Patent Description:
Recently, there is growing demand for a method of generating aerosol by heating a cigarette medium in a cigarette rather than by combusting the cigarette. Accordingly, studies on a heating-type cigarette and a heating-type aerosol generating device have been actively conducted.

In general, a heater formed of an electric resistor is arranged inside or outside a cigarette accommodated in an aerosol generating device, and electric power is supplied to the heater to heat the cigarette. However, heating methods different from the above-described existing method have recently been proposed. Research has actively been conducted on a method of generating an aerosol within an aerosol generating device, in which, by supplying current to a coil included in an aerosol generating device and applying a magnetic field from outside to a susceptor, the susceptor is heated to generate an aerosol.

The susceptor that generates heat resulting from the magnetic field is included inside or outside a cigarette. In most induction heating type aerosol generating devices, a coil is disposed separately from a susceptor, and a temperature of the susceptor is measured in an indirect manner has been disclosed. For example, in order to measure a temperature of a susceptor, the current, voltage, and the like flowing through a coil are measured to estimate the temperature of the susceptor. Also, the temperature of the susceptor is raised to a specific temperature by the Curie temperature.

However, when the above-described methods of measuring a temperature of a susceptor are used, accuracy of the measured temperature is low due to various factors caused by the state of the susceptor and surrounding components. Accordingly, it is difficult to control the temperature of the susceptor. In addition, when the temperature of the susceptor is raised to a specific temperature by the Curie temperature, it is not possible to set a temperature other than the specific temperature as a target temperature.

Therefore, one or more embodiments of the present disclosure provide an aerosol generating device that is able to improve the accuracy of the measured temperature of the susceptor, easily control the temperature of the susceptor, and effectively respond to a change in the temperature of the susceptor. <CIT> relates to a heating device that includes a base; a supporter disposed on the base, the supporter has a chamber therein and the chamber being configured for receiving the tobacco cigarette; an electromagnetic induction coil, wound around the supporter and configured for generating an alternative magnetic field in the chamber; at least one first heating element disposed in the chamber; when the tobacco cigarette is disposed in the chamber, the at least one first heating element contacts an outer surface of the tobacco cigarette and is configured for generating a vortex in the alternative magnetic field to heat the tobacco cigarette; and a second heating element disposed on the base; when the tobacco cigarette is disposed in the chamber, the second heating element is inserted into the tobacco cigarette and configured to generate a vortex in the alternative magnetic field to heat the tobacco cigarette.

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure provide an aerosol generating device that determines a temperature of a first susceptor based on a temperature profile of a second susceptor that corresponds to a temperature profile of the first susceptor, and a method of generating an aerosol.

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 the practice of the presented embodiments.

According to an aspect of the invention, an aerosol generating device according to claim <NUM> is provided. The aerosol generating device includes: an accommodator for accommodating a cigarette through an opening formed at an end of the accommodator; a first susceptor located in the accommodator; a second susceptor disposed a predetermined distance away from the first susceptor; a coil that generates an alternating magnetic field for the first susceptor and the second susceptor to generate heat; and a temperature sensor disposed proximate to the second susceptor to measure a temperature profile of the second susceptor, wherein the temperature profile of the second susceptor corresponds to a temperature profile of the first susceptor, and a temperature of the first susceptor is determined through the temperature profile of the second susceptor.

The coil is wound along a side wall of the accommodator, and the second susceptor may be disposed a predetermined distance away from the first susceptor toward the other end of the accommodator.

The second susceptor is disposed in a compartment located at the other end of the accommodator, and the coil may extend toward the compartment to wind around a side wall of the compartment together.

The second susceptor may be made of the same material as the first susceptor.

The first susceptor and the second susceptor may have the same longitudinal axis.

The temperature sensor may be disposed a predetermined distance away from the second susceptor.

The temperature sensor may be disposed to be in contact with the second susceptor.

The temperature sensor may include an infrared sensor, a negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTC) sensor, or a positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTC) sensor.

According to the invention, the aerosol generating device includes a controller that determines a temperature of the first susceptor based on a temperature profile of the second susceptor.

The controller may make the temperature profile of the second susceptor correspond to a temperature profile of the first susceptor through a predetermined off-set value.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generating device may further include a power supply for supplying electric power to the coil.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of generating an aerosol according to claim <NUM> is provided.

According to another aspect of the invention, computer-readable recording medium according to claim <NUM> is provided.

A temperature of a first susceptor may be estimated by measuring a temperature of a second susceptor because it is difficult to measure the temperature of the first susceptor into which a cigarette is inserted. Since the temperature of the second susceptor may be measured to estimate and determine the temperature of the first susceptor, an aerosol generating device may easily control the temperature of the first susceptor, thus heat transferred from the first susceptor to the cigarette may be effectively controlled. As such, the flavor of an aerosol generated from the cigarette may be rich and consistent.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the present disclosure are shown such that those skilled in the art may easily work the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a portion including an accommodator <NUM> that accommodates a cigarette <NUM> within an aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a perspective view of a portion of the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment will be described in greater detail with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: the accommodator <NUM> for accommodating a cigarette through an opening <NUM> formed at an end of the accommodator <NUM>; a first susceptor <NUM> located in the accommodator <NUM>; a second susceptor <NUM> disposed a predetermined distance away from the first susceptor <NUM>; a coil <NUM> that generates an alternating magnetic field for the first susceptor <NUM> and the second susceptor <NUM> to generate heat; and a temperature sensor <NUM> disposed proximate to the second susceptor <NUM> to measure a temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM>. The temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> corresponds to a temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM>, and a temperature of the first susceptor <NUM> is determined based on the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM>.

The coil <NUM> may be wound along a side wall of the accommodator <NUM>, and the second susceptor <NUM> may be disposed a predetermined distance away from the first susceptor <NUM> toward the other end of the accommodator <NUM>.

An induction heating method may refer to a method of generating heat from the first susceptor <NUM> by applying an alternating magnetic field that periodically changes its direction to the first susceptor <NUM> that generates heat resulting from an external magnetic field. The aerosol generating device <NUM> may heat the cigarette <NUM> by the induction heating method to generate an aerosol.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include the accommodator <NUM> for accommodating the cigarette <NUM> through the opening <NUM> formed at an end of the accommodator <NUM>. The opening <NUM> formed at the end of the accommodator <NUM> such that the cigarette <NUM> may be inserted into the accommodator <NUM> through the opening <NUM>.

The first susceptor <NUM> may be located in the accommodator <NUM>. The first susceptor <NUM> may be inserted into the cigarette <NUM> to heat the cigarette <NUM>. An end portion of the first susceptor <NUM> may be in contact with a bottom surface of the accommodator <NUM>, and the other end portion of the first susceptor <NUM> may extend in a direction away from the bottom surface. For example, the first susceptor <NUM> may have an elongated shape extending from the bottom surface of the accommodator <NUM> toward an end of the accommodator <NUM>. The first susceptor <NUM> may have a cylindrical or prismatic shape, but the shape of the first susceptor <NUM> is not limited thereto. The shape, size, material, and the like of the first susceptor <NUM> may be changed if necessary.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include the second susceptor <NUM> disposed a predetermined distance away from the first susceptor <NUM>. For example, the second susceptor <NUM> may be disposed a predetermined distance away from the first susceptor <NUM> toward the other end of the accommodator <NUM>.

The temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> may correspond to the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM>. The second susceptor <NUM> may generate heat at the same time as the first susceptor <NUM>, and the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> may correspond to the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM>. In other words, the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> and the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> have a predetermined correlation, and the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> may be estimated through the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> based on the predetermined correlation.

In that case, the correlation may indicate an off-set which is a difference between the temperature of the first susceptor <NUM> and a temperature of the second susceptor <NUM>, and the off-set between the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> and the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> will be described later with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include the coil <NUM> that generates an alternating magnetic field for the first susceptor <NUM> and the second susceptor <NUM> to generate heat. In that case, the coil <NUM> may be wound along a side wall of the accommodator <NUM>.

