Aerosol Generator

Abstract

The aerosol generating device includes a housing including a first chamber into which an aerosol product is inserted, a second chamber spaced apart from the first chamber, and an air passage connecting the first chamber and the second chamber; a pressure sensor arranged adjacent to the second chamber; and a processor electrically connected to the pressure sensor and detecting a pressure change inside the second chamber through the pressure sensor; and the processor can output a notification indicating that a user's puffing action has occurred if the amount of pressure change inside the second chamber is equal to or greater than a specified value.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device, and more particularly to an aerosol generating device including a pressure sensor for sensing a user's puffing action. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, there has been an increasing demand for technology to replace the method of supplying aerosols by burning a typical cigarette. For example, research is being conducted on methods of supplying a flavored aerosol by generating aerosols from liquid or solid aerosol generating substances, or by generating vapor from a liquid aerosol generating substance and then passing the generated vapor through a solid flavor medium.

[0003] Instead of providing an aerosol by burning a cigarette, the aerosol generating device can generate an aerosol by heating an aerosol-producing product. For example, the aerosol generating device can generate an aerosol by heating a liquid or solid aerosol-generating material to a predetermined temperature through a heater.

[0004] When using an aerosol generating device, smoking is possible without additional items such as a lighter, allowing users to smoke as much as they wish, thereby improving the convenience of smoking for users, and research into aerosol generating devices has gradually become more active recently. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Generally, in existing aerosol generating devices, a heat source for heating the aerosol product and a printed circuit board are interconnected via a thermocouple wire, and a processor arranged on the printed circuit board detects the user's puffing action based on changes in the temperature or current of the heat source.

[0006] In the above-mentioned aerosol generating device, in order to connect the heat source and the printed circuit board via the thermocouple wire, the only way is for the thermocouple wire to penetrate the structure including the heat source (or the "sealed structure"). Since the thermocouple wire penetrates the structure including the heat source, a situation may occur in which some liquid droplets leak out through the space of the structure through which the thermocouple wire penetrates, so in the above-mentioned aerosol generating device, it is difficult to prevent malfunction or damage of the parts of the aerosol generating device due to leakage.

[0007] An embodiment of the present disclosure seeks to solve the problems of an aerosol generating device that senses a user's puffing action via a thermocouple wire by providing an aerosol generating device that can measure pressure changes in an airflow passage via a pressure sensor and sense a user's puffing action based on the pressure changes in the airflow passage.

[0008] The problems to be solved through the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the problems described above, and problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments belong from this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment may include a housing including a first chamber into which an aerosol product is inserted, a second chamber spaced apart from the first chamber, and an air passage provided between the first chamber and the second chamber; a pressure sensor for detecting pressure inside the second chamber; and a processor that acquires pressure sensing data from the pressure sensor, detects a pressure change inside the second chamber based on the pressure sensing data, and outputs a notification indicating that a user's puffing action has occurred if the pressure change inside the second chamber is greater than or equal to a specified value.

[0010] The aerosol generating device may further include a heater for heating an aerosol production article inserted into the first chamber to generate an aerosol.

[0011] The aerosol generating device may further include a heat insulating structure disposed to surround an outer circumferential surface of the heater to seal the heater and insulate the heater from heat generated by the heater.

[0012] The pressure sensor may be disposed at a distance from the thermal insulation structure.

[0013] The aerosol generating device may further include an electrical connector arranged to bypass the insulating structure and electrically connecting the pressure sensor and the processor.

[0014] The pressure sensor may be located at an upper end of the second chamber and connected to an interior of the second chamber.

[0015] The aerosol generating device may further include a sensor bracket that supports the pressure sensor and includes a through hole that connects the pressure sensor to the second chamber; a sensor cover that is arranged to cover at least a portion of an outer surface of the pressure sensor and dissipates heat transferred to the pressure sensor; and a protective member that is arranged between the sensor bracket and the sensor cover to surround at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pressure sensor and prevent leakage of air flowing into the pressure sensor.

[0016] The heater may include a coil that generates an alternating magnetic field; and a susceptor that generates heat due to the alternating magnetic field generated by the coil to heat the aerosol product.

[0017] The processor may output an indication that a user's puffing action has occurred if a pressure drop of the air within the second chamber is greater than or equal to a designated value.

[0018] The cue may include at least one of a visual cue, an audio cue, and a tactile cue.

[0019] The aerosol generating device further includes a display, and the processor can display a notification via the display indicating that a user's puffing action has occurred.

[0020] The processor may output an additional notification indicating the number of puffs remaining of the inserted aerosol product article based on the occurrence of a user puffing action.

[0021] According to another embodiment, an aerosol generating device may include a housing including a chamber into which an aerosol product is inserted and an air passage branching in a direction across the chamber at a point in the chamber; a heater for heating the aerosol product inserted into the chamber to generate an aerosol; a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure inside the second chamber; and a processor for acquiring pressure sensing data from the pressure sensor, detecting a pressure change amount inside the second chamber based on the pressure sensing data, and outputting a notification indicating that a user's puffing action has occurred if the pressure change amount inside the second chamber is greater than or equal to a specified value.

[0022] The aerosol generating device may further include a heat insulating structure disposed to surround an outer circumferential surface of the heater to seal the heater and insulate against heat generated by the heater.

[0023] The pressure sensor may be disposed at a distance from the thermal insulation structure. Effect of the Invention

[0024] The aerosol generating device according to the above-described embodiments can provide a notification to a user that the user's puffing action has occurred.

[0025] In addition, the aerosol generating apparatus according to the above-described embodiment can reduce malfunction or damage of the pressure sensor due to heat generated from the heat source. In addition, the aerosol generating apparatus according to the above-described embodiment can prevent malfunction or damage of parts of the aerosol generating apparatus due to leakage occurring during operation.

[0026] The effects of the embodiments are not limited to those described above, and effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those having ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments pertain from this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating the components of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. [Figure 3A] 2 is an enlarged view illustrating some components of a cross section of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3B] 3B is a diagram illustrating a process of air movement due to a user's puffing action in the aerosol generating device illustrated in FIG. 3A. [Figure 4] 3B is a graph showing a pressure change in an airflow passage due to a user's puffing action in the aerosol generating device shown in FIG. 3A. [Figure 5A] 11 is an enlarged view illustrating some components of a cross section of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment. [Figure 5B] 5B is a diagram illustrating a process of air movement due to a user's puffing action in the aerosol generating device illustrated in FIG. 5A. [Figure 6] 5B is a graph showing a change in pressure in an air chamber due to a user's puffing action in the aerosol generating device shown in FIG. 5A. [Figure 7A] 1 is a perspective view showing an electrical connection member for electrically connecting a pressure sensor of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment to a printed circuit board. [Figure 7B]1 is a diagram illustrating a coupling relationship between a housing and an electrical connection member of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing some components of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. [Figure 9] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a process of sensing a puffing action of a user of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment. [Figure 10] 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a visual notification is provided through a display in an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. [Figure 11] 1 is a diagram illustrating an aerosol product according to one embodiment. [Figure 12] 1 is a diagram illustrating an aerosol product according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] The terms used in the examples are currently widely used general terms as much as possible, taking into consideration the functions in this disclosure, 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 a term, and in such cases, the meaning of the term will be described in detail in the description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in this disclosure must be defined based on the meaning of the term and the overall content of this disclosure, not just the name of the term.

[0029] In this disclosure, when a part "includes" a certain component, it does not mean excluding other components and may further include other components, unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, the terms "part" and "module" described in this disclosure mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and may be realized by hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0030] As used in this disclosure, when a phrase such as "at least one of" precedes an array of elements, it modifies the entire array and not each individual element of the array. For example, the phrase "at least one of a, b, and c" should be interpreted as including a, b, c, or a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c.

[0031] In this disclosure, "aerosol" may refer to a gaseous mixture of air and vaporized particles generated from an aerosol-forming substance.

[0032] In addition, in the present disclosure, an "aerosol generating device" is also a device that generates an aerosol using an aerosol generating substance to generate an aerosol that can be directly inhaled into a user's lungs through the user's mouth.

[0033] In this disclosure, "puff" refers to a user inhaling, which may refer to drawing in through the user's mouth or nose into the user's oral cavity, nasal cavity, or lungs.

