Aerosol generating device and method for controlling an aerosol generating device

Abstract

The aerosol generating device includes a heater assembly that performs induction heating of a cigarette contained in the aerosol generating device using a susceptor, a cigarette sensing unit having a plurality of inductance sensing channels including a plurality of cigarette sensing channels that detect the insertion of a cigarette and an error sensing channel that detects the approach of a magnetic body outside the aerosol generating device, and a control unit that determines whether a cigarette has been inserted into the aerosol generating device or whether a magnetic body has approached outside the aerosol generating device based on the degree of inductance change detected by the cigarette sensing channels relative to the inductance change detected by the error sensing channels.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device and a method for controlling an aerosol generating device, and more particularly to an aerosol generating device that recognizes the insertion of a cigarette and controls the heating of a heater. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, there has been an increasing demand for an alternative method to overcome the shortcomings of a typical cigarette. For example, there has been an increasing demand for a method in which an aerosol is generated by heating an aerosol generating material, rather than a method in which an aerosol is generated by burning a cigarette. As a result, research into heated aerosol generating devices has been actively conducted. Meanwhile, in order to increase the convenience of use of the aerosol generating device, it is required that the aerosol generating device accurately identifies the insertion of a cigarette and activates heating of a heater. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an aerosol generating device and a method for controlling an aerosol generating device that prevent malfunction of the aerosol generating device due to misidentifying an external object as a cigarette.

[0004] The technical problems of the present disclosure are not limited to those described above, and further technical problems can be inferred from the following examples. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to one aspect, the aerosol generating device includes a heater assembly that uses a susceptor to perform induction heating of a cigarette contained in the aerosol generating device; a cigarette sensing unit having a plurality of inductance sensing channels including a plurality of cigarette sensing channels that detect the insertion of the cigarette and an error sensing channel that detects the approach of a magnetic body outside the aerosol generating device; and a control unit that determines whether the cigarette has been inserted into the aerosol generating device or whether the magnetic body has approached outside the aerosol generating device based on the degree of inductance change detected by the cigarette sensing channels relative to the inductance change detected by the error sensing channels.

[0006] According to another aspect, the aerosol generating device includes: a heater assembly for heating a cigarette contained in the aerosol generating device; a shielding material disposed outside the heater assembly for blocking a variable magnetic field; a cigarette sensing unit having a plurality of inductance sensing channels including a plurality of cigarette sensing channels for detecting the insertion of the cigarette and an error sensing channel for detecting the approach of a magnetic body outside the aerosol generating device; and a control unit for determining whether the cigarette has been inserted into the aerosol generating device or whether the magnetic body has approached outside the aerosol generating device based on the degree of the inductance change detected by the cigarette sensing channels relative to the inductance change detected by the error sensing channels.

[0007] According to yet another aspect, a method for controlling an aerosol generating device includes the steps of: sensing an inductance change using a cigarette sensing unit having a plurality of inductance sensing channels, including a plurality of cigarette sensing channels that detect the insertion of a cigarette into the aerosol generating device and an error sensing channel that detects the approach of a magnetic body outside the aerosol generating device; and determining whether the cigarette has been inserted into the aerosol generating device or whether the magnetic body has approached outside the aerosol generating device based on the degree of the inductance change sensed by the cigarette sensing channels relative to the inductance change sensed by the error sensing channels. Effect of the Invention

[0008] As described above, by using the correlation of inductance changes measured in a plurality of inductance sensing channels, it is possible to accurately determine whether a cigarette is inserted or whether an external magnetic object is approaching, and to perform a heating operation only when a cigarette is inserted. As a result, when an external object other than a cigarette is approaching, heating of the heater is prevented, thereby preventing malfunction of the aerosol generating device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an aerosol generation system according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating an aerosol product according to one embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of a cigarette sensor according to an embodiment; [Diagram 5] 4 is a diagram illustrating an inductance sensing channel of a cigarette sensor according to an embodiment. [Figure 6]4 is a diagram illustrating an area in which an inductance sensing channel of a cigarette sensor senses a change in inductance according to an embodiment; [Figure 7] 4 is a diagram illustrating the cigarette insertion detection by a cigarette detection unit according to an embodiment; [Figure 8] 4 is a diagram illustrating a change in inductance of an inductance sensing channel when a cigarette is inserted, according to an embodiment; [Figure 9] 1 is a diagram illustrating the cigarette sensor detecting the approach of a magnetic body outside an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment; [Figure 10] 1 is a diagram illustrating an inductance change of an inductance sensing channel when a magnetic object outside an aerosol generating device approaches according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] 13 is a diagram illustrating a cigarette sensor provided in an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment. [Figure 12] 1 is a flowchart of a method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The terms used in the embodiments are currently widely used general terms, as far as possible, while taking into consideration the functions in the embodiments, but this may vary depending on the intentions of those skilled in the art, precedents, the emergence of new technologies, etc. In addition, in certain cases, the applicant may arbitrarily select terms, and in such cases, the meanings of the terms are described in detail in the relevant description. Therefore, the terms used in the embodiments should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the overall content of the embodiments, rather than simply the names of the terms.

[0011] When a part of the entire specification "includes" a certain component, this does not mean to exclude other components and means that other components may be further included, unless otherwise specified to the contrary. Furthermore, the terms "unit", "module", etc. described in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which may be realized by hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0012] As used herein, when a phrase such as "at least one of" precedes an element in a sequence, it modifies the entire element and not each individual member of the sequence. For example, the phrase "at least one of a, b, and c" should be interpreted as including a, b, and c, or a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c.

