Aerosol generator

Abstract

The aerosol generating device includes an oscillation unit that generates microwaves, a resonance unit that houses an aerosol generating article, resonates the microwaves, and heats the aerosol generating article, a power monitoring unit that measures the reflected microwave power reflected from the resonance unit and input to the oscillation unit, and a processor that controls the output of the oscillation unit based on the reflected microwave power measured by the power monitoring unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device that heats an aerosol generating article by a dielectric heating method. More specifically, the present invention relates to an aerosol generating device that can track in real time a change in resonance frequency due to consumption of a dielectric substance contained in the aerosol generating article.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternative methods to overcome the disadvantages of conventional cigarettes. For example, there is an increasing demand for a system that generates an aerosol by heating a cigarette (or "aerosol generating article") using an aerosol generating device, rather than by burning the cigarette to generate an aerosol.

[0003] Conventional aerosol generating devices heat aerosol generating substances by a resistance heating method, an induction heating method, or an ultrasonic heating method. However, such conventional aerosol generating devices have a problem in that the preheating speed is slow and uniform heating is impossible, as compared with the dielectric heating method.

[0004] Also, some of the conventional aerosol generating devices use a dielectric heating method, but it is only a microwave radiation method using an antenna, and there is a problem in that the power transmission efficiency is significantly reduced.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The technical problem of the present disclosure is to provide an aerosol generating device that can heat an aerosol generating article through a dielectric heating method using microwave resonance in order to solve the above-described problems.

[0006] The technical problem of the present disclosure is not limited to the above, and other technical problems can be inferred from the following examples.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] An aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment includes an oscillator that generates microwaves, a resonant unit that houses aerosol products and resonates the microwaves to heat the aerosol products, a power monitoring unit that measures reflected microwave power reflected from the resonant unit and input to the oscillator, and a processor that controls the output of the oscillator based on the reflected microwave power measured by the power monitoring unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The aerosol generating apparatus of this disclosure has the advantage of significantly increasing power transfer efficiency because it heats a dielectric material using microwave resonance.

[0009] Furthermore, the aerosol generator estimates the microwave resonance frequency in real time and matches the output frequency of the oscillator with the resonance frequency, thereby significantly increasing power transfer efficiency and enabling uniform kick-migum production even in the latter half of the heating process.

[0010] Furthermore, since the aerosol generator uses microwave resonance to heat the aerosol product, it can heat the aerosol product uniformly throughout.

[0011] Furthermore, since the aerosol generator uses microwave resonance to heat the aerosol product, it can rapidly preheat the aerosol product.

[0012] Furthermore, when an aerosol generator uses microwave resonance to heat the aerosol product, it can significantly reduce power consumption.

[0013] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those exemplified above, and a wider variety of effects are included herein. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1]This is a perspective view of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This is an internal block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is an internal block diagram of the dielectric heating section. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of a heater assembly according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the heater assembly. [Figure 6] This is a schematic perspective view illustrating a heater assembly according to another embodiment. [Figure 7] This is an internal block diagram illustrating a method for controlling the output of an oscillator according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] This diagram illustrates a method for tracking a resonant frequency using the output microwave power of an oscillator and the reflected microwave power of a resonant section, according to one embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a flowchart illustrating the operation method of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] An aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment includes an oscillator that generates microwaves, a resonant unit that houses aerosol products and resonates the microwaves to heat the aerosol products, a power monitoring unit that measures reflected microwave power reflected from the resonant unit and input to the oscillator, and a processor that controls the output of the oscillator based on the reflected microwave power measured by the power monitoring unit.

[0016] Furthermore, the resonance frequency of the microwave is varied as the dielectric material contained in the aerosol product is heated and consumed by the microwave.

[0017] Furthermore, the resonant frequency of the resonant portion is increased by reducing the dielectric material contained in the aerosol product.

[0018] Further, the power monitoring unit measures the reflected microwave power corresponding to the variation of the resonance frequency.

[0019] Further, the processor controls the output of the oscillation unit so that the reflected microwave power measured by the power monitoring unit is included in a preset reference power range.

[0020] Further, the processor sweeps the output frequency of the microwave power output from the oscillation unit within the preset reference band range, and adjusts the output frequency of the microwave power so that the reflected microwave power is included in the reference power range.

[0021] Further, the processor sweeps the output frequency of the microwave power output from the oscillation unit within the reference band range from 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz.

[0022] Further, the processor matches the output frequency and the resonance frequency of the resonance unit by adjusting the output frequency of the microwave power to any one frequency selected from the reference band range.

[0023] Further, the processor adjusts the magnitude of the microwave power output from the oscillation unit according to a preset power profile, and controls the magnitude of the microwave power and the output frequency of the microwave power independently of each other.

[0024] Further, the resonance unit includes a hollow cylindrical first inner conductor surrounding one region of the aerosol generating article, and a hollow cylindrical second inner conductor arranged at a predetermined distance from the first inner conductor and surrounding another region of the aerosol generating article, and the first inner conductor and the second inner conductor resonate the microwave.

[0025] Furthermore, the resonant portion includes a first plate surrounding one region of the aerosol product, and a second plate that is spaced apart from the first plate and surrounds another region of the aerosol product, with the microwave resonating between the first plate and the second plate.

[0026] The embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Regardless of the reference numerals in the drawings, identical or similar components will be given the same reference numeral, and redundant descriptions relating to them will be omitted.

[0027] The suffixes "~module" and "~part" used in the following description, relating to the constituent elements, are added or used interchangeably solely for the purpose of simplifying the specification, and do not inherently possess any distinct meaning or role from one another.

[0028] Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments disclosed herein, if it is determined that a specific description relating to relevant prior art would obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein, such detailed description will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are provided solely to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein, and the accompanying drawings do not limit the technical ideas disclosed herein. It should be understood that they include all modifications, equivalents, or substitutions that fall within the concept and scope of this disclosure.

[0029] Terms including ordinal numbers, such as "1st" and "2nd," may be used to describe a variety of components, but these components are not limited by such terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0030] When it is mentioned that one component is "connected" or "linked" to another component, it must be understood that it may be directly connected or linked to the other component, but that other components may also exist in between. However, when it is mentioned that one component is "directly connected" or "directly linked" to another component, it must be understood that there are no other components in between.

[0031] A singular expression includes plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0032] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment.

[0033] Referring to Figure 1, one embodiment of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 also includes a housing 110 capable of containing the aerosol product 10, and a heater assembly 200 for heating the aerosol product 10 contained in the housing 110.

[0034] The housing 110 forms the overall appearance of the aerosol generator 100, and components of the aerosol generator 100 may be arranged in the internal space (or "mounting space") of the housing 110. For example, the internal space of the housing 110 may contain a heater assembly 200, a battery, a processor and / or sensors, but the components arranged in the internal space are not limited to these.

[0035] An inlet 110h is formed in one region of the housing 110, and at least one region of the aerosol product 10 can be inserted into the housing 110 through the inlet 110h. For example, the inlet 110h may be formed in one region of the upper end surface of the housing 110 (e.g., the surface facing the z direction), but the location where the inlet 110h is generated is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the inlet 110h may also be formed in one region of the side surface of the housing 110 (e.g., the surface facing the x direction).

[0036] The heater assembly 200 is positioned in the internal space of the housing 110 and can heat the aerosol product 10 inserted or housed inside the housing 110 via the insertion opening 110h. For example, the heater assembly 200 can be positioned to surround at least one area of ​​the aerosol product 10 inserted or housed inside the housing 110 and heat the aerosol product 10.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the heater assembly 200 can heat the aerosol product 10 by dielectric heating. In this disclosure, “dielectric heating” means a method of heating a dielectric material to be heated by utilizing the resonance of microwaves and / or the electric field (or magnetic field) of microwaves. The microwaves are an energy source for heating the material to be heated and are generated by high-frequency power; therefore, in the following, the microwaves may be used in combination with microwave power.

[0038] Inside the heater assembly 200, due to microwave resonance, the charges or ions of the dielectric contained within the aerosol product 10 vibrate or rotate, and the frictional heat generated during the process of the charges or ions vibrating or rotating generates heat in the dielectric, which can heat the aerosol product 10.

[0039] Aerosols can be generated from the aerosol product 10 by heating it with the heater assembly 200. In this disclosure, "aerosol" may mean gaseous particles produced by mixing vapor and air generated when the aerosol product 10 is heated.

