Aerosol generating apparatus and method of operation that heats through power amplification

Abstract

According to one embodiment, the aerosol generating device includes a battery for supplying power, a heater for heating an aerosol product, and an amplifier electrically connected to the battery and the heater, the amplifier amplifies a power signal supplied from the battery through at least two switching elements to generate a first amplified signal, removes a modulation frequency component and a harmonic component from the generated first amplified signal to generate a second amplified signal, and transmits the generated second amplified signal to the heater, the switching elements having a capacitance of 5 nC or less or a resistance of 15 mΩ or less. Various other embodiments are possible as understood throughout the specification.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating apparatus and a method for operating the same, which controls heating based on power amplification via a switching element. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, there has been a growing demand for alternative methods to overcome the shortcomings of conventional cigarettes. For example, there is increasing demand for systems that generate aerosols by heating cigarettes or aerosol-generating materials using aerosol generators, rather than by burning cigarettes to produce aerosols.

[0003] Recently, research has been progressing on methods to more efficiently heat aerosol-forming substrates in aerosol generation devices that employ induction heating. In particular, since aerosol generation devices are provided in a limited size for the convenience of user portability, there is a need for methods to improve the power efficiency aspect within that limited size. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide an aerosol generating device that controls heating of a heating element by amplifying a power signal using a Class-D amplifier.

[0005] The problems that the embodiments of this disclosure seek to solve are not limited to those described above, and any problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art in which the embodiments pertain from this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An aerosol generating apparatus in one embodiment includes a battery for supplying power, a heating element for heating the aerosol product, and an amplifier electrically connected to the battery and the heating element. The amplifier amplifies the power signal supplied from the battery via at least two switching elements to generate a first amplified signal, removes modulation frequency components and harmonic components from the generated first amplified signal to generate a second amplified signal, and transmits the generated second amplified signal to the heating element. The switching elements are characterized by having a capacitance of 5 nC or less or a resistance of 15 mΩ or less.

[0007] The operation method of the aerosol generating device in one embodiment includes the steps of: generating a first amplified signal by amplifying a power signal supplied from a battery via at least two switching elements; generating a second amplified signal by removing modulation frequency components and harmonic components from the generated first amplified signal; and transmitting the generated second amplified signal to a heating element, wherein the switching elements have a capacitance of 5 nC or less or a resistance of 15 mΩ or less. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, the power supplied for induction heating can be efficiently controlled through power amplification, and the size of the aerosol generator can be reduced through efficient power control, thereby maximizing spatial advantages.

[0009] However, the effects of the examples are not limited to those described above, and any effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the examples belong, based on this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Blockade antibody in an aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This flowchart shows a signal control method for an aerosol generator according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a circuit diagram showing an amplifier according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a block diagram showing an aerosol generation device according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a flowchart showing a method by which an aerosol generation device according to an embodiment corrects an error of an amplifier. [Figure 6] It is a drawing showing an example for explaining a method of detecting a dead-time of an amplifier. [Figure 7] It is a drawing showing an example for explaining a method by which an aerosol generation device according to FIG. 4 corrects an error of an amplifier. [Figure 8] It is a cross-sectional view showing an induction heating type aerosol generation device according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a cross-sectional view showing an induction heating type aerosol generation device according to another embodiment. [Figure 10] It is a block diagram showing an aerosol generation device according to another embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] In the embodiments, the terms used are, as much as possible while considering the functions in the present invention, general terms that are currently widely used. However, this also varies depending on the intentions or precedents of those skilled in the art, the emergence of new technologies, etc. Also, in specific cases, there are terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in that case, the meaning thereof is described in detail in the description part of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention are not merely the names of the terms, but must be defined based on the meaning that the terms have and the overall content of the present disclosure.

[0012] Throughout the specification, when a part states that a certain component "includes" something, unless there is a special statement to the contrary, it does not exclude other components, but rather means that it may further include other components. Also, terms such as "... part" and "... module" described in the specification mean units that process at least one function or operation, and they can be implemented by hardware or software, or by a combination of hardware and software.

[0013] As used in this specification, when an expression such as "at least any one of" is positioned before an arrayed component, it modifies the entire components that are not each of the arrayed components. For example, the expression "at least any one of a, b, and c" must be interpreted to include a, b, c, or a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c.

[0014] In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device is also a device that electrically heats a cigarette housed in an internal space to generate an aerosol.

[0015] The aerosol generating device may include a heater. In one embodiment, the heater is also an electrical resistance heater. For example, the heater includes a conductive track, and when an electric current flows through the conductive track, the heater can be heated.

[0016] The heater includes a tubular heating element, a plate-shaped heating element, a needle-shaped heating element, or a rod-shaped heating element, and can heat the inside or outside of the cigarette according to the shape of the heating element.