For example, a portion of the side wall of the accommodator <NUM> along which the coil <NUM> is wound may correspond to a length of the first susceptor <NUM> extending in the accommodator <NUM>. That is, the coil <NUM> may be wound along the side wall of the accommodator <NUM> so that at least a portion of the first susceptor <NUM> is surrounded by the coil <NUM>. As such, at least a portion of the first susceptor <NUM> may generate heat resulting from the magnetic field generated by the coil <NUM>.

The coil <NUM> may be supplied with an alternating current by the aerosol generating device <NUM> and may generate an alternating magnetic field inside the coil <NUM>. The first susceptor <NUM> and the second susceptor <NUM> may generate heat resulting from the alternating magnetic field that is generated by the coil <NUM>, and the cigarette <NUM> inserted into the first susceptor <NUM> may be heated by heat generated from the first susceptor <NUM>. As the cigarette <NUM> is heated by the first susceptor <NUM>, the aerosol is generated from the cigarette <NUM> and a user may inhale the aerosol.

The greater an amplitude and frequency of the magnetic field applied to the first susceptor <NUM> and the second susceptor <NUM> become, the more thermal energy may be released from the first susceptor <NUM> and the second susceptor <NUM>. Accordingly, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may apply the magnetic field to the first susceptor <NUM> such that the thermal energy is released from the first susceptor <NUM> to heat the first susceptor <NUM>.

The second susceptor <NUM> may be arranged in a compartment <NUM> located at the other end of the accommodator <NUM>, and the coil <NUM> may extend toward the compartment <NUM> to wind around a side wall of the compartment <NUM> as well.

The compartment <NUM> located at the other end of the accommodator <NUM> may form a space separate from the accommodator <NUM>. For example, the compartment <NUM> may include a space separate from the accommodator <NUM> within the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and the second susceptor <NUM> may be arranged in the compartment <NUM>. An upper wall of the compartment <NUM> may be in contact with the bottom surface of the accommodator <NUM>. The upper wall of the compartment <NUM> and the bottom surface of the accommodator <NUM> may be formed integrally to form a wall that separates the accommodator <NUM> and the compartment <NUM> from each other.

The second susceptor <NUM> may be arranged in the compartment <NUM>, and the second susceptor <NUM> may extend in a direction away from the upper wall in the compartment <NUM>. For example, the second susceptor <NUM> may have an elongated shape extending in a direction away from the upper wall of the compartment <NUM>. However, the shape of the second susceptor <NUM> is not limited thereto, and the shape, size, material, and the like of the second susceptor <NUM> may be changed if necessary.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment includes the temperature sensor <NUM> arranged proximate to the second susceptor <NUM> to measure the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM>.

The temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged in the aerosol generating device <NUM> to measure the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM>, and the temperature sensor <NUM> may be configured not to be affected by the magnetic field generated by the coil <NUM>.

The temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged proximate to the second susceptor <NUM>. For example, the temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged in the compartment <NUM> together with the second susceptor <NUM>, and may be mounted on an upper wall or side wall of the compartment <NUM>. In that case, the temperature sensor <NUM> may be electrically connected to the second susceptor <NUM>.

The temperature sensor <NUM> may measure the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> indirectly or directly. When the temperature sensor <NUM> measures the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> indirectly (i.e. in a non-contact way), the temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged a predetermined distance away from the second susceptor <NUM>. In that case, a predetermined distance between the temperature sensor <NUM> and the second susceptor <NUM> may be decided such that the temperature sensor <NUM> may be able to measure the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> in the compartment <NUM>.

In this case, the temperature sensor <NUM> may include an infrared (IR) sensor. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and the temperature sensor <NUM> may include another type of sensor capable of measuring the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> at a predetermined distance.