[0040] The aerosol generated from the aerosol product 10 can be discharged to the outside of the aerosol generator 100 either by passing through the aerosol product 10 or through the empty space between the aerosol product 10 and the inlet 110h. The user can smoke by bringing their mouth into contact with a portion of the aerosol product 10 exposed to the outside of the housing 110 and inhaling the aerosol discharged to the outside of the aerosol generator 100.

[0041] An aerosol generator 100 according to one embodiment further includes a cover 111 that is movably disposed in a housing 110 and opens and closes an inlet 110h. For example, the cover 111 is slidably coupled to the upper end surface of the housing 110 and either exposes the inlet 110h to the outside of the aerosol generator 100, or covers the inlet 110h so that it is not exposed to the outside of the aerosol generator 100.

[0042] In one example, the cover 111 is configured such that, in a first position (or "open position"), the inlet 110h is exposed to the outside of the aerosol generator 100. When the aerosol generator 100 is exposed to the outside, the aerosol product 10 can be inserted into the housing 110 through the inlet 110h.

[0043] In other examples, the cover 111, in the second position (or "closed position"), covers the inlet 110h so that the inlet 110h is not exposed to the outside of the aerosol generator 100. In this case, the cover 111 can prevent external foreign matter from flowing into the heater assembly 200 through the inlet 110h when the aerosol generator 100 is not in use.

[0044] Although Figure 1 only illustrates an aerosol generating apparatus 100 for heating a solid aerosol product 10, the aerosol generating apparatus 100 is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

[0045] In other embodiments, the aerosol generating apparatus also generates an aerosol by heating a liquid or gel-like aerosol generating substance, rather than a solid aerosol product 10, via a heater assembly 200.

[0046] Furthermore, an aerosol generating apparatus according to another embodiment also includes a heater assembly 200 for heating the aerosol product 10 and a cartridge (or "vaporizer") for heating a liquid or gel-like aerosol generating material. The aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material moves along the cartridge and an airflow passage communicating with the aerosol product 10 to the aerosol product 10, mixes with the aerosol generated from the aerosol product 10, passes through the aerosol product 10, and can be transmitted to the user.

[0047] Figure 2 is an internal block diagram of an aerosol generating apparatus according to one embodiment.

[0048] Referring to Figure 2, the aerosol generator 100 also includes an input unit 102, an output unit 103, a sensor unit 104, a communication unit 105, a memory unit 106, a battery 107, an interface unit 108, a power conversion unit 109, and a dielectric heating unit 200.

[0049] The input unit 102 can receive user input. For example, the input unit 102 may be provided as a single pressurized push button. As another example, the input unit 102 may also be a touch panel including at least one touch sensor. The input unit 102 may transmit input signals to the processor 101. Based on the user input, the processor 101 may supply power to the dielectric heating unit 200 or control the output unit 103 to output user notifications.

[0050] The output unit 103 can output information related to the status of the aerosol generator 100. The output unit 103 can output the charge / discharge status of the battery 107, the heating status of the dielectric heating unit 200, the insertion status of the aerosol product 10, and error information of the aerosol generator 100. For this purpose, the output unit 103 also includes a display, a haptic motor, and an acoustic output unit.

[0051] The sensor unit 104 can sense the state of the aerosol generator 100 or the surrounding environment of the aerosol generator 100, and transmit the sensed information to the processor 101. Based on the sensed information, the processor 101 can control the aerosol generator 100 so that various functions are performed, such as heating control of the dielectric heating unit 200, smoking restriction, determination of whether or not to insert the aerosol product 10, and notification display.

[0052] The sensor unit 104 also includes a temperature sensor, a puff sensor, and an insertion sensing sensor.

[0053] The temperature sensor can either sense the temperature inside the dielectric heating unit 200 in a non-contact manner, or it can contact the dielectric heating unit 200 to directly obtain the temperature of the resonator. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor can also sense the temperature of the aerosol product 10. The temperature sensor can also be positioned adjacent to the battery 107 to obtain the temperature of the battery 107. The processor 101 can control the power supplied to the dielectric heating unit 200 based on the temperature information from the temperature sensor.

[0054] The puff sensor can detect a user's puff. The puff sensor can detect a user's puff based on at least one of the following: temperature change, flow rate change, power change, and pressure change. The processor 101 can control the power supplied to the dielectric heating unit 200 based on the puff information from the puff sensor. For example, the processor 101 can count the number of puffs and cut off the power supplied to the dielectric heating unit 200 when the number of puffs reaches a predetermined maximum number of puffs. As another example, the processor 101 can cut off the power supplied to the dielectric heating unit 200 if no puff is detected for a predetermined time or longer.

[0055] The insertion sensing sensor is positioned inside or adjacent to the containment space 220h (Figure 4) and can sense the insertion and removal of the aerosol product 10 contained in the insertion port 110h. For example, the insertion sensing sensor may also include an inductive sensor and / or a capacitance sensor. The processor 101 can supply power to the dielectric heating unit 200 when the aerosol product 10 is inserted into the insertion port 110h.

[0056] In one embodiment, the sensor unit 104 also includes additional sensors such as a reuse detection sensor, a motion detection sensor, a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, a cover removal / attachment detection sensor, a position sensor (GPS (global positioning system)), and a proximity sensor. The function of each sensor can be intuitively inferred from its name, so a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0057] The communication unit 105 also includes at least one communication module for communication with an external electronic device. The processor 101 can control the communication unit 105 and transmit information related to the aerosol generator 100 to the external electronic device. Alternatively, the processor 101 can receive information from the external electronic device via the communication unit 105 and control the configuration included in the aerosol generator 100. For example, the information transmitted between the communication unit 105 and the external electronic device may include user authentication information, firmware update information, and user smoking pattern information.

[0058] Memory 106 is hardware that stores various data processed within the aerosol generator 100, and can store data processed by the processor 101, as well as data being processed. For example, memory 106 can store the operating time of the aerosol generator 100, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, and data related to the user's smoking pattern.

[0059] The battery 107 can supply power to the dielectric heating unit 200 so that the aerosol product 10 can be heated. The battery 107 can also supply power necessary for the operation of other components within the aerosol generator 100. The battery 107 is both a rechargeable battery and a detachable battery.

[0060] The interface unit 108 also includes a connection terminal that can be physically connected to an external electronic device. The connection terminal may include at least one of the following, or a combination thereof: an HDMI® (high definition multimedia interface) connector, a USB (universal serial bus) connector, an SD (secure digital) card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector). The interface unit 108 can transmit and receive information to and from an external electronic device, or charge its power supply, via the connection terminal.

[0061] The power conversion unit 109 can convert the DC power supplied from the battery 107 into AC power. The power conversion unit 109 can also supply the converted AC power to the dielectric heating unit 200. The power conversion unit 109 is also an inverter including at least one switching element, and the processor 101 can control the ON / OFF state of the switching element in the power conversion unit 109 to convert the DC power to AC power. The power conversion unit 109 can be configured as a full-bridge or a half-bridge.

[0062] The dielectric heating unit 200 can heat the aerosol product 10 using a dielectric heating method. The dielectric heating unit 200 also corresponds to the heater assembly 200 shown in Figure 1.

[0063] The dielectric heating unit 200 can heat the aerosol product 10 using microwaves and / or a microwave electric field (hereinafter referred to as microwaves or microwave power unless otherwise specified). The heating method of the dielectric heating unit 200 is not a method of radiating microwaves using an antenna, but rather a method of heating the object to be heated by forming the microwaves within a resonant structure. The resonant structure will be described later with reference to Figure 4 and subsequent figures.

[0064] The dielectric heating unit 200 can output high-frequency microwaves to the resonant unit 220 (Figure 3). These microwaves are, but are not limited to, the power within the ISM (industrial, scientific, and medical equipment) band permitted for heating. The resonant unit 220 may be designed with consideration to the wavelength of the microwaves so that the microwaves can resonate within the resonant unit 220.

[0065] The aerosol product 10 is inserted into the resonant section 220, and the dielectric material within the aerosol product 10 can be heated by the resonant section 220. For example, the aerosol product 10 may contain a polar material, and the molecules within the polar material can be polarized inside the resonant section 220. These molecules vibrate or rotate due to the polarization phenomenon, and the aerosol product 10 can be heated by frictional heat generated in this process. The dielectric heating section 200 will be explained in more detail with reference to Figure 3.