[0017] The cigarette may include a tobacco rod and a filter rod. The tobacco rod can be made in the form of a sheet or a strand, and can be made of shredded tobacco with a finely cut tobacco sheet. Also, the tobacco rod is surrounded by a heat-conductive substance. For example, the heat-conductive substance may be a metal foil such as aluminum foil, but is not limited thereto.

[0018] The filter rod is also a cellulose acetate filter. The filter rod may consist of at least one segment. For example, the filter rod may include a first segment for cooling the aerosol and a second segment for filtering out a predetermined component contained in the aerosol.

[0019] In other embodiments, the aerosol generating apparatus is also an apparatus that generates aerosols using a cartridge containing an aerosol generating substance.

[0020] An aerosol generator may include a cartridge containing an aerosol-generating substance and a body supporting the cartridge. The cartridge may, but is not limited to, be detachably coupled to the body. The cartridge may be integrally formed with the body or assembled and fixed so as not to be detached by the user. The cartridge may be mounted on the body with the aerosol-generating substance contained inside, but is not limited to this; the aerosol-generating substance may be injected into the cartridge while the cartridge is coupled to the body.

[0021] The cartridge can contain an aerosol-generating substance that exists in one of several states, such as liquid, solid, gaseous, or gel. The aerosol-generating substance may include a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid containing a tobacco-containing substance that includes volatile tobacco flavor components, or a liquid containing a non-tobacco substance.

[0022] The cartridge operates via electrical or wireless signals transmitted from the main unit, performing the function of converting the phase of the aerosol-generating material inside the cartridge to a gas phase and generating an aerosol. An aerosol refers to a gaseous state in which vaporized particles generated from the aerosol-generating material and air are mixed.

[0023] In further embodiments, the aerosol generator heats a liquid composition to generate an aerosol, which can then be transmitted to the user through a cigarette. That is, the aerosol generated from the liquid composition moves along an airflow passage in the aerosol generator, and the airflow passage can be configured so that the aerosol is transmitted to the user through a cigarette.

[0024] In further embodiments, the aerosol generating device is also a device that generates aerosols from aerosol-generating material using an ultrasonic vibration method. In this case, the ultrasonic vibration method refers to a method of generating aerosols by atomizing the aerosol-generating material with ultrasonic vibrations generated by a transducer.

[0025] The aerosol generator includes a transducer, which generates short-period vibrations to atomize aerosol-generating materials. The vibrations generated by the transducer are ultrasonic vibrations, and while the frequency range of ultrasonic vibrations is approximately 100 kHz to 3.5 MHz, it is not limited to this range.

[0026] The aerosol generator may further include a core that absorbs the aerosol-generating material. For example, the core may be positioned to surround at least one region of the oscillator, or to be in contact with at least one region of the oscillator.

[0027] When a voltage (e.g., an AC voltage) is applied to the transducer, heat and / or ultrasonic vibrations are generated from the transducer, and these heat and / or ultrasonic vibrations can be transmitted to the aerosol-generating material absorbed in the core. The aerosol-generating material absorbed in the core is converted into a gas phase by the heat and / or ultrasonic vibrations transmitted from the transducer, and as a result, an aerosol can be generated.

[0028] For example, aerosols can be generated when the viscosity of the aerosol-generating material absorbed into the core decreases due to the heat generated from the transducer, and the aerosol-generating material with reduced viscosity is further broken down into fine particles by the ultrasonic vibrations generated from the transducer, but this is not the only way in which aerosols can be generated.

[0029] In further embodiments, the aerosol generator is also a device that generates aerosols by heating the aerosol product contained within the aerosol generator using induction heating.

[0030] The aerosol generator may include a susceptor and a coil. In one embodiment, the coil can apply a magnetic field to the susceptor. By supplying power to the coil from the aerosol generator, a magnetic field can be formed inside the coil. In one embodiment, the susceptor is also a magnetic material that generates heat due to an external magnetic field. When the susceptor is located inside the coil and a magnetic field is applied, it generates heat, which can heat the aerosol product. Furthermore, the susceptor may be selectively located within the aerosol product.

[0031] In further embodiments, the aerosol generating apparatus may further include a cradle.

[0032] The aerosol generator can be configured with a separate cradle. For example, the cradle can charge the aerosol generator's battery. Alternatively, the heater can be heated while the cradle and aerosol generator are coupled together.

[0033] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that they can be easily implemented by a person skilled in the art. The present disclosure may be implemented in a form that can be embodied by the aerosol generating apparatus of the various embodiments described herein, or in a variety of different forms, and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0034] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0035] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment.

[0036] Referring to Figure 1, the aerosol generator 100 may include a battery 110, a heating element 120, and an amplifier 130. However, the internal hardware components of the aerosol generator 100 are not limited to those shown in Figure 1. Anyone with ordinary skill in the art relating to this embodiment will understand that the design of the aerosol generator 100 may omit some of the hardware configurations shown in Figure 1, or new configurations may be added.

[0037] The following description will explain the operation of each component within the aerosol generator 100 without limiting the space in which each component is located.

[0038] In one embodiment, the battery 110 can supply the power necessary for the aerosol generator 100 to operate. For example, the battery 110 applies a DC supply voltage to the amplifier 130, and the amplified power signal is transmitted to the heating element 120 via the amplifier 130, so that the heating element 120 can heat at least a portion of the aerosol product. In this case, the range of the DC supply voltage that the battery 110 applies to the amplifier 130 is about 2.5V to 10V, and more specifically, about 3V.

[0039] In one embodiment, the heating element 120 can heat at least a portion of the aerosol product. For example, the heating element 120 is also an induction coil that generates a variable magnetic field to heat a susceptor contained inside the aerosol product or a susceptor located outside the aerosol product. However, it is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the heating element 120 is also a film heater made of an electrically resistive material.

[0040] In one embodiment, the aerosol generator 100 may further include a resonant circuit relative to the heating element 120. If the heating element 120 is an induction coil, even if the susceptor, which is placed inside the induction coil and heated, has electrical resistance characteristics, a large portion of the power applied by the induction coil will have a reactive component due to the inductance L of the induction coil. Therefore, in order to cancel out the reactive power and make the apparent power equal to the active power, the aerosol generator 100 may include a resonant circuit (e.g., an LC matching circuit) to which a capacitor having capacitance C is connected.

[0041] The resonant frequency (f0) in the resonant circuit for the heating element 120 can be calculated using Equation 1.

number

[0042] In other words, the resonant frequency (f0) at which the susceptor is inductively heated is calculated based on the material properties, electrical properties, etc., of the susceptor placed inside the heating element 120 (i.e., the induction coil), and the components of the resonant circuit can be set based on the calculated resonant frequency (f0).

[0043] In one embodiment, the amplifier 130 can receive a power signal supplied from the battery 110 as an input signal and output the amplified power signal as an output signal after going through a series of steps.

[0044] For example, if amplifier 130 is a class-D power amplifier, amplifier 130 can receive a power signal based on the DC supply voltage applied from battery 110 as an input signal. Subsequently, amplifier 130 can convert the received input signal into a pulse width modulation (PWM) waveform, amplify the PWM waveform through a switching element, and output a signal as an output signal after filtering out the modulation frequency component and harmonic component from the amplified signal. A detailed explanation of this will be given later in Figure 2.

[0045] In one embodiment, the amplifier 130 includes switching elements 134a and 134b, and the power signal received as an input signal can be amplified by changing the open / closed state of the switching elements 134a and 134b. For example, the switching elements 134a and 134b can be embodied as transistors that amplify or switch electronic signals or power. The switching elements 134a and 134b are either field-effect transistors (FETs) or bipolar junction transistors (BJTs).

[0046] Specifically, if the switching elements 134a and 134b are FETs, a DC supply voltage is applied from the battery 110 to the gates of the switching elements 134a and 134b, and the switching elements 134a and 134b can control the current between the source and drain with the applied voltage. Alternatively, if the switching elements 134a and 134b are BJTs, the DC supply voltage applied from the battery 110 is converted into a current to the base, and the switching elements 134a and 134b can control the current between the collector and emitter.

[0047] More specifically, the switching elements 134a and 134b can be embodied by field-effect transistors such as metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) or metal semiconductor field-effect transistors (MESFETs).

[0048] In one embodiment, the amplifier 130 includes at least two switching elements (for example, a first switching element 134a and a second switching element 134b), the at least two switching elements 134a and 134b having a capacitance of about 5 nC or less and / or a resistance of about 15 mΩ or less.

[0049] In a Class D power amplifier, if one of the at least two switching elements in the amplifier is ON, the other switching element is OFF. In this case, as the switching frequency, which indicates the operating speed of the switching elements, increases, signal delays (On delay, Off delay) occur between the switching elements in the amplifier, and the amplifier may experience increased losses due to dead time.

[0050] In this disclosure, “dead time” means the time from the moment when the open / closed state of one of the at least two switching elements (e.g., a low-side switch) changes from On to Off, to the time it takes for the open / closed state of the other switching element (e.g., a high-side switch) to change from Off to On.

[0051] In one embodiment, a switching frequency in the range of approximately 500 kHz to 100 MHz can be applied to the amplifier 130, and more preferably, a switching frequency of approximately 6.78 MHz can be applied. For example, when a switching frequency of approximately 6.78 MHz is applied to the amplifier 130, the dead time of the amplifier 130 is minimized by including two switching elements 134a and 134b having a capacitance of approximately 5 nC or less and / or a resistance of approximately 15 mΩ or less, and the power efficiency of the amplifier 130 is also approximately 90% or more.

[0052] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing a signal control method for an aerosol generator according to one embodiment. Figure 3 is a circuit diagram showing an amplifier according to one embodiment.

[0053] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the aerosol generator (for example, the aerosol generator 100 in Figure 1) can, in operation 201, amplify the power signal supplied from the battery 110 via at least two switching elements 134a and 134b to generate a first amplified signal.

[0054] In one embodiment, the amplifier 130 can receive a power signal supplied from the battery 110 as an input signal via the pulse width modulation processing circuit 300. For example, the amplifier 130 can receive a power signal having a sine wave form from the battery 110 as an input signal. Thereafter, the pulse width modulation processing circuit 300 of the amplifier 130 can synthesize the power signal received from the battery 110 and the triangular wave generated from the triangular wave generator 302 and convert it into a pulse width modulation (PWM) waveform having a square wave form. The converted pulse width modulation waveform can be transmitted to the amplification circuit 310 of the amplifier 130.

[0055] In one embodiment, the amplifier 130 can generate a first amplified signal by amplifying the pulse width modulated waveform converted via the amplification circuit 310. For example, the amplification circuit 310 is also a push-pull switching amplification circuit. The amplification circuit 310 includes a first switching element 134a and a second switching element 134b, and the first switching element 134a and the second switching element 134b have a capacitance Q of about 5 nC or less. g and / or a resistance value R of approximately 15 mΩ or less ds It holds.

[0056] The first switching element 134a and the second switching element 134b can be switched between on and off states, thereby connecting the output nodes of the switching elements 134a and 134b to VDD and ground. This allows the first switching element 134a and the second switching element 134b to convert the pulse width modulated waveform received from the pulse width modulation processing circuit 300 into a first amplified signal by switching between on and off states. In this case, the "first amplified signal" refers to an amplified signal containing amplified fundamental wave components, odd harmonics, and modulation frequency components.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the aerosol generator 100 can generate a second amplified signal by removing modulation frequency components and harmonic components from the first amplified signal generated in operation 203.

[0058] In one embodiment, the amplifier 130 can remove modulation frequency components and harmonic components from the first amplified signal generated by the low-pass filter 320. For example, the low-pass filter 320 is an inductor L F and capacitor C F The two are connected in series, and the modulation frequency component and harmonic component of the first amplified signal are transmitted through the inductor L F and capacitor C F This can be removed via the low-pass filter 320. As a result, the low-pass filter 320 can convert the first amplified signal into a second amplified signal from which the modulation frequency component and harmonic components have been removed. In this case, the "second amplified signal" means an amplified signal that, unlike the first amplified signal, contains only the amplified fundamental wave component.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the aerosol generator 100 can transmit the second amplified signal generated in operation 205 to a heating element (for example, the heating element 120 in Figure 1) that heats the aerosol product.

[0060] In one embodiment, the aerosol generator 100 may further perform output matching before transmitting the generated second amplified signal to the heating element 120. In this case, "output matching" means controlling the frequency of the second amplified signal in order to control the temperature at which the heating element 120 heats the susceptor to a predetermined temperature. For example, the aerosol generator 100 may control the frequency of the second amplified signal at the resonant frequency (f0) so that the susceptor is heated to the maximum temperature.

[0061] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment.

[0062] Referring to Figure 4, the aerosol generator 400 may include a battery 110, a heating element 120, an amplifier 130, and a processor 150. However, the internal hardware components of the aerosol generator 400 are not limited to those shown in Figure 4. Anyone with ordinary skill in the art relating to this embodiment will understand that the design of the aerosol generator 400 may omit some of the hardware configurations shown in Figure 4, or that new configurations may be added. Furthermore, in the description relating to Figure 4, content that corresponds to, is identical to, or is similar to the content described above may be omitted.

[0063] In one embodiment, the battery 110 can supply the power necessary for the aerosol generator 100 to operate. For example, the battery 110 applies a DC supply voltage to the amplifier 130, and the amplified power signal is transmitted to the heating element 120 via the amplifier 130, so that the heating element 120 can heat at least a portion of the aerosol product. In this case, the range of the DC supply voltage that the battery 110 applies to the amplifier 130 is about 2.5V to 10V, and more specifically, about 3V.

[0064] In one embodiment, the heating element 120 can heat at least a portion of the aerosol product. For example, the heating element 120 is also an induction coil that generates a variable magnetic field to heat a susceptor contained inside the aerosol product or a susceptor located outside the aerosol product. However, it is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the heating element 120 is also a film heater made of an electrically resistive material.

[0065] In one embodiment, the amplifier 130 can receive a power signal supplied from the battery 110 as an input signal and output a power signal that has been amplified through a series of steps as an output signal. For example, if the amplifier 130 is a class-D power amplifier, the amplifier 130 can receive a power signal based on the DC supply voltage applied from the battery 110 as an input signal. Thereafter, the amplifier 130 can convert the received input signal into a pulse width modulation (PWM) waveform, amplify the PWM waveform through a switching element, and output a signal as an output signal after filtering out the modulation frequency component and harmonic component from the amplified signal.