If the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> is to be measured indirectly, the temperature sensor <NUM> and the second susceptor <NUM> do not need to contact each other. As such, the temperature sensor <NUM> may be flexibly arranged in the aerosol generating device <NUM>, which simplifies a configuration of the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

If the temperature sensor <NUM> is to measure the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> directly (i.e., by contact), the temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged to be in contact with the second susceptor <NUM>. In this case, the temperature sensor <NUM> may include a resistance temperature detector (RTD) sensor, a negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTC) sensor, or a positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTC) sensor. As long as the temperature sensor <NUM> is able to measure the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> by contact, types of the temperature sensor <NUM> are not limited thereto.

In the case of measuring the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> directly, the temperature sensor <NUM> and the second susceptor <NUM> need to be directly connected to each other. As the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> is measured while the temperature sensor <NUM> and the second susceptor <NUM> are directly connected to each other, it is possible to measure the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> in a more accurate and faster manner. The temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> may be recorded and quantified based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor <NUM>.

As the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> is recorded and quantified, the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> may be estimated, because the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> corresponds to the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM>.

In other words, since it is difficult to directly measure the temperature of the first susceptor <NUM> into which the cigarette <NUM> is inserted, the temperature of the first susceptor <NUM> may be estimated by measuring the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> instead of the first susceptor <NUM>. By estimating and determining the temperature of the first susceptor <NUM> based on the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may control the temperature of the first susceptor <NUM> heat transferred from the first susceptor <NUM> to the cigarette <NUM> in an easy and efficient manner. Accordingly, the flavor of the aerosol generated from the cigarette <NUM> may become rich and consistent.

The second susceptor <NUM> may be made of the same material as the first susceptor <NUM> within the aerosol generating device <NUM>, according to an embodiment. As such, the second susceptor <NUM> and the first susceptor <NUM> may have the same thermal characteristics.

For example, if the first susceptor <NUM> and the second susceptor <NUM> are provided with the same magnetic field for the same length of time, the temperature rise of the second susceptor <NUM> may be equal to that of the first susceptor <NUM>. In that case, a heating rate of the second susceptor <NUM> may be equal to a heating rate of the first susceptor <NUM>.

As the second susceptor <NUM> and the first susceptor <NUM> have the same thermal characteristics, the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> and the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> may be the same. Therefore, the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> may be measured to determine the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM>.

The first susceptor <NUM> and the second susceptor <NUM> may have the same longitudinal axis within the aerosol generating device <NUM>, according to an embodiment. That is, the first susceptor <NUM> and the second susceptor <NUM> may be disposed the same distance away from an outer periphery of the coil <NUM> to accommodate the same magnetic field generated by the coil <NUM>.

For example, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the first susceptor <NUM> and the second susceptor <NUM> may be arranged in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and a central axis of the coil <NUM>, the longitudinal axis of the first susceptor <NUM>, and the longitudinal axis of the second susceptor <NUM> may all coincide with each other.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the aerosol generating device <NUM> further including a controller <NUM> and a power supply <NUM>, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to another embodiment may further include the controller <NUM> that determines a temperature of the first susceptor <NUM> based on a temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM>, and the power supply <NUM> that supplies electric power to the coil <NUM>.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes the components of the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to the previously-described embodiment. Since a configuration and effect of components of the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to the present embodiment are the same as the above descriptions, redundant detailed descriptions will be omitted.

The controller <NUM> may control electric power supplied to the coil <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may determine a temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> based on the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may make the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> correspond to the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> through a predetermined off-set value.

The second susceptor <NUM> may be configured such that the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> corresponds to the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM>. Accordingly, the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> and the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> have a predetermined correlation, and the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> may be estimated through the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> by the predetermined correlation. In that case, the correlation may be an off-set which is a difference between the temperature of the first susceptor <NUM> and a temperature of the second susceptor <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram showing that there is no off-set value between the second susceptor <NUM> and the first susceptor <NUM>, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a diagram showing that there is an off-set value between the second susceptor <NUM> and the first susceptor <NUM>, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

A correlation between a temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> and the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> may be described in greater detail with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> and the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> are shown in the case where there is no off-set. In this case, the controller <NUM> may determine the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> based on the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM>, and correction through the off-set value is not necessary. In other words, the controller <NUM> may measure a temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> and estimate the temperature of the first susceptor <NUM> to be the measured temperature.

