Patent Description:
Recently, the demand for an alternative to traditional combustive cigarettes has increased. For example, there is growing demand for an aerosol generating device which generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material, instead of combusting aerosol generating materials. Accordingly, researches on a heating-type aerosol generating articles or heating-type aerosol generating device has been actively conducted.

In addition, there is a need for an aerosol generating article that is hygienic and capable of continuously and uniformly discharging nicotine even when heated to a low temperature.

<CIT> presents a heated aerosol generating article, which comprises: a cigarette raw material portion; and a filter portion coupled to at least one end of both ends of the cigarette raw material portion, wherein an aerosol forming base material of the cigarette raw material portion has a particle diameter of <NUM> to <NUM>. In addition, a non-heated aerosol generating article is disclosed, which comprises: a cigarette raw material portion; and a filter portion coupled to at least one end of both ends of the cigarette raw material portion, wherein an aerosol forming base material of the cigarette raw material portion has a particle diameter of <NUM> to <NUM>.

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure provide an aerosol generating article capable of continuously and uniformly discharging nicotine even when heated to a low temperature.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the presented embodiments.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generating article includes: a first segment arranged at an upstream end portion to be inserted into an aerosol generating device; a second segment arranged at a downstream end portion to contact a user's mouth; and a third segment arranged between the first segment and the second segment, and including a cooling element to cool an aerosol, wherein the first segment may include a first filter portion; a second filter portion; and a medium portion arranged between the first filter portion and the second filter portion, and comprising an aerosol generating substrate and a pH adjuster such that an aerosol containing <NUM>µg or more of nicotine is discharged per puff when the medium portion is heated at <NUM> or lower.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generating system includes: an aerosol generating article; and an aerosol generating device into which the aerosol generating article is inserted, wherein the aerosol generating device may include a battery and a heater heated by power supplied from the battery, and the aerosol generating article may include: a first segment arranged at an upstream end portion to be inserted into the aerosol generating device; a second segment arranged at a downstream end portion to contact a user's mouth; and a third segment arranged between the first segment and the second segment, and including a cooling element to cool an aerosol, wherein the first segment may include: a first filter portion; a second filter portion; and a medium portion arranged between the first filter portion and the second filter portion, comprising an aerosol generating substrate and a pH adjuster such that an aerosol containing <NUM>µg or more of nicotine is discharged per puff when the medium portion is heated at a temperature of <NUM> or lower.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the medium portion may be prevented from falling off by arranging the medium portion including the pH adjuster between the two filter portions. Since the aerosol generating article is made for a single use, it may enhance hygiene. Even if the aerosol generating article is heated at a low temperature, it may be possible to achieve sustained, uniform, and adequate nicotine transfer. In addition, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, when the aerosol generating article is inserted into the aerosol generating device, a heater may be arranged to surround the medium portion, thereby increasing the efficiency of heat transfer and reducing power consumption.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. It is to be appreciated that the scope of the disclosure should be defined by the appended claims.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generating article includes: a first segment arranged at an upstream end portion to be inserted into an aerosol generating device; a second segment arranged at a downstream end portion to contact a user's mouth; and a third segment arranged between the first segment and the second segment, and including a cooling element to cool an aerosol, wherein the first segment may include: a first filter portion; a second filter portion; and a medium portion arranged between the first filter portion and the second filter portion, and comprising an aerosol generating substrate and a pH adjuster such that an aerosol containing <NUM>µg or more of nicotine is discharged per puff when the medium portion is heated at <NUM> or lower.

The first filter portion, the medium portion, and the second filter portion may be surrounded by a single wrapper.

The pH adjuster includes potassium carbonate (K<NUM>CO<NUM>).

The medium portion may further include a binder, and the binder may include at least one of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and gum.

Lengths of the first filter portion, the medium portion, and the second filter portion may be in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>.

A weight of the medium portion may be in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>.