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can easily implement and practice the present invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0014] The present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an aerosol generating system according to one embodiment.

[0016] 1, the aerosol-generating system 1 may include an aerosol-generating device 10 and a cigarette 20. The aerosol-generating device 10 includes a cavity 160 that is a cigarette insertion space (cigarette accommodating space) into which the cigarette 20 is inserted, and may generate an aerosol by heating the cigarette 20 inserted into the cavity 160. The cigarette 20 is a type of aerosol-generating substrate and may include an aerosol-generating substance.

[0017] The aerosol generating device 10 may include a battery 110, a control unit 120, a susceptor 130, an induction coil 140, and a cigarette sensor 150. However, the internal structure and arrangement of the aerosol generating device 10 are not limited to those shown in Fig. 1. Those skilled in the art will understand that, depending on the design of the aerosol generating device 10, some of the hardware configurations shown in Fig. 1 may be omitted or new configurations may be added, and each hardware configuration may be embodied in various arrangements.

[0018] The battery 110 supplies power used for the operation of the aerosol generating device 10. For example, the battery 110 can supply power so that the induction coil 140 generates a variable magnetic field. The battery 110 can also supply power necessary for the operation of other hardware configurations provided in the aerosol generating device 10, such as the control unit 120, various sensors, a user interface, a memory, etc. The battery 110 is a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 110 can be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but the type of battery is not limited thereto.

[0019] The control unit 120 is hardware that controls the overall operation of the aerosol generation device 10. For example, the control unit 120 controls the operation of the battery 110, the susceptor 130, the induction coil 140, and the cigarette sensor 150 as well as other components included in the aerosol generation device 10. The control unit 120 can also check the state of each component of the aerosol generation device 10 and determine whether the aerosol generation device 10 is in an operable state.

[0020] The control unit 120 includes at least one processor. The processor may be implemented by an array of a number of logic gates, and may be implemented by a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executed by the microprocessor is stored. Those skilled in the art will understand that the processor may also be implemented by other types of hardware.

[0021] The susceptor 130 may include a material that is heated by application of the variable magnetic field induced by the induction coil 140. For example, the susceptor 130 may include a metal or carbon. The susceptor 130 may include at least one of ferrite, ferromagnetic alloy, stainless steel, and aluminum (Al). The susceptor 130 may also include at least one of graphite, molybdenum, silicon carbide, niobium, nickel alloy, metal film, ceramic such as zirconia, transition metal such as nickel (Ni) or cobalt (Co), and semi-metal such as boron (B) or phosphorus (P), but is not limited thereto.

[0022] The susceptor 130 may be tubular or cylindrical and disposed outside the susceptor 130 so as to surround the cavity 160 into which the cigarette 20 is inserted. Thus, when the cigarette 20 is inserted into the cavity 160 of the aerosol generating device 10, the susceptor 130 may be disposed outside the cigarette 20 so as to surround the cigarette 20. This may increase the temperature of the aerosol generating material in the cigarette 20 by heat transferred from the susceptor 130.

[0023] The induction coil 140 may generate a variable magnetic field by receiving power from the battery 110. The variable magnetic field generated by the induction coil 140 may be applied to the susceptor 130, thereby heating the susceptor 130. The power supplied to the induction coil 140 may be adjusted under the control of the control unit 120, and the temperature to which the susceptor 130 is heated may be appropriately maintained.

[0024] The cigarette sensing unit 150 may detect whether the cigarette 20 is inserted into the cavity 160. The cigarette sensing unit 150 may detect a change in inductance caused by the insertion and extraction of the cigarette 20. To this end, the cigarette 20 may include an electromagnetic inductor 210. The electromagnetic inductor 210 may change the inductance detected by the cigarette sensing unit 150. The electromagnetic inductor 210 may include a conductor in which an eddy current is induced and a magnetic material that generates a magnetic flux change. For example, the electromagnetic inductor 210 may include a metal material, magnetic ink, magnetic tape, etc. The electromagnetic inductor 210 may also be a metal material such as aluminum. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the electromagnetic inductor 210 may include, without limitation, any material that causes a change in inductance detected by the cigarette sensing unit 150.

[0025] The cigarette sensor 150 may convert a frequency value that changes depending on an inductance change occurring inside or outside the aerosol generating device 10 into an inductance output value and output the converted value. Here, the inductance change occurring inside or outside the aerosol generating device 10 may be caused by the insertion and extraction of a cigarette 20 into or from the aerosol generating device 10, or the approach of a magnetic body from outside the aerosol generating device 10.

[0026] The cigarette sensing unit 150 may include one or more sensing coils, each of which may correspond to an inductance sensing channel. That is, the cigarette sensing unit 150 may include one or more inductance sensing channels, each of which may sense an inductance change occurring inside or outside the aerosol generating device 10.

[0027] The control unit 120 calculates the amount of change in inductance based on the inductance output value output by the cigarette sensing unit 150, and can determine whether the cigarette 20 has been inserted or extracted, or whether a magnetic body has approached from outside the aerosol generating device 10, based on the amount of change in inductance.

[0028] When the control unit 120 detects the insertion of the cigarette 20, the control unit 120 can automatically perform a heating operation without any additional external input. For example, when the control unit 120 detects the insertion of the cigarette 20 using the cigarette detection unit 150, the control unit 120 can control the battery 110 to supply power to the induction coil 140. The susceptor 130 can be heated as a variable magnetic field is generated by the induction coil 140. Therefore, the cigarette 20 placed inside the susceptor 130 can be heated and aerosol can be generated.