[0066] The processor 101 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generator 100. The processor 101 may be implemented by an array of numerous logic gates, or by a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and memory storing a program that can be executed by the microprocessor. It may also be implemented by other forms of hardware.

[0067] The processor 101 can control the DC power supplied from the battery 107 to the power conversion unit 109 and / or the AC power supplied from the power conversion unit 109 to the dielectric heating unit 200, based on the power requirements of the dielectric heating unit 200. In one embodiment, the aerosol generator 100 includes a converter that boosts or amplifies the DC power, and the processor 101 can control the converter and adjust the magnitude of the DC power. The processor 101 can also control the AC power supplied to the dielectric heating unit 200 by adjusting the switching frequency and duty cycle of the switching elements included in the power conversion unit 109.

[0068] The processor 101 can control the heating temperature of the aerosol product 10 by controlling the microwave power of the dielectric heating unit 200 and the resonant frequency of the dielectric heating unit 200. Therefore, the oscillation unit 210, isolation unit 240, power monitoring unit 250, and matching unit 260 shown in Figure 3, which will be described later, are also part of the processor 101.

[0069] The processor 101 can control the microwave power of the dielectric heating unit 200 based on temperature profile information stored in the memory 106. In other words, the temperature profile includes information relating to the target temperature of the dielectric heating unit 200 over time, and the processor 101 can control the microwave power of the dielectric heating unit 200 over time.

[0070] The processor 101 can adjust the microwave frequency so that the resonant frequency of the dielectric heating unit 200 remains constant. The processor 101 can track the change in the resonant frequency of the dielectric heating unit 200 due to heating of the object to be heated in real time and control the dielectric heating unit 200 so that a microwave frequency corresponding to the changed resonant frequency is output. In other words, the processor 101 can change the microwave frequency in real time, regardless of pre-stored temperature profiles.

[0071] Figure 3 is an internal block diagram of the dielectric heating section shown in Figure 2.

[0072] Referring to Figure 3, the dielectric heating unit 200 also includes an oscillation unit 210, an isolation unit 240, a power monitoring unit 250, a matching unit 260, a microwave output unit 230, and a resonance unit 220.

[0073] The oscillator 210 receives AC power from the power conversion unit 109 and can generate high-frequency microwave power. In one embodiment, the power conversion unit 109 is also included in the oscillator 210. The microwave power can be selected from the 915 MHz, 2.45 GHz, and 5.8 GHz frequency bands included in the ISM band.

[0074] The oscillator 210 includes a solid-state RF (radio frequency) generator, which can be used to generate microwave power. The solid-state RF generator can be implemented using semiconductors. When the oscillator 210 is implemented using semiconductors, the dielectric heating unit 200 can be miniaturized, which has the advantage of extending the lifespan of the equipment.

[0075] The oscillator 210 can output microwave power toward the resonant section 220. The oscillator 210 includes a power amplifier that increases or decreases the microwave power, and the power amplifier can adjust the magnitude of the microwave power under the control of the processor 101. For example, the power amplifier can increase or decrease the amplitude of the microwave. By adjusting the amplitude of the microwave, the microwave power can be adjusted.

[0076] The processor 101 can adjust the magnitude of the microwave power output from the oscillator 210 based on a previously stored temperature profile. For example, the temperature profile may include target temperature information for the preheating section and the smoking section, and the oscillator 210 may supply microwave power at a first power level during the preheating section and at a second power level lower than the first power level during the smoking section.

[0077] The isolation unit 240 can block the microwave power input from the resonant unit 220 to the oscillator unit 210. Most of the microwave power output from the oscillator unit 210 is absorbed by the heated object, but depending on the heating characteristics of the heated object, some of the microwave power may be reflected by the heated object and further transmitted to the oscillator unit 210. This is because the impedance viewed from the oscillator unit 210 to the resonant unit 220 changes due to the exhaustion of polar molecules caused by the heating of the heated object. The statement "the impedance viewed from the oscillator unit 210 to the resonant unit 220 changes" is equivalent to the statement "the resonant frequency of the resonant unit 220 changes." If the microwave power reflected by the resonant unit 220 is input to the oscillator unit 210, not only will the oscillator unit 210 fail, but it will also be unable to achieve the expected output performance. The isolation unit 240 can prevent the microwave power reflected by the resonant unit 220 from returning to the oscillator unit 210, but can guide it in a predetermined direction and absorb it. Therefore, the isolation section 240 also includes a circulator and a dummy load.

[0078] The power monitoring unit 250 can monitor the microwave power output from the oscillation unit 210 and the reflected microwave power reflected by the resonance unit 220, respectively. The power monitoring unit 250 can transmit information related to the microwave power and reflected microwave power to the matching unit 260.

[0079] The impedance matching unit 260 can match the impedance from the oscillator unit 210 to the resonant unit 220 with the impedance from the resonant unit 220 to the oscillator unit 210 so as to minimize reflected microwave power. This impedance matching is equivalent to matching the frequency of the oscillator unit 210 with the resonant frequency of the resonant unit 220. Therefore, the impedance matching unit 260 can vary the frequency of the oscillator unit 210 in order to match the impedances. In other words, the impedance matching unit 260 can adjust the frequency of the microwave power output from the oscillator unit 210 so as to minimize reflected microwave power. The impedance matching of the impedance matching unit 260 can be performed in real time, regardless of the temperature profile.

[0080] Furthermore, the aforementioned oscillation unit 210, isolation unit 240, power monitoring unit 250, and matching unit 260 are separate configurations distinct from the microwave output unit 230 and resonant unit 220, which will be described later, and can be implemented as a chip-type microwave source. In one embodiment, the aforementioned oscillation unit 210, isolation unit 240, power monitoring unit 250, and matching unit 260 can also be implemented as part of the processor 101.

[0081] The microwave output unit 230 is configured to input microwave power to the resonant unit 220 and is also configured to correspond to the couplers shown in Figure 3 and below. The microwave output unit 230 can be implemented in the form of SMA (SubMiniature Version A), SMB (SubMiniature Version B), MCX (Micro Coaxial), and MMCX (Micro-Miniature Coaxial) connectors. The microwave output unit 230 connects a chip-type microwave source and the resonant unit 220 to each other and can transmit the microwave power generated in the microwave source to the resonant unit 220.

[0082] The resonant section 220 can heat the object to be heated by forming microwaves within its resonant structure. The resonant section 220 includes a containment space in which the aerosol product 10 is contained, and the aerosol product 10 is exposed to microwaves and can be dielectrically heated. For example, the aerosol product 10 may contain a polar substance, and the molecules within the polar substance may be polarized by microwaves inside the resonant section 220. The molecules vibrate or rotate due to the polarization phenomenon, and the aerosol product 10 may be heated by frictional heat generated in this process.

[0083] The resonant section 220 includes at least one internal conductor so that microwaves can resonate, and the arrangement, thickness, and length of the internal conductor can cause microwaves to resonate inside the resonant section 220.

[0084] The resonant section 220 may be designed with consideration to the microwave wavelength so that the microwave can resonate within the resonant section 220. For the microwave to resonate within the resonant section 220, the cross section must have a short end and, opposite the short end, an open end where at least one region of the cross section is open. Furthermore, the length between the short end and the open end must be set to an integer multiple of 1 / 4 of the microwave wavelength. The resonant section 220 of this disclosure selects a length of 1 / 4 of the microwave wavelength for the purpose of miniaturizing the device. In other words, the length between the short end and the open end of the resonant section 220 may be set to a length of 1 / 4 of the microwave wavelength.

[0085] The resonant portion 220 also includes a dielectric housing space. This dielectric housing space is configured to be separate from the housing space for the aerosol product 10, and contains a material that can change the overall resonant frequency of the resonant portion 220 and miniaturize the resonant portion 220. In one embodiment, the dielectric housing space may house a dielectric with low microwave absorptivity. This is to prevent the phenomenon in which energy that should be transferred to the object to be heated is transferred to the dielectric, causing the dielectric itself to heat up. Microwave absorptivity can be expressed by the loss tangent, which is the ratio of the imaginary part to the real part of the complex dielectric constant. In one embodiment, the dielectric housing space 227 houses a dielectric having a loss tangent of a predetermined size or less, which is 1 / 100. For example, the dielectric may be at least one of quartz, tetrafluoroethylene, and aluminum oxide, or a combination thereof, but is not limited to these.

