons, keypads, dome switches, jog wheels, jog switches, etc.

[0134] Memory 17 is hardware that stores various data processed within the aerosol generator 1, and can store data processed by the control unit 12 and data to be processed. Memory 17 can 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 17 can store data such as the operating time of the aerosol generator 1, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, and the user's smoking pattern.

[0135] The communication unit 16 may include at least one component for communication with other electronic devices. For example, the communication unit 16 may include at least one of a short-range communication unit and a wireless communication unit.

[0136] The short-range wireless communication unit may include, but is not limited to, a Bluetooth® communication unit, a BLE (Bluetooth® Low Energy) communication unit, a Near Field Communication unit, a WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication unit, a Zigbee® communication unit, an infrared (IrDA, infrared Data Association) communication unit, a WFD (Wi-Fi Direct) communication unit, a UWB (ultra wideband) communication unit, an Ant+ communication unit, and the like.

[0137] The wireless communication unit may include, but is not limited to, a cellular network communication unit, an Internet communication unit, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or WAN) communication unit.

[0138] Although not shown in Figure 10, the aerosol generator 1 further includes a connection interface such as a USB (universal serial bus) interface, and can connect to other external devices via such a connection interface to send and receive information or charge the power supply unit 11.

[0139] The control unit 12 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generator 1. In one embodiment, the control unit 12 may include at least one processor. The processor can also be realized by an array of numerous logic gates, or by a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and memory storing a program executable by this microprocessor. It is also understandable to those with ordinary skill in the art to which this embodiment belongs that it can be realized by other forms of hardware.

[0140] The control unit 12 can control the temperature of the heater 18 by controlling the supply of power from the power supply unit 11 to the heater 18. The control unit 12 can control the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 based on the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 sensed by the temperature sensor 131. The control unit 12 can adjust the power supplied to the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 based on the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18. For example, the control unit 12 can determine a target temperature for the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 based on a temperature profile stored in the memory 17.

[0141] The aerosol generator 1 may include a power supply circuit (not shown) electrically connected to the power supply unit 11 between the power supply unit 11 and the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18. The power supply circuit may be electrically connected to the cartridge heater 24, heater 18, or induction coil 181. The power supply circuit may include at least one switching element. The switching element can be embodied by a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), a field-effect transistor (FET), or the like. The control unit 12 can control the power supply circuit.

[0142] The control unit 12 can control the power supply by controlling the switching of the switching elements of the power supply circuit. The power supply circuit may be an inverter that converts the DC power output from the power supply unit 11 into AC power. For example, the inverter can be configured as a full-bridge circuit or a half-bridge circuit including multiple switching elements.

[0143] The control unit 12 can turn on the switching element so that power is supplied from the power supply unit 11 to the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18. The control unit 12 can turn off the switching element so that power is cut off to the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18. The control unit 12 can adjust the current supplied from the power supply unit 11 by adjusting the frequency and / or duty cycle of the current pulse input to the switching element.

[0144] The control unit 12 can control the voltage output from the power supply unit 11 by controlling the switching of the switching elements in the power supply circuit. The power conversion circuit can convert the voltage output from the power supply unit 11. For example, the power conversion circuit may include a buck converter that steps down the voltage output from the power supply unit 11. For example, the power conversion circuit can be implemented using a buck-boost converter, a Zener diode, or the like.

[0145] The control unit 12 can adjust the voltage level output from the power conversion circuit by controlling the on / off operation of the switching element included in the power supply circuit. When the switching element remains in the on state, the voltage level output from the power conversion circuit may correspond to the voltage level output from the power supply unit 11. The duty cycle for the on / off operation of the switching element may correspond to the ratio of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit to the voltage output from the power supply unit 11. The lower the duty cycle for the on / off operation of the switching element, the lower the voltage level output from the power conversion circuit can be. The heater 18 may be heated based on the voltage output from the power conversion circuit.

[0146] The control unit 12 can control the supply of power to the heater 18 using at least one of the following methods: pulse width modulation (PWM) and proportional-integral-differential (PID).

[0147] For example, the control unit 12 can use a PWM method to control the supply of current pulses having a predetermined frequency and duty cycle to the heater 18. The control unit 12 can control the power supplied to the heater 18 by adjusting the frequency and duty cycle of the current pulses.