[0029] In contrast, when the control unit 120 detects the approach of an external magnetic body rather than the insertion of the cigarette 20, heating is not started.

[0030] Meanwhile, the aerosol generating device 10 may further include general-purpose components in addition to the battery 110, the control unit 120, the susceptor 130, the induction coil 140, and the cigarette sensing unit 150. For example, the aerosol generating device 10 may further include other sensors (e.g., a temperature sensor, a puff sensor, etc.), a user interface, etc. in addition to the cigarette sensing unit 150.

[0031] Although not shown in FIG. 1, the user interface may provide a user with information related to the status of the aerosol generating device 10. The user interface may include a display or lamp for outputting visual information, a motor for outputting tactile information, a speaker for outputting sound information, and an input / output (I / O) interfacing means (e.g., a button or a touch screen) for receiving information input from a user or outputting information to a user. The user interface may also include various interfacing means such as a terminal for performing data communication or receiving charging power, and a communication interfacing module for performing wireless communication with an external device (e.g., WI-FI, WI-FI Direct, Bluetooth (registered trademark), NFC (Near-Field Communication), etc.).

[0032] However, the aerosol generating device 10 may be embodied by selecting only a part of the various user interfaces exemplified above. Also, the aerosol generating device 10 may be embodied by combining at least a part of the various user interfaces exemplified above. For example, the aerosol generating device 10 may include a touch screen display capable of outputting visual information on the front side and receiving user input. The touch screen display may include a fingerprint sensor, and user authentication may be performed by the fingerprint sensor.

[0033] 1, the aerosol generating device 10 may configure a system together with a separate cradle. For example, the cradle may be used to charge the battery 110 of the aerosol generating device 10. Alternatively, the induction coil 140 may be heated when the cradle and the aerosol generating device 10 are coupled together.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an aerosol product according to one embodiment.

[0035] 2, the aerosol product 200 corresponds to the cigarette 20 of FIG 1. The aerosol product 200 is divided into a first portion 201, a second portion 202, a third portion 203, and a fourth portion 204, and the first portion 201, the second portion 202, the third portion 203, and the fourth portion 204 may include an aerosol-generating element, a tobacco element, a cooling element, and a filter element, respectively. Specifically, the first portion 201 may include an aerosol-generating material, the second portion 202 may include a tobacco material and a humectant, the third portion 203 may include a means for cooling the airflow passing through the first portion 201 and the second portion 202, and the fourth portion 204 may include a filter material.

[0036] The first portion 201, the second portion 202, the third portion 203, and the fourth portion 204 may be sequentially aligned based on the longitudinal direction of the aerosol product 200. Here, the longitudinal direction of the aerosol product 200 is the direction in which the length of the aerosol product 200 extends. For example, the longitudinal direction of the aerosol product 200 is the direction from the first portion 201 to the fourth portion 204. As a result, the aerosol generated in at least one of the first portion 201 and the second portion 202 passes through the first portion 201, the second portion 202, the third portion 203, and the fourth portion 204 sequentially to form an airflow, whereby the user may inhale the aerosol from the fourth portion 204.

[0037] The first portion 201 may include an aerosol generating component. The first portion 201 may include a flavoring agent, a humectant, and / or other additives such as an organic acid, and may include a flavoring liquid such as menthol or a moisturizer. Here, the aerosol generating component may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol.

[0038] The first portion 201 includes a crimped sheet, and the aerosol generating element may be included in the first portion 201 in a state of being impregnated in the crimped sheet. Also, other additives and flavoring liquids, such as flavorings, humectants, and / or organic acids, may be included in the first portion 201 in a state of being absorbed in the crimped sheet. The crimped sheet may be a sheet made of a polymeric material. For example, the polymeric material may include at least one of paper, cellulose acetate, lyocell, and polylactic acid. For example, the crimped sheet may be a paper sheet that does not generate an unpleasant odor due to heat even when heated to a high temperature. However, the crimped sheet is not limited thereto.

[0039] The first portion 201 may extend from the end of the aerosol product 200 to a point about 7 to 20 mm, and the second portion 202 may extend from the end of the first portion 201 to a point about 7 to 20 mm. However, the lengths are not necessarily limited to such numerical ranges, and the extension lengths of the first portion 201 and the second portion 202 may be appropriately adjusted within a range that can be easily changed by a skilled artisan.

[0040] The second portion 202 may include tobacco elements. A tobacco element may be a tobacco material in a particular form. For example, the tobacco elements may be in the form of cut tobacco, tobacco particles, tobacco sheets, tobacco beads, tobacco granules, tobacco powder, or tobacco extract. The tobacco material may also include, for example, one or more of tobacco leaves, tobacco veins, expanded tobacco, cut tobacco, tabular tobacco, and reconstituted tobacco.

[0041] The third part 203 may include a means for cooling the airflow passing through the first part 201 and the second part 202. The third part 203 is made of a polymeric material or a biodegradable polymeric material and has a cooling function. For example, the third part 203 may be made of, but is not limited to, polylactic acid (PLA) fiber. Alternatively, the third part 203 may be made of a cellulose acetate filter having a plurality of holes formed therein. However, the third part 203 is not limited to the above examples, and any material that performs the function of cooling the aerosol may be applicable thereto without limitation. For example, the third part 203 may be a tube filter or a paper tube filter including a hollow space.