The aerosol generating substrate of the medium portion may include nicotine, and a weight of nicotine contained in the aerosol discharged from the medium portion after heating may be <NUM> % to <NUM> % of a weight of nicotine in the medium portion before heating.

When the medium portion is heated at a temperature of <NUM> or lower, an aerosol containing <NUM>µg to <NUM>µg of nicotine per puff may be discharged during at least <NUM> consecutive puffs.

When the aerosol generating article is inserted into the aerosol generating device, the heater may be arranged to surround at least a portion of an outer surface of the medium portion.

The term "aerosol generating article" may refer to an article containing an aerosol generating material, which is combined with an aerosol generating device. The shape, size, material, and structure of the aerosol generating article may differ according to embodiments. Examples of the aerosol generating article may include, but are not limited to, a cigarette-shaped substrate (hereinafter "cigarette") and a cartridge.

As used herein, terms including an ordinal number such as "first" or "second" may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms may be used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from other components.

In the following embodiments, terms "upstream" and "downstream" refer to a relative position or direction between segments that make up an aerosol generating article. When a user inhales air on a smoking article, air flows in a downstream direction. In other words, a portion where air enters the aerosol generating article from the outside is "upstream" and a portion where air goes out of the aerosol generating article is "downstream".

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating system <NUM> may include aerosol generating device <NUM> and aerosol generating article <NUM> inserted the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a battery <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a heater <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may further include a vaporizer <NUM>. Also, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be inserted into an inner space of the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

When the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may operate the heater <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM> to generate aerosol from the aerosol generating article <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM>. The aerosol generated by the heater <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM> is delivered to a user by passing through the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

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

For example, when the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the heater <NUM> may be located outside the aerosol generating article <NUM>. Thus, the heated heater <NUM> may increase a temperature of an aerosol generating material in the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

Here, the desired temperature may be pre-set in the aerosol generating device <NUM> or may be set by a user.

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

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

The vaporizer <NUM> may generate aerosol by heating a liquid composition and the generated aerosol may pass through the aerosol generating article <NUM> to be delivered to a user. In other words, the aerosol generated via the vaporizer <NUM> may move along an air flow passage of the aerosol generating device <NUM> and the air flow passage may be configured such that the aerosol generated via the vaporizer <NUM> passes through the aerosol generating article <NUM> to be delivered to the user.

As a result, the aerosol may be generated.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> may further include general-purpose components in addition to the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, and the vaporizer <NUM>. For example, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a display capable of outputting visual information and/or a motor for outputting haptic information. Also, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include at least one sensor. Also, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be formed as a structure that, even when the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, may introduce external air or discharge internal air.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> may be divided into a first segment including an aerosol generating material, a second segment including a filter or the like, and a third segment including a cooling element. Alternatively, the first segment of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may include a filter or the like.

The first segment may be completely inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and the third segment and the second segment may be partially exposed to the outside. Alternatively, the first segment may be partially inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, or the entire first segment and a portion of the third segment may be inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>. A user may inhale while holding the second segment by the mouth of the user. In that case, the aerosol is generated when air from the outside passes through the first segment, and the generated aerosol is delivered to the user's mouth through the third segment and the second segment.

As an example, air may flow in from the outside through at least one air passage formed within the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, opening and closing of the air passage formed within the aerosol generating device <NUM> and/or a size of the air passage may be regulated by the user. Therefore, an amount of atomization and a smoking taste may be regulated by the user. As another example, air from the outside may flow into the aerosol generating article <NUM> through at least one hole formed on a surface of the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

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

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an aerosol generating article, according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, an aerosol generating article <NUM> includes a first segment <NUM>, a second segment <NUM>, a third segment <NUM>, and a wrapper <NUM>. The first segment <NUM> may include a medium portion <NUM>, a first filter portion <NUM>, and a second filter portion <NUM>.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> may include an upstream end portion to be inserted into an aerosol generating device and a downstream end portion to contact a user's mouth. The first segment <NUM> may be arranged at the upstream end portion of the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

