Patent Description:
Recently, the demand for substitutes for traditional cigarettes has increased. For example, there is increasing demand for a device for generating an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material in an aerosol generating article (e.g., cigarette) without combustion. <CIT> discloses an aerosol-generating article comprising a plurality of elements assembled in the form of a rod, the plurality of elements including an aerosol-forming substrate, and an aerosol-cooling element located downstream from the aerosol-forming substrate within the rod.

The objective to be achieved by one or more embodiments is to provide an aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating device for providing uniform aerosol and nicotine during the entire smoking time.

The problems to be solved by one or more embodiments are not limited to those described above, and other objectives that are not described may be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

As a technical means for achieving the technical problem described above, one or more embodiments provide an aerosol generating article including: a first portion including an aerosol generating element; a second portion including a cooling element; a third portion including a tobacco element; and a fourth portion including a filter element, wherein the first through fourth portions are sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article.

One or more embodiments provide an aerosol generating device including: an accommodation space for accommodating the aerosol generating article according to one or more embodiments; a heater heating the aerosol generating article; and a battery supplying power to the heater.

The means for solving the problems is not limited thereto and may include all configurations which may be derived throughout the specification by one of ordinary skill in the art.

An aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating device according to one or more embodiments may provide uniform aerosol and nicotine during the entire smoking time by arranging a cooling element between an aerosol generating element and a tobacco element.

The effects of the embodiments are not limited thereto and may include all effects which may be derived from the configurations described below.

According to one or more embodiments, an aerosol generating article includes: a first portion including an aerosol generating element; a second portion including a cooling element; a third portion including a tobacco element; and a fourth portion including a filter element, wherein the first through fourth portions are sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article.

The first portion may include a crimped sheet, and the aerosol generating element may be impregnated in the crimped sheet.

The second portion may have a length of about <NUM> to about <NUM> in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article.

The second portion may include a tubular-shaped structure including a cavity.

The second portion may include polylactic acid.

The fourth portion may include at least one capsule including a flavor material and/or an aerosol generating material.

The fourth portion may include fibers impregnated with a flavor material.

The aerosol generating article may further include a thermally conductive wrapper surrounding at least a portion of the first portion, and the thermally conductive wrapper may include a paramagnetic material.

The aerosol generating article may further include a wrapper surrounding at least a portion of the second portion and including at least one perforation formed at a location corresponding to the second portion.

The aerosol generating article may further include a wrapper surrounding at least a portion of the fourth portion and including at least one perforation formed at a location corresponding to the fourth portion.

According to one or more embodiments, an aerosol generating device includes: an accommodation space for accommodating the aerosol generating article according to one or more embodiments; a heater heating the aerosol generating article; and a battery supplying power to the heater.

The heater may surround the accommodation space and heat at least a portion of the first portion.

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.

Also, the terms used in this specification that include ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components shall not be limited by those terms. The terms may be used for distinguishing one component from another component.

Throughout the specification, an "aerosol generating article" refers to an article used for smoking. For example, an aerosol generating article may refer to a general combustion type cigarette that is ignited and combusted or a heating type cigarette that is heated without combustion by an aerosol generating device. As another example, the aerosol generating article may refer to a cartridge containing a liquid that generates an aerosol when heated.

Throughout the specification, a "longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article" denotes a direction in which a length of the aerosol generating article extends or a direction in which the aerosol generating article is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

Throughout the specification, a "tobacco element" denotes an element including a tobacco material.

Throughout the specification, a "tobacco material" denotes all types of materials including a component originated from a tobacco leaf.

Throughout the specification, a "cooling element" denotes an element for cooling a material. For example, the cooling element may cool aerosol generated from the aerosol generating element or the tobacco element.

Throughout the specification, a "filter element" denotes an element including a filtering material. For example, the filter element may include a plurality of fiber strands.

<FIG> is a schematic view of a structure of an aerosol generating article <NUM> according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may include a first portion <NUM>, a second portion <NUM>, a third portion <NUM>, and a fourth portion <NUM>. In detail, the first portion <NUM>, the second portion <NUM>, the third portion <NUM>, and the fourth portion <NUM> may include an aerosol generating element, a cooling element, a tobacco element, and a filter element, respectively. For example, the first portion <NUM> may include an aerosol generating material, the second portion <NUM> may cool the aerosol passing through the first portion <NUM>, the third portion <NUM> may include a tobacco material and a moisturizer, and the fourth portion <NUM> may include a filter material.

Referring to <FIG>, the first portion <NUM>, the second portion <NUM>, the third portion <NUM>, and the fourth portion <NUM> may be sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. Here, the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be a direction in which a length of the aerosol generating article <NUM> extends. For example, the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be a direction from the first portion <NUM> toward the fourth portion <NUM>. Accordingly, the aerosol generated from at least one of the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> may sequentially pass through the third portion <NUM> and the fourth portion <NUM>, and a smoker may absorb the aerosol from the fourth portion <NUM>.

In general, an aerosol generating element has a vaporization temperature of about <NUM> to about <NUM>, whereas nicotine included in the tobacco element has a vaporization temperature of about <NUM> to about <NUM>. That is, the aerosol generating element generally has a higher vaporization temperature than nicotine.

In most aerosol generating articles according to the related art, a portion including the aerosol generating element and a portion including the tobacco element are arranged adjacent to each other. In this case, when the aerosol generating element is heated to a high temperature by an aerosol generating device, the tobacco element arranged adjacent to the aerosol generating element may also be heated to an unnecessarily high temperature. Thus, too much nicotine is transferred from the tobacco element from an initial smoking phase, resulting in early exhaustion of the nicotine of the tobacco element. As a result, the amount of nicotine transfer is significantly reduced in a latter smoking phase, which makes it difficult to achieve uniform nicotine inhalation during the entire smoking time.

Here, the early stage of smoking, for example, a first half of the smoking time, may correspond to the "initial smoking phase," and the rest of the smoking time may correspond to the "latter smoking phase.

In the aerosol generating article according to an embodiment, the second portion <NUM> including the cooling element is arranged between the first portion <NUM> including the aerosol generating element and the third portion <NUM> including the tobacco element. Accordingly, the high-temperature aerosol generated in the first portion <NUM> is cooled by the cooling element of the second portion <NUM> and then passes through the third portion <NUM>. The tobacco element of the third portion <NUM> is heated by the aerosol having a relatively low temperature, and thus uniform nicotine inhalation during the entire smoking time may be realized.

As will be described below, the first portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be directly heated by a heater of an aerosol generating device, and the third portion <NUM> may not be directly heated. For example, when the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted in the aerosol generating device, the first portion <NUM> may be surrounded by the heater, and the third portion <NUM> may not be surrounded by the heater. Here, the heater may be arranged to surround at least a portion of an accommodation space in which the aerosol generating article <NUM> is accommodated. The tobacco element included in the third portion <NUM> may be heated by the high-temperature aerosol generated in the first portion <NUM> and passing through the third portion <NUM>. Because the third portion <NUM> is not directly heated by the heater, compared to a case in which the third portion <NUM> is directly heated by the heater (i.e., at least a portion of the third portion <NUM> is surrounded by the heater), a temperature deviation occurring in the third portion <NUM> may be reduced. Thus, the amount of inhaled nicotine may be uniformly maintained during the entire smoking time.

The first portion <NUM> may include the aerosol generating element. Also, the first portion <NUM> may contain other additives, such as a flavor agent, a wetting agent, and/or an organic acid, or may contain a flavored liquid, such as menthol or a moisturizer. Here, the aerosol generating element may include, for example, at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol. However, the disclosure is not limited to the examples described above and may include any other types of aerosol generating elements well-known in the art.

The first portion <NUM> may include a crimped sheet in which the aerosol generating element is included (e.g., impregnated). Also, the other additives, such as the flavor agent, the wetting agent, and/or the organic acid, and the flavored liquid may be included in the crimped sheet.

The crimped sheet may include, for example, at least one of a paper, cellulose acetate, lyocell, and polylactic acid. For example, the crimped sheet may be a paper sheet that does not emit a smell even when heated to a high temperature. However, it is not limited thereto.

The first portion <NUM> may extend about <NUM> to about <NUM> from an end of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. However, the first portion <NUM> is not necessarily limited to this numerical range, and the length of the first potion <NUM> may be appropriately adjusted according to embodiments.

The second portion <NUM> may cool a current (i.e., aerosol) passing through the first portion <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> may be formed of a polymer material or a biodegradable polymer material, and may have a cooling function. For example, the second portion <NUM> may be formed of polylactic acid (PLA) fibers, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the second portion <NUM> may be formed of a cellulose acetate filter having a plurality of holes. However, the second portion <NUM> is not limited to the examples described above and may include any materials which may cool the aerosol. For example, the second portion <NUM> may include a tube filter or a paper pipe including a cavity.

The second portion <NUM> may include a tube-type structure including a cavity, and an inner surface of the cavity may be coated with PLA and/or a flavor material.

The PLA may be coated on the inner surface of the second portion <NUM> and may effectively cool the aerosol through phase transition. For example, the PLA may perform phase transition, such as melt or glass transition, by absorbing heat energy. The heat energy of the aerosol passing through the inner surface of the cavity may be used for the phase transition of the PLA, and thus the temperature of the aerosol may be effectively reduced.

The flavor material may be coated on the inner surface of the cavity, and may add a flavor to the aerosol passing through the inner surface of the cavity. The flavor material may refer to a material for adding a specific flavor. For example, the flavor material may include vegetable spices, such as cinnamon, sage, herb, chamomile, winter hay, lavender, bergamot, a lemon, an orange, jasmine, ginger, vanilla, spearmint, peppermint, acacia, coffee, salary, sandalwood, cocoa, etc..

As another example, the flavor material may include animal spices, such as musk, ambergris, civet, castoreum, etc..

As another example, the flavor material may include an alcohol-based compound, such as menthol, geraniol, linalol, anethol, eugenol, etc. Also, the flavor material may include an aldehyde-based compound, such as vanillin, benzaldehyde, anisaldehyde, etc. Also, the flavor material may include an ester-based compound, such as isoamyl acetate, linalyl acetate, isoamyl propionate, linalyl butyrate, etc. Preferably, the flavor material may include menthol.

The second portion <NUM> may have a length of about <NUM> to about <NUM> in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. With the second portion <NUM> having the length of the numerical range described above, the aerosol generated in the first portion <NUM> may be cooled to a temperature appropriate for vaporizing nicotine from the tobacco element of the third portion <NUM>. When the second portion <NUM> has a length that is less than about <NUM>, the aerosol may not be sufficiently cooled. On the other hand, when the second portion <NUM> has a length that is greater than about <NUM>, the aerosol may be excessively cooled and may not have a sufficiently high temperature for vaporizing nicotine. In order to realize uniform nicotine inhalation during the entire smoking time. Thus, preferably, the second portion <NUM> may have a length of about <NUM> to about <NUM>, and more preferably, a length of about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

The third portion <NUM> may include the tobacco element. The tobacco element may include a certain type of tobacco material. For example, the tobacco element may be included in the form of pipe tobacco, tobacco particles, tobacco sheet, tobacco beads, tobacco granules, tobacco powder, or tobacco extract. Also, the tobacco material may include for example at least one type from among a tobacco leaf, lateral veins of tobacco leaves, a puff tobacco, a cut tobacco pipe, a tobacco sheet, and a reformulated tobacco.

The fourth portion <NUM> may include the filter material. For example, the fourth portion <NUM> may include a cellulose acetate filter. A shape of the fourth portion <NUM> is not particularly limited. For example, the fourth portion <NUM> may include a cylindrical-type rod or a tubular-type rod. Also, the fourth portion <NUM> may include a recess-type rod. When the fourth portion <NUM> includes a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality of segments may be formed to have a different shape from the other segments.