[0086] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a heater assembly according to one embodiment.

[0087] Referring to Figure 4, the heater assembly 200 according to one embodiment also includes an oscillation unit 210 and a resonance unit 220. Figure 4 is also an embodiment of the aforementioned heater assembly 200 and dielectric heating unit 200, and redundant explanations will be omitted below.

[0088] The oscillator 210 can generate microwaves in a specified frequency band as power is supplied. The microwaves generated by the oscillator 210 can be transmitted to the resonant 220 via a coupler (not shown).

[0089] The resonant section 220 also includes a containment space 220h for accommodating at least one region of the aerosol product 10, and the aerosol product 10 can be heated by dielectric heating by resonating the microwaves generated by the oscillating section 210. For example, due to the resonance of the microwaves, the charge of the glycerin contained in the aerosol product 10 vibrates or rotates, and the frictional heat generated when the charge vibrates or rotates generates heat in the glycerin, thereby heating the aerosol product 10.

[0090] According to one embodiment, the resonant portion 220 may be formed of a material with a low microwave absorption rate in order to prevent microwaves generated by the oscillator portion 210 from being absorbed by the resonant portion 220.

[0091] In the following section, the specific structure of the resonant section 220 of the heater assembly 200 will be described with reference to Figure 5.

[0092] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the heater assembly shown in Figure 4. Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the heater assembly 200 shown in Figure 4, cut in the direction A-A'.

[0093] Referring to Figure 5, the heater assembly 200 according to one embodiment also includes an oscillator 210, a resonant unit 220, and a coupler 230. The components of the heater assembly 200 are identical or similar to at least one of the components of the heater assembly 200 in Figure 4, but redundant explanations will be omitted below.

[0094] The oscillator 210 generates microwaves in a specified frequency band when an AC voltage is applied, and the microwaves generated by the oscillator 210 can be transmitted to the resonant section 220 via the coupler 230.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the oscillator 210 may be fixed to the resonant section 220 in such a way as to prevent it from separating from the resonant section 220 during the use of the aerosol generator. In one example, the oscillator 210 may be fixed to the resonant section 220 by being supported by a bracket 220b that protrudes along the x-direction in one region of the resonant section 220. In another example, the oscillator 210 may also be fixed to the resonant section 220 by being attached to one region of the resonant section 220 without a bracket 220b.

[0096] Although the drawings only illustrate an embodiment in which the oscillator 210 is fixed in one region of the resonant portion 220 in the x-direction, the position of the oscillator 210 is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. In other embodiments, the oscillator 210 may also be fixed in other regions of the resonant portion 220 in the -z direction.

[0097] The resonant section 220 is positioned to surround at least one region of the aerosol product 10 inserted inside the aerosol generating device, and can heat the aerosol product 10 via microwaves generated by the oscillator 210. For example, a dielectric material contained in the aerosol product 10 may be heated by the electric field generated inside the resonant section 220 due to the microwaves, and the aerosol product 10 may be heated by the heat generated in the dielectric material.

[0098] According to one embodiment, the aerosol product 10 also includes a tobacco rod 11 and a filter rod 12.

[0099] The tobacco rod 11 contains an aerosol-generating substance and is made of a sheet or strand, or of shredded tobacco obtained by finely shredding a tobacco sheet. For example, the aerosol-generating substance may include, but is 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 11 may also contain other additives such as flavoring agents, humectants, and / or organic acids. In addition, a flavoring liquid such as menthol or a humectant may be added to the tobacco rod 11 by spraying it.

[0100] The filter rod 12 is also a cellulose acetate filter. There are no restrictions on the shape of the filter rod 12. For example, the filter rod 12 can be a cylindrical rod, a tubular rod containing a hollow interior, or a recessed rod. If the filter rod 12 is composed of multiple segments, at least one of the segments may be manufactured in a different shape.

[0101] At least a portion of the aerosol-generating substance contained in the aerosol product 10 (e.g., glycerin) is also a dielectric that has polarity in an electric field, and at least a portion of such aerosol-generating substance can generate heat by dielectric heating, thereby heating the aerosol product 10.

[0102] According to one embodiment, the resonant section 220 also includes an outer conductor 221, a first inner conductor 223, and a second inner conductor 225.

[0103] The outer conductor 221 forms the overall appearance of the resonant section 220 and is formed in a hollow shape with an open interior, and the components of the resonant section 220 can be arranged inside the outer conductor 221. The outer conductor 221 also includes a containment space 220h in which the aerosol product 10 can be contained, and the aerosol product 10 can be inserted into the interior of the outer conductor 221 through the containment space 220h.

[0104] According to one embodiment, the outer conductor 221 also includes a first surface 221a, a second surface 221b positioned opposite the first surface 221a, and a side surface 221c surrounding the open space between the first surface 221a and the second surface 221b. At least some of the components of the resonant portion 220 (e.g., a first inner conductor 223, a second inner conductor 225) may be arranged in the internal space of the resonant portion 220 formed by the first surface 221a, the second surface 221b, and the side surface 221c.

[0105] The first internal conductor 223 may be formed in a hollow cylindrical shape that extends from the first surface 221a of the outer conductor 221 toward the internal space of the outer conductor 221.

[0106] According to one embodiment, a region of the first internal conductor 223 is in contact with a coupler 230 connected to the oscillation unit 210, and microwaves generated by the oscillation unit 210 can be transmitted to the first internal conductor 233 via the coupler 230. For example, the coupler 230 penetrates the outer conductor 221, with one end in contact with the oscillation unit 210 and the other end in contact with a region of the first internal conductor 223, and microwaves generated by the oscillation unit 210 can be transmitted to the first internal conductor 223 via the coupler 230.

[0107] In this case, the coupler 230 may be arranged so as to not contact the outer conductor 221 but to penetrate the outer conductor 221 in order to transmit microwaves, but the arrangement structure of the coupler 230 is not limited to this, as long as the microwaves generated in the oscillator 210 can be transmitted to the first inner conductor 223.

[0108] A first region formed between the outer conductor 221 and the first inner conductor 223 can act as a "first resonator" that generates an electric field through microwave resonance. This first region refers to the space formed by the first surface 221a, the side surface 221c of the outer conductor 221 and the first inner conductor 223, and within this first region, microwaves transmitted via the coupler 230 can resonate and generate an electric field. The second inner conductor 225 can be formed in a hollow cylindrical shape extending from the second surface 221b of the outer conductor 221 toward the internal space of the outer conductor 221. The second inner conductor 225 is positioned within the internal space of the outer conductor 221 at a predetermined distance from the first inner conductor 223, and a gap 226 can be formed between the first inner conductor 223 and the second inner conductor 225.

[0109] The second region formed between the outer conductor 221 and the second inner conductor 225 can act as a “second resonator” that generates an electric field via microwave resonance. The second inner conductor 225 may also be coupled (e.g., capacitive coupling) with the first inner conductor 223, and when an electric field is generated within the first region by the aforementioned coupling relationship, an induced electric field may also be generated within the second region. In this disclosure, “capacitive coupling” may mean a coupling relationship in which energy can be transferred by the capacitance between the two conductors.

[0110] For example, when microwaves generated from the oscillator 210 are transmitted to the first internal conductor 223, an electric field is generated inside the first region by resonance, and an induced electric field may be generated inside the second region formed by the outer conductor 221 and the second internal conductor 225 coupled with the first internal conductor 223.

[0111] According to one embodiment, the first and second regions of the resonant section 220 can operate as resonators having a microwave wavelength (λ) length.

[0112] In one example, one end of the first region (e.g., the end in the -z direction) is formed as a short end by closing the cross-section of the first region with the first surface 221a of the outer conductor 221, and the other end of the first region (e.g., the end in the z direction) may be formed as an open end by not having the first surface 221a and leaving the cross-section open. In another example, one end of the second region (e.g., the end in the -z direction) is formed as an open end by leaving the cross-section open, and the other end of the second region (e.g., the end in the z direction) may be formed as a closed end by closing the cross-section of the second region with the second surface 221b of the outer conductor 221.

[0113] That is, the first and second regions, in xz-plane view, include a closed end and an open end, and are formed as a whole in a "U" shape, and through the aforementioned structure, the first and second regions can operate as resonators having a microwave wavelength of 1 / 4 wavelength.