The first segment <NUM> may include the medium portion <NUM>, the first filter portion <NUM> arranged to face an upstream end portion of the medium portion <NUM>, and the second filter portion <NUM> arranged to face a downstream end portion of the medium portion <NUM>. The first filter portion <NUM>, the medium portion <NUM>, and the second filter portion <NUM> may be arranged in a row, and the first filter portion <NUM> and the second filter portion <NUM> may be formed in a structure in which the first filter portion <NUM> and the second filter portion <NUM> seal the medium portion <NUM> on both sides of the medium portion <NUM>. By doing so, the medium portion <NUM> may be prevented from falling off, and the medium portion <NUM> may be evenly distributed so that an amount of nicotine transfer may be uniform.

The medium portion <NUM> of the first segment <NUM> may include an aerosol generating substrate (i.e., aerosol generating material). For example, the aerosol generating substrate may include 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. The aerosol generating substrate may include nicotine.

The medium portion <NUM> may also contain other additives such as flavoring agents, wetting agents, and/or organic acids. The wetting agents maintain the moisture in granules at an appropriate level to soften the inherent taste and enrich the amount of atomization. The flavoring agents may include licorice, sucrose, fructose syrup, isosweet, cocoa, lavender, cinnamon, cardamom, celery, fenugreek, cascarilla, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, Vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, mint oil, cinnamon, caraway, cognac, jasmine, chamomile, menthol, cinnamon, ylang-ylang, sage, spearmint, ginger, cilantro, coffee, or the like.

The medium portion <NUM> may include a pH adjuster. The pH adjuster includes potassium carbonate (K<NUM>CO<NUM>), sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO<NUM>), and a mixture thereof. The pH adjuster may adjust the pH of the aerosol generating substrate to the alkali side, thereby promoting the release of flavor components from the aerosol generating substrate. Thus, the smoking taste when the aerosol generating article is heated at a low temperature may be equal or similar to that when the aerosol generating article is heated at a high temperature.

According to the invention, K<NUM>CO<NUM> is added to the aerosol generating substrate when granules of the medium portion <NUM> are manufactured. When manufacturing the granules, a percentage of a content of the K<NUM>CO<NUM> in the aerosol generating substrate is <NUM> % to <NUM> %. It is desirable that the content of the K<NUM>CO<NUM> relative to the content of the aerosol generating substrate be <NUM> %, but is not limited thereto.

The medium portion <NUM> may further include a binder. By including the binder, the medium portion <NUM> may be formed into granules. For example, the binder may include at least one of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (hereinafter referred to as HPMC), gum, pullulan, carboxymethyl cellulose, and starch.

According to the invention, the medium portion <NUM> is formed of granules. The granules may be formed by drying a mixture of the aerosol generating substrate, the binder, and the pH adjuster dissolved in a liquid state. The medium portion formed of granules may contain <NUM> % moisture and <NUM> % nicotine, and the pH may correspond to <NUM>.

Content of the medium portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be appropriately employed from within a range of <NUM> to <NUM>. The content of the medium portion <NUM> formed of granules of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be <NUM>, but is not limited thereto.

When a heating temperature of the medium portion <NUM> is too low, an amount of nicotine transfer may not be adequate. However, since the medium portion <NUM> according to an embodiment includes the pH adjuster, an adequate amount of nicotine transfer may be provided even at a low temperature. Accordingly, even when the medium portion <NUM> is heated at <NUM> or lower, for example at <NUM>, an adequate amount of nicotine transfer may be provided.

When the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into an aerosol generating device, the medium portion <NUM> may be heated by a heater surrounding the medium portion <NUM>. Since the medium portion <NUM> may provide an adequate amount of nicotine transfer even when heated at a low temperature, the heater may heat the medium portion <NUM> at a low temperature, and power consumption of the aerosol generating device may be reduced, accordingly. For example, the medium portion <NUM> may be heated at <NUM> by the cylindrical heater surrounding the medium portion <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the medium portion <NUM> may be heated at <NUM> or lower, and an aerosol containing <NUM>µg or more of nicotine per puff may be discharged. For example, the medium portion <NUM> may be heated at <NUM> and discharge an aerosol containing <NUM>µg of nicotine per puff, but is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the aerosol generating substrate of the medium portion <NUM> may include nicotine, and a percentage of a weight of nicotine contained in an aerosol discharged from the medium portion <NUM> after the medium portion <NUM> is heated relative to a weight of nicotine in the medium portion <NUM> before the medium portion <NUM> is heated may be <NUM> % to <NUM> %. For example, assuming that the weight of nicotine in the medium portion <NUM> before the medium portion <NUM> is heated is <NUM>, and the weight of nicotine contained in <NUM> puffs of aerosol discharged from the medium portion <NUM> after the medium portion <NUM> is heated is <NUM>, the percentage of the weight of nicotine contained in the aerosol relative to the weight of nicotine in the medium portion <NUM> is <NUM> %.

According to an embodiment, when the medium portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> is heated at a temperature of <NUM> or lower, an aerosol containing <NUM>µg to <NUM>µg of nicotine per puff may be discharged during at least <NUM> consecutive puffs. Even if the medium portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> is heated at a low temperature, a uniform and adequate amount of nicotine may be discharged during at least <NUM> consecutive puffs.

A length of the medium portion <NUM> may be appropriately employed in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>. Preferably, the length of the medium portion <NUM> be <NUM>, but is not limited thereto.

The first filter portion <NUM> may be arranged to face the upstream end portion of the medium portion <NUM>, and the second filter portion <NUM> may be arranged to face the downstream end portion of the medium portion <NUM>. The first filter portion <NUM> and the second filter portion <NUM> may be cellulose acetate filters.

There is no limitation on shapes of the first filter portion <NUM> and of the second filter portion <NUM>. For example, the first filter portion <NUM> and the second filter portion <NUM> may have a cylindrical shape or a tube shape including a hollow therein. Alternatively, the first filter portion <NUM> and the second filter portion <NUM> may have a recess shape. The first filter portion <NUM> and the second filter portion <NUM> may be manufactured in shapes different from each other.

The first filter portion <NUM> and the second filter portion <NUM> may be manufactured to generate flavor. For example, a flavoring liquid may be sprayed onto the first filter portion <NUM>, or a separate fiber coated with the flavoring liquid may be inserted into the first filter portion <NUM>.

The first filter portion <NUM> and the second filter portion <NUM> may be arranged on both sides of the medium portion <NUM> to prevent the medium portion <NUM> from falling off and to prevent the liquefied aerosol from flowing into the aerosol generating device <NUM> of <FIG> from the medium portion <NUM>, during smoking.

According to an embodiment, lengths of the first filter portion <NUM> and the second filter portion <NUM> may be within a range of <NUM> to <NUM>, respectively. It is desirable that the lengths of the first filter portion <NUM> and the second filter portion <NUM> be each <NUM>. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the first filter portion <NUM>, the medium portion <NUM>, and the second filter portion <NUM> of the first segment <NUM> may be wrapped by the wrapper <NUM>. Since the first segment <NUM> is wrapped by the wrapper <NUM>, it is possible to prevent the medium portion <NUM> from falling off and to prevent the aerosol liquefied from the medium portion <NUM> from sticking to the aerosol generating device <NUM> of <FIG>, during smoking.

The third segment <NUM> may be arranged between the first segment <NUM> and the second segment <NUM>, and may include a cooling element to cool the aerosol. A length of the third segment <NUM> may be appropriately employed in a range of <NUM> and <NUM>. For example, the length of the third segment <NUM> may be about <NUM>, but is not limited thereto.

The third segment <NUM> cools the aerosol generated by heating the medium portion <NUM>. Thus, the user may inhale the aerosol cooled to an appropriate temperature.

