Patent Description:
Recently, demand has increased for alternative methods for overcoming drawbacks of general cigarettes. For example, there has been increasing demand for a method of generating aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material in a cigarette, rather than a method of generating aerosol by burning a cigarette.

A plurality of components are included in an electronic cigarette provided with a heater for heating a cigarette based on electricity, and when the plurality of components are not appropriately arranged, a total size of the electronic cigarette may increase.

Accordingly, research for reducing the size of an electronic cigarette and improving the portability of the electronic cigarette has been actively conducted.

<CIT> relates to a pack for holding and re-charging an e-cigarette. The pack comprises a pack battery; a body portion including a tube for receiving an e-cigarette; a re-charging mechanism for re-charging the e-cigarette received into said tube using the pack battery, wherein the e-cigarette can be re-charged in the tube without disassembly of the e-cigarette; and a dual activation mechanism comprising two separate triggers for causing the re-charging mechanism to begin re-charging the e-cigarette received into said tube using the pack battery. The re-charging begins only in response to the direct activation by a user of both of the separate triggers. <CIT>shows another example of electronic cigarette wherein the circuitry is formed of a plurality of parts hinged to each other so that they can adopt an overlapped and compact configuration.

Provided is an aerosol generating device according to claim <NUM> or claim <NUM>. A circuit inside an aerosol generating device according to an exemplary embodiment is configured by using a rigid printed circuit board (RPCB) and a flexible PCB (FPCB) together or using a rigid-flexible PCB (RFPCB).

The technical problems to be solved by an exemplary embodiment are not limited to the above-described ones and one of ordinary skill in the art may understand other technical problems from the following description.

An aerosol generating device includes at least one heater, a battery, and a controller, and generates aerosol by heating a cigarette.

The aerosol generating device according to the exemplary embodiment of claim <NUM> includes a main printed circuit board (PCB) and an auxiliary PCB formed out of a rigid material and a connecting PCB formed out of a flexible material, and the connecting PCB electrically connects the main PCB to the auxiliary PCB. Also, the aerosol generating device according to exemplary embodiment of claim <NUM> includes a rigid-flexible PCB.

According to the present disclosure, a circuit inside an aerosol generating device may be configured by using a rigid printed circuit board (RPCB) and a flexible PCB (FPCB) together or using a rigid-flexible PCB (RFPCB), thereby reducing the size of the aerosol generating device.

According to an aspect of the invention, an aerosol generating device includes: at least one heater configured to generate aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material; a battery configured to supply power to heat the at least one heater; a controller; and a main printed circuit board (PCB) and an auxiliary PCB that are formed out of a rigid material, wherein the main PCB is located parallel to a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device, and the auxiliary PCB is located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device, wherein the main PCB and the auxiliary PCB are electrically connected to each other via a connecting PCB formed out of a flexible material.

Also, the main PCB is located parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device at a side of at least one of the battery and the controller, and the auxiliary PCB is located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device between the at least one heater and the battery.

Also, the at least one heater may include: a heater configured to heat the aerosol generating material included in a cigarette; and a vaporizer configured to generate aerosol by heating a liquid composition, wherein the auxiliary PCB is electrically connected to the heater and the vaporizer.

Also, the aerosol generating device may further include a pressure sensor configured to detect inhalation pressure that is when a cigarette inserted into the aerosol generating device is inhaled, wherein the auxiliary PCB is electrically connected to the pressure sensor.

Also, the main PCB may be electrically connected to at least one of a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the at least one heater, an antenna for wireless communication with the outside, and an interface for indicating an operation state of the aerosol generating device.

Also, the rigid material of the main PCB and the auxiliary PCB may be Flame Retardant-<NUM> (FR-<NUM>), and the flexible material of the connecting PCB may be polyimide.

Also, a heat dissipating plate may be attached to the auxiliary PCB in order to prevent the auxiliary PCB from being overheated by the at least one heater.

Also, the connecting PCB may include a first insulating layer, a conductive layer formed on the first insulating layer, and a second insulating layer stacked on the conductive layer, wherein the connecting PCB includes a connecting area for connecting the main PCB to the auxiliary PCB, and the connecting area includes a plating layer plated on the conductive layer exposed by peeling off the second insulating layer, wherein the main PCB and the auxiliary PCB are connected to the connecting PCB through the plating layer.

