Patent Description:
Recently, the demand for alternative methods of overcoming the shortcomings of general cigarettes has increased. For example, there is increasing demand for a method of generating aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material in cigarettes, rather than by burning cigarettes. Accordingly, studies on a heating-type cigarette or a heating-type aerosol generating device have been actively conducted.

Provided is an aerosol generating apparatus having a heater according to various exemplary embodiments. Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present disclosure. <CIT> relates to an electrically heated smoking system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate. The system comprises at least one heater for heating the aerosol-forming substrate to form the aerosol, and a power supply for supplying power to the at least one heater. The at least one heater comprises one or more electrically conductive tracks on an electrically insulating substrate. The one or more electrically conductive tracks have temperature coefficient of resistance characteristics such that the one or more electrically conductive tracks can act as resistive heaters and as a temperature sensor. <CIT> relates to a ceramic heater in which a heating element circuit and a temperature sensor circuit are separate from each other. <CIT> discloses an aerosol-generating device comprising a heater and a temperature sensor.

The present invention relates to a heater according to independent claim <NUM>. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generating apparatus includes: a heater configured to generate aerosol by heating a cigarette, the heater including a first electrically conductive heating element formed along a first path on an electrically insulating substrate, a second electrically conductive heating element formed along a second path on the electrically insulating substrate, and a temperature sensor track formed along a third path in a region between the first path and the second path; a battery configured to supply power to the heater; and a controller configured to control the power supplied from the battery to the heater and monitor a temperature sensed using the temperature sensor track.

Also, the first path is formed at the outer side of the third path on the electrically insulating substrate, and the second path is formed at the inner side of the third path on the electrically insulating substrate.

Also, the first electrically conductive heating element and the second electrically conductive heating element may be heated by supply of the power, and the temperature sensor track may sense a temperature of the heater according to the heating of the first electrically conductive heating element and the second electrically conductive heating element.

Also, the heater may include: a heating area in which the first electrically conductive heating element, the second electrically conductive heating element, and the temperature sensor track are formed; and a non-heating area which is an area in which ends of the first electrically conductive heating element, the second electrically conductive heating element, and the temperature sensor track are to be electrically connected to the battery.

Also, the first electrically conductive heating element may include a first end and a second end which are on the first path in the heating area, and the second electrically conductive heating element may include a third end and a fourth end which are on the second path in the heating area, and the temperature sensor track may include a fifth end and a sixth end which are on the third path in the heating area, and the fifth end may be located between the first end and the third end in the heating area, and the sixth end may be located between the second end and the fourth end in the heating area.

Also, the non-heating area may include: a first connection portion connecting the first end and the third end to the battery; a second connection portion connecting the second end and the fourth end to the battery; and a pair of via holes respectively formed in the fifth end and the sixth end.

Also, the first connection portion and the second connection portion may be manufactured as an electrically conductive element identical to the first electrically conductive heating element and the second electrically conductive heating element, and may be manufactured to have a greater width or thickness than the first electrically conductive heating element and the second electrically conductive heating element.

Also, the temperature sensor track may include an electrically conductive element having a different thermal coefficient resistance (TCR) or a different resistance value from the first electrically conductive heating element and the second electrically conductive heating element.

Also, the first electrically conductive heating element and the second electrically conductive heating element may have a TCR value between <NUM> ppm/°C and <NUM> ppm/°C, and the temperature sensor track may have a TCR value between <NUM> ppm/°C and <NUM> ppm/°C.

Also, the first electrically conductive heating element and the second electrically conductive heating element may have a resistance value between <NUM>Ω and <NUM>Ω at a room temperature of <NUM>, and the temperature sensor track may have a resistance value between <NUM>Ω and <NUM>Ω at a room temperature of <NUM>.

Also, a distance between the temperature sensor track and the first electrically conductive heating element and a distance between the temperature sensor track and the second electrically conductive heating element may be each at least <NUM>.

