Patent Description:
Recently, there has been an increasing demand for an alternative method of overcoming the disadvantages of normal cigarettes. For example, instead of a method of generating an aerosol by burning a cigarette, a method of generating an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material of a cigarette has been increasingly demanded. Therefore, there has been active research into a heating-type cigarette or a heating-type aerosol generation device. <CIT> describes an aerosol-generating system for oral or nasal delivery of a generated aerosol to a user, including a heater element configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate; a power source; a controller configured to control operation of the heater element; means to detect a change of airflow past the heater element; first data storage means for recording detected changes in airflow and data relating to the operation of the heater element; and second storage means including a database relating to changes in airflow and data relating to the operation of the heater element to the properties of the aerosol delivered to the user. <CIT> relates to an apparatus for enabling smokable material to be heated to volatize at least one component of the smokable material. The device may be configured to identify the particular smoking material article introduced therein by the user. Even more particularly, the device may be configured to identify first and second types of smoking material articles and respectively heat the smoking material article according to first and second heat patterns. <CIT> discloses a system that includes a container housing an aerosol generating substrate and a product identifying compound associated with the container. The system further includes an electronic article configured to receive the container. The electronic article includes a sensor configured to detect the product identifying component.

Providd are a method of identifying the type of cigarette inserted into an inner space of an aerosol generation device and providing an optimal heating temperature to the identified cigarette and an aerosol generation device for realizing the method.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method includes a profile receiving step of receiving temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette from a user terminal; a cigarette sensing step of sensing a cigarette coupled to the heater after receiving the temperature profiles; a profile selecting step of identifying the type of the sensed cigarette and selecting a temperature profile corresponding to the identified type from the temperature profiles; and a power control step of controlling power of a battery according to the selected temperature profile, the power of the battery being supplied to the heater.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of controlling a temperature of a heater included in an aerosol generation device according to a type of cigarette through communication with a user terminal includes a cigarette sensing step of sensing coupling of a cigarette to the heater; a cigarette identifying step of identifying type information of the cigarette; a profile acquiring step of acquiring a temperature profile corresponding to the type information of the cigarette; and a power control step of controlling the temperature of the heater according to the acquired temperature profile.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generation device, which generates an aerosol inhalable by a user when a cigarette is coupled to a heater and power is supplied to the heater, includes a profile receiver configured to receive temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette from a user terminal; a cigarette sensor configured to sense the cigarette coupled to the heater after receiving the temperature profiles; a profile selector configured to identify a type of the cigarette and select a temperature profile corresponding to the type of the cigarette from the temperature profiles; and a power controller configured to control power of a battery according to the temperature profile, the power of the battery being supplied to the heater.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generation device, which generates an aerosol inhalable by a user when a cigarette is coupled to a heater and power is supplied to the heater, includes a cigarette sensor configured to sense coupling of the cigarette to the heater; a cigarette identification unit configured to identify type information of the cigarette; a profile acquisition unit configured to acquire a temperature profile according to the type information of the cigarette; and a power controller configured to control the temperature of the heater according to the temperature profile.

An embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a recording medium having stored therein a program for performing the method.

According to the present disclosure, a user is allowed to inhale an aerosol generated by heating a cigarette to an optimal temperature that has been preset according to the type of cigarette, thereby having a satisfactory smoking experience.

In addition, a user is allowed to directly set a temperature profile most fitting for the user in addition to existing temperature profiles that have been preset.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method of controlling a temperature of a heater included in an aerosol generation device according to a type of cigarette includes a profile receiving step of receiving temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette from a user terminal; a cigarette sensing step of sensing a cigarette coupled to the heater after receiving the temperature profiles; a profile selecting step of identifying the type of the sensed cigarette and selecting a temperature profile corresponding to the identified type from the temperature profiles; and a power control step of controlling power of a battery according to the selected temperature profile, the power of the battery being supplied to the heater.

The temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette received from the user terminal may be received by the user terminal from a cigarette database storing the temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette.

The temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette received from the user terminal may be generated based on information input through an input device of the user terminal.

The information may be input by recognizing one of quick reference (QR) code, bar code, and case code that are attached to a cigarette case.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of controlling a temperature of a heater included in an aerosol generation device according to a type of cigarette includes a cigarette sensing step of sensing coupling of a cigarette to the heater; a cigarette identifying step of identifying type information of the cigarette; a profile acquiring step of acquiring a temperature profile corresponding to the type information of the cigarette; and a power control step of controlling the temperature of the heater according to the acquired temperature profile.

