Aerosol generating device and heater temperature control method for said aerosol generating device

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention discloses an aerosol generating device including a heater that heats an aerosol generating substrate of a cigarette, and a control unit that determines whether a cigarette inserted through a cigarette insertion port is a wet cigarette or not, and controls the temperature of the heater based on a dedicated temperature profile corresponding to wet cigarettes based on the fact that the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device and a method for controlling the heater temperature of the aerosol generating device, and more specifically, to a general-purpose aerosol generating device that can operate normally regardless of the type of cigarette inserted, and a control method for the device. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternative methods to overcome the shortcomings of conventional cigarettes. For example, there has been an increasing demand for a method in which an aerosol is generated by heating an aerosol generating material in a cigarette, without burning the cigarette. As a result, research into heated cigarettes or heated aerosol generating devices has been actively conducted.

[0003] If a cigarette that is used by being loaded into an aerosol generating device is exposed to excessive moisture, it is called a wet cigarette or an overly moist cigarette. When the moisture (moisture content) contained in a regular cigarette is measured by a known method, the measured value is about 11-12%, and a cigarette with a moisture content of more than 12% can be classified as a wet cigarette, and one with a moisture content of more than 14% can be classified as an overly moist cigarette. Hereinafter, cigarettes with a moisture content higher than that of a regular cigarette will be collectively referred to as wet cigarettes.

[0004] There are various cases where regular cigarettes turn into wet cigarettes. For example, if a cigarette box in which cigarettes are stored is immersed in water due to immature storage by a user and then not dried sufficiently, the cigarettes in the cigarette box can turn into wet cigarettes. As another example, in countries or regions with separate rainy seasons, if cigarettes are not stored in a cool place, the moisture content of the cigarettes will increase continuously due to high humidity, and regular cigarettes will turn into wet cigarettes. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When wet cigarettes are used in aerosol generating devices, the high moisture content can also prevent the aerosol generating device from working properly, for example the aerosol can become overheated.

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an aerosol generating device capable of stably generating aerosol at an appropriate temperature even when a wet cigarette is used, and a heater temperature control method for the aerosol generating device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention for solving the above technical problems includes a heater that heats an aerosol generating substrate of a cigarette, and a control unit that determines whether a cigarette inserted through a cigarette insertion port is a wet cigarette, and if the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette, controls the temperature of the heater based on a dedicated temperature profile corresponding to the wet cigarette.

[0008] In the device, the control unit can determine whether the inserted cigarette is the wet cigarette or not when the cigarette is inserted and the temperature of the heater is raised based on a pre-set first temperature profile and a first time has elapsed.

[0009] In the device, the control unit can determine whether the inserted cigarette is the wet cigarette based on the rate of temperature rise of the heater at a point when a first time has elapsed since the heater began to heat.

[0010] In the device, the control unit can determine whether the inserted cigarette is the wet cigarette or not based on the temperature of the heater at a point in time when a first time has elapsed since the heater began to heat.

[0011] The device includes at least one capacitor disposed adjacent to the cigarette insertion port, the capacitance of the capacitor varies depending on the moisture content of the cigarette inserted into the cigarette insertion port, and the control unit can determine whether the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette based on the capacitance.

[0012] In the device, if the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette, the control unit can select one of a plurality of preset dedicated temperature profiles according to the amount of moisture contained in the cigarette and control the temperature of the heater.

[0013] In the device, the control unit detects the time when the aerosol generating device was most recently used, and if the detected time is within a predetermined time, it can control the temperature of the heater based on a second dedicated temperature profile that is different from the dedicated temperature profile.

[0014] In the device, the control unit can detect the time of use based on the temperature of the heater at the time the cigarette is inserted.

[0015] In the device, the control unit can control the temperature of the heater based on the second dedicated temperature profile if the temperature of the heater at the time the cigarette is inserted is within the range of 50°C to 150°C.

[0016] In the device, the dedicated temperature profile may be calculated by adjusting a basic temperature profile associated with a general cigarette.

[0017] In the apparatus, the dedicated temperature profile may be calculated by delaying the time at which the heater temperature reaches a maximum value in the basic temperature profile by a predetermined time.

[0018] A method according to another embodiment of the present invention for solving the above technical problems includes the steps of: detecting that a cigarette has been inserted into a cigarette insertion port; determining whether the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette; and, if the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette, controlling the temperature of a heater with a dedicated temperature profile corresponding to a wet cigarette.

[0019] The method further includes a step of detecting the time when the aerosol generating device was most recently used, and the step of controlling the temperature of the heater can include controlling the temperature of the heater with a second dedicated temperature profile different from the dedicated temperature profile based on the detected time being within a predetermined time.

[0020] In the method, the dedicated temperature profile is a temperature profile calculated by adjusting a basic temperature profile associated with a general cigarette.

[0021] An embodiment of the present invention discloses a computer readable recording medium storing a program for executing any one of the above methods. Effect of the Invention

[0022] According to the present invention, even when a wet cigarette is attached to the aerosol generating device, aerosol can be stably provided to a user.

[0023] Furthermore, according to the present invention, even if a wet cigarette is attached to the aerosol generating device, the aerosol is not overheated, allowing the user to smoke safely.

[0024] In addition, according to the present invention, if an overly moist cigarette that causes the aerosol generating device to malfunction is loaded into the device, the heater's heating is stopped, thereby preventing fatal damage to the aerosol generating device and protecting the user from accidents.

[0025] In addition, according to the present invention, a wet cigarette is attached to an aerosol generating device that can be used continuously, and even if the user smokes continuously, the user can be provided with a uniform and stable smoking satisfaction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating another example in which a cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cigarette. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating another example of a cigarette. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a dual medium cigarette for use with the device of FIG. 3. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of an aerosol generating device according to the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side view of the device illustrated in FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is a graph showing a temperature change graph of a cigarette or a heater. [Figure 10] 4 is a flow chart of a heater temperature control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 11 is a flowchart of a heater temperature control method according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 11 is a flowchart of a heater temperature control method according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of an aerosol generating device including a capacitor for determining whether a wet cigarette is inserted. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining modules constituting a control unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The terms used in this embodiment are currently widely used general terms as much as possible, taking into consideration the functions of the present invention, but they may vary depending on the intentions of engineers in this field, precedents, or the emergence of new technologies. In addition, in certain cases, the applicant may arbitrarily select terms, and in such cases, the meanings of the terms will be described in detail in the description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in this invention must be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the overall content of the present invention, rather than simply the names of the terms.