[0042] The fourth portion 204 may include a filter material. For example, the fourth portion 204 may be a cellulose acetate filter. Meanwhile, the shape of the fourth portion 204 is not limited. For example, the fourth portion 204 may be a cylindrical rod, a tubular rod including a hollow inside, or a recessed rod. If the fourth portion 204 is composed of multiple segments, at least one of the multiple segments may be made to have a different shape.

[0043] The fourth portion 204 may be fabricated to generate a flavor. For example, a flavoring liquid may be sprayed into the fourth portion 204, and separate fibers coated with the flavoring liquid may be inserted into the fourth portion 204.

[0044] The aerosol product 200 may include a wrapper 250 that encases at least a portion of the first portion 201 to the fourth portion 204. The aerosol product 200 may also include a wrapper 250 that encases all of the first portion 201 to the fourth portion 204. The wrapper 250 is located at the outermost portion of the aerosol product 200, and the wrapper 250 may be a single wrapper or a combination of multiple wrappers.

[0045] The wrapper 250 is an electromagnetic inductor 210 for cigarette detection using the cigarette sensor 150 of FIG. 1 and may include a thermally conductive material. For example, the thermally conductive material may be a metal foil such as silver foil (Ag), aluminum foil (Al), or copper foil (Cu), but is not limited thereto. The thermally conductive material provided in the wrapper 250 may improve thermal conductivity by uniformly dispersing heat transferred to the first portion 201 to the second portion 202, thereby improving the tobacco taste. The thermally conductive material provided in the wrapper 250 may also function as a susceptor.

[0046] The thermally conductive material of the wrapper 250 may change the inductance of the cigarette sensing portion 150. Based on the change in inductance sensed by the cigarette sensing portion 150, the aerosol generating device (10 in FIG. 1) may determine whether the aerosol product 200 has been inserted into or extracted from the aerosol generating device (10 in FIG. 1).

[0047] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

[0048] Referring to Fig. 3, the aerosol generating apparatus 10 may include a battery 110, a control unit 120, a susceptor 130, an induction coil 140, a cigarette sensor 150, and a memory 170. The aerosol generating apparatus 10 shown in Fig. 3 includes components according to the present embodiment. Therefore, a person having ordinary skill in the art according to the present embodiment may understand that the aerosol generating apparatus 10 further includes other general components in addition to the components shown in Fig. 3. Meanwhile, the operation of the aerosol generating apparatus 10 described in Fig. 1 may be directly applied to the aerosol generating apparatus 10 of Fig. 3.

[0049] The cigarette sensor 150 senses whether the cigarette 20 is inserted / extracted from the cavity (160 in FIG. 1) or whether a magnetic body is approaching the outside of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0050] Specifically, the cigarette sensor 150 may be implemented as an inductive sensor capable of sensing a change in surrounding inductance. When the cigarette 20 is inserted or extracted, the amount of inductance change that changes depending on the distance between the electromagnetic inductor 210 provided on the cigarette 20 and the inductive sensor may be measured by the cigarette sensor 150. In addition, the cigarette sensor 150 may measure the amount of inductance change that changes as a magnetic body approaches the outside of the aerosol generating device 10. Thus, the cigarette sensor 150 may transmit data regarding the amount of inductance change caused by the insertion / extraction of the cigarette 20 or the approach of an external magnetic body to the control unit 120.

[0051] The control unit 120 determines whether the cigarette 20 is inserted / extracted or whether an external magnetic object is approaching based on the inductance change data acquired from the cigarette sensing unit 150 .

[0052] To describe the cigarette sensing unit 150 in more detail, the cigarette sensing unit 150 includes a plurality of inductance sensing channels, including a plurality of cigarette sensing channels for sensing the insertion of a cigarette 20 and an error sensing channel for sensing the approach of a magnetic body outside the aerosol generating device 10. That is, the cigarette sensing unit 150 may include a plurality of inductive sensors for independently sensing the amount of inductance change. Each inductive sensor corresponds to a respective inductance sensing channel of the cigarette sensing unit 150.

[0053] If the cigarette sensor 150 does not include an inductance sensing channel such as an error sensing channel capable of sensing the approach of an external magnetic body, the cigarette sensor 150 may erroneously sense an inductance change caused by an external magnetic body as being caused by the insertion of the cigarette 20. As a result, the heater assembly 310 starts heating even though there is no cigarette 20, resulting in a breakdown of the aerosol generating device 10. In contrast, the cigarette sensor 150 according to the present embodiment is provided with an independent inductance sensing channel such as a cigarette sensing channel and an error sensing channel to prevent abnormal heating of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0054] The inductance sensing channel continues to be supplied with power for immediately detecting an inductance change even when the aerosol generating device 10 is in a standby mode in which the aerosol generating device 10 is not generating aerosol. When an inductance change is detected by the cigarette sensing unit 150, the control unit 120 determines whether a cigarette 20 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10 or whether a magnetic object has approached the outside of the aerosol generating device 10 based on the degree of the inductance change detected by the cigarette sensing channel relative to the inductance change detected by the error sensing channel.