Also, each of the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer may include polyimide, the conductive layer may include copper, and the plating layer includes gold.

According to another aspect of the invention, an aerosol generating device includes: at least one heater configured to generate aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material; a battery configured to supply power to heat the at least one heater; a controller; and a rigid-flexible printed circuit board (PCB), wherein a first rigid portion of the rigid-flexible PCB is located parallel to a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device, a second rigid portion is located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device, and a flexible portion is curved and connects the first rigid portion to the second rigid portion, wherein the first rigid portion is located parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device at a side of the battery, and the second rigid portion is located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device between the heater and the battery or between a vaporizer and the battery.

Also, a material of the first rigid portion and the second rigid portion of the rigid-flexible PCB may be Flame-Retardant <NUM> (FR-<NUM>), and a material of the flexible portion may be polyimide.

Also, a heat dissipating plate may be attached to the rigid-flexible PCB in order to prevent the rigid-flexible PCB from being overheated by the at least one heater.

Although the terms used in exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are selected from among common terms that are currently widely used in consideration of their functions in the present disclosure, the terms may be different according to the intention of one of ordinary skill in the art, a precedent, or the advent of new technology. Also, in particular cases, the terms are discretion-ally selected by the applicant of the present disclosure, and the meaning of those terms will be described in detail in the corresponding part of the detailed description. Therefore, the terms used in the present disclosure are not merely designations of the terms, but the terms are defined based on the meaning of the terms and content throughout the present disclosure.

Throughout the present application, when a part "includes" an element, it is to be understood that the part additionally includes other elements rather than excluding other elements as long as there is no particular opposing recitation. Also, the terms such as ". unit," "module," or the like used in the present application indicate a unit, which processes at least one function or motion, and the unit may be implemented by hardware or software, or by a combination of hardware and software.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in order to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to easily embody and practice the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure is not limited to examples disclosed below, but may be implemented in various forms.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

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

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

<FIG> and <FIG> only illustrate components of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, which are related to the present exemplary embodiment. Therefore, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that other general-purpose components may be further included in the aerosol generating device <NUM>, in addition to the components illustrated in <FIG>.

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

<FIG> illustrates that the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, the vaporizer <NUM>, and the heater <NUM> are arranged in series. On the other hand, <FIG> illustrates that the vaporizer <NUM> and the heater <NUM> are arranged in parallel. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device <NUM> is not limited to the structures illustrated in <FIG> or <FIG>. In other words, according to the design of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, the vaporizer <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 vaporizer <NUM> to generate aerosol. The aerosol generated by the vaporizer <NUM> is delivered to the user by passing through the cigarette <NUM>. The vaporizer <NUM> will be described in more detail later.

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 controller <NUM> may check a state of each of the components of the aerosol generating device <NUM> to determine whether or not the aerosol generating device <NUM> is in an operable state.

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

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate that the heater <NUM> is positioned outside the cigarette <NUM>, but the position of the cigarette <NUM> is not limited thereto.

Also, some of the plurality of heaters <NUM> may be inserted into the cigarette <NUM>, and the others may be arranged outside 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 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 by the vaporizer <NUM> may move along an air flow passage of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The air flow passage may be configured such that the aerosol generated by the vaporizer <NUM> passes through the cigarette <NUM> to be delivered to the user.

In addition, the heating element may include a conductive filament such as nichrome wire and may be wound around the liquid delivery element. The heating element may be heated by electrical current and may transfer heat to the liquid composition in contact with the heating element, thereby heating the liquid composition.

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.

Although not illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a cradle may be used with the aerosol generating device <NUM> and an additional cradle, forming a system.

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

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

For example, the external air may flow into at least one air passage formed in the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, opening and closing of the air passage and/or a size of the air passage may be adjusted by the user. Accordingly, the amount of smoke and smoking satisfaction 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> is a drawing 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> and <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. However, the filter rod <NUM> is not limited thereto. In other words, the filter rod <NUM> may include a plurality of segments. For example, the filter rod <NUM> may include a first segment configured to cool an aerosol and a second segment configured to filter a certain component included in the aerosol. Also, as necessary, the filter rod <NUM> may further include at least one segment configured to perform other functions.

