Patent Description:
Recently, the demand for alternative methods to overcome the disadvantages of traditional cigarettes has increased. For example, there is an increasing demand for a method of generating aerosols by heating an aerosol generating material in cigarettes, rather than by burning cigarettes. Accordingly, researches on a heating-type cigarette or a heating-type aerosol generating device have been actively conducted.

A heater that heats a cigarette may be largely divided into an internal-heating-type heater and an external- heating-type heater. The internal-heating-type heater uses a heater inserted into the cigarette to heat the inside of the cigarette so that heat moves from the inside of the cigarette to the outside of the cigarette, and the external-heating- type heater heats the outside of the cigarette so that heat moves from the outside of the cigarette to the inside of the cigarette.

Document <CIT> describes a 3D even heating device for a heat-not-burn cigarette with a first, a second and a third heating chamber and a heating rod inside a heating cylinder forming the third heating chamber.

Among heaters of an aerosol generating device, an internal-heating-type heater in which a heater is inserted into a cigarette heats the inside of the cigarette to a high temperature. Therefore, there may be a problem in that a portion of the cigarette adjacent to the heater is carbonized due to the high temperature and off-flavor is caused, accordingly. On the other hand, an external-heating-type heater heats a large area. Therefore, there may be a problem in that a preheating time of the heater is long at the beginning of an operation of the aerosol generating device.

In order to deal with such limitations, one or more embodiments of the present disclosure provide an aerosol generating device capable of heating the cigarette by using a heater capable of heating the outside, inside and one end portion of the cigarette.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an aerosol generating device includes an accommodation portion configured to accommodate at least a portion of a cigarette, and a heater arranged in the accommodation portion to heat the cigarette, wherein the heater may include a first heating portion arranged along the inside of the accommodation portion, a second heating portion arranged in a lower portion of the accommodation portion, and a third heating portion extending in a lengthwise direction of the cigarette from the lower portion of the accommodation portion, and the first heating portion, the second heating portion, and the third heating portion may be thermally connected to one another, wherein the first heating portion is heated to a first temperature, the second heating portion is heated to a second temperature lower than the first temperature, and the third heating portion is heated to a third temperature lower than the second temperature.

The aerosol generating device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure includes a heater capable of heating the outside and inside of a cigarette, thereby shortening an initial preheating time of a heater required to heat the cigarette.

The aerosol generating device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure heats the outside, inside, and one end portion of the cigarette to provide a user with excellent smoking taste and an adequate amount of atomization, and cuts consumption of power required to heat the heater.

The effects according to one or more embodiments are not limited to the effects described above, and unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an aerosol generating device includes an accommodation portion configured to accommodate at least a portion of a cigarette, and a heater arranged in the accommodation portion to heat the cigarette, wherein the heater may include a first heating portion arranged along the inside of the accommodