Patent Description:
Recently, the demand for alternative methods to overcome the disadvantages of traditional aerosol generating articles has increased. For example, there is a growing demand for an aerosol generating device which generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material in an aerosol generating article, rather than by burning an aerosol generating article. Accordingly, researches on a heating-type aerosol generating article or a heating-type aerosol generating device have been actively conducted.

When an over-humidified aerosol generating article is heated, a high temperature aerosol may be generated, and if a user inhales a high-temperature aerosol, the user may feel discomfort. In this regard, because the over-humidified aerosol generating article and the aerosol generating article in a regular state need to be distinguished from each other, an aerosol generating device capable of determining whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified has been required. <CIT> relates to an electrically operated aerosol-generating system configured to detect adverse conditions (e.g., a dry heater). The system may comprise an electric heater comprising at least one heating element for heating an aerosol-forming substrate, a power supply, and electric circuitry connected to the electric heater and to the power supply and comprising a memory. The electric circuitry may be configured to measure an initial electrical resistance (R1) of the electric heater; measure a subsequent electrical resistance of the electric heater after the measurement of the initial electrical resistance; determine the difference (ΔR) between the initial electrical resistance and the subsequent electrical resistance; determine that an adverse condition is present if the difference is greater than a maximum threshold value (ΔRmax) or less than a minimum threshold value (ΔRmin) stored in the memory; and control a power to the electric heater and/or provide an indication if the adverse condition is present.

Various embodiments according to the disclosure provide an aerosol generating device capable of determining whether an aerosol generating article is over-humidified.

If a separate humidity sensor is provided to determine whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified, in order for each sensor to properly perform a function, constraints to be considered when designing the aerosol generating device may increase, and thus, miniaturization of the aerosol generating device may become difficult.

Therefore, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating device capable of determining whether an aerosol generating article is over-humidified without including a separate humidity sensor for determining whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified, by using a temperature sensor.

Further, even when a humidity sensor is included in the aerosol generating device, a middle part of the aerosol generating article may be surrounded by a wrapper, thereby making it difficult to accurately measure the humidity of the middle part. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating device capable of accurately determining whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified by including a temperature sensor using a heat capacity of the aerosol generating article.

The technical problem to be solved by the present embodiment is not limited to the technical problem described above, and other technical problems may be inferred from the following embodiments.

The present disclosure provides an aerosol generating device including: a heater configured to heat an aerosol to generate an aerosol generating article; a battery configured to supply power to the heater; a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the heater; and a controller configured to control power supplied to the heater from the battery to: increase a temperature of the heater to reach a first temperature; obtain an inclination indicating an amount of change in the temperature of the heater with respect to time during a preset time period from a time when the temperature of the heater is expected to reach the first temperature; and determine whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified based on the obtained inclination.

The present disclosure provides an aerosol generating device for determining whether an aerosol generating article is over-humidified.

In particular, the aerosol generating device according to the present disclosure may determine whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified based on an inclination indicating an amount of change in a temperature of a heater measured by a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is required for controlling the heater according to a preset temperature profile. By using an inclination during a preset time period from a time when the temperature of the heater is expected to reach a first temperature, whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified may be accurately determined by using the temperature sensor without any additional sensors.

If the aerosol generating article is determined to be over-humidified, the temperature of the heater may be heated to a temperature less than the temperature to heat the heater when it is determined that the aerosol generating article is in a regular state.

Accordingly, even if the aerosol generating article determined to be over-humidified is heated, the user may be prevented from inhaling high-temperature aerosols.

Further, because it may be determined whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified by using the temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the heater, a separate humidity sensor for determining whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified does not need to be provided, and because a single sensor is used, miniaturization of the aerosol generating device may be possible.

Effects of the disclosure are not limited to the above description, and more various effects are included in the present specification.

An aerosol generating device of the present disclosure may include the embodiments below.