The fourth portion <NUM> may be formed to generate a flavor. For example, a liquid flavor material may be injected into the fourth portion <NUM>, or an additional fiber impregnated with a flavor material may be inserted into the fourth portion <NUM>. For example, the additional fiber impregnated with the flavor material may be arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. The additional fiber impregnated with the flavor material may be formed by using a material, such as cellulose acetate, cotton, PLA, etc., but it is not limited thereto. Also, with respect to the additional fiber impregnated with the flavor material, the amount of impregnated flavor material may be controlled by adjusting a thickness of the fiber, the number of strands of the fiber, etc..

Also, the fourth portion <NUM> may include at least one capsule. For example, the capsule may include a flavor material, and when the capsule is broken, a flavor may be generated by flavor material. Also, the capsule may include an aerosol generating material, and when the capsule is broken, an aerosol may be generated from the aerosol generating material. The capsule may have a structure in which the aerosol generating material is wrapped by a thin film. The capsule may have a spherical or a cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> may include a wrapper <NUM> surrounding at least a portion of the first portion <NUM> through fourth portion <NUM>. Also, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may include the wrapper <NUM> surrounding the entirety of the first through fourth portions <NUM> through <NUM>. The wrapper <NUM> may be an outermost layer of the aerosol generating article <NUM>, and the wrapper <NUM> may be a single wrapper or a combination of a plurality of wrappers.

For example, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may further include a thermally conductive wrapper <NUM> surrounding at least a portion of the first portion <NUM>. Here, the thermally conductive wrapper <NUM> may include a material having excellent thermal conductivity, such as metal, etc. The thermally conductive wrapper <NUM> may be arranged at a location corresponding to a heater of an aerosol generating device described below and may include a paramagnetic material (for example, aluminum, platinum, rutinum, etc.) which does not function as a susceptor that is heated by induction heating. The thermally conductive wrapper <NUM> may surround at least a portion of the first portion <NUM> such that it is directly heated by the aerosol generating device. The thermally conductive wrapper <NUM> may effectively transmit the heat of the heater throughout the entire first portion <NUM> with its high thermal conductivity.

The wrapper <NUM> may include at least one perforation through which external air may be introduced into the aerosol generating article or internal air may be discharged to the outside. For example, the wrapper <NUM> may surround at least a portion of the second portion <NUM> and may include at least one first perforation <NUM> formed at a location corresponding to the second portion <NUM>. External air introduced through the at least one first perforation <NUM> may effectively cool the aerosol.

Also, the wrapper <NUM> may at least partially surround the fourth portion <NUM> and may include at least one second perforation <NUM> formed at a location to correspond to the fourth portion <NUM>. External air introduced through the at least one second perforation <NUM> may cool and dilute the aerosol provided to a smoker.

An aerosol generating article is manufactured to include a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and a fourth portion that are sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction. The first portion includes a crimped sheet containing an aerosol generating material, and the second portion includes a tube including a material capable of cooling the generated aerosol. The third portion includes a tobacco sheet as a tobacco material and glycerin as a moisturizer, and the fourth portion includes cellulose acetate fibers.

An aerosol generating article is manufactured to include a tobacco rod and a filter rod that are sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction. The tobacco rod includes a tobacco pipe including a tobacco sheet cut into small sizes, and the filter rod includes a cellulose acetate filter.

An aerosol generating article is manufactured to include a front-end plug, a tobacco rod, and a filter rod that are sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction. The front-end plug is formed by using cellulose acetate tow. The tobacco rod and the filter rod are formed by using the same method as the Comparative Example <NUM>.

An aerosol generating article is manufactured by using the same method as the Embodiment <NUM>, except that the positions of the second portion and the third portion of the Embodiment <NUM> are switched. That is, the aerosol generating article is manufactured to include the first portion, the third portion, the second portion, and the fourth portion of the Embodiment <NUM> that are sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction.

The amount of inhaled nicotine according to the number of puffs is analyzed by using the aerosol generating articles according to the Embodiment <NUM> and the Comparative Examples <NUM> through <NUM>. Specifically, the aerosol generating articles according to the Embodiment <NUM> and the Comparative Examples <NUM> through <NUM> are heated, and puffs started after the aerosol generating articles are sufficiently heated. The amount of inhaled nicotine is measured for each puff, and the amount of inhaled nicotine is measured for <NUM> puffs. The results are shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a graph showing the amount of inhaled nicotine per each puff as smoking progresses using aerosol generating articles according to an embodiment and comparative examples.

As illustrated in <FIG>, with respect to the aerosol generating article of the Comparative Example <NUM>, nicotine is inhaled until the eleventh puff, and nicotine inhalation thereafter is not detected. Also, with respect to the aerosol generating articles of the Comparative Example <NUM> and the Comparative Example <NUM>, most of nicotine is inhaled during the second through sixth puffs, and the amount of inhaled nicotine significantly reduced thereafter.

On the other hand, in the case of the aerosol generating article according to the Embodiment <NUM>, unlike the aerosol generating articles of the Comparative Examples <NUM> through <NUM>, relatively uniform amount of inhaled nicotine is maintained during the total <NUM> times of puffs.

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

Referring to <FIG>, an aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a heater <NUM>, a coil <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>. However, it is not limited thereto, and the aerosol generating device <NUM> may further include other general-purpose components in addition to the components illustrated in <FIG>.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> may generate an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating article accommodated in the aerosol generating device <NUM>, by an induction heating method. The induction heating method may refer to a method of causing a magnetic substance to emit heat by applying, to the magnetic substance, an alternating magnetic field that changes a direction periodically.

When the alternating magnetic field is applied to the magnetic substance by the coil <NUM>, energy loss may occur in the magnetic substance, according to eddy current loss and hysteresis loss, and the lost energy may be emitted from the magnetic substance as thermal energy. As the amplitude or frequency of the alternating magnetic field applied to the magnetic substance increases, the thermal energy emitted from the magnetic substance may increase as well. The thermal energy released from the magnetic substance may heat the aerosol generating article.

The magnetic substance emitting heat via an external magnetic field may be a susceptor. The susceptor included in the aerosol generating device <NUM> may have a form of pieces or a strip of the magnetic substance. For example, at least a portion of the heater <NUM> arranged in the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a susceptor material.

At least a portion of the susceptor material may include a ferromagnetic substance. For example, the susceptor material may include metal or carbon. The susceptor material may include at least one of a ferrite, a ferromagnetic alloy, stainless steel, and aluminum. Also, the susceptor material may include a ceramic material (e.g., graphite, molybdenum, silicon carbide, niobium, a nickel alloy, a metal film, zirconia, etc.), a transition metal (e.g., nickel, cobalt, etc.), or a metalloid (i.e., boron or phosphorous).

The aerosol generating device <NUM> may accommodate the aerosol generating article. The aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a space for accommodating the aerosol generating article. The heater <NUM> may be arranged in the space for accommodating the aerosol generating article. For example, the heater <NUM> may have a cylindrical accommodation space for accommodating the aerosol generating article. Thus, when the aerosol generating article is accommodated in the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the aerosol generating article may be accommodated in the heater <NUM>.

The heater <NUM> may surround at least a portion of an outer surface of the aerosol generating article accommodated in the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, the heater <NUM> may surround a tobacco material included in the aerosol generating article. Accordingly, heat may be more efficiently delivered to the tobacco material from the heater <NUM>.

The heater <NUM> may heat the aerosol generating article accommodated in the aerosol generating device <NUM>. As described above, the heater <NUM> may heat the aerosol generating article by an induction heating method. The heater <NUM> may include a susceptor material emitting heat in response to an external magnetic field, and the aerosol generating device <NUM> may apply an alternating magnetic field to the heater <NUM>.