[0114] According to one embodiment, the first internal conductor 223 and the second internal conductor 225 are formed to have the same length with respect to the z-axis, and the first region and the second region may be arranged symmetrically with respect to each other, but are not limited thereto.

[0115] The aerosol product 10, inserted into the internal space of the outer conductor 221 via the containment space 220h, is surrounded by the first internal conductor 223 and the second internal conductor 225, and can be heated by dielectric heating.

[0116] In the first and / or second regions, at least a portion of the electric field generated by microwave resonance propagates through the gap 226 between the first internal conductor 223 and the second internal conductor 225 into the interior of the first internal conductor 223 and / or the second internal conductor 225, and the aerosol product 10 surrounded by the first internal conductor 223 and the second internal conductor 225 may be heated by the propagated electric field. For example, a dielectric contained in the aerosol product 10 may be heated by the electric field propagating through the gap 226, and the aerosol product 10 may be heated by the heat generated from the dielectric.

[0117] In one embodiment, the heater assembly 200 can prevent the electric field propagated inside the first internal conductor 223 and / or the second internal conductor 225 from leaking to the outside of the heater assembly 200 or the resonant section 220 by ensuring that the diameters of the first internal conductor 223 and the second internal conductor 225 are less than a specified value.

[0118] In this disclosure, “specified value” may mean the diameter value at which the electric field begins to leak out of the first internal conductor 223 and / or the second internal conductor 225. For example, if the diameter of the first internal conductor 223 and / or the second internal conductor 225 is greater than or equal to the specified value, a situation may occur in which a portion of the electric field that has flowed into the first internal conductor 223 and / or the second internal conductor 225 leaks out of the resonant section 220.

[0119] In addition, the heater assembly 200 according to one embodiment prevents the electric field from propagating outside the resonant section 220 through a structure in which the diameters of the first internal conductor 223 and the second internal conductor 225 are less than a specified value. As a result, it is possible to prevent the electric field from leaking outside the heater assembly 200 or the resonant section 220 without the need for a separate shielding member.

[0120] According to one embodiment, when the aerosol product 10 is inserted into the resonant section 220 via the containment space 220h, the tobacco rod 11 of the aerosol product 10 may be positioned in a location corresponding to the gap 226 between the first internal conductor 223 and the second internal conductor 225.

[0121] The electric fields generated in the first region and the electric fields generated in the second region flow into the interior of the first internal conductor 223 and / or the second internal conductor 225 through the gap 226, thereby generating the strongest electric fields in the interior region of the resonant section 220 and in the region surrounding the gap 226.

[0122] In one embodiment of the heater assembly 200, the heating efficiency (or "dielectric heating efficiency") of the heater assembly 200 can be improved by positioning the tobacco rod 11, which contains a dielectric that generates heat in the electric field, at a location corresponding to the gap 226 where the electric field is strongest.

[0123] According to one embodiment, the resonant portion 220 also further includes a closure portion 224 located inside the first internal conductor 223, which closes the cross-section of the first internal conductor 223 and restricts the flow direction of the aerosol generated from the aerosol product 10. For example, the closure portion 224 can close the cross-section of the first internal conductor 223 and block the flow of the aerosol generated from the aerosol product 10 in the -z direction.

[0124] If the aerosol generated from the aerosol product 10, or the droplet generated when the aerosol is liquefied, flows in the -z direction and enters other components of the aerosol generator (e.g., aerosol generator 100 (Figure 1)), it may cause malfunction or damage to the components of the aerosol generator. In one embodiment, the heater assembly 200 can prevent malfunction or damage to the components of the aerosol generator by restricting the flow direction of the aerosol via the closing section 224.

[0125] According to one embodiment, the resonant portion 220 also further includes a dielectric housing space 227 for housing a dielectric. The dielectric housing space 227 refers to the empty space formed between the outer conductor 221 and the first inner conductor 223 and the second inner conductor 225, and a dielectric with low microwave absorption may be housed in the dielectric housing space 227. For example, the dielectric may be, but is not limited to, at least one of quartz, tetrafluoroethylene, and aluminum oxide, or a combination thereof.

[0126] In one embodiment, the heater assembly 200 can generate the same electric field as a resonant section 220 without a dielectric, while reducing the overall size of the resonant section 220 by arranging a dielectric inside the dielectric housing space 227. In other words, in one embodiment, the heater assembly 200 can reduce the size of the resonant section 220 through the dielectric arranged inside the dielectric housing space 227, thereby reducing the mounting space for the resonant section 220 in the aerosol generator, and as a result, the aerosol generator can be miniaturized.

[0127] Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a heater assembly according to another embodiment.

[0128] The heater assembly 300 according to the embodiment shown in Figure 6 also includes a resonant section 320 that generates microwave resonance and a coupler 311 that supplies microwaves to the resonant section 320.

[0129] The resonant section 320 also includes a case 321, multiple plates 323a, 323b, multiple plates 323a, 323b, and a connecting section 322 that connects the case 321.

[0130] The coupler 311 can supply microwaves to at least one of the multiple plates 323a, 323b so as to generate microwave resonance in the resonant section 320.

[0131] The resonant section 320 may surround at least one region of the aerosol product 10 inserted inside the aerosol generator. The coupler 311 may supply microwaves generated by the oscillator (not shown) to the resonant section 320. When microwaves are supplied to the resonant section 320, microwave resonance occurs in the resonant section 320, and the resonant section 320 may heat the aerosol product 10. For example, a dielectric material contained in the aerosol product 10 may be heated by the electric field generated inside the resonant section 220 due to the microwaves, and the aerosol product 10 may be heated by the heat generated in the dielectric material.

[0132] The case 321 of the resonant section 320 performs the function of an "outer conductor". Since the case 321 is formed in a hollow shape with an empty interior, the components of the resonant section 320 can be arranged inside the case 321.

[0133] The case 321 also includes a containment space 320h into which the aerosol product 10 can be contained, and an opening 321a into which the aerosol product 10 can be inserted. The opening 321a is connected to the containment space 320h. Since the opening 321a is open to the outside of the case 321, the containment space 320h is connected to the outside through the opening 321a. Therefore, the aerosol product 10 can be inserted into the containment space 320h of the case 321 through the opening 321a of the case 321.

[0134] The case 321 shown in the drawing has a square cross-sectional shape, but the shape of the case 321 can be deformed into a variety of shapes. For example, the structure of the case 321 can be deformed to have various cross-sectional shapes such as rectangles, ellipses, or circles. The case 321 can be extended in one direction.

[0135] Inside the case 321, multiple plates 323a and 323b may be arranged, each capable of functioning as an "internal conductor" of the resonant section 320.

[0136] Multiple plates 323a, 323b may be arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction of the aerosol product 10 contained in the containment space 320h. The multiple plates 323a, 323b may also include a first plate 323a arranged to surround one area of ​​the aerosol product 10 and a second plate 323b arranged to surround another area of ​​the aerosol product 10.

[0137] Multiple plates 323a, 323b can be connected to the case 321 by connecting parts 322. Furthermore, one end of the first plate 323a and one end of the second plate 323b can be connected to each other by connecting parts 322. Therefore, a closed end can be formed at one end of the multiple plates 323a, 323b by the connecting parts 322.

[0138] The other end 323af of the first plate 323a and the other end 323bf of the second plate 323b of the multiple plates 323a and 323b can be opened by separating them from each other. Since the other ends of the multiple plates 323a and 323b are separated from each other, open ends can be formed at the other ends of the multiple plates 323a and 323b.

[0139] A resonator assembly can be completed by connecting multiple plates 323a, 323b and connecting parts 322 to each other. The shape of the cross section cut along the longitudinal direction of the resonator assembly may include a "horseshoe shape".

[0140] Multiple plates 323a, 323b extend in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol product 10. At least a portion of the multiple plates 323a, 323b may be curved to protrude outward from the longitudinal center of the aerosol product 10.

[0141] For example, if the aerosol product 10 is manufactured in a cylindrical shape, the multiple plates 323a and 323b may be formed to curve circumferentially along the outer surface of the aerosol product 10. The radius of curvature of the cross-sections of the multiple plates 323a and 323b is the same as the radius of curvature of the aerosol product 10. The radius of curvature of the cross-sections of the multiple plates 323a and 323b can be varied. For example, the radius of curvature of the cross-sections of the multiple plates 323a and 323b may be greater than or less than the radius of curvature of the aerosol product 10.