[0028] Throughout the specification, when a part "includes" a certain component, it does not mean excluding other components, but also means including other components, unless otherwise specified to the contrary. Furthermore, terms such as "... unit" and "... module" described in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and it is realized by hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the preferred embodiments set forth herein.

[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0031] 1 and 2 are diagrams illustrating an example in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

[0032] 1 and 2, the aerosol generating device 10 includes a battery 120, a control unit 110, a heater 130, and a vaporizer 180. In addition, a cigarette 200 may be inserted into the internal space of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0033] Components related to the present embodiment are illustrated in the aerosol generating device 10 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Therefore, a person having ordinary skill in the art related to the present embodiment would understand that the aerosol generating device 10 further includes other general components in addition to the components illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

[0034] 1 and 2, the aerosol generating device 10 is illustrated as including a heater 130, but the heater 130 may be omitted if necessary.

[0035] Fig. 1 illustrates the battery 120, the control unit 110, the vaporizer 180, and the heater 130 arranged in a line. Fig. 2 illustrates the vaporizer 180 and the heater 130 arranged in parallel. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 10 is not limited to that illustrated in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2. In other words, the arrangement of the battery 120, the control unit 110, the vaporizer 180, and the heater 130 may be changed depending on the design of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0036] When the cigarette 200 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10, the aerosol generating device 10 can activate the vaporizer 180 to generate an aerosol from the vaporizer 180. The aerosol generated by the vaporizer 180 passes through the cigarette 200 and is delivered to a user. The vaporizer 180 will be described in more detail below.

[0037] The battery 120 supplies power used for operating the aerosol generating device 10. For example, the battery 120 can supply power so that the heater 130 or the vaporizer 180 can be heated, and can supply power necessary for the control unit 110 to operate. The battery 120 can also supply power necessary for the display, sensor, motor, etc. provided in the aerosol generating device 10 to operate.

[0038] The control unit 110 generally controls the operation of the aerosol generation device 10. Specifically, the control unit 110 controls the operation of not only the battery 120, the heater 130, and the vaporizer 180, but also other components included in the aerosol generation device 10. The control unit 110 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.

[0039] The control unit 110 includes at least one processor. The processor may be realized by an array of a number of logic gates, or may be realized by a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory storing a program that can be executed by the microprocessor. Those skilled in the art will understand that the controller 110 may also be realized by other types of hardware.

[0040] The heater 130 may be heated by power supplied from the battery 120. For example, the heater 130 may be located outside the cigarette when the cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10. Thus, the heated heater 130 may increase the temperature of the aerosol generating material within the cigarette.

[0041] The heater 130 may be an electrically resistive heater. For example, the heater 130 may include an electrically conductive track, and the heater 130 may be heated by passing an electric current through the electrically conductive track. However, the heater 130 is not limited to the above example, and may be any heater that can be heated to a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may be preset in the aerosol generating device 10, or may be set by a user to a desired temperature.

[0042] As another example, the heater 130 may be an induction heater. Specifically, the heater 130 may include an electrically conductive coil for inductively heating the cigarette, and the cigarette may include a susceptor that may be heated by the induction heater.

[0043] 1 and 2, the heater 130 is illustrated as being disposed on the outside of the cigarette 200, but is not limited thereto. For example, the heater 130 may include a tube-type heating element, a plate-type heating element, a needle-type heating element, or a rod-type heating element, and depending on the form of the heating element, the inside or outside of the cigarette 200 may be heated.

[0044] A plurality of heaters 130 may be disposed in the aerosol generating device 10. In this case, the plurality of heaters 130 may be disposed so as to be inserted inside the cigarette 200, or may be disposed outside the cigarette 200. Some of the plurality of heaters 130 may be disposed so as to be inserted inside the cigarette 200, and the rest may be disposed outside the cigarette 200. The shape of the heater 130 is not limited to the shapes shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and may be manufactured in various shapes.

[0045] The vaporizer 180 can heat the liquid composition and generate an aerosol, which can pass through the cigarette 200 and be delivered to the user. In other words, the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 180 can travel along an airflow passage of the aerosol generating device 10, which can be configured to allow the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 180 to pass through the cigarette and be delivered to the user.

[0046] For example, the vaporizer 180 may include, but is not limited to, a liquid storage unit, a liquid delivery means, and a heating element, and the liquid storage unit, the liquid delivery means, and the heating element may be included in the aerosol generation device 10 as separate modules.

[0047] The liquid storage unit can store a liquid composition, for example, a liquid containing a tobacco-containing substance including a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquid containing a non-tobacco substance. The liquid storage unit can be made to be detachable / attachable to / from the vaporizer 180, or can be made integral with the vaporizer 180.

[0048] For example, the liquid composition may include water, solvent, ethanol, plant extract, fragrance, flavoring agent, or vitamin mixture. The fragrance may include, but is not limited to, menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, various fruit flavoring ingredients, etc. The flavoring agent may include ingredients that can provide a variety of flavors or tastes to the user. The vitamin mixture may include, but is not limited to, at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E. The liquid composition may also include an aerosol forming agent, such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

[0049] The liquid transfer means can transfer the liquid composition of the liquid reservoir to the heating element, for example, but not limited to, a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic.

[0050] The heating element is an element for heating the liquid composition transferred by the liquid transfer means. For example, the heating element can be, but is not limited to, a metal hot wire, a metal hot plate, a ceramic heater, etc. The heating element can also be made of a conductive filament such as a nichrome wire, and can also be arranged in a structure that is wound around the liquid transfer means. The heating element can be heated by supplying electric current, and can transfer heat to the liquid composition in contact with the heating element, thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, an aerosol can be generated.

[0051] For example, the vaporizer 180 may also be referred to as, but is not limited to, a cartomizer or an atomizer.

[0052] The aerosol generation device 10 further includes a general-purpose configuration in addition to the battery 120, the control unit 110, and the heater 130. For example, the aerosol generation device 10 also includes a display capable of outputting visual information and / or a motor for outputting tactile information. The aerosol generation device 10 also includes at least one sensor (such as a puff detection sensor, a temperature detection sensor, or a cigarette insertion detection sensor). The aerosol generation device 10 may also be fabricated in a structure in which external air flows in or internal gas flows out even when the cigarette 200 is inserted.

[0053] 1 and 2, the aerosol generating device 10 may form a system together with a separate cradle. For example, the cradle may be used to charge the battery 120 of the aerosol generating device 10. Alternatively, the heater 130 may be heated when the cradle and the aerosol generating device 10 are combined.