The coil <NUM> may be provided in the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The coil <NUM> may apply the alternating magnetic field to the heater <NUM>. When power is supplied to the coil <NUM> from the aerosol generating device <NUM>, a magnetic field may be formed in the coil <NUM>. When an alternating current is applied to the coil <NUM>, a direction of the magnetic field formed in the coil <NUM> may be continually changed. When the heater <NUM> is exposed to an alternating magnetic field in the coil <NUM>, the heater <NUM> may emit heat, and the aerosol generating article accommodated in the accommodation space of the heater <NUM> may be heated.

The coil <NUM> may be wound along an outer surface of the heater <NUM>. Also, the coil <NUM> may be wound along an inner surface of a housing of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The heater <NUM> may be located in an inner space of the wound coil <NUM>. When power is supplied to the coil <NUM>, the alternating magnetic field generated by the coil <NUM> may be applied to the heater <NUM>.

The coil <NUM> may extend in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM> to an appropriate length. For example, the coil <NUM> may have the same length as the heater <NUM> or may be extend longer than the heater <NUM>.

The coil <NUM> may be arranged at a location appropriate for applying the alternating magnetic field to the heater <NUM>. For example, the coil <NUM> may be arranged at the location corresponding to the heater <NUM> such that the alternating magnetic field of the coil <NUM> is efficiently applied to the heater <NUM>.

When an amplitude or a frequency of the alternating magnetic field formed by the coil <NUM> is changed, the degree of heating of the aerosol generating article performed by the heater <NUM> may also be changed. The amplitude or the frequency of the magnetic field generated by the coil <NUM> may be changed according to the power applied to the coil <NUM>, and thus the aerosol generating device <NUM> may adjust the power applied to the coil <NUM> to control the heating of the aerosol generating article. For example, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may control the amplitude and the frequency of an alternating current applied to the coil <NUM>.

For example, the coil <NUM> may be realized as a solenoid. The coil <NUM> may be a solenoid wound along an inner surface of the housing of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and the heater <NUM> and the aerosol generating article may be located in an inner space of the solenoid. A material of the solenoid may be copper. However, it is not limited thereto, and any one of Ag, Au, Al, W, Zn, and Ni or an alloy including at least one thereof may be used as the material of the solenoid.

The battery <NUM> may supply power to the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may supply power to the coil <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may generate a direct current (DC) power, and may include a converter converting a direct current supplied to an alternating current in order to supply an alternating current to the coil <NUM>.

Also, the battery <NUM> may supply a direct current to the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may include a LiFePO4 battery, but is not limited thereto. For example, the battery may include a LiCoO2 battery, a lithum titanate battery, a LiPoly battery, etc..

The converter may include a low-pass filter performing filtering on the direct current and outputting an alternating current supplied to the coil <NUM>. The converter may further include an amplifier for amplifying the direct current. For example, the converter may be realized as a low pass filter included in a load network of a class-D amplifier.

The controller <NUM> may control the power supplied to the coil <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may control the battery <NUM> to adjust the power supplied to the coil <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may maintain a heating temperature of the aerosol generating article based on a temperature of the heater <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of components of the aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include the battery <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, a sensor <NUM>, a user interface <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and the controller <NUM>. However, an internal structure of the aerosol generating device <NUM> is not limited to the structure illustrated in <FIG>. According to a design of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that some of the components illustrated in <FIG> may be omitted or other components may be added.

The battery <NUM> supplies power used by the aerosol generating device <NUM> to operate. In other words, the battery <NUM> may supply power so that the heater <NUM> may be heated. Also, the battery <NUM> may supply power required for operations of other components included in the aerosol generating device <NUM>, such as the sensor <NUM>, the user interface <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, and the controller <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> may include at least one sensor <NUM>. A sensing result by the at least one sensor <NUM> is transmitted to the controller <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> may, according to the sensing result, control the aerosol generating device <NUM> to perform various functions, such as controlling the operation of the heater, restricting smoking, detecting insertion of the aerosol generating article, and displaying a notification.