[0148] For example, the control unit 12 can determine a target temperature for control based on the temperature profile. The control unit 12 can control the power supplied to the heater 18 using a PID method, which is a feedback control method that uses the difference between the heater temperature 18 and the target temperature, the integral of the difference over time, and the derivative of the difference over time.

[0149] The control unit 12 can prevent the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 from overheating. For example, the control unit 12 can control the operation of the power conversion circuit to interrupt the power supply to the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 if the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 exceeds a previously set limit temperature. For example, the control unit 12 can reduce the amount of power supplied to the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 by a certain ratio if the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 exceeds a previously set limit temperature. For example, if the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 exceeds the limit temperature, the control unit 12 can determine that the aerosol-generating material contained in the cartridge 19 has been exhausted and can cut off the power supply to the cartridge heater 24.

[0150] The control unit 12 can control the charging and discharging of the power supply unit 11. The control unit 12 can check the temperature of the power supply unit 11 according to the output signal of the temperature sensor 131.

[0151] When a power line is connected to the battery terminal of the aerosol generator 1, the control unit 12 can check whether the temperature of the power supply unit 11 is equal to or above a first limiting temperature, which is the criterion for shutting off the charging of the power supply unit 11. If the temperature of the power supply unit 11 is below the first limiting temperature, the control unit 12 can control the charging of the power supply unit 11 based on a previously set charging current. If the temperature of the power supply unit 11 is equal to or above the first limiting temperature, the control unit 12 can shut off the charging of the power supply unit 11.

[0152] With the aerosol generator 1 powered on, the control unit 12 can check whether the temperature of the power supply unit 11 is above the second limiting temperature, which is the criterion for shutting off the discharge of the power supply unit 11. If the temperature of the power supply unit 11 is below the second limiting temperature, the control unit 12 can control the system to use the power stored in the power supply unit 11. If the temperature of the power supply unit 11 is above the second limiting temperature, the control unit 12 can interrupt the use of the power stored in the power supply unit 11.

[0153] The control unit 12 can calculate the remaining capacity of the power supply unit 11 relative to the power stored in the power supply unit 11. For example, the control unit 12 can calculate the remaining capacity of the power supply unit 11 based on the voltage and / or current sensing values ​​of the power supply unit 11.

[0154] The control unit 12 can determine whether the stick S is inserted into the insertion space using the insertion sensing sensor 133. The control unit 12 can determine that the stick S has been inserted based on the output signal from the insertion sensing sensor 133. If it determines that the stick S has been inserted into the insertion space, the control unit 12 can control the supply of power to the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18. For example, the control unit 12 can supply power to the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 based on the temperature profile stored in the memory 17.

[0155] The control unit 12 can determine whether the stick S has been removed from the insertion space. For example, the control unit 12 can determine whether the stick S has been removed from the insertion space using the insertion sensing sensor 133. For example, the control unit 12 can determine that the stick S has been removed from the insertion space if the temperature of the heater 18 is above a limit temperature or if the temperature change gradient of the heater 18 is above a set gradient. If the control unit 12 determines that the stick S has been removed from the insertion space, it can cut off the power supply to the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18.

[0156] The control unit 12 can control the power supply time and / or power supply amount to the heater 18 based on the state of the stick S sensed by the sensor 13. The control unit 12 can check the level range that includes the level of the capacitance sensor signal based on a lookup table. The control unit 12 can determine the amount of moisture in the stick S based on the checked level range.

[0157] If the stick S is in an over-humidified state, the control unit 12 can control the power supply time to the heater 18, thereby increasing the preheating time of the stick S compared to normal conditions.

[0158] The control unit 12 can determine whether the stick S inserted into the insertion space has been reused by the reuse sensing sensor 134. For example, the control unit 12 can compare the sensing value of the reuse sensing sensor signal with a first reference range that includes a first hue, and if the sensing value falls within the first reference range, it can determine that the stick S has not been used. For example, the control unit 12 can compare the sensing value of the reuse sensing sensor signal with a second reference range that includes a second hue, and if the sensing value falls within the second reference range, it can determine that the stick S has been used. If it is determined that the stick S has been used, the control unit 12 can cut off the power supply to the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18.

[0159] The control unit 12 can determine the coupling and / or removal of the cartridge 19 based on the cartridge sensing sensor 135. For example, the control unit 12 can determine the coupling and / or removal of the cartridge 19 based on the sensing value of the signal from the cartridge sensing sensor.