According to an embodiment, an aerosol generating device may include: a heater configured to heat an aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol; a battery configured to supply power to the heater; a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the heater; and a controller configured to control power supplied to the heater from the battery to: increase a temperature of the heater to reach a first temperature; obtain an inclination indicating an amount of change in the temperature of the heater with respect to time during a preset time period from a time when the temperature of the heater is expected to reach the first temperature; and determine whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified based on the obtained inclination.

According to an embodiment, the controller may be further configured to determine that the aerosol generating article is in a regular state when the obtained inclination is less than a first value, and determine that the aerosol generating article is over-humidified when the obtained inclination is greater than or equal to the first value.

According to an embodiment, the controller may be further configured to determine that the aerosol generating article is over-humidified when a middle part included in the aerosol generating article includes about <NUM> wt% or more of moisture based on the weight of the middle part.

According to an embodiment, when it is determined that the aerosol generating article is in a regular state, the controller may be further configured to increase the temperature of the heater to a second temperature greater than the first temperature.

According to an embodiment, when it is determined that the aerosol generating article is over-humidified, the temperature of the heater may be heated to a third temperature less than the first temperature to change the aerosol generating article to a regular state.

According to an embodiment, after the temperature of the heater is heated to the third temperature, the controller may be further configured to increase the temperature of the heater to a second temperature greater than the first temperature.

According to an embodiment, a time when the temperature of the heater is expected to reach the first temperature may be within a range of about <NUM> seconds to about <NUM> seconds from a time when the heater starts to be heated.

According to an embodiment, the controller may further include a timer configured to measure a time when the heater is heated, and may further be configured to obtain the temperature of the heater when the time measured by the timer corresponds to the time when the temperature of the heater is expected to reach the first temperature.

According to an embodiment, the controller may be further configured to obtain the temperature of the heater when the time measured by the timer corresponds to the end of the preset time period, and obtain the inclination based on the temperature of the heater when the temperature of the heater is expected to reach the first temperature, the temperature of the heater at the end of the preset time period, and a length of the preset time period.

According to an embodiment, the first value may be in a range of about <NUM>/ second to about <NUM>/ second.

According to an embodiment, the first temperature may be in a range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the second temperature may be in a range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the third temperature be in a range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

With respect to the terms used to describe in the various embodiments, the general terms which are currently and widely used are selected in consideration of functions of structural elements in the various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, meanings of the terms can be changed according to intention, a judicial precedence, the appearance of a new technology, and the like.

<FIG> are diagrams showing examples in which an aerosol generating article is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

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 aerosol generating article <NUM> may be inserted into an inner space of the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

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

When the aerosol generating article <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 aerosol generating article <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 aerosol generating article <NUM>.

As necessary, even when the aerosol generating article <NUM> is not inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may heat the heater <NUM>.

For example, when the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the heater <NUM> may be located outside the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

Thus, the heated heater <NUM> may increase a temperature of an aerosol generating material in the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

Here, the desired temperature may be pre-set in the aerosol generating device <NUM> or may be set by a user. In detail, the heater <NUM> may include an electrically conductive coil for heating an aerosol generating article in an induction heating method, and the aerosol generating article may include a susceptor which may be heated by the induction heater.

For example, the heater <NUM> may include a tube-type heating element, a plate-type heating element, a needle-type heating element, or a rod-type heating element, and may heat the inside or the outside of the aerosol generating article <NUM>, according to the shape of the heating element.

Here, the plurality of heaters <NUM> may be inserted into the aerosol generating article <NUM> or may be arranged outside the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

Also, some of the plurality of heaters <NUM> may be inserted into the aerosol generating article <NUM> and the others may be arranged outside the aerosol generating article <NUM>. The vaporizer <NUM> may generate aerosol by heating a liquid composition and the generated aerosol may pass through the aerosol generating article <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 aerosol generating article <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 sensor, a temperature sensor, an aerosol generating article insertion detecting sensor, etc.). Also, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be formed as a structure that, even when the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, may introduce external air or discharge internal air.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> may be similar to a general combustive cigarette. For example, the aerosol generating article <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 aerosol generating article <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.