[0066] In one embodiment, the processor 150 can acquire the dead time of the amplifier 130 and correct the errors of the switching elements 134a and 134b.

[0067] An amplifier may include a switching element having predetermined specifications (e.g., a capacitance Qg of 3nC or a resistance Rds of 10mΩ) as designed by the manufacturer. However, even if a switching element is manufactured that exceeds the tolerance range related to the predetermined specifications during the manufacturing process, it is difficult to determine whether such an error has occurred before applying it to a circuit board and obtaining experimental data. Furthermore, if a switching element exceeding the tolerance range is applied to a circuit board, an amplifier with lower efficiency relative to the power efficiency targeted by the manufacturer may be produced.

[0068] This allows the processor 150 to acquire the dead time of the amplifier 130 before amplifying the power signal via the amplifier 130, thereby correcting the errors of the switching elements 134a and 134b.

[0069] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating how an aerosol generator according to one embodiment corrects amplifier errors. Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for detecting amplifier dead time. Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for correcting amplifier errors in the aerosol generator 400 according to Figure 4.

[0070] Referring to Figure 5, the processor (for example, processor 150 in Figure 4) may acquire a dead time in operation 501 based on the input signals to the switching elements (for example, switching elements 134a and 134b in Figure 4), the output signals, and the signal levels at the connection points.

[0071] In one embodiment, the processor 150 can obtain input and output signals for an amplification circuit 310 that includes two switching elements in an amplifier (e.g., amplifier 130 in Figure 4). For example, referring to graph (a) in Figure 6, if one node of any one of the at least two switching elements of the amplification circuit 310 (e.g., a high-side switch) is connected to VDD and the other node is connected to ground, the processor 150 can obtain that at time t1 the input signal of the high-side switch is switched from a low (L) state to a high (H) state.

[0072] From time t1, when the input signal of the high-side switch is switched from a low (L) state to a high (H) state, the signal level at the connection point gradually increases, and the processor 150 determines that the signal level at the connection point is above threshold V. th At time t2, when the signal is reached, it can be obtained that the output signal of the high-side switch is switched from a low (L) state to a high (H) state. Subsequently, at time t3, the input signal and output signal of the high-side switch can be simultaneously switched from a high (H) state to a low (L) state.

[0073] That is, the difference between the time when the input signal of the switching element is converted from the low (L) state to the high (H) state and the time when the output signal of the switching element is converted from the low (L) state to the high (H) state corresponds to the dead time generated in the amplifier, and the processor 150 can acquire the dead time based on the input signal, output signal of the switching element, and the signal level at the connection point.

[0074] According to an embodiment, the processor 150 can compare the dead time acquired in operation 503 with a preset dead time to determine whether the acquired dead time exceeds the preset dead time.

[0075] For example, the processor 150 can acquire the dead time t dead1 of the switching element included in the amplifier circuit 310 and compare it with the preset dead time t dead2 That is, when the first threshold value for the signal level at the connection point in the switching element is V th1 the processor 150 can acquire, as the dead time t th1 the time it takes to reach the threshold value V dead1 after the input signal of the switching element is converted from the low (L) state to the high (H) state.

[0076] Thereafter, the processor 150 compares the acquired dead time t dead1 with the preset dead time t dead2 At this time, "the preset dead time t dead2 " means the maximum dead time set by the manufacturer for the switching element.

[0077] According to an embodiment, when the acquired dead time exceeds the preset dead time, the processor 150 changes the threshold value for the signal level at the connection point in operation 505. Also, when the acquired dead time does not exceed the preset dead time, the processor 150 performs operations below operation 201 in FIG. 2.

[0078] For example, when the acquired dead time tdead1 The already set dead time t dead2 If the length is longer, the processor 150 sets a first threshold V for the signal level at the connection point. th1 The already set dead time t dead2 The second threshold V is the signal level corresponding to this. th2 It can be changed to this. In this case, the second threshold V th2 The first threshold V th1 It is also a lower signal level. That is, the processor 150 sets a threshold for the signal level at the connection point in the switching element to a first threshold V th1 From the second threshold V th2 By making this change, it is possible to correct errors in switching elements that were manufactured outside the tolerance range.

[0079] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an induction heating type aerosol generator according to one embodiment.

[0080] Referring to Figure 8, the aerosol generator 800 may include a battery 110, an amplifier 130, a processor 150, and a heating element 120 within the housing 10. In this case, the heating element 120 may include an induction coil and a susceptor. In one embodiment, the housing 10 includes a containment space into which the aerosol product 810 is inserted, and the susceptor of the heating element 120 may be arranged to surround at least a portion of the containment space.