The profile acquiring step may include acquiring temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette from a storage device storing the temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette.

The profile acquiring step may include acquiring temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette from information input by a user.

The profile acquiring step may include transmitting the type information to a user terminal and receiving the temperature profile corresponding to the type information.

The cigarette identifying step may include identifying the type information of the cigarette using a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader sensing an RFID tag attached to the cigarette, and the profile acquiring step may include transmitting the type information identified using the RFID reader to a user terminal and receiving the temperature profile corresponding to the type information.

The cigarette sensing step may include sensing coupling of the cigarette to the heater according to a result of recognizing one of QR code, bar code, and an optical sticker that are attached to the cigarette.

The profile selecting step may include identifying the type of the cigarette based on the number of bumps in a coupling portion of the cigarette coupled to the heater.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of providing a temperature profile of a heater to an aerosol generation device includes a cigarette information receiving step of receiving type information of a cigarette coupled to the heater from the aerosol generation device; a temperature profile search step of searching a cigarette database for a temperature profile corresponding to a type of the cigarette based on the type information that has been received; and a temperature profile transmitting step of transmitting the temperature profile found in the cigarette database to the aerosol generation device.

The temperature profile search step may include searching for the temperature profile in the cigarette database included in a user terminal.

The temperature profile search step may include searching for the temperature profile in the cigarette database of a server connected to a user terminal through a communication network.

According to even another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of controlling a temperature of a heater of an aerosol generation device includes a temperature profile display step of displaying, performed by a user terminal, a plurality of temperature profiles according to a type of cigarette through a display unit included in the user terminal; a profile transmitting step of transmitting, performed by the user terminal, at least one temperature profile to the aerosol generation device when the at least one temperature profile is selected based on information input through an input device included in the user terminal; and a step of controlling, performed by the aerosol generation device, the temperature of the heater according to the at least one temperature profile when a cigarette is coupled to the heater of the aerosol generation device.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of controlling a temperature of a heater of an aerosol generation device includes a temperature profile display step of displaying, performed by a user terminal, a plurality of types of cigarette through a display unit included in the user terminal; temperature profile search step of searching, performed by the user terminal, for a temperature profile corresponding to a type of cigarette in a cigarette database when the type of cigarette is determined based on information input through an input device included in the user terminal, the cigarette database storing temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette; and a step of receiving, performed by the aerosol generation device, the temperature profile and controlling, performed by the aerosol generation device, the temperature of the heater according to the temperature profile when a cigarette is coupled to the heater of the aerosol generation device.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a method of controlling a temperature of a heater of an aerosol generation device includes a temperature profile display step of displaying a plurality of temperature profiles through a display unit included in a user terminal; a profile transmitting step of transmitting at least one temperature profile to the aerosol generation device when the at least one temperature profile is selected based on information input through an input device included in the user terminal; and a step of receiving, performed by the aerosol generation device, the at least one temperature profile and controlling, performed by the aerosol generation device, the temperature of the heater according to the at least one temperature profile when a cigarette is coupled to the heater of the aerosol generation device.

According to a still further aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generation device includes a profile receiver configured to receive temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette from a user terminal; a cigarette sensor configured to sense a cigarette coupled to a heater after receiving the temperature profiles; a profile selector configured to identify a type of the cigarette and select a temperature profile corresponding to the type of the cigarette from the temperature profiles; and a power controller configured to control power of a battery according to the temperature profile, the power of the battery being supplied to the heater.

According to an even further aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generation device includes a cigarette sensor configured to sense coupling of a cigarette to a heater; a cigarette identification unit configured to identify type information of the cigarette; a profile acquisition unit configured to acquire a temperature profile according to the type information of the cigarette; and a power controller configured to control a temperature of the heater according to the temperature profile.

General terms that are now widely used are selected in the description of embodiments, as far as possible, taking into account functions in the present disclosure, but the terms used herein may be changed according to the intention of one of skill in the art, precedents, the advent of new technology, or the like. There are terms discretionally selected by an applicant on particular occasions. These terms will be explained in detail in relevant description. Therefore, terms used herein are not just names but should be defined based on the meaning of the terms and the whole content of the present disclosure.

