Cartridge and aerosol generator containing the same
The cartridge design with a patterned information storage section allows for sensor-less recognition and authentication, addressing weight and cost issues in aerosol generating devices by ensuring accurate and efficient cartridge identification and operation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- KT&G CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing aerosol generating devices face challenges in accurately recognizing and authenticating cartridges without additional sensors, leading to increased weight and production costs.
A cartridge design featuring an information storage section with a specific pattern of recesses and grooves or electrodes that stores unique cartridge information, allowing recognition by the device's cartridge recognition unit without additional sensors, and enabling control over heating element temperature based on recognized information.
Enables precise cartridge recognition and authentication, reducing device weight and costs while ensuring optimal operation and preventing counterfeit use.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
【Technical Field】 【0001】 The following embodiments relate to a cartridge and an aerosol generating device including the same. 【Background Art】 【0002】 Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternative methods to overcome the disadvantages of conventional cigarettes. For example, there has been an increasing demand for devices in which an aerosol is generated by heating an aerosol generating substance, rather than by burning a conventional cigarette. Therefore, extensive research has been conducted on heated cigarettes or heated aerosol generating devices. For example, Patent Publication No. 10-2013-0036585 discloses an aerosol suction device. 【Summary of the Invention】 【Problems to be Solved by the Invention】 【0003】 An object according to one embodiment is to provide a cartridge for an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating device that can easily transmit the unique information of the cartridge to the main body. 【0004】 Another object according to one embodiment is to enable cartridge recognition without providing a sensor or the like for recognizing the cartridge in the main body of the aerosol generating device, reduce the weight and production cost of the aerosol generating device, and provide a cartridge for an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating device that can accurately recognize the unique information of the cartridge. 【Means for Solving the Problems】 【0005】 A cartridge for an aerosol generator according to one embodiment includes an opening through which an aerosol formed by heating an aerosol-forming substrate is discharged, and an information storage section formed at the end of the cartridge on the side where it is coupled to the main body of the aerosol generator, which contains unique information of the cartridge, and different unique information of the cartridge can be stored depending on the physical structure of the information storage section, which includes a specific pattern. 【0006】 The cartridge may further include a liquid-phase storage tank capable of storing an aerosol-forming substrate, and a heating element installed inside the liquid-phase storage tank, which includes a core and a heating coil. 【0007】 The aforementioned specific pattern is formed by one or more recesses and one or more grooves, and the number and position of the recesses and the number and position of the grooves can indicate unique information of the cartridge. 【0008】 The information storage unit includes a first storage area for storing first information of the cartridge, a second storage area for storing second information of the cartridge, and a third storage area for storing third information of the cartridge, and the specific pattern can indicate the unique information of the cartridge according to the combination of recesses and grooves in the first to third storage areas. 【0009】 The aforementioned specific pattern is formed by two or more electrodes, and the aforementioned specific pattern can indicate unique information of the cartridge depending on the number and position of the electrodes. 【0010】 The information storage unit includes a first storage area for storing first information of the cartridge, a second storage area for storing second information of the cartridge, and a third storage area for storing third information of the cartridge, and the specific pattern is the first to third storage area The unique information of the cartridge can be displayed according to the position and number of electrodes within the region. 【0011】 An aerosol generator according to one embodiment includes a liquid phase storage tank capable of storing an aerosol-forming substrate, a heating element installed inside the liquid phase storage tank and including a core and a heating coil, an opening from which the aerosol formed by heating the aerosol-forming substrate is discharged, and an information storage unit formed at the end of the cartridge on the side connected to the main body of the aerosol generator, which includes unique information of the cartridge, the information storage unit including a cartridge having a specific pattern indicating the unique information of the cartridge, a power supply unit that supplies power to heat the heating coil of the heating element of the cartridge, a housing that accommodates the power supply unit, a cartridge recognition unit that contacts the information storage unit of the cartridge and recognizes the unique information of the cartridge, and a control unit that can control the temperature of the heating element of the cartridge, and includes a main body connected to the cartridge, the control unit of the main body being able to control the operation of the aerosol generator based on the unique information of the cartridge recognized by the cartridge recognition unit. 【0012】 The specific pattern is formed by one or more recesses and one or more grooves, and the specific pattern differently indicates the unique information of the cartridge depending on the number and position of the recesses and grooves, and the cartridge recognition unit of the main body includes as many physical switches as the combined number of recesses and grooves, and can recognize the unique information of the cartridge based on at least one physical switch that is clicked by the recesses of the cartridge. 【0013】 The aforementioned specific pattern is formed by two or more electrodes, and depending on the number and position of the electrodes, it shows the unique information of the cartridge differently. The cartridge recognition unit of the main body includes recognition terminals equal to or greater than the number of electrodes, and current is transmitted only to the recognition terminals that contact the electrodes of the cartridge, thereby enabling recognition of the unique information of the cartridge. 【0014】 The electrodes of the information storage section of the cartridge include one or more positive electrodes and one or more negative electrodes, and the cartridge recognition section of the main body includes a negative electrode pad including two or more negative electrode terminals and a positive electrode pad including two or more positive electrode terminals, and each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode can correspond one-to-one with any one of the negative electrode terminals of the negative electrode pad and one of the positive electrode terminals of the positive electrode pad. 【0015】 The unique pattern for the information storage unit of the cartridge is pre-stored in the main body, and the control unit can determine whether or not the cartridge can be authenticated as genuine depending on whether the recognized unique pattern matches the pre-stored unique pattern. 【0016】 If the genuine product certification fails, the control unit can generate a warning sound from the aerosol generator or shut off the operation of the aerosol generator. 【0017】 The control unit of the main body can adjust the heating temperature of the heating element of the cartridge based on the unique information of the cartridge recognized by the cartridge recognition unit. [Effects of the Invention] 【0018】 A cartridge for an aerosol generator and an aerosol generator according to one embodiment can easily transmit the cartridge's unique information to the main body. 【0019】 A cartridge for an aerosol generator and an aerosol generator according to one embodiment are air This design enables cartridge recognition without requiring sensors or other components to be installed within the main body of the aerosol generator, reducing the weight and production costs of the aerosol generator while allowing for precise recognition of each cartridge's unique information. 【0020】 The effects of the cartridge for an aerosol generator and the aerosol generator according to one embodiment are not limited to those mentioned above, and different effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art according to the following description. 【Brief Description of the Drawings】 【0021】 [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing a cross section of an aerosol generator according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing a cross section of a cartridge for an aerosol generator in the aerosol generator of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 3A] It is an enlarged view of the portion indicated by A in the cartridge for an aerosol generator of FIG. 2 according to one embodiment. [Figure 3B] It is an enlarged view of the information storage portion, which is the portion indicated by A in the cartridge for an aerosol generator of FIG. 2 according to another embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing a cross section of the main body in the aerosol generator of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] It is an enlarged view of the cartridge recognition portion, which is the portion indicated by B in the main body of FIG. 4 according to one embodiment. [Figure 6A] It is a diagram showing the state before the information storage portion of the cartridge and the cartridge recognition portion of the main body according to one embodiment come into contact. [Figure 6B] It is a diagram showing the state after the information storage portion of the cartridge and the cartridge recognition portion of the main body according to one embodiment come into contact. [Figure 7A] It is a diagram showing the state before the information storage portion of the cartridge and the cartridge recognition portion of the main body according to another embodiment come into contact. [Figure 7B] It is a diagram showing the state after the information storage portion of the cartridge and the cartridge recognition portion of the main body according to another embodiment come into contact. 