Patent Description:
Recently, the need for an alternative to traditional cigarettes has increased. For example, there is growing demand for an aerosol generating device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material in cigarettes, rather than by combusting cigarettes. Accordingly, research into a heating-type cigarette and a heating-type aerosol generator has been actively conducted.

An aerosol generated from an aerosol generating device may provide a different smoking sensation to a user each time, depending on a surrounding environment in which the aerosol is generated. For example, in an extremely low ambient temperature, unless a main controller of an aerosol generating device uses a special temperature profile to control a temperature of a heater, the temperature of the heater of the aerosol generating device does not properly increase. In this case, an aerosol may not be easily generated, or the composition of the aerosol becomes different, and thus, the user may feel a different smoking sensation when inhaling the aerosol from the aerosol generating device.

Therefore document <CIT> proposes a temperature control method and apparatus capable of variably controlling the temperature of a heater in real time thereby taking into account changes of the temperature of the heater according to external temperature and humidity.

As described above, research has been conducted to provide consistent smoking satisfaction to a user even if there are various environmental changes by making changes to a temperature profile in consideration of a surrounding environment.

Technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are to improve an aerosol generating device that does not reflect a change in a surrounding temperature and humidity.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method includes detecting an external temperature and an external humidity of the aerosol generating device; determining a temperature profile of the heater; outputting a plurality of adjustment values; determining an adjustment value from among the plurality of adjustment values based on a user input; fine-tuning the temperature profile based on the determined adjustment value; and controlling power supplied to the heater based on the fine-tuned temperature profile, wherein at least one of the temperature profile and the plurality of adjustment values is determined based on the external temperature or the external humidity.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a device includes a receiver configured to obtain an external temperature and an external humidity of the aerosol generating device; a profile determiner configured to determine a temperature profile of a heater; a fine-tuner configured to output a plurality of adjustment values, determine an adjustment value from among the plurality of adjustment values based on a user input, and fine-tune the determined temperature profile based on the determined adjustment value; and a power controller configured to control power supplied to the heater based on the fine-turned temperature profile, wherein at least one of the temperature profile and the plurality of adjustment values is determined according to the external temperature or the external humidity.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, provided is a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method.

According to one or more embodiments, an external temperature and an external humidity of a device may be detected, and an optimum aerosol may be generated based on the detected temperature and humidity.

Also, according to one or more embodiments, the user may be allowed to fine-tune a temperature of a heater, and thus, the user may customize an aerosol to the user's taste.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, provided is a method of controlling a temperature of a heater of an aerosol generating device based on temperature and humidity, the method including detecting an external temperature and an external humidity of the aerosol generating device; determining a temperature profile of the heater; outputting a plurality of adjustment values; determining an adjustment value from among the plurality of adjustment values based on a user input; fine-tuning the temperature profile based on the determined adjustment value; and controlling power supplied to the heater based on the fine-tuned temperature profile, wherein at least one of the temperature profile and the plurality of adjustment values is determined based on the external temperature or the external humidity.

The determining of the temperature profile may include determining one of a plurality of temperature profiles according to a combination of the detected external temperature and humidity.

The plurality of adjustment values that are output may be determined according to the combination of the detected external temperature and humidity.

The determining of the temperature profile may include determining the temperature profile according to the detected external temperature, and the plurality of adjustment values that are output may be determined according to the detected external humidity.

The determining of the temperature profile may include determining the temperature profile according to the detected external humidity, and the outputting may include determining the plurality of adjustment values that are output according to the detected external temperature.

The outputting may include outputting the plurality of adjustment values in a range of about -<NUM> to about <NUM> based on the detected external temperature being greater than a predetermined temperature.

The outputting may include outputting the plurality of adjustment values in a range of about -<NUM> to about <NUM> based on the detected external temperature being in a predetermined range.