The heater may be implemented in the form of an internal heater to be inserted into the cigarette to heat the cigarette or in the form of an external heater to heat an outer portion of the cigarette.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a heater for an aerosol generating apparatus for generating aerosol by heating a cigarette, comprises:
a first electrically conductive heating element formed along a first path on an electrically insulating substrate; a second electrically conductive heating element formed along a second path on the electrically insulating substrate; and a temperature sensor track formed along a third path in a region between the first path and the second path.

According to the above description, by arranging a temperature sensor track in a region between different electrically conductive heating elements on an electrically insulating substrate, the temperature sensor track may sense a temperature in a heating portion of a heater uniformly and accurately.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generating apparatus includes: a heater for heating a cigarette accommodated in the aerosol generating apparatus to generate aerosol, the heater including a first electrically conductive heating element formed along a first path on an electrically insulating substrate, a second electrically conductive heating element formed along a second path on the electrically insulating substrate, and a temperature sensor track formed along a third path in a region between the first path and the second path, wherein the first path is formed at an outer side of the third path on the electrically insulating substrate, and the second path is formed at an inner side of the third path on the electrically insulating substrate; a battery configured to supply power to the heater; and a controller configured to control the power supplied from the battery to the heater and monitor a temperature sensed using the temperature sensor track.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a heater for an aerosol generating apparatus for generating aerosol by heating a cigarette, includes: a first electrically conductive heating element formed along a first path on an electrically insulating substrate; a second electrically conductive heating element formed along a second path on the electrically insulating substrate; and a temperature sensor track formed along a third path in a region between the first path and the second path, wherein the first path is formed at an outer side of the third path on the electrically insulating substrate, and the second path is formed at an inner side of the third path on the electrically insulating substrate.

With respect to the terms in the various exemplary embodiments, the general terms which are currently and widely used are selected in consideration of functions of structural elements in the various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the terms used in the various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the descriptions provided herein.

Hereinafter, example exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure can, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein, as long as the resulting embodiment is encompassed by the appended claims.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a battery <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a heater <NUM>. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may further include a vaporizer <NUM>. Also, the cigarette <NUM> may be inserted into an inner space of the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate components of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, which are related to the present exemplary embodiment. Therefore, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art related to the present exemplary embodiment that other general-purpose components may be further included in the aerosol generating device <NUM>, in addition to the components illustrated in <FIG>.

Also, <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate that the aerosol generating device <NUM> includes the heater <NUM>. However, according to necessity, the heater <NUM> may be omitted.

When the cigarette <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may operate the heater <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM> to generate aerosol from the cigarette <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM>. The aerosol generated by the heater <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM> is delivered to a user by passing through the cigarette <NUM>.

According to necessity, even when the cigarette <NUM> is not inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may heat the heater <NUM>.

The vaporizer <NUM> may generate aerosol by heating a liquid composition and the generated aerosol may pass through the cigarette <NUM> to be delivered to a user. In other words, the aerosol generated via the vaporizer <NUM> may move along an air flow passage of the aerosol generating device <NUM> and the air flow passage may be configured such that the aerosol generated via the vaporizer <NUM> passes through the cigarette <NUM> to be delivered to the user.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> may further include general-purpose components in addition to the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, and the vaporizer <NUM>. For example, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a display capable of outputting visual information and/or a motor for outputting haptic information. Also, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include at least one sensor (a puff detecting sensor, a temperature detecting sensor, a cigarette insertion detecting sensor, etc.). Also, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be formed as a structure where, even when the cigarette <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, external air may be introduced or internal air may be discharged.

The cigarette <NUM> may be similar to a general combustive cigarette. For example, the cigarette <NUM> may be divided into a first portion including an aerosol generating material and a second portion including a filter, etc. Alternatively, the second portion of the cigarette <NUM> may also include an aerosol generating material. For example, an aerosol generating material made in the form of granules or capsules may be inserted into the second portion.

Alternatively, a portion of the first portion may be inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>. Otherwise, the entire first portion and a portion of the second portion may be inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

For example, the external air may flow into at least one air passage formed in the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, opening and closing of the air passage and/or a size of the air passage may be adjusted by the user. Accordingly, the amount of smoke and smoking satisfaction may be adjusted by the user. As another example, the external air may flow into the cigarette <NUM> through at least one hole formed in a surface of the cigarette <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a cigarette.

Referring to <FIG>, the cigarette <NUM> may include a tobacco rod <NUM> and a filter rod <NUM>. The first portion described above with reference to <FIG> may include the tobacco rod, and the second portion may include the filter rod <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates that the filter rod <NUM> includes a single segment. However, the filter rod <NUM> is not limited thereto. In other words, the filter rod <NUM> may include a plurality of segments. For example, the filter rod <NUM> may include a first segment configured to cool aerosol and a second segment configured to filter a certain component included in the aerosol. Also, as necessary, the filter rod <NUM> may further include at least one segment configured to perform other functions.

The cigarette <NUM> may be packaged using at least one wrapper <NUM>. The wrapper <NUM> may have at least one hole through which external air may be introduced or internal air may be discharged. For example, the cigarette <NUM> may be packaged using one wrapper <NUM>. As another example, the cigarette <NUM> may be doubly packaged using at least two wrappers <NUM>. For example, the tobacco rod <NUM> may be packaged using a first wrapper, and the filter rod <NUM> may be packaged using a second wrapper. Also, the tobacco rod <NUM> and the filter rod <NUM>, which are respectively packaged using separate wrappers, may be coupled to each other, and the entire cigarette <NUM> may be packaged using a third wrapper. When each of the tobacco rod <NUM> and the filter rod <NUM> includes a plurality of segments, each segment may be packaged using a separate wrapper. Also, the entire cigarette <NUM> including the plurality of segments, which are respectively packaged using the separate wrappers may be combined and repackaged together using another wrapper.

Here, the capsule <NUM> may generate a flavor or aerosol.

When the filter rod <NUM> includes a segment configured to cool the aerosol, the cooling segment may include a polymer material or a biodegradable polymer material. For example, the cooling segment may include pure polylactic acid alone, but the material for forming the cooling segment is not limited thereto. In some exemplary embodiments, the cooling segment may include a cellulose acetate filter having a plurality of holes. However, the cooling segment is not limited to the above-described example and any other cooling segment that is capable of cooling the aerosol may be used.

Although not illustrated in <FIG>, the cigarette <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment may further include a front-end filter. The front-end filter may be located on a side of the tobacco rod <NUM>, which is the side not facing the filter rod <NUM>. The front-end filter may prevent the tobacco rod <NUM> from being detached outwards and prevent liquefied aerosol from flowing into the aerosol generating device <NUM> (<FIG>) from the tobacco rod <NUM>, during smoking.

Hereinafter, a structure of a heating sheet for manufacturing the heater <NUM> of the aerosol generating apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> will be described in detail. Thus, reference numerals used in <FIG> may also be used in the description of the drawings below.

<FIG> illustrates a planar structure of a heating sheet according to an exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the heater <NUM> may be an internal heater that is manufactured in a shape of a combination of a cylinder and a cone to be inserted into the cigarette <NUM>. Alternatively, the heater <NUM> may be an external heater that is manufactured in a cylinder form (or a tubular form) as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> to heat an outside of the cigarette <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a planar structure of a heating sheet <NUM> for manufacturing the heater <NUM> (internal heater or external heater).

The heater <NUM> may be a heater implemented using an electric resistive element. For example, the heater <NUM> may include the heating sheet <NUM> including an electric resistive heating element such as an electrically conductive track. An electric resistive heating element may be heated as power is supplied from the battery <NUM> and thus a current flows through the electric resistive heating element.

