Aerosol generating device

Abstract

An aerosol generating device according to an embodiment includes a first storage configured to store a first liquid including nicotine, a second storage configured to store a second liquid that reacts with the first liquid and forms an inhalable composition, a reactor configured to atomize the first liquid, and a surface wave generator configured to transmit a surface acoustic wave to the reactor, in which the atomization of the first liquid is controlled by the surface acoustic wave.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The following description relates to an aerosol generating device.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Recently, demands for alternatives to overcome the disadvantages of general cigarettes have increased. For example, an inhaler is an instrument used for a user to inhale a composition, such as a drug, as liquid or gas, through the oral or nasal cavity in an inhalation process. Such an inhaler may include a container accommodating an inhalable composition, and the composition may be sprayed from the container through a thin tube to the oral cavity or nasal cavity through an intake to be inhaled by a user.

[0003] As an example of the prior arts, an inhaler is disclosed in European Patent Application No. 0017578 (Mar. 19, 1980).

[0004] The above description is information the inventor(s) acquired during the course of conceiving the present disclosure, or already possessed at the time, and was not necessarily publicly known before the present application was filed.DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONTechnical Goals

[0005] An aspect provides an aerosol generating device configured to control the generation of nicotine salt vapor uniformly.

[0006] Another aspect also provides an aerosol generating device configured to atomize a low-concentration nicotine solution.Technical Solutions

[0007] According to an aspect, there is provided an aerosol generating device including a first storage configured to store a first liquid including nicotine, a second storage configured to store a second liquid that reacts with the first liquid and forms an inhalable composition, a reactor configured to atomize the first liquid, and a surface wave generator configured to transmit a surface acoustic wave to the reactor, in which the atomization of the first liquid is controlled by the surface acoustic wave.

[0008] The content of the nicotine included in the first liquid may be less than or equal to 1%.

[0009] The first liquid may not be atomized in a first state in which a user does not inhale the aerosol generating device and the first liquid may be atomized in a second state in which the user inhales the aerosol generating device.

[0010] The first liquid that is atomized in the second state moves in a direction toward the second storage and reacts with the second liquid in the second storage to form an inhalable composition.

[0011] The aerosol generating device may further include an inhaler through which the user inhales the inhalable composition, and the second storage may be between the reactor and the inhaler.

[0012] The aerosol generating device may further include a first connector configured to transmit the first liquid from the first storage to the reactor.

[0013] The surface wave generator may operate in the second state and may transmit a surface acoustic wave to the reactor.

[0014] The aerosol generating device may further include a second connector configured to transmit the second liquid from the second storage to the reactor.

[0015] The first liquid and the second liquid may be atomized simultaneously in the reactor.

[0016] The reactor may include a first reactor configured to atomize the first liquid and a second reactor configured to atomize the second liquid.

[0017] The surface wave generator may include a first surface wave generating element configured to transmit a surface acoustic wave to the first reactor and a second surface wave generating element configured to transmit a surface acoustic wave to the second reactor.

[0018] The first surface wave generating element may be controlled independently of the second surface wave generating element.

[0019] The aerosol generating device.

[0020] The first liquid, the second liquid, or both the first liquid and the second liquid is transmitted to the reactor through a capillary phenomenon.Effects

[0021] According to an aspect, an aerosol generating device may uniformly control the generation of nicotine salt vapor.

[0022] According to another aspect, an aerosol generating device may atomize a low-concentration nicotine solution.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a relationship between components of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement state of components of the aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 3 is another schematic diagram illustrating the arrangement state of components of the aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0026] FIGS. 4A and 4B are other schematic diagrams illustrating the arrangement state of components of the aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is one of several aspects of embodiments and the following description forms part of the detailed description of the embodiments. In describing an embodiment, a detailed description of a well-known function or configuration is omitted to clarify the present invention.

[0029] However, various alterations and modifications may be made to the embodiments. Here, the embodiments are not construed as limited to the disclosure. The embodiments should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, and replacements within the idea and the technical scope of the disclosure.

[0030] In addition, terms or words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed in general meanings or dictionary definitions, and based on a principle that the inventor may properly define the concept of terms to best describe their invention, the terms or words should be construed as meanings and concepts consistent with the technical idea of the invention according to an embodiment.

[0031] The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises / comprising” and / or “includes / including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof.

[0032] Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Terms such as “unit,”“module,” etc., as used in the specification may refer to a part for processing at least one function or operation and which may be implemented as hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0033] When describing the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals refer to like constituent elements and a repeated description related thereto will be omitted. In the description of embodiments, detailed description of well-known related structures or functions will be omitted when it is deemed that such description will cause ambiguous interpretation of the present disclosure.

[0034] Also, in the description of the components, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b) or the like may be used herein when describing components of the present disclosure. These terms are used only for the purpose of discriminating one constituent element from another constituent element, and the nature, the sequences, or the orders of the constituent elements are not limited by the terms. When one constituent element is described as being “connected”, “coupled”, or “attached” to another constituent element, it should be understood that one constituent element can be connected or attached directly to another constituent element, and an intervening constituent element can also be “connected”, “coupled”, or “attached” to the constituent elements.

[0035] The same name may be used to describe an element included in the embodiments described above and an element having a common function. Unless otherwise mentioned, the descriptions of the example embodiments may be applicable to the following example embodiments, and thus duplicated descriptions will be omitted for conciseness.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a relationship between components of an aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 1, according to an embodiment, may include a storage 200 configured to store a liquid that may form an inhalable composition, a surface wave generator 400 configured to generate a surface acoustic wave that atomizes the liquid, and a reactor 300 in which the atomized liquid reacts and the inhalable composition is formed.

[0038] The storage 200 may include a first storage 210 and a second storage 220. The first storage 210 may store a first liquid L1 including nicotine. The second storage 220 may store a second liquid L2 that reacts with the first liquid and forms an inhalable composition. The inhalable composition that a user may inhale may be in a nicotine salt form. The second liquid stored in the second storage 220 may be a solution including organic acid. The organic acid included in the second liquid may react with nicotine in the first liquid and may generate a nicotine salt, which is an inhalable nicotine form.

[0039] The first liquid and the second liquid may react in an atomized state. The first liquid and the second liquid may be atomized by themselves or may be atomized with a surface acoustic wave being applied thereto.

[0040] The nicotine content percentage of the first liquid may be less than or equal to a preset numerical value. This is because the first liquid may be atomized to nicotine vapor only when a surface acoustic wave is applied to the first liquid. In other words, the first liquid may remain non-atomized when a surface acoustic wave is not applied to the first liquid. For example, the first liquid may be a solution including 1% or less nicotine.

[0041] The surface wave generator 400 may generate a surface acoustic wave configured to atomize a liquid. The surface acoustic wave may be an acoustic wave transmitted along the surface of an elastic body substrate and may be generated from an electrical signal as a result of a piezoelectric effect. The surface acoustic wave generated in the surface wave generator 400 may atomize the first liquid or both the first liquid and the second liquid. The surface acoustic wave generated in the surface wave generator 400 may be transmitted to the reactor 300.

[0042] The surface wave generator 400 may be designed to operate to generate a surface acoustic wave only when the user inhales the aerosol generating device. For example, the surface wave generator 400 may include a respiratory sensor (not shown). The respiratory sensor mounted to the surface wave generator 400 may sense that the user inhales the aerosol generating device and may generate an electrical control signal such that the surface wave generator may operate only when the user inhales the aerosol generating device.

[0043] The first liquid stored in the first storage 210 and the second liquid stored in the second storage 220 may be transmitted to the reactor 300 through a connector (not shown). In this case, the second liquid stored in the second storage 220 may be transmitted or may not be transmitted to the reactor 300 depending on embodiment forms of the aerosol generating device 1. Each liquid transmitted to a reactor may be atomized by a surface acoustic wave transmitted from a surface wave generator.

[0044] The first liquid or both the first liquid and the second liquid may be atomized in the reactor 300, and each atomized liquid may react with each other and may form an inhalable composition (e.g., the nicotine salt described above). That is, the ‘reaction’ herein may include the reaction of forming a composition with atomized liquids interacting with each other, besides the reaction of each liquid being atomized. The reactor 300 may include the first liquid L1 transmitted from the first storage 210 or may include some of the first liquid L1 transmitted from the first storage 210 and the second liquid L2 transmitted from the second storage 220. The reactor 300 may include a substrate element such that a surface acoustic wave may be transmitted easily.

[0045] The atomized first liquid and the atomized second liquid may react with each other to form an inhalable composition n. As described above, the inhalable composition n may be formed as a nicotine salt.

[0046] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement state of components of the aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 2, the aerosol generating device 1, according to an embodiment, may include a housing 100, the storage 200, the reactor 300, the surface wave generator 400, and a connector 500. The storage 200, the reactor 300, the surface wave generator 400, and the connector 500 may form an inhalable composition while being accommodated by the housing 100. The storage 200 may include the first storage 210 configured to store a first liquid and the second storage 220 configured to store a second liquid. The first liquid and the second liquid may be a nicotine solution of a concentration that is less than or equal to 1% and an organic solution of a preset concentration, respectively.

[0048] The connector 500 may include a first connector 510 and a second connector 520. The first connector 510 may transmit the first liquid stored in the first storage 210 to the reactor 300 by connecting the first storage 210 to the reactor 300. The second connector 520 may transmit the second liquid stored in the second storage 220 to the reactor 300 by connecting the second storage 220 to the reactor 300.

[0049] The first connector 510 and the second connector 520 may be formed as a microchannel to supply each liquid minutely to the reactor 300. The first connector 510 and the second connector 520 may move each liquid to the reactor 300 through a capillary phenomenon.

[0050] The reactor 300 may include a substrate element such that a surface acoustic wave may be transmitted easily. The reactor 300 may include at least one substrate element. Each liquid supplied from the first connector 510 and the second connector 520 to the reactor 300 may remain applied on the surface of a substrate.

[0051] The surface wave generator 400 may generate a surface acoustic wave S and may transmit the generated surface acoustic wave S to the reactor 300. On the reactor 300 that has received the surface acoustic wave, the first liquid and the second liquid that are applied on the substrate of the reactor 300 may be atomized. The atomized first liquid and the atomized second liquid may react with each other to form an inhalable composition. However, FIG. 2 only illustrates a connection and operation state of components of the aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment, the physical arrangement of each of the components is not limited to the physical arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2, and this also applies to the descriptions below.

[0052] FIG. 3 is another schematic diagram illustrating the arrangement state of components of the aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 3, the aerosol generating device 1, according to an embodiment, may include the housing 100, the storage 200, the reactor 300, the surface wave generator 400, and the connector 500. The storage 200, the reactor 300, the surface wave generator 400, and the connector 500 may form an inhalable composition while being accommodated by the housing 100. The storage 200 may include the first storage 210 configured to store a first liquid and the second storage 220 configured to store a second liquid. The first liquid and the second liquid may be a nicotine solution of a concentration that is less than or equal to 1% and an organic solution of a preset concentration, respectively.

[0054] The reactor 300 may include a first reactor 310, a second reactor 320, and a formation unit 330. The first reactor 310 may communicate with the first storage 210, and the atomization of a first liquid may be performed in the first reactor 310. The second reactor 320 may communicate with the second storage 220, and the atomization of a second liquid may be performed in the second reactor 320. In the formation unit 330, the first liquid atomized in the first reactor 310 and the second liquid atomized in the second reactor 320 may react with each other and may form an inhalable composition. However, the first reactor 310, the second reactor 320, and the formation unit 330 are just terms referring to components that perform respective functions, and the first reactor 310, the second reactor 320, and the formation unit 330 may not be divided physically in the reactor 300.

[0055] The connector 500 may include a first connector 510 and a second connector 520. The first connector 510 may transmit the first liquid stored in the first storage 210 to the first reactor 310 by connecting the first storage 210 to the first reactor 310.

[0056] The second connector 520 may transmit the second liquid stored in the second storage 220 to the second reactor 320 by connecting the second storage 220 to the second reactor 320.

[0057] The first connector 510 and the second connector 520 may be formed as a microchannel to supply each of a slight amount of liquids to the reactor. The first connector 510 and the second connector 520 may move each liquid to the reactor 300 through a capillary phenomenon.

[0058] The surface wave generator 400 may generate the surface acoustic wave S and may transmit the generated surface acoustic wave S to the reactor 300. The surface wave generator 400 may include a first surface wave generating element 410 and a second surface wave generating element 420. The first surface wave generating element 410 may transmit the surface acoustic wave S to the first reactor 310. The second surface wave generating element 420 may transmit the surface acoustic wave S to the second reactor 320. In this case, the first surface wave generating element 410 and the second surface wave generating element 420 may be controlled independently such that the atomization of the first liquid and the atomization of the second liquid may be controlled separately.

[0059] FIGS. 4A and 4B are other schematic diagrams illustrating the arrangement state of components of the aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 4A, the aerosol generating device 1, according to an embodiment, may include the housing 100, the storage 200, the reactor 300, the surface wave generator 400, the connector 500, and an inhaler h. The storage 200, the reactor 300, the surface wave generator 400, and the connector 500 may form an inhalable composition while being accommodated by the housing 100. The storage 200 may include the first storage 210 configured to store a first liquid and the second storage 220 configured to store a second liquid. The first liquid and the second liquid may be a nicotine solution of a concentration that is less than or equal to 1% and an organic solution of a preset concentration, respectively.

[0061] The second storage 220 may be spaced apart from the first storage 210. The second storage 220 may be closer to the inhaler h than the first storage 210. In other words, the second storage 220 may be between the first storage 210 and the inhaler h.

[0062] The reactor 300 may include the first reactor 310 and a formation unit 350. The first reactor 310 may communicate with the first storage 210, and the atomization of a first liquid may be performed in the first reactor 310. An atomized first liquid g may flow in a direction toward the inhaler h as a user inhales, in operation v, the aerosol generating device. An airflow tunnel t through which the atomized first liquid g flows may be formed between the first storage 210 and the housing 100. The shape of the airflow tunnel t, due to the arrangement shape and spaced space of the first storage 210 and the first reactor 310, is not limited to the shape illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0063] The second storage 220 may be placed on a path where the atomized first liquid g flows in a direction toward the inhaler h. In the process of the atomized first liquid g passing by the second storage 220 and flowing, the formation unit 350 may be formed proximal to the second storage 220. That is, while passing by the second storage 220, the atomized first liquid g may react with the second liquid that has been impregnated in the second storage 220 or atomized naturally around the second storage and may form an inhalable composition (e.g., the nicotine salt described above). The formation unit 350 may include a whole range in which the flow path of the atomized first liquid g passing by the second storage 220 overlaps the second storage 220. However, the flow path of the atomized first liquid g illustrated in FIG. 4 only represents some of the flow path of the atomized first liquid g from the first reactor 310 toward the inhaler h, and, accordingly, the range of the formation unit 350 formed proximal to the second storage 220 may also change.

[0064] The connector 500 may be formed as a microchannel and may transmit a slight amount of the first liquid continuously to the first reactor 310 between the first storage 210 and the first reactor 310.

[0065] The surface wave generator 400 may generate the surface acoustic wave S and may transmit the generated surface acoustic wave S to the first reactor 310.