[0054] Cigarette 200 may be similar to a typical combustion cigarette. For example, cigarette 200 may be divided into a first portion including an aerosol-generating material and a second portion including a filter or the like. Alternatively, the second portion of cigarette 200 may also include an aerosol-generating material. For example, an aerosol-generating material in the form of granules or capsules may be inserted into the second portion.

[0055] The entire first part may be inserted into the aerosol generating device 10, and the second part may be exposed to the outside. Alternatively, only a part of the first part may be inserted into the aerosol generating device 10, or both the first part and the second part may be inserted. A user can inhale aerosol while holding the second part in his / her mouth. In this case, the aerosol is generated by external air passing through the first part, and the generated aerosol passes through the second part and is delivered to the user's mouth.

[0056] As an example, the external air may be introduced through at least one air passage formed in the aerosol generating device 10. For example, the opening and closing of the air passage formed in the aerosol generating device 10 and / or the size of the air passage may be adjusted by the user. As a result, the amount of atomization, smoking sensation, etc. may be adjusted by the user. As another example, the external air may be introduced into the cigarette 200 through at least one hole formed in the surface of the cigarette 200.

[0057] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another example in which a cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device.

[0058] Comparing Fig. 3 with the aerosol generating device described through Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, it can be seen that the vaporizer 180 is omitted. Since the dual medium cigarette 300 inserted into the aerosol generating device shown in Fig. 3 includes an element that performs the function of the vaporizer 180, the aerosol generating device according to Fig. 3 does not include the vaporizer 180, unlike the aerosol generating device shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

[0059] When the dual medium cigarette 300 is inserted, the aerosol generating device 10 shown in Fig. 3 externally heats the dual medium cigarette 300 so that an aerosol that can be inhaled by a user can be generated from the dual medium cigarette 300. The dual medium cigarette 300 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 6.

[0060] An example of a cigarette 200 will now be described with reference to FIG.

[0061] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cigarette.

[0062] 4, the cigarette 200 includes a tobacco rod 210 and a filter rod 220. The first portion described with reference to FIGS.

[0063] 4, the filter rod 220 is illustrated as a single segment, but is not limited thereto. In other words, the filter rod 220 may be composed of multiple segments. For example, the filter rod 220 may include a first segment for cooling the aerosol and a second segment for filtering a specific component contained in the aerosol. In addition, the filter rod 220 may further include at least one segment for performing another function, if necessary.

[0064] The cigarette 200 may be wrapped by at least one wrapper 240. The wrapper 240 may have at least one hole through which external air can flow in or internal gas can flow out. As an example, the cigarette 200 may be wrapped by one wrapper 240. As another example, the cigarette 200 may be wrapped by two or more wrappers 240 in a superimposed manner. For example, the tobacco rod 210 may be wrapped by a first wrapper, and the filter rod 220 may be wrapped by a second wrapper. Then, the tobacco rod 210 and the filter rod 220 wrapped by the individual wrappers may be combined, and the entire cigarette 200 may be further wrapped by a third wrapper. If the tobacco rod 210 or the filter rod 220 is composed of a plurality of segments, each segment may be wrapped by an individual wrapper. Then, the entire cigarette 200 to which the segments wrapped by the individual wrappers are combined may be further wrapped by another wrapper.

[0065] The tobacco rod 210 includes an aerosol-generating material, such as, but not limited to, at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol. The tobacco rod 210 also includes 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 210 by spraying it onto the tobacco rod 210.

[0066] The tobacco rod 210 may be manufactured in various ways. For example, the tobacco rod 210 may be manufactured from a sheet or a strand. The tobacco rod 210 may also be manufactured from cut tobacco, which is a tobacco sheet that has been finely shredded. The tobacco rod 210 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 210 may evenly distribute the heat transferred to the tobacco rod 210 and improve the thermal conductivity applied to the tobacco rod, thereby improving the tobacco taste. The thermally conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 210 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 210 may further include an additional susceptor in addition to the thermally conductive material surrounding the outside.

[0067] The filter rod 220 is also a cellulose acetate filter. Meanwhile, the shape of the filter rod 220 is not limited. For example, the filter rod 220 may be a cylindrical type rod or a tube type rod having a hollow inside. The filter rod 220 may also be a recess type rod. If the filter rod 220 is composed of a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality of segments may be manufactured in a different shape.

[0068] The filter rod 220 may be manufactured to generate a flavor. For example, a flavoring liquid may be sprayed onto the filter rod 220, or a separate fiber coated with the flavoring liquid may be inserted into the filter rod 220.

[0069] The filter rod 220 also includes at least one capsule 230. Here, the capsule 230 can perform a function of generating flavor or a function of generating aerosol. For example, the capsule 230 is a structure in which a liquid containing a flavoring agent is covered with a coating. The capsule 230 can have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0070] If the filter rod 220 includes a segment for cooling the aerosol, the cooling segment may be made of a polymeric material or a biodegradable polymeric material. For example, the cooling segment may be made of pure polylactic acid, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the cooling segment may be made of a cellulose acetate filter with multiple holes. However, the cooling segment is not limited to the above examples, and may be applicable without limitation as long as it can perform the function of cooling the aerosol.

[0071] Although not shown in Fig. 4, the cigarette 200 according to one embodiment further includes a front end filter. The front end filter is located on one side of the tobacco rod 210 opposite the filter rod 220. The front end filter can prevent the tobacco rod 210 from being detached to the outside, and can prevent liquefied aerosol from flowing out of the tobacco rod 210 into the aerosol generating device 100 (Figs. 1 and 2) during smoking.

[0072] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of a cigarette.

[0073] 5, it can be seen that the cigarette 200 has a configuration in which the cross tube 205, the tobacco rod 210, the tube 220a, and the filter 220b are wrapped by a final wrapper 240. In FIG. 5, the wrapper includes individual wrappers that respectively wrap the cross tube 205, the tobacco rod 210, the tube 220a, and the filter 220b, and a final wrapper that wraps the cross tube 205, the tobacco rod 210, the tube 220a, and the filter 220b together, which are wrapped by the individual wrappers.

[0074] The first part described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 includes the cross tube 205 and the tobacco rod 210, and the second part includes the filter rod 220. For convenience of explanation, the following description will be given with reference to Figures 1 and 2, and any explanation that overlaps with that described with reference to Figure 4 will be omitted.

[0075] Cross tube 205 refers to a cross-shaped tube that is connected to tobacco rod 210 .