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 formed in the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be adjusted by the user.

Accordingly, the amount and the quality of smoking may be adjusted by the user. As another example, the external air may flow into the aerosol generating article <NUM> through at least one hole formed in a surface of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. With respect to the terms used to describe in the various embodiments, the general terms which are currently and widely used are selected in consideration of functions of structural elements in the various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, meanings of the terms can be changed according to intention, a judicial precedence, the appearance of a new technology, and the like.

Hereinafter, the examples of the aerosol generating article <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates examples of the aerosol generating article.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating article <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 <NUM>, 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 an 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 aerosol generating article <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 aerosol generating article <NUM> may be packaged by one wrapper <NUM>. As another example, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be doubly packaged by two or more wrappers <NUM>. For example, the tobacco rod <NUM> may be packaged by a first wrapper <NUM>, and the filter rod <NUM> may be packaged by wrappers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Also, the entire aerosol generating article <NUM> may be re-packaged by another single wrapper <NUM>. When the filter rod <NUM> includes a plurality of segments, each segment may be packaged by wrappers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

For example, the heat conductive material may be, but is not limited to, a metal foil such as aluminum foil.

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 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 is not limited as long as the cooling segment cools the aerosol.

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

<FIG> is a view illustrating a configuration of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a heater <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a temperature sensor <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>. Because the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> of <FIG> correspond to the generating device <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> of <FIG>, respectively, the overlapping contents are omitted.

The temperature sensor <NUM> may measure the temperature of the heater <NUM>. The temperature of the heater measured by the temperature sensor may indicate the temperature of the heater measured by the temperature sensor converted into a value by using an analog digital converter (ADC).

The heater may heat the aerosol generating article at a location adjacent to or near the aerosol generating article, and heat generated from the heater may be transferred to the aerosol generating article. The temperature of the heater may be the same or similar to the temperature of the aerosol generating article.

The temperature sensor <NUM> may be attached to the heater <NUM> and measure the temperature of the heater <NUM>. In addition, the temperature sensor <NUM> may not be attached to the heater <NUM> and may be apart from the heater <NUM> and measure the temperature of the heater <NUM>. However, the arrangement of the temperature sensor <NUM> is not necessary limited thereto.

Because the controller <NUM> controls the power supplied to the heater <NUM> from the battery <NUM>, the temperature of the heater <NUM> measured by the temperature sensor <NUM> may be heated to a first temperature. The first temperature may indicate a temperature set to determine whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified. The first temperature may be less than a temperature at which preheating of the aerosol generating article is completed. For example, the temperature at which the preheating of the aerosol generating article is completed may be <NUM>, and the first temperature may be <NUM>, but are not limited thereto. Because the first temperature is less than the temperature at which the preheating of the aerosol generating article is completed, it is possible to determine whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified before the preheating of the aerosol generating article is completed. By determining whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified before the preheating is completed, the controller <NUM> may control the preheating temperature of the aerosol generating article differently depending on whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified.

In an embodiment, the first temperature may be in a range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>. For example, the first temperature may be <NUM>, but is not limited thereto.

The controller <NUM> may obtain an inclination showing an amount of change in the temperature of the heater <NUM> measured from a point in which the measured temperature of the heater <NUM> is expected to reach a first temperature during a preset time period. The process of obtaining, by the controller <NUM>, the inclination for determining whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified is described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

The controller <NUM> may determine whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified based on the obtained inclination. The over-humidified aerosol generating article may indicate an aerosol generating article having more moisture than an aerosol generating article in a regular state. For example, when a normal aerosol generating article indicates a case in which a middle part of the normal aerosol generating article includes about <NUM> wt% or more and less than about <NUM> wt% of moisture based on a total weight of the middle part, the over-humidified aerosol generating article may indicate a case in which the middle part of the aerosol generating article includes about <NUM> wt% or more of moisture based on the total weight of the middle part. The medium part may indicate the tobacco rod <NUM> of <FIG>.

