Patent Description:
In recent years, a need for an alternative to traditional cigarettes has been growing. For example, many people use an aerosol generating device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material, rather than smoking combustive cigarettes. Accordingly, research on a heating-type cigarette and a heating-type aerosol generating device is being actively conducted.

<CIT> presents an aerosol-generating device comprising: a heating element configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate for generating an aerosol; a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the heating element; an aerosol monitoring means for measuring an aerosol property comprising at least one of a physical property and a chemical composition of the generated aerosol; and a controller configured to adjust a power supplied to the heating element based on: the measured heating element temperature in a first feedback control loop; and the measured aerosol property in a second feedback control loop.

An aerosol generating device generates an aerosol by using a heater for heating to a high temperature. In this case, there is a problem that a dangerous situation may occur due to overheating of a device, an overcurrent, a short circuit, and over discharging and overcharging of a battery in various use environments of an aerosol generating device.

Embodiments provide an aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating device which prevent the aerosol generating device described above from being in a dangerous situation.

Problems to be solved by the embodiments are not limited to the above-described problem, and undescribed problems will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs from the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

Aerosol generating system according to embodiments may ensure stability when a dangerous situation occurs due to overheating, an overcurrent, a circuit short, over discharging and overcharging of a battery, and so on that may occur in various use environments.

Effects by the embodiments are not limited to the above-described effects, and effects that are not described will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs from the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

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

Also, <FIG> illustrate that the aerosol generating device <NUM> includes the heater <NUM>.

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>.

The battery <NUM> supplies electric power to be used for the aerosol generating device <NUM> to operate. Also, the battery <NUM> may supply power for operation of a display, a sensor, a motor, etc. mounted in the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may generally control operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. In detail, the controller <NUM> may control not only operation of the battery <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, and the vaporizer <NUM>, but also operation of other components included in the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

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

The heater <NUM> includes an induction heater. In detail, the heater <NUM> includes an electrically conductive coil for heating a cigarette in an induction heating method, and the cigarette includes a susceptor which may be heated by the induction heater.

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.

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> includes at least one sensor (e.g., a puff detecting sensor, a temperature detecting sensor, a cigarette insertion detecting sensor, etc.). Also, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be formed as a structure that, even when the cigarette <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, may introduce external air or discharge internal air.

Although not illustrated in <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> and an additional cradle form together a system. For example, the cradle is used to charge the battery <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

A 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.

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 formed in the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be adjusted by the user. Accordingly, the amount of smoke and a smoking impression 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, one embodiment will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

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

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

<FIG> illustrates that the filter rod <NUM> includes a single segment, but 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 by 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 by one wrapper <NUM>. As another example, the cigarette <NUM> may be double-packaged by two or more wrappers <NUM>. For example, the tobacco rod <NUM> may be packaged by a first wrapper, and the filter rod <NUM> may be packaged by a second wrapper. Also, the tobacco rod <NUM> and the filter rod <NUM>, which are respectively packaged by separate wrappers, may be coupled to each other, and the entire cigarette <NUM> may be repackaged by a third wrapper. When each of the tobacco rod <NUM> or the filter rod <NUM> includes a plurality of segments, each segment may be packaged by a separate wrapper. Also, the entire cigarette <NUM> including the plurality of segments, which are respectively packaged by the separate wrappers and are coupled to each other, may be re-packaged by another wrapper.

Here, the capsule <NUM> may perform a function of generating flavor or a function of generating aerosol.

When the filter rod <NUM> includes a segment configured to cool the aerosol, the cooling segment may include a polymer material or a biodegradable polymer material. For example, the cooling segment may include pure polylactic acid alone, but the material for forming the cooling segment is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the cooling segment may include a cellulose acetate filter having a plurality of holes. However, the cooling segment is not limited to the above-described example and is not limited as long as the cooling segment cools the aerosol.