[0081] In one embodiment, the aerosol generator 800 includes a battery 110 that outputs a power signal and an amplifier 130 that generates an amplified signal, thereby enabling the induction coil to be controlled to operate in a predetermined frequency range (for example, about 6.78 MHz).

[0082] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an induction heating type aerosol generator according to another embodiment.

[0083] Referring to Figure 9, the aerosol generators 900a and 900b may include a battery 110, an amplifier 130, a processor 150, and a heating element 120 within the housing 10. In this case, the heating element 120 may include only an induction coil. In one embodiment, the housing 10 includes a housing space into which the aerosol products 910a and 910b are inserted, and the induction coil of the heating element 120 may be arranged to surround the housing space. In this case, the induction coil of the heating element 120 may be arranged to correspond to the region in the aerosol products 910a and 910b where a susceptor is placed.

[0084] For example, if a susceptor is included at the upstream end of the aerosol product 910a, the induction coil of the heating element 120 may be positioned to surround the lower end of the containment space. As another example, if a susceptor is included in the middle region of the aerosol product 910b, the induction coil of the heating element 120 may be positioned to surround the upper end of the containment space.

[0085] However, without limitation, in other embodiments, the aerosol product may include a susceptor made of a material such as metal foil, in which case the susceptor may be included in the aerosol product as part of a trumpet surrounding the aerosol product.

[0086] Figure 10 is a block diagram of an aerosol generator 1000 according to another embodiment.

[0087] The aerosol generator 1000 may include a control unit 1010, a sensing unit 1020, an output unit 1030, a battery 1040, a heater 1050, a user input unit 1060, a memory 1070, and a communication unit 1080. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generator 1000 is not limited to that shown in Figure 10. In other words, a person with ordinary skill in the art relating to this embodiment will understand that depending on the design of the aerosol generator 1000, some of the components shown in Figure 10 may be omitted or new components may be added.

[0088] The sensing unit 1020 can sense the state of the aerosol generator 1000 or the state of the area around the aerosol generator 1000 and transmit the sensed information to the control unit 1010. Based on the sensed information, the control unit 1010 can control the aerosol generator 1000 so that various functions are performed, such as controlling the operation of the heater 1050, restricting smoking, determining whether or not an aerosol product (e.g., cigarettes, cartridges, etc.) has been inserted, and displaying notifications.

[0089] The sensing unit 1020 may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the temperature sensor 1022, insertion sensing sensor 1024, and puff sensor 1026.

[0090] The temperature sensor 1022 may sense the temperature at which the heater 1050 (or the aerosol-generating material) is heated. The aerosol generator 1000 may include a separate temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the heater 1050, or the heater 1050 itself may perform the role of a temperature sensor. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 1022 may be positioned around the battery 1040 to monitor its temperature.

[0091] The insertion sensing sensor 1024 can detect the insertion and / or removal of aerosol products. For example, the insertion sensing sensor 1024 includes at least one of a film sensor, a pressure sensor, a light sensor, a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, and an infrared sensor, and can detect a signal change due to the insertion and / or removal of aerosol products.

[0092] The puff sensor 1026 can detect a user's puff based on various physical changes in the airflow passage or airflow channel. For example, the puff sensor 1026 can detect a user's puff based on any one of the following: temperature changes, flow rate changes, voltage changes, and pressure changes.

[0093] In addition to the aforementioned sensors (temperature sensor 1022, insertion sensor 1024, puff sensor 1026), the sensing unit 1020 may further include at least one of the following: a temperature / humidity sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a position sensor (e.g., GPS), a proximity sensor, and an RGB sensor (illuminance sensor). The function of each sensor can be intuitively inferred by an average engineer from its name, so a detailed explanation may be omitted.

[0094] The output unit 1030 may output and provide to the user information relating to the status of the aerosol generator 1000. The output unit 1030 may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the display unit 1032, the haptic unit 1034, and the acoustic output unit 1036. If the display unit 1032 and the touchpad form a layered structure and constitute a touchscreen, the display unit 1032 may be used as an input device in addition to an output device.

[0095] The display unit 1032 visually provides the user with information related to the aerosol generator 1000. For example, information related to the aerosol generator 1000 can include various types of information such as the charging / discharging status of the battery 1040 of the aerosol generator 1000, the preheating status of the heater 1050, the insertion / removal status of aerosol products, or a state in which the use of the aerosol generator 1000 is restricted (e.g., detection of abnormal items), and the display unit 1032 can output this information to the outside. The display unit 1032 can be, for example, a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light-emitting display panel (OLED), or an LED light-emitting element.

[0096] The haptic unit 1034 converts electrical signals into mechanical or electrical stimuli to provide the user with tactile information related to the aerosol generator 1000. For example, the haptic unit 1034 may include a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulator.

[0097] The acoustic output unit 1036 provides the user with auditory information related to the aerosol generator 1000. For example, the acoustic output unit 1036 can convert electrical signals into acoustic signals and output them externally.