[0142] According to a structure in which multiple plates 323a and 323b are formed to curve circumferentially along the outer surface of the aerosol product 10, a more uniform electric field is formed in the resonant portion 320, so that the heater assembly 300 can uniformly heat the aerosol product 10.

[0143] The open ends of the other ends of the multiple plates 323a, 323b may be positioned to face the opening 321a of the case 321. The opening 321a of the case 321 may be positioned to be spaced away from the other ends of the multiple plates 323a, 323b.

[0144] The open ends of the other ends of the multiple plates 323a, 323b can be aligned with the opening 321a of the case 321. Therefore, when the aerosol product 10 is inserted through the opening 321a of the case 321 and located in the containment space 320h, a portion of the aerosol product 10 located in the containment space 320h can be surrounded by the multiple plates 323a, 323b.

[0145] The multiple plates 323a and 323b are arranged in pairs, opposite each other to the longitudinal center of the aerosol product 10. One embodiment is not limited by the number of plates 323a and 323b; for example, there may be three plates or four or more plates.

[0146] Multiple plates 323a, 323b can be arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol product 10, that is, the central axis in the direction in which the aerosol product 10 is extended.

[0147] At least one of the multiple plates 323a, 323b may be in contact with a coupler 311 connected to an oscillator (not shown). Specifically, at least a portion of the first plate 323a may be in contact with the coupler 311. When microwaves are transmitted to the first plate 323a via the coupler 311, microwave resonances are formed between the multiple plates 323a, 323b. Microwave resonances are also formed between the first plate 323a and the upper plate of the case 321, and between the second plate 323b and the lower plate of the case 321. Therefore, electric fields can be generated between the multiple plates 323a, 323b and the connecting portion 322, between the first plate 323a and the upper plate of the case 321, and between the second plate 323b and the lower plate of the case 321.

[0148] The coupler 311 penetrates the case 321, one end of the coupler 311 may contact an oscillator (not shown), and the other end of the coupler 311 may contact a region of the first plate 323a. Microwaves generated by the oscillator (not shown) are transmitted through the coupler 311 to the multiple plates 323a, 323b and the connecting portion 322, thereby generating an electric field inside the assembly of the multiple plates 323a, 323b and the connecting portion 322.

[0149] Furthermore, the structure of the resonant section 320 of the heater assembly 300 allows for the formation of triple resonant modes in the resonant section 320. Resonance of microwave TEM modes (transverse electric & magnetic modes) is formed between the multiple plates 323a and 323b. In addition, resonance of TEM modes different from those formed between the multiple plates 323a and 323b is formed between the first plate 323a and the upper plate of the case 321, and between the second plate 323b and the lower plate of the case 321. Since the resonant section 320 in Figure 6 allows for TEM mode resonance by the multiple plates 323a and 323b, it can be manufactured in a smaller size than the resonant section 220 in Figure 5, which is only capable of TE (transverse electric) mode and TM (transverse magnetic) mode.

[0150] Triple resonance occurs in the resonant section 320 of the heater assembly 300, which allows the aerosol product 10 to be heated more effectively and uniformly.

[0151] The resonant portion 320 according to the above-described embodiment also includes a closed end (short end) whose cross-section is closed to have a length of 1 / 4 of the microwave wavelength (λ) (λ / 4), and an open end located in the opposite direction to the closed end, in which at least one region of the cross-section is open.

[0152] In Figure 6, the region at one end of the resonant section 320, corresponding to the left region, forms a closed end, where one end of multiple plates 323a, 323b and the connecting portion 322 are connected to the case 321. In Figure 6, the region at the other end of the resonant section 320, corresponding to the right region, forms an open end, where the opening 321a of the case 321 is open to the outside. With such a structure, the resonant section 320 can operate as a resonator having a microwave wavelength of 1 / 4 wavelength.

[0153] According to the resonant structure of the aforementioned resonant section 320, the electric field is not propagated to the region outside the resonant section 320. Therefore, the heater assembly 300 can prevent the electric field from leaking outside the heater assembly 300 without the need for a separate shielding member to block the electric field.

[0154] The aerosol product 10 inserted into the containment space 320h of case 321 is surrounded by the first plate 323a and the second plate 323b and can be heated by dielectric heating. For example, a portion of the aerosol product 10, including the medium, inserted into the containment space 320h of case 321 may be placed in the space between the first plate 323a and the second plate 323b. The electric field generated in the space between the first plate 323a and the second plate 323b causes the dielectric contained in the aerosol product 10 to heat up, thereby heating the aerosol product 10.

[0155] Furthermore, secondary heating of the aerosol product 10 can be achieved by the electric fields generated by the resonant modes formed between the first plate 323a and the upper plate of the case 321, and between the second plate 323b and the lower plate of the case 321.

[0156] When the aerosol product 10 is inserted into the resonant section 320 via the containment space 320h, the tobacco rod 11 of the aerosol product 10 may be located between a plurality of plates 323a, 323b.

[0157] The length L4 of the tobacco rod 11 can be formed to be longer than the length L1 of the multiple plates 323a and 323b. Therefore, the front end 11f of the tobacco rod 11 that contacts the filter rod 12 is positioned to protrude from the other end 323af of the first plate 323a and the other end 323bf of the second plate 323b in the direction toward the opening 321a of the case 321.

[0158] At the other ends of the multiple plates 323a and 323b that act as resonators, a resonance peak is formed, and a stronger electric field can be generated compared to other regions. When the aerosol product 10 is inserted into the heater assembly 300, the heating efficiency (or "dielectric heating efficiency") of the heater assembly 300 can be improved by arranging the tobacco rod 11, which contains a dielectric that can generate heat due to the electric field, to correspond to the region with the strongest electric field.

[0159] Referring to Figure 6, the length L1 of the multiple plates 323a, 323b can be set to be shorter than the length (L1 + L2) of the internal space of the case 321. Therefore, the other ends of the multiple plates 323a, 323b can be located inside the case 321 beyond the opening 321a. That is, the other ends of the multiple plates 323a, 323b can be positioned so as to be separated from the rear end of the opening 321a by a distance of L2.

[0160] The length from the rear end of the opening 321a, where it connects to the case 321, to the front end of the opening 321a, where it is opened, is also L3. The total length of the case 321 along its longitudinal direction is also L. The total length L of the case 321 can be determined by the sum of the lengths L1 of the multiple plates 323a, 323b, the distance L2 between the multiple plates 323a, 323b and the rear end of the opening 321a, and the length L3 of the opening 321a protruding from the case 321.

[0161] To prevent microwave leakage, the front end of the opening 321a is positioned to protrude from the case 321 by a length of L3. By the opening 321a protruding from the case 321, the opening 321a can function to prevent microwaves inside the case 321 of the resonant section 320 from leaking to the outside of the case 321.

[0162] The resonant section 320 also further includes a dielectric housing space 327 for housing a dielectric. The dielectric housing space 327 may be formed in the empty space between the case 321 and the multiple plates 323a, 323b. A dielectric with low microwave absorption may be housed in the dielectric housing space 327.

[0163] The heater assembly 300 can generate an electric field of the same level as that generated in a resonant section without a dielectric, while reducing the overall size of the resonant section 320 by arranging a dielectric inside the dielectric housing space 327. In other words, by arranging the dielectric inside the dielectric housing space 327, the size of the resonant section 320 can be reduced, and the mounting space for the resonant section 320 in the aerosol generator can be reduced, resulting in a miniaturized aerosol generator.

[0164] Figure 7 is an internal block diagram illustrating an output control method for an oscillator according to one embodiment.

[0165] More specifically, Figure 7 illustrates only the configuration for controlling the output of the oscillator 210 in the aerosol generator 100, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The output of the oscillator 210 refers to the magnitude and frequency of the microwave power, and therefore, explanations that overlap with those in Figures 3 and 4 will be omitted below.

[0166] Referring to Figure 7, the aerosol generator 100 also includes an oscillator 210, a power monitoring unit 250, a resonant unit 220, and a processor 101.

[0167] The oscillator 210 can output microwaves having a predetermined output frequency and predetermined power, under the control of the processor 101.