[0160] The control unit 12 can determine whether the aerosol-generating material in the cartridge 19 has been depleted. For example, the control unit 12 can preheat the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 by applying power, and determine whether the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 exceeds a limit temperature during the preheating period. If the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 exceeds the limit temperature, the control unit 12 can determine that the aerosol-generating material in the cartridge 19 has been depleted. If the control unit 12 determines that the aerosol-generating material in the cartridge 19 has been depleted, it can cut off the power supply to the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18.

[0161] The control unit 12 can determine whether the cartridge 19 has been used. For example, based on the data stored in the memory 17, the control unit 12 can determine that the cartridge 19 cannot be used if the current number of puffs is greater than or equal to the maximum number of puffs set for the cartridge 19. For example, the control unit 12 can determine that the cartridge 19 cannot be used if the total time the heater 24 has been heated is greater than or equal to a previously set maximum time, or if the total amount of power supplied to the heater 24 is greater than or equal to a previously set maximum amount of power.

[0162] The control unit 12 can make decisions regarding the user's inhalation based on the puff sensor 132. For example, the control unit 12 can determine whether a puff has occurred based on the sensing value of the signal from the puff sensor. For example, the control unit 12 can determine the intensity of the puff based on the sensing value of the signal from the puff sensor 132. If the number of puffs reaches a pre-set maximum number of puffs or if no puff is detected for a period of time longer than a pre-set time, the control unit 12 can cut off the power supply to the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18.

[0163] The control unit 12 can determine whether to connect and / or remove the upper case based on the upper case sensing sensor 136. For example, the control unit 12 can determine whether to connect and / or remove the upper case based on the sensing value of the signal from the upper case sensing sensor.

[0164] The control unit 12 can control the output unit 14 based on the results sensed by the sensor 13. For example, when the number of puffs counted by the puff sensor 132 reaches a pre-set number, the control unit 12 can notify the user that the aerosol generator 1 will immediately shut off via at least one of the display 141, the haptic unit 142, and the acoustic output unit 143. For example, if the control unit 12 determines that there is no stick S in the insertion space, it can notify the user via the output unit 14. For example, if the control unit 12 determines that the cartridge 19 and / or upper case have not been installed, it can notify the user via the output unit 14. For example, the control unit 12 can transmit information about the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18 to the user via the output unit 14.

[0165] The control unit 12 can save and update the history of the event in the memory 17 when a predetermined event occurs. Events can include operations performed by the aerosol generator 1, such as detection of stick S insertion, start of stick S heating, puff detection, end of puffing, detection of overheating of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18, detection of overvoltage application to the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18, end of stick S heating, on / off of the aerosol generator 1, start of charging of the power supply unit 11, detection of overcharge of the power supply unit 11, and end of charging of the power supply unit 11. The history of the event can 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 can include data such as the sensing value of the insertion detection sensor 133. For example, if a predetermined event is the detection of overheating of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18, the log data corresponding to the event may include data such as the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18, the voltage applied to the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18, and the current flowing through the cartridge heater 24 and / or heater 18.

[0166] The control unit 12 can be controlled to form a communication link with an external device, such as the user's mobile terminal. Upon receiving authentication data from the external device via the communication link, the control unit 12 can remove the restriction on the use of at least one function of the aerosol generator 1. Here, the authentication data may include data indicating the completion of user authentication for the user corresponding to the external device. The user can perform user authentication via the external device. The external device can determine whether the user data is valid based on the user's date of birth, a unique number identifying the user, etc., and can receive data regarding the right to use the aerosol generator 1 from an external server. Based on the data regarding the right to use, the external device can transmit data indicating the completion of user authentication to the aerosol generator 1. Once user authentication is complete, the control unit 12 can remove the restriction on the use of at least one function of the aerosol generator 1. For example, once user authentication is complete, the control unit 12 can remove the restriction on the use of the heating function that supplies power to the heater 18.

[0167] The control unit 12 can transmit data about the status of the aerosol generator 1 to the external device via a communication link formed with the external device. Based on the received status data, the external device can output the remaining capacity of the power supply unit 11 of the aerosol generator 1, the operating mode, and other information via the external device's display.

[0168] An external device can transmit a location search request to the aerosol generator 1 based on an input that initiates a location search for the aerosol generator 1. When the control unit 12 receives a location search request from the external device, it can control at least one of the output devices to perform an operation corresponding to the location search based on the received location search request. For example, the haptic unit 142 can generate vibrations in response to the location search request. For example, the display 141 can output an object corresponding to the location search and the end of the search in response to the location search request.

