Patent Description:
Recently, the demand for alternatives to traditional cigarettes has increased. For example, there is growing demand for aerosol generating devices that generate aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material in cigarettes, rather than by combusting cigarettes. Accordingly, studies on a heating-type cigarette and a heating-type aerosol generating device have been actively conducted.

After use of an aerosol-generating device, foreign substances, such as cigarette ash, may be left in the aerosol-generating device. A cleaning device may be used to remove the foreign substances remaining in the aerosol-generating device.

When using such cleaning devices, a user needs to be recharge its internal battery regularly or has to connect its power connection terminal to an external power source through a wire. <CIT> discloses such a cleaning device.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a cleaning device that is capable of operating without an internal battery and a wired power connection, and an aerosol-generating system including the same.

A cleaning device used to clean an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment may include a power receiver configured to wirelessly receive electrical energy from the aerosol-generating device; a power converter configured to convert the electrical energy received by the power receiver to mechanical energy; and a cleaning member configured to clean the aerosol-generating device by the mechanical.

The technical problem is not limited to the above, and other technical problems may be inferred from the following examples.

A cleaning device may operate without an internal battery or a wired power connection, because the cleaning device may receive electrical energy wirelessly from the aerosol-generating device. Therefore, a weight of the cleaning device and the manufacturing cost may be reduced, and a user may conveniently use the cleaning device without charging the cleaning device. In addition, the life of a cleaning device does not have to depend on the life of its internal battery.

In addition, an aerosol-generating device may supply power to the cleaning device without additional components, because electrical energy may be transferred to the cleaning device using a power transmitter used to heat a heater of the aerosol-generating device.

In addition, according to an embodiment, the aerosol-generating system starts a cleaning execution mode in response to an operation of a user pressing the cleaning device toward the aerosol-generating device, so the user may perform cleaning by a simple operation.

Various effects of the invention are described in the detailed description of the invention.

In addition, in the cleaning device according to an embodiment, the power receiver may include a sub-coil that generates a current that is induced by the aerosol-generating device in the sub-coil.

In addition, in the cleaning device according to an embodiment, the power converter includes a motor.

An aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment may include an aerosol-generating device comprising: a battery; a power transmitter configured to receive power from the battery; and a controller configured to control the power supplied from the battery to the power transmitter; and a cleaning device comprising: a power receiver configured to wirelessly receive electrical energy from the power transmitter; a power converter configured to convert the electrical energy received by the power receiver to mechanical energy; and a cleaning member configured to clean the aerosol-generating device by the mechanical energy.

In addition, in the aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment, the power transmitter may include a main coil, the power receiver may include a sub-coil configured to generate a current induced by the main coil.

In addition, in the aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment, the aerosol-generating system may operate in a cleaning mode when the aerosol-generating device and the cleaning device are combined, and operate in a normal mode when the aerosol-generating device and the cleaning device are separated from each other, and the controller may control the power such that a current having a first frequency flows through the main coil in the cleaning mode and a current having a second frequency flows through the main coil in the normal mode.

In addition, in the aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment, the aerosol-generating device further includes a heater inductively heated by the main coil to heat a cigarette.

In addition, in the aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment, the first frequency and the second frequency are the same.

In addition, in the aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment, the first frequency and the second frequency are different.

In addition, in the aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment, the current having the first frequency may transmit electrical energy to the sub-coil such that that the cleaning member operates, and the current having the second frequency may cause the main coil to inductively heat the heater.

In addition, in the aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment, the aerosol-generating device may further include a main insertion groove in which the heater is arranged and the cleaning device is inserted, the cleaning device may further include a sub insertion groove into which the heater is inserted, the main coil may be arranged to surround the main insertion groove, and the sub-coil is arranged to surround the sub insertion groove.

In addition, in the aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment, the cleaning device may further include a blocking member arranged between the main coil and the heater while the aerosol-generating device and the cleaning device are combined, such that a magnetic field generated by the main coil is blocked by the blocking member.

In addition, in the aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment, the heater may be heated at a lower temperature in the cleaning mode than in the normal mode.

In addition, in the aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment, the cleaning mode may include a cleaning standby mode in which the cleaning member does not operate and a cleaning execution mode in which the cleaning member operates, the aerosol-generating device further includes a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure applied toward a bottom of the main insertion groove, and the controller switches from the cleaning standby mode to the cleaning execution mode when the detected pressure is equal to or greater than a reference pressure.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of an aerosol-generating system.

The aerosol-generating system <NUM> may include an aerosol-generating device <NUM> and a cleaning device <NUM>. The aerosol-generating device <NUM> may be a device that generates an aerosol by heating a solid or liquid aerosol-generating material. For example, the aerosol-generating device <NUM> may be an electronic cigarette that provides nicotine to a user. The cleaning device <NUM> may be a device used to clean the inside and/or outside of the aerosol-generating device <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of an aerosol-generating device.

The aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment may include a battery <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, a heater <NUM>, and a power transmitter <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, and the heater <NUM> are shown as being arranged in a line. However, an internal structure of the aerosol-generating device is not limited to the internal structure shown in <FIG>. In other words, according to the design of the aerosol-generating device, an arrangement of the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, and the heater <NUM> may be changed.

The battery <NUM> may supply power to be used for the aerosol generating device to operate. For example, the battery <NUM> may supply power for heating the heater <NUM> and supply power for operating the control unit <NUM> and the power transmitter <NUM>. Also, the battery <NUM> may supply power for operations of a display, a sensor, a motor, etc. mounted in the aerosol generating device. Also, the battery <NUM> may supply power for operations of the cleaning device (<NUM> in <FIG>).

The controller <NUM> may control overall operations of the aerosol generating device. In detail, the controller <NUM> controls not only operations of the battery <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, and the power transmitter <NUM>, but also operations of other components included in the aerosol generating device. Also, the controller <NUM> may check a state of each of the components of the aerosol generating device to determine whether or not the aerosol generating device is able to operate.

The heater <NUM> may be an induction heater. In detail, the heater <NUM> may include a susceptor and may be inductively heated by the power transmitter <NUM>. For example, when a cigarette is inserted into the aerosol-generating device, the heater <NUM> may be located inside the cigarette. As such, the heated heater <NUM> may increase a temperature of the aerosol-generating material in the cigarette.

However, the heater <NUM> is not limited to the example described above, and may include any other heaters capable of being heated to a desired temperature may be used. Here, the desired temperature may be pre-set in the aerosol generating device or may be set by a user.

For example, the heater <NUM> may include a tube-type heating element, a plate-type heating element, a needle-type heating element, or a rod-type heating element. The heater <NUM> may heat the inside or the outside of the cigarette, according to the shape of the heating element.

Also, the aerosol generating device may include a plurality of heaters <NUM>. Here, the plurality of heaters <NUM> may be inserted into the cigarette or may be arranged outside the cigarette. Alternatively, some of the plurality of heaters <NUM> may be inserted into the cigarette, and the others may be arranged outside the cigarette. The shape of the heater <NUM> is not limited to the shape illustrated in <FIG>, and may include various shapes.

The power transmitter <NUM> may be electrically connected to the battery <NUM> and receive power from the battery <NUM>. In addition, the power transmitter <NUM> may wirelessly transmit electrical energy to the cleaning device (<NUM> in <FIG>).

The power transmitter <NUM> may include a main coil. The main coil <NUM> may be arranged to surround a main insertion groove <NUM> into which the cigarette is inserted, such that the main coil <NUM> is disposed near the heater <NUM>. The heater <NUM> may include a susceptor which is inductively heated by a magnetic field generated by the main coil <NUM>.

The aerosol-generating device may further include a pressure sensor <NUM>. The pressure sensor <NUM> may be arranged toward the main insertion groove <NUM>. The pressure sensor <NUM> may sense a pressure applied to the aerosol-generating device <NUM> (i.e., a pressure applied against the bottom of the main insertion groove <NUM>) by the cleaning device (<NUM> in <FIG>) inserted into the main insertion groove <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of a cleaning device.

The cleaning device <NUM> may include a power receiver <NUM>, a power converter <NUM>, and a cleaning member <NUM>.

The cleaning device <NUM> may include a sub-insertion groove <NUM> into which the heating portion (<NUM> of <FIG>) of the aerosol-generating device is inserted when the cleaning device <NUM> is combined with the aerosol-generating device.

The power receiver <NUM> may receive electrical energy wirelessly from the aerosol-generating device. The power receiver <NUM> may include a sub-coil. A current may be induced in the sub-coil <NUM> by the magnetic field generated by the main coil (<NUM> in <FIG>) of the aerosol-generating device. The sub-coil <NUM> may be arranged to surround the sub insertion groove <NUM>.

The power converter <NUM> may be electrically connected to the power receiver <NUM> to convert electrical energy received by the power receiver <NUM> to mechanical energy. The power converter <NUM> may include a motor. For example, the motor may be a DC motor or an AC motor. When the motor is the DC motor, the power converter <NUM> may include a rectifying circuit to stably supply DC power to the motor. For example, the motor may be a linear motor.

The cleaning member <NUM> is a portion that actually cleans aerosol-generating device. For example, the cleaning member <NUM> may include a cleaning comb or brush structure. The cleaning member <NUM> may operate by mechanical energy provided by the power converter <NUM>. For example, the cleaning member <NUM> may rotate by the motor of the power converter <NUM>. For another example, the cleaning member <NUM> may linearly move by the linear motor of the power converter <NUM>.

The cleaning member <NUM> may be arranged in the sub insertion groove <NUM>. For example, the cleaning member <NUM> may extend in a radial direction of the sub insertion groove <NUM> from a side wall 250a of the sub insertion groove <NUM>. As another example, the cleaning member <NUM> may extend from an end wall 250b of the sub insertion groove <NUM> in a longitudinal direction of the sub insertion groove <NUM>.

The cleaning member <NUM> may be a line-shaped brush or a surface-shaped brush. The cleaning member <NUM> may be made of a heat-resistant material to clean the heated heater (<NUM> of <FIG>). In addition, the cleaning member <NUM> may be made of a durable material to be resistant to abrasion. In addition, the cleaning member <NUM> may be made of a flexible or soft material to prevent damage to the heater (<NUM> in <FIG>).

The cleaning device <NUM> may further include an internal battery. In addition, the cleaning device <NUM> may further include a processor. For example, the processor of the cleaning device <NUM> may control the cleaning member <NUM> to operate by electrical energy transmitted through the power receiver <NUM> or by power supplied from the internal battery. For example, the processor of the cleaning device <NUM> may control the internal battery to be charged by the electrical energy transmitted through the power receiver <NUM>.

Also, the cleaning device <NUM> may further include a power connection terminal. For example, the processor of the cleaning device <NUM> may control the cleaning member <NUM> to operate by electrical energy delivered through the power receiver <NUM> or external power supplied through the power connection terminal.

The cleaning device <NUM> of <FIG> is different from the cleaning device <NUM> of <FIG> in that it further includes a blocking member <NUM>. In order to avoid duplicate descriptions, only the blocking member <NUM> will be described below.

The blocking member <NUM> may block a magnetic field. In detail, the blocking member <NUM> may block induction-heating of the heater (<NUM> of <FIG>) by a magnetic field generated by the main coil (<NUM> of <FIG>).

The blocking member <NUM> may prevent the heater (<NUM> of <FIG>) from being inductively heated by a magnetic field generated by the main coil (<NUM> in <FIG>). As such, the magnetic flux transmitted to the heater <NUM> is reduced, so that the heater (<NUM> in <FIG>) is heated to a relatively low temperature.

The blocking member <NUM> may include a material blocking the magnetic field. For example, the blocking member <NUM> may include a magnetic material, a metal material, and the like.

The blocking member <NUM> may be arranged to surround the sub insertion groove <NUM> and to be surrounded by the sub-coil <NUM>. For example, the blocking member <NUM> may be arranged in an annular shape to surround the sub insertion groove <NUM>.

The blocking member <NUM> may be a coating film.