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present disclosure. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied in various different forms and are not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 1, an aerosol generating device 10 according to one embodiment may include a housing 100 and an aerosol producing article 20 that may be inserted into the housing 100 .

[0037] The housing 100 forms the overall appearance of the aerosol generating device 10 and can provide an internal space (or "arrangement space") for accommodating components of the aerosol generating device 10. In the drawings, only an embodiment in which the cross section of the housing 100 is formed in a semicircular shape is illustrated, but the shape of the housing 100 is not limited thereto. Depending on the embodiment, the housing 100 may be formed in a generally cylindrical shape or a polygonal prism shape (e.g., a triangular prism shape or a quadrangular prism shape).

[0038] Arranged within the internal space of the housing 100 are components for heating the aerosol production product 20 inserted into the housing 100 to generate an aerosol, and components for detecting the user's puffing action, which will be described in detail later.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the housing 100 may include an opening 100h through which the aerosol product article 20 may be inserted into the interior of the housing 100. At least a portion of the aerosol product article 20 may be inserted or received within the interior of the housing 100 through the opening 100h.

[0040] An aerosol can be generated by heating the aerosol production product 20 inserted or housed inside the housing 100 inside the housing 100. The generated aerosol is discharged to the outside of the aerosol generation device 10 through the inserted aerosol production product 20 and / or the space between the aerosol production product 20 and the opening 100h, and the user can inhale the discharged aerosol.

[0041] The aerosol generating device 10 according to one embodiment may further include a display D on which visual information is displayed.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the display D is positioned so that at least a portion of the display D is exposed outside the housing 100, and the aerosol generating device 10 can provide various visual information to the user through the display D.

[0043] For example, the aerosol generating device 10 may provide information regarding whether or not a user's puffing action has occurred or information regarding the remaining number of puffs of the inserted aerosol product 20 via the display D, but the information provided via the display D is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0044] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating components of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of the aerosol generating device illustrated in Fig. 1 taken along the line A-A', illustrating a part of the configuration disposed inside the housing.

[0045] 2, the aerosol generating device 10 according to an embodiment may include a housing 100 (e.g., the housing 100 in FIG. 1), a heater 200, a first chamber 300, a thermal insulation structure 400, and a pressure sensor 500. The components of the aerosol generating device 10 according to an embodiment are not limited thereto, and other components (e.g., a vaporizer) may be added or at least one component may be omitted depending on the embodiment.

[0046] The housing 100 includes an internal space for accommodating components of the aerosol generating device 10, and can form the overall appearance of the aerosol generating device 10. Although only an embodiment in which the housing 100 has a semicircular cross section as a whole is illustrated in the drawings, the shape of the housing 100 is not limited thereto. Depending on the embodiment, the housing 100 can be formed as a whole in a cylindrical shape or a polygonal prism shape (e.g., a triangular prism shape or a quadrangular prism shape).

[0047] According to one embodiment, the housing 100 includes an opening 100h through which the aerosol product article 20 can be inserted into the interior of the housing 100. At least a portion of the aerosol product article 20 can be inserted or received into the interior of the housing 100 through the opening 100h.

[0048] The heater 200 may generate an aerosol by heating the aerosol production product 20 inserted or housed inside the housing 100 through the opening 100h. For example, the heater 200 may generate heat by supplying power to heat the aerosol production product 20. At this time, vaporized particles generated by heating the aerosol production product 20 may be mixed with air flowing into the housing 100 through the opening 100h to generate an aerosol.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the heater 200 may include an induction heater. For example, the heater 200 may include a coil (or "conductive coil") that generates an alternating magnetic field when power is supplied thereto, and a susceptor that generates heat by the alternating magnetic field generated by the coil. The susceptor is disposed to surround at least a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol product 20 inserted inside the housing 100, and can heat the inserted aerosol product 20.

[0050] According to another embodiment, the heater 200 may include an electrically resistive heater. For example, the heater 200 may include a film heater disposed to surround at least a portion of an outer periphery of the aerosol product 20 inserted inside the housing 100. The film heater may include conductive tracks such that an electric current passing through the conductive tracks causes the film heater to generate heat to heat the aerosol product 20 inserted inside the housing 100.

[0051] According to yet another embodiment, the heater 200 may include at least one of a needle heater, a rod heater, and a tubular heater capable of heating the inside of the aerosol product product 20 inserted into the housing 100. The above-mentioned heaters may, for example, be inserted into at least one region of the aerosol product product 20 to heat the inside of the aerosol product product 20.

[0052] The heater 200 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the embodiment of the heater 200 may be changed as long as the heater 200 can heat the aerosol product 20 to a designated temperature. In the present disclosure, the "designated temperature" may refer to a temperature at which the aerosol generating material contained in the aerosol product 20 is heated to generate an aerosol. The designated temperature may be a temperature set in the aerosol generation device 10, but the temperature may be changed depending on the type of the aerosol generation device 10 and / or a user operation.

[0053] The first chamber 300 (or "airflow passage") is located in the interior space of the housing 100 and can connect or communicate the heater 200 with the outside of the housing 100 or the outside of the aerosol generation device 10. According to one embodiment, the first chamber 300 extends along the longitudinal direction of the housing 100, and one end of the first chamber 300 can be connected to the heater 200 and the other end can be connected to the opening 100h.

[0054] At least a portion of the aerosol generated by the heater 200 may pass through the aerosol production product 20 inserted in the housing 100 or move along the first chamber 300, and be discharged to the outside of the housing 100 or the aerosol generation device 10 through the opening 100h. In addition, air outside the aerosol generation device 10 (hereinafter, "external air") may flow into the inside of the housing 100 through the opening 100h, and then move along the first chamber 300 in a direction toward the heater 200.

[0055] The heat insulating structure 400 is disposed to surround the outer circumferential surface of the heater 200 and can prevent heat generated in the heater 200 from being discharged to the outside. In one embodiment, the heat insulating structure 400 includes a vacuum insulation layer disposed to surround the heater 200 and can vacuum insulate the heater 200, but is not limited thereto.

[0056] In one example, the thermal insulation structure 400 prevents heat generated by the heater 200 from escaping to the outside, thereby keeping the temperature of the heater 200 high, and as a result, the amount of power required to operate the heater 200 can be reduced.

[0057] In another example, the heat insulating structure 400 may prevent heat generated by the heater 200 from being discharged to the outside, thereby reducing the amount of heat transferred from the heater 200 to the housing 100. The aerosol generating device 10 may reduce the temperature felt by a user when holding the aerosol generating device 10 through the above-mentioned heat insulating structure 400, thereby improving the convenience of using the aerosol generating device 10.

[0058] In still another example, the heat insulating structure 400 can seal the heater 200 to prevent droplets generated during the operation of the aerosol generating device 10 from flowing out of the heat insulating structure 400.

[0059] During the aerosol generation process of the heater 200, some of the aerosol may coagulate to generate droplets, and the generated droplets may cause malfunction or damage to components of the aerosol generating device 10. For example, if the droplets generated during the aerosol generation process flow into the printed circuit board 600, the printed circuit board 600 may malfunction or be damaged.

[0060] In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device 10 prevents droplets generated during the aerosol generation process of the heater 200 from leaking out to the outside via an insulating structure 400 that seals the heater 200, thereby preventing malfunction or damage to components of the aerosol generating device 10 due to the droplets.

[0061] The pressure sensor 500 is disposed apart from the first chamber 300 and electrically or operatively connected to the first chamber 300 to sense a pressure change caused by a user's puffing action. For example, the pressure sensor 500 may be connected to the first chamber 300 via an air passage to sense a pressure change in the first chamber 300.

[0062] According to an embodiment, the pressure sensor 500 may be disposed at a specified distance (e.g., distance “d” in FIG. 2) from the thermal insulation structure 400 to prevent malfunction or damage due to heat generated by the heater 200. For example, the pressure sensor 500 may be disposed at the upper end of the thermal insulation structure 400, separated from the thermal insulation structure 400 in a direction toward the opening 100h or in a longitudinal direction (e.g., y direction).

[0063] In this disclosure, "upper end" means one end of the aerosol generating device 10 in the +y direction of Figure 2, and "lower end" means the other end of the aerosol generating device 10 in the -y direction, and these expressions may be used with the same meaning hereinafter.