[0076] When the cigarette 200 is inserted into the aerosol generating device, the cross tube 205 and the tobacco rod 210 are the parts that are sensed by the cigarette detection sensor. The cross tube 205 is wrapped in the same copper-insulated paper wrapper as the tobacco rod 210, and can be used to determine whether the cigarette 200 into which the cigarette detection sensor is inserted is a type of cigarette supported by the aerosol generating device, for example, whether the cigarette and the aerosol generating device are manufactured by the same manufacturer.

[0077] The tobacco rod 210 comprises an aerosol-generating substrate that is heated by the heater 130 of the aerosol generating device 10 to generate an aerosol.

[0078] The tube 220a transfers the aerosol generated when the aerosol generating substrate of the tobacco rod 210 receives a sufficient amount of energy from the heater 130 and is heated, to the filter 220b. The tube 220a is manufactured by adding a certain amount of triacetin (TA), a plasticizer, to cellulose acetate tow and forming it into a circle, and is different from the cross tube 205 not only in shape but also in the arrangement in which the tobacco rod 210 and the filter 220b are connected.

[0079] The filter 220b performs the function of allowing the aerosol generated by the tobacco rod 210 to pass through the filter 220b when the aerosol is transmitted through the tube 220a, thereby allowing the user to inhale the aerosol filtered by the filter 220b. The filter 220b is also a cellulose acetate filter made based on cellulose acetate tow.

[0080] The final wrapper 240 is a paper that covers and wraps the cross tube 205, the tobacco rod 210, the tube 220a, and the filter 220b, and includes a cross tube wrapper 240b, a tobacco rod wrapper 240c, a tube wrapper 240d, and a filter wrapper 240e.

[0081] 5, the cross tube wrapper 240b is an aluminum wrapper, the tube portion 220a is an MFW wrapper or a 24K wrapper, and the filter 220b is an oil-resistant hard wrapper or a polylactic acid interleaf wrapper. The tobacco rod wrapper 240c and the final wrapper 240 will be described in more detail below.

[0082] The tobacco rod wrapper 240c is a wrapper that encases the tobacco rod 210, and may be coated with a thermal conductivity enhancing material to maximize the efficiency of the thermal energy transferred by the heater 130. For example, the tobacco rod wrapper 240c may be made of silver (Ag) foil paper, aluminum (Al) foil paper, copper (Cu) foil paper, carbon paper, a filler, ceramics (AlN, Al 2 O 3 The wrapper may be prepared by coating at least one of the following materials on a general wrapper or release paper: silicon carbide, sodium citrate, potassium citrate, aramid fiber, nano cellulose, mineral paper, glassine paper, and SWNT (single-walled carbon nanotube). The general wrapper refers to a wrapper that is widely used in cigarettes, and refers to a porous wrapper made of a material that has been verified to have paper manufacturing workability and thermal conductivity that exceed a certain value through a hand-made paper test.

[0083] In addition, the final wrapper 240 of the present invention may be manufactured by coating at least one of the various materials, such as filler, ceramics, silicon carbide, sodium citrate, potassium citrate, aramid fiber, nanocellulose, and SWNT, onto the MFW base paper, which may be coated onto the tobacco rod wrapper 240c.

[0084] 1 and 2, the heater 130 included in the external heating type aerosol generating device 10 is controlled by the control unit 110, and heats the aerosol generating substrate included in the tobacco rod 210 to generate aerosol, and at this time, the thermal energy transferred to the tobacco rod 210 is composed of 75% radiant heat, 15% convective heat, and 10% conductive heat. According to one embodiment, the ratio of radiant heat, convective heat, and conductive heat that constitute the thermal energy transferred to the tobacco rod 210 may vary.

[0085] In order to overcome the difficulty in rapid aerosol generation due to the heater 130 being unable to directly contact the aerosol-generating substrate to transfer thermal energy, the present invention coats the tobacco rod wrapper 240c and the final wrapper 240 with a thermal conductivity enhancing material as described above, thereby promoting efficient transfer of thermal energy to the aerosol-generating substrate of the tobacco rod 210, thereby making it possible to provide a sufficient amount of aerosol to the user even during the initial puff before the heater 130 is sufficiently heated.

[0086] In one embodiment, only one of the tobacco rod wrapper 240c or the final wrapper 240 may be coated with a thermal conductivity enhancing material, and in addition to the above examples, the present invention may also be embodied in a manner in which an organic metal, inorganic metal, fiber, or polymer material having at least a certain set value of thermal conductivity is coated on the tobacco rod wrapper 240c or the final wrapper 240.

[0087] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dual medium cigarette that may be used in the device of FIG.

[0088] In FIG. 6, the name of the dual medium cigarette is given not only for the purpose of distinguishing it from the cigarettes described in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, but also for the purpose of simplifying the description of the present invention, and according to this embodiment, it may be called the same as a general cigarette.

[0089] 6, it can be seen that the dual-media cigarette 300 has a configuration in which the aerosol-based section 310, the medium section 320, the cooling section 330 and the filter section 340 are wrapped in a final wrapper 350. In FIG. 6, the final wrapper 350 refers to individual wrappers that wrap the aerosol-based section 310, the medium section 320 and the filter section 340, respectively, and an outer cover that wraps together the aerosol-based section 310, the medium section 320 and the filter section 340 that are wrapped in the individual wrappers.

[0090] The aerosol base part 310 is a part in which a humectant is impregnated into pulp-based paper and formed into a preset shape. The humectants (base materials) contained in the aerosol base part 310 include propylene glycol and glycerin. The humectants in the aerosol base part 310 include propylene glycol and glycerin having a certain weight ratio relative to the weight of the base paper. When the dual medium cigarette 300 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10 of FIG. 3, the aerosol base part 310 generates humectant vapor if it is heated to a certain temperature or higher by the heater 130.

[0091] The medium section 320 includes at least one of tobacco shredded into a sheet, a strand, and a tobacco sheet, and is a section that generates nicotine to provide a user with a smoking experience. Even when the dual medium cigarette 300 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10 of FIG. 3, the medium section 320 is not directly heated by the heater 130, but may be indirectly heated by the medium section wrapper (or final wrapper) that encloses the heated aerosol base section 310 and the medium section 320 through conduction, convection, and radiation. In the present invention, the temperature of the medium contained in the medium section 320 is lower than the temperature of the humectant contained in the aerosol base section 310, and the temperature of the medium section 320 is increased in a roundabout manner after the aerosol base section 310 is heated by the external heater 130. When the temperature of the medium contained in the medium part 320 is increased to a certain temperature or higher, nicotine vapor is generated from the medium part 320 .

