Patent Description:
An existing heated non-combustible aerosol generating device conventionally applies a heating element to heat an aerosol generating substrate to form a continuous smoking effect for a user to inhale. After the inhalation is completed, the user pulls the aerosol generating substrate out of the heating element to realize the separation of the heating element and the aerosol generating substrate.

The aerosol generating substrate may produce a certain amount of adhesive attached to the heating element after heating, forming a bonded state, and the adhesive will remain on the surface of the heating element to accumulate further, resulting in a certain degree of increase in the outer diameter of the heating element, which causes the loss of the heating element loss, thereby affecting the taste of fuming products and reducing the life of the heated non-combustible aerosol generating device.

In <CIT>, a system for managing a smoking substitute device is disclosed. The system includes a smoking substitute device, which includes a main body and a consumable configured to be physically coupled to the main body; wherein the consumable is associated with validity state information from which it can be determined whether the consumable is valid for use with the main body; wherein the system is configured to determine from the validity state information whether the consumable is valid for use with the main body and, if the system determines from the validity state information that the consumable is not valid for use with the main body, inhibit use of the consumable with the main body. An associated method is also disclosed. In <CIT>, the disclosure includes a system for administering a dosage of an inhalable product to a user including a vaporizing device for converting an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) into the inhalable product to treat an affliction. The vaporizing device includes a communication element to send/receive at least one piece of dosage data to/from a portable electronic device, the dosage data corresponding to one or more properties of the dosage. The system also includes at least one processor and a memory. Memory includes machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to receive an indicator corresponding to the API utilized by the vaporizing device, to determine the dosage for the API utilized by the vaporizing device, to transmit, to the user, instructions for administering the dosage, and to request feedback from the user regarding the efficacy of the dosage.

The present invention provides an aerosol generating device and a data exchange method, as set out in the appended claims <NUM> and <NUM>, to solve the problem of the related art in which heating elements cannot be easily replaced.

The beneficial effect of the present disclosure is that, in contrast to the related art, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating device including a main body; and a heat generating assembly detachably connected to the main body. The main body includes a second conductive terminal. The heat generating assembly includes a heat generating body and a first conductive terminal connected to the heat generating body. When the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal are connected, the main body is configured to supply power to the heat generating body, The heat generating assembly includes first identification information, the first identification information may be configured to be identified by a server. The main body is configured to obtain characteristic parameters provided by the server according to the first identification information and to heat the heat generating assembly according to the characteristic parameters for further heating the aerosol generating substrate with the heat generating assembly to generate aerosol. The characteristic parameters correspond to a type of the heat generating assembly. The characteristic parameters include heat generating body parameters and heating parameters in the heat generating assembly; the heat generating body parameters represent a corresponding relationship between a resistance value and a temperature of the heat generating body of the heat generating assembly. The main body is further configured to detect the resistance value of the heat generating body, determine the temperature of the heat generating body according to the heat generating body parameters, and heat the heat generating assembly according to the temperature of the heat generating body and the heating parameters.

In the above manner, by setting the heat generating assembly in a detachable structure and setting the first identification information on the heat generating assembly, the server can generate corresponding characteristic parameters according to the first identification information. On the one hand, the parts of the aerosol generating device can be replaced at will, reducing the cost of use; and on the other hand, ensuring that when the parts are replaced, they are not replaced with counterfeit parts, which affect the user's use. In addition, the characteristic parameters are protected in the server, reducing the cost of storage media and facilitating the real-time update of the product.

To illustrate the technical solutions more clearly in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the following will be briefly described in the description of the embodiments required to use the attached drawings. It is obvious that the following description of the attached drawings are only some of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and those skilled in the art, without creative work, can also obtain other attached drawings based on these drawings.

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. It can be understood that the specific embodiments described here are only used to explain the present disclosure, but not to limit the present disclosure. In addition, it should be noted that, for ease of description, the drawings only show a part of the structure related to the present disclosure instead of all the structure. Based on the embodiments in the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

The terms "first", "second", etc. in the present disclosure are intended to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific sequence. In addition, the terms "including" and "having", and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but optionally includes unlisted steps or units, or optionally also includes other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices.

Mentioning "embodiments" herein means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The appearance of the phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. Those skilled in the art clearly and implicitly understand that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> is a structural schematic view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> is a schematic view of data interaction between an aerosol generating device and a server according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a structural schematic view of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The left half of <FIG> shows an overall schematic view of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and the right half shows a disassembly schematic view thereof. The aerosol generating device <NUM> includes a main body <NUM> and a heat generating assembly <NUM>. The main body <NUM> and the heat generating assembly <NUM> are detachably connected.