[0064] If the pressure sensor 500 is at a specified temperature (e.g., about 70 to 80° C.) or higher, the measurement accuracy of the pressure sensor 500 may decrease or the pressure sensor 500 may fail. In particular, if the pressure sensor 500 is disposed adjacent to the heater 200 and / or the thermal insulation structure 400, if the temperature around the heater 200 rises to a high temperature due to the thermal insulation structure 400, the pressure sensor 500 may be damaged by the high temperature around the heater 200.

[0065] In the aerosol generating device 10 according to an embodiment, the pressure sensor 500 may be spaced apart from the insulating structure 400 by a specified distance d to prevent the pressure sensor 500 from being overheated or broken down due to heat generated by the heater 200. That is, the aerosol generating device 10 according to an embodiment may maintain the measurement accuracy of the pressure sensor 500 through the above-mentioned arrangement structure and accurately detect the pressure change in the first chamber 300 due to the user's puffing action.

[0066] The aerosol generating device 10 according to an embodiment may further include a processor 610 and a battery 620.

[0067] The processor 610 may control the operation of the aerosol generating device 10. As an example, the processor 610 may be electrically or operatively connected to the heater 200 and control the operation of the heater 200. As another example, the processor 610 may be electrically or operatively connected to the pressure sensor 500 and detect a puffing operation of a user based on the detection result of the pressure sensor 500.

[0068] In this disclosure, the expression "operatively connected" means a state in which components are connected to transmit and receive signals via wireless communication, or to transmit and receive optical and / or magnetic signals, etc., and this expression may be used with the same meaning hereinafter.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the processor 610 may be disposed or mounted on a printed circuit board 600 located within the interior space of the housing 100, although the location of the processor 610 is not limited to the embodiment described above.

[0070] The battery 620 can supply power required for the operation of the aerosol generating device 10. For example, the battery 620 can supply power to the heater 200 to operate the heater 200. As another example, the battery 620 can supply power required for the operation of the processor 610 or supply power required for the operation of the pressure sensor 500.

[0071] Figure 3A is a diagram showing an enlarged view of some components of a cross-section of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment, Figure 3B is a diagram for explaining the process of air movement due to a user's puffing action in the aerosol generating device shown in Figure 3A, and Figure 4 is a graph showing the pressure change in the air flow passage due to a user's puffing action in the aerosol generating device shown in Figure 3A.

[0072] 3A and 3B, an aerosol generating device 10 according to an embodiment may include a housing 100, a heater 200, a first chamber 300, an air passage 310, a thermal insulating structure 400, a pressure sensor 500, and a processor (e.g., the processor 610 in FIG. 2). The aerosol generating device 10 illustrated in FIG. 3A and 3B is also an embodiment of the aerosol generating device 10 in FIG. 2.

[0073] The heater 200 is located inside the housing 100 and is capable of heating the aerosol producing article 20 inserted into the housing 100 to generate an aerosol.

[0074] According to one embodiment, the heater 200 includes a coil 210 (or “conductive coil”) and a susceptor 220, as shown in FIG. 3A, and can heat the aerosol product 20 inserted into the housing 100 in an inductive heating manner.

[0075] The coil 210 is disposed to surround the outer circumferential surface of the susceptor 220, and can generate an alternating magnetic field through power supplied by a battery (eg, the battery 620 in FIG. 1).

[0076] The susceptor 220 is disposed so as to surround at least a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol product article 20 inserted into the housing 100, and can heat the aerosol product article 20 inserted into the housing 100. The susceptor 220 generates heat, for example, by an alternating magnetic field generated by the coil 210, and as a result, the aerosol product article 20 can be heated.

[0077] However, the embodiments of the heater 200 are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and in some embodiments, the heater 200 may include an electrical resistive heater that heats the inside and / or outside of the aerosol product 20 inserted into the housing 100.

[0078] The heat insulating structure 400 is disposed to surround the outer circumferential surface of the heater 200 and seals the heater 200 to prevent droplets generated during the aerosol generation process from leaking out to the outside. In addition, the heat insulating structure 400 seals the heater 200 to prevent heat generated in the heater 200 from passing through the heat insulating structure 400 and being discharged to the outside, thereby maintaining the temperature around the heater 200 at a high temperature.

[0079] According to one embodiment, the insulating structure 400 may include a first structure 410 arranged to surround one area (e.g., the bottom end surface and / or the side surface) of the outer peripheral surface of the heater 200, and a second structure 420 located at the upper end of the first structure 410 and covering another area (e.g., the top end surface) of the outer peripheral surface of the heater 200.

[0080] The heater 200 is located within an internal space formed by the first structure 410 and the second structure 420, and the first structure 410 and the second structure 420 can enclose the heater 200 described above. As an example, but not limited to, the second structure 420 can be coupled to at least a region of an upper end of the first structure 410. As another example, the first structure 410 and the second structure 420 can be integrally formed.

[0081] The first chamber 300 may be disposed to connect the interior of the housing 100 to the exterior of the housing 100 or the exterior of the aerosol generation device 10. The first chamber 300 may act as a flow path for air or aerosol to move from the interior to the exterior of the aerosol generation device 10 or from the exterior to the interior of the aerosol generation device 10.

[0082] As an example, the aerosol generated inside the aerosol generating device 10 may pass through the aerosol production product 20 inserted in the aerosol housing 100 or move along the first chamber 300 and be discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 10 or the housing 100. As another example, air outside the aerosol generating device 10 (hereinafter, "external air") may flow into the internal space of the housing 100 through the first chamber 300.

[0083] The pressure sensor 500 is disposed at a specified distance from the first chamber 300 and is connected to the first chamber 300 via an air passage 310 to detect a pressure change in the first chamber 300. For example, the pressure sensor 500 may be disposed at a distance of about 0.5 mm to 10 mm from the first chamber 300, but is not limited thereto.

[0084] The pressure sensor 500 generates an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of pressure change in the first chamber 300, and the electrical signal generated by the pressure sensor 500 may be transmitted to a processor (e.g., processor 610 of FIG. 2) electrically or operatively coupled to the pressure sensor 500.

[0085] According to one embodiment, the pressure sensor 500 may be disposed on a sensor printed circuit board 550 and electrically connected to a processor disposed on the printed circuit board via an electrical connection member connecting the sensor printed circuit board 550 to the printed circuit board (e.g., printed circuit board 600 of FIG. 2), but is not limited thereto.

[0086] The air passage 310 may branch off at a point in the first chamber 300 in a direction crossing the first chamber 300 (for example, in the x direction in FIG. 2) to connect the first chamber 300 and the pressure sensor 500. For example, the air passage 310 may be about 0.8 to 12 mm wide. 2 3 to connect the first chamber 300 and the pressure sensor 500, but is not limited thereto.

[0087] The pressure sensor 500 is connected to the first chamber 300 via the air passage 310, and is therefore able to sense a pressure change in the first chamber 300. The pressure sensor 500 is able to sense or detect a pressure change in the first chamber 300, for example, by sensing the pressure in the air passage 310 connected or fluidly connected to the first chamber 300.

[0088] The processor is electrically or operatively connected to the pressure sensor 500 and can sense a user's puffing action based on the amount of pressure change in the first chamber 300 sensed or detected via the pressure sensor 500 .

[0089] According to one embodiment, the processor can sense a user's puffing action based on the amount of pressure drop in the first chamber 300 sensed or detected by the pressure sensor 500 .

[0090] When the user puffs, at least a portion of the air in the first chamber 300 and / or the air passage 310 may pass through the aerosol production article 20 and be expelled to the outside of the housing 100, as shown in FIG. 3B.

[0091] Such a user's puffing action may create a pressure difference between the outside of the housing 100 and the inside of the housing 100, resulting in at least a portion of the air in the first chamber 300 and / or the air passage 310 being expelled to the outside of the housing 100, causing a pressure drop in the first chamber 300.

[0092] Referring to the graph of FIG. 4, as the user's puffing action creates an air flow in the first chamber 300 and / or the air passage 310, the pressure in the first chamber 300 decreases by about 60 to 80 Pa, and the pressure sensor 500 can detect the amount of pressure drop in the first chamber 300.