For example, the at least one sensor <NUM> may include a puff sensor. The puff sensor may detect a user's puff based on any one of a temperature change, an airflow change, a voltage change, and an air pressure change.

Also, the at least one sensor <NUM> may include a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the heater <NUM> (or the aerosol generating article). The aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the heater <NUM>. Alternatively, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may not include the additional temperature sensor, and instead the heater <NUM> may also serve as a temperature sensor. In an embodiment, in addition to the heater <NUM> capable of serving as the temperature sensor, another temperature sensor may further be included in the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

The at least one sensor <NUM> may include a temperature sensor for measuring an ambient temperature of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The ambient temperature is a temperature outside the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The ambient temperature may be the temperature of air into which the aerosol generated from the aerosol generating article in the aerosol generating device <NUM> is discharged. The temperature sensor may be arranged outside the housing to measure the ambient temperature or may be arranged on a path through which external air is introduced into the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The temperature sensor may deliver information about the measured ambient temperature to the controller <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> may determine a heating profile to heat the aerosol generating article based on the ambient temperature.

Also, the at least one sensor may include a humidity sensor. The humidity sensor may measure an ambient humidity of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The ambient humidity may be the humidity outside the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The ambient humidity may be a humidity of air into which the aerosol generated from the aerosol generating article in the aerosol generating device <NUM> is discharged. The humidity sensor may be arranged outside the housing to measure the ambient humidity or may be arranged on a path through which external air is introduced. The humidity sensor may deliver information about the measured ambient humidity to the controller <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> may determine a heating profile to heat the aerosol generating article based on the ambient humidity.

Also, the at least one sensor may include an inductive sensor. The inductive sensor may sense whether or not the aerosol generating article is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, the aerosol generating article may include a metal material, such as aluminum (Al), and the inductive sensor may sense a change of inductance generated due to the insertion of the aerosol generating article into the aerosol generating device <NUM>. However, it is not limited thereto, and the inductive sensor may be replaced by other types of sensors, such as a light sensor, a temperature sensor, a resistance sensor, etc..

When the insertion of the aerosol generating article is sensed, the controller <NUM> may control the aerosol generating device <NUM> such that heating may be automatically started without an additional external input. For example, the controller <NUM> may control the battery <NUM> to supply power to the coil, when the insertion of the aerosol generating article is sensed. However, it is not necessarily limited thereto, and the controller <NUM> may control the aerosol generating device <NUM> to start heating only when there is an additional external input.

The user interface <NUM> may provide a user with information about a state of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The user interface <NUM> may include various interfacing devices, such as a display or a lamp for outputting visual information, a motor for outputting haptic information, a speaker for outputting sound information, input/output (I/O) interfacing devices (for example, a button or a touch screen) for receiving information input from the user or outputting information to the user, terminals for performing data communication or receiving charging power, and communication interfacing devices for performing wireless communication (for example, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi direct, Bluetooth, near-field communication (NFC), etc.) with external devices.

However, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be implemented by selecting only some of the above-described various interfacing devices <NUM>.

The user interface <NUM> may include a display configured to output visual information related to the aerosol generating device <NUM>. Here, the visual information related to the aerosol generating device <NUM> includes all types of information related to the operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, the display may output information about a state of the aerosol generating device <NUM> (for example, whether or not the aerosol generating device is available for use, etc.), information about the heater <NUM> (for example, starting pre-heating, processing pre-heating, completing pre-heating, etc.) information about the battery <NUM> (for example, a remaining capacity of the battery <NUM>, the operability of the battery <NUM>, etc.), information about a reset operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM> (for example, a reset period, a reset process, a reset completion, etc.), information about the cleaning of the aerosol generating device <NUM> (for example, a cleaning period, whether or not cleaning is needed, processing cleaning, completion of cleaning, etc.), information about charging of the aerosol generating device <NUM> (for example, whether or not charging is needed, processing charging, charging completion, etc.), information about a puff operation (for example, the number of puffs, a notice for a completion of the puff operation, etc.), information about the safety (for example, a use time due, etc.), or the like.