【Modes for Carrying Out the Invention】 【0022】 Embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. However, the specific structural or functional descriptions disclosed herein are merely illustrative for the purpose of illustrating the embodiments, and the embodiments can be carried out in various different forms, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein. All modifications, equivalents, or substitutions to the embodiments should be understood to be included within the scope of the rights. 【0023】 The terms used in the embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as “includes” or “having” indicate the presence of features, figures, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should not be understood as preemptively excluding the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof. 【0024】 Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as those generally understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which this embodiment belongs. Commonly used, predefined terms should be interpreted as having the meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and not as ideal or overly formal unless expressly defined herein. 【0025】 Furthermore, when explaining with reference to the attached drawings, the same components will be assigned the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals used in the drawings, and redundant explanations will be omitted. In the description of embodiments, if a specific explanation of related prior art is deemed to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the embodiment, such detailed explanation will be omitted. 【0026】 Furthermore, in describing the components of an embodiment, terms such as First, Second, A, B, (a), (b), etc., may be used. These terms are used to distinguish a component from other components, and the terms do not limit the nature, order, or sequence of the component in question. When it is stated that one component is “connected,” “joined,” or “connected” to another component, it can be understood that the component is directly connected to or linked to the other components, but that other components may be “connected,” “joined,” or “connected” between each component. 【0027】 Components that have functions common to components included in any of the embodiments will be described using the same name in the other embodiments. Unless otherwise stated, the descriptions in one embodiment will also apply to the other embodiments, and specific descriptions will be omitted to the extent that they overlap. 【0028】 In the following, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 【0029】 Figure 1 is a diagram showing a cross-section of an aerosol generator 10 according to one embodiment. 【0030】 Referring to Figure 1, the aerosol generator 10 includes a cartridge 100 in which a liquid-phase substance for generating aerosols is stored, and a battery that supplies power to heat the liquid-phase substance in the cartridge 100. Device 200 (i.e., the main body of the aerosol generator 10) can be coupled to the cartridge 100. When the cartridge 100 is mounted on device 200 of the aerosol generator 10, device 200 can determine whether the cartridge 100 is genuine or counterfeit by recognizing the unique information of the cartridge 100, and can transmit power to heat it to the optimal heating temperature depending on the type of cartridge 100 mounted. The cartridge 100 may store different information by a physical structure having a specific pattern. The aerosol generator 10 can recognize the unique information of the cartridge 100 and control the operation of the aerosol generator 10 based on the recognized unique information of the cartridge 100. 【0031】 Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the aerosol generator cartridge 100 in the aerosol generator shown in Figure 1 according to one embodiment. 【0032】 Referring to Figure 2, the aerosol generator cartridge 100 includes a liquid-phase storage tank 110 capable of storing an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate refers to a substance capable of forming an aerosol. The aerosol may contain volatile compounds. The aerosol-forming substrate may be solid or liquid. For example, a solid aerosol-forming substrate may include a solid substance based on tobacco raw materials such as sheet tobacco, shredded tobacco, or reconstituted tobacco, and a liquid-phase aerosol-forming substrate may include a liquid-phase composition based on nicotine, tobacco extracts, and / or various flavoring agents. However, the scope of this embodiment is not limited thereto. 【0033】 Continuing to refer to Figure 2, the cartridge 100 includes a heating element 120 comprising a core 122 and a heating coil 124. The core 122 comprises, but is not limited to, at least one of cotton fibers, ceramic fibers, glass fibers, porous ceramics, or a compound thereof. The heating coil 124 is arranged in a manner that winds the core 122, and is connected to the power supply unit 210 of the device 200 to generate heat and heat the core 122, and the heated core 122 Aerosols are generated. 