[0093] In Fig. 4, parameters "t1, t2, t3," indicate specific times when a user's puffing action is sensed and a pressure drop occurs inside the first chamber 300 due to the user's puffing action. Although the specific times when a user's puffing action is sensed are disclosed in Fig. 4 as examples, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

[0094] Thus, the processor may detect a puffing operation by the user based on the amount of pressure drop in the first chamber 300 sensed via the pressure sensor 500. For example, the processor may compare the amount of pressure drop in the first chamber 300 sensed or detected via the pressure sensor 500 with a designated value (e.g., ΔP in FIG. 4) and determine that a puffing operation by the user has been performed if the amount of pressure drop in the first chamber 300 is equal to or greater than the designated value (ΔP).

[0095] In the present disclosure, the "designated value (ΔP)" may refer to a pressure drop amount that serves as a reference (or a standard value) for detecting a puffing action of a user. The above-mentioned designated value (ΔP) may be a value pre-stored in the aerosol generating device 10, and may be variable depending on the type of the aerosol generating device 10 or a user's setting. For example, the designated value (ΔP) may be about 60 to 80 Pa, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the designated value (ΔP) illustrated in FIG. 4 corresponds to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and the designated value (ΔP) in various embodiments of the present disclosure is not limited to the value illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0096] The aerosol generating device 10 according to one embodiment can measure the user's puffing action more accurately by determining that the user's puffing action has been performed only when the pressure drop in the first chamber 300 is greater than or equal to a specified value (ΔP).

[0097] The pressure drop in the first chamber 300 may be induced by factors other than the user's puffing action (e.g., noise generated during the operation of the aerosol generation device 10). For example, when a user moves, walks, or runs while holding the aerosol generation device 10, such movements vibrate the aerosol generation device 10, and a pressure drop may occur in the aerosol generation device 10 even when the user does not inhale the aerosol of the aerosol generation device 10. The aerosol generation device 10 can detect the pressure drop caused by the user's puffing action by comparing the measured pressure drop amount with a specified value (ΔP) and ignore the pressure drop caused by other factors (e.g., noise or vibration).

[0098] Through the above-described operation of the processor, the aerosol generating device 10 according to the embodiment does not mistake the pressure drop in the first chamber 300 caused by noise for a pressure drop caused by a user's puffing action.

[0099] Also, the pressure sensor 500 may be disposed at a specified distance away from the thermal insulation structure 400 to prevent malfunction or damage due to heat. For example, the pressure sensor 500 may be located at the upper end of the thermal insulation structure 400. The upper end of the thermal insulation structure 400 may refer to an area adjacent to the upper end of the thermal insulation structure 400 facing an opening (e.g., opening 100h in FIG. 2) into which the aerosol product 20 is inserted.

[0100] If the temperature of the pressure sensor 500 reaches or exceeds a designated temperature, the heat may cause a situation in which the measurement accuracy of the pressure sensor 500 decreases or the pressure sensor 500 breaks down. In particular, if the pressure sensor 500 is disposed adjacent to the thermal insulation structure 400 that seals the heater 200, the high temperature heat generated by the heater 200 may cause the pressure sensor 500 to malfunction or break down.

[0101] In one embodiment of the aerosol generating device 10, the pressure sensor 500 is positioned away from the insulating structure 400 toward the upper end of the insulating structure 400 (e.g., in the y direction in Figure 2), thereby preventing malfunction or failure of the pressure sensor 500 due to heat generated by the heater 200.

[0102] The aerosol generating device 10 according to an embodiment may further include a sensor bracket 510, a sensor cover 520, and / or a protective member 530 to prevent malfunction or failure of the pressure sensor 500 due to heat. However, depending on the embodiment, at least one of the configurations of the above-mentioned components may be omitted.

[0103] The sensor bracket 510 is disposed to surround at least a region of the pressure sensor 500 to support or fix the pressure sensor 500, while preventing heat generated by the heater 200 from being transferred to the pressure sensor 500. For example, the sensor bracket 510 may be disposed to surround a region of the pressure sensor 500 facing the first chamber 300, but the arrangement of the sensor bracket 510 is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0104] According to one embodiment, the sensor bracket 510 includes a through hole 510h that connects the air passage 310 and the pressure sensor 500, and the pressure sensor 500 may be connected or fluidly connected to the first chamber 300 via the air passage 310 and the through hole 510h.

[0105] The sensor cover 520 may be disposed to cover at least a region of the pressure sensor 500 and support the pressure sensor 500. In addition, the sensor cover 520 may include a thermally conductive material and may function to dissipate heat transferred to the pressure sensor 500. For example, at least a portion of the heat generated by the heater 200 may be transferred to the pressure sensor 500 through convection and / or radiation, and the sensor cover 520 may transfer the heat transferred to the pressure sensor 500 to the outside of the pressure sensor 500 (e.g., the housing 100).

[0106] According to one embodiment, the sensor cover 520 is located in the opposite direction to the sensor bracket 510 with respect to the pressure sensor 500 and can support other areas of the pressure sensor 500, but the arrangement structure of the sensor cover 520 is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0107] The protective member 530 is disposed to surround at least a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the pressure sensor 500 to protect the pressure sensor 500 and may prevent leakage of air flowing into the pressure sensor 500 from the first chamber 300. For example, the protective member 530 may include a material having elastic properties (e.g., rubber) to protect the pressure sensor 500 and prevent air flowing into the pressure sensor 500 from leaking out of the pressure sensor 500.

[0108] According to one embodiment, the protective member 530 may be disposed between the sensor bracket 510 and the sensor cover 520, but the position of the protective member 530 is not limited thereto as long as it is capable of protecting the pressure sensor 500 and preventing air leakage into the pressure sensor 500.

[0109] That is, the aerosol generating device 10 according to the embodiment can prevent malfunction or failure of the pressure sensor 500 due to heat by insulating and / or dissipating heat from the pressure sensor 500 through the above-mentioned sensor bracket 510 and / or sensor cover 520. As a result, the aerosol generating device 10 can improve the measurement precision of the pressure sensor 500 and more accurately detect the user's puffing action.

[0110] The aerosol generating device 10 may further include a heat sink located between the pressure sensor 500 and the sensor bracket 510 to radiate heat transferred to the pressure sensor 500 to the outside. The heat sink may include, for example, a material having high thermal conductivity, and may transmit the heat transferred to the pressure sensor 500 to the outside of the pressure sensor 500.

[0111] Figure 5A is a diagram showing an enlarged view of some components of a cross section of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment, Figure 5B is a diagram for explaining the process of air movement due to a user's puffing action in the aerosol generating device shown in Figure 5A, and Figure 6 is a graph showing the pressure change in the air chamber due to a user's puffing action in the aerosol generating device shown in Figure 5A.

[0112] In Fig. 6, parameters "t1, t2, t3," indicate specific points in time when a puffing operation of a user is detected, and "ΔP" may represent a designated value. In addition, the specific points in time when a puffing operation of a user is detected are disclosed in Fig. 6 as examples, but the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

[0113] 5A and 5B, the aerosol generating device 10 according to another embodiment may include a housing 100, a heater 200, a first chamber 300, an air passage 310, a second chamber 320, a heat insulating structure 400, a pressure sensor 500, and a processor (e.g., the processor 610 in FIG. 2). The aerosol generating device 10 according to another embodiment is an aerosol generating device in which the second chamber 320 is added and the position of the pressure sensor 500 is changed in the aerosol generating device 10 of FIG. 3A and / or FIG. 3B.

[0114] The first chamber 300 is positioned to connect the interior of the housing 100 to the exterior of the housing 100 or the exterior of the aerosol generating device 10, and can act as a flow path for air or aerosol to move from the interior to the exterior or from the exterior to the interior of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0115] As an example, the aerosol generated inside the aerosol generating device 10 may pass through the aerosol production product 20 inserted in the housing 10 or move along the first chamber 300 and be discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 10 or the housing 100. As another example, air outside the aerosol generating device 10 (hereinafter, "external air") may flow into the internal space of the housing 100 through the first chamber 300.

[0116] The second chamber 320 (or "air chamber") may be disposed at a specified distance away from the first chamber 300 and connected or fluidly connected to the first chamber 300 via an air passage 310. The second chamber 320 may be disposed in a space independent of the first chamber 300, for example, separated from the first chamber 300 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the housing 100.