A cleaning device <NUM> of <FIG> has a different shape when compared with the cleaning device <NUM> of <FIG>. In detail, the cleaning device <NUM> of <FIG> further includes an annular insertion groove <NUM> arranged between a sub-coil <NUM> and a sub insertion groove <NUM>.

When the cleaning device <NUM> is combined with the aerosol-generating device, the heater (<NUM> of <FIG>) of the aerosol-generating device may be inserted into the sub insertion groove <NUM>, and the main coil (<NUM> of <FIG>) may be inserted into the annular insertion groove <NUM>.

The cleaning device <NUM> may optionally include a blocking member <NUM>. The blocking member <NUM> may be arranged between the sub insertion groove <NUM> and the annular insertion groove <NUM> such that the blocking member <NUM> is disposed between the main coil (<NUM> in <FIG>) and the heater (<NUM> in <FIG>).

<FIG> shows an embodiment of an aerosol-generating system. <FIG> shows an embodiment of an aerosol-generating system in which the aerosol-generating device of <FIG> and the cleaning device of <FIG> are combined.

The cleaning device <NUM> may be inserted into the main insertion groove <NUM> of the aerosol-generating device <NUM> by a user. The heater <NUM> may be inserted into the sub insertion groove <NUM> of the cleaning device <NUM>. The main coil <NUM> may be arranged to surround the sub-coil <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the aerosol-generating system <NUM> may include a cleaning mode and a normal mode.

The cleaning mode is a mode in which the cleaning device <NUM> and the aerosol-generating device <NUM> are combined. The cleaning mode may include a cleaning execution mode in which the cleaning member <NUM> is operating, a cleaning standby mode in which the cleaning member <NUM> is not operating, and the like. The cleaning execution mode is a mode in which the cleaning member <NUM> is moved by mechanical energy received from the power converter <NUM>, and the cleaning standby mode is a mode in which the cleaning member <NUM> is stopped.

When the cleaning device <NUM> is not combined, the aerosol-generating device <NUM> may operate in the normal mode, as opposed to the cleaning mode. The normal mode may include a heating mode in which the heater <NUM> is preheating or heating a cigarette, and a low-power mode in which the aerosol-generating device <NUM> is in a sleep state.

The controller <NUM> may switch from the normal mode to the cleaning mode so that the cleaning device <NUM> cleans the aerosol-generating device <NUM>. In addition, the controller <NUM> may switch from the cleaning mode to the normal mode.

On detecting that the cleaning device <NUM> is combined with the aerosol-generating device <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may switch from the normal mode to the cleaning mode. For example, the controller <NUM> may detect that the cleaning device <NUM> is inserted into the main insertion groove <NUM> of the aerosol-generating device <NUM> through impedance matching, and switch from the normal mode to the cleaning mode. As another example, when a user operates a switch, the controller <NUM> may determine that the cleaning device <NUM> has been inserted into the main insertion groove <NUM> of the aerosol-generating device <NUM>, and switch from the normal mode to the cleaning mode. Examples of the switch may include, but are not limited to, a push switch, a sliding switch, and a knob switch.

Likewise, on detecting that the cleaning device <NUM> has been separated from the aerosol-generating device <NUM>, and the controller120 may switch from the cleaning mode to the normal mode. For example, the controller <NUM> may detect that the cleaning device <NUM> has been separated from the aerosol-generating device <NUM> through a magnetic sensor or a pressure sensor, and may switch from the cleaning mode to the normal mode. As another example, when the user operates the switch again, the controller <NUM> may determine that the cleaning device <NUM> has been separated from the aerosol-generating device <NUM>, and switch from the cleaning mode to the normal mode.

A switching from the normal mode to the cleaning mode by the controller <NUM> may be switching from the normal mode to the cleaning standby mode or switching from the normal mode to the cleaning execution mode. When the controller <NUM> switches from the normal mode to the cleaning standby mode, an additional input signal may be required to change from the cleaning standby mode to the cleaning execution mode.

For example, the controller <NUM> may switch from the normal mode to the cleaning standby mode on detecting that the cleaning device <NUM> is combined with the aerosol-generating device <NUM>. Then, the controller <NUM> may switch from the cleaning standby mode to the cleaning execution mode on sensing a switch operation by the user.

As another example, the controller <NUM> may switch from the normal mode to the cleaning standby mode on detecting that the cleaning device <NUM> is combined with the aerosol-generating device <NUM>. Then, the controller <NUM> may switch from the cleaning standby mode to the cleaning execution mode when the pressure sensor <NUM> detects a pressure above a reference pressure. As shown in <FIG>, a user may press the cleaning device <NUM> into the aerosol-generating device <NUM> after inserting the cleaning device <NUM> into the main insertion groove <NUM> of the aerosol-generating device <NUM>. Accordingly, the pressure sensor <NUM> may be pressurized by the cleaning device <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may detect that the cleaning device <NUM> is pressurized by the user through the pressure sensor <NUM> sensing a pressure equal to or greater than a reference pressure. Then, the controller <NUM> may switch from the cleaning standby mode to the cleaning execution mode.

The controller <NUM> may switch from the cleaning execution mode to the cleaning standby mode, and then switch from the cleaning standby mode to the normal mode.

For example, when the controller <NUM> detects that the user operates the switch again, the controller <NUM> may switch from the cleaning execution mode to the cleaning standby mode, and switch from the cleaning standby mode to the normal mode when the controller <NUM> detects that the cleaning device <NUM> is separated from the aerosol-generating device <NUM>.

As another example, the controller <NUM> may switch from the cleaning execution mode to the cleaning standby mode when the pressure sensor <NUM> detects a pressure that decreases below a reference pressure, and switch from the cleaning standby mode to the normal mode when the controller <NUM> detects that the cleaning device <NUM> is separated from the aerosol-generating device <NUM>. When a user stops pressing the cleaning device <NUM> toward the aerosol-generating device <NUM>, the pressure sensor <NUM> may sense a pressure that decreases below a reference pressure.

In the above, examples have been described in which the controller <NUM> switches the mode of the aerosol-generating system <NUM>. Alternatively, the cleaning device <NUM> may include a processor, and a mode switching of the aerosol-generating system <NUM> may be performed by the processor included in the cleaning device <NUM>. Alternatively, the controller <NUM> and the processor included in the cleaning device <NUM> may perform wireless communication to switch the mode of the aerosol-generating system <NUM>.

When the cleaning mode starts while the cleaning device <NUM> is combined with the aerosol-generating device <NUM>, electrical energy may be transferred from the power transmitter <NUM> to the power receiver <NUM>. Then, the power converter <NUM> may convert the electrical energy to mechanical energy, and the cleaning member <NUM> may operate by the mechanical energy to clean the aerosol-generating device <NUM>.

For example, a current may be induced in the sub-coil <NUM> by a magnetic field generated by the main coil <NUM>, and a motor may operate by the current such that the cleaning member <NUM> may operate by the motor.

The cleaning device <NUM> may operate without an internal battery or a wired power connection, because the cleaning device <NUM> may receive electrical energy wirelessly from the power transmitter <NUM> through the power receiver <NUM>. Accordingly, a weight of the cleaning device <NUM>, manufacturing costs, and the like may be reduced. Also, a user may conveniently use the cleaning device <NUM> without having to charge the cleaning device <NUM>. In addition, the aerosol-generating device <NUM> may supply power to the cleaning device <NUM> without additional components, because electrical energy is transmitted to the cleaning device <NUM> using the power transmitter <NUM> that is already included in the aerosol-generating device <NUM> to heat the heater <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may adjust a frequency of a current delivered to the main coil <NUM> according to the mode of the aerosol-generating system <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may control power such that a current of a first frequency flows through the main coil <NUM> in the cleaning mode, and a current of a second frequency flows through the main coil <NUM> in the normal mode. For example, the controller <NUM> may control power such that the current of the first frequency flows through the main coil <NUM> in the cleaning execution mode, and the current of the second frequency flows through the main coil <NUM> in the heating mode.

Alternatively, the controller <NUM> may control power so that currents having the first frequency and the second frequency flow through the main coil <NUM> in the cleaning execution mode and the heating mode.

The first frequency and the second frequency may be different frequencies. For example, the first frequency is a frequency of a current for transmitting electrical energy to the sub-coil <NUM> so that the cleaning member <NUM> operates, and the second frequency may be a frequency of a current by which the main coil <NUM> may induction-heat the heater <NUM>. That is, the first frequency may be a frequency of a current for transmitting electrical energy required for an operation of the cleaning member <NUM>, and the second frequency may be a frequency of a current required for induction-heating the heater <NUM>.

In the cleaning mode, as the current of the first frequency rather than the second frequency flows through the main coil <NUM>, the heater <NUM> may not generate heat or may generate heat at a lower temperature than in the heating mode. As such, damage to the cleaning member <NUM> may be prevented. In addition, in the cleaning mode, since the heater <NUM> generates heat at a low temperature, foreign substances on the heater <NUM> may be more easily removed.

Alternatively, the first frequency and the second frequency may be the same frequency. For example, when the frequency of the current for transmitting the electrical energy required for the operation of the cleaning member <NUM> and the frequency of the current required for induction-heating the heater <NUM> are the same, the first frequency and the second frequency may be the same.

Even if the cleaning device <NUM> operates by the current of the first frequency, and at the same time, the heater <NUM> is inductively heated by the current of the second frequency that is the same as the first frequency, if the cleaning member <NUM> is made of a heat-resistant material, cleaning may be performed without thermal deformation due to the heater <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may adjust a frequency of a current through a filter. For example, the controller <NUM> may control the current of the first frequency or the second frequency to be selectively transmitted to the main coil <NUM> through a band pass filter. As another example, the controller <NUM> may control the currents having the first frequency and the second frequency to be transmitted to the main coil <NUM> through a broadband pass filter.

The blocking member <NUM> may be arranged between the heater <NUM> and the main coil <NUM> while the aerosol-generating device <NUM> and the cleaning device <NUM> are combined. The blocking member <NUM> may block a magnetic field generated by the main coil <NUM> to prevent the heater <NUM> from being inductively heated.

On the other hand, since the blocking member <NUM> does not exist between the main coil <NUM> and the sub-coil <NUM>, a current may be induced in the sub-coil <NUM> by the main coil <NUM>.

Even if the first frequency and the second frequency are the same, or the currents of the first frequency and the second frequency are simultaneously supplied to the main coil <NUM>, since the magnetic field generated by the main coil <NUM> is blocked by the blocking member <NUM>, the heater <NUM> may be prevented from being inductively heated or may be heated to a relatively low temperature in the cleaning mode.

The cleaning device <NUM> may be inserted into the main insertion groove <NUM> of the aerosol-generating device <NUM>, such that the heater <NUM> is placed in the sub insertion groove <NUM> of the cleaning device <NUM>. In addition, the main coil <NUM> of the aerosol-generating device <NUM> may be inserted into the annular insertion groove <NUM> of the cleaning device <NUM>.

Like the aerosol-generating system of <FIG>, when the aerosol-generating device <NUM> and the cleaning device <NUM> are combined, the blocking member <NUM> may be arranged between the heater <NUM> and the main coil <NUM>. The blocking member <NUM> may block the magnetic field generated by the main coil <NUM> to prevent the heater <NUM> from being inductively heated.

A shape of the aerosol-generating system <NUM> shown in <FIG> is only an example, and the shape of the aerosol-generating system <NUM> is not limited thereto.

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> <FIG> and <FIG>, 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:
A cleaning device (<NUM>) used to clean an aerosol-generating device (<NUM>), the cleaning device (<NUM>) comprising:
a power receiver (<NUM>) configured to wirelessly receive electrical energy from the aerosol-generating device (<NUM>);
a power converter (<NUM>) configured to convert the electrical energy received by the power receiver (<NUM>) to mechanical energy; and
a cleaning member (<NUM>) configured to clean the aerosol-generating device (<NUM>) by the mechanical energy,
characterized in that the power receiver (<NUM>) is configured to receive electrical energy from the aerosol-generating device (<NUM>) when the cleaning device (<NUM>) is combined with the aerosol-generating device (<NUM>).