The outputting may include outputting the plurality of adjustment values in a range of about -<NUM> to about <NUM> based on the external temperature being less than a predetermined temperature.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, provided is an aerosol generating device of controlling a temperature of a heater based on temperature and humidity, the aerosol generating device including: a receiver configured to obtain an external temperature and an external humidity of the aerosol generating device; a profile determiner configured to determine a temperature profile of a heater; a fine-tuner configured to output a plurality of adjustment values, determine an adjustment value from among the plurality of adjustment values based on a user input, and fine-tune the determined temperature profile based on the determined adjustment value; and a power controller configured to control power supplied to the heater based on the fine-turned temperature profile, wherein at least one of the temperature profile and the plurality of adjustment values is determined according to the external temperature or the external humidity.

The profile determiner may be configured to determine one of the plurality of temperature profiles according to a combination of the external temperature and humidity.

The fine-tuner may be configured to determine a plurality of adjustment values that are output according to a combination of the external temperature and humidity.

The profile determiner may be configured to determine a temperature profile according to the external temperature, and the fine-tuner may be configured to determine a plurality of adjustment values that are output according to the external humidity.

The profile determiner may be configured to determine a temperature profile according to the external humidity, and the fine-tuner may be configured to determine a plurality of adjustment values that are output according to the external temperature.

The fine-tuner may be configured to output the plurality of adjustment values in a range of about -<NUM> to about <NUM> based on the detected external temperature being greater than a predetermined temperature.

The fine-tuner may be configured to output the plurality of adjustment values in a range of about -<NUM> to about <NUM> based on the detected external temperature being in a predetermined range.

The fine-tuner may be configured to output the plurality of adjustment values in a range of about -<NUM> to about <NUM> based on the detected temperature being less than a predetermined temperature.

According to one or more embodiments, provided is a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method.

In addition, there are terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant in the specification, and the meaning of the terms will be described in detail. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention should be defined based on the meaning of the term and the overall contents of the present invention, not a simple name of the term.

The attached drawings for illustrating one or more embodiments are referred to in order to gain a sufficient understanding, the merits thereof, and the objectives accomplished by the implementation.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view of an example of an aerosol generating device.

Referring to <FIG>, an aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a controller <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a heater <NUM>, and a temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>. <FIG> show some components of the aerosol generating device <NUM> for convenience of description, and additional components may be added to the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to embodiments without departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Also, an internal structure of the aerosol generating device <NUM> is not limited to the illustration of <FIG>, and according to an embodiment or a design, the arrangements of the controller <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>, and the aerosol cigarette <NUM> may differ.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> of <FIG> includes an insertion hole <NUM> into which the cigarette <NUM> is inserted. For example, the cigarette <NUM> may be of a general stick type. After being inserted into the insertion hole <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the cigarette <NUM> is heated by the heater <NUM> so that an aerosol is generated. The aerosol generated in the cigarette <NUM> passes through a filter, etc. included in the cigarette <NUM> when the user inhales, and the aerosol is transmitted to the user.

The controller <NUM> may include a micro-controller unit (MCU) that controls overall operations of the aerosol generating device <NUM> in response to control signals. In detail, the controller <NUM> may control operations of other components included in the aerosol generating device <NUM> in addition to the battery <NUM> and the heater <NUM>. Also, the controller <NUM> may identify a state of each component of the aerosol generating device <NUM> and determine whether the aerosol generating device <NUM> is operable.

Also, it may be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the controller <NUM> may be implemented as another type of hardware.

The battery <NUM> may supply power used when the aerosol generating device <NUM> operates. For example, the battery <NUM> may supply power to heat the heater <NUM> and power necessary to drive the controller <NUM>. Also, the battery <NUM> may supply power necessary to drive a display, a sensor, a motor, etc. of the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

The heater <NUM> may be heated by power supplied from the battery <NUM>. For example, when the cigarette <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the heater <NUM> may be disposed outside the cigarette <NUM>. Therefore, the heated heater <NUM> may increase a temperature of an aerosol generating material of the cigarette <NUM>.