【0034】 Continuing to refer to Figure 2, the cartridge 100 includes an opening 130 through which the aerosol formed by heating the aerosol-forming substrate is discharged. The opening 130 may, but is not limited to, have the form of a mouthpiece protruding from one side of the cartridge 100, as shown in Figure 2. For example, the opening 130 may include a gourd shape, a cylindrical shape, or a hole shape. Furthermore, the opening 130 may be made from various materials such as plastic synthetic resin, stainless steel, glass, Teflon®, or rubber. 【0035】 Continuing to refer to Figure 2, the cartridge 100 includes an information storage unit 140 containing unique information about the cartridge 100. The information storage unit 140 may be formed at the end of the cartridge 100 that is coupled to the device 200. The information storage unit 140 and the opening 130 are located on the opposite side of the cartridge 100. The unique information about the cartridge 100 stored in the information storage unit 140 includes, but is not limited to, whether the cartridge 100 is genuine, whether the cartridge 100 is compatible with the device 200, the type of medium contained in the cartridge 100, and the flavor of the aerosol generating substrate stored in the cartridge 100. The information storage unit 140 of the cartridge 100 can store the aforementioned unique information about the cartridge by a physical structure having a specific pattern. The physical structure having a specific pattern will be described in more detail below. 【0036】 Figures 3A and 3B are enlarged views of the portion indicated by A in the aerosol generator cartridge of Figure 2 according to various embodiments. 【0037】 Figure 3A is an enlarged view of the portion indicated by A in the aerosol generator cartridge of Figure 2 according to one embodiment, and the information storage unit 142 can store unique information of the cartridge 100 according to the combination of the physically protruding recess 142a and the physically recessed groove 142b. 【0038】 Referring to Figure 3A, the information storage unit 142 includes one or more recesses 142a and one or more grooves 142b. The information storage unit 142 may store different information depending on the combination of the number and position of the recesses and grooves. The information storage unit 142 may include multiple blocks, and each block may include recesses 142a and grooves 142b. The more blocks on which recesses and grooves 142a and 142b are formed, the more information the information storage unit 142 can store about a variety of cartridges 100. For example, since one of the recesses 142a or grooves 142b may be selectively placed in one block, if the information storage unit 142 has n blocks on which recesses and grooves 142a and 142b are formed, it may store information about 2n different cartridges 100. For example, Figure 3A shows a total of 10 blocks in which grooves 142a and 142b are formed, so it is possible to store unique information for a total of 210 (i.e., 1024) different cartridges 100. 【0039】 Continuing with Figure 3A, the information storage unit 142 may include a plurality of partitioned areas depending on the type of information stored in the cartridge 100. For example, referring to Figure 3A, the information storage unit 142 includes a first storage area 140a for storing first information, a second storage area 140b for storing second information, and a third storage area 140c for storing third information. The nth storage area stores, but is not limited to, information specific to the cartridge 100, such as whether the cartridge 100 is compatible with the device 200, the type of medium contained in the cartridge 100, and the flavor of the aerosol generating substrate stored in the cartridge 100, as described above. Each storage area includes one or more blocks in which grooves 142a, 142b are located. For example, referring to Figure 3A, the first storage area 140a is 2 The first storage area 140a may contain one block, the second storage area 140b may contain three blocks, and the third storage area 140c may contain five blocks. The more blocks a storage area contains, the more types of cartridge 100 information can be stored, and the unique information of the cartridge 100 can be stored according to the combination of recesses 142a and grooves 142b in each of the first to third storage areas 140a to 140c. 【0040】 Figure 3B is an enlarged view of the information storage unit, which is the part indicated as A in the aerosol generator cartridge of Figure 2 according to another embodiment. The information storage unit 144 can store unique information of the cartridge 100 based on the combination of the presence or absence and position of positive / negative electrodes of two or more electrodes 144p and 144n. 【0041】 Referring to Figure 3B, the information storage unit 144 may include two or more electrodes 144p, 144n, and the information storage unit 144 may store unique information of the cartridge 100 in different ways depending on the combination of electrodes 144p, 144n having different numbers and positions. The electrodes 144p, 144n not only serve to store information about the cartridge, but also serve to receive power from the power supply unit 210 included in the device 200. In order to receive power from the power supply unit 210, the positive and negative electrodes of the power supply unit 210 must be connected to the negative and positive electrodes of the cartridge 100 terminals, respectively, so the electrodes 144p, 144n include a positive electrode 144p and a negative electrode 144n. Here, the electrodes 144p, 144n may include a positive electrode region 146 and a negative electrode region 148. 