[0168] The oscillator 210 includes at least one switching element, and the processor 101 can vary the microwave output frequency by adjusting the on / off state of the switching element. For example, the processor 101 can control the oscillator 210 to output a microwave having one output frequency selected from the range of 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz or the range of 5.7 GHz to 5.9 GHz.

[0169] Furthermore, the oscillator 210 includes a power amplifier, which can adjust the power level of the output microwave by increasing or decreasing the amplitude of the microwave under the control of the processor 101. For example, the processor 101 can control the oscillator 210 to output a microwave having one power level selected from the range of 3W to 20W.

[0170] The microwaves output from the oscillator 210 can be output to the resonant section 220.

[0171] The resonant section 220 houses the aerosol product 10 and resonates with microwaves supplied from the oscillator 210, thereby heating the aerosol product 10. The internal structure of the resonant section 220 is shown in Figures 4 to 6.

[0172] The power monitoring unit 250 may be provided to track changes in the resonant frequency of the resonant unit 220 in real time.

[0173] More specifically, the impedance of the resonant section 220 can be varied as the dielectric material contained in the aerosol product 10 is heated and consumed by microwaves. Even if the impedance of the resonant section 220 is varied, when the oscillator 210 is controlled to a fixed output, the first impedance Zeq1, viewed from the oscillator 210 to the resonant section 220, and the second impedance Zeq2, viewed from the resonant section 220 to the oscillator 210, do not match. In other words, the first impedance Zeq1 and the second impedance Zeq2 are not matched with each other. Furthermore, since impedance matching is related to the maximum power transfer condition, the maximum power transfer condition is not satisfied. As a result, the power supplied from the oscillator 210 cannot be fully transmitted to the resonant section 220, and some of it may be reflected from the resonant section 220 or input back into the oscillator 210.

[0174] The power monitoring unit 250 can measure the reflected microwave power reflected from the resonant unit 220 and input to the oscillator unit 210 in order to match the first impedance Zeq1 and the second impedance Zeq2. In one embodiment, the power monitoring unit 250 can also measure the output microwave power output from the oscillator unit 210 and input to the resonant unit 220. Hereinafter, the output microwave power may be named the first power P1 and the reflected microwave power may be named the second power P2. The first power P1 and the second power P2 may represent the magnitude of the power.

[0175] The power monitoring unit 250 can provide the processor 101 with information relating to the first power P1 and / or the second power P2.

[0176] The processor 101 can match the first impedance Zeq1 and the second impedance Zeq2 based on information relating to the first power P1 and / or second power P2 provided by the power monitoring unit 250. Impedance matching can be achieved by adjusting the output frequency of the oscillator 210, since impedance is a frequency-dependent parameter.

[0177] The processor 101 can adjust the output frequency of the oscillator 210 so that the second power P2 measured by the power monitoring unit 250 falls within a reference power range. In one embodiment, the processor 101 can adjust the output frequency of the oscillator 210 so that the difference between the first power P1 and the second power P2 measured by the power monitoring unit 250 falls within a pre-set reference power range. For example, the reference power range is between 0W and 1W, but is not limited to that.

[0178] The processor 101 can control the oscillator 210 so that the second power P2 falls within the reference power range by sweeping the output frequency output from the oscillator 210 within a pre-set reference bandwidth range. In one embodiment, the processor 101 can control the oscillator 210 so that the difference between the first power P1 and the second power P2 falls within a pre-set range. For example, the reference bandwidth range may be, but is not limited to, a 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz range or a 5.7GHz to 5.9GHz range.

[0179] Furthermore, the output frequency adjustment of the processor 101 can be performed in real time. In other words, the processor 101 can adjust the output frequency of the oscillator 210 independently of the power level adjustment of the oscillator 210, which will be described later.

[0180] The processor 101 can adjust the magnitude of the microwave power output from the oscillator 210 based on a pre-set temperature profile and / or power profile, regardless of the output frequency adjustment of the oscillator 210.

[0181] The temperature profile also includes information relating to the target temperature of the aerosol product 10 over time. Similarly, the power profile includes information relating to the target power of the oscillation unit 210 over time. In other words, the temperature profile and power profile each include information relating to the target temperature and target power for the preheating and smoking sections, respectively.

[0182] The processor 101 can control the oscillator 210 and output a first magnitude microwave power during the preheating section. Furthermore, the processor 101 can control the oscillator 210 during the smoking section after the preheating section and output a second magnitude microwave power smaller than the first magnitude. Additionally, the processor 101 can progressively increase the magnitude of the microwave power during the smoking section.

[0183] The processor 101 can match the output frequency of the oscillator 210 with the resonant frequency of the resonant section 220 in real time while adjusting the magnitude of the microwave power output from the oscillator 210 according to a pre-configured profile. By matching the output frequency of the oscillator 210 with the resonant frequency of the resonant section 220, the power transfer efficiency is significantly increased, and the aerosol product 10 can be heated uniformly.

[0184] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a method for tracking the resonant frequency using the output microwave power of the oscillator and the reflected microwave power of the resonant section, according to one embodiment.

[0185] Referring to Figure 8, the processor 101 senses the mismatch between the first impedance Zeq1 and the second impedance Zeq2 as the difference between the first power P1 and / or the second power P2, and can adjust the output frequency of the oscillator 210 to match the impedances. By adjusting the output frequency, the output frequency can be matched with the resonant frequency of the resonant section 220. Matching in this disclosure includes not only a perfect match, but also cases where the output frequency falls within the upper and lower critical ranges of the resonant frequency. This is to account for losses due to the internal configuration of the dielectric heating section 200. For example, matching means that the output frequency falls within the range of the resonant frequency - α to the resonant frequency + α, where α is 10 kHz, but is not limited to that.

[0186] In Figure 8, the x-axis represents frequency, and the y-axis represents the amount of power transferred to the resonant section 220 according to frequency. Figure 8 shows a diagram (810) when the output frequency f1 of the oscillator 210 and the resonant frequency f2 of the resonant section 220 coincide, and a diagram (820) for matching the output frequency f1 of the oscillator 210 with the varied resonant frequency f2' of the resonant section 220.

[0187] In Figure 8, the output frequency f1 of the oscillator 210 and the resonant frequency f2 of the resonant section 220 can be matched. For example, when the processor 101 receives a user input to heat the device, it can sweep the output frequency of the oscillator 210 and select Fa as the output frequency, which is the frequency at which the second power P2 reflected from the resonant section 220 and input to the oscillator 210 is minimized. In one embodiment, the processor 101 can select Fa as the output frequency, which is the frequency at which the difference between the first power P1 transmitted from the oscillator 210 to the resonant section 220 and the second power P2 reflected from the resonant section 220 and input to the oscillator 210 is minimized. By matching the output frequency f1 of the oscillator 210 and the resonant frequency f2 of the resonant section 220, the maximum power Pa can be supplied to the resonant section 220. The resonant section 220 can use the power supplied from the oscillator 210 to heat the aerosol product 10.

[0188] Furthermore, the dielectric material contained in the aerosol product 10 is heated and consumed by microwaves, which changes the impedance of the resonant section 220, and therefore the resonant frequency f2 can also be changed. In one embodiment, the resonant frequency f2 of the resonant section 220 can be increased to f2' by reducing the dielectric material contained in the aerosol product 10. Even though the resonant frequency of the resonant section 220 is increased to f2', if the oscillator 210 is controlled to a fixed output frequency, the maximum power Pa' is not transmitted to the resonant section 220, and a power of about Pb, which is smaller than Pa', may be transmitted to the resonant section 220. In other words, the resonant section 220 consumes about Pb of power, and the remaining power can be reflected and output towards the oscillator 210.

[0189] The processor 101 can adjust f1, which is the output frequency of the oscillator 210, to f2', which is a variable resonant frequency, so that the maximum power is transmitted to the resonant section 220. To this end, the processor 101 may be provided with information from the power monitoring unit 250 regarding the first power P1 output from the oscillator 210 to the resonant section 220. The processor 101 may also be provided with information regarding the second power P2 reflected from the resonant section 220 and input to the oscillator 210. The processor 101 may be provided with information from the power monitoring unit 250 in real time regarding the second power P2 corresponding to the variable resonant frequency of the resonant section 220.

[0190] The processor 101 can control the oscillator 210 so that the second power P2 measured by the power monitoring unit 250 falls within a reference power range. In one embodiment, the processor 101 can control the output of the oscillator 210 so that the difference between the first power P1 and the second power P2 measured by the power monitoring unit 250 falls within a pre-set reference power range. For example, the reference power range is between 0W and 1W, but is not limited to that.