[0055] Specifically, the control unit 120 may perform the determination based on the difference between the inductance change amount sensed by each cigarette sensing channel and the inductance change amount sensed by the error sensing channel. For example, the control unit 120 may perform the determination by comparing a sum of a first difference between the change amount sensed by the first cigarette sensing channel and the change amount sensed by the error sensing channel and a second difference between the change amount sensed by the second cigarette sensing channel and the change amount sensed by the error sensing channel with a predetermined threshold. As a result, if the sum of the first difference and the second difference is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, the control unit 120 determines that the cigarette 20 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10. However, if the sum of the first difference and the second difference is less than the predetermined threshold, the control unit 120 determines that the cigarette 20 is not inserted, but that a magnetic body has approached the outside of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0056] When it is determined that the cigarette 20 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10, the control unit 120 controls the heater assembly 310 to start induction heating of the cigarette 20. However, when it is determined that a magnetic body has approached the outside of the aerosol generating device 10, rather than that the cigarette 20 has been inserted, the control unit 120 prevents induction heating from being started. On the other hand, when it is determined that the cigarette 20 has been extracted, the control unit 120 can control the heater assembly 310 to stop heating by cutting off the power supplied thereto.

[0057] The heater assembly 310 includes a susceptor 130 and an induction coil 140, and generates an aerosol using the susceptor 130 arranged to inductively heat the cigarette 20 housed in the aerosol generating device 10. In this case, the control unit 120 may control the power supplied to the heater assembly 310 using a pulse width modulation (PWM) method or the like. In one example, the control unit 120 may include a separate heating integrated circuit (IC) for controlling only the power supply to the induction coil 140.

[0058] The memory 170 is hardware that stores various data processed in the aerosol generating device 10, and may store data processed by and to be processed by the control unit 120. The memory may be implemented in various types, such as random access memory (RAM) such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), and electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

[0059] The memory 170 may store a reference value (or threshold value) of an inductance change amount for determining whether the cigarette 20 is inserted / extracted or whether an external magnetic object is approaching. In addition, the memory 170 may store various data related to the operation time of the aerosol generating device 10, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, and the smoking pattern of the user.

[0060] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of a cigarette sensor according to an embodiment.

[0061] 4, the susceptor 130 is cylindrical, and a cavity (160 in FIG. 1) for accommodating the cigarette 20 is formed inside the susceptor 130. That is, the susceptor 130 is disposed so as to inductively heat the cigarette 20 accommodated in the aerosol generating device 10.

[0062] An induction coil 140 may be disposed outside the susceptor 130 along the longitudinal direction of the susceptor 130. The induction coil 140 may generate a variable magnetic field and control induction heating of the susceptor 130 by being supplied with power under the control of a control unit (120 in FIG. 3).

[0063] The cigarette sensing unit 150 is disposed in the region between the susceptor 130 and the induction coil 140. The length of the cigarette sensing unit 150 is preferably longer than the length of the susceptor 130, and the cigarette sensing unit 150 is disposed so that the susceptor 130 is included within the length of the cigarette sensing unit 150, but is not limited thereto. Meanwhile, since no magnetic field is generated by the induction coil 140 before the induction heating operation is started by the induction coil 140, the inductance change sensed by the cigarette sensing unit 150 may be determined to be caused by the insertion of the cigarette 20 or the approach of an external magnetic body.

[0064] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an inductance sensing channel of a cigarette sensor according to an embodiment.

[0065] 5, the cigarette sensor 150 may include a plurality of inductance sensing channels, such as a first cigarette sensing channel 150a, an error sensing channel 150b, and a second cigarette sensing channel 150c. As shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of inductance sensing channels may be arranged in a row on the outside of the susceptor 130 along the longitudinal direction of the susceptor 130.

[0066] Of the multiple inductance sensing channels, the cigarette sensing channels 150a and 150c are each arranged to extend longer in the longitudinal direction than the susceptor 130. The error sensing channel 150b is arranged between the cigarette sensing channels 150a and 150c and is shorter than the length of the susceptor 130.

[0067] The susceptor 130 is disposed in a manner surrounding the outer circumferential surface of a cavity 160 which is a cigarette insertion space (cigarette storage space) for inserting the cigarette 20. In addition, the first cigarette sensing channel 150a, the error sensing channel 150b and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c of the cigarette sensor 150 are disposed in a manner surrounding the outer circumferential surface of the susceptor 130.

[0068] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an area where an inductance sensing channel of a cigarette sensor senses an inductance change according to an embodiment.

[0069] 6, the first cigarette sensing channel 150a and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c may sense an inductance change in the cavity 160 inside the susceptor 130 and an inductance change outside the aerosol generating device 10. That is, they may sense an inductance change both inside and outside the cigarette sensing unit 150. Thus, the first cigarette sensing channel 150a and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c may sense an inductance change when a cigarette 20 is inserted into or extracted from the cavity 160, or when an external magnetic object approaches the aerosol generating device 10.

[0070] 6, some regions of the first cigarette sensing channel 150a and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c may not be able to sense inductance changes in some regions (directions) within the cavity 160 due to shielding by the susceptor 130. However, the embodiment is not limited to the arrangement as shown in FIG. 6, and the first cigarette sensing channel 150a and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c may be embodied to be disposed at positions completely off the length of the susceptor 130 to avoid shielding by the susceptor 130.

[0071] The error sensing channel 150b senses only inductance changes outside the aerosol generating device 10, and cannot sense inductance changes in the cavity 160 inside the susceptor 130. That is, the error sensing channel 150b is blocked from sensing inductance changes inside the susceptor 130 (cavity 160) due to the shielding of the susceptor 130, and can sense only inductance changes caused by the approach of an external magnetic body outside the susceptor 130.

[0072] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the cigarette insertion detection by the cigarette detector according to an embodiment.