In the specification, when a portion "comprises" or "includes" an element, it means that the portion may further comprise or include other elements and does not preclude the presence other elements unless stated otherwise. In addition, terminology such as "part (or unit)" and "module" may indicate a unit which processes at least one function or operation and may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination thereof.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings so as to be easily implemented by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of an entire system according to the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, it may be seen that a system <NUM>, which controls the temperature of a heater included in an aerosol generation device according to the type of cigarette, is implemented in a manner in which an aerosol generation device <NUM>, a user terminal <NUM>, and a cigarette database <NUM> exchange information through various communication networks.

The aerosol generation device <NUM> includes a heater, which is heated by receiving electric power from a power source such as a battery, and a cigarette, which generates an aerosol inhalable by a user. The aerosol generation device <NUM> includes a communication interface for communication with the user terminal <NUM> through a local area network <NUM>. Functions of the aerosol generation device <NUM> will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

The user terminal <NUM> refers to an electronic device that includes a display unit displaying a screen and an input device receiving data from a user. The input device of the user terminal <NUM> may include at least one selected from a keyboard, a mouse, a track ball, a microphone, a mechanical button, and a touch panel.

Although the user terminal <NUM> is illustrated as a smart phone in <FIG>, the user terminal <NUM> is not limited to the smart phone and may include any portable terminal such as a tablet personal computer (PC) or a netbook.

The cigarette database <NUM> is a server that stores many temperature profiles with respect to a cigarette, which generates an aerosol when inserted into the aerosol generation device <NUM> and contacting a heater that has heated up, and communicates with the user terminal <NUM> through a communication network. The cigarette database <NUM> receives a request from the user terminal <NUM> and transmits a temperature profile to the user terminal <NUM> according to the type of cigarette.

The local area network <NUM> connects the aerosol generation device <NUM> to the user terminal <NUM>. Examples of a local area network protocol used in embodiments include near field communication (NFC) having a working distance of about <NUM>, Bluetooth having a working distance of about <NUM>, and Wi-Fi Direct having a working distance of about several tens of meters.

Local area communication generically refers to processes in which the aerosol generation device <NUM> and the user terminal <NUM> set a session with unique identification code and exchange various kinds of information according to the session. In the state where one of the local area communication functions of the aerosol generation device <NUM> is activated and a local area communication function of the user terminal <NUM> that performs communication in the same manner as the local area communication function activated in the aerosol generation device <NUM> is activated, when the user terminal <NUM> accepts a local area communication setting request of the aerosol generation device <NUM>, communication between the aerosol generation device <NUM> and the user terminal <NUM> is made possible without involvement of a separate service provider's server. According to embodiments, the session between the aerosol generation device <NUM> and the user terminal <NUM> may be set in the reverse order to the above-described example.

A communication network <NUM> connects the user terminal <NUM> to the cigarette database <NUM> and includes various wireless communication networks such as a data network, a mobile communication network, and the Internet.

<FIG> is a diagram showing example 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>. Also, the cigarette <NUM> may be inserted into an inner space of the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

In other words, according to the design of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM> and the heater <NUM> may be differently arranged.

When the cigarette <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may operate the heater <NUM> to generate an aerosol from the cigarette <NUM>, The aerosol generated by the heater <NUM> is delivered to a user by passing through the cigarette <NUM>.

According to necessity, even when the cigarette <NUM> is not inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may heat the heater <NUM>.

For example, the battery <NUM> may supply power to heat the heater <NUM> or the vaporizer <NUM>, and may supply power for operating the controller <NUM> Also, the battery <NUM> may supply power for operations of a display, a sensor, a motor, etc. mounted in the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

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

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

The cigarette <NUM> may be similar as a general combustive cigarette. For example, the cigarette <NUM> may be divided into a first portion <NUM> 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, the opening and closing 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>.

<FIG> illustrates 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 <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, according to necessity, the filter rod <NUM> may further include at least one segment configured to perform other functions.

The cigarette <NUM> may be packaged via 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 via one wrapper <NUM>. As another example, the cigarette <NUM> may be doubly packaged via at least two wrappers <NUM>. For example, the tobacco rod <NUM> may be packaged via a first wrapper, and the filter rod <NUM> may be packaged via a second wrapper. Also, the tobacco rod <NUM> and the filter rod <NUM>, which are respectively packaged via separate wrappers, may be coupled to each other, and the entire cigarette <NUM> may be packaged via a third wrapper. When each of the tobacco rod <NUM> and the filter rod <NUM> includes a plurality of segments, each segment may be packaged via a separate wrapper. Also, the entire cigarette <NUM> including the plurality of segments, which are respectively packaged via the separate wrappers and which are coupled to each other, may be re-packaged via another wrapper.

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.

<FIG> is a diagram showing examples in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

<FIG> illustrates that the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, the vaporizer <NUM>, and the heater <NUM> are arranged in series. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device <NUM> is not limited to the structures illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

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 an 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>.

In addition, the shape of the heater <NUM> is not limited to the shapes illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> and may include various shapes.

The vaporizer <NUM> may generate an 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 liquid storage may be formed to be attached/detached to/from the vaporizer <NUM> or may be formed integrally with the vaporizer <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of an aerosol generation device according to the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generation device <NUM> includes the controller <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, a pulse width modulator processing unit <NUM>, a display unit <NUM>, a motor <NUM>, and a storage device <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> controls the battery <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, the pulse width modulator processing unit <NUM>, the display unit <NUM>, the motor <NUM>, and the storage device <NUM>, which are included in the aerosol generation device <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may include an input receiver (not shown) receiving a user's button or touch input and a communicator (not shown) communicating with an external communication device such as a user terminal, which will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The battery <NUM> supplies power to the heater <NUM>. The level of power supplied to the heater <NUM> may be controlled by the controller <NUM>.

When current is supplied to the heater <NUM>, the heater <NUM> heats up due to specific resistance. When a cigarette contacts (or is coupled to) the heater <NUM> that has heated up, aerosol may be generated.

The pulse width modulator processing unit <NUM> enables the controller <NUM> to control the power supplied to the heater <NUM> through a method of transmitting a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to the heater <NUM>.

The display unit <NUM> displays to allow a user to select at least one selected from the type of cigarette inserted into an inner space of the aerosol generation device <NUM> and a temperature profile (or a temperature control profile) according to the type of cigarette.

The motor <NUM> is driven by the controller <NUM> and allows a user to recognize that the aerosol generation device <NUM> is ready for use.

The storage device <NUM> stores temperature profiles based on which the controller <NUM> fittingly controls the power supplied to the heater <NUM> to provide various tastes for a user of the aerosol generation device <NUM>. The controller <NUM> reads at least one temperature profile from the storage device <NUM> and controls the power supplied to the heater <NUM> according to the temperature profile. When the power supplied to the heater <NUM> is fittingly controlled, the taste of an aerosol generated by heating the heater <NUM> may be different. For example, when a user enjoys smoking using the aerosol generation device <NUM>, the user may feel a soft smoking sensation or a full smoking sensation according to a temperature profile.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an example of a controller included in an aerosol generation device, according to the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the controller <NUM> of an aerosol generation device according to an embodiment may include a profile receiver <NUM>, a cigarette sensor <NUM>, a profile selector <NUM>, and a power controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> of <FIG> is an example of the controller <NUM> in <FIG>. Redundant description given already with reference to <FIG> will be omitted.

The profile receiver <NUM> receives temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette from a user terminal. The temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette include information that matches a different temperature profile to a different type of cigarette. The controller <NUM> may control power supplied to a heater based on the temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette.

For example, when a temperature profile of a cigarette having identification code A is X °C, the controller <NUM> controls the temperature of a heater to be X °C when cigarette A is inserted into the inner space of the aerosol generation device. Since the temperature profile is set for each type of cigarette, the temperature profile of a cigarette having identification code B may be not X °C but Y °C. Characters A, B, X, and Y are just used for description, and random characters or numerals may be used according to embodiments.

Even the same type of cigarettes may provide aerosols having different tastes according to the temperature of a heater. Thus, the temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette include temperatures that are experimentally acquired as temperatures giving the best taste to an aerosol of each type of cigarette and may include not only a fixed temperature value but also a variable value changing over time.

In an optional embodiment, the temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette may be temperature profiles that a user terminal receives from a cigarette database. Referring to <FIG>, the user terminal <NUM> may communicate various kinds of information with the cigarette database <NUM> through the communication network <NUM> and may receive, from the cigarette database <NUM>, a temperature profile of a cigarette inserted into the aerosol generation device <NUM>.

In another optional embodiment, the temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette may be generated based on information input through an input device of a user terminal. According to the present optional embodiment, a user may directly select a temperature profile for a certain cigarette through the input device, such as a soft button, a hard button, or a touch panel, of the user terminal, and an aerosol generation device may generate an aerosol according to the temperature profile that has been directly set in this way. The user may directly set a temperature profile most fitting for him or her through the user terminal.

In another optional embodiment, a user may enable a user terminal to acquire the temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette by inputting quick reference (QR) code, bar code, or case code, which is attached to a cigarette case, to an input device of the user terminal. When the code attached to the cigarette case is recognized through a smart application installed in the user terminal, the type of cigarette may be identified, and the user terminal may acquire the temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette, which have been included in advance as data of the smart application. In addition, the user terminal may access a cigarette database based on the recognized code and acquire the temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette. In this process, the temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette are transmitted from the user terminal to the profile receiver <NUM>.

The cigarette sensor <NUM> receives the temperature profile and then senses a cigarette coupled to a heater. Here, the coupling between the heater and the cigarette includes the concept that the distance between the heater and the cigarette is less than a predetermined distance so that identification code on the cigarette may be satisfactorily recognized by the aerosol generation device, as well as the concept that the cigarette is in physical contact with the heater.

For example, the cigarette sensor <NUM> may sense that a cigarette has been coupled to the heater according to a result of recognizing QR code, bar code, or an optical sticker, which is attached to the cigarette.

In another example, the cigarette sensor <NUM> may identify the type of cigarette based on the number of bumps in a coupling portion of the cigarette coupled to the heater. The cigarette sensor <NUM> may sense a cigarette as cigarette A when two bumps are recognized and as cigarette B when three bumps are recognized.

In a further example, the cigarette sensor <NUM> may operate as a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader so as to recognize an RFID tag attached to a cigarette and sense the coupling of the cigarette to the heater.

The profile selector <NUM> identifies the type of cigarette sensed by the cigarette sensor <NUM> and selects a temperature profile corresponding to the identified type of cigarette from temperature profiles. The profile selector <NUM> selects only the temperature profile corresponding to the cigarette sensed by the cigarette sensor <NUM> from the temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette, which have been received from a user terminal.

The power controller <NUM> controls the power of a battery, which is supplied to a heater, according to the temperature profile selected by the profile selector <NUM>. In detail, as described above with reference to <FIG>, the power controller <NUM> controls a pulse width modulator processing unit based on the temperature profile such that a PWM signal is appropriately provided to the heater.

<FIG> is a block diagram of another example of a controller included in an aerosol generation device, according to the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the controller <NUM> of an aerosol generation device according to another embodiment may include the cigarette sensor <NUM>, a cigarette identification unit <NUM>, a profile acquisition unit <NUM>, and the power controller <NUM>. The cigarette sensor <NUM> and the power controller <NUM> in <FIG> are the same as those in <FIG>. Although not shown, the controller <NUM> of <FIG> may include the profile receiver <NUM> and the profile selector <NUM>, which have been described with reference to <FIG>.

The cigarette sensor <NUM> senses the coupling of a cigarette to a heater. The method by which the cigarette sensor <NUM> senses the coupling of a cigarette to the heater has been described with reference to <FIG>.

The cigarette identification unit <NUM> identifies type information of the cigarette sensed by the cigarette sensor <NUM>. When the cigarette sensor <NUM> senses that a cigarette contacts the heater and is ready to generate an aerosol, the cigarette identification unit <NUM> identifies the type of the cigarette contacting the heater.

The profile acquisition unit <NUM> acquires a temperature profile according to the type information of the cigarette.

For example, the profile acquisition unit <NUM> may acquire the temperature profile corresponding to the type of the cigarette from a storage device that stores temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette. Here, the storage device that stores temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette may be memory, such as the storage device <NUM> in <FIG>, which is included in the aerosol generation device.

In another example, the profile acquisition unit <NUM> may acquire the temperature profile corresponding to the type of the cigarette from information input by a user. When the user selects a certain temperature profile through an input device of a user terminal, the selected temperature profile may be transmitted from the user terminal to the profile acquisition unit <NUM>. Alternatively, temperature profile corresponding to the type of the cigarette may be generated by a user directly inputting a certain temperature profile through an input device of the aerosol generation device.

In a further example, the profile acquisition unit <NUM> may transmit the type information of the cigarette, which has been identified by the cigarette identification unit <NUM>, to a user terminal and may receive a temperature profile corresponding to the type information of the cigarette from the user terminal.