[0092] According to one embodiment, when the dual media cigarette 300 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10 of FIG. 3, a portion of the media portion 320 is oriented opposite the heater 130 and is also heated by the heater 130 .

[0093] The cooling section 330 is made of a tube filter containing a predetermined weight of plasticizer, and the moisturizer vapor and nicotine vapor generated from the aerosol base section 310 and the medium section 320 are mixed and aerosolized, and are cooled as they pass through the cooling section 330. Unlike the aerosol base section 310, the medium section 320 and the filter section 340, the cooling section 330 is not covered by an individual wrapper.

[0094] The filter unit 340 may be a cellulose acetate filter, and the shape of the filter unit 340 is not limited. The filter unit 340 may be a cylindrical rod or a tube-shaped rod having a hollow inside. If the filter unit 340 is composed of a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality of segments may be manufactured in a different shape. The filter unit 340 may be manufactured to generate a flavor. For example, a flavoring liquid may be sprayed on the filter unit 340, or separate fibers coated with a flavoring liquid may be inserted into the filter unit 340.

[0095] The filter unit 340 also includes at least one capsule. Here, the capsule can perform a function of generating flavor. For example, the capsule can have a structure in which a liquid containing a flavoring agent is covered with a coating, and can have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0096] The final wrapper 350 refers to an outer cover that encases the aerosol base material portion 310, the medium portion 320, and the filter portion 340, which are all enclosed by the individual wrappers, and the final wrapper 350 may be made of the same material as the medium portion wrapper described below.

[0097] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an example of an aerosol generating device according to the present invention.

[0098] 7, it can be seen that the aerosol generating device 10 according to the present invention includes a control unit 110, a battery 120, a heater 130, and a dual medium cigarette 300. Since FIG. 7 shows only some components of the aerosol generating device 10 in an embossed manner for the convenience of explanation, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that even if other components are added, the above-mentioned components are included and the present invention will not deviate from the scope of the present invention.

[0099] In addition, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 10 is not limited to that shown in Fig. 7, and the arrangement of the control unit 110, the battery 120, the heater 130, and the dual medium cigarette 300 may be different depending on an embodiment or design. The description of each component in Fig. 7 has already been described in Figs. 1 to 3, so it will not be repeated.

[0100] FIG. 8 is a side view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG.

[0101] 8, it can be seen that the aerosol generating device 10 according to the present invention includes a PCB (printed circuit board) 11, a control unit 110, a battery 120, a first heater 130A, a second heater 130B, a display 150, and a cigarette insertion space 160. In the following, descriptions that overlap with those of the configuration described in FIG. 1 will be omitted.

[0102] The PCB 11 performs the function of electronically integrating various components that collect information of the aerosol generating device 10 while communicating with the control unit 110, and the control unit 110 and display 150 are fixed and mounted on the surface of the PCB 11, and a battery 120 is connected to supply power to the elements connected to the PCB 11.

[0103] The first heater 130A and the second heater 130B heat the two medium portions of the dual medium cigarette 300 inserted into the cigarette insertion space 160 of the aerosol generating device of Fig. 8 to different temperatures. The first heater 130A and the second heater 130B may be made of different materials, or may be made of the same material and receive different control signals from the control unit 110 to be heated to different temperatures.

[0104] The display 150 is a device that controls the output of information required by a user as visual information among the information generated by the aerosol generation device 10. The display 150 controls the information output to an LCD (liquid crystal display) panel (or an LED (light-emitting diode) panel) provided on the front surface of the aerosol generation device 10 based on information received from the control unit 110.

[0105] The cigarette insertion space 160 refers to a space that is recessed to a certain depth toward the inside of the aerosol generating device 10 so that the cigarette 200 or the dual medium cigarette 300 can be inserted. The cigarette insertion space 160 has a cylindrical shape so that the stick-shaped cigarette 200 or the dual medium cigarette 300 can be stably mounted, and the height (depth) of the cigarette insertion space 160 varies depending on the length of the region containing the aerosol generating material in the cigarette 200 or the dual medium cigarette 300.

[0106] 6 is inserted into the cigarette insertion space 160, the height of the cigarette insertion space 160 is equal to the combined length of the aerosol substrate portion 310 and the medium portion 320. When the cigarette 200 or the dual medium cigarette 300 is inserted into the cigarette insertion space 160, the first heater 130A and the second heater 130B adjacent to the cigarette insertion space 160 are heated to generate aerosol.

[0107] FIG. 9 shows a graph of the temperature change of a cigarette or a heater.

[0108] More specifically, FIG. 9 shows a graph of the heater temperature change when a regular cigarette and a wet cigarette are respectively attached to the aerosol generating device according to the present invention, and it can be seen that the graph 910 relating to the regular cigarette and the graph 930 relating to the wet cigarette each have different characteristics.

[0109] In the graph of Figure 9, the horizontal axis (x-axis) represents the time that the heater is powered and heated, and the vertical axis (y-axis) represents the temperature of the aerosol-generating substrate (hereinafter "substrate temperature") inside the cigarette that is in contact with the heater and heated. In one embodiment, the vertical axis (y-axis) can also be interpreted as the temperature of the heater.

[0110] First, when a regular cigarette is inserted through the cigarette insertion port of the aerosol generating device at room temperature (25°C), the temperature of the heater rises over time from room temperature to a maximum temperature. For example, when a regular cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device, the maximum temperature of the heater becomes as high as 270°C. When a regular cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device, t 2 At this point, the heater temperature reaches its maximum.

[0111] The temperature of the heater that reaches the maximum temperature is t 4 In FIG. 4, the period from when the heater starts to heat up to when the maximum temperature is maintained in the aerosol generating device is called the first pre-heating time t pre1 The first preheating time t pre1 The heater temperature reaches its maximum temperature during the second preheating time t pre2 At t, the temperature drops to the preset value. 5From that point on, a sufficient amount of aerosol can be continuously generated in the aerosol generating device while maintaining a stable temperature through feedback control such as proportional-integral-differential (PID) control.

[0112] In addition, the aerosol generating device according to the present invention can stably provide aerosol to a user even when a wet cigarette is inserted.

[0113] 9, it can be seen that when a wet cigarette is placed in the aerosol generating device, the heating rate is slower than when a regular cigarette is placed in the aerosol generating device. Specifically, in FIG. 9, when a regular cigarette is placed in the aerosol generating device and the heater is heated, t 2 At this time, the heater temperature reaches its maximum. When the wet cigarette is attached to the aerosol generating device and the heater is heated, the temperature of the heater reaches its maximum at t 2 At a point in time after t 3 Only at this point will the heater temperature reach its maximum temperature.