For stable use, the heating sheet <NUM> of the heater <NUM> may be supplied with power according to the specifications of <NUM> V, <NUM> A, and <NUM> W, but the power is not limited thereto. When power is supplied to the heating sheet <NUM> of the heater <NUM>, the surface temperature of the heater <NUM> may rise to <NUM> or higher. The surface temperature of the heater <NUM> may rise to about <NUM> before <NUM> seconds after the power supply to the heater <NUM> starts. However, a range of a temperature increase may vary.

Referring to the planar structure of the heating sheet <NUM> of the heater <NUM>, a first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and a second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> which are electrically conductive tracks for heating the cigarette <NUM> accommodated in the aerosol generating apparatus <NUM> are formed on an electrically insulating substrate <NUM> of the heating sheet <NUM>. Also, a temperature sensor track <NUM> for sensing a temperature of the heater <NUM> during heating of the electrically conductive heating elements <NUM> and <NUM> is formed thereon.

The electrically insulating substrate <NUM> may correspond to a green sheet formed of a ceramic synthetic material. Alternatively, the electrically insulating substrate <NUM> may be manufactured using paper, glass, ceramic, anodized metal, coated metal or polyimide. That is, the electrically insulating substrate <NUM> may be a substrate manufactured using various appropriate materials.

The first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> may be manufactured as an electric resistive heating element and a heating temperature thereof may be determined according to power consumption due to resistance thereof. Resistance values of the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> may be set based on the power consumption.

For example, resistance values of the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> may be in a range between <NUM>Ω and <NUM>Ω at a room temperature of <NUM> degrees Celsius, but are not limited thereto. The resistance values of the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> may be set variously according to a constituent material, length, width, thickness, or pattern or the like of an electric resistive element.

According to resistance temperature coefficient characteristics, internal resistance of the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> may increase as a temperature increases. For example, in a certain temperature range, the resistance of the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> may be proportional to the temperature.

The first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> may be manufactured using tungsten, gold, platinum, silver, copper, nickel, palladium, or a combination thereof. In addition, the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> may be doped with an appropriate doping material and may include an alloy.

Referring to <FIG>, on the electrically insulating substrate <NUM>, the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> may be formed along a first path at the outer side of the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM>. In addition, on the electrically insulating substrate <NUM>, the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> may be formed along a second path at the inner side of the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM>. That is, the planar structure of the heating sheet <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes a pair of electrically conductive heating elements <NUM> and <NUM> formed on the electrically insulating substrate <NUM>.

The first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> may be respectively formed on the electrically insulating substrate <NUM> on angled paths having an identical pattern and different ratio sizes. However, the pattern or shape of the first path and the second path of the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> may be implemented in various manners, for example, in a curved form or an irregular shape, instead of an angled shape. Furthermore, the pattern or shape of the first path and the second path of the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> may be different from each other. However, even so, the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> on the electrically insulating substrate <NUM> may preferably have a bigger pattern or shape than the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and may preferably be formed at the outer side of the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM>.

On the electrically insulating substrate <NUM>, the temperature sensor track <NUM> is formed along a third path in a region between the first path of the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second path of the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM>.

The temperature sensor track <NUM> senses a temperature of the heater <NUM> heated by the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM>. A structure of a ceramic heater according to the conventional art includes only a heating element, and a temperature of the ceramic heater is predicted using a change in a resistance of the heating element. However, according to the conventional method described above, it is difficult to accurately predict an actual temperature of the heating element. Unlike the conventional art, the heating sheet <NUM> of the heater <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes the temperature sensor track <NUM> located between the electrically conductive heating elements <NUM> and <NUM> in a planar structure to uniformly sense a temperature of the electrically conductive heating elements <NUM> and <NUM>, thereby accurately measuring a temperature of the heater <NUM>.

The temperature sensor track <NUM> may also be manufactured using an electric resistive element or an electrically conductive element like the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM>. For example, the temperature sensor track <NUM> may be manufactured using tungsten, gold, platinum, silver, copper, nickel, palladium, or a combination thereof, and may be doped with an appropriate doping material or may include an alloy.

Referring to the planar structure of the heating sheet <NUM>, the first path of the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> is formed at the outer side of the third path of the temperature sensor track <NUM> on the electrically insulating substrate <NUM>, and the second path of the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> is formed at the inner side of the third path of the temperature sensor track <NUM> at the electrically insulating substrate <NUM>.

The temperature sensor track <NUM> may be an electrically conductive element having a different thermal coefficient resistance (TCR) or a different resistance value from those of the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM>.

In detail, the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> may be electrically conductive elements (or electric resistive elements) having a TCR value between <NUM> ppm/°C and <NUM> ppm/°C, and the temperature sensor track <NUM> may be an electrically conductive element (or electric resistive element) having a TCR value between <NUM> ppm/°C and <NUM> ppm/°C. Meanwhile, the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> may be electrically conductive elements (or electric resistive elements) having a resistance value between <NUM>Ω and <NUM>Ω at a room temperature of <NUM>, and the temperature sensor track <NUM> may be an electrically conductive element (or an electric resistive element) having a resistance value between <NUM>Ω and 14Ω at a room temperature of <NUM>.

The distance A1 or A2 between the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the temperature sensor track <NUM> formed on the electrically insulating substrate <NUM> may be at least <NUM>. In addition, the distance B1 or B2 between the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the temperature sensor track <NUM> formed on the electrically insulating substrate <NUM> may be at least <NUM>. However, the above values are exemplary, and the above-described distances may vary according to changes in parameters such as widths, thicknesses or the like of the electrically conductive heating elements <NUM> and <NUM> and the temperature sensor track <NUM>.

Meanwhile, referring to the planar structure of the heating sheet <NUM>, the heating sheet <NUM> may be divided into a heating area where the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM>, the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM>, and the temperature sensor track <NUM> are formed and a non-heating area where ends of the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM>, the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM>, and the temperature sensor track <NUM> are to be electrically connected to the battery <NUM>. However, in <FIG>, only the heating area is illustrated for convenience of description.

In the heating area, the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> includes a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM> on the first path. In the heating area, the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> includes a third end <NUM> and a fourth end <NUM> on the second path. In the heating area, the temperature sensor track <NUM> includes a fifth end <NUM> and a sixth end <NUM> on the third path.

Here, the fifth end <NUM> of the temperature sensor track <NUM> is located between the first end <NUM> of the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the third end <NUM> of the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> in the heating area, and the sixth end <NUM> of the temperature sensor track <NUM> is located between the second end <NUM> of the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the fourth end <NUM> of the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> in the heating area.

The non-heating area will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates a detailed view of a planar structure of a heating sheet according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to a planar structure of a heating sheet <NUM> of the heater <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, a heating area and a non-heating area are distinguished. In the heating area of the heating sheet <NUM>, as described above with reference to <FIG>, the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM>, the temperature sensor track <NUM> at the inner side of the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM>, and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> at the inner side of the temperature sensor track <NUM> are formed.

The non-heating area of the heating sheet <NUM> includes a first connection portion <NUM> connecting the first end <NUM> and the third end <NUM> described with reference to <FIG> to the battery <NUM> and a second connection portion <NUM> connecting the second end <NUM> and the fourth end <NUM> described with reference to <FIG> to the battery <NUM>. That is, the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion <NUM> correspond to electric coupling terminals providing power, which is supplied from the battery <NUM>, to the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the non-heating area includes a pair of via holes <NUM> and <NUM> respectively formed in the fifth end <NUM> and the sixth end <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>. The pair of via holes <NUM> and <NUM> are electrically connected to the controller <NUM>. That is, as temperature information sensed by the temperature sensor track <NUM> is delivered to the controller <NUM> via the via holes <NUM> and <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may monitor a temperature of the heater <NUM>.

The first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion <NUM> may be manufactured using an electrically conductive element (or electric resistive element) that is identical to the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM>. However, since the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion <NUM> are located in the non-heating area, the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion <NUM> may preferably be manufactured to have a greater width or thickness than the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM> and the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM> so as to have a lower temperature than the heating area.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the planar structure of the heating sheet of <FIG>, taken along line X-X'.