The power controller <NUM> controls the temperature of the heater according to the temperature profile acquired by the profile acquisition unit <NUM>. A method by which the power controller <NUM> in <FIG> controls the temperature of the heater is the same as that described with reference to <FIG>.

The embodiment described with reference to <FIG> is characterized in that the temperature profiles according to type of cigarette are received first and, when the coupling of a cigarette to the heater is sensed, a temperature profile corresponding to the type of the cigarette is selected from the received temperature profiles and the temperature of the heater is controlled. Differently, the embodiment described with reference to <FIG> which does not form part of the invention, is characterized in that after the coupling of a cigarette to the heater is sensed and type information of the cigarette is identified, a temperature profile is acquired according to the type information of the cigarette.

In an optional embodiment, the temperature of a heater of the aerosol generation device <NUM> may be controlled by forming a single system with the aerosol generation device <NUM> and the user terminal <NUM> in <FIG>. Firstly, the user terminal <NUM> displays a plurality of temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette through a display unit included therein. A user performs inputting through an input device included in the user terminal <NUM> such that at least one of the temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette is selected. The selected temperature profile according to the type of cigarette is transmitted to the aerosol generation device <NUM> and is stored in a storage device of the aerosol generation device <NUM>. Thereafter, when a cigarette is coupled to the heater of the aerosol generation device <NUM>, the aerosol generation device <NUM> controls the temperature of the heater based on the temperature profile stored in the storage device. According to the present optional embodiment, a user selects, according to his or her preference, at least one temperature profile from a plurality of temperature profiles displayed on the user terminal <NUM>, and when a selected cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generation device <NUM>, the temperature of the heater is controlled according to a temperature profile corresponding to the cigarette.

In another optional embodiment, the temperature of a heater of the aerosol generation device <NUM> in <FIG> may be controlled according to the type of cigarette, which is selected by a user. Firstly, the user terminal <NUM> displays a plurality of types of cigarette through a display unit included therein. A user may select the type of cigarette through an input device included in the user terminal <NUM>. When the type of cigarette is determined by the user's input, the user terminal <NUM> searches for a temperature profile corresponding to the determined type of cigarette in a cigarette database, stores temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette, and transmits the temperature profile to the aerosol generation device <NUM> through the local area network <NUM>. The aerosol generation device <NUM> receives the temperature profile and controls the temperature of the heater according to the temperature profile when a cigarette is coupled to the heater. The present optional embodiment is different from the previous embodiment, in which the temperature of the heater of the aerosol generation device <NUM> is controlled by selecting the temperature profile according to the type of cigarette, in that a user just selects the type of cigarette displayed on the user terminal <NUM>.

In a further optional embodiment, the temperature of a heater of the aerosol generation device <NUM> in <FIG> may be controlled according to a temperature profile selected by a user regardless of the type of cigarette. In the present optional embodiment, the user selects one of the temperature profiles displayed on the user terminal <NUM>, and the temperature of the heater of the aerosol generation device <NUM> is controlled according to only the temperature profile selected by the user, regardless of the type of a cigarette coupled to the heater. Accordingly, the temperature of the heater may be controlled with consistency.

<FIG> is a flowchart of an example of a method of controlling the temperature of a heater of an aerosol generation device according to the type of cigarette, according to the present disclosure.

The method of <FIG> may be performed by an aerosol generation device including controller <NUM> of <FIG>. Therefore, <FIG> will be referred to in the description below, and redundant description given with <FIG> will be omitted.

The profile receiver <NUM> receives temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette from a user terminal in operation S910.

After receiving the temperature profiles, the cigarette sensor <NUM> senses a cigarette coupled to the heater in operation S930.

The profile selector <NUM> identifies the type of the cigarette coupled to the heater and selects a temperature profile corresponding to the identified type of the cigarette from the temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette, which are received from the user terminal, in operation S950.

The power controller <NUM> controls the power of a battery, which is supplied to the heater, according to the temperature profile selected in operation S950 in operation S970.

According to the method including operations S910 through S970, an aerosol generation device receives and stores temperature profiles according to the type of cigarette in advance, and when a cigarette is inserted into the inner space of the aerosol generation device and the aerosol generation device senses that the cigarette is coupled to or contacts a heater, the aerosol generation device controls power supplied to the heater according to a temperature profile corresponding to the cigarette, thereby providing a user a satisfactory smoking experience.

