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

In general, an operation of an aerosol generating device is controlled based on the number of puffs of a user and an operation time. In the case of operating based on the number of puffs, heating is ended when the accumulated number of puffs reaches a preset number. Thus, a smoking time may be shorter than the user desires. Moreover, in the case of operating based on the operation time, heating is ended as the preset time elapses regardless the number of puffs Thus, a cigarette may be discarded upon end of the heating even though the aerosol generating material in the cigarette has not been exhausted. <CIT> relates to a vaporizing device comprising a heating element, a power source, at least one sensor in electronic communication with the heating element and the power source, and a processor configured to control the temperature of the heating element. A method of controlling a temperature of the vaporizing device comprises receiving a resistance measurement of the heating element from the at least one sensor, determining the temperature of the heating element based on the resistance measurement, and adjusting the amount of power supplied to the heating element based on the determined temperature of the heating element. <CIT> relates to a non-burning type flavor inhaler comprising: a first unit; a second unit including an aerosol source or a flavor source; and a control unit. The control unit integrates a first cumulative amount of electric power which is a cumulative value of the amount of electric power supplied to the heat source in the one-time puff action series, and the control unit notifies an end of the one-time puff action series when the first cumulative amount of electric power reaches the required amount of electric power.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an aerosol generating device and an operation method thereof that may allow a smoking operation of a user to the maximum extent possible.

A technical problem to be solved by the present embodiment is not limited to the technical problem described above, and other technical problems may be inferred from the following embodiments.

As technical means for solving the technical problems described above, an aerosol generating device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a heater that heats an aerosol generating material; and a controller that controls power to be supplied to the heater, wherein the controller calculates a first power amount indicating a power amount used by the heater during a preset first time period after a heating operation of the heater is started, and controls the heating operation of the heater based on whether the first power amount is greater than or equal to a preset reference power amount.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, heating of a heater is controlled by considering the power amount consumed by the heater in addition to the operation time of an aerosol generating device, and thus, a sufficient smoking time may be provided to a user to increase satisfaction of smoking.

An aerosol generating device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a heater that heats an aerosol generating material; and a controller configured to: calculate a first power amount indicating a power amount used by the heater during a preset first time period after a heating operation of the heater is started, and control the heating operation of the heater based on whether the first power amount is greater than or equal to a preset reference power amount.

An operation method of an aerosol generating device according to another aspect of the present disclosure starting a heating operation of a heater that heats an aerosol generating material; calculating a first power amount indicating a power amount used by the heater during a preset first time period after the heating operation of the heater is started; and controlling the heating operation of the heater based on whether the first power amount is greater than or equal to a preset reference power amount.

A computer-readable recording medium according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes a program that is recorded therein and causes a computer to perform the operation method of the aerosol generating device.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated such that one of ordinary skill in the art may easily work the present disclosure.

<FIG> are diagrams illustrating examples in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

Referring to <FIG>, 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 cigarette <NUM> may be inserted into an inner space of the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

Therefore, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art related to the present embodiment that other components may be further included in the aerosol generating device <NUM>, in addition to the components illustrated in <FIG>.

Also, <FIG> illustrate that the aerosol generating device <NUM> includes the heater <NUM>. However, as necessary, the heater <NUM> may be omitted.

When the cigarette <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 cigarette <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 cigarette <NUM>.

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

A processor can be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates or can be implemented as a combination of a microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable in the microprocessor is stored.

The vaporizer <NUM> may generate aerosol by heating a liquid composition and the generated aerosol may pass through the cigarette <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 cigarette <NUM> to be delivered to the user.

Also, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may have a structure that introduces external air or discharge internal air even when the cigarette <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

The cigarette <NUM> may be similar to a general combustive cigarette. For example, the cigarette <NUM> may be divided into a first portion including an aerosol generating material and a second portion including a filter, etc. Alternatively, the second portion of the cigarette <NUM> may also include an aerosol generating material. For example, an aerosol generating material made in the form of granules or capsules may be inserted into the second portion.

Alternatively, only a portion of the first portion may be inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>. Otherwise, the entire first portion and a portion of the second portion may be inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

For example, the external air may flow into at least one air passage formed in the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, opening and closing of the air passage and/ or a size of the air passage may be adjusted by the user. Accordingly, the amount and smoothness of smoke may be adjusted by the user. As another example, the external air may flow into the cigarette <NUM> through at least one hole formed in a surface of the cigarette <NUM>.

Hereinafter, an example of the cigarette <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams showing examples of cigarettes.

Referring to <FIG>, the cigarette <NUM> may include a tobacco rod <NUM> and a filter rod <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG> may include the tobacco rod, and the second portion may include the filter rod <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates that the filter rod <NUM> includes a single segment. However, the filter rod <NUM> is not limited thereto. In other words, the filter rod <NUM> may include a plurality of segments. For example, the filter rod <NUM> may include a first segment configured to cool an aerosol and a second segment configured to filter a certain component included in the aerosol. Also, as necessary, the filter rod <NUM> may further include at least one segment configured to perform other functions.

The cigarette <NUM> may be packaged using at least one wrapper <NUM>. The wrapper <NUM> may have at least one hole through which external air may be introduced or internal air may be discharged. For example, the cigarette <NUM> may be packaged using one wrapper <NUM>. As another example, the cigarette <NUM> may be double-packaged using at least two wrappers <NUM>. For example, the tobacco rod <NUM> may be packaged using a first wrapper <NUM>, and the filter rod <NUM> may be packaged using wrappers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In addition, the cigarette <NUM> may be repackaged by a single wrapper <NUM>. When each of the tobacco rod <NUM> and the filter rod <NUM> includes a plurality of segments, each segment may be packaged using wrappers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

For example, the heat conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod <NUM> may uniformly distribute heat transmitted to the tobacco rod <NUM>, and thus, the heat conductivity of the tobacco rod may be increased. As a result, the taste of the tobacco may be improved.

Referring to <FIG>, the cigarette <NUM> may include a front-end plug <NUM>. The front-end plug <NUM> may be located on a side of the tobacco rod <NUM>, the side not facing the filter rod <NUM>. The front-end plug <NUM> may prevent the tobacco rod <NUM> from being detached and may prevent the liquefied aerosol from flowing from the tobacco rod <NUM> into an aerosol generating device during smoking.

The filter rod <NUM> may include a first segment <NUM> and a second segment <NUM>. Here, the first segment <NUM> may correspond to a first segment of the filter rod <NUM> of <FIG>, and the second segment <NUM> may correspond to a third segment of the filter rod <NUM> of <FIG>.

A diameter and a total length of the cigarette <NUM> may correspond to a diameter and a total length of the cigarette <NUM> of <FIG>.

The cigarette <NUM> may be packaged by at least one wrapper <NUM>. The wrapper <NUM> may have at least one hole through which external air flows in or internal gas flows out. For example, the front end plug <NUM> may be packaged by a first wrapper <NUM>, the cigarette rod <NUM> may be packaged by a second wrapper <NUM>, the first segment <NUM> may be packaged by a third wrapper <NUM>, and the second segment <NUM> may be packaged by a fourth wrapper <NUM>. Further, the entirety of the cigarette <NUM> may be repackaged by a fifth wrapper <NUM>.

In addition, at least one perforation <NUM> may be formed in the fifth wrapper <NUM>. For example, the perforation <NUM> may be formed in a region surrounding the cigarette rod <NUM> but is not limited thereto. The perforation <NUM> may serve to transfer heat generated by the heater <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> to the inside of the cigarette rod <NUM>.

In addition, at least one capsule <NUM> may be included in the second segment <NUM>. Here, the capsule <NUM> may perform a function of generating flavor or a function of generating aerosol. For example, the capsule <NUM> may have a structure in which a liquid containing a fragrance is wrapped with a film. The capsule <NUM> may have a spherical or cylindrical shape but is not limited thereto.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

An aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a controller <NUM>, a heater <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a sensor <NUM>, and a user interface <NUM>. According to embodiments, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may further include a vaporizer <NUM>. The controller <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, the vaporizer <NUM>, and the battery <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may have similar configuration to the controller <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, the vaporizer <NUM>, and the battery <NUM> of <FIG>. Thus, the description made with reference to <FIG> may be applied to <FIG> in the same manner, and thus, duplicate description will be omitted.

However, one or more components illustrated in <FIG> may be omitted. The aerosol generating device <NUM> may be configured by more or less configuration elements than the configuration elements illustrated in <FIG>.

The controller <NUM> controls the overall operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may analyze and process sensing data acquired by the sensor <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may start, stop, or continue to supply power from the battery <NUM> to the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM>, based on the sensing data. The controller <NUM> may control the amount of power supplied to the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM> and a power supply time so that the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM> may be heated to a predetermined temperature or maintained at an appropriate temperature. In addition, the controller <NUM> may process various types of input information and output information of the user interface <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the controller <NUM> may measure the amount of power for heating the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may acquire a current value measured by at least one element capable of measuring the current value input to the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM>, and may calculate the amount of power by using the acquired current value. As another example, the controller <NUM> may acquire a voltage value measured by at least one element capable of measuring the voltage value input to the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM>, and may calculate the amount of power by using the acquired voltage value. As another example, the controller <NUM> may acquire a current value and a voltage value measured by at least one element capable of measuring the current value and the voltage value input to the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM>, and may calculate the amount of power by using the current value and the voltage value which are acquired. At least one element capable of measuring the current value and/or the voltage value may be configured integrally with the controller <NUM> or may be configured as a separate element.

According to an embodiment, the controller <NUM> may control heating operations of the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM> by comparing the measured amount of accumulated power of the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM> with a reference power amount stored in the memory <NUM>. Detailed description thereof will be made below.

The battery <NUM> supplies power to be used for operating the aerosol generating device <NUM>. That is, the battery <NUM> may supply power so that the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM> may be heated. In addition, the battery <NUM> may supply power necessary for operations of other components included in the aerosol generating device <NUM>, such as the sensor <NUM>, the user interface <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, and the controller <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery <NUM> may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery but is not limited thereto.

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

The memory <NUM> may store an operation time of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, a reference power amount, a history of power consumption, and/or data on a smoking pattern of a user.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> may include at least one sensor <NUM>. A sensing result output by at least one sensor <NUM> is transferred to the controller <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> may control the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to the sensing result to perform various functions such as controlling operations of the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM>, restricting smoking, identifying insertion/non-insertion of a cigarette (or cartridge), and displaying a notification.

For example, at least one sensor <NUM> may include a puff detection sensor. The puff detection sensor may detect a user's puff based on a temperature change, a flow change, a voltage change, and/or a pressure change.

In addition, at least one sensor <NUM> may include a temperature detection sensor. The temperature detection sensor may detect a temperature of the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM>. The aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a separate temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the heater <NUM>. Alternatively, the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM> themselves may detect a temperature. In an embodiment, while the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM> function as temperature detection sensors, a separate temperature detection sensor may be further included in the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

The user interface <NUM> may provide information on a state of the aerosol generating device <NUM> to a user. The user interface <NUM> may include various interfacing elements such as, a display or a lamp that outputs visual information, a motor that outputs tactile information, a speaker that outputs sound information, and terminals for data communication with input/output (I/O) interfacing elements (for example, buttons or a touch screen) that receives information input by a user or outputs information to the user or for receiving charging power, a communication interfacing module for performing wireless communication (for example, WI-FI, WI-FI Direct, Bluetooth, near-field communication (NFC), and so on) with external devices.

However, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may only include some of the various interfacing elements illustrated above.

Hereinafter, a method by which the controller <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment controls an operation of the heater <NUM> will be described. For the sake of convenience, a method of controlling the operation of the heater <NUM> will be mainly described, and the method may be similarly applied to control an operation of the vaporizer <NUM>.

If a signal requesting activation of the heater <NUM> is generated, the controller <NUM> starts a heating operation of the heater <NUM> by supplying power to the heater <NUM>. For example, the signal requesting activation of the heater <NUM> may be a signal input by a user, a signal indicating insertion of a cigarette or a cartridge, etc., but is not limited thereto. In an embodiment, the heating operation of the heater <NUM> may vary according to the time of execution.

For example, the heating operation of the heater <NUM> may include a first heating operation, a second heating operation, and a third heating operation. The first heating operation may be preparing for a start of a user's puff by reaching a target temperature for a relatively short time from when power supply to the heater <NUM> is started. The second heating operation may be maintaining at a preset temperature for a preset first time period so that an appropriate amount of aerosol may be generated according to user's puffs. The third heating operation may be maintaining at a preset temperature so that aerosol may be generated according to a user's additional puff after the preset first time period expires.

Here, the preset first time period may be determined based on the average time that is normally taken for consuming a smoking article (for example, a cigarette or a cartridge) containing an aerosol generating material.

If the heating operation of the heater <NUM> is started, the controller <NUM> controls the heating operation of the heater <NUM> according to a previously stored temperature profile. The temperature profile may indicate proper temperatures of the heater <NUM> according to an elapse of time.

The controller <NUM> calculates a first power amount indicating a power amount used by the heater <NUM> during the first time period (i.e., between the heating start time point and the first time point). To this end, the controller <NUM> may calculate the power amount used by the heater <NUM> while controlling the heating operation of the heater <NUM> according to a predetermined temperature profile during the first period. For example, the controller <NUM> may check the amount of power that is used by the heater <NUM> during each predetermined time interval and add up to calculate the first power amount.

When the first time period expires, the controller <NUM> controls the heating operation of the heater <NUM> based on whether or not the calculated first power amount is greater than or equal to a preset reference power amount.

According to an embodiment, the reference power amount may be determined by the sum of a power amount PA indicating a power amount used by the heater <NUM> when there is no puff during the first time period and a power amount PB indicating a power amount used by the heater <NUM> for handing a predetermined number of puffs. The reference power amount may be pre-stored in the memory <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the power amounts PA and PB may be determined experimentally in advance, and may be stored in the memory <NUM>. According to another embodiment, the power amount PB may be reset based on the accumulated smoking pattern data as a user uses the aerosol generating device <NUM>. In this case, the reference power amount may also be reset to the sum of the reset power amount PB and the pre-stored power amount PA.

For example, the smoking pattern data may include at least one of a history of the amount of used power per puff, a history of the number of puffs occurred during the first time period, and a history of the total amount of used power by the puffs occurred during the first time period, and the controller <NUM> may reset the power amount PB by using at least one of the histories. In this case, resetting of the power amount PB may be periodically performed or may be performed as a signal for requesting resetting is input, but is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, when the calculated first power amount is greater than or equal to the reference power amount, the controller <NUM> may end the heating operation of the heater <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may end the heating operation of the heater <NUM> by stopping supply of power to the heater <NUM>.

Moreover, when the calculated first power amount is less than the reference power amount, the controller <NUM> may continue the heating operation of the heater <NUM>, based on a difference between the first power amount and the reference power amount so that a temperature of the heater <NUM> is maintained at a temperature lower than or equal to a temperature at the first time. As such, even when the accumulated amount of used power (i.e., the first power amount) is less than the reference amount of power, the user may continue smoking after the first time period expires. Since puff patterns such as a puff strength, a puff time, and a puff frequency are different for each user, users may not smoke sufficiently during the first time period that is determined experimentally or statistically. In this regard, an embodiment provides the user with an additional smoking time so that the maximum amount of smoking is allowed for one smoking article.

In addition, the controller <NUM> may calculate a second power amount indicating a power amount that is used by the heater <NUM> after the first time period expires. For example, the controller <NUM> may check the amount of power that is used by the heater <NUM> during each predetermined time interval and add up to calculate the second power amount. The controller <NUM> may continue the heating operation of the heater <NUM> until the second power amount reaches a difference value between the first power amount and the reference power amount. Hereinafter, a method by which the controller <NUM> continues the heating operation of the heater <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> are example diagrams of a temperature profile of the heater according to an embodiment. In other words, <FIG> illustrate changes in temperature of the heater <NUM> according to an elapse of time from when the heating operation of the heater <NUM> is started to when the heating operation is ended. However, this is only an example and the graph may variously change depending on embodiments.

Referring to <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may control the heater <NUM> so that a temperature of the heater <NUM> rises from the ambient temperature to a first temperature T1 during a first period <NUM>. The first temperature T1 is a temperature suitable for vaporizing an aerosol generating material and may change depending on smoking environment (for example, a temperature, a pressure, humidity, a smoking pattern of a user, air composition, and so on) within a preset allowable temperature range. The heating operation of the heater <NUM> during the first period <NUM> may correspond to a first heating operation described above.