Referring to <FIG>, the first electrically conductive heating element <NUM>, the second electrically conductive heating element <NUM>, and the temperature sensor track <NUM> are all formed on an upper surface of the electrically insulating substrate <NUM>. However, the via holes <NUM> and <NUM> which electrically connect the temperature sensor track <NUM> and the controller <NUM> may penetrate the electrically insulating substrate <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams illustrating heaters manufactured using the heating sheet of <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates the heater <NUM> to implement an internal heater shape <NUM> to be inserted into the cigarette <NUM> that is manufactured in the shape of a combination of a cylinder and a cone as described with reference to <FIG>. In detail, the heater <NUM> of <FIG> corresponding to the internal heater shape <NUM> may be formed using the heating sheet <NUM> of <FIG> that is integrally formed with and surrounds a structure <NUM> having a shape of a combination of a cylinder and a cone. Here, the upper surface of the electrically insulating substrate <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>, that is, a layer on which the electrically conductive heating elements <NUM> and <NUM> and the temperature sensor track <NUM> are formed, may surround an outer portion of the structure <NUM> to face the outside.

<FIG> illustrates the heater <NUM> implemented in an external heater shape <NUM> that heats an outer portion of the cigarette <NUM> described with reference to <FIG> or <FIG>. In detail, the heater <NUM> of <FIG> or <FIG>, which correspond to the external heater shape <NUM>, may be manufactured by rolling the heating sheet <NUM> of <FIG> into a hollow cylinder shape or a tubular shape such that the cigarette <NUM> is accommodated in its internal space and heated. Here, the upper surface of the electrically insulating substrate <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>, that is, a layer on which the electrically conductive heating elements <NUM> and <NUM> and the temperature sensor track <NUM> are formed, may face the internal space.

<FIG> is a diagram for describing simulation results of temperature sensing according to different implementation methods of a temperature sensor track.

Referring to <FIG>, in an implementation example <NUM>, an electrically conductive heating element is arranged in an outermost portion, and a temperature sensor track is arranged at the inner side of the electrically conductive heating element.

On the other hand, in an implementation example <NUM>, as described above with reference to <FIG> according to the an exemplary embodiment, a first electrically conductive heating element is arranged in an outermost portion while a temperature sensor track is arranged at the inner side of the first electrically conductive heating element, and a second electrically conductive heating element is additionally arranged in an innermost portion of the temperature sensor track (M pattern).

Referring to a temperature sensing result <NUM> at a distance between <NUM> and <NUM> in the heating area, it can be seen that a temperature sensed using the temperature sensor track of the implementation example <NUM> gradually decreases as the distance increases. In other words, a temperature sensed using the temperature sensor track of the implementation example <NUM> is not uniform at the distance between <NUM> and <NUM>, and thus, it is difficult to measure an accurate heater temperature.

However, it is shown that the temperature sensor track of the implementation example <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment senses a temperature almost uniformly at the distance between <NUM> and <NUM> under various temperature settings such as <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. That is, by arranging electrically conductive heating elements and a temperature sensor track of the implementation example <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment, a temperature in a heating portion of a heater may be sensed uniformly and accurately.

Claim 1:
A heater (<NUM>) for an aerosol generating apparatus (<NUM>) for generating aerosol by heating a cigarette (<NUM>), the heater (<NUM>) comprising:
a first electrically conductive heating element (<NUM>) formed along a first path on an electrically insulating substrate (<NUM>);
a second electrically conductive heating element (<NUM>) formed along a second path on the electrically insulating substrate (<NUM>); characterized in that
a temperature sensor track (<NUM>) is formed along a third path in a region between the first path and the second path,
in that the first path is formed at an outer side of the third path on the electrically insulating substrate (<NUM>), and in that
the second path is formed at an inner side of the third path on the electrically insulating substrate (<NUM>).