The heater <NUM> may be an electric resistance heater. For example, the heater <NUM> may include an electrically conductive track, and as a current flows therein, the heater <NUM> may be heated. However, the heater <NUM> is not limited thereto, and there is no limitation in the heater <NUM> when the heater <NUM> may be heated to a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may be set in advance in the aerosol generating device <NUM> or by the user.

As another example, the heater <NUM> may be an induction heating heater. In detail, the heater <NUM> may include an electroconductive coil for heating the cigarette <NUM> in an induction heating manner, and the cigarette may include a susceptor that may be heated by the induction heating heater.

For example, the heater <NUM> may include a pipe-type heating element, a sheet-type heating element, a pin-type heating element, or a bar-type heating element, and according to a shape of the heating element, the heater <NUM> may heat the inside or outside of the cigarette <NUM>.

Also, there may exist a plurality of heaters <NUM> in the aerosol generating device <NUM>. In this case, the heaters <NUM> may be inserted into the cigarette <NUM> or may be disposed outside the cigarette <NUM>. Also, some of the heaters <NUM> may be inserted into the cigarette <NUM>, and others thereof may be disposed outside the cigarette <NUM>. Also, a shape of the heater <NUM> is not limited thereto and may vary.

The temperature/humidity sensor <NUM> may detect an external temperature and an external humidity of the aerosol generating device <NUM> and provide a detection result to the controller <NUM>. The temperature/humidity sensor <NUM> may be a single sensor capable of detecting both the temperature and humidity, or may be implemented by a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor which are physically or logically combined. For example, the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM> may be implemented by a Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) sensor and a capacitance humidity sensor, but embodiments are not limited thereto.

The cigarette <NUM> may be mounted on the aerosol generating device <NUM> and heated by the heater <NUM> such that the aerosol is generated. Each component of the cigarette <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an example of an aerosol generating device.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, the temperature/ humidity sensor <NUM>, a display <NUM>, and the insertion hole <NUM>. Hereinafter, the descriptions that are already provided with reference to <FIG> will be omitted.

The PCB <NUM> may communicate with the controller <NUM> and electrically combine various components that collect information of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. On a surface of the PCB <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>, and the display <NUM> may be mounted. The battery <NUM> for supplying power to components, which are connected to the PCB <NUM>, is connected to the PCB <NUM>.

The temperature/humidity sensor <NUM> may be surface-mounted on the PCB <NUM>, detect an external temperature and an external humidity of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and transmit a detection result to the controller <NUM>. The temperature/humidity sensor <NUM> may be mounted on the PCB <NUM> or may be disposed adjacent to the insertion hole <NUM> according to embodiments.

The display <NUM> may visually output information, which is necessary for the user from among information generated in the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and controls information to be displayed on a display panel (e.g., LCD panel or an LED panel) disposed on a front surface of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, based on information received from the controller <NUM>.

The insertion hole <NUM> may refer to a cavity into which the cigarette <NUM> may be inserted. When the cigarette <NUM> is inserted into the insertion hole <NUM>, the aerosol may be generated as the heater <NUM>, which is adjacent to the insertion hole <NUM>, is heated. According to the sensitivity of the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>, the temperature/ humidity sensor <NUM> may not be mounted on the PCB <NUM> and may be disposed adjacent to the insertion hole <NUM>.

<FIG> is a drawing illustrating an example of a cigarette.

A cigarette <NUM> which is accommodated in an aerosol generating device <NUM> according to one or more embodiments may also be referred to as an aerosol generating article. The cigarette <NUM> may include a plurality of aerosol generating substrates, and may include different aerosol generating substrates for respective segments.

Referring to <FIG>, the cigarette <NUM> includes a first segment <NUM> and a second segment <NUM>, and different aerosol generating substrates are included in the respective segments <NUM> and <NUM>. For convenience of description, <FIG> illustrates merely the first segment <NUM> and the second segment <NUM> including aerosol generating substrates, and a third segment <NUM> and a fourth segment <NUM> including materials do not generate an aerosol when heated. However, the number of aerosol generating substrates included in the cigarette <NUM> are not limited thereto. Thus, three or more segments may include aerosol generating substrates according to embodiments.