According to an embodiment, the third segment <NUM> may be made of a polymer material or a biodegradable polymer material. Here, the polymer material includes gelatin, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyurethane (PU), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), and combinations thereof, but is not limited to. In addition, the biodegradable polymer material includes polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), cellulose acetate, polyepsilon-caprolactone (PCL), polyglycolic acid (PGA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and starch-based thermoplastic resins, but is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the third segment <NUM> may be made of pure PLA, and may be manufactured in an extrusion method or a fiber weaving method. The third segment <NUM> may be manufactured in various shapes in order to increase a surface area per unit area (surface area in contact with the aerosol). For example, the third segment <NUM> may have a shape of a three-dimensional structure manufactured using one or more fiber strands (hereinafter, referred to as 'fiber strands') made of pure PLA. Here, a thickness and length of the fiber strands, the number of the fiber strands constituting the third segment <NUM>, and a shape of the fiber strands may vary. As the third segment <NUM> is made of pure PLA, generation of a specific material may be prevented while the aerosol passes through the third segment <NUM>.

The second segment <NUM> may be arranged at a downstream end portion that contacts the user's mouth, and may include a filter element. A length of the second segment <NUM> may be appropriately employed in a range of <NUM> and <NUM>. For example, the length of the second segment <NUM> may be about <NUM>, but is not limited thereto.

The second segment <NUM> may be a cellulose acetate filter. There is no limitation on a shape of the second segment <NUM>. For example, the second segment <NUM> may have a cylinder shape or a tube shape including a hollow therein. Alternatively, the second segment <NUM> may have a recess shape. If the second segment <NUM> includes a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality of segments may be manufactured in a different shape.

The second segment <NUM> may be manufactured to generate flavor by spraying a flavoring liquid onto the second segment <NUM> in the process of manufacturing the same. Alternatively, a separate fiber coated with the flavoring liquid may be inserted into the second segment <NUM>. The aerosol generated from the medium portion <NUM> is cooled while passing through the third segment <NUM>, and the cooled aerosol is delivered to the user through the second segment <NUM>. Therefore, if a flavoring element is added to the second segment <NUM>, the flavor delivered to the user may last for a long time.

In addition, the second segment <NUM> may include at least one capsule. Here, the capsule may serve to generate flavor or an aerosol. For example, the capsule may have a structure in which a liquid containing perfume is wrapped with a film. The capsule may have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be packaged by another wrapper. For example, the first segment <NUM> may be wrapped by the wrapper <NUM>, and the first segment <NUM>, the third segment <NUM> and the second segment <NUM> packaged by the wrapper <NUM> are combined to each other, and the entire segments may be completely repackaged by another wrapper. However, manners in which the aerosol generating article <NUM> and components constituting the same are packaged by a wrapper are not limited thereto.

Table <NUM> shows components of the granules of the medium portion <NUM>, according to an experimental example. The medium portion <NUM> including selected granules having a size of <NUM> to <NUM> was manufactured. That is, the medium portion <NUM> including granules having a size of <NUM> Mesh to <NUM> Mesh was manufactured.

It may be identified that according to Table <NUM>, the granules may be manufactured in a wet manner using <NUM> of KF125, <NUM> of <NUM>% HPMC liquid, <NUM> of K<NUM>CO<NUM>, <NUM> of purified water, and <NUM> of ethanol. KF125 may be the aerosol generating substrate, HPMC may be the binder, and K<NUM>CO<NUM> may be the pH adjuster.

In addition, the granules prepared according to Table <NUM> may be dried for about <NUM> hours, a moisture content of the dried granules may be <NUM> %, nicotine content may be <NUM> %, and the pH may be <NUM>.

Table <NUM> below shows nicotine content in the aerosol corresponding to <NUM> puffs, according to an experimental example. According to one experimental example, a granule content of the medium portion <NUM> is about <NUM>. The aerosol generating article <NUM> having a moisture content of <NUM>% of the granules of the medium portion <NUM>, nicotine content of <NUM> of the medium portion <NUM>, and the pH of <NUM> was used. The aerosol generating article <NUM> was preheated for <NUM> seconds and then heated at <NUM>. Table <NUM> shows an amount of nicotine generated from <NUM> puffs.

According to Table <NUM>, in the experiment where a granule weight of the medium portion <NUM> is <NUM>, after <NUM> puffs, an amount of nicotine in the generated aerosol is <NUM>µg, an amount of nicotine remaining in the granules is <NUM>µg, and an amount of nicotine remaining in the first filter portion <NUM>, the second filter portion <NUM>, the third segment <NUM>, and the second segment <NUM> is <NUM>µg.

In the experiment where a weight of the granules of the medium portion <NUM> is <NUM>, after <NUM> puffs, an amount of nicotine in the generated aerosol is <NUM>µg, an amount of nicotine remaining in the granules is <NUM>µg, and an amount of nicotine remaining in the first filter portion <NUM>, the second filter portion <NUM>, the third segment <NUM>, and the second segment <NUM> is <NUM>µg.

In the experiment where a granule weight of the medium portion <NUM> is <NUM>, after <NUM> puffs, an amount of nicotine in the generated aerosol is <NUM>µg, an amount of nicotine remaining in the granules is <NUM>µg, and an amount of nicotine remaining in the first filter portion <NUM>, the second filter portion <NUM>, the third segment <NUM>, and the second segment <NUM> is <NUM>µg. Moreover, even when the aerosol generating article <NUM> under the same conditions was heated at <NUM> or lower, results similar to those of Table <NUM> were obtained.

When the aerosol generating article <NUM> was heated at a low temperature of <NUM>, average nicotine content in the aerosol discharged from the medium portion <NUM> was <NUM>µg, which indicates that an amount of nicotine transfer was adequate. In addition, it may be identified that nicotine content in the aerosol discharged from the medium portion <NUM> relative to nicotine content of the aerosol generating substrate before a puff is <NUM>%. Thus, it is desirable to set the nicotine content in the aerosol discharged from the medium portion <NUM> relative to the nicotine content of the aerosol generating substrate to <NUM> % to <NUM> %.

Table <NUM> below shows nicotine content in the aerosol according to the number of puffs. In this experimental example, the aerosol generating article <NUM> having a granule content of about <NUM> of the medium portion <NUM>, a moisture content of <NUM> % of the granules before a puff, nicotine content of <NUM>, and the pH of <NUM> was used. The aerosol generating article <NUM> was preheated for <NUM> seconds and then heated at <NUM>. Table <NUM> shows an amount of nicotine generated per puff. Since an operation of the aerosol generating device was suspended after the 14th puff, nicotine was not detected during the 15th puff.

It may be identified that according to Table <NUM>, an amount of nicotine in the aerosol of the first puff is <NUM>µg, an amount of nicotine in the aerosol of the fifth puff in <NUM> consecutive puffs is <NUM>µg, and an amount of nicotine in the aerosol of the tenth puff in <NUM> consecutive puffs is <NUM>µg. It may be identified that an amount of nicotine in the aerosol of the 11th puff is similar to an amount of nicotine in the aerosol of the 12th puff, which are <NUM>µg and <NUM>µg, respectively.

As shown above, an amount of nicotine in the aerosol during consecutive puffs is in the range of <NUM>µg to <NUM>µg. Thus, it can be seen that an amount of nicotine transfer was uniform even if the aerosol generating article <NUM> was heated at a low temperature (<NUM> or lower).