The cigarette <NUM> may be packaged using at least one wrapper <NUM>. The wrapper <NUM> may have at least one hole through which external air may be introduced or internal air may be discharged. For example, the cigarette <NUM> may be packaged using one wrapper <NUM>. As another example, the cigarette <NUM> may be doubly packaged using at least two wrappers <NUM>. For example, the tobacco rod <NUM> may be packaged using a first wrapper, and the filter rod <NUM> may be packaged using a second wrapper. Also, the tobacco rod <NUM> and the filter rod <NUM>, which are respectively packaged using separate wrappers, may be combined and packaged together using 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 using a separate wrapper. Also, the entire cigarette <NUM> including the plurality of segments, which are respectively packaged using the separate wrappers and which are coupled to each other, may be re-packaged using another wrapper.

Also, the tobacco rod <NUM> may be formed as a pipe tobacco, which is formed out of tiny bits cut from a tobacco sheet. For example, the heat conductive material may be, but is not limited to, a metal foil such as aluminum foil.

Here, the capsule <NUM> may generate a flavor or 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 exemplary 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.

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

<FIG> is a view illustrating an aerosol generating device including a rigid printed circuit board (PCB) and a flexible PCB according to an exemplary embodiment.

The same description provided above with reference to <FIG> will be omitted here for convenience of explanation.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a plurality of PCBs. In an exemplary embodiment, the aerosol generating device <NUM> includes a main PCB <NUM>, an auxiliary PCB <NUM>, and a connecting PCB <NUM> that electrically connects the main PCB <NUM> to the auxiliary PCB <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the main PCB <NUM> is located parallel to a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and the auxiliary PCB <NUM> is located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

According to the invention, the main PCB <NUM> is located parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM> at a side of the battery <NUM>, and the auxiliary PCB <NUM> is located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM> between the heater <NUM> (or the vaporizer <NUM>) and a battery <NUM>.

Also, the battery <NUM> and the controller <NUM> may be located in serial in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and the main PCB <NUM> may be located at a side of the battery <NUM> and the controller <NUM>. In this case, the main PCB <NUM> may be located parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM> over at least a part of the controller <NUM> and the battery <NUM>. The heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM> may be serially located in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The auxiliary PCB <NUM> may be located facing at least one side of the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM>. In this case, the auxiliary PCB <NUM> may be located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM> over at least a part of the vaporizer <NUM> and the heater <NUM>. The auxiliary PCB <NUM> may be located between the controller <NUM>, and the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM>.

The connecting PCB <NUM> may be curved and may contact a portion of the main PCB <NUM> and a portion of the auxiliary PCB <NUM> to electrically connect the main PCB <NUM> to the auxiliary PCB <NUM>. The connecting PCB <NUM> may contact a portion of a top surface or a bottom surface of each of the main PCB <NUM> and the auxiliary PCB <NUM>.

In an exemplary embodiment, when the main PCB <NUM> is located parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM> at a side of the battery <NUM> and the controller <NUM>, the connecting PCB <NUM> may contact an end portion of the main PCB <NUM> close to an insertion side and an end portion of the auxiliary PCB <NUM> adjacent to the end portion of the main PCB <NUM> close to the insertion side to electrically connect the main PCB <NUM> to the auxiliary PCB <NUM>. The insertion side refers to a direction toward the portion of the aerosol generating device <NUM> where the cigarette <NUM> is inserted.