[0191] The processor 101 can sweep the frequency of the microwave power output from the oscillator 210 within a pre-set reference bandwidth range Fre, and control the oscillator 210 so that the second power P2 falls within the reference power range. In one embodiment, the processor 101 can adjust the output frequency of the microwave power so that the difference between the first power P1 and the second power P2 falls within the reference power range. For example, the reference bandwidth range Fre is, but is not limited to, the 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz range or the 5.7GHz to 5.9GHz range.

[0192] The processor 101 can match the output frequency with the resonant frequency by adjusting the output frequency of the microwave power to one of the frequencies selected from the reference bandwidth range Fre, such that the difference between the first power P1 and the second power P2 falls within the reference power range. In other words, the processor 101 can adjust the output frequency of the oscillator 210 from Fa to Fb, which is the resonant frequency of the resonant unit 210. The aforementioned adjustment of the output frequency of the microwave power can be performed independently of the magnitude of the microwave power.

[0193] Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation method of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

[0194] Referring to Figure 9, in step S910, the oscillator 210 can generate microwaves.

[0195] The oscillator unit 210 includes a solid-state RF (radio frequency) generator, which can be used to generate microwaves.

[0196] The oscillator 210 can output microwaves having a predetermined output frequency and predetermined power under the control of the processor 101.

[0197] The oscillator 210 includes at least one switching element, and the processor 101 can vary the microwave output frequency by adjusting the on / off state of the switching element. For example, the processor 101 can control the oscillator 210 to output a microwave having one output frequency selected from the range of 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz or the range of 5.7 GHz to 5.9 GHz.

[0198] In step S920, the resonant section can contain the aerosol product 10, resonate with microwaves, and heat the aerosol product 10.

[0199] As shown in Figure 5, the resonant portion 220 also includes a hollow cylindrical first internal conductor 223 surrounding one region of the aerosol product 10, and a hollow cylindrical second internal conductor 225 positioned at a predetermined distance from the first internal conductor 223 and surrounding another region of the aerosol product 10. Microwaves resonate between the first internal conductor 223 and the second internal conductor 225 and the outer conductor 221, and the electric field resulting from this microwave resonance can heat the aerosol product 10.

[0200] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the resonant portion 220 also includes a first plate 323a surrounding one region of the aerosol product 10, and a second plate 323b that runs along the circumferential direction of the aerosol product 10, is separated from the first plate 323a, and surrounds another region of the aerosol product 10. Due to the first plate 323a and the second plate 323b, microwaves resonate between the first plate 323a and the second plate 323b, and between each of the first plate 323a and the second plate 323b and the case 321 (a so-called triple resonant structure), and the aerosol product 10 can be heated by the electric field caused by the microwave resonance.

[0201] In step S930, the power monitoring unit 250 can measure a first power P1 output from the oscillation unit 210 and input to the resonant unit 220, and a second power P2 reflected from the resonant unit 220 and input towards the oscillation unit 210. In one embodiment, the power monitoring unit 250 can also perform the subsequent steps by measuring only the second power P2.

[0202] The resonant frequency of the resonant section 220 can be varied by heating and consuming the dielectric material contained in the aerosol product 10 with microwaves. When the resonant frequency of the resonant section 220 is varied, the maximum power of the oscillator 210 cannot be supplied to the resonant section 220. Therefore, the power monitoring section 250 is provided to sense such frequency mismatches as a second power P2, or the difference between the first power P1 and the second power P2, and provides information relating to the first power P1 and / or the second power P2 to the processor 101.

[0203] In step S940, the processor 101 can control the output of the oscillator 210 based on the first power P1 and second power P2 measured by the power monitoring unit 250. In one embodiment, the processor 101 can also control the output of the oscillator 210 based only on the second power P2 measured by the power monitoring unit 250.

[0204] The processor 101 can adjust the output frequency of the oscillator 210 so that the second power P2 measured by the power monitoring unit 250 falls within a reference power range. In one embodiment, the processor 101 can control the output of the oscillator 210 so that the difference between the first power P1 and the second power P2 measured by the power monitoring unit 250 falls within a pre-set reference power range. In this case, the output of the oscillator 210 may represent the output frequency of microwave power.

[0205] The processor 101 can sweep the output frequency of the microwave power output from the oscillator 210 within a pre-set reference bandwidth range and control the oscillator 210 so that the second power P2 falls within the reference power range. In one embodiment, the processor 101 can adjust the output frequency of the microwave power so that the difference between the first power P1 and the second power P2 falls within the reference power range.

[0206] The processor 101 can match the output frequency and the resonant frequency by adjusting the output frequency of the microwave power to one of the frequencies selected from within the reference bandwidth range.

[0207] Furthermore, the processor 101 can independently control the magnitude of the microwave power and the output frequency of the microwave power mentioned above.

[0208] Any embodiment of the Disclosure described above, or any other embodiment, is not mutually exclusive or distinguishable from one another. Any embodiment of the Disclosure described above, or any other embodiment, may be used in combination or in conjunction with each other, depending on the configuration or function of each embodiment.

[0209] For example, this means that a particular embodiment and / or configuration A described in the drawings can be combined with a different embodiment and / or configuration B described in the drawings. In other words, even if the combination of configurations is not directly described, it means that combination is possible unless it is described as impossible.

[0210] The detailed description above should be considered illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the invention shall be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the claims, and all modifications within the equivalent scope of the invention are included within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. In an aerosol generating device, An oscillator that generates microwaves, A resonant section that contains the aerosol product, resonates the microwave, and heats the aerosol product, A power monitoring unit that measures the reflected microwave power reflected from the resonant section and input to the oscillator, The power monitoring unit includes a processor that controls the output of the oscillator based on the reflected microwave power measured by the power monitoring unit, The aforementioned processor, An aerosol generator that controls the output of the oscillator so that the reflected microwave power measured by the power monitoring unit falls within a previously set reference power range.

2. The aforementioned resonant section is The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resonant frequency of the microwave is varied by heating and consuming the dielectric material contained in the aerosol product by the microwave.

3. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the resonant frequency of the resonant portion is increased by reducing the dielectric material contained in the aerosol product.

4. The aforementioned power monitoring unit is The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 2, which measures the reflected microwave power corresponding to the variable resonance frequency.

5. The aforementioned processor, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, comprising sweeping the output frequency of the microwave power output from the oscillator within a previously set reference bandwidth range, and adjusting the output frequency of the microwave power so that the reflected microwave power is included in the reference power range.

6. The aforementioned processor, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the output frequency of the microwave power output from the oscillator is swept within the reference band range from 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz.

7. The aforementioned processor, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the output frequency of the microwave power is matched with the resonant frequency of the resonant section by adjusting the output frequency of the microwave power to one frequency selected from the aforementioned reference band range.

8. The aforementioned processor, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnitude of the microwave power output from the oscillator is adjusted according to a pre-set power profile, and the magnitude of the microwave power and the output frequency of the microwave power are controlled independently of each other.

9. In an aerosol generating apparatus, An oscillator that generates microwaves, A resonant section that contains the aerosol product, resonates the microwave, and heats the aerosol product, A power monitoring unit that measures the reflected microwave power reflected from the resonant section and input to the oscillator, The power monitoring unit includes a processor that controls the output of the oscillator based on the reflected microwave power measured by the power monitoring unit, The aforementioned resonant section is It includes a first hollow cylindrical internal conductor surrounding one region of the aerosol product, and a second hollow cylindrical internal conductor disposed at a predetermined distance from the first internal conductor and surrounding another region of the aerosol product, An aerosol generating apparatus in which the microwave is resonated by the first internal conductor and the second internal conductor.

10. In an aerosol generating apparatus, An oscillator that generates microwaves, A resonant section that contains the aerosol product, resonates the microwave, and heats the aerosol product, A power monitoring unit that measures the reflected microwave power reflected from the resonant section and input to the oscillator, The power monitoring unit includes a processor that controls the output of the oscillator based on the reflected microwave power measured by the power monitoring unit, The aforementioned resonant section is The aerosol product comprises a first plate surrounding one region of the aerosol product, and a second plate that is spaced apart from the first plate and surrounds another region of the aerosol product, An aerosol generating apparatus in which the microwave is resonated by the first plate and the second plate.

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