【0042】 Furthermore, although not shown in Figure 3B, the information storage unit 144 may include multiple partitioned areas depending on the type of information stored in the cartridge 100, similar to the information storage unit 142. For example, the information storage unit 144 includes a first storage area for storing first information, a second storage area for storing second information, and a third storage area for storing third information. The nth storage area stores, but is not limited to, information specific to the cartridge 100, such as whether the cartridge 100 is compatible with the device 200, the type of medium contained in the cartridge 100, and the flavor of the aerosol generating substrate stored in the cartridge 100, as described above. Each storage area includes one or more electrodes 144p, 144n. The more blocks a storage area contains, the more types of cartridge 100 information it can store. The specific information of the cartridge 100 can be stored depending on the combination of the position and number of electrodes in the first storage area 140a to the third storage area 140c. 【0043】 The following describes in detail the device 200 that, when combined with the cartridge 100, forms the aerosol generator 10. 【0044】 Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the device 200 in the aerosol generator 10 of Figure 1 according to one embodiment. 【0045】 Referring to Figure 4, the device 200 includes a power supply unit 210 that stores power to heat the heating coil 124 of the heating element 120 of the cartridge 100. The power supply unit 210 can also supply power necessary for the operation of other hardware components provided in the aerosol generator 10, namely the sensors, user interface, memory, processor, and control unit. The power supply unit 210 may be a rechargeable, reusable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the power supply unit 210 may include a nickel-based battery (e.g., nickel-metal hydride battery, nickel-cadmium battery) or a lithium-based battery (e.g., lithium-cobalt battery, lithium-phosphate battery, lithium titanate battery, lithium-ion battery, or lithium-polymer battery). However, the power supply unit 2 that can be used in the aerosol generator 10 The 10 types are not limited to those described above. If necessary, the power supply unit 210 may include an alkaline battery or a manganese battery. 【0046】 Continuing to refer to Figure 4, the device 200 includes a housing 220 that houses the power supply unit 210. The housing 220 may also include other hardware components provided within the aerosol generator 10 in addition to the power supply unit 210. The housing 220 may also be manufactured in an ergonomic shape to provide the user with a stable grip. For example, the housing 220 may be manufactured in a shape that allows the user to easily grasp the housing 220, such as cylindrical, hexagonal, octagonal, or streamlined. A switch 230 that can adjust the operation of the aerosol generator 10 may also be located on the housing 220. 【0047】 Continuing to refer to Figure 4, the device 200 includes a cartridge recognition unit 240 that contacts the information storage unit 140 of the cartridge 100 to recognize the unique information of the cartridge 100, and a control unit 250 that can control the temperature of the heating element 120 of the cartridge 100. The control unit 250 of the device 200 can control the operation of the aerosol generator 10 based on the unique information of the cartridge 100 recognized by the cartridge recognition unit 240. The method by which the cartridge recognition unit 240 contacts the information storage unit 140 of the cartridge 100 to recognize the unique information of the cartridge 100, and the method by which the control unit 250 controls the operation of the aerosol generator 10 based on the recognized unique information of the cartridge 100 will be described in detail below. 【0048】 Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the cartridge recognition unit 240, which is the part indicated as B in the device 200 of Figure 4 according to one embodiment. 【0049】 Referring to Figure 5, the cartridge recognition unit 242 includes a plurality of physical switches s. The number of physical switches s may be the same as the number of blocks, i.e., the number of recesses 142a and grooves 142b of the information storage unit 142 of the cartridge 100. Here, all physical switches s may be clicked independently. Therefore, when the cartridge 100 is mounted on the device 200 to constitute the aerosol generator 10, the information storage unit 142 of the cartridge 100 engages with the cartridge recognition unit 242 of the device 200, and here, only the physical switches s of the cartridge recognition unit 242 of the device 200 that contact the recesses 142a of the information storage unit 142 of the cartridge 100 are clicked, thereby transmitting the unique information of the cartridge 100 to the device 200. Once the control unit 250 recognizes the unique information of the cartridge 100 transmitted to the device 200, the control unit 250 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generator 10 according to the unique information of the cartridge 100, such as the type of medium and the type of flavoring agent. For example, the control unit 250 can transmit power to the heating element 120 of the cartridge 100 so that an optimal temperature profile is achieved according to the unique information of the cartridge 100. 