In an exemplary embodiment, the main PCB <NUM> and the auxiliary PCB <NUM> may be formed using a rigid material. For example, the rigid material of the main PCB <NUM> and the auxiliary PCB <NUM> may be one of Flame Retardant-<NUM> (FR-<NUM>), Flame Retardant-<NUM> (FR-<NUM>), Flame Retardant-<NUM> (FR-<NUM>), Flame Retardant-<NUM> (FR-<NUM>), Composite Epoxy Material-<NUM> (CEM-<NUM>), and Composite Epoxy Material-<NUM> (CEM-<NUM>). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Each of the main PCB <NUM> and the auxiliary PCB <NUM> may include an insulating layer and a conductive layer, and may be a build-up PCB in which the insulating layer and the conductive layer are alternately stacked. For example, each of the main PCB <NUM> and the auxiliary PCB <NUM> may be a <NUM>-layer PCB.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the connecting PCB <NUM> is formed using a flexible material. For example, the flexible material of the connecting PCB <NUM> may be polyimide. Because the connecting PCB <NUM> is located adjacent to the heater <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM>, a temperature of the connecting PCB <NUM> may increase to a high temperature during an operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. Because polyimide may withstand up to <NUM>, degradation of reliability may be prevented when the connecting PCB <NUM> is made using polyimide. Also, PCB manufacturing costs may be reduced and assembly performance may be improved.

The connecting PCB <NUM> may include a first insulating layer, a conductive layer formed on the first insulating layer, and a second insulating layer stacked on the conductive layer. In an exemplary embodiment, the conductive layer may include copper and the first and second insulating layers may include polyimide, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The connecting PCB <NUM> includes a connecting area for connecting the main PCB <NUM> and the auxiliary PCB <NUM>, and the connecting area may include a plating layer plated on the conductive layer exposed by peeling off the second insulating layer. For example, the conductive layer formed out of copper may be exposed by peeling a portion of the second insulating layer formed out of polyimide, and the connecting area of the connecting PCB <NUM> may be formed by plating the exposed conductive layer with gold.

The main PCB <NUM> and the auxiliary PCB <NUM> may be electrically connected to the connecting PCB <NUM> through the plating layer of the connecting area. In an exemplary embodiment, the connecting area (i.e., the plating layer) of the connecting PCB <NUM> may be located on both end portions of the connecting PCB <NUM>. That is, the end portions of the connecting PCB <NUM> may respectively contact the main PCB <NUM> and the auxiliary PCB <NUM>, thereby electrically connecting the main PCB <NUM> to the auxiliary PCB <NUM>.

The heat capacity of the connecting PCB <NUM> may be increased by plating the copper layer exposed on both end portions of the connecting PCB <NUM> with gold, and thus, the connecting PCB <NUM> may be prevented from being overheated by the heater <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM>.

Because the auxiliary PCB <NUM> is located adjacent to the heater <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM> in an exemplary embodiment, a temperature of the auxiliary PCB <NUM> may increase to a high temperature during an operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. In this case, the auxiliary PCB <NUM> may be prevented from being overheated by attaching a heat dissipating plate to the auxiliary PCB <NUM> or using the auxiliary PCB <NUM> having a heat dissipating function. Examples of a heat dissipating material may include silicon, rubber, and gel.

When a circuit of the aerosol generating device <NUM> is configured by using only a single PCB, the single PCB may extend from one end to the other end in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, when a circuit of the aerosol generating device <NUM> is configured by separating a PCB into the main PCB <NUM> and the auxiliary PCB <NUM>, instead of configuring a circuit by using only a single PCB, an internal space of the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be more efficiently used and thus a total size of the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be reduced.

In another example that does not fall under the scope of the claims, the auxiliary PCB <NUM> may be a flexible PCB including a material such as polyimide. When the auxiliary PCB <NUM> and the main PCB <NUM> are manufactured by using different materials and are spaced apart from each other to be independent of each other, manufacturing costs may be reduced and assembly performance may be improved when compared with a case where one PCB is manufactured by using a rigid material.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating components connected to an auxiliary PCB according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, an auxiliary PCB <NUM> may be electrically connected to a battery <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, a pressure sensor <NUM>, a vaporizer <NUM>, and a heater <NUM>. However, this is merely an example, and the auxiliary PCB <NUM> may be electrically connected to other components in addition to the components (i.e., <NUM> through <NUM>) of <FIG>. Some of the components (i.e., <NUM> through <NUM>) of <FIG> may be omitted.