[0114] 9, a graph 930 relating to a wet cigarette is an example of a result in which a control logic or a control unit according to the present invention is applied to an aerosol generating device. When the wet cigarette is loaded into the aerosol generating device, the control unit in the aerosol generating device according to the present invention can use a dedicated temperature profile that can stably heat the wet cigarette and generate an aerosol, instead of the temperature profile used when a general cigarette is loaded.

[0115] If a wet cigarette is placed in the aerosol generating device and a temperature profile for heating a regular cigarette is applied, t 2At this point, an algorithm for maintaining the heater temperature is activated. However, the heater temperature rise rate when the wet cigarette is inserted is slower than when a regular cigarette is inserted. 2 If an algorithm for maintaining the heater temperature is applied at time t, the heater temperature will eventually be maintained at the first pre-heating period t pre1 During this time, the maximum temperature of 270°C cannot be reached.

[0116] A wet cigarette that does not receive proper thermal energy from the heater cannot reach its maximum temperature and generates an incomplete aerosol, which does not provide a user with a satisfying smoking experience. In addition, the incomplete aerosol (i.e., the aerosol containing the hot moisture of the wet cigarette itself) is much hotter than aerosol generated through a normal process and may cause physical damage to the user.

[0117] As shown in Fig. 9, the aerosol generating device according to the present invention can stably generate aerosol even when a wet cigarette is loaded into the aerosol generating device by appropriately controlling the heater temperature with a dedicated temperature profile from the point when the control unit determines that a wet cigarette is loaded, in particular, if the control unit of the aerosol generating device according to the present invention determines that the loaded cigarette is a wet cigarette, it can apply a dedicated temperature profile that delays the point at which the heater temperature reaches its maximum, thereby controlling the device to stably generate aerosol from the wet cigarette.

[0118] As an example, in FIG. 1 is also the time when the control unit determines that the cigarette inserted through the cigarette insertion port is a wet cigarette. This embodiment means that the control unit can determine whether the cigarette inserted is a wet cigarette or not not only when the heater starts to heat, but also while it is being heated. 1The time is the time when the heater temperature reaches the maximum temperature based on the graph for a regular cigarette. 2 It is also a point in time that precedes the present point in time.

[0119] The control unit is 1 At a certain time, the control unit can determine whether the cigarette loaded in the device is a wet cigarette or not through various methods. For example, the control unit can determine whether the cigarette is a wet cigarette or not based on the temperature rise rate at the time when the first time has elapsed since the heater started to heat up. Here, the temperature rise rate is an abbreviation for the ratio of the temperature rise of the heater per hour, and the first time is t 1 The temperature rise rate is also called the heater temperature rise rate in terms of physical interpretation.

[0120] The control unit is 0 Time (when the heater starts heating, the starting point on the x-axis) and t 1 The slope of the graph (i.e., the rate of temperature rise) between t0 and t1 is measured, and the result is compared with a preset reference slope value to determine whether or not the wet cigarette is inserted. For example, the reference slope value is the slope of the graph 910 relating to the regular cigarette between t0 and t1. As described above, the temperature rise rate of the wet cigarette is slower than that of the regular cigarette, so that the temperature rise rate between t0 and t1 is determined based on the result. 0 Time and t 1 Between time points, the graph 930 for the wet cigarettes has a smaller slope value than the graph 910 for the regular cigarettes. 0 Time and t 1 Between the time points, the slope of the graph 930 for the wet cigarettes is greater than the slope of the graph 910 for the regular cigarettes.

[0121] In another embodiment, the control unit may determine whether or not a wet cigarette is inserted based on the temperature of the heater at a time when a first time has elapsed since the heater started to heat. Since the temperature rise rate of a wet cigarette is slower than that of a regular cigarette, the control unit may determine whether or not a wet cigarette is inserted based on the temperature of the heater at a time when a first time has elapsed since the heater started to heat. 1 At a time point, the heater temperature reaches a preset reference temperature (e.g., t 1 If the measured temperature is lower than the heater temperature in graph 910 at that time, it can be determined that a wet cigarette has been inserted.

[0122] In the above two embodiments, the control unit measures the rate of temperature rise or the heater temperature at the time when the first time has elapsed to determine whether a wet cigarette is inserted, so that it is not possible to know whether the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette or not before the heater is heated and the temperature rises. However, in order to determine whether a wet cigarette is inserted before supplying power to the heater, a capacitor may be disposed adjacent to the cigarette insertion port and the change in capacitance of the capacitor detected may be used. This will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0123] If the cigarette is a wet cigarette, the control unit can select one of a plurality of dedicated temperature profiles according to the amount of moisture contained in the cigarette and control the temperature of the heater. Since the temperature rise rate of the substrate varies depending on the moisture content contained in the wet cigarette, the control unit can store various dedicated temperature profiles according to the amount of moisture and select and use the dedicated temperature profile corresponding to the detected amount of moisture.

[0124] In FIG. 9, ΔT indicates the range of heater temperature values ​​that the control unit refers to in order to determine whether the device is continuously used. In FIG. 9, ΔT is 100 degrees, and the maximum temperature value for calculating ΔT is 150° C., and the minimum temperature value is 50° C. An aerosol generating device with sufficient battery capacity can be used continuously without charging the battery even after one smoking session consisting of a large number of puffs is over. If the aerosol generating device is used continuously, the heater temperature will rise from a state in which the heater has not yet cooled down to room temperature. That is, if the heater temperature is much higher than room temperature (for example, 50° C. to 150° C.) at the time when the heater starts to heat up, the manner in which the heater temperature and the substrate temperature rise will be different from the case in which the heater starts to heat up at room temperature, and in particular, if the cigarette installed is a wet cigarette, a dedicated temperature profile is required to stably generate aerosol.

[0125] In the aerosol generating device according to the present invention, the initial temperature of the heater is much higher than room temperature, so it is determined that the device is in continuous use, and if the cigarette installed is a wet cigarette, the temperature of the heater can be controlled based on a dedicated temperature profile corresponding thereto. For example, if the control unit detects the continuous use of the device and at the same time determines that the cigarette installed is a wet cigarette, the temperature of the heater can be controlled based on the dedicated temperature profile corresponding thereto. 3 A dedicated temperature profile may be applied that causes the substrate temperature to reach a maximum temperature at a time earlier than t 3 The reason why it became earlier is that power started to be supplied to the heater when the heater temperature was higher than a certain level due to continuous use.