[0169] The control unit 12 can control the aerosol generator 1 to perform a firmware update when it receives firmware data from an external device. The external device can check the current firmware version of the aerosol generator 1 and determine if a new firmware version is available. When the external device receives an input requesting a firmware download, it can receive the new firmware data and transmit the new firmware data to the aerosol generator 1. When the control unit 12 receives the new firmware data, it can control the aerosol generator 1 to perform a firmware update.

[0170] The control unit 12 can transmit data about the sensing values ​​of at least one sensor 13 to an external server (not shown) via the communication unit 16, learn the sensing values ​​from the server via machine learning such as deep learning, and receive and store the generated learning model. Using the learning model received from the server, the control unit 12 can perform operations such as determining the user's inhalation pattern and generating a temperature profile. The control unit 12 can store the sensing value data of at least one sensor 13 and data for training an artificial neural network (ANN) in the memory 17. For example, the memory 17 can store a database of each component provided in the aerosol generator 1, weights and biases that make up the artificial neural network (ANN) structure, etc., for training the artificial neural network (ANN). The control unit 12 can learn the data about the sensing values ​​of at least one sensor 13, the user's inhalation pattern, the temperature profile, etc., stored in the memory 17, and generate at least one learning model used for determining the user's inhalation pattern and generating a temperature profile.

[0171] As described above, according to at least one of the embodiments of this disclosure, a sufficient amount of aerosol can be provided to the user by containing and heating an aerosol product in the form of a strip, which is made up of multiple pouches containing aerosol-generating material linked together.

[0172] According to at least one of the embodiments of this disclosure, a variety of flavors can be provided to the user by heating a plurality of pouches containing different aerosol-generating substances.

[0173] According to at least one of the embodiments of this disclosure, the heating of the heater can be controlled to match the characteristics of the aerosol-generating material by identifying the pouch to be heated and setting a heating profile.

[0174] According to at least one of the embodiments of this disclosure, the heating efficiency can be improved by increasing the contact area between the heater and the aerosol-generating substance by moving the heater and pressing it against the pouch to be heated.

[0175] According to at least one of the embodiments of this disclosure, the used aerosol-generating material can be easily removed by cutting the heated pouch after the heater heating is completed.

[0176] According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the filter replacement cycle can be extended by including a filter and a replaceable mouthpiece.

[0177] Referring to Figures 1 to 10, an aerosol generating apparatus 1 according to one aspect of the present disclosure may include a body 10, a strip-shaped aerosol product 2 in which a plurality of pouches 21 containing aerosol generating material are connected and detachably coupled to the body 10, and a heater 18 for heating the aerosol generating material contained in pouch 21A, which is to be heated and placed in a heating chamber 44.

[0178] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the body 10 comprises a containment chamber 43 provided on one side of the heater 18 for containing the aerosol product 2, a rotating shaft 41 positioned in the containment chamber 43 and inserted into the hollow of the aerosol product 2, and a motor 42 connected to the rotating shaft 41 for rotating the rotating shaft 41, wherein a pouch 21A, which is one of the plurality of pouches 21 and is positioned at one end of the strip, can be moved into the heating chamber 44 as the aerosol product 2 rotates due to the drive of the motor 42.

[0179] Furthermore, according to other aspects of this disclosure, the heater 18 includes a first heater plate 18A and a second heater plate 18B facing the first heater plate 18A, wherein the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B can contact the pouch 21A to be heated and heat the pouch 21A to be heated.

[0180] Furthermore, according to other aspects of the present disclosure, the present invention further includes a heater moving circuit 182 for moving at least one of the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B, the heater moving circuit 182 being able to move at least one of the first heater plate 18A and the second heater plate 18B to press against the pouch 21A to be heated or to move away from the pouch 21A to be heated.

[0181] Furthermore, according to another aspect of this disclosure, the invention further includes a pouch sensing sensor 138 positioned adjacent to the heating chamber 44, the pouch sensing sensor 138 capable of sensing identification codes 22 provided on one side of each of the plurality of pouches 21.

[0182] Furthermore, according to other aspects of this disclosure, the identification code 22 may include at least one of the type of aerosol-generating substance contained in the pouch, the volume of the aerosol-generating substance, and the order in which the pouches are arranged on the strip.