During a second period <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may control the heater <NUM> so that the temperature of the heater <NUM> is reduced to and maintained at a second temperature T2. The second temperature T2 may be within the allowable temperature range and may be lower than the first temperature T1. The second temperature T2 may be maintained until a preset first time point t1 (i.e., until the first time period expires). The heating operation of the heater <NUM> during the second period <NUM> may correspond to the second heating operation described above.

If the first power amount (i.e., the power amount consumed by the heater <NUM> between the heating start time point and the first time point t1) is less than the reference power amount, the controller <NUM> may control the heater <NUM> so that the temperature of the heater <NUM> is maintained at the temperature T2 during a third period <NUM>. The heating operation of the heater <NUM> during the third period <NUM> may correspond to the third heating operation described above. The third operation may continue until a second time point t2. For example, the second time point t2 may indicate when the second power amount reaches a difference between the first power amount and the reference power amount.

During the third period <NUM>, the temperature of the heater <NUM> is maintained at the same temperature as the temperature T2, and thus, the amount and quality of atomization of the second period <NUM> may be maintained during the third period <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may end the heating operation of the heater <NUM> after the second time point t2.

Referring to <FIG>, during the first period <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may control the heater <NUM> so that the temperature of the heater <NUM> rises from the ambient temperature to the first temperature T1. As described above with reference to <FIG>, the first temperature T1 may be a temperature suitable for vaporizing an aerosol generating material and may change depending on smoking environment within a preset allowable temperature range. The heating operation of the heater <NUM> during the first period <NUM> may correspond to the first heating operation described above.

During the second period <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may control the heater <NUM> so that the temperature of the heater <NUM> is reduced from the first temperature T1 to the second temperature T2. The second temperature T2 may be within the allowable temperature range and may be lower than the first temperature T1. The second temperature T2 may be maintained until a preset first time point t1. The heating operation of the heater <NUM> during the second period <NUM> may correspond to the second heating operation described above.

If the first power amount is less than the reference power amount, the controller <NUM> may control power supply to the heater <NUM> so that the temperature of the heater <NUM> is reduced to and maintained at a third temperature T3 during the third period <NUM>. During the third period <NUM>, the heating operation of the heater <NUM> may correspond to the third heating operation described above and may be continued until the second time point t2. For example, the second time t2 may indicate when the second power amount reaches a difference value between the first power amount and the reference power amount.

According to an embodiment, the greater the difference value between the first power amount and the reference power amount is, the lower the temperature T3 may be. However, the third temperature T3 may be set within a preset allowable temperature range. Here, the allowable temperature range may be a temperature suitable for vaporizing an aerosol generating material. For example, the allowable temperature range may be set to a temperature range in which the amount and quality of atomization is maintained without causing carbonization.

Since the temperature of the heater <NUM> during the third period <NUM> is maintained lower than the temperature T2, it is possible to prevent the heater <NUM> from being overheated and carbonized due to depletion of the aerosol generating material. As such, degradation of smoking quality may also be prevented.

According to an embodiment, respective periods <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of <FIG> may be further divided into a plurality of periods, and the controller <NUM> may control the heating operation of the heater <NUM> so that the temperature of the heater <NUM> is maintained at a preset temperature corresponding to each of the plurality of periods. In some embodiments, the preset temperature in one or more of the plurality of periods may increase or decrease gradually. Also, the preset temperature in one or more of the plurality of periods may increase and then decrease or may decrease and then increase.

For example, during the third periods <NUM> and <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may maintain the temperature of the heater <NUM> at the temperature T2 from the first time t1 for a predetermined time period, and then maintain the temperature of the heater <NUM> at a temperature T3 lower than the temperature T2 after the predetermined time. Here, the predetermined time may be selected by the controller <NUM> according to smoking environment (for example, a temperature, a pressure, humidity, a smoking pattern of a user, air composition, and so on) that is determined based on information output by the sensor <NUM> or retrieved from the memory <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are flowcharts illustrating an operation method of an aerosol generating device, according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> starts a heating operation of the heater <NUM> that heats an aerosol generating material in step S910. If a signal for requesting activation of the heater <NUM> is generated, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may start a heating operation of the heater <NUM> by supplying power to the heater <NUM>.