[0126] Unlike the above embodiment, the control unit can detect the time when the aerosol generating device was most recently used by the user, and if the detected time is within a predetermined time, it can be determined that the aerosol generating device is in continuous use. The control unit can determine the continuous use operation based on the usage log stored in the memory of the aerosol generating device without measuring the heater temperature.

[0127] As an example different from the above embodiment, in Fig. 9, the graph 930 related to wet cigarettes is also a graph derived from the graph 910 related to regular cigarettes. In Fig. 9, the graph 910 related to regular cigarettes and the graph 930 related to wet cigarettes are diagrams showing the results of a temperature profile corresponding to regular cigarettes and a temperature profile dedicated to wet cigarettes, in other words, the dedicated temperature profile for wet cigarettes can be calculated by adjusting the basic temperature profile for regular cigarettes.

[0128] In FIG. 9, the graph 930 for the wet cigarette is slightly delayed in reaching the maximum temperature compared to the graph for the regular cigarette. 3 It can be seen that the two graphs match after this point. If the controller determines that the cigarette is a wet cigarette, it can calculate a dedicated temperature profile by delaying the maximum temperature reaching point in the basic temperature profile by a preset value, where the preset value can also vary depending on the moisture content of the wet cigarette.

[0129] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a heater temperature control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0130] The method illustrated in FIG. 10 may be implemented by a controller of an aerosol generating device.

[0131] When a cigarette is inserted into the cigarette insertion slot (S1010), the control unit determines whether the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette (S1030).

[0132] In step S1030, the control unit can determine whether the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette in various ways.

[0133] As an example, the control unit can determine whether the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette based on the heating rate in a preset temperature range. The minimum temperature value constituting the preset temperature range is also a temperature value selected between 50° C. and 120° C. The maximum temperature value constituting the preset temperature range is also a temperature value selected between 230° C. and 320° C. The preset temperature range is determined by the minimum temperature value and the maximum temperature value, and is, for example, between 70° C. and 300° C.

[0134] The control unit can measure the time it takes for the heater temperature to rise from 70° C. to 300° C., grasp the heater temperature rise rate, and detect the moisture content of the cigarette inserted into the cigarette insertion port based on the grasped heater temperature rise rate. The control unit can determine that the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette if the heater temperature rises from 70° C. to 300° C. in a time slower than a preset time, and can determine that the inserted cigarette is a regular cigarette if the time is the same as or faster than the preset time.

[0135] As another example, the control unit may determine whether the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette based on the heater temperature that has risen to a preset reference time point. For example, the control unit may measure the heater temperature 20 seconds after power is supplied to the heater, and if the measured temperature is equal to or lower than the preset temperature, determine that the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette. The reference time point referred to by the control unit may be n seconds after power is supplied to the heater, where n is a value selected from 0 to 50.

[0136] If the control unit determines that the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette, it can control the heater temperature with a wet cigarette-specific temperature profile from the time of determination (S1050).If the control unit determines that the inserted cigarette is not a wet cigarette but a normal cigarette, it can control the heater temperature with a preset basic temperature profile (S1070).

[0137] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a heater temperature control method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0138] When a cigarette is inserted into the cigarette insertion port (S1110), the control unit determines whether the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette or not (S1120), and if it is determined to be a regular cigarette, it can control the heater temperature using a preset basic temperature profile (S1130).

[0139] If the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette, the control unit determines whether the device has been used within a predetermined time (S1140), and if the device has been used within the predetermined time, it can control the heater temperature from the time of the determination using a dedicated temperature profile for continuous use and wet cigarettes (S1150).

[0140] If the control unit determines that the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette but that the device has not been used within a predetermined time, it can control the temperature of the heater with a temperature profile dedicated to wet cigarettes (S1160) as shown in Figure 10. The fact that the dedicated temperature profile of step S1150 and the dedicated temperature profile of step S1160 are different from each other has already been described with reference to Figure 9.

[0141] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a heater temperature control method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0142] Specifically, FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a methodology for when the moisture content of a wet cigarette is excessive and aerosol cannot be generated reliably by simply controlling the heater temperature with a dedicated temperature profile.

[0143] When a cigarette is inserted into the cigarette insertion port (S1210), the control unit determines whether the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette (S1220), and if it is determined to be a regular cigarette, it can control the heater temperature using a preset basic temperature profile (S1230).

[0144] If the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette, the control unit may heat the heater to a preset first temperature (S1240) and measure a first time taken for the heater temperature to reach the first temperature (S1250). According to one embodiment, the time measured in step S1250 is not the heater temperature but also the substrate temperature.

[0145] If the first time is not longer than the reference time, the control unit may control the temperature of the heater with a temperature profile dedicated to wet cigarettes (S1270).

[0146] If the first time is longer than the reference time, the control unit determines that a temperature rise delay exceeding the error range has occurred and may cut off the power supply to the heater (S1280). In step S1280, a temperature rise delay exceeding the error range means that the moisture content of the cigarette is too high and aerosol cannot be generated by a normal heating method.

[0147] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an example of an aerosol generating device including a capacitor for determining whether a wet cigarette is inserted.

[0148] The cigarette insertion space 160 has first electrodes plt on both sides, which constitute a capacitor. 1 and the second electrode plt 2 When the dual medium cigarette 300 containing the substance for generating an aerosol is fully placed in the cigarette insertion space through the cigarette insertion port, the first electrode plt 1 and the second electrode plt 2 This causes a change in the permittivity between the material and the capacitor, temporarily changing the capacitance of the capacitor.

[0149] Since wet cigarettes contain more moisture than regular cigarettes and the dielectric constant (relative permittivity) of water is relatively high compared to other substances, the change in capacitance when a wet cigarette is inserted is more dramatic than the change in capacitance when a regular cigarette is inserted, and the control unit can accurately determine whether a wet cigarette is inserted or not based on this difference.

[0150] FIG. 14 is a block diagram for explaining modules constituting the control unit.

[0151] The control unit 1400 included in the aerosol generating device according to the present invention includes a number of modules, either physically or logically. Referring to FIG. 14, the control unit 1400 includes a first condition receiving unit 1401, a second condition receiving unit 1403, a data processing unit 1405, and a signal output unit 1407.

[0152] The first condition receiving unit 1401 can receive information for determining whether the cigarette is a wet cigarette from a sensor such as a capacitor disposed adjacent to the cigarette insertion port.

[0153] The second condition receiving unit 1403 can receive information for determining whether the aerosol generating device is operating continuously from various sensors. For example, a memory included in the aerosol generating device stores the most recent device operation completion time, and transmits the time to the second condition receiving unit 1403 to allow the data processing unit 1405 to determine whether the device is operating continuously.

[0154] The data processing unit 1405 performs a function of integrally processing information received from the first condition receiving unit 1401 and the second condition receiving unit 1403. The data processing unit 1405 is a module in which substantially all processing is performed, and is also a microprocessor implemented on a single chip.

[0155] The signal output unit 1407 receives the processing result of the data processing unit 1405, generates a signal based on the result, and outputs the signal to various modules other than the control unit 1400. For example, the temperature of the heater is appropriately controlled as a result of the power control signal output from the signal output unit 1407 being transmitted to the heater.

[0156] In FIG. 14, each module constituting the control unit 1400 is named based on its function in order to intuitively explain the present invention, and it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the types, functions, and number of modules included in the control unit 1400 are variable depending on one embodiment.

[0157] According to the present invention, even when a wet cigarette is attached to the aerosol generating device, aerosol can be stably provided to a user.

[0158] Furthermore, according to the present invention, even if a wet cigarette is attached to the aerosol generating device, hot aerosol is not generated, allowing the user to smoke safely.

[0159] In addition, according to the present invention, if an overly moist cigarette that causes the aerosol generating device to malfunction is loaded into the device, the heater's heating is stopped, thereby preventing fatal damage to the aerosol generating device and protecting the user from accidents.

[0160] In addition, according to the present invention, a wet cigarette is attached to an aerosol generating device that can be used continuously, and even if the user smokes continuously, the user can be provided with a uniform and stable smoking satisfaction.

[0161] The above-described embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in the form of a computer program executable by various components on a computer, and such a computer program may be recorded on a computer-readable medium, which may include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical recording media such as compact disc read only memories (CD-ROMs) and digital versatile discs (DVDs), magneto-optical media such as floptical disks, and hardware devices specially configured to store and execute program instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), and flash memory.

[0162] The computer program may be one that has been specially designed and constructed for the present invention, or one that is known and available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of the computer program include not only machine language code produced by a compiler, but also high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like.

[0163] The specific implementation described in the present invention is an embodiment and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any manner. For the sake of brevity of the specification, descriptions of conventional electronic configurations, control systems, software, and other functional aspects of the system may be omitted. In addition, the wire connections or connecting members between components shown in the drawings are illustrative of functional connections and / or physical or circuit connections, and may be shown as various functional connections, physical connections, or circuit connections that can be substituted or added in an actual device. In addition, unless specifically stated as "essential" or "important", a component is not necessarily required for application of the present invention.

[0164] In the present specification (particularly in the claims), the use of the term "said" and similar indicators may apply to both the singular and the plural. In addition, when a range is described in the present invention, it includes the invention to which each individual value belonging to the range is applied (unless otherwise specified), and each individual value constituting the range is as described in the detailed description of the invention. Finally, for steps constituting the method of the present invention, unless an order is clearly described or there is an explanation to the contrary, the steps are performed in an appropriate order. The order of the steps is not necessarily intended to limit the present invention. In the present invention, the use of all examples or exemplary terms (such as "for example") is merely for the purpose of explaining the present invention in detail, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by the above examples or exemplary terms, since it is not limited by the claims. In addition, a person skilled in the art will know that various modifications, combinations and changes can be made within the scope of the claims or their equivalents, depending on design conditions and factors.

Claims

1. a heater for heating an aerosol-generating substrate of the cigarette; and a control unit that determines whether a cigarette inserted through a cigarette insertion port is a wet cigarette, and controls the temperature of the heater based on a dedicated temperature profile corresponding to the wet cigarette, based on the fact that the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette.

2. The control unit is The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein the cigarette is inserted, the temperature of the heater is increased based on a pre-set first temperature profile, and when a first time has elapsed, it is determined whether the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette or not.

3. The control unit is The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the inserted cigarette is determined to be the wet cigarette based on a temperature rise rate of the heater at a point when a first time has elapsed since the heater started to heat.

4. The control unit is The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the inserted cigarette is determined to be the wet cigarette or not based on the temperature of the heater at a point when a first time has elapsed since the heater began to heat.

5. The apparatus comprises: at least one capacitor disposed adjacent to the cigarette insertion opening; The capacitance of the capacitor is The moisture content of the cigarette inserted into the cigarette insertion port varies depending on the moisture content of the cigarette. The control unit is The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the capacitance is used to determine whether the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette.

6. The control unit is The aerosol generating device of claim 1, configured to select one of a plurality of pre-set dedicated temperature profiles based on the inserted cigarette being the wet cigarette and based on the amount of moisture contained in the cigarette.

7. The control unit is configured to detect a time when the aerosol generating device was recently used; The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , configured to control the temperature of the heater based on a second dedicated temperature profile different from the dedicated temperature profile based on the detected point in time being within a predetermined time.

8. The control unit is The aerosol generating device according to claim 7 , wherein when the cigarette is inserted, the time of most recent use is detected based on the temperature of the heater.

9. The control unit is The aerosol generating device of claim 7, wherein if the temperature of the heater at the time the cigarette is inserted is within the range of 50°C to 150°C, the temperature of the heater is controlled based on the second dedicated temperature profile.

10. The dedicated temperature profile comprises: The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , which is calculated by adjusting a basic temperature profile related to a general cigarette.

11. The dedicated temperature profile comprises: The aerosol generating device according to claim 10 , wherein the time point at which the temperature of the heater reaches the maximum value in the basic temperature profile is calculated by delaying it by a predetermined time.

12. detecting that a cigarette has been inserted into a cigarette insertion port; determining whether the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette; and controlling the temperature of the heater based on the fact that the inserted cigarette is a wet cigarette, with a dedicated temperature profile corresponding to the wet cigarette.

13. The method comprises: Detecting a time when the aerosol generating device was recently used, The step of controlling the temperature of the heater includes: The heater temperature control method of claim 12, further comprising controlling the temperature of the heater with a second dedicated temperature profile different from the dedicated temperature profile based on the detected time being within a predetermined time.

14. The dedicated temperature profile comprises: The heater temperature control method of claim 12, wherein the temperature profile is calculated by adjusting a basic temperature profile related to a general cigarette.

15. A computer readable recording medium storing a program for carrying out the method according to claim 12.

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