Specifically, the heat generating assembly <NUM> includes first identification information, and the first identification information may be configured to be identified by a server <NUM>. The main body <NUM> is configured to obtain characteristic parameters provided by the server <NUM> according to the first identification information and to heat the heat generating assembly according to the characteristic parameters for further heating the aerosol generating substrate with the heat generating assembly to generate aerosol. The characteristic parameters correspond to a type of the heat generating assembly.

Among them, the characteristic parameters are formed according to different types of heat generating assemblies <NUM>. Due to the influence of factors such as the material, process, and manufacturing device of a heat generating body in the heat generating assemblies <NUM>, its characteristic parameters (such as "temperature T-resistance R" curve, initial resistance value R0, temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), etc.) are different. During product production, the heat generating assembly <NUM> is placed in a testing device to test the characteristic parameters of the heat generating assembly <NUM> of different types.

In some embodiments, the server <NUM> stores a characteristic parameter-first identification information data packet. After the server <NUM> obtains the first identification information, the server <NUM> may unlock the characteristic parameter-first identification information data packet through the first identification information to generate corresponding characteristic parameters and provide to the main body <NUM>.

In other embodiments, the server <NUM> stores a corresponding algorithm. After the first identification information is input, the characteristic parameters are obtained through the algorithm and provided to the main body <NUM>.

Specifically, the first identification information may be the unique identification information of each heat generating assembly <NUM> or the unique identification information of the heat generating assemblies <NUM> of the same type. Therefore, the characteristic parameters obtained according to the first identification information may correspond to a unique heat generating assembly <NUM>.

In other embodiments, the characteristic parameters correspond to heat generating assembly <NUM> of a type. Since the characteristic parameters are fixed, only the said characteristic parameters can be applied to heat the adapted heat generating assembly <NUM>. When the type of the connected heat generating assembly <NUM> does not correspond to the type corresponding to the characteristic parameters, the heat generating assembly <NUM> may not heat the aerosol generating substrate well and the aerosol inhalation taste will become poor. In this way, it is possible to prevent changing the type of the heat generating assembly <NUM> at will. When the user replaces the heat generating assembly <NUM>, only the heat generating assembly <NUM> of the same type can be replaced.

In some embodiments, the main body <NUM> specifically includes a first main body portion 11a and a second main body portion 11b. The first main body portion 11a is configured to accommodate a battery, and the second main body portion 11b is configured to accommodate a controller, etc. and to connect with the heat generating assembly <NUM>. For example, the second main body portion 11b is arranged with a first connector, and the heat generating assembly <NUM> is arranged with a second connector for connecting the second body portion 11b and the heat generating assembly <NUM>. In some embodiments, the first and second connector may be a buckle, a screw, or the like. In addition, the heat generating assembly <NUM> may also be connected to the first main body portion 11a through a bottom.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating device <NUM> further includes a first cover <NUM> and a second cover <NUM> that are detachably connected to the main body <NUM>. When the heat generating assembly <NUM> is fixedly connected to the main body <NUM>, the first cover <NUM> may be sleeved on the heat generating assembly <NUM> to protect the heat generating assembly <NUM>; further, the second cover <NUM> may be sleeved on the heat generating assembly <NUM> (or the first cover <NUM>) and the second main body portion 11b for protecting the heat generating assembly <NUM> and the second main body portion 11b.

In some embodiments, the characteristic parameters include heat generating body parameters and heating parameters in the heat generating assembly <NUM>. The heat generating body parameters represent a corresponding relationship between the resistance value and the temperature of the heat generating body.

Among them, the heat generating body parameters are formed according to different types of heat generating assemblies <NUM>. Due to the influence of factors such as the material, process, and manufacturing device of a heat generating body in the heat generating assembly <NUM>, its characteristic parameters (such as "temperature T-resistance R" curve, initial resistance value R0, temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), etc.) are different. During product production, the heat generating assembly <NUM> is placed in a testing device to test the characteristic parameters of the heat generating assembly <NUM> of different types.

Among them, the heating parameter may specifically be a "temperature-time variation curve" to determine that the heat generating body is heated to different degrees over time. As shown in <FIG> is a schematic view of a temperature-time change curve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

For example, the controller may control the temperature of the heat generating body according to a preset temperature-time curve with a PID algorithm. The "temperature-time" curve refers to the heating curve for tobacco.

The following describes embodiments through a specific scenario.