[0117] The air passage 310 may branch off at one point of the first chamber 300 in a direction crossing the first chamber 300, and may connect or communicate the first chamber 300 and the second chamber 320 separated from the first chamber 300. For example, one end of the air passage 310 may be connected to the first chamber 300, and the other end of the air passage 310 may be connected to the second chamber 320, thereby connecting the first chamber 300 and the second chamber 320.

[0118] Through the above-mentioned connection structure, air in the first chamber 300 may move along the air passage 310 and flow into the second chamber 320, or air in the second chamber 320 may be discharged to the first chamber 300 through the air passage 310. That is, the air passage 310 may act as an air movement path between the first chamber 300 and the second chamber 320.

[0119] The pressure sensor 500 may be spaced a specified distance from the first chamber 300 and located in an area adjacent to the second chamber 320 to detect a pressure change of the air contained in the second chamber 320. For example, the pressure sensor 500 may be connected or fluidly connected to the inner space of the second chamber 320 to detect a pressure change of the air contained in the second chamber 320.

[0120] According to one embodiment, the pressure sensor 500 generates an electrical signal corresponding to a pressure change of the air contained in the internal space of the second chamber 320, and the electrical signal generated by the pressure sensor 500 can be transmitted to a processor operatively connected to the pressure sensor 500.

[0121] For example, the pressure sensor 500 may be disposed on a sensor printed circuit board 550 and electrically connected to a processor disposed on the printed circuit board via an electrical connection member connecting the sensor printed circuit board 550 to the printed circuit board (e.g., the printed circuit board 600 of FIG. 2), which will be described in detail later.

[0122] According to one embodiment, the pressure sensor 500 is positioned at a specified distance away from the insulating structure 400 to prevent malfunction or failure of the pressure sensor 500 due to heat transferred from the heater 200 and / or the insulating structure 400.

[0123] When the pressure sensor 500 is placed adjacent to the heater 200 and / or the insulating structure 400, which maintain a high temperature environment, a situation may occur in which the pressure sensor 500 malfunctions or breaks down due to heat transferred from the heater 200 and / or the insulating structure 400 to the pressure sensor 500.

[0124] In the aerosol generating device 10 according to an embodiment, the second chamber 320 and the pressure sensor 500 are disposed at a specified distance away from the thermal insulating structure 400, thereby reducing the amount of heat transferred to the pressure sensor 500. As a result, the aerosol generating device 10 can prevent malfunction or failure of the pressure sensor 500 due to heat through the above-mentioned structure.

[0125] The pressure sensor 500 may be disposed, for example, in a direction toward the upper end of the thermal insulation structure 400 (e.g., the y direction in FIG. 2) with respect to the thermal insulation structure 400, but the arrangement of the pressure sensor 500 is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. The direction toward the upper end of the thermal insulation structure 400 may mean the direction toward the opening through which the aerosol product 20 is inserted into the housing 100.

[0126] In addition, the pressure sensor 500 may be located at an upper end of the second chamber 320 spaced apart from the first chamber 300 to reduce the amount of heat transferred from the heater 200 and / or the thermal insulation structure 400 .

[0127] The upper end of the second chamber 320 may refer to the upper end of the second chamber 320 based on the extension direction of the aerosol product, or the opposite end opposite to one end of the second chamber 320 facing the insulating structure 400.

[0128] For example, if the pressure sensor 500 is placed on the side or bottom end of the second chamber 320, the distance between the pressure sensor 500 and the heater 200 and / or the insulating structure 400, which maintain a high-temperature environment, will be short, and a situation may occur in which the pressure sensor 500 malfunctions or breaks down due to heat transferred from the heater 200 and / or the insulating structure 400.

[0129] Meanwhile, in the aerosol generating device 10 according to an embodiment, the pressure sensor 500 is disposed at the upper end of the second chamber 320, so that the distance between the pressure sensor 500 and the heater 200 and / or the heat insulating structure 400 can be made larger than when the pressure sensor 500 is disposed at the lower end or side of the second chamber 320. As a result, the aerosol generating device 10 can prevent the malfunction or failure of the pressure sensor 500 due to heat by reducing the amount of heat transferred from the heater 200 and / or the heat insulating structure 400 to the pressure sensor 500 through the above-mentioned arrangement structure of the pressure sensor 500.

[0130] However, the arrangement of the pressure sensor 500 is not limited to the above embodiment, and the pressure sensor 500 may be arranged on a side surface or a lower end of the second chamber 320 depending on the embodiment.

[0131] The aerosol generating device 10 according to an embodiment may further include a sensor bracket 510, a sensor cover 520, a protective member 530, and / or a heat sink 540 to prevent malfunction or failure of the pressure sensor 500 due to heat. However, depending on the embodiment, at least one of the configurations of the above-mentioned components (e.g., the heat sink 540) may be omitted.

[0132] The sensor bracket 510 is disposed to surround at least a region of the pressure sensor 500 to support or fix the pressure sensor 500 while preventing heat generated by the heater 200 from being transferred to the pressure sensor 500 .

[0133] For example, the sensor bracket 510 may be disposed at the upper end of the second chamber 320 to surround an area of ​​the pressure sensor 500 facing the second chamber 320, but the arrangement of the sensor bracket 510 is not limited to the above embodiment. As another example (not shown), when the pressure sensor 500 is disposed on a side or bottom end of the second chamber 320, the sensor bracket 510 may be disposed on the side or bottom end of the second chamber 320.

[0134] According to one embodiment, the sensor bracket 510 includes a through hole 510h that connects the second chamber 320 and the pressure sensor 500, and the pressure sensor 500 supported by the sensor bracket 510 can be connected or fluidly connected to the second chamber 320 through the above-mentioned through hole 510h.

[0135] The sensor cover 520 may be disposed to cover at least a region of the pressure sensor 500 and support the pressure sensor 500. In addition, the sensor cover 520 may include a thermally conductive material and play a role in dissipating heat transferred to the pressure sensor 500. For example, at least a portion of the heat generated by the heater 200 may be transferred to the pressure sensor 500 through convection and / or photocurrent, and the sensor cover 520 may transfer the heat transferred to the pressure sensor 500 to the outside of the pressure sensor 500 (e.g., the housing 100).

[0136] According to one embodiment, the sensor cover 520 is located in the opposite direction to the sensor bracket 510 relative to the pressure sensor 500 and can support other areas of the pressure sensor 500, but the arrangement of the sensor cover 520 is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0137] The protective member 530 is disposed to surround at least a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the pressure sensor 500 to protect the pressure sensor 500 and may prevent air flowing into the pressure sensor 500 from leaking from the first chamber 300. For example, the protective member 530 may include a material having elastic properties (e.g., rubber) to protect the pressure sensor 500 and prevent air flowing into the pressure sensor 500 from leaking to the outside of the pressure sensor 500.

[0138] According to one embodiment, the protective member 530 may be disposed between the sensor bracket 510 and the sensor cover 520, but the position of the protective member 530 is not limited thereto as long as it can protect the pressure sensor 500 and prevent leakage of air flowing into the pressure sensor 500.

[0139] The heat sink 540 is located between the pressure sensor 500 and the sensor bracket 510, includes a material (e.g., aluminum) having high thermal conductivity, and can dissipate heat transferred to the pressure sensor 500. For example, the heat sink 540 can dissipate the heat transferred to the pressure sensor 500 by transferring the heat transferred from the heater 200 and / or the thermal insulation structure 400 to the pressure sensor 500 to the outside of the pressure sensor 500, but is not limited thereto.

[0140] The processor is electrically or operatively connected to the pressure sensor 500 and can detect a user's puffing action based on the amount of pressure change of the air contained in the second chamber 320 sensed by the pressure sensor 500.

[0141] According to one embodiment, the processor can detect a user's puffing action based on the amount of pressure drop in the second chamber 320 sensed by the pressure sensor 500 .

[0142] When the user puffs, at least a portion of the air in the first chamber 300 and / or the second chamber 320 may pass through the aerosol production article 20 and be expelled to the outside of the housing 100, as shown in FIG. 5B.

[0143] For example, as the user's puffing action reduces the pressure outside the housing 100, a pressure difference occurs between the inside and outside of the housing 100, and as a result, at least a portion of the air in the first chamber 300 and / or the second chamber 320 may be discharged to the outside of the housing 100, causing a pressure drop in the first chamber 300 and the second chamber 320.

[0144] Thus, the processor can detect a puffing operation by the user based on the amount of pressure drop in the second chamber 320 detected via the pressure sensor 500. For example, the processor can compare the amount of pressure drop in the second chamber 320 detected via the pressure sensor 500 with a designated value, and determine that a puffing operation by the user has been performed if the amount of pressure drop in the second chamber 320 is equal to or greater than the designated value (e.g., P in FIG. 6).

[0145] According to one embodiment, the aerosol generating device 10 detects the pressure change of the air contained in the second chamber 320 rather than the first chamber 300, and can therefore detect the user's puffing action more accurately than when detecting the pressure change of the first chamber 300.

[0146] At least a portion of the heat generated by the heater 200 and / or the thermal insulation structure 400 is transferred into the second chamber 320 via the first chamber 300 and the air passage 310, so that heat is added to the air contained in the second chamber 320, and the kinetic energy of the air contained in the second chamber 320 may increase. Unlike the air present in the first chamber 300, the air contained in the second chamber 320 exists in a certain space, so that the increase in the kinetic energy of the air may lead to an increase in the pressure of the second chamber 320.

[0147] As a result, the second chamber 320 can maintain a relatively higher pressure than the first chamber 300 during the operation of the aerosol generating device 10. For example, referring to the graphs of Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 described above, it can be seen that the pressure of the first chamber 300 is maintained within a range of about 100980 to 101020 Pa during the operation of the aerosol generating device 10, while the pressure of the second chamber 320 is maintained within a range of about 101600 to 101800 Pa, which is higher than that of the first chamber 300.

[0148] Since the second chamber 320 maintains a relatively higher pressure than the first chamber 300, the amount of pressure drop in the second chamber 320 due to the user's puffing action is greater than the amount of pressure drop in the first chamber 300. For example, referring again to the graphs of Figures 4 and 6, it can be seen that the first chamber 300 experiences a pressure drop of about 40 to 60 Pa due to the user's puffing action, while the second chamber 320 experiences a pressure drop of about 150 to 300 Pa due to the user's puffing action.

[0149] A situation may occur in which the pressure sensor 500 detects an increase in pressure in the second chamber 320 even when the user does not puff due to noise generated in the pressure sensor 500 due to the operating environment or operating conditions of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0150] In this case, if the amount of pressure drop due to the user's puffing action is small, it is difficult to distinguish between the pressure drop due to noise and the pressure drop due to the user's puffing action, and a situation may arise in which the aerosol generating device 10 recognizes the pressure drop due to noise as a pressure drop due to the user's puffing action.

[0151] Meanwhile, the aerosol generation device 10 according to an embodiment detects the user's puffing operation based on the pressure drop amount of the second chamber 320, which has a large pressure drop amount due to the user's puffing operation, and therefore does not mistakenly recognize the pressure drop of the second chamber 320 due to noise as the pressure drop due to the user's puffing operation. That is, the aerosol generation device 10 according to an embodiment detects the user's puffing operation based on the pressure drop amount of the second chamber 320, thereby reducing the misrecognition due to noise and more accurately grasping the user's puffing operation.

[0152] In addition, the aerosol generating device 10 according to one embodiment detects the user's puffing action based on the amount of pressure change in the second chamber 320, and can accurately detect the user's puffing action without scaling up (e.g., expanding the amplitude of the signal) the signal level of the pressure sensor 500, which changes depending on the amount of pressure change in the second chamber 320, or amplifying the signal received from the pressure sensor 500.

[0153] That is, the aerosol generating device 10 can accurately detect a user's puffing action without scaling up or amplifying the signal, thereby shortening the time required to detect the user's puffing action. At the same time, the aerosol generating device 10 simplifies the process of the processor detecting the user's puffing action, reducing the power consumption of the processor, and thus increasing the operation time of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0154] Hereinafter, components for electrically connecting the pressure sensor 500 and the processor will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B.

[0155] Figure 7A is an oblique view showing an electrical connecting member for electrically connecting a pressure sensor of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment to a printed circuit board, and Figure 7B is a drawing for explaining the connection relationship between the housing of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment and the electrical connecting member.

[0156] The electrical coupling member 700 illustrated in Figures 7A and / or 7B may be included in the aerosol generation device 10 of Figures 2, 3A and / or 5A.

[0157] Referring to FIG. 7A, the aerosol generating device 10 according to an embodiment may include an electrical connection member 700 for electrically connecting the pressure sensor 500 and the processor 610.

[0158] According to one embodiment, the pressure sensor 500 may be disposed (or “mounted”) on a printed circuit board 550 , and the processor 610 may be disposed on a printed circuit board 600 spaced apart from the sensor printed circuit board 550 .

[0159] The electrical connection member 700 can electrically connect the sensor printed circuit board 550 and the printed circuit board 600 to connect the pressure sensor 500 disposed on the sensor printed circuit board 550 to the processor 610 disposed on the printed circuit board 600. For example, the electrical connection member 700 can electrically or operatively connect the pressure sensor 500 and the processor 610 by having one end 700a connected to the sensor printed circuit board 550 and the other end 700b connected to the printed circuit board 600.

[0160] According to one embodiment, the electrical connection member 700 may be, but is not limited to, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), and in other embodiments, the electrical connection member 700 may include at least one of a wire and a coaxial cable.

[0161] The electrical coupling member 700 electrically or operatively couples the pressure sensor 500 and the processor 610 but may be positioned to avoid the thermal insulation structure 400 .

[0162] In this disclosure, the expression "the electrical connecting member is positioned to avoid the insulating structure" may mean that the electrical connecting member 700 is positioned to extend along the outside of the insulating structure 400, or that the electrical connecting member 700 is positioned to bypass the insulating structure 400 so that the electrical connecting member 700 does not penetrate the insulating structure 400.

[0163] According to one embodiment, the electrical connection member 700 may electrically connect the pressure sensor 500 and the processor 610 with at least a portion of the electrical connection member 700 being spaced apart from the thermal insulation structure 400 by a predetermined distance l, but is not limited thereto. According to another embodiment, the electrical connection member 700 may contact the outer circumferential surface of the thermal insulation structure 400 at least in a portion of the electrical connection member 700.

[0164] Existing aerosol generating devices typically connect a heater and a processor via a thermocouple wire and detect the user's puffing action based on changes in the heater temperature or current sensed via the thermal conduction wire.

[0165] In order to connect the thermocouple wire to the heater, the thermocouple wire must pass through a portion of the heat insulating structure 400 surrounding the heater. If liquid droplets are generated around the heater, the liquid droplets may be discharged to the outside of the heat insulating structure 400 through the internal space of the heat insulating structure 400 in which the thermocouple wire is housed. Conventionally, the discharged liquid droplets flow into other components inside the aerosol generating device 10, damaging the components of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0166] In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device 10 detects the user's puffing action via a pressure sensor 500 that is not a thermocouple wire, and connects the pressure sensor 500 to the processor 610 through an electrical connecting member 700 arranged to avoid the insulating structure 400, thereby preventing droplets from leaking outside the insulating structure 400.

[0167] That is, in one embodiment of the aerosol generating device 10, the pressure sensor 500 and the processor 610 are connected through the above-mentioned electrical connecting member 700 without penetrating the insulating structure 400, and as a result, it is possible to prevent droplets from leaking out through the space penetrating the insulating structure 400.

[0168] According to one embodiment, the electrical connecting member 700 may be formed in a shape in which at least a portion of the electrical connecting member 700 is bent or curved so as to be positioned to avoid the insulating structure 400, but the shape of the electrical connecting member 700 is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0169] Referring to FIG. 7B, the housing 100 of the aerosol generating device 10 according to one embodiment (e.g., the housing 100 of FIG. 2, FIG. 3A and / or FIG. 5A) may further include a guide groove 101 for supporting or fixing the electrical connecting member 700.

[0170] According to an embodiment, the guide groove 101 is formed on the inner surface 100i of the housing 100 and may support or fix the electrical connection member 700 accommodated in the guide groove 101. For example, the electrical connection member 700 may be fitted into the guide groove 101 and supported or fixed by the guide groove 101, but is not limited thereto.