[0073] 7, when a cigarette 20 is inserted, each of the first cigarette sensing channel 150a and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c may sense an inductance change caused by the electromagnetic inductor 210 of the metal material contained in the inserted cigarette 20. That is, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 6 in which the cigarette 20 is not inserted in the cavity 160, when the cigarette 20 is inserted as shown in FIG. 7, the inductance measurement values ​​of the first cigarette sensing channel 150a and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c may change. Here, the amount of change in the inductance measurement value may correspond to the amount of change in the sensing frequency of the inductive sensor provided in each of the first cigarette sensing channel 150a and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c.

[0074] In contrast, the error sensing channel 150b cannot sense the inductance change inside the susceptor 130 due to the shielding of the susceptor 130, so there is almost no change in the inductance measurement value of the error sensing channel 150b even when the cigarette 20 is inserted.

[0075] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a change in inductance of an inductance sensing channel when a cigarette is inserted according to an embodiment.

[0076] 8, there is shown a graph of the inductance change amount of the first cigarette sensing channel 150a, the error sensing channel 150b, and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c when the cigarette 20 described in FIG. 7 is inserted.

[0077] First, referring to the graph of the inductance change amount of the first cigarette sensing channel 150a and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c, when the cigarette 20 is inserted, the inductance measurement value of each of the first cigarette sensing channel 150a and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c changes suddenly. That is, when the cigarette 20 is inserted, the inductance change amount increases suddenly due to the electromagnetic inductor 210 in the cigarette 20.

[0078] However, the error sensing channel 150b experiences little change in inductance measurement when the cigarette 20 is inserted due to the shielding of the susceptor 130.

[0079] As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the control unit 120 can determine whether the cigarette 20 is inserted based on the phenomenon of the inductance change.

[0080] Table 1 below shows a simulation result in which the inductance change amount of each of the first cigarette sensing channel 150a, the error sensing channel 150b, and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c is repeatedly measured when the cigarette 20 is inserted.

[0081] [Table 1]

[0082] "L CH1 " is the amount of inductance change sensed by the first cigarette sensing channel 150a, and "L CH2 " is the amount of inductance change sensed by the error sensing channel 150b, and "L CH3 " is the amount of inductance change sensed by the second cigarette sensing channel 150c. "diff" is the inductance change sensed by the second cigarette sensing channel 150c. CH1 -L CH2 )+(L CH3 -L CH2 ) value.

[0083] Referring to Table 1, when the cigarette 20 is inserted, the inductance change amount (L CH1 and L CH3 ) is the inductance change amount L sensed by the error sensing channel 150b CH2This is because the first cigarette sensing channel 150a and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c can sense the inductance change caused by the electromagnetic inductor 210 in the cigarette 20, but the error sensing channel 150b cannot sense the inductance change inside the susceptor 20.

[0084] The control unit 120 may take into consideration the difference in sensing characteristics of such inductance sensing channels to determine whether the cigarette 20 is inserted.

[0085] Specifically, the inductance change amount L sensed by the cigarette sensing channels 150a and 150c is CH1 ,L CH3 and the inductance change amount L sensed by the error sensing channel 150b. CH2 For example, the control unit 120 performs the determination based on the degree of difference between the amount of change L sensed by the first cigarette sensing channel 150a and the amount of change L CH1 and the amount of change L sensed by the error sensing channel 150b. CH2 The first difference between L CH1 -L CH2 and the change amount L sensed by the second cigarette sensing channel 150c. CH3 and the amount of change L sensed by the error sensing channel 150b. CH2 The second difference between L CH3 -L CH2 The "diff" value (L CH1 -L CH2 )+(L CH3 -L CH2 ) with a predetermined threshold value to perform the determination. Meanwhile, in this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the combined value of the first difference and the second difference is also referred to as a "diff" value.

[0086] Only when the "diff" value is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value, the control unit 120 determines that the cigarette 20 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10. That is, when the "diff" value is less than the predetermined threshold value, the control unit 120 determines that the cigarette 20 is not inserted. Such a case occurs when an external magnetic object approaches or a foreign object other than the cigarette 20 is inserted into the cavity 160.

[0087] Meanwhile, the threshold value (or reference value) for comparison with the "diff" value may be preset. The range of the inductive change amount measured in the inductive sensing channel may vary depending on various factors such as the material, physical characteristics such as thickness, etc. of the electromagnetic inductor 210 provided in the cigarette 20, and sensor characteristics such as the sensitivity of the inductive sensor. That is, the optimal threshold value also differs depending on the characteristics of the components adopted in the aerosol generating system (1 in FIG. 1). Therefore, the threshold value may be determined as an optimal value depending on the inductance change amount measured from the results of tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, etc. of simulations using the aerosol generating system (1 in FIG. 1) to be embodied. For example, the threshold value may be predetermined as a desired value based on statistics such as the minimum and average values ​​of the "diff" values ​​obtained from a large number of simulation results.

[0088] When it is determined that the cigarette 20 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10, the control unit 120 controls the heater assembly 310 to start induction heating of the cigarette 20. However, when it is determined that a magnetic body has approached the outside of the aerosol generating device 10, rather than that the cigarette 20 has been inserted, the control unit 120 controls so that induction heating is not started.

[0089] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the cigarette sensor detecting the approach of a magnetic material outside the aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0090] 9, when an external magnetic body 900 approaches the aerosol generating device 10, each of the first cigarette sensing channel 150a, the error sensing channel 150b, and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c may sense an inductance change caused by the approach of the external magnetic body 900. That is, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 6 in which no external magnetic body approaches the aerosol generating device 10, when the external magnetic body 900 approaches, the inductance measurements of the first cigarette sensing channel 150a, the error sensing channel 150b, and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c may change.