【0050】 Continuing to refer to Figure 5, the device 200 can pre-store an encrypted unique pattern for the information storage section 140 of the cartridge 100 for authenticating the cartridge 100. For example, in the information storage section 142 of the cartridge 100, blocks corresponding to switches 0 and 9 of the device 200 are always formed in recesses 142a, pre-stored an encrypted pattern indicating that the switches s must be clicked, or pre-stored an encrypted pattern indicating that three or more consecutive switches s must be clicked. The encrypted unique pattern for authenticating the cartridge 100 is not limited to this and may include various patterns. Here, the positions of the grooves 142a and 142b of the information storage section 140 of the cartridge 100. If the combination or the positions and combinations of electrodes 142p and 142n do not match an encrypted pattern pre-stored in the device, the aerosol generator 10 may emit a warning sound, send a warning message to the display (not shown) of the device 200, or shut down the operation of the aerosol generator 10. 【0051】 Figures 6A and 6B show the state before and after contact between the information storage unit 142 of the cartridge 100 and the cartridge recognition unit 242 of the device 200, respectively, according to one embodiment. 【0052】 Referring to Figures 6A and 6B, it can be seen that before the information storage unit 142 of the cartridge 100 and the cartridge recognition unit 242 of the device 200 make contact, all the switches s of the cartridge recognition unit 242 are held in a protruding state, i.e., a non-click state. However, after the information storage unit 142 of the cartridge 100 and the cartridge recognition unit 242 of the device 200 make contact, only the physical switches that make contact with the recesses 142a of the information storage unit 142 of the cartridge 100 are clicked. In this way, the control unit 250 of the device 200 can recognize the unique information of the cartridge 100 and control the overall operation of the aerosol generator 10 according to the combination of switches s that are clicked. For example, the control unit 250 can adjust the heating temperature of the heating element 120 of the cartridge 100 based on the unique information of the cartridge 100 recognized by the cartridge recognition unit 240. 【0053】 Figures 7A and 7B show the state before and after contact between the information storage unit of the cartridge and the cartridge recognition unit of the device according to another embodiment. 【0054】 Referring to Figures 7A and 7B, the information storage unit 144 of the cartridge 100 includes two or more electrodes 144p, 144n, and the information storage unit 144 may store unique information of the cartridge 100 in different ways depending on the combination of the number and position of the electrodes 144p, 144n. Here, the electrodes 144p, 144n include one or more positive electrodes 144p and one or more negative electrodes 144n. 【0055】 Continuing to refer to Figures 7A and 7B, the cartridge recognition unit 240 of the device 200 may include recognition terminals 244 that are greater than or equal to the number of electrodes 144p and 144n of the information storage unit 144 of the cartridge 100. The recognition terminals 244 can exchange electrical signals via current transmitted through contact with the electrodes 144p and 144n of the information storage unit 144 of the cartridge 100. Since the recognition terminals 244 that make contact differ depending on the combination of the number and position of the electrodes 144p and 144n, the device 200 can recognize the unique information of the cartridge 100 mounted on it in different ways. Here, the recognition terminals 244 include a negative electrode pad 246 and a positive electrode pad 248. The negative electrode pad 246 may include a plurality of negative electrode terminals n, and the positive electrode pad 248 may include a plurality of positive electrode terminals p. One positive terminal p included in the positive electrode pad 248 contacts one negative electrode 144n of the information storage unit 144, and one negative terminal n included in the negative electrode pad 246 contacts one positive electrode 144p of the information storage unit 144. In other words, each positive electrode 144p and negative electrode 144n corresponds one-to-one with one of the negative electrode terminals n of the negative electrode pad 246 and one of the positive electrode terminals p of the positive electrode pad 248. 【0056】 Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and a person with ordinary skill in the art can apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above. For example, the described techniques may be performed in a different order than described, and / or the components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, etc. may be combined or combined in a different manner than described, or substituted or replaced by other components or equivalents, and still achieve the desired results. can. 【0057】 Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is defined by equivalents to the claims, etc.