[0066] Referring to FIG. 4B, the arrangement shape of the first storage 210 and the first reactor 310 in the housing 100 may change as needed. As such, when the first storage 210 and the first reactor 310 are spaced apart at the same distance from the inner peripheral surface of the housing, an airflow tunnel t2 due to a spaced space may surround the first storage 210 and the first reactor 310.

[0067] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device 900 according to an embodiment.

[0068] The aerosol generating device 900 may include a controller 910, a sensing unit 920, an output unit 930, a battery 940, a heater 950, a user input unit 960, a memory 970, and a communication unit 980. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 900 is not limited to what is shown in FIG. 6. It is to be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains that some of the components shown in FIG. 6 may be omitted or new components may be added according to the design of the aerosol generating device 900.

[0069] The sensing unit 920 may sense a state of the aerosol generating device 900 or a state of an environment around the aerosol generating device 900 and may transmit sensing information obtained through the sensing to the controller 910. Based on the sensing information, the controller 910 may control the aerosol generating device 900 to control operations of the heater 950, restrict smoking, may determine whether an aerosol generating article (e.g., a cigarette, a cartridge, etc.) is inserted, may display a notification, and may perform other functions.

[0070] The sensing unit 920 may include at least one of a temperature sensor 922, an insertion detection sensor 924, or a puff sensor 926. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0071] The temperature sensor 922 may sense a temperature at which the heater 950 (or an aerosol generating material) is heated. The aerosol generating device 900 may include a separate temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the heater 950, or the heater 950 itself may perform a function as a temperature sensor. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 922 may be arranged around the battery 940 to monitor the temperature of the battery 940.

[0072] The insertion detection sensor 924 may sense whether the aerosol generating article is inserted or removed. The insertion detection sensor 924 may include, for example, at least one of a film sensor, a pressure sensor, a light sensor, a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, or an infrared sensor, which may sense a signal change by the insertion or removal of the aerosol generating article.

[0073] The puff sensor 926 may sense a puff from a user based on various physical changes in an airflow path or airflow channel. For example, the puff sensor 926 may sense the puff of the user based on any one of a temperature change, a flow change, a voltage change, and a pressure change.

[0074] The sensing unit 9120 may further include at least one of a temperature / humidity sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a position sensor (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS)), a proximity sensor, or a red, green, blue (RGB) sensor (e.g., an illuminance sensor), in addition to the sensors 922 through 926 described above. In addition, a function of each sensor may be intuitively inferable from its name by one of ordinary skill in the art, and thus, a detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

[0075] The output unit 930 may output information about the state of the aerosol generating device 900 and provide the information to the user. The output unit 930 may include at least one of a display 932, a haptic portion 934, or a sound outputter 936. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. When the display 932 and a touchpad are provided in a layered structure to form a touchscreen, the display 932 may be used as an input device in addition to an output device.

[0076] The display 932 may visually provide the information about the aerosol generating device 900 to the user. The information about the aerosol generating device 900 may include, for example, a charging / discharging state of the battery 940 of the aerosol generating device 900, a preheating state of the heater 950, an insertion / removal state of the aerosol generating article, a limited usage state (e.g., an abnormal article detected) of the aerosol generating device 900, or the like, and the display 931 may externally output the information. The display 932 may be, for example, a liquid-crystal display (LCD) panel, an organic light-emitting display (OLED) panel, or the like. The display 932 may also be in the form of a light-emitting diode (LED) device.

[0077] The haptic portion 934 may provide the information about the aerosol generating device 900 to the user in a haptic way by converting an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus or an electrical stimulus. The haptic portion 934 may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0078] The sound outputter 936 may provide the information about the aerosol generating device 900 to the user in an auditory way. For example, the sound outputter 936 may convert an electric signal into a sound signal and externally output the sound signal.

[0079] The battery 940 may supply power to be used to operate the aerosol generating device 900. The battery 940 may supply power to heat the heater 950. In addition, the battery 940 may supply power required for operations of the other components (e.g., the output unit 920, the output unit 930, the user input unit 960, the memory 970, and the communication unit 980) included in the aerosol generating device 900. The battery 940 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. The battery 940 may be, for example, a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but examples are not limited thereto.