When a user uses the electronic cigarette (aerosol generating device <NUM>) to smoke, he/she may connect the main body <NUM> and the heat generating assembly <NUM>, and alternatively turn on a switch button arranged on the main body <NUM>. At this time, the electronic cigarette starts to work.

The main body <NUM> obtains the characteristic parameters in the server <NUM>, obtains the corresponding relationship between the resistance value and the temperature of the heat generating body in the heat generating assembly <NUM>, and starts timing. Then the main body <NUM> obtains the current resistance value of the heat generating body, obtains the current temperature of the heat generating body based on the heat generating body parameters, and controls the voltage of the heat generating body through the "temperature-time" curve.

It can be understood that, to heat the aerosol substrate (such as tobacco) to obtain a better taste, the required heating temperature is different in different time periods. In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the abscissa represents time, and the ordinate represents temperature.

In the T0-T1 time period, the heat generating body is heated to increase its temperature from normal temperature WO to temperature W1.

In the T1-T2 time period, the temperature of the heat generating body is kept at W1.

In the T2-T3 time period, the temperature of the heat generating body is decreased from W1 to temperature W2.

In the T3-T4 time period, the temperature of the heat generating body is kept at W2.

After T4, the temperature of the heat generating body is decreased from W2 to normal temperature.

Among them, in a specific embodiment, the value of T1 may be <NUM>-<NUM>, the value of T2 may be <NUM>-<NUM>, the value of W1 may be <NUM>-<NUM>, and the value of W2 may be <NUM>-<NUM>.

In an embodiment, T1=<NUM>, T2=<NUM>, W1=<NUM>, W2=<NUM>. Suppose that when the temperature of the heat generating body drops by <NUM>, its resistance decreases by <NUM>. 28mΩ, then when the temperature drops from W1 to W2, that is, when the temperature drops by <NUM>, its resistance is required to be lowered by <NUM>*<NUM>.

Further, when using electric energy to control the heating temperature of the heat generating body, methods may include changing the pulse frequency and/or pulse amplitude and/or duty cycle of the power supplied to the heat generating body to provide temperature control of the heat generating body, such that the aerosol device may be controlled to release smoke with a better taste. As shown in <FIG> is a schematic view of a pulse voltage according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, when an enable switch is turned on in the t1 time period, and the battery provides electric energy to the heat generating body; the enable switch is closed in the t2 time period, and the battery does not provide electric energy to the heat generating body. Therefore, the temperature of the heat generating body can be adjusted by adjusting the percentage of t1 in the period T. Specifically, increasing the duty ratio of t1, the temperature of the heat generating body increases, and decreasing the duty ratio of t1, the temperature of the heat generating body decreases.

In practical applications, the main body <NUM> and the heat generating assembly <NUM> may be sold as a whole, and one or two of the main body <NUM> and the heat generating assembly <NUM> may be sold in combination, which can facilitate the user to replace any of the components. For example, the user may purchase the main body <NUM> and the heat generating assembly <NUM> at the same time when purchasing for the first time. During use, when the heat generating assembly <NUM> is worn out and required to be replaced, only the heat generating assembly <NUM> of the same type as the previous one is required to be purchased.

It is to be noted that when the new heat generating assembly <NUM> purchased by the user has a different type compared with the worn out one, the main body <NUM> can still obtain the characteristic parameters corresponding to the heat generating assembly <NUM> from the server <NUM> according to the first identification information of the heat generating assembly <NUM> and heat the heat generating body <NUM> according to the corresponding characteristic parameters. In this way, even if one of the components is replaced, the heating effect and taste will not be affected.

Through the above method, the user may mix and match at will, rather than buying in a bundle with a poor experience, thus stimulating his/her desire to purchase.

Different from the related art, the aerosol generating device provided in the embodiments includes: a main body; and a heat generating assembly detachably connected to the main body. The heat generating assembly includes first identification information, the first identification information may be configured to be identified by a server. The main body is configured to obtain characteristic parameters provided by the server according to the first identification information and to heat the heat generating assembly according to the characteristic parameters for further heating the aerosol generating substrate with the heat generating assembly to generate aerosol. The characteristic parameters correspond to a type of the heat generating assembly. In the above manner, by setting the heat generating assembly in a detachable structure and setting the first identification information on the heat generating assembly, the server can generate corresponding characteristic parameters according to the first identification information. On the one hand, the parts of the aerosol generating device can be replaced at will, reducing the cost of use; and on the other hand, ensuring that when the parts are replaced, they are not replaced with counterfeit parts, which affect the user's use. In addition, the characteristic parameters are protected in the server, reducing the cost of storage media and facilitating the real-time update of the product.

Referring to <FIG>, the main body <NUM> includes a controller <NUM> and a communication module <NUM>, and the main body <NUM> can perform data interaction with the server <NUM> through the communication module <NUM> to obtain the characteristic parameters.

In a specific embodiment, the main body <NUM> establishes a data connection with an external terminal, the heat generating assembly <NUM> sends the first identification information to the server <NUM> through the external terminal, and the main body <NUM> further obtains the characteristic parameters obtained by the server <NUM> according to the first identification information from the server <NUM> through the external terminal.

Specifically, the external terminal may be a PC terminal, such as a computer, etc., or a mobile terminal, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, etc..

In a specific embodiment, the main body <NUM> may establish a data connection with the external terminal through the communication module <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the communication module <NUM> may be any one or more of a WIFI communication module, a Bluetooth communication module, or a near field communication (NFC) communication module. The communication module <NUM> may also be a data interface, etc., and perform data interaction with the external terminal through a data line. The main body <NUM> performs data interaction with the external terminal through the communication module <NUM> to obtain the characteristic parameters. The controller <NUM> heats the heat generating assembly <NUM> according to the characteristic parameters obtained by the communication module <NUM>.

In a specific embodiment, the first identification information is a serial number. In the replacement process, the server <NUM> can obtain the serial number and generate related characteristic parameters through the external terminal such as a PC or a mobile terminal as a medium.

In a specific embodiment, the first identification information is a two-dimensional code or/and a barcode. In the replacement process, the server <NUM> can scan the two-dimensional code or/and barcode through the external terminal such as a mobile terminal as a medium and generate the related characteristic parameters according to the two-dimensional code or/and barcode. Among them, the characteristic parameters stored by the server <NUM> are generated according to the first identification information.

In a specific embodiment, the communication module <NUM> is not limited to wireless communication such as a WIFI communication module, a Bluetooth communication module, or NFC, and may also directly perform wired communication through a data line, which is not limited here.

In a specific embodiment, the first identification information may also be RFID tag information with higher security. In the replacement process, the server <NUM> may obtain the RFID tag information through a RFID identifier as a medium and generate related characteristic parameters. The security of RFID tag information is better, and it is not easy to be plagiarized, replaced, and modified.

In a specific embodiment, the main body <NUM> may further include second identification information. The second identification information is similar to the first identification information, and may be one or more of a serial number, a two-dimensional code, a barcode, and RFID tag information. The second identification information may also be configured to be identified by the server <NUM>, and the main body is configured to obtain basic parameters generated by the server <NUM> according to the second identification information, and update and/or upgrade according to the basic parameters.

Specifically, the main body <NUM> may directly obtain relevant basic parameters from the server <NUM> directly through its own second identification information, so as to perform a soft update and/or upgrade of itself.

Further, the main body <NUM> specifically includes a housing assembly and a controller arranged in the housing assembly. The heat generating assembly <NUM> is detachably connected to the housing assembly. When connected with the housing assembly, the heat generating assembly <NUM> is electrically connected with the controller. The controller is configured to obtain the characteristic parameters from the server <NUM> and heat the heat generating assembly <NUM> according to the characteristic parameters, so as to further use the heat generating assembly <NUM> to heat the aerosol generating substrate to generate aerosol. The controller is configured to obtain the characteristic parameters from the server <NUM> with the communication module <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> is a structural schematic view of an aerosol generating device according to further another embodiment of the present disclosure. The aerosol generating device <NUM> includes a main body <NUM> and a heat generating assembly <NUM>. The main body <NUM> and the heat generating assembly <NUM> are detachably connected.

In some embodiments, the heat generating assembly <NUM> includes a first conductive terminal <NUM>, and the main body <NUM> includes a controller <NUM> and a second conductive terminal <NUM> connected to the controller <NUM>. When the first conductive terminal <NUM> and the second conductive terminal <NUM> are connected, the main body <NUM> can supply power to the heat generating assembly <NUM>. The heat generating assembly <NUM> specifically includes a heat generating body, and the main body <NUM> is specifically configured to supply power to the heat generating body.

Referring to <FIG> is a structural schematic view of a heat generating assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The heat generating assembly <NUM> includes a first conductive terminal <NUM> and a heat generating body <NUM>. The heat generating assembly <NUM> is configured to detachably connect to the main body of the aerosol generating device. When connected to the main body <NUM>, the first conductive terminal <NUM> is electrically connected to the second conductive terminal <NUM> of the main body <NUM>.

The heat generating assembly <NUM> includes first identification information, and the first identification information may be configured to be identified by a server <NUM>. The main body <NUM> is configured to obtain characteristic parameters provided by the server <NUM> according to the first identification information and to heat the heat generating assembly <NUM> according to the characteristic parameters for further heating the aerosol generating substrate with the heat generating assembly <NUM> to generate aerosol.

Referring to <FIG>, the present disclosure further provides a server <NUM>, which is configured for data exchange with the aerosol generating device <NUM> described in any of the above embodiments.

Specifically, the server <NUM> is configured to identify the first identification information of the heat generating assembly <NUM> to provide characteristic parameters, which may be originally stored in the server, although the first identification information is provided after being verified and unlocked. The characteristic parameters may also be generated by calculating the first identification information by a corresponding algorithm, which is not limited herein. The server <NUM> sends the characteristic parameters to the main body <NUM>, such that the main body <NUM> heats the heat generating assembly <NUM> according to the characteristic parameters. In this way, the main body <NUM> further uses the heat generating body <NUM> to heat the aerosol generating substrate to generate aerosol, and the characteristic parameters correspond to a type of the heat generating body <NUM>.

It can be understood that the foregoing heat generating assembly and server embodiments are similar to the structure and working principle of the heat generating assembly and server in the foregoing embodiment of the aerosol generating device, and will not be repeated here.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic flowchart of a data interaction method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The data interaction method is specifically applied to an external terminal, and the external terminal may be configured as a medium for data interaction with an aerosol generating device <NUM> and a server <NUM>.

At block S11: obtaining first identification information of a heat generating assembly in the aerosol generating device.

The first identification information of the heat generating assembly in the aerosol generating device is obtained.

Specifically, the external terminal may be a PC terminal or a mobile terminal, and the aerosol generating device includes a main body and the heat generating assembly. The heat generating assembly has the first identification information.

In a specific embodiment, the first identification information may specifically be a two-dimensional code and/or a barcode, and the mobile terminal may recognize the two-dimensional code and/or barcode to obtain the first identification information.

At block S12: sending the first identification information to the server.

The first identification information is sent to the server.

At block S13: obtaining characteristic parameters provided by the server according to the first identification information.

After the server receives the first identification information, it generates the characteristic parameters accordingly, and the characteristic parameters provided by the server according to the first identification information are obtained.

At block S14: sending the characteristic parameters to a main body in the aerosol generating device, such that the main body heats the heat generating assembly according to the characteristic parameters for further heating the aerosol generating substrate with the heat generating assembly to generate aerosol.

After obtaining the characteristic parameters provided by the server, the characteristic parameters are sent to the main body in the aerosol generating device, such that the main body can heat the heat generating assembly according to the characteristic parameters, and the main body can further use the heat generating assembly to heat the aerosol generating substrate to generate aerosol. The characteristic parameters correspond to a type of the heat generating assembly.

Claim 1:
An aerosol generating device (<NUM>), comprising:
a main body (<NUM>), comprising a second conductive terminal (<NUM>); and
a heat generating assembly (<NUM>), comprising a heat generating body (<NUM>) and a first conductive terminal (<NUM>) connected to the heat generating body (<NUM>); wherein when the first conductive terminal (<NUM>) and the second conductive terminal (<NUM>) are connected, the main body (<NUM>) is configured to supply power to the heat generating body (<NUM>);
the heat generating assembly (<NUM>) comprises first identification information, and the first identification information is configured to be identified by a server (<NUM>);
the main body (<NUM>) is configured to obtain characteristic parameters provided by the server (<NUM>) according to the first identification information and to heat the heat generating assembly (<NUM>) according to the characteristic parameters, for further heating an aerosol generating substrate with the heat generating assembly (<NUM>) to generate aerosol; the characteristic parameters correspond to a type of the heat generating assembly (<NUM>);
characterized by, the characteristic parameters comprise heat generating body parameters and heating parameters in the heat generating assembly (<NUM>); the heat generating body parameters represent a corresponding relationship between a resistance value and a temperature of the heat generating body (<NUM>) of the heat generating assembly (<NUM>);
the main body (<NUM>) is further configured to detect the resistance value of the heat generating body (<NUM>), determine the temperature of the heat generating body (<NUM>) according to the heat generating body parameters, and heat the heat generating assembly (<NUM>) according to the temperature of the heat generating body (<NUM>) and the heating parameters.