The first segment <NUM> of the cigarette <NUM> may include a first substrate for providing a user with a first smoking sensation by generating an aerosol. As an example, the first segment <NUM> of the cigarette <NUM> may be at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol but is not limited thereto. An aerosol generating substrate included in the first segment <NUM> functions as an element for increasing smoking satisfaction of a user by increasing the amount of glycerin transfer of an aerosol.

The second segment <NUM> of the cigarette <NUM> may include a second substrate for providing the user with a second smoking sensation by generating an aerosol. As an example, the second segment <NUM> of the cigarette <NUM> may be a medium for generating nicotine and may be tobacco including nicotine. The tobacco included in the second segment <NUM> may be cut tobacco which is manufactured in the form of a sheet or a strand. An aerosol generating substrate included in the second segment <NUM> function as another element for increasing smoking satisfaction of the user by increasing the amount of nicotine transfer of an aerosol.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first segment <NUM> and the second segment <NUM> are heated by the heater <NUM>, and the aerosol generating substrates included in the first segment <NUM> and the second segment <NUM> may be heated to form a first gas and a second gas, respectively.

The first gas and the second gas are mixed to finally become an aerosol that the user inhales. Since a vaporization temperature of the first substrate included in the first segment <NUM> is higher than a vaporization temperature of the second substrate included in the second segment <NUM>, depending on embodiments, the depth of a cigarette insertion hole may be formed such that only the first segment <NUM> is heated by the heater <NUM> while the second segment <NUM> is indirectly heated or partially heated by the heated first segment <NUM>. The second segment <NUM> serves as a filter to reduce the first gas generated from the first segment <NUM> to an appropriate amount, and serves to provide the user with a smooth smoking sensation.

The first segment <NUM> and the second segment <NUM> are individually surrounded by a wrapper. Referring to <FIG>, the first segment <NUM> and the second segment <NUM> are surrounded by the first segment wrapper 210a and second segment wrapper 220a, respectively. Particular patterns may be engraved on outer surfaces of the first segment wrapper 210a and the second segment wrapper 220a, and may be detected by a cigarette recognition sensor that will be described later. Also, according to one or more embodiments, the first segment wrapper 210a and the second segment wrapper 220a may respectively surround the first segment <NUM> and the second segment <NUM> and then may be additionally surrounded by aluminum foil paper.

The third segment <NUM> of the cigarette may be a cooling unit. The third segment <NUM> may enable a user to puff an aerosol of a temperature at which the user may puff without difficulty, by cooling aerosols generated in the first segment <NUM> and the second segment <NUM> at an appropriate temperature. As an example, the third segment <NUM> may be manufactured by adding a plasticizer to a cellulose acetate tow and may be a tube-type structure having a hollow inside.

The fourth segment <NUM> of the cigarette may be a filter unit. The fourth segment <NUM> may be manufactured by adding a plasticizer to a cellulose acetate tow. Also, the fourth segment <NUM> may be formed to generate a flavor. As an example, a flavored liquid may be injected onto the fourth segment <NUM> or an additional fiber coated with a flavored liquid may be inserted into the fourth segment <NUM>.

Also, the fourth segment <NUM> may include at least one capsule having a configuration in which a liquid including a flavoring material is wrapped with a film. The capsule may have a spherical or cylindrical shape and may burst by application of preset or higher pressure by the user before or while smoking starts, thereby enabling the user to puff a flavored aerosol. Like the first segment <NUM> and the second segment <NUM>, the fourth segment <NUM> may also be surrounded by wrapper. As an example, polylactic aid wrapper may be used as fourth segment wrapper 240a.

The cigarette <NUM> may further include an outer shell 250a to surround all of the first segment <NUM> to fourth segment <NUM>, and the outer shell 250a processed with a material having high thermal conductivity may be used to further increase the efficiency in which the thermal energy of the heater <NUM> is transferred to the cigarette <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of components included in the controller.