The auxiliary PCB <NUM> may be electrically connected to the battery <NUM> and the controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be attached to, for example, the auxiliary PCB <NUM>, and may be electrically connected to the auxiliary PCB <NUM>. The battery <NUM> supplies power to operate components of an aerosol generating device, and the controller <NUM> is hardware for controlling an overall operation of the aerosol generating device.

The pressure sensor <NUM> detects an inhalation pressure when a cigarette inserted into the aerosol generating device is inhaled. The pressure sensor <NUM> generates a signal by detecting an inhalation pressure that is the pressure of the air introduced from the outside during a user's operation (puff operation) of inhaling a cigarette. In an exemplary embodiment, the pressure sensor <NUM> may be located in an airflow path in which the air introduced from the outside by the user's puff operation flows. The auxiliary PCB <NUM> may be electrically connected to the pressure sensor <NUM>.

Components of the vaporizer <NUM> may include, but are not limited to, a liquid storage, a liquid transmitting device, and a heating element. A liquid composition stored in the liquid storage may be a liquid including a tobacco-containing material and/or a non-tobacco material. The liquid transmitting device may include wicks such as porous ceramics and may transmit the liquid composition in the liquid storage to the heating element. The heating element heats the liquid composition transmitted by the liquid transmitting device. The auxiliary PCB <NUM> may be electrically connected to the vaporizer <NUM>.

The heater <NUM> may heat an aerosol generating material included in the cigarette. When the cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device, the heater <NUM> may be located outside or inside the cigarette. 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, and may heat the inside or the outside of the cigarette according to a shape of the heating element. The auxiliary PCB <NUM> may be electrically connected to the heater <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating components connected to a main PCB according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, a main PCB <NUM> may be electrically connected to a battery <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, a temperature sensor <NUM>, an antenna <NUM>, and an interface <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be attached to, for example, the main PCB <NUM> and may be electrically connected to the main PCB <NUM>. However, this is merely an example, and the main PCB <NUM> may be electrically connected to other components in addition to the components (<NUM> through <NUM>) of <FIG>. Some of the components (<NUM> through <NUM>) of <FIG> may be omitted.

The same description provided above with reference to <FIG> will not be repeated herein for convenience of explanation.

The temperature sensor <NUM> may detect a temperature of a heater that heats a cigarette. In an exemplary embodiment, a temperature of the heater may be detected by measuring a resistance value of the temperature sensor <NUM>. The temperature sensor <NUM> may be located on a side wall or a bottom wall of an accommodation passage in which the cigarette is accommodated. However, a temperature sensing method and a position of the temperature sensor <NUM> are not limited thereto. The main PCB <NUM> may be electrically connected to the temperature sensor <NUM>.

The antenna <NUM> may communicate with the outside. The antenna <NUM> may be a Bluetooth® antenna for wireless communication. The main PCB <NUM> may be electrically connected to the antenna <NUM>.

The interface <NUM> may include a display or a lamp that outputs visual information, a motor that outputs tactile information, and a speaker that outputs sound information. The main PCB <NUM> may be electrically connected to the interface <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an aerosol generating device including a rigid-flexible PCB according to a second aspect of the invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> includes a rigid-flexible PCB <NUM>. The rigid-flexible PCB <NUM> is a single PCB.

The rigid-flexible PCB <NUM> includes a first rigid portion 711a, a second rigid portion 711b, and a flexible portion <NUM>. The first rigid portion 711a is located parallel to a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the second rigid portion 711b is located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The flexible portion <NUM> is curved and connects the first rigid portion 711a to the second rigid portion 711b.

According to this second aspect of the invention, the first rigid portion 711a is located parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM> at a side of the battery <NUM>, and the second rigid portion 711b is located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM> between the heater <NUM> (or the vaporizer <NUM>) and the battery <NUM>.

According to an example that does not fall under the scope of the claims, the battery <NUM> and the controller <NUM> may be serially arranged in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and the first rigid portion 711a may be located at a side of the battery <NUM> and the controller <NUM>. In this case, the first rigid portion 711a may be located parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM> over at least a part of the battery <NUM> and the controller <NUM>. The heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM> may be located parallel to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and the second rigid portion 711b may be located at at least one side of the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM>. In this case, the second rigid portion 711b may be located parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device <NUM> over at least a part of the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM>, and the second rigid portion 711b may be located between the heater <NUM> and the vaporizer <NUM>, and the controller <NUM>.