[0091] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a change in inductance of an inductance sensing channel when a magnetic object outside an aerosol generating device approaches according to an embodiment.

[0092] 10, there is shown a graph of the inductance change amount of the first cigarette sensing channel 150a, the error sensing channel 150b, and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c when the external magnetic body 900 described in FIG. 9 approaches.

[0093] From the moment the external magnetic body 900 approaches, the inductance measurements of the first cigarette sensing channel 150a, the error sensing channel 150b, and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c suddenly change.

[0094] Table 2 below shows a simulation result in which the inductance change amount of each of the first cigarette sensing channel 150a, the error sensing channel 150b, and the second cigarette sensing channel 150c is repeatedly measured when the external magnetic body 900 approaches.

[0095] [Table 2]

[0096] Unlike Table 1, the approach of the external magnetic body 900 causes a sudden change in inductance in all inductance sensing channels. As a result, it can be seen that the "diff" values ​​in Table 2 are mostly smaller than the "diff" values ​​in Table 1. That is, the "diff" values ​​obtained in the situation where the external magnetic body 900 is approached are smaller than a predetermined threshold value. Therefore, if the "diff" value is less than the predetermined threshold value, the control unit 120 determines that the cigarette 20 is not inserted. In such a case, it can be determined that an external magnetic body has approached or that a foreign object other than the cigarette 20 has been inserted into the cavity 160.

[0097] As described above, the cigarette sensor 150 according to the present embodiment includes an inductance sensing channel for sensing the insertion of the cigarette 20 and an inductance sensing channel for sensing the approach of the magnetic body 900 outside the aerosol generating device 10. As a result, the cigarette sensor 150 can accurately determine whether the cigarette 20 is inserted or the external magnetic body 900 is approaching by using the correlation between the inductance changes measured in the inductance sensing channel. As a result, the aerosol generating device 10 according to the present embodiment performs a heating operation only when the cigarette 20 is actually inserted, and can prevent malfunction of abnormal heating when an external object other than the cigarette 20 is approaching.

[0098] Meanwhile, the control unit 120 according to the present embodiment can determine the insertion of the cigarette 20 or the approach of the external magnetic body 900 by only calculating the "diff" value corresponding to the correlation of the inductance change amount of the inductance channel. Therefore, by stepwise comparing the inductance change amount measured for each inductance channel with an individual threshold value, it is possible to perform a more accurate and quicker determination than other methods for determining the insertion of the cigarette 20 or the approach of the external magnetic body 900.

[0099] FIG. 11 is a view for explaining a cigarette sensor provided in an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment.

[0100] 11, the aerosol generating device 1100 is different from the aerosol generating device 10 in FIG 1 in that it is provided with an internal heating type elongated heater 1121 inserted into a cigarette in a cavity 1110, or an external heating type cylindrical film heater 1122 for heating the outer surface of the cigarette. That is, the aerosol generating device 1100 does not include the cylindrical susceptor 130 and the induction coil 140 described in FIG 4, but is also a device provided with another type of heater assembly.

[0101] In the aerosol generating device 1100, a shielding material 1130 may be arranged in place of the susceptor 130 of the aerosol generating device 10 in the above-mentioned drawings. The multiple inductance sensing channels 1500a, 1500b, and 1500c are arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device 1100 (i.e., the longitudinal direction of the shielding material 1130).

[0102] A shielding material 1130 for blocking detection of an inductance change caused by the insertion of a cigarette is disposed inside the error sensing channel 1500b, so that the error sensing channel 1500b can detect only the approach of an external magnetic body. Each of the cigarette sensing channels 1500a, 1500c is disposed to extend from the shielding material 1130 in the longitudinal direction, and can detect an inductance change caused by an electromagnetic inductor such as a metal material contained in the cigarette.

[0103] That is, the aerosol generating apparatus 1100 differs from the aerosol generating apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 in that a shielding material 1130 is disposed instead of the susceptor 130 in the manner of implementing the heater assembly, and other features of the embodiment described in FIG. 1 to FIG. 10 may be applied to a manner of determining cigarette insertion or approach of an external magnetic body using the inductance sensing channels 1500a, 1500b, and 1500c of the cigarette sensing unit. Meanwhile, the shielding material may be implemented by a material that shields the magnetic field generated by the inductive sensor. Since the material properties of the shielding material are different from those of the susceptor 130, the threshold value to be compared with the "diff" value may be set differently from the case of using the susceptor 130.

[0104] Fig. 12 is a flow chart of a method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment. The control method of Fig. 12 corresponds to steps that are processed in a time series manner in the aerosol generating device 10 described in the description of the drawings above. Therefore, even if the contents are omitted below, the contents described in the drawings above can also be applied to the control method of Fig. 12.

[0105] In step 1201, the cigarette sensor 150 senses an inductance change. The cigarette sensor 150 has a plurality of inductance sensing channels, including a plurality of cigarette sensing channels for sensing the insertion of the cigarette 20 into the aerosol generating device 10 and an error sensing channel for sensing the approach of a magnetic body outside the aerosol generating device 10.

[0106] In step 1202, when the control unit 120 determines that an inductance change has been detected by the cigarette sensing unit 150, it determines whether a cigarette 20 has been inserted into the aerosol generating device 10 or whether a magnetic object has approached outside the aerosol generating device 10 based on the degree of the inductance change detected by the cigarette sensing channel relative to the inductance change detected by the error sensing channel.