Table <NUM> shows an amount of the aerosol collected by a filter within the aerosol generating article <NUM>, according to an experimental example. A total particulate matter (TPM) may refer to an amount of components collected by the filter during puffing. Table <NUM> shows a total amount of aerosols collected by the filter after <NUM> puffs. In this experiment, a cylindrical heater was used, and the aerosol generating article <NUM> was heated at <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

It may be identified that according to Table <NUM>, when a heating temperature was <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, the TPM was <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, respectively. When the heating temperature was <NUM> and <NUM>, the filter started to be deformed, and thus, the TPM rapidly decreased to <NUM> and <NUM>. At <NUM>, the filter contracted due to severe deformation, and thus the TPM increased again to <NUM>.

It may be identified that when a heating temperature was <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the filter was not damaged or deformed, so the function was executed smoothly. Therefore, it is desirable to set the heating temperature of the aerosol generating article <NUM> to <NUM> or lower.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating article, according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, an aerosol generating system <NUM> may include an aerosol generating device <NUM> and an aerosol generating article <NUM>. The aerosol generating system <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, and a heater <NUM> of <FIG> may respectively correspond to the aerosol generating system <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, and the heater <NUM> of <FIG>. Also, a vaporizer <NUM> of <FIG> may correspond to the vaporizer <NUM> of <FIG>. Also, and the aerosol generating article <NUM>, a first filter portion <NUM>, a medium portion <NUM>, a second filter portion <NUM>, a third segment <NUM>, and a second segment <NUM> of <FIG> may respectively correspond to the aerosol generating article <NUM>, the first filter portion <NUM>, the medium portion <NUM>, the second filter portion <NUM>, the third segment <NUM>, and the second segment <NUM> of <FIG>. Therefore, redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted herein.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> may include an upstream end portion to be inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM> and a downstream end portion that contacts a user's mouth. The aerosol generating article <NUM> may include the first segment <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> arranged at the upstream end portion, the second segment <NUM> arranged at the downstream end portion, and the third segment <NUM> arranged between the first segment <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the second segment <NUM>. The first segment <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include the medium portion <NUM>, the first filter portion <NUM> arranged to face an upstream end portion of the medium portion <NUM>, and the second filter portion <NUM> arranged to face a downstream end portion of the medium portion <NUM>.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> may include the battery <NUM>, the vaporizer <NUM>, and the heater <NUM> heated by power supplied from the battery <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, when the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the heater <NUM> may be arranged to surround at least a portion of an outer surface of the medium portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. For example, the heater <NUM> may be arranged only in the medium portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

By arranging the heater <NUM> near the medium portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM>, the medium portion <NUM> may be heated to generate an adequate amount of nicotine, heat transfer efficiency to the medium portion <NUM> may be increased, and power consumption may be reduced. In addition, the first filter portion <NUM> and the second filter portion <NUM> may be prevented from being deformed at a high temperature.

The first segment <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be completely inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and the third segment <NUM> and the second segment <NUM> may be exposed to the outside. Alternatively, the entire first segment <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and a portion of the third segment <NUM> may be inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

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>, may be embodied as various numbers of hardware, software and/or firmware structures that execute respective functions described above, according to an exemplary 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:
An aerosol generating article (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a first segment (<NUM>) arranged at an upstream end portion to be inserted into an aerosol generating device (<NUM>);
a second segment (<NUM>, <NUM>) arranged at a downstream end portion to contact a user's mouth; and
a third segment (<NUM>, <NUM>) arranged between the first segment (<NUM>) and the second segment (<NUM>, <NUM>), and comprising a cooling element,
wherein the first segment (<NUM>) comprises: a first filter portion (<NUM>, <NUM>); and a medium portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising an aerosol generating substrate and a pH adjuster; characterized in that:
the first segment (<NUM>) further comprises: a second filter portion (<NUM>, <NUM>), and the medium portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) is arranged between the first filter portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the second filter portion (<NUM>, <NUM>), and
wherein a weight of the medium portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) is in a range of <NUM> to <NUM> and the medium portion (<NUM>) is formed of granules, the pH adjuster comprises potassium carbonate and the content of the potassium carbonate relative to the content of the aerosol generating substrate is <NUM>% to <NUM>%.