In an exemplary embodiment, a rigid material for making the first rigid portion 711a and the second rigid portion 711b may include one of Flame Retardant-<NUM> (FR-<NUM>), Flame Retardant-<NUM> (FR-<NUM>), Flame Retardant-<NUM> (FR-<NUM>), Flame Retardant-<NUM> (FR-<NUM>), Composite Epoxy Material-<NUM> (CEM-<NUM>), and Composite Epoxy Material-<NUM> (CEM-<NUM>). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Also, a flexible material of the flexible portion <NUM> may be polyimide. Because the flexible portion <NUM> is located adjacent to the heater <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM>, a temperature of the flexible portion <NUM> may increase to a high temperature during an operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. Because polyimide may withstand up to <NUM>, reliability degradation may be prevented when the flexible portion <NUM> is made using polyimide. Also, PCB manufacturing costs may be reduced and assembly performance may be improved.

Also, because the second rigid portion 711b is located adjacent to the heater <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM>, a temperature of the second rigid portion 711b may increase to a high temperature during an operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. In this case, by attaching a heat dissipating plate to the second rigid portion 711b, the second rigid portion 711b may be prevented from being overheated. Examples of a heat dissipating material may include silicon, rubber, and gel.

The first rigid portion 711a may be electrically connected to the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, a pressure sensor (not shown), the vaporizer <NUM>, and the heater <NUM>. The second rigid portion 711b may be electrically connected to the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, a temperature sensor (not shown), an antenna (not shown), and an interface (not shown).

When a circuit of the aerosol generating device <NUM> is configured by using the rigid-flexible PCB <NUM>, an internal space of the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be more efficiently used and thus a total size of the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be reduced.

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

Referring to <FIG>, an aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a controller <NUM>, a heater <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a sensor <NUM>, and an interface <NUM>.

The heater <NUM> may be electrically heated by power supplied from the battery <NUM> under the control of the controller <NUM>. When a cigarette moves along an accommodation passage and an end portion of the cigarette reaches a bottom wall of an accommodator, the heater <NUM> may be located inside or outside the cigarette. Accordingly, the heater <NUM> that is heated may increase a temperature of an aerosol generating material in the cigarette. The heater <NUM> may be any heater as long as it may be inserted into the cigarette or may heat the outside of the cigarette. Also, the heater <NUM> may be heated partially.

The heater <NUM> may be an electro-resistive heater. For example, the heater <NUM> may include an electrically conductive track, and the heater <NUM> may be heated as current flows through the electrically conductive track.

For stable use, power according to the specifications of <NUM> V, <NUM> A, or <NUM> W may be supplied to the heater <NUM>, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, when power is supplied to the heater <NUM>, a surface temperature of the heater <NUM> may increase to <NUM> or more. The surface temperature of the heater <NUM> may increase to about <NUM> before <NUM> seconds after power supply to the heater <NUM> starts.

A separate temperature detecting sensor may be provided around the heater <NUM> of the aerosol generating device. Alternatively, a temperature detecting sensor may not be provided around the heater <NUM>, and the heater <NUM> may function as a temperature detecting sensor. Otherwise, the heater <NUM> functions as a temperature detecting sensor, and a separate temperature detecting sensor may be further provided around the heater <NUM>. In order for the heater <NUM> to function as a temperature detecting sensor, the heater <NUM> may include at least one electrically conductive track for emitting heat and detecting a temperature. Also, the heater <NUM> may include a first electrically conductive track for emitting heat and a second electrically conductive track for detecting a temperature.

For example, when a voltage applied to the second electrically conductive track and current flowing through the second electrically conductive track are measured, a resistance R may be determined. In this case, a temperature T of the second electrically conductive track may be determined by using Equation <NUM>.

In Equation <NUM>, R denotes a current resistance value of the second electrically conductive track, R0 denotes a resistance value at a temperature of T0 (e.g., <NUM>), and α denotes a resistance temperature coefficient of the second electrically conductive track. Because a conductive material (e.g., a metal) has a unique resistance temperature coefficient, α may be predetermined according to the conductive material included in the second electrically conductive track. Accordingly, when the resistance R of the second electrically conductive track is determined, the temperature T of the second electrically conductive track may be calculated by using Equation <NUM>.

The heater <NUM> may include at least one electrically conductive track (e.g., the first electrically conductive track and the second electrically conductive track). For example, the heater <NUM> may include, but is not limited to, two first electrically conductive tracks and one or two second electrically conductive tracks.

The electrically conductive track includes an electro-resistive material. For example, the electrically conductive track may be formed out of a metal material. As another example, the electrically conductive track may be formed out of an electrically conductive ceramic material, carbon, a metal alloy, or a combination of a ceramic material and a metal.

Also, both the electrically conductive track and the temperature detecting sensor for functioning as a temperature detecting sensor may be provided around the heater <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> is hardware that controls an overall operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is an integrated circuit including a processing unit such as a microprocessor or a microcontroller.

The controller <NUM> analyzes a result sensed by the sensor <NUM> and controls subsequent processes to be performed. The controller <NUM> may start or stop power supply from the battery <NUM> to the heater <NUM> according to the sensed result. Also, the controller <NUM> may control the amount of power supplied to the heater <NUM> and the time when power is supplied to the heater <NUM> so that the heater <NUM> is heated to a predetermined temperature or maintained at an appropriate temperature. Furthermore, the controller <NUM> may process various pieces of input information and output information of the interface <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may count the number of times a user smokes by using the aerosol generating device <NUM> and may control related functions of the aerosol generating device <NUM> to limit the user's smoking according to a counting result.

The memory <NUM> that is hardware for storing various pieces of data processed by the aerosol generating device <NUM> may store data processed and to be processed by the controller <NUM>. The memory <NUM> may be any of various memories such as random-access memory (e.g., dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) or static random-access memory (SRAM)), read-only memory (ROM), or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

The memory <NUM> may store data about the user's smoking patterns such as a smoking time and the number of times the user smokes. Also, data related to a change in a reference temperature value when the cigarette is accommodated in an accommodation passage may be stored in the memory <NUM>.

The battery <NUM> supplies power used for the aerosol generating device <NUM> to operate. That is, the battery <NUM> may supply power so that the heater <NUM> is heated. Also, the battery <NUM> may supply power required for operations of other hardware components provided in the aerosol generating device <NUM>, such as the controller <NUM>, the sensor <NUM>, and the interface <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may be a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The battery <NUM> may be a lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) battery, or a lithium titanate battery. The battery <NUM> may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery.

The sensor <NUM> may include various types of sensors such as a puff detecting sensor (a temperature detecting sensor, a flow detecting sensor, a position detecting sensor, etc.), a cigarette insertion detecting sensor, and a temperature detecting sensor of the heater <NUM>. A result sensed by the sensor <NUM> may be transmitted to the controller <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> may control, according to the sensed result, the aerosol generating device <NUM> to perform various functions such as controlling a temperature of the heater <NUM>, limiting smoking, determining whether the cigarette is inserted, and displaying an alarm.

Claim 1:
An aerosol generating device (<NUM>) comprising:
at least one heater (<NUM>) configured to generate aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material;
a battery (<NUM>) configured to supply power to heat the at least one heater (<NUM>);
a controller (<NUM>); and
a main printed circuit board, PCB, (<NUM>, <NUM>) and an auxiliary PCB (<NUM>, <NUM>) that are formed out of a rigid material,
wherein the main PCB (<NUM>, <NUM>) is located parallel to a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device (<NUM>), and the auxiliary PCB (<NUM>, <NUM>) is located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device (<NUM>), and
wherein the main PCB (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the auxiliary PCB (<NUM>, <NUM>) are electrically connected to each other via a connecting PCB (<NUM>) formed out of a flexible material,
wherein the main PCB (<NUM>, <NUM>) is located parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device (<NUM>) at a side of at least one of the battery (<NUM>) and the controller (<NUM>), and
the auxiliary PCB (<NUM>, <NUM>) is located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device (<NUM>) between the at least one heater (<NUM>) and the battery (<NUM>).