[0098] Battery 1040 can supply power used to operate the aerosol generator 1000. Battery 1040 can supply power to heat the heater 1050. Battery 1040 can also supply power necessary for the operation of other components within the aerosol generator 1000 (e.g., the sensing unit 1020, the output unit 1030, the user input unit 1060, the memory 1070, and the communication unit 1080). Battery 1040 can be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, battery 1040 can be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited to that.

[0099] The heater 1050 can be powered by the battery 1040 to heat the aerosol-generating material. Although not shown in Figure 10, the aerosol generator 1000 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a DC / DC converter) that converts the power from the battery 1040 and supplies it to the heater 1050. Furthermore, if the aerosol generator 1000 generates aerosols using an induction heating method, the aerosol generator 1000 may further include a DC / AC converter that converts the DC power supply of the battery 1040 into an AC power supply.

[0100] The control unit 1010, sensing unit 1020, output unit 1030, user input unit 1060, memory 1070, and communication unit 1080 can perform their functions by being powered by the battery 1040. Although not shown in Figure 10, the system may further include power conversion circuits, such as an LDO (low dropout) circuit or a voltage regulator circuit, that convert the power from the battery 1040 and supply it to each component.

[0101] In one embodiment, the heater 1050 may consist of any suitable electrical-resistant material. For example, suitable electrical-resistant materials may include, but are not limited to, metals or metal alloys, including titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, and nichrome. The heater 1050 may also be embodied by, but are not limited to, a metal heating wire, a metal heating plate on which conductive tracks are arranged, or a ceramic heating element.

[0102] In other embodiments, heater 1050 is also an induction heating heater. For example, heater 1050 may include a susceptor that generates heat via a magnetic field applied by a coil to heat the aerosol-generating material.

[0103] The user input unit 1060 receives information input from the user or outputs information to the user. For example, the user input unit 1060 may be a keypad, dome switch, touchpad (using contact-type capacitive, pressure-type resistive, infrared sensing, surface ultrasonic conduction, integral tension measurement, piezoelectric effect, etc.), jog wheel, jog switch, etc., but is not limited to these. Although not shown in Figure 10, the aerosol generator 1000 also includes a connection interface such as a USB (universal serial bus) interface, and can connect to other external devices via the USB interface to send and receive information or charge the battery 1040.

[0104] Memory 1070 is hardware that stores various data processed within the aerosol generator 1000, and can store data processed by the control unit 1010 and data being processed. Memory 1070 may include at least one type of recording medium from among flash memory type, hard disk type, multimedia card micro type, card type memory (e.g., SD or XD memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), ROM (Read-Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), magnetic memory, magnetic disk, and optical disk. Memory 1070 can store data such as the operating time of the aerosol generator 1000, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, and the user's smoking pattern.

[0105] The communication unit 1080 may include at least one component for communication with other electronic devices. For example, the communication unit 1080 may include a short-range communication unit 1082 and a wireless communication unit 1084.

[0106] The short-range wireless communication unit 1082 may include, but is not limited to, a Bluetooth® communication unit, a BLE (Bluetooth® Low Energy) communication unit, a Near Field Communication unit, a WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication unit, a Zigbee® communication unit, an infrared (IrDA, infrared Data Association) communication unit, a WFD (Wi-Fi Direct) communication unit, a UWB (ultra wideband) communication unit, an Ant+ communication unit, etc.

[0107] The wireless communication unit 1084 may include, but is not limited to, a cellular network communication unit, an Internet communication unit, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or WAN) communication unit. The wireless communication unit 1084 can verify and authenticate the aerosol generator 1000 within the communication network using subscriber information (e.g., an International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI)).

[0108] The control unit 1010 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generator 1000. In one embodiment, the control unit 1010 may include at least one processor. The processor may be embodied by an array of numerous logic gates and may be embodied by a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and memory in which a program executed by the microprocessor is stored. It will also be embodied by other forms of hardware, as will be understood by those with ordinary skill in the art to which this embodiment belongs.

[0109] The control unit 1010 can control the temperature of the heater 1050 by controlling the supply of power from the battery 1040 to the heater 1050. For example, the control unit 1010 can control the power supply by controlling the switching of a switching element between the battery 1040 and the heater 1050. In another example, the direct heating circuit may control the power supply to the heater 1050 by a control command from the control unit 1010.

[0110] The control unit 1010 can analyze the results sensed by the sensing unit 1020 and control the processes to be performed thereafter. For example, based on the results sensed by the sensing unit 1020, the control unit 1010 can control the power supplied to the heater 1050 so that the operation of the heater 1050 is started or stopped. As another example, based on the results sensed by the sensing unit 1020, the control unit 1010 can control the amount of power supplied to the heater 1050 and the power supply time so that the heater 1050 is heated to a predetermined temperature or maintains an appropriate temperature.