[0171] According to another embodiment, the aerosol generating device 10 may include at least one protruding member protruding from the inner surface 100i of the housing 100 in a direction towards the electrical coupling member 700.

[0172] At least one protruding member may, for example, contact a region of the electrical connecting member 700 to support the electrical connecting member 700, so that the position of the electrical connecting member 700 may be fixed during use of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0173] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing some components of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

[0174] Referring to FIG. 8, an aerosol generating device 10 according to one embodiment may include a pressure sensor 500 (e.g., pressure sensor 500 of FIG. 3A and / or FIG. 5A), a processor 610 (e.g., processor 610 of FIG. 2, FIG. 7) and a display D (e.g., display D of FIG. 1).

[0175] The processor 610 is electrically connected to the pressure sensor 500 and can detect the user's puffing action based on the amount of pressure change in the airflow passage (e.g., the first chamber 300 in FIG. 3A) and / or the air chamber (e.g., the second chamber 320 in FIG. 5A) sensed by the pressure sensor 500.

[0176] For example, when a user puffs, a pressure difference occurs between the inside and outside of the aerosol generating device 10, causing at least a portion of the air inside the aerosol generating device 10 to be discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 10, resulting in a pressure drop in the airflow passage and / or air chamber.

[0177] Thus, the processor 610 may detect a user's puffing action based on the amount of pressure drop in the airflow passage and / or the air chamber detected by the pressure sensor 500. For example, the processor 610 may determine that a user's puffing action has been performed or has occurred when the amount of pressure drop in the airflow passage and / or the air chamber is equal to or greater than a specified value.

[0178] Even if there is no puffing action by the user, a pressure drop may occur in the air flow passage and / or the air chamber due to noise generated during the operation of the aerosol generating device 10. The aerosol generating device 10 according to an embodiment may more precisely measure the user's puffing action by determining that the user's puffing action is performed or has occurred when the pressure drop in the air flow passage and / or the air chamber is equal to or greater than a specified value.

[0179] Processor 610 may output an indication that a user puff has occurred (or a "user indication") based on determining that a user puff has been performed.

[0180] The notification may include, for example, at least one of a visual notification that notifies the user that a puffing action has occurred through visual information, an auditory notification that notifies the user that a puffing action has occurred through auditory information (e.g., sound), and a tactile notification that notifies the user that a puffing action has occurred through tactile information (e.g., vibration), but is not limited thereto.

[0181] In one example, the processor 610 can output a notification that a user's puffing action has occurred by displaying a notification that a user's puffing action has occurred via the display D and / or an LED.

[0182] In another example, the processor 610 may output an indication that a user's puffing action has occurred by generating a sound via a speaker. In yet another example, the processor 610 may output an indication that a user's puffing action has occurred by generating a vibration via a motor and / or actuator.

[0183] The processor 610 can also calculate or count the remaining number of puffs (or "remaining puffs") of the aerosol product item (e.g., aerosol product item 20 of FIG. 2) inserted into the aerosol generation device 10 based on the number of puffs by the user, and output a notification to the user corresponding to the remaining number of puffs.

[0184] According to one embodiment, when the processor 610 determines that a user's puffing operation has been performed, it can count the number of user's puffs and calculate the remaining number of puffs of the aerosol product inserted into the aerosol generating device 10 by subtracting the total number of puffs of a given aerosol product from the counted number of user's puffs.

[0185] For example, if the total number of puffs for a given aerosol product item is 14 and the number of puffs counted by the user is 4, the processor 610 may calculate the remaining number of puffs for the inserted aerosol product item to be 10.

[0186] The processor 610 may provide the user with information regarding the number of remaining puffs via at least one of, for example, but not limited to, a visual cue, an audio cue, and a tactile cue.

[0187] Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of sensing a user's puffing action in an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment, and Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a visual notification is provided via a display in an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

[0188] Hereinafter, in describing the process of sensing a user's puffing action of the aerosol generating device illustrated in FIG. 9, the description will be based on the components of the aerosol generating device 10 illustrated in FIG. 3A, FIG. 5A and / or FIG. 8.

[0189] Referring to FIG. 9, in step 901, an aerosol generating device 10 according to one embodiment can sense a pressure change in the first chamber 300 (e.g., the first chamber 300 in FIG. 3A) and / or the second chamber 320 (e.g., the second chamber 320 in FIG. 5A) via a pressure sensor 500 (e.g., the pressure sensor 500 in FIG. 3A and / or FIG. 5A).

[0190] Information regarding the amount of pressure change in the first chamber 300 and / or the second chamber 320 may be sensed by the pressure sensor 500 and transmitted from the pressure sensor 500 to the processor 610 .

[0191] In step 902, the processor 610 of the aerosol generating device 10 according to one embodiment may compare the pressure change amount of the first chamber 300 and / or the second chamber 320 sensed via step 901 with a specified value in order to sense the user's puffing action.

[0192] In the present disclosure, the term "designated value" means a pressure drop amount that is a reference (or a reference value) for detecting a puffing operation by a user, and this expression may be used with the same meaning hereinafter. The above-mentioned designated value may be a value stored in the processor 610 or memory of the aerosol generating device 10, and the designated value may be changed by a user's operation.

[0193] For example, when a user puffs, a pressure difference occurs between the inside and outside of the aerosol generating device 10, causing at least a portion of the internal air of the aerosol generating device 10 to be discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 10, resulting in a pressure drop in the first chamber 300 and / or the second chamber 320.

[0194] Thus, the processor 610 can compare the amount of pressure drop in the first chamber 300 and / or the second chamber 320 with a specified value (e.g., the specified value (ΔP) in Figures 4 and 6) to detect the user's puffing action and determine whether the amount of pressure drop in the first chamber 300 and / or the second chamber 320 is greater than or equal to the specified value.

[0195] In step 903, the processor 610 of the aerosol generating device 10 according to one embodiment may output the occurrence of a user's puffing action in a specified manner when it is determined that the pressure drop in the first chamber 300 and / or the second chamber 320 is greater than or equal to a specified value.

[0196] The specified manner may include, but is not limited to, at least one of a manner of providing a visual notification through a display D and / or an LED, a manner of providing an auditory notification (e.g., sound) through a speaker, and a manner of providing a tactile notification (e.g., vibration) through a motor and / or actuator.

[0197] According to one embodiment, if the processor 610 determines in step 902 that the pressure drop in the first chamber 300 and / or the second chamber 320 is greater than or equal to a specified value, it may determine that a user puffing action has been performed and provide the user with a notification regarding the occurrence of the user's puffing action.

[0198] In contrast, the processor 610 of the aerosol generating device 10 according to one embodiment may determine that the pressure drop has occurred due to noise or that there has been no pressure change if the pressure drop in the first chamber 300 and / or the second chamber 320 is less than a specified value, and may perform steps 901 and 902 again.

[0199] In one embodiment, the processor 610 of the aerosol generating device 10 can calculate the number of remaining puffs of the aerosol product 20 based on the number of puffs by the user, and provide the user with a user notification corresponding to the number of remaining puffs.

[0200] For example, when the processor 610 determines that a user puff operation has been performed, it can count the number of user puffs and calculate the remaining number of puffs of the aerosol product product 20 based on the difference between the total number of puffs of a given aerosol product product 20 and the counted number of user puffs.

[0201] The processor 610 may output a notification regarding the remaining number of puffs of the aerosol product 20 calculated through the above-mentioned process in various ways.

[0202] According to one embodiment, the processor 610 is electrically or operatively connected to a display D disposed on at least a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the housing 100, as shown in FIG. 10, and can output a visual notification corresponding to the remaining number of puffs through the display D.

[0203] For example, the processor 610 may display the remaining number of puffs on the display D to inform the user of information related to the remaining number of puffs of the aerosol product 20. However, the visual information displayed on the display D is not limited to the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, and may be changed as long as it can inform the user of information related to the remaining number of puffs.

[0204] According to another embodiment, the processor 610 may inform the user of the remaining number of puffs through an auditory and / or tactile notification. For example, the processor 610 may provide the user with the information regarding the remaining number of puffs through an auditory notification by generating a sound corresponding to the remaining number of puffs or a tactile notification by generating a vibration corresponding to the remaining number of puffs.