[0080] The heater 950 may receive power from the battery 940 to heat the aerosol generating material. Although not shown in FIG. 6, the aerosol generating device 900 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a direct current (DC)-to-DC (DC / DC) converter) that converts power of the battery 940 and supplies the power to the heater 950. In addition, when the aerosol generating device 900 generates an aerosol in an induction heating manner, the aerosol generating device 900 may further include a DC-to-alternating current (AC) (DC / AC) converter that converts DC power of the battery 940 into AC power.

[0081] The controller 910, the sensing unit 920, the output unit 930, the user input unit 960, the memory 970, and the communication unit 980 may receive power from the battery 940 to perform functions. Although not shown in FIG. 6, the aerosol generating device 900 may further include a power conversion circuit, for example, a low dropout (LDO) circuit or a voltage regulator circuit, which converts power of the battery 940 and supplies the power to respective components.

[0082] In an embodiment, the heater 950 may be formed of a suitable predetermined electrically resistive material. For example, the electrically resistive material may be a metal or a metal alloy including, for example, titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, nichrome, or the like. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. In addition, the heater 130 may be implemented as a metal heating wire, a metal heating plate on which an electrically conductive track is arranged, a ceramic heating element, or the like. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0083] In another embodiment, the heater 950 may be an induction heater. For example, the heater 950 may include a susceptor that heats an aerosol generating material by generating heat through a magnetic field applied by a coil.

[0084] In an embodiment, the heater 950 may include a plurality of heaters. For example, the heater 950 may include a first heater for heating a cigarette, and a second heater for heating a liquid.

[0085] The user input unit 960 may receive information input from a user or may output information to the user. For example, the user input unit 960 may include a keypad, a dome switch, a touchpad (e.g., a contact capacitive type, a pressure resistive film type, an infrared sensing type, a surface ultrasonic conduction type, an integral tension measurement type, a piezo effect method, etc.), a jog wheel, a jog switch, or the like, but examples are not limited thereto. In addition, although not shown in FIG. 6, the aerosol generating device 900 may further include a connection interface, such as a USB interface, and may be connected to another external device through the connection interface, such as a USB interface, to transmit and receive information or to charge the battery 940.

[0086] The memory 970, which is hardware for storing various pieces of data processed in the aerosol generating device 900, may store data processed by the controller 910 and data to be processed thereby. The memory 970 may include at least one type of storage medium of a flash memory type memory, a hard disk type memory, a multimedia card micro type memory, a card type memory (e.g., an SD or XE memory), a random access memory (RAM), a static RAM (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk. The memory 970 may store an operating time of the aerosol generating device 900, a maximum number of puffs, a current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, data associated with a smoking pattern of the user, or the like.

[0087] The communication unit 980 may include at least one component to communicate with another electronic device. For example, the communication unit 980 may include a short-range wireless communication unit 982 and a wireless communication unit 984.

[0088] The short-range wireless communication unit 982 may include a Bluetooth communication unit, a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication unit, a near field communication unit, a WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication unit, a ZigBee communication unit, an infrared data association (IrDA) communication unit, a Wi-Fi direct (WFD) communication unit, an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication unit, and an Ant+ communication unit. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0089] The wireless communication unit 984 may include, for example, a cellular network communicator, an Internet communicator, a computer network (e.g., a local area network (LAN) or a wide-area network (WAN)) communicator, or the like. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. The wireless communication unit 984 may use subscriber information (e.g., international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) to identify and authenticate the aerosol generating device 900 in a communication network.

[0090] The controller 910 may control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 900. In an embodiment, the controller 910 may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable by the microprocessor is stored. In addition, it is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains that it may be implemented in other types of hardware.

[0091] The controller 910 may control the temperature of the heater 950 by controlling the supply of power from the battery 940 to the heater 950. For example, the controller 910 may control the supply of power by controlling the switching of a switch element between the battery 940 and the heater 950. In another example, a direct heating circuit may control the supply of power to the heater 950 according to a control command from the controller 910.