[0111] The control unit 1010 can control the output unit 1030 based on the results sensed by the sensing unit 1020. For example, if the number of puffs counted via the puff sensor 1026 reaches a pre-set number, the control unit 1010 will notify the user via at least one of the display unit 1032, the haptic unit 1034, and the acoustic output unit 1036 that the aerosol generator 1000 will be shut off immediately.

[0112] One embodiment may also be embodied in the form of a recording medium containing computer-executable instructions, such as a program module executed by a computer. Computer-readable media are also any available media accessed by a computer, and include both volatile and non-volatile media, and isolated and non-isolated media. Furthermore, computer-readable media may include both computer recording media and communication media. Computer recording media include both volatile and non-volatile, isolated and non-isolated media embodied by any method or technique for storing information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Communication media typically include computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data such as modulated data signals, or other transmission mechanisms, and include any information transmission medium.

[0113] The above-described examples are merely illustrative, and any person with ordinary skill in the art will understand that a variety of modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. Therefore, the true scope of protection of the invention must be determined by the claims, and all differences that are equivalent to those described in the claims must be interpreted as being included within the scope of protection determined by the claims.

Claims

1. In an aerosol generating device, A battery that supplies power, A heating element for heating aerosol products, An amplifier electrically connected to the battery and the heating element, The amplifier is electrically connected to a processor, The aforementioned amplifier, The power signal supplied from the battery is amplified via at least two switching elements to generate a first amplified signal. A second amplified signal is generated by removing the modulation frequency component and harmonic components from the first amplified signal that was generated. The generated second amplified signal is transmitted to the heating element. The aforementioned processor, The dead time of the amplifier is obtained based on the input signal, output signal, and signal level at the connection point of the switching element. If the acquired dead time is longer than the previously set dead time, the threshold value for the signal level at the connection point is changed to the threshold value for the signal level corresponding to the previously set dead time. The switching element has a capacitance of 5 nC or less or a resistance of 15 mΩ or less. An aerosol generator, wherein the threshold value for the signal level at the connection point is the signal level at the point in time when the input signal of any one of the switching elements is converted from a low state to a high state, and the output signal of any one of the switching elements is converted from a low (L) state to a high (H) state.

2. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching frequency range of the power signal supplied from the battery is 500 kHz to 100 MHz.

3. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching frequency of the power signal supplied from the battery is 6.78 MHz.

4. The aforementioned amplifier, A pulse width modulation processing circuit that generates a pulse width modulated signal from the power signal supplied from the battery, An amplification circuit including at least two switching elements to which a high-speed switching frequency is applied, The cutoff frequency (cut off) of the first amplified signal amplified via the amplification circuit is set. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a low-pass filter that generates the second amplified signal by passing frequency components lower than the frequency.

5. The aforementioned processor, A dead time is obtained based on the point in time when the input signal of any one of the switching elements is switched from a low state to a high state and the point in time when the signal level at the connection point reaches a first threshold value. If the dead time is longer than the previously set dead time, the aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first threshold for the signal level at the connection point is changed to a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold.

6. The processor is The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, based on the second amplified signal, induction heating is performed on a susceptor placed in the aerosol product via the heating element.

7. The processor is The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, based on the second amplified signal, induction heating is performed on a susceptor arranged to surround the aerosol product via the heating element.

8. In the operation method of an aerosol generating device, The steps include: generating a first amplified signal by amplifying a power signal supplied from a battery through at least two switching elements; The steps include: generating a second amplified signal by removing the modulation frequency component and harmonic components from the first amplified signal generated; The step includes transmitting the generated second amplified signal to the heating element, The switching element has a capacitance of 5 nC or less or a resistance of 15 mΩ or less. A step of obtaining a dead time based on the input signal, output signal, and signal level at the connection point of the switching element, If the acquired dead time is longer than the previously set dead time, the method further includes changing the threshold value for the signal level at the connection point to the threshold value for the signal level corresponding to the previously set dead time. A method wherein the threshold value for the signal level at the connection point is the signal level at the point in time when the input signal of any one of the switching elements is converted from a low state to a high state, and the output signal of any one of the switching elements is converted from a low (L) state to a high (H) state.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the switching frequency range of the power signal supplied from the battery is 500 kHz to 100 MHz.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the switching frequency of the power signal supplied from the battery is 6.78 MHz.

11. A step of acquiring a dead time based on the point in time when the input signal of any one of the switching elements is switched from a low state to a high state and the point in time when the signal level at the connection point reaches a first threshold, The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of changing the first threshold for the signal level at the connection point to a second threshold lower than the first threshold if the dead time is longer than the previously set dead time.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of inductively heating a susceptor placed in the aerosol product via the heating element based on the second amplified signal.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of inductively heating a susceptor, which is positioned to surround the aerosol product via the heating element, based on the second amplified signal.

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