[0107] The above-mentioned method can be created by a computer-executable program and can be implemented by a general-purpose digital computer that runs the program using a computer-readable recording medium. Also, the data structure used in the above-mentioned method can be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium through various means. The computer-readable recording medium includes recording media such as magnetic recording media (e.g., ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM, USB, floppy disk, hard disk, etc.) and optically readable media (e.g., CD-ROM, DVD, etc.).

[0108] Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be embodied in various modified forms without departing from the essential characteristics of the above description. Therefore, the disclosed method should be considered in an illustrative rather than restrictive manner. The scope of the present disclosure is defined in the claims, not the above description, and all differences within the scope of the claims should be interpreted as being included in the present disclosure.

Claims

1. In the aerosol generating device, a heater assembly for performing induction heating of the cigarette contained in the aerosol generating device using a susceptor; a cigarette sensor having a plurality of inductance sensing channels including a plurality of cigarette sensing channels for sensing insertion of the cigarette and an error sensing channel for sensing the approach of a magnetic body outside the aerosol generating device; and a control unit that determines whether the cigarette has been inserted into the aerosol generating device or whether the magnetic body has approached the outside of the aerosol generating device based on the degree of inductance change detected by the cigarette sensing channel relative to the inductance change detected by the error sensing channel.

2. The control unit is The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , wherein the determination is made based on a degree of difference between the inductance change sensed by each of the cigarette sensing channels and the inductance change sensed by the error sensing channel.

3. the plurality of cigarette sensing channels include a first cigarette sensing channel and a second cigarette sensing channel; The control unit is The aerosol generating device of claim 2, wherein the determination is performed by comparing the sum of a first difference between the inductance change sensed by the first cigarette sensing channel and the inductance change sensed by the error sensing channel and a second difference between the inductance change sensed by the second cigarette sensing channel and the inductance change sensed by the error sensing channel with a predetermined threshold value.

4. The control unit is determining that the cigarette has been inserted into the aerosol generating device if the sum of the first difference and the second difference is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold; The aerosol generating device according to claim 3 , wherein when the sum of the first difference and the second difference is less than the predetermined threshold value, it is determined that the magnetic body has approached the outside of the aerosol generating device.

5. The plurality of inductance sensing channels include: The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the aerosol generating devices are arranged in a row on the outside of the susceptor along the longitudinal direction of the susceptor.

6. The error sensing channel includes: The aerosol generating device of claim 5 , wherein the aerosol generating device is disposed between the cigarette sensing channels and has a length shorter than that of the susceptor.

7. The error sensing channel includes: The aerosol generating device according to claim 6 , wherein the susceptor is shielded to block sensing of an inductance change inside the susceptor, and an inductance change caused by the approach of the magnetic body outside the susceptor is sensed.

8. the cigarette sensing channel is disposed to extend longitudinally from the susceptor; 6. The aerosol generating device of claim 5, wherein each of the cigarette sensing channels senses an inductance change caused by an electromagnetic inductor contained within the inserted cigarette when the cigarette is inserted.

9. The control unit is controlling the heater assembly to initiate the inductive heating of the cigarette when it is determined that the cigarette has been inserted into the aerosol generating device; The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the induction heating is prevented from being started when it is determined that the magnetic body has approached the outside of the aerosol generating device.

10. In the aerosol generating device, a heater assembly for heating a cigarette contained in the aerosol generating device; a shielding material disposed outside the heater assembly to block a variable magnetic field; a cigarette sensor having a plurality of inductance sensing channels including a plurality of cigarette sensing channels for sensing insertion of the cigarette and an error sensing channel for sensing the approach of a magnetic body outside the aerosol generating device; and a control unit that determines whether the cigarette has been inserted into the aerosol generating device or whether the magnetic body has approached the outside of the aerosol generating device based on the degree of inductance change detected by the cigarette sensing channel relative to the inductance change detected by the error sensing channel.

11. The control unit is The aerosol generating device of claim 10 , wherein the determination is made based on a degree of difference between the inductance change sensed by each of the cigarette sensing channels and the inductance change sensed by the error sensing channel.

12. The plurality of inductance sensing channels are arranged in a line along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device, The shielding material is disposed inside the error sensing channel; The aerosol generating device of claim 10 , wherein each of the cigarette sensing channels is positioned to extend longitudinally from the shield to sense inductance changes caused by an electromagnetic inductor contained within the cigarette.

13. 1. A method for controlling an aerosol generating device, comprising: detecting an inductance change by a cigarette sensor having a plurality of inductance sensing channels including a plurality of cigarette sensing channels for detecting an insertion of a cigarette into the aerosol generating device and an error sensing channel for detecting an approach of a magnetic body outside the aerosol generating device; and determining whether the cigarette has been inserted into the aerosol generating device or whether the magnetic body has approached the outside of the aerosol generating device based on the degree of inductance change sensed by the cigarette sensing channel relative to the inductance change sensed by the error sensing channel.

14. The determining step includes: The method of claim 13 , further comprising: making said determining based on a difference between an inductance change sensed by each of said cigarette sensing channels and an inductance change sensed by said error sensing channel.

15. When it is determined that the cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device, the method further includes controlling a heater assembly to start induction heating of the cigarette; The method according to claim 13 , wherein the induction heating is not started when it is determined that the magnetic body has approached the outside of the aerosol generating device.

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