Referring to <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may include a temperature/humidity receiver <NUM>, a profile determiner <NUM>, a fine tuner <NUM>, and a power controller <NUM>. <FIG> shows some components for implementing an embodiment, and thus, according to an embodiment, the controller <NUM> may include other components in addition to the temperature/humidity receiver <NUM>, the profile determiner <NUM>, the fine tuner <NUM>, and the power controller <NUM>. Hereinafter, the detailed descriptions will be provided with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>.

The temperature/humidity receiver <NUM> may receive, from the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>, an external temperature value and an external humidity value detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>. For example, the temperature/humidity receiver <NUM> may receive a result detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> may determine that a current temperature outside the aerosol generating device <NUM> is <NUM> degrees Celsius and current humidity is <NUM> %.

The profile determiner <NUM> determines a temperature profile for the heater <NUM>. The temperature profile indicates information about how to control a temperature of a heater over time. The controller <NUM> may read one of the temperature profiles stored in the memory and control the power supplied to the heater <NUM> according to the read temperature profile. Based on how the power supplied to the heater <NUM> is controlled, a flavor of the aerosol, which is generated as the heater <NUM> is heated, may differ. For example, the user smoking on the aerosol generating device <NUM> may feel a soft or deep impression according to a temperature profile.

In an embodiment, the profile determiner <NUM> may determine one of temperature profiles according to a combination of the temperature and humidity detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>.

Table <NUM> shows correspondence between the sensing results of the external temperature/ humidity and the temperature profiles. Referring to Table <NUM>, the profile determiner <NUM> may classify the detected temperature into a high temperature, a room temperature, and a low temperature, and also classify the detected humidity into high humidity, medium humidity, and low humidity. As temperatures and humidity each are classified into three categories as stated above, types of temperature profiles, which are generated according to combinations of the temperatures and humidity, may be nine in total. According to an embodiment, the profile determiner <NUM> may classify the sensing results more finely, and types of the temperature profiles, which are generated according to the combinations of the temperatures and humidity, may be greater than nine. The profile determiner <NUM> may identify a result of detection by the temperature/ humidity sensor <NUM>, and according to the standards set in advance, the profile determiner <NUM> may determine which standards are close to an external temperature and an external humidity of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. According to the above determination, when the combination of the external temperature and humidity is determined, the profile determiner <NUM> may select, from among temperature profiles stored in advance, a temperature profile corresponding to the determined combination of the temperature and humidity.

In another example, the profile determiner <NUM> may determine a temperature profile regardless of a combination of the temperature and humidity detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>. In this case, the temperature profile is primarily determined by the profile determiner <NUM>, and the combination of the temperature and humidity detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM> is utilized in a process in which the determined temperature profile is secondarily fine-tuned by the user. The descriptions of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the fine tuner <NUM> and <FIG>.

In another embodiment, the profile determiner <NUM> may determine a temperature profile corresponding to a temperature value from among a temperature value and a humidity value detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>. In this case, the temperature profile is primarily determined by the profile determiner <NUM> based on the temperature, and the humidity detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM> may be utilized to determine an adjustment value for the process in which the determined temperature profile is secondarily fine-tuned by the user. The descriptions of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the fine tuner <NUM> and <FIG>.

In another embodiment different from the above embodiments, the profile determiner <NUM> may determine a temperature profile corresponding to the humidity value from among the temperature value and the humidity value detected by the temperature/ humidity sensor <NUM>. In this case, the temperature profile is primarily determined by the profile determiner <NUM> based on the humidity, and the temperature detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM> may be utilized to determine an adjustment value in the process in which the determined temperature profile is secondarily fine-tuned by the user. The descriptions of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the fine tuner <NUM> and <FIG>.

The fine tuner <NUM> outputs adjustment values, and when an adjustment value is determined based on information input from the user, the fine tuner <NUM> fine-tunes a temperature profile in the determined adjustment value.

First of all, the fine tuner <NUM> allows the adjustment values to be output to the display <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The user may identify, with naked eyes, the adjustment values that are output to the display <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and then may select a certain adjustment value by using an input device.

When the adjustment value is determined in response to a user input, the fine tuner <NUM> may fine-tune the temperature profile, which is determined by the profile determiner <NUM>, by the determined adjustment value. The fine tuning indicates that a minor change is made to a temperature profile that is already determined and is introduced in the present disclosure to enable the user to intervene in a series of processes for controlling a temperature of a heater and adjust a flavor of an aerosol generated in a device.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the temperature and humidity detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM> may be used in a process of determining a temperature profile and/or in a process of determining an adjustment value for fine-tuning the determined temperature profile.

In an embodiment, when the profile determiner <NUM> determines a temperature profile based on the combination of the temperature and the humidity detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>, the fine tuner <NUM> may allow the user to select an adjustment value by outputting the adjustment values shown in Table <NUM>. Hereinafter, unit of the adjustment values are assumed to be a degree in Celsius (°C).

Table <NUM> shows an example of adjustment values that are output from the aerosol generating device <NUM>. In detail, Table <NUM> shows one adjustment value group, and the user may select one of adjustment values from Level <NUM> to Level <NUM>. The fine tuner <NUM> may fine-tune the temperature profile that is determined by the profile determiner <NUM> based on the adjustment value (i.e., level) selected by the user. In another embodiment, the fine tuner <NUM> may determine the adjustment values based on combinations of the temperature and humidity detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>. The present embodiment is different from the above embodiment in that both the temperature and the humidity detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM> are used in determining the adjustment value.

Table <NUM> shows another example of adjustment values that are output from the aerosol generating device <NUM>. In detail, Table <NUM> shows nine adjustment value groups, and similarly to Table <NUM>, according to combinations of a high temperature, a room temperature, a low temperature, high humidity, medium humidity, and low humidity, one of the adjustment value groups may be actually output to the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, the adjustment value group <NUM> may be output when the low temperature and low humidity are detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>, and the adjustment value group <NUM> may be output when the high temperature and high humidity are detected. The present embodiment is different from the above embodiment in that gaps between the adjustment values may vary according to combinations of the temperature and humidity in the same adjustment value group. If the user selects one of five adjustment values included in an output adjustment value group, an adjustment value that is a criterion of the fine tuning may be determined.

In another embodiment, the fine tuner <NUM> may determine the adjustment values for the temperature profile determined by the profile determiner <NUM>, based on the humidity detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>. The present embodiment is different from the above embodiments in that the sensing results of the temperature/ humidity sensor <NUM> are used in determining the temperature profile as well as in determining the adjustment value for fine-tuning the determined temperature profile.

Table <NUM> shows another example of adjustment values that are output from the aerosol generating device <NUM>. In detail, Table <NUM> shows three adjustment value groups, and one of the adjustment value groups may be actually output to the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, the adjustment value group <NUM> may be output when the low temperature and low humidity are detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>, and the adjustment value group <NUM> may be output when the high temperature and high humidity are detected. The present embodiment described with reference to Table <NUM> may be similarly applied to other embodiments in which the profile determiner <NUM> determines the temperature profile based on the humidity and the fine tuner <NUM> outputs the adjustment values based on the temperature, thus separate Tables and descriptions will be omitted.

The fine tuner <NUM> may fine-tune the temperature profile by the adjustment value that is determined in the above processes. For example, the highest temperature of the heater <NUM> may decrease to <NUM> or increase to <NUM> from <NUM>, by the fine-tuning, and the variations may depend on the determined adjustment value. Also, Tables <NUM> to <NUM> show that the adjustment values have integer values for convenience of explanation. However, the adjustment values are not limited thereto. Further, the adjustment values may be calculated by a function of time, instead of being a constant in another embodiment.

The power controller <NUM> controls the power, which is supplied to the heater <NUM>, based on the temperature profile that is fine-tuned by the fine tuner <NUM>.

As described above, according to embodiments, at least one of the temperature profile and the adjustment value is determined according to the temperature or humidity detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>, and thus, the aerosol may be generated by reflecting surrounding environmental factors of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The aerosol may provide uniform smoking satisfaction to the user.

Also, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the temperature profile, which is primarily determined, may be secondarily adjusted by the user, and thus, the user may get a new smoking experience. Here, an adjustment value selected by the user is not randomly selected, but is selected within a range (e.g., within an adjustment value group) that is experimentally determined by considering the ambient temperature and humidity. Thus, damage to the aerosol generating device <NUM> because of an indiscreet change by the user may be prevented.

The present disclosure is designed by considering the fact that a weight of a feature, which affects the smoking satisfaction of the user, differs according to climate features of an area where the aerosol generating device <NUM> is used. For example, a temperature difference of one-degree may greatly affect the atomization amount or smoking satisfaction in a high-temperature and high-humidity area, but may rarely affect the atomization amount or smoking satisfaction in a low-temperature area. According to one or more embodiments, an optimum aerosol, which may provide the highest satisfaction to the user, may be generated by considering characteristics of an area where the user currently stands.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method of controlling a temperature of a heater of an aerosol generating device, according to an embodiment.

The method of <FIG> may be implemented by using the aerosol generating device <NUM> of <FIG> and the controller <NUM> of <FIG>, and thus, the descriptions that are already provided with reference to <FIG> and <FIG> will be omitted. The method will be described with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>.

In operation S510, the temperature/humidity receiver <NUM> receives a value regarding an external temperature/humidity of the aerosol generating device <NUM> from the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>.

In operation S530, the profile determiner <NUM> determines a temperature profile of the heater according to a combination of the temperature and humidity detected by the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>.

In operation S550, the fine tuner <NUM> outputs adjustment values and fine-tunes the temperature profile, which is determined in operation S530, in response to a user input.

In operation S570, the power controller <NUM> controls the power supplied to the heater <NUM> according to the temperature profile that is fine-tuned in operation S550.

The method of <FIG> is also described in detail above with reference to Table <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method of controlling a temperature of a heater of an aerosol generating device, according to another embodiment.

In operation S610, the temperature/humidity receiver <NUM> receives the value regarding the external temperature/humidity of the aerosol generating device <NUM> from the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>.

In operation S630, the profile determiner <NUM> determines the temperature profile of the heater by reading a memory or a database.

In operation S650, the fine tuner <NUM> determines the adjustment values to be output, according to the combination of the temperature and humidity.

In operation S670, the fine tuner <NUM> outputs the adjustment values, which are determined in operation S650, and fine-tunes the temperature profile, which is determined in operation S630, in response to the user input.

In operation S690, the power controller <NUM> controls the power supplied to the heater <NUM> according to the temperature profile that is fine-tuned in operation S670.

In operation S710, the temperature/humidity receiver <NUM> receives the value regarding the external temperature/humidity of the aerosol generating device <NUM> from the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>.

In operation S730, the profile determiner <NUM> determines the temperature profile of the heater according to the detected temperature.

In operation S750, the fine tuner <NUM> determines the adjustment values to be output, according to the detected humidity.

In operation S770, the fine tuner <NUM> outputs the adjustment values, which are determined in operation S750, and fine-tunes the temperature profile, which is determined in operation S730, by using the adjustment value selected in response to the user input.

In operation S790, the power controller <NUM> controls the power supplied to the heater <NUM> by using the temperature profile that is fine-tuned in operation S770.

In operation S810, the temperature/humidity receiver <NUM> receives the value regarding the external temperature/humidity of the aerosol generating device <NUM> from the temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>.

In operation S830, the profile determiner <NUM> determines the temperature profile of the heater according to the detected humidity.

In operation S850, the fine tuner <NUM> determines the adjustment values to be output, according to the detected temperature.