The communication interface may be connected with an external device, an external server, etc. for communication. For example, the communication interface may be realized as a type supporting at least one communication method from among various types of digital interfaces, AP-based WiFi (a wireless local area network (LAN)), Bluetooth, Zigbee, a wired/wireless LAN, a WAN, Ethernet, IEEE <NUM>, HDMI, USB, MHL, AES/EBU, optical communications, and coaxial communications. Also, the communication interface may include a transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS) channel for transmitting video and audio signals, a display data channel (DDC) for transmitting and receiving device information, video or audio-related information (for example, enhanced extended display identification data (E-EDID)), and consumer electronic control (CEC) for transmitting and receiving control signals. However, it is not limited thereto, and various interfaces may be implemented.

The memory <NUM> may be a hardware component configured to store various pieces of data processed in the aerosol generating device <NUM> and may store data processed or to be processed by the controller <NUM>. The memory <NUM> may include various types of memories, such as random access memory, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), etc., read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), etc..

The memory <NUM> may store data with respect to an operation time of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the maximum number of puff operations, the current number of puff operations, at least one temperature profile, a user's smoking pattern, etc..

The controller <NUM> may generally control the operations of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. A processor may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable in the microprocessor is stored. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the processor may be implemented in other forms of hardware.

Although not illustrated in <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be included in an aerosol generating system, together with an additional cradle. For example, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be supplied with power from a battery of the cradle and may charge the battery <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, while the aerosol generating device <NUM> is accommodated in an accommodation space of the cradle.

<FIG> is a diagram showing the aerosol generating device illustrated in <FIG>, into which the aerosol generating article illustrated in <FIG> is inserted.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include an accommodation space for accommodating the aerosol generating article <NUM>, the heater <NUM> for heating the aerosol generating article <NUM>, and the battery <NUM> for supplying power to the heater <NUM>.

The heater <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM> may heat the first portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM>, and the aerosol generating element of the first portion <NUM> may generate an aerosol. The generated aerosol may pass through the second portion <NUM>, may be cooled by the cooling element, and then may be introduced to the third portion <NUM>. The aerosol introduced into the third portion <NUM> may heat the tobacco element and vaporize nicotine, such that the vaporized nicotine may be transferred together with the aerosol to the fourth portion <NUM>. The aerosol and the nicotine passing through the filter element of the fourth portion <NUM> may be provided to a user.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> may be accommodated in the accommodation space of the aerosol generating device <NUM> and may be heated by the heater <NUM> arranged to surround the accommodation space and at least a portion of the first portion <NUM>. That is, the first portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be directly heated by the heater <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, whereas the third portion <NUM> may be indirectly heated by the aerosol.

According to an aerosol generating article according to the related art, while it is required to heat an aerosol generating element and a tobacco element at different temperatures from each other for the aerosol and nicotine inhalation to be uniform during the entire smoking time. However, it is difficult to adjust the heating temperatures differently, because the aerosol generating element and the tobacco element are arranged to be adjacent to each other.

By contrast, according to the aerosol generating article <NUM> according to an embodiment, the first portion <NUM> and the third portion <NUM> are apart from each other, and thus it is easy to differently adjust the temperatures of the first portion <NUM> and the third portion <NUM>. Also, the heater <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be arranged at a location corresponding to the first portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> to surround the first portion <NUM> such that only the first portion <NUM> is directly heated by the heater <NUM>. The tobacco element included in the third portion <NUM> may be heated by the high-temperature aerosol generated in the first portion <NUM> and passing through the third portion <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An aerosol generating article comprising:
a first portion including an aerosol generating element;
a second portion including a cooling element;
a third portion including a tobacco element; and
a fourth portion including a filter element,
wherein the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion are sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article.