Meanwhile, although not shown in <FIG>, the cigarette <NUM> according to an embodiment may further include a front-end filter. The front-end filter is located on one side of the tobacco rod <NUM>, which is not facing the filter rod <NUM>. The front-end filter may prevent the tobacco rod <NUM> from being detached and prevent a liquefied aerosol from flowing into the aerosol generating device <NUM> (<FIG>) from the tobacco rod <NUM>, during smoking.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment. Hereinafter, content described above with respect to the aerosol generating device <NUM> of <FIG> may also be applied to an aerosol generating device which will be described below.

Referring to <FIG>, an aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a housing <NUM>, and includes a battery <NUM>, a printed circuit board <NUM>, a heater <NUM>, and temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> forms an exterior of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. In addition, an opening <NUM> into which a cigarette is inserted is formed at one side of the housing <NUM>.

The printed circuit board <NUM> includes a controller. For example, the controller may be a microcontroller unit (MCU). The MCU is hardware that controls overall operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The MCU includes at least one processor. A processor may also be implemented by an array of a plurality of logic gates or may also be implemented by a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable in the microprocessor is stored. In addition, it may be understood by those skilled in the art to which the present embodiment belongs that the processor may be implemented by other types of hardware.

The MCU may control the overall operation of the heater <NUM>. In an embodiment, the MCU may control power supplied to the heater <NUM> based on a value sensed by at least one sensor so that the operation of the heater <NUM> starts or ends. In addition, the MCU may control the amount of power supplied to the heater <NUM> and a time when power is supplied based on a value sensed by at least one sensor so that the heater <NUM> may be heated to a predetermined temperature or may maintain an appropriate temperature.

As will be described below, the MCU may monitor temperatures of internal components through at least one of the temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and may prevent abnormal operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM> based on the temperatures of the internal components of the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

The temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may sense temperatures of internal components arranged inside the housing <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, the internal components may include the battery <NUM>, the printed circuit board <NUM> on which a controller is arranged, and the heater <NUM>. The internal components further include other components in addition to the above-described components.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> includes a first temperature sensor <NUM> that senses a temperature of the heater <NUM>, a second temperature sensor <NUM> that senses a temperature of the printed circuit board <NUM>, and a third temperature sensor <NUM> that is arranged inside the housing <NUM> and senses a temperature of the outside of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and a battery temperature sensor <NUM> that senses a temperature of the battery <NUM>. In addition, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may further include another temperature sensor that senses temperatures of other components in addition to the above-described components.

The first temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged on the heater <NUM> to sense a temperature of the heater <NUM>. The first temperature sensor <NUM> may measure the temperature of the heater <NUM> in a contact or non-contact manner. For example, the first temperature sensor <NUM> may be a resistance temperature detector (RTD) sensor. If the aerosol generating device <NUM> heats a cigarette by using an induction heating method, the first temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged on a susceptor to sense a temperature of the susceptor. Further, the first temperature sensor <NUM> may be a type of sensor that is not affected by a magnetic field applied by a coil.

The second temperature sensor <NUM> senses an internal temperature of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, the second temperature sensor <NUM> may be a thermistor. The second temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged at a point where heat generation is high in the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, the second temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged to sense a temperature of the printed circuit board <NUM>. In particular, a temperature of a point adjacent to the heater <NUM> on the printed circuit board <NUM> may be the highest, and thus, the second temperature sensor <NUM> may sense the temperature of the point adjacent to the heater <NUM> on the printed circuit board <NUM>.

The third temperature sensor <NUM> may sense a temperature of the external environment of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The third temperature sensor <NUM> may be installed at a point where heat generation is the lowest inside the aerosol generating device <NUM> and where a temperature is the closest to the external environment. For example, the third temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged at the opposite side of the housing <NUM> from the opening <NUM> to sense an external temperature. In an embodiment, the third temperature sensor <NUM> may measure a temperature and humidity together as necessary.

The battery temperature sensor <NUM> senses a temperature of the battery <NUM>. For example, the battery temperature sensor <NUM> may be a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) sensor. The battery temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged on a side surface, front surface, and/or rear surface of the battery <NUM> to sense a surface temperature of the battery <NUM>. Also, the battery temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged around the battery <NUM> to sense a surface temperature of the battery <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are not limited to the above-described types, and other types of temperature sensors may be installed in the aerosol generating device <NUM> as needed.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary operation method of the aerosol generating device according to the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <NUM>, in step S101, when the aerosol generating device <NUM> enters a power-on state, a controller (e.g., an MCU) begins a stable operation procedure for preventing abnormal operation of the aerosol generating device based on the temperatures of internal components of the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

In step S102, the first temperature sensor <NUM> (for example, an RTD sensor) may sense a temperature of the heater <NUM> and transmit temperature data of the heater <NUM> to the MCU. Accordingly, the MCU may monitor the temperature of the heater <NUM>.

In step S103, the second temperature sensor <NUM> (for example, a thermistor) may sense a temperature of the printed circuit board <NUM> and transmit temperature data of the printed circuit board <NUM> to the MCU. Accordingly, the MCU may monitor the temperature of the printed circuit board <NUM>. In addition, the third temperature sensor <NUM> (for example, a thermo-hygrometer) may sense an external temperature of the housing <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and transmit data of the sensed temperature to the MCU. Therefore, the MCU may monitor the external temperature. In <FIG>, step S102 and step S103 are illustrated as sequential steps, but the order of performing the steps are not limited thereto. For example, the first temperature sensor <NUM> through the third temperature sensor <NUM> may simultaneously sense temperatures of internal components. Also, step <NUM> may be performed after step <NUM>.

In step S104, the MCU determines whether or not the temperature sensed by each of the temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is higher than or equal to a preset first temperature. In this case, the first temperature may indicate a temperature that is measured when the components are overheated.

In step S104, when temperatures of one or more of the internal components are higher than or equal to the preset first temperature, the procedure may proceed to step S105. However, when temperature of the respective internal components are less than the first temperature, the MCU repeats step S104 until it is determined that temperatures of one or more of the internal components are higher than or equal to the first temperature.

In step S105, the MCU determines whether or not the temperatures sensed by the respective temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are higher than or equal to a preset second temperature. In this case, the second temperature is higher than the first temperature described above and may indicate that the aerosol generating device <NUM> is operating abnormally beyond being overheated.

In step S105, when temperatures of one or more of the internal components are higher than or equal to the present second temperature, the method may proceed to step S107. In step S107, the MCU determines that the aerosol generating device <NUM> operates abnormally. Also, the MCU may output a notification of termination of the aerosol generating device <NUM> to a user, and stop operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. In addition, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may also be reset to solve the generated problem.

The MCU may apply an enable signal to at least one low-dropout regulator (LDO) (not illustrated) for controlling supply of a voltage or a current to internal components that consume power to operate the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The LDO may indicate hardware that provides regulated voltage/current to internal components that consume power by using power delivered from the battery <NUM>.

In order to stop operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, for example, the MCU may not apply an enable signal to at least one LDO. Accordingly, at least one LDO may be disabled, and an electrical connection between the battery <NUM> and internal components that consume power connected through each of at least one LDO may be cut off. Internal components that are connected to each of at least one LDO and consume power may be deactivated as the electrical connection with the battery <NUM> is cut off, and accordingly, operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM> may stop.

In step S105, when temperatures of the respective internal components are less than the second temperature, the procedure may proceed to step S106. In this case, one or more of the internal components does not reach an abnormal operation temperature but is still higher than a normal operating temperature. Therefore, an overheating notification is output to a user. For example, the overheating notification may be output by a display capable of outputting the visual information described above and/or by a motor capable of outputting tactile information. Accordingly, a user may recognize that the aerosol generating device <NUM> is in an overheated state, and the user may take appropriate measures such as temporarily stopping use of the aerosol generating device <NUM> or lowering a temperature of the heater <NUM>. After the overheating notification is output in step S106, the MCU repeats step S105 to monitor temperatures of the respective internal components again.

In the above-described embodiment, temperatures of internal components of the aerosol generating device <NUM> are determined based on an overheating temperature and an abnormal temperature, and an overheating notification is output to a user before an abnormal operation notification. Therefore, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may operate stably.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating another exemplary operation method of the aerosol generating device according to the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, in step S201, when the aerosol generating device <NUM> enters a power-on state, an MCU begins a stable battery operation procedure for preventing abnormal operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM> based on the temperature of the battery <NUM>.

When the battery <NUM> is damaged for some reason, the temperature of the battery <NUM> becomes higher than the temperature during normal operation. Accordingly, when the battery outputs an overcurrent or when the battery is overcharged, overly discharged, short-circuited, or overheated, the MCU may begin a stable battery operation procedure based on the sensed temperature.

In step S202, the battery temperature sensor <NUM> (for example, an NTC sensor) may sense the temperature of the battery <NUM> and transmit temperature data of the battery <NUM> to an MCU. Accordingly, the MCU may monitor the temperature of the battery <NUM>.

In step S203, the MCU determines whether or not the temperature sensed by the battery temperature sensor <NUM> is higher than or equal to a preset first battery temperature. In this case, the first battery temperature may indicate a temperature that is above a temperature range of the battery <NUM> during normal operation.

When the temperature of the battery <NUM> is higher than or equal to the preset first battery temperature in step S203, the procedure may proceed to the step S204. However, when the temperature of the battery <NUM> is less than the first battery temperature, the MCU repeats step S203 until it is determined that the temperature of the battery <NUM> is higher than or equal to the first battery temperature.

In step S204, the MCU determines whether or not the temperature sensed by the battery temperature sensor <NUM> is higher than or equal to a preset second battery temperature. In this case, the second battery temperature is higher than the first battery temperature described above, and may indicate that the battery <NUM> (or the aerosol generating device <NUM>) is operating abnormally beyond being overheated.

When the temperature of the battery <NUM> is higher than or equal to the preset second battery temperature in step S204, the processing may proceed to step S206. In step S206, the MCU determines that the battery <NUM> operates abnormally. Therefore, the MCU may stop use of the battery <NUM> and operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. In addition, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may also be reset to solve the generated problem.

However, when the temperature of the battery <NUM> is less than the second battery temperature in step S204, the procedure may proceed to step S205. In this case, the battery <NUM> does not reach an abnormal operation temperature but is still overheated. Thus, an overheating notification of the battery is output to a user. For example, the overheating notification of the battery may be output by a display capable of outputting the visual information described above and/or a motor capable of outputting tactile information. Accordingly, a user may recognize that the battery <NUM> is in an overheated state, and the user may take an appropriate measure, such as temporarily stopping use of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, etc. After the overheating notification of the battery <NUM> is output in step S205, the MCU repeats step S204 to monitor the temperature of the battery <NUM> again.

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.

One example may also be implemented in the form of a recording medium including instructions executable by a computer, such as a program module executable by the computer. A computer-readable medium may be any available medium that is accessible by a computer and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, and removable and non-removable media. In addition, the computer-readable medium may include both a computer storage medium and a communication medium. The computer storage medium includes all of volatile and nonvolatile, and removable and non-removable media implemented by any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. The communication medium typically includes computer-readable instructions, data structures, other data in modulated data signals such as program modules, or other transmission mechanisms, and includes any information transfer media.

Claim 1:
An aerosol generating system comprising:
an aerosol generating device (<NUM>, <NUM>) having a first accommodation space into which an aerosol generating article (<NUM>) including a susceptor can be inserted; and
a cradle having a second accommodation space in which the aerosol generating device (<NUM>, <NUM>) can be accommodated,
wherein the aerosol generating device (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes:
a battery (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to be charged by power received from the cradle while the aerosol generating device is accommodated in the second accommodation space;
a first temperature sensor (<NUM>) configured to sense a temperature of the battery;
an induction coil (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to receive power from the battery to form a magnetic field in the first accommodation space;
a controller (<NUM>, <NUM>) electrically connected to the induction coil and arranged on a printed circuit board; and
a second temperature sensor (<NUM>) configured to sense a temperature of a point adjacent to the first accommodation space,
wherein the controller (<NUM>, <NUM>) is configured to determine abnormal operation of the aerosol generating device based on a temperature sensed by at least one of the first temperature sensor (<NUM>) and the second temperature sensor (<NUM>).