In an embodiment, the controller <NUM> may determine that the aerosol generating article is over-humidified when the middle part of the aerosol generating article includes about <NUM> wt% or more of moisture based on the total weight of the middle part. For example, the controller <NUM> may determine that the aerosol generating article is over-humidified when the middle part includes about <NUM> wt% of moisture based on the weight of the middle part.

<FIG> is a graph for explaining a method of obtaining an inclination according to an embodiment.

The horizontal axis of the graph in <FIG> may indicate the time (seconds) when the heater is heated, and the vertical axis may indicate the temperature (°C) of the heater measured by the temperature sensor. Graph A of <FIG> shows the change in temperature of the aerosol generating article in a regular state according to time, and graph B shows the change in temperature of the over-humidified aerosol generating article according to time.

The over-humidified aerosol generating article may contain more moisture in the middle part than that of the aerosol generating article in a regular state. Because the specific heat of moisture is high, the over-humidified aerosol generating article may have greater heat capacity than the aerosol generating article in a regular state. When the over-humidified aerosol generating article is heated, the temperature may rise more slowly compared to when the aerosol generating article in a regular state is heated. In other words, as the heater is heated, because there is an inclination difference between the over-humidified aerosol generating article and the aerosol generating article in a regular state, whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified may be determined based on the inclination.

According to an embodiment, the aerosol generating device may obtain an inclination showing the amount of change in the temperature of the heater with respect to time during a preset time period (d) from the time when the temperature of the heater is expected to reach the first temperature. The first temperature may change by the temperature of the heater when the heater starts to be heated. For example, when the temperature at a time in which the heater starts to be heated is <NUM>, the first temperature may be <NUM>. As another example, when the temperature at a time in which the heater starts to be heated is <NUM>, the first temperature may be <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, a time in which the temperature of the heater is expected to reach the first temperature may indicate a range within <NUM> to <NUM> seconds from the time the heater starts to be heated. For example, the predicted time may indicate a time when <NUM> seconds elapses from when the heater starts to be heated.

The time in which the temperature of the heater is expected to reach the first temperature may be determined in advance. The predicted time may be set based on the time when the aerosol generating article in a regular state is heated. For example, when the first temperature is set to <NUM>, the time taken for each of the aerosol generating articles in regular states to be heated to <NUM> may be measured, and an average of the measured times may be determined as the predicted time. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The preset time period d may indicate a period where there is a difference between the inclinations of the aerosol generating article and the aerosol generating article in a regular state to determine whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified. The preset time period d may be a time period before the preheating of the aerosol generating article is completed. The length of the preset time period d may be within <NUM> seconds. For example, the length of the preset time period d may be <NUM> seconds. Because the preset time period d is formed, it is possible to clearly recognize the inclination difference and to quickly determine whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified.

The inclination may indicate the amount of change in the temperature of the heater with respect to time during the preset time period d from the predicted time. For example, if the predicted time is <NUM> seconds, and the preset time period d is <NUM> seconds, the inclination may indicate the amount of change in the temperature of the heater with respect to time during <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds from the time when the heater starts to be heated.

According to an embodiment, the temperature of the heater may vary by controlling the power supplied to the heater by the pulse width modulation (PWM) control method. Because the amount of change in the temperature of the heater may be obtained by the PWM control, the inclination may be obtained.

The aerosol generating device may further include a timer for measuring the time when the heater is heated. The aerosol generating device may obtain the temperature of the heater when the time measured by the timer corresponds to the time when the temperature of the heater is expected to reach the first temperature. The timer may measure the time from when the heater starts to be heated to when the heater is heated. For example, when the predicted time is <NUM> seconds from the time when the heater starts to be heated, the aerosol generating device may obtain the temperature of the heater when the time measured by the timer is <NUM> seconds.