In the case where there is no off-set between the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> and the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM>, the first susceptor <NUM> and the second susceptor <NUM> may be made of the same material. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

Referring to <FIG>, the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> and the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM> are shown in the case where an off-set exists. When there is an off-set between the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> and the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM>, the off-set value may be added to the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> to estimate the temperature of the first susceptor <NUM>.

In that case, the off-set may be a difference between the temperature of the first susceptor <NUM> and the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM>. The off-set value is represented as a positive number in <FIG>. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and the off-set value may be a negative number. The off-set value may be increased in proportion to the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM>, and may be constant at a target temperature.

When there is an off-set value between the temperature profile of the first susceptor <NUM> and the temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM>, if the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> is to be measured to determine the temperature of the first susceptor <NUM>, correction through the off-set value may be necessary. The controller <NUM> may store the off-set values according to the temperatures of the second susceptor <NUM>, and then may determine the temperature of the first susceptor <NUM> based on the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM>.

The estimating of the temperature of the first susceptor <NUM> through the off-set value between the second susceptor <NUM> and the first susceptor <NUM> is not limited to the present embodiment and may be used in various ways. If it is difficult to measure a temperature of a certain component because an external element is inserted into the component, the temperature of such component may be accurately measured by the above-described method.

The power supply <NUM> supplies electric power for the aerosol generating device <NUM> to operate. For example, the power supply <NUM> may supply electric power for the first susceptor <NUM> and the second susceptor <NUM> to be heated, and may supply electric power needed for the controller <NUM> to operate. The power supply <NUM> may also supply electric power needed for a display, sensor, motor, and the like installed within the aerosol generating device <NUM> to operate. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. The power supply <NUM> may supply electric power to other components within the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may measure the temperature of the second susceptor <NUM> arranged a predetermined distance away from the first susceptor <NUM> to determine the temperature of the first susceptor <NUM>. Thus, malfunction of the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be prevented. Also, over-heating inside the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be prevented and the components within the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be safely protected.

In addition, since the temperature of the first susceptor <NUM> may be precisely estimated and determined, the temperature of the first susceptor <NUM> may be controlled properly. Therefore, the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may efficiently control heat transferred from the first susceptor <NUM> to the cigarette <NUM>, and provide a rich and consistent flavor of the aerosol generated from the cigarette <NUM>.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of generating an aerosol may include generating an alternate magnetic field in the coil <NUM>, generating heat in the first and second susceptors resulting from the magnetic field, and determining a temperature of the first susceptor <NUM> based on a temperature profile of the second susceptor <NUM>.

Since a configuration and effect of the method of generating an aerosol according to another embodiment are the same as the configuration and effect of the aerosol generating device according to an embodiment, redundant detailed descriptions will be omitted.

Claim 1:
An aerosol generating device (<NUM>) comprising:
a controller (<NUM>);
an accommodator (<NUM>) configured to accommodate a cigarette (<NUM>) through an opening (<NUM>) formed at one end of the accommodator (<NUM>);
a first susceptor (<NUM>) located in the accommodator (<NUM>);
a second susceptor (<NUM>) disposed a predetermined distance away from the first susceptor (<NUM>);
a coil (<NUM>) configured to generate an alternating magnetic field for the first and second susceptors (<NUM>, <NUM>) to generate heat; and
a temperature sensor (<NUM>) arranged proximate to the second susceptor (<NUM>) to measure a temperature profile of the second susceptor (<NUM>),
wherein the temperature profile of the second susceptor (<NUM>) corresponds to a temperature profile of the first susceptor (<NUM>), and
wherein the controller (<NUM>) is configured to determine a temperature of the first susceptor (<NUM>) based on the temperature profile of the second susceptor (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the second susceptor (<NUM>) is arranged in a compartment (<NUM>) located at another end of the accommodator (<NUM>), and the coil (<NUM>) extends towards the compartment (<NUM>) to surround a side wall of the compartment (<NUM>) together, and
wherein the compartment (<NUM>) located at the other end of the accommodator (<NUM>) forms a space separate from the accommodator (<NUM>).