In operation S870, the fine tuner <NUM> outputs the adjustment values, which are determined in operation S850, and fine-tunes the temperature profile, which is determined in operation S830, by the adjustment value selected in response to the user input.

In operation S890, the power controller <NUM> controls the power supplied to the heater <NUM> by using the temperature profile that is fine-tuned in operation S870.

The methods of <FIG> and <FIG> are also described in detail above with reference to Table <NUM>.

The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in the form of a computer program which may be executed on a computer via various types of components, and such a computer program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The medium may include a magnetic medium such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, and a magnetic tape, an optical recording medium such as CD-ROM and DVD, a magneto-optical medium such as a floptical disk, and a hardware device specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, and flash memory.

The computer program is specifically designed and configured for the present disclosure but may be known to and used by one of ordinary skill in the computer software field. Examples of the computer program may include a high-level language code which may be executed using an interpreter or the like by a computer, as well as a machine language code such as that made by a complier.

The specific implementations described in the present disclosure are example embodiments and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. For brevity of the specification, descriptions of existing electronic configurations, control systems, software, and other functional aspects of the systems may be omitted. Connections of lines or connection members between components illustrated in the drawings illustratively show functional connections and/or physical or circuit connections and may be represented as alternative or additional various functional connections, physical connections, or circuit connections in an actual device. Unless specifically mentioned, such as "essential", "importantly", etc., the components may not be necessary components for application of the present disclosure.

As used herein (in particular, in claims), use of the term "the" and similar indication terms may correspond to both singular and plural. When a range is described in the present disclosure, the present disclosure may include the invention to which individual values belonging to the range are applied (unless contrary description), and each individual value constituting the range is the same as being described in the detailed description of the disclosure. Unless there is an explicit description of the order of the steps constituting the method according to the present disclosure or a contrary description, the steps may be performed in an appropriate order. The present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the description order of the steps. The use of all examples or example terms (for example, etc.) is merely for describing the present disclosure in detail, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited by the examples or the example terms unless the examples or the example terms are limited by claims. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications, combinations, and changes may be made according to the design conditions and factors within the scope of the appended claims.

At least one of the components, elements, modules or units (collectively "components" in this paragraph) represented by a block in the drawings, such as the controller <NUM>, the temperature/ humidity receiver <NUM>, the profile determiner <NUM>, the fine tuner <NUM>, and the power controller <NUM>, may be embodied as various numbers of hardware, software and/or firmware structures that execute respective functions described above, according to an embodiment. For example, at least one of these components may use a direct circuit structure, such as a memory, a processor, a logic circuit, a look-up table, etc. that may execute the respective functions through controls of one or more microprocessors or other control apparatuses. Also, at least one of these components may be specifically embodied by a module, a program, or a part of code, which contains one or more executable instructions for performing specified logic functions, and executed by one or more microprocessors or other control apparatuses. Further, at least one of these components may include or may be implemented by a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) that performs the respective functions, a microprocessor, or the like. Two or more of these components may be combined into one single component which performs all operations or functions of the combined two or more components. Also, at least part of functions of at least one of these components may be performed by another of these components. Further, although a bus is not illustrated in the above block diagrams, communication between the components may be performed through the bus. Functional aspects of the above exemplary embodiments may be implemented in algorithms that execute on one or more processors. Furthermore, the components represented by a block or processing steps may employ any number of related art techniques for electronics configuration, signal processing and/or control, data processing and the like.

Claim 1:
A method of controlling a temperature of a heater (<NUM>) of an aerosol generating device (<NUM>), the method comprising:
detecting an external temperature and an external humidity of the aerosol generating device (<NUM>);
determining a temperature profile of the heater (<NUM>);
outputting a plurality of adjustment values;
determining an adjustment value from among the plurality of adjustment values based on a user input;
fine-tuning the temperature profile based on the determined adjustment value; and
controlling power supplied to the heater (<NUM>) based on the fine-tuned temperature profile,
wherein at least one of the temperature profile and the plurality of adjustment values is determined based on at least one of the external temperature and the external humidity.