The aerosol generating device may obtain the temperature of the heater when the time measured by the timer corresponds to an end of the preset time period d. The end of the preset time period d may indicate a time when the preset time period elapses the predicted time. For example, when the predicted time is <NUM> seconds from the time when the heater starts to be heated and when the length of the preset time period d is <NUM> seconds, the end time may be <NUM> seconds from the time when the heater starts to be heated. In addition, when the time measured by the timer corresponds to <NUM> seconds, the aerosol generating device may obtain the temperature of the heater at <NUM> seconds from the time the heater starts to be heated.

The aerosol generating device may obtain an inclination based on the actual temperature of the heater at a time in which the temperature of the heater is expected to reach the first temperature, the temperature of the heater at the end of the preset time period d, and the length of the preset time period d.

According to an embodiment, the amount of change in the temperature of the heater during the preset time period d from the predicted time may indicate a difference value between the temperature of the heater at the end of the preset time period d and the temperature of the heater at the predicted time. When the aerosol generating article in a regular state is heated, the temperature of the heater may be maintained constant in the preset time period d. Because the predicted time is set based on the time when the aerosol generating article in a regular state is heated, when the aerosol generating article in a regular state is heated, the temperature of the heater may likely reach the first temperature at the predicted time. In other words, because the temperature of the heater is maintained at the first temperature during the preset time period d, the inclination may be close to <NUM> in the preset time period d. On the other hand, because the specific heat of the over-humidified aerosol generating article is high, the temperature of the heater may not reach the first temperature at the predicted time. When the over-humidified aerosol generating article is heated, because the temperature of the heater in the preset time period d may continuously rise, the inclination in the preset time period may be large. Therefore, whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified may be determined based on the inclination during the preset time period d.

For example, when the aerosol generating article in a regular state is heated, the temperature of the heater in the preset time period d may be maintained at <NUM>, and the amount of change in the temperature may be <NUM>. As another example, when the over-humidified aerosol generating article is heated, the temperature of the heater may change in the preset time period d. The temperature of the heater at the predicted time point may be <NUM>, the temperature of the heater at the end time may be <NUM>, and the amount of change in the temperature may be <NUM>.

The inclination may indicate the amount of change in the temperature of the heater with respect to time during the preset time period d from the predicted time. According to an embodiment, the inclination may indicate a value of dividing the difference values between each of the temperatures of the heater at the beginning and end of the preset time period d with the length of the preset time period d. When the aerosol generating article in a regular state and the over-humidified aerosol generating article are heated in the preset time period d, there may be an inclination difference. When the aerosol generating article in a regular state is heated, the inclination of the preset time period d may be <NUM> or close to <NUM>. For example, when the length of the preset time period d is <NUM> seconds, and when the aerosol generating article in a regular state is heated and the value of difference between the temperatures of the heater is <NUM>, the inclination of the aerosol generating article in a regular state may be <NUM>/second.

Further, when the over-humidified aerosol generating article is heated, the temperature of the heater in the preset time period d increases, and thus, an inclination may occur in the preset time period d. For example, when the length of the preset time period d is <NUM> seconds, and when the over-humidified aerosol generating article is heated and the value of difference between the temperatures of the heater is <NUM>, the inclination of the over-humidified aerosol generating article may be <NUM>/second.

When an inclination of the preset time period d is present, the size of the inclination in the preset time period d may change according to the amount of moisture included in the middle part of the over-humidified aerosol generating article. For example, when the over-humidified aerosol generating article containing moisture of <NUM> wt% is heated, the inclination in the preset time period d may be smaller than when the over-humidified aerosol generating article containing moisture of <NUM> wt% is heated. For example, when the over-humidified aerosol generating article containing moisture of <NUM> wt% is heated, the inclination in the preset time period d may be greater than when the over-humidified aerosol generating article containing moisture of <NUM> wt% is heated.