Claims
[Claim 1] A cartridge for an aerosol generator, An opening through which the aerosol formed by heating the aerosol-forming substrate is discharged, The cartridge has an information storage unit formed at the end that is connected to the main body of the aerosol generator, which displays unique information that differs for each cartridge. Includes, The information storage unit has a physical structure that includes a specific pattern indicating the unique information of the cartridge. The aforementioned specific pattern is formed by two or more electrodes, and the aforementioned specific pattern differently indicates the unique information of the cartridge depending on the position and number of the electrodes. The cartridge's unique information is stored in the information storage unit according to the position and number of each electrode. The aforementioned information storage unit is A first storage area having a specific pattern indicating first information among the unique information of the cartridge, A second storage area having a specific pattern indicating the second information among the unique information of the cartridge, A third storage area having a specific pattern indicating third information among the unique information of the cartridge, A cartridge containing this. [Claim 2] A liquid phase storage tank capable of storing aerosol-forming substrates, A heating element, including a wick and a heating coil, is installed inside the liquid phase storage tank. The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: [Claim 3] The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein each positive electrode and negative electrode is configured to correspond one-to-one with either one of the negative terminals of the negative electrode pad of the main body and either one of the positive terminals of the positive electrode pad of the main body. [Claim 4] The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein power is supplied from a power supply unit to the cartridge via a positive electrode and a negative electrode. [Claim 5] Aerosol generator, Including the cartridge and main body, The aforementioned cartridge is A liquid phase storage tank capable of storing aerosol-forming substrates, A heating element, including a wick and a heating coil, is installed inside the liquid phase storage tank. The aerosol-forming substrate is heated and has an opening through which the aerosol formed is discharged, The cartridge has an information storage unit formed at the end that is connected to the main body of the aerosol generator, and has a physical structure that includes a specific pattern indicating unique information that differs for each cartridge. Includes, The aforementioned main body is A power supply unit that supplies power to heat the heating coil of the heating element of the cartridge, A housing for the aforementioned power supply unit, A cartridge recognition unit that contacts the information storage unit of the cartridge to recognize the unique information of the cartridge, A control unit capable of controlling the temperature of the heating element of the cartridge, It includes and is coupled with the cartridge, The control unit of the main body controls the operation of the aerosol generator based on the unique information of the cartridge recognized by the cartridge recognition unit. The aforementioned specific pattern is formed by two or more electrodes, and the aforementioned specific pattern differently indicates the unique information of the cartridge depending on the position and number of the electrodes. The cartridge's unique information is stored in the information storage unit according to the position and number of each electrode. The aforementioned information storage unit is A first storage area having a specific pattern indicating first information among the unique information of the cartridge, A second storage area having a specific pattern indicating the second information among the unique information of the cartridge, A third storage area having a specific pattern indicating third information among the unique information of the cartridge, Aerosol generators, including those mentioned above. [Claim 6] The aerosol generator according to claim 5, wherein the cartridge recognition unit of the main body includes recognition terminals equal to or greater than the number of electrodes, and current is transmitted only to the recognition terminals that contact the electrodes of the cartridge to recognize the unique information of the cartridge. [Claim 7] The electrodes of the information storage section of the cartridge include one or more positive electrodes and one or more negative electrodes. The cartridge recognition section of the main body includes a negative electrode pad containing two or more negative electrode terminals and a positive electrode pad containing two or more positive electrode terminals. The aerosol generator according to claim 6, wherein each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode corresponds in a one-to-one correspondence with one of the negative electrode terminals of the negative electrode pad and one of the positive electrode terminals of the positive electrode pad. [Claim 8] The aerosol generator according to claim 5, wherein the unique pattern of the cartridge for the information storage unit is pre-stored in the main body, and the control unit determines whether or not the cartridge can be authenticated as genuine depending on whether the recognized unique pattern matches the pre-stored unique pattern. [Claim 9] The aerosol generator according to claim 8, wherein the control unit generates a warning sound from the aerosol generator or shuts off the operation of the aerosol generator if the authenticity authentication fails. [Claim 10] The aerosol generator according to claim 5, wherein the control unit of the main body adjusts the heating temperature of the heating element of the cartridge based on the unique information of the cartridge recognized by the cartridge recognition unit.