[0205] According to yet another embodiment, the processor 610 may provide the user with information regarding the number of remaining puffs via at least two of a visual, an audio, and a tactile indication. For example, the processor 610 may provide a visual and an audio indication simultaneously, or may provide a visual, an audio, and a tactile indication.

[0206] An example of an aerosol product will now be described with reference to FIGS.

[0207] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an aerosol product according to one embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an aerosol product according to another embodiment.

[0208] Referring to FIG. 11, an aerosol production article 20 includes a tobacco rod 21 and a filter rod 22 .

[0209] 11 illustrates the filter rod 22 as a single segment, but is not limited thereto. That is, the filter rod 22 may be composed of multiple segments. For example, the filter rod 22 may include a segment for cooling the aerosol and a segment for filtering a specific component contained in the aerosol. In addition, the filter rod 22 may further include at least one segment that performs another function, if necessary.

[0210] The aerosol product 20 may be packaged by at least one wrapper 24. The wrapper 24 may have at least one hole through which external air can flow in or internal gas can flow out. As an example, the aerosol product 20 may be packaged by one wrapper 24. As another example, the aerosol product 20 may be packaged by two or more wrappers 24 in a stacked manner. For example, the tobacco rod 21 may be packaged by a first wrapper 241, and the filter rod 22 may be packaged by wrappers 242, 243, and 244. Then, the entire aerosol product 20 may be repackaged by a single wrapper 245. If the filter rod 22 is composed of multiple segments, each segment may be packaged by a wrapper 242, 243, and 244.

[0211] The tobacco rod 21 includes an aerosol-generating material. For example, the aerosol-generating material may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol, but is not limited thereto. The tobacco rod 21 may also include other additives, such as flavoring agents, humectants, and / or organic acids. A flavoring liquid, such as menthol or a humectant, may also be added to the tobacco rod 21 by being sprayed onto the tobacco rod 21.

[0212] The tobacco rod 21 may be manufactured in various ways. For example, the tobacco rod 21 may be manufactured in the form of a sheet or a strand. The tobacco rod 21 may also be manufactured in the form of shredded tobacco, which is a tobacco sheet that has been finely cut. The tobacco rod 21 may also be surrounded by a thermally conductive material. For example, the thermally conductive material may be a metal foil such as aluminum foil, but is not limited thereto. For example, the thermally conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 21 may uniformly distribute the heat transferred to the tobacco rod 21 to improve the thermal conductivity applied to the tobacco rod, thereby improving the taste of the tobacco. The thermally conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 21 may also function as a susceptor that is heated by an induction heater. In this case, although not shown in the drawings, the tobacco rod 21 may further include an additional susceptor in addition to the thermally conductive material surrounding the outside.

[0213] The filter rod 22 is also a cellulose acetate filter. Meanwhile, the shape of the filter rod 22 is not limited. For example, the filter rod 22 may be a cylindrical rod or a tubular rod having a hollow inside. The filter rod 22 may also be a recessed rod. If the filter rod 22 is composed of multiple segments, at least one of the multiple segments may be made to have a different shape.

[0214] The filter rod 22 may also include at least one capsule 23. Here, the capsule 23 may perform a function of generating flavor or a function of generating aerosol. For example, the capsule 23 may have a structure in which a liquid containing a flavoring is covered with a coating. The capsule 23 may have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0215] 12, the aerosol production product 30 may further include a front end plug 33. The front end plug 33 may be located on one side of the tobacco rod 31 opposite the filter rod 32. The front end plug 33 prevents the tobacco rod 31 from detaching to the outside, and prevents aerosol liquefied from the tobacco rod 31 during smoking from flowing to the aerosol generating device (1 in FIGS. 11 to 13).

[0216] Filter rod 32 may include a first segment 321 and a second segment 322, where first segment 321 may correspond to the first segment of filter rod 22 of FIG.

[0217] The diameter and overall length of the aerosol product article 30 may correspond to the diameter and overall length of the aerosol product article 20 of Figure 11. For example, but not limited to, the length of the front end plug 33 is about 7 mm, the length of the tobacco rod 31 is about 15 mm, the length of the first segment 321 is about 12 mm, and the length of the second segment 322 is about 14 mm.

[0218] The aerosol product 30 may be packaged by at least one wrapper 35. The wrapper 35 may have at least one hole through which external air may flow in or internal gas may flow out. For example, the front end plug 33 may be packaged by a first wrapper 351, the tobacco rod 31 may be packaged by a second wrapper 352, the first segment 321 may be packaged by a third wrapper 353, and the second segment 322 may be packaged by a fourth wrapper 354. Then, the entire aerosol product 30 may be repackaged by a fifth wrapper 355.

[0219] Also, at least one perforation 36 may be formed in the fifth wrapper 355. For example, but not limited to, the perforation 36 may be formed in a region surrounding the tobacco rod 31. The perforation 36 may serve to transfer heat generated by the heater 13 shown in Figures 12 and 13 to the inside of the tobacco rod 31.

[0220] The second segment 322 may also include at least one capsule 34. The capsule 34 may perform a function of generating a flavor or a function of generating an aerosol. For example, the capsule 34 may have a structure in which a liquid containing a flavoring agent is surrounded by a coating. The capsule 34 may have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0221] Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can 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 sense. The scope of the present invention 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 invention.

Claims

1. In the aerosol generating device, a housing including a first chamber into which an aerosol product is inserted, a second chamber spaced apart from the first chamber, and an air passage provided between the first chamber and the second chamber; a heater for heating an aerosol-producing article inserted into the first chamber to produce an aerosol; a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure within the second chamber; a heat insulating structure disposed to surround an outer circumferential surface of the heater to seal the heater and insulate the heater from heat generated by the heater; acquiring pressure sensing data from the pressure sensor; a processor that detects a pressure change amount within the second chamber based on the data, and outputs a notification indicating that a user has performed a puffing action when the pressure change amount within the second chamber is equal to or greater than a specified value; an electrical connector arranged to bypass but not penetrate the insulating structure, electrically connecting the pressure sensor and the processor.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor is positioned away from the thermal insulating structure.

3. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor is located at an upper end of the second chamber and is connected to an interior of the second chamber.

4. a sensor bracket supporting the pressure sensor and including a through hole connecting the pressure sensor to the second chamber; a sensor cover disposed to cover at least a portion of an outer surface of the pressure sensor and configured to dissipate heat transferred to the pressure sensor; The aerosol generating device described in claim 1, further comprising a protective member arranged between the sensor bracket and the sensor cover to surround at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pressure sensor and prevent leakage of air flowing into the pressure sensor.

5. The heater is A coil that generates an alternating magnetic field; 2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, further comprising: a susceptor that generates heat by the alternating magnetic field generated by the coil and heats the aerosol product.

6. The processor, The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a notification outputting means for outputting a notification indicating that a puffing action has occurred by a user when a pressure drop of the air inside the second chamber is equal to or greater than a specified value.

7. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , wherein the notification includes at least one of a visual notification, an audible notification, and a tactile notification.

8. Further comprising a display; The aerosol generating device of claim 7 , wherein the processor displays a notification via the display indicating that a user's puffing action has occurred.

9. The processor, The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , further comprising an additional notification output indicating the number of puffs remaining of the inserted aerosol product item based on the number of puffs generated by the user.

10. In the aerosol generating device, a housing including a chamber into which the aerosol product is inserted and an air passageway branching across the chamber at a point in the chamber; a heater for heating an aerosol-producing article inserted into the chamber to produce an aerosol; a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure inside the chamber; a heat insulating structure disposed to surround an outer circumferential surface of the heater to seal the heater and insulate the heater from heat generated by the heater; a processor that acquires pressure sensing data from the pressure sensor, detects a pressure change amount inside the chamber based on the pressure sensing data, and outputs a notification indicating that a user's puffing action has occurred when the pressure change amount inside the chamber is equal to or greater than a predetermined value; an electrical connector arranged to bypass but not penetrate the insulating structure, electrically connecting the pressure sensor and the processor.

11. The aerosol generating device according to claim 10 , wherein the pressure sensor is positioned away from the thermal insulating structure.

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