[0092] The controller 910 may analyze a sensing result obtained by the sensing of the sensing unit 920 and control processes to be performed thereafter. For example, the controller 910 may control power to be supplied to the heater 950 to start or end an operation of the heater 950 based on the sensing result obtained by the sensing unit 920. In another example, the controller 910 may control an amount of power to be supplied to the heater 950 and a time for which the power is to be supplied, such that the heater 950 may be heated up to a predetermined temperature or maintained at a desired temperature, based on the sensing result obtained by the sensing unit 920.

[0093] The controller 910 may control the output unit 930 based on the sensing result obtained by the sensing unit 920. For example, when a number of puffs counted through the puff sensor 926 reaches a preset number, the controller 910 may inform the user that the aerosol generating device 900 is to be ended soon, through at least one of the display 932, the haptic portion 934, or the sound outputter 936.

[0094] According to an embodiment, the controller 910 may control a power supply time and / or a power supply amount for the heater 950 according to a state of the aerosol generating article sensed by the sensing unit 920. For example, when an aerosol generating article 15 is in an over-humidified state, the controller 910 may control the power supply time for an inductive coil (e.g., an inductive coil 124 of FIG. 2) to increase a preheating time, compared to a case where the aerosol generating article 15 is in a general state.

[0095] One embodiment may also be implemented in the form of a recording medium including instructions executable by a computer, such as a program module executable by the computer. A computer-readable medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer and includes all of a volatile medium, a non-volatile medium, a removable medium, and a non-removable medium. In addition, the computer-readable medium may include both a computer storage medium and a communication medium. The computer storage medium includes all of a volatile medium, a non-volatile medium, a removable medium, and a non-removable medium implemented by any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. The communication medium typically includes computer-readable instructions, data structures, other data in modulated data signals such as program modules, or other transmission mechanisms, and includes any information transfer medium.

[0096] As described above, the embodiment has been described with reference to specific matters such as specific components and limited embodiments and drawings, but these are provided to help the overall understanding. Also, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible from these descriptions by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is defined not by the detailed description, but by the claims and their equivalents, and all variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are to be construed as being included in the disclosure.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device comprising:a first storage configured to store a first liquid comprising nicotine;a second storage configured to store a second liquid that reacts with the first liquid and forms an inhalable composition;a reactor configured to atomize the first liquid; anda surface wave generator configured to transmit a surface acoustic wave to the reactor,wherein the atomization of the first liquid is controlled by the surface acoustic wave.

2. The aerosol generating device of claim 1, whereinthe content of the nicotine comprised in the first liquid is less than or equal to 1%.

3. The aerosol generating device of claim 1, whereinthe first liquid is not atomized in a first state in which a user does not inhale the aerosol generating device and the first liquid is atomized in a second state in which the user inhales the aerosol generating device.

4. The aerosol generating device of claim 3, whereinthe first liquid that is atomized in the second state moves in a direction toward the second storage and reacts with the second liquid in the second storage to form an inhalable composition.

5. The aerosol generating device of claim 4, further comprising:an inhaler through which the user inhales the inhalable composition, andthe second storage is between the reactor and the inhaler.

6. The aerosol generating device of claim 3, further comprising:a first connector configured to transmit the first liquid from the first storage to the reactor.

7. The aerosol generating device of claim 6, whereinthe surface wave generator is configured to operate in the second state and transmit a surface acoustic wave to the reactor.

8. The aerosol generating device of claim 6, further comprising:a second connector configured to transmit the second liquid from the second storage to the reactor.

9. The aerosol generating device of claim 8, whereinthe first liquid and the second liquid are atomized simultaneously in the reactor.

10. The aerosol generating device of claim 8, whereinthe reactor comprises a first reactor configured to atomize the first liquid and a second reactor configured to atomize the second liquid.

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