Because there is a difference between the inclinations of the aerosol generated article in a regular state and the over-humidified aerosol generating article in the preset time period d, the aerosol generating device may determine whether the aerosol generating article is in an over-humidified state based on the inclination.

In the above-described embodiments, numerical values such as <NUM> seconds or <NUM> are only examples, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the numerical values may be changed to any appropriate value.

<FIG> is a flowchart for explaining a method of determining whether the aerosol generating article according to an embodiment is over-humidified.

The aerosol generating device may obtain an inclination indicating the amount of change in the temperature of the heater with respect to time during a preset time period from the temperature sensor (operation <NUM>).

The aerosol generating device may determine whether the obtained inclination is less than a first value (operation <NUM>). According to an embodiment, the first value may be in a range of about <NUM>/ second to about <NUM>/ second. For example, the first value may be <NUM>/ second. Because the first value is within a range of about <NUM>/ second to about <NUM>/ second, an error of differentiating between the states of the aerosol generating articles into over-humidified and regular states may be heated.

The aerosol generating device may determine that the aerosol generating article is in a regular state when the obtained inclination is less than the first value, (operation <NUM>), and may determine that the aerosol generating article is in an over-humidified state when the obtained inclination is greater than or equal to the first value (operation <NUM>). For example, when the first value is <NUM>/ second, and the obtained inclination is <NUM>/ second, the aerosol generating device may determine that the aerosol generating article is in a regular state. As another example, when the first value is <NUM>/ second, and the obtained inclination is <NUM>/ second, the aerosol generating device may determine that the aerosol generating article is in a regular state.

When the aerosol generating device determines that the aerosol generating article is in a regular state, the aerosol generating device may increase the temperature of the heater to reach a second temperature greater than the first temperature (operation <NUM>). The second temperature, which is reached when preheating is completed, may indicate a temperature for preheating the aerosol generating article by the heater such that sufficient aerosols are generated from the aerosol generating article. The second temperature may be in a range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>. For example, the second temperature may be <NUM>, but is not limited thereto.

When the aerosol generating device determines that the aerosol generating article is over-humidified, to change the aerosol generating article to a regular state, the temperature of the heater may be heated to a third temperature less than the first temperature (step <NUM>). When the over-humidified aerosol generating article is heated according to a general temperature profile (e.g., heating the heater to reach the second temperature), the temperature at which the preheating of the aerosol generating article is completed may be high, and thus, an excessive amount of aerosols and high-temperature aerosols may be delivered to the user.

When the over-humidified aerosol generating article is heated according to a low temperature profile (e.g., heating the heater to reach the third temperature), the temperature at which the preheating of the aerosol generating article is completed may be appropriate, and thus, an appropriate amount of aerosols and aerosols with appropriate temperature may be delivered to the user. In other words, when the over-humidified aerosol generating article is heated according to a low temperature profile, the amount and temperature of aerosols may be less than when the over-humidified aerosol generating article is heated according to a general temperature profile. In addition, when the over-humidified aerosol generating article is heated according to the low temperature profile, the moisture of the middle part of the over-humidified aerosol generating article may be vaporized and thereby change the aerosol generating article to a state similar to a regular state.

The third temperature may be in a range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>. For example, the third temperature may be <NUM>, but is not limited thereto.

By heating the heater such that the temperature of the heater reaches the third temperature, the aerosol generating article may be changed from an over-humidified state to a regular state. Accordingly, the user may feel a smoking sense similar to that provided from the aerosol generating article in a regular state and the aerosol generating article may be prevented from not being used.

The aerosol generating device may have a display capable of outputting visual information, and when it is determined that the aerosol generating article is over-humidified, may output a notification indicating a state corresponding to the over-humidified state through the display. Further, when the aerosol generating article is considered to be in a regular state, the aerosol generating device may output a notification indicating a state corresponding to the regular state through the display.