[0183] Furthermore, according to other aspects of the present disclosure, the system further includes a control unit 12 which can identify the pouch 21A to be heated in response to a signal received from the pouch sensing sensor 138 and determine a heating profile for heating the aerosol-generating material in the pouch 21A to be heated based on the identified result.

[0184] Furthermore, according to other aspects of this disclosure, a cutting unit 46 may be included, which is positioned adjacent to the heating chamber 44 and cuts the pouch 21A to be heated from the strip.

[0185] Furthermore, according to other aspects of this disclosure, the control unit 12 includes,

[0186] The control unit 12 controls the power supplied from the power supply 11 to the heater 18, and when the heating of the pouch 21A by the heater 18 is finished, it can control the cutting unit 46 to cut the pouch 21A.

[0187] Furthermore, according to other aspects of this disclosure, the present invention may further include a cartridge 19 coupled to the body 10, the cartridge 19 comprising: a first chamber C1 containing a liquid aerosol-generating substance; and a second chamber C2 communicating with the first chamber C1 and containing a wick 25 impregnated with the liquid aerosol-generating substance and a cartridge heater 24 for heating the wick 25.

[0188] Furthermore, according to other aspects of this disclosure, the present invention may further include a mouthpiece 6 that is detachably coupled to the body 10 and positioned between the heating chamber 44 and the outside of the body 10, the mouthpiece 6 may include at least one filter 61.

[0189] The specific or other embodiments of the present disclosure described above are not mutually exclusive or distinguishable. The specific or other embodiments of the present disclosure described above may be used in combination or in combination with each other in terms of their respective configurations or functions.

[0190] For example, this means that configuration A described in a particular embodiment and / or drawing can be combined with configuration B described in other embodiments and / or drawings. In other words, even if a combination of configurations is not directly described, it means that such a combination is possible unless it is explicitly stated that such a combination is not possible.

[0191] The foregoing detailed description should not be interpreted restrictively in any way and should be considered illustrative. The scope of the invention should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the equivalent scope of the invention are included within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. The body and, The aerosol product is in the form of a strip, with a plurality of pouches containing aerosol-generating material connected to the body, and the latter being detachably attached to the body. an aerosol generating apparatus comprising: a heater for heating an aerosol generating substance contained in a pouch to be heated, which is placed in a heating chamber among the plurality of pouches; and a heater for heating the aerosol generating substance contained in the pouch to be heated.

2. The aforementioned body is A containment chamber provided on one side of the heater for containing the aerosol product, A rotating shaft is placed in the aforementioned containment chamber and inserted into the hollow of the aerosol product, The system includes a motor connected to the aforementioned rotating shaft and used to rotate the aforementioned rotating shaft, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pouch among the plurality of pouches, which is located at one end of the strip, moves into the heating chamber as the aerosol product rotates due to the drive of the motor.

3. The aforementioned heater is First heater plate and The invention includes a second heater plate facing the first heater plate, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first heater plate and the second heater plate contact the pouch to be heated and heat the pouch to be heated.

4. The system further includes a heater movement circuit for moving at least one of the first heater plate and the second heater plate, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the first heater plate and the second heater plate is moved by the heater movement circuit to press against the pouch to be heated or to move away from the pouch to be heated.

5. The system further includes a pouch sensing sensor positioned adjacent to the heating chamber, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pouch sensing sensor senses an identification code provided on one side of each of the plurality of pouches.

6. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the identification code includes at least one of the type of aerosol generating substance contained in the pouch, the volume of the aerosol generating substance, and the order in which the pouches are arranged on the strip.

7. Further including a control unit, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit identifies the pouch to be heated in response to a signal received from the pouch sensing sensor, and determines a heating profile for heating the aerosol generating substance in the pouch to be heated based on the identified result.

8. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cutting unit disposed adjacent to the heating chamber for cutting the pouch to be heated from the strip.

9. Further including a control unit, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control unit controls the power supplied from the power source to the heater, and when the heating of the pouch to be heated by the heater is completed, the cutting unit controls the cutting unit to cut the pouch to be heated.

10. The body further includes a cartridge that is coupled to the body, The aforementioned cartridge is A first chamber containing a liquid aerosol generating substance, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: a second chamber communicating with the first chamber and containing a wick impregnated with the liquid aerosol generating substance and a cartridge heater for heating the wick.

11. The system further includes a mouthpiece detachably coupled to the body and positioned between the heating chamber and the outside of the body, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece includes at least one filter.

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