<FIG> is a flowchart of another example of a method of controlling the temperature of a heater of an aerosol generation device according to the type of cigarette, according to the present disclosure.

The method of <FIG> may be performed by an aerosol generation device including the controller <NUM> of <FIG>. Therefore, <FIG> will be referred to in the description below, and redundant description given with <FIG> will be omitted.

The cigarette sensor <NUM> senses coupling of a cigarette to the heater included in the aerosol generation device in operation S1010.

The cigarette identification unit <NUM> identifies type information of the cigarette sensed in operation S1010 in operation S1030.

The profile acquisition unit <NUM> acquires a temperature profile according to the type information of the cigarette, which has been identified in operation S1030, in operation S1050.

The power controller <NUM> controls the temperature of the heater according to the acquired temperature profile in operation S1070.

According to the method including operations S1010 through S1070, when a cigarette is inserted into an inner space of an aerosol generation device and the aerosol generation device senses that the cigarette is coupled to or contacts a heater, the aerosol generation device identifies type information of the cigarette, acquires a temperature profile corresponding to the type information of the cigarette, and controls power supplied to the heater according to the temperature profile, thereby providing a user a satisfactory smoking experience. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the timing for an aerosol generation device to acquire a temperature profile is limited to after a cigarette is inserted into the inner space of the aerosol generation device and coupled to a heater. Accordingly, when the temperature profile is updated in a storage device in real time according to the type of cigarette, a controller of the aerosol generation device may efficiently and functionally control the temperature of the heater based on the newest temperature profile.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a further example of a method of controlling the temperature of a heater of an aerosol generation device according to the type of cigarette, according to the present disclosure.

In detail, <FIG> shows sequential operations of a device, which is physically or logically included in the user terminal <NUM> in <FIG>, or an application installed in the user terminal <NUM>. For convenience of description, a subject performing the operations in <FIG> is called a smart application.

The smart application receives type information of a cigarette coupled to the heater from the aerosol generation device in operation S1110.

The smart application searches a cigarette database for a temperature profile corresponding to the type of the cigarette in based on the received type information in operation S1130. The cigarette database searched by the smart application in operation S1130 may include both a storage device, which is included in the user terminal <NUM>, and the cigarette database <NUM>, which communicates with the user terminal <NUM> through the communication network <NUM>.

The smart application determines whether the temperature profile corresponding to the type of the cigarette is found in the cigarette database in operation S1150 and transmits the found temperature profile to the aerosol generation device in operation S1170.

An embodiment of the present disclosure can also be embodied as a computer program executed on a computer using various elements. The computer program may be recorded in a computer readable recording medium. Examples of the computer readable recording medium may include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes; optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magneto-optical media such as floptical disks; and hardware devices such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), and flash memory that are specially configured to store and execute program commands.

Meanwhile, the computer program may be specially designed and configured for the present disclosure or may have been known to and usable by those skilled in the field of computer software. Examples of the computer program may include machine codes created by a compiler and high-level language codes that can be executed in a computer using an interpreter.

The particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative examples of embodiments and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of embodiments in any way. For the sake of brevity, conventional electronics, control systems, software development and other functional aspects of the systems may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines or connectors shown in the various figures presented are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships, physical connections, or logical connections may be present in a practical device. Moreover, no item of component is essential to the practice of embodiments unless the element is specifically described as "essential" or "critical.

The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents in the context of describing embodiments (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural. Furthermore, recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made in the embodiments without departing from the fundamental characteristics thereof. Therefore, the methods described herein should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Therefore, the scope of embodiments is defined not by the detailed description of embodiments but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present disclosure.

Claim 1:
A method of controlling a temperature of a heater (<NUM>) included in an aerosol generation device, the method comprising:
receiving (S910) temperature profiles of different types of cigarette from a portable user terminal (<NUM>) through the local area network (<NUM>) before coupling a cigarette to the heater (<NUM>);
sensing (<NUM>) a cigarette coupled to the heater (<NUM>) after receiving the temperature profiles;
identifying (S950) a type of the sensed cigarette;
selecting a temperature profile corresponding to the identified type of the cigarette from the received temperature profiles of different types of cigarette;
controlling (S970) power supplied from a battery (<NUM>) to the heater (<NUM>) according to the selected temperature profile.