When the aerosol generating device determines that the aerosol generating article is over-humidified, the aerosol generating device may increase the temperature of the heater for a preset time to reach the third temperature (operation <NUM>). For example, when the aerosol generating device determines that the aerosol generating article is over-humidified, the heater may be heated for <NUM> minute to <NUM>. However, embodiments of the disclosure are not necessarily limited thereto, and the aerosol generating device may stop the heating operation of the heater when it determines that the aerosol generating article is over-humidified.

When the aerosol generating device determines that the aerosol generating article is over-humidified (operation <NUM>), after the heater is heated to the third temperature (operation <NUM>), the heater is heated to the second temperature (operation <NUM>). For example, when the aerosol generating article is over-humidified, the aerosol generating device may increase the temperature of the heater to reach <NUM> after the temperature of the heater reaches <NUM>.

<FIG> is a graph showing a temperature to which a heater is heated according to the over-humidified state of the aerosol generating article according to an embodiment.

The aerosol generating device may determine whether the aerosol generating article over-humidified in the preset time period d. For example, when the first value is <NUM>/ second, and the inclination in the preset time period d is <NUM>/ second, because the inclination is less than the first value, the aerosol generating device may determine that the aerosol generating article is in a regular state. As another example, when the first value is <NUM>/ second, and the inclination in the preset time period d is <NUM>/ second, because the inclination is greater than or equal to than the first value, the aerosol generating device may determine that the aerosol generating article over-humidified.

When the aerosol generating device determines that the aerosol generating article is in a regular state, the aerosol generating device may increase the temperature of the heater to reach the second temperature (operation <NUM>). When the aerosol generating device determines that the aerosol generating article is over-humidified, after the heater is heated to the third temperature, the heater may be heated to the second temperature.

The aerosol generating device may prevent the user from inhaling high-temperature aerosols by heating the aerosol generating article differently according to whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified. Further, as the over-humidified aerosol generating article becomes similar to the aerosol generating article in a regular state, it may be possible to prevent the user from abandoning the over-humidified aerosol generating article without using it.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method of operating an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

Because the details of the operation of the aerosol generating device relate to the embodiments described with relevance to <FIG>, although omitted below, the descriptions in <FIG> may also be applied to the method of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the aerosol generating device may increase the temperature of the heater to reach the first temperature.

In operation <NUM>, the aerosol generating device may obtain an inclination showing the amount of change in the temperature of the heater with respect to time during a preset time period (d) from the time when the temperature of the heater is expected to reach the first temperature. When the aerosol generating article in a regular state is inserted into the aerosol generating device and heated, the inclination may be close to <NUM> because the temperature of the heater in the preset time period is maintained at the first temperature. When the over-humidified aerosol generating article is inserted into the aerosol generating device and heated, the inclination may be greater than <NUM> because the temperature of the heater in the preset time period may continuously rise to reach the first temperature.

In operation <NUM>, the aerosol generating device may determine whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified based on the obtained inclination. Because the inclination in the preset time period changes according to whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified, whether the aerosol generating article is over-humidified may be determined.

Claim 1:
An aerosol generating device (<NUM>) comprising:
a heater (<NUM>) configured to heat an aerosol generating article (<NUM>) to generate an aerosol;
a battery (<NUM>) configured to supply power to the heater (<NUM>);
a temperature sensor (<NUM>) configured to measure a temperature of the heater (<NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to control power supplied to the heater (<NUM>) from the battery (<NUM>) to: increase a temperature of the heater (<NUM>) to reach a first temperature; obtain an inclination indicating an amount of change in the temperature of the heater (<NUM>) with respect to time during a preset time period from a time when the temperature of the heater (<NUM>) is expected to reach the first temperature; and determine whether the aerosol generating article (<NUM>) is over-humidified based on the obtained inclination.