In step S920, the aerosol generating device <NUM> calculates a first power amount indicating a power amount that has been used by the heater <NUM> from a point in time when the heating operation of the heater <NUM> is started (i.e., since the heating start time point). The aerosol generating device <NUM> may calculate the first power amount while controlling the heating operation of the heater <NUM> according to a predetermined temperature profile, until a preset first time period expires. For example, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may check the amount of power that is used by the heater <NUM> during each predetermined time interval and add up to calculate the first power amount.

In step S930, the aerosol generating device <NUM> determines whether or not a preset first time period elapsed after the heating operation of the heater <NUM> was started.

When the preset first time period did not elapse yet, the aerosol generating device <NUM> continues to calculate the first power amount and heats the heater <NUM> according to the preset temperature profile until the first time period expires.

If the preset first time period elapses, the aerosol generating device <NUM> determines whether or not the first power amount is greater than or equal to a preset reference power amount in step S940. Step S940 may be performed by real-time monitoring of the aerosol generating device <NUM> or may be performed at predetermined time intervals. The aerosol generating device <NUM> may control the heating operation of the heater <NUM> according to the determination result in step S940.

If the first power amount is greater than or equal to the reference power amount, the aerosol generating device <NUM> ends the heating operation of the heater <NUM> in step S950. For example, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may end the heating operation of the heater <NUM> by stopping supply of power to the heater <NUM>.

If the first power amount is less than the reference power amount, the aerosol generating device <NUM> continues the heating operation of the heater <NUM> based on a difference value between the first power amount and the reference power amount so that a temperature of the heater <NUM> is maintained at a temperature lower than or equal to the temperature at the first time point (i.e., at the time point when the first time period expired).

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method of continuing the heating operation of the heater <NUM> according to step S960 of <FIG>.

In step S1010, the aerosol generating device <NUM> calculates the second power amount indicating a power mount that has been used by the heater <NUM> since the preset first time period expired. After the first time period expires, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may calculate the second power amount while controlling the heating operation of the heater <NUM> according to a predetermined temperature profile. For example, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may check the amount of power that is used by the heater <NUM> during each predetermined time interval and add up to calculate the second power amount.

In step S1020, the aerosol generating device <NUM> determines whether or not the calculated second power amount reaches a difference value between the first power amount and the reference power amount. Step S1020 may be performed by real-time monitoring of the aerosol generating device <NUM> or may be performed at predetermined time intervals.

If the second power amount is less than the difference value between the first power amount and the reference power amount, the aerosol generating device <NUM> continues to calculate the second power amount and continues to heat the heater <NUM>.

If the second power amount reaches the difference value between the first power amount and the reference power amount, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may selectively perform step S1030 or step S1040. Alternatively, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may perform steps S1030 and S1040 sequentially or alternately.

In step S1030, the aerosol generating device <NUM> continues the heating operation of the heater <NUM> so that the temperature of the heater <NUM> is maintained at a temperature at the first time point (i.e., at a point in time when the first time period expires).

In step S1040, the aerosol generating device <NUM> continues the heating operation of the heater <NUM> so that the temperature of the heater <NUM> is maintained at a temperature lower than the temperature at the first time point.

The content described with reference to <FIG> may also be applied to steps S1030 and S1040 in the same manner.

Moreover, the operation method of the aerosol generating device described above may be generated as a program executable on a computer and may be performed by a general-purpose digital computer that executes the program by using a computer-readable recording medium. In addition, a structure of data used in the operation method of the aerosol generating device described above may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium through various elements. The computer-readable recording medium includes a storage medium such as a magnetic storage medium (for example, ROM, RAM, USB, floppy disk, hard disk, or so on) or an optical read medium (for example, CD-ROM, DVD, or so on).

Claim 1:
An aerosol generating device (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a heater (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to heat an aerosol generating material; and
a controller (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to:
calculate a first power amount indicating a power amount used by the heater (<NUM>, <NUM>) during a preset first time period after a heating operation of the heater (<NUM>, <NUM>) is started, and
control the heating operation of the heater (<NUM>, <NUM>) based on whether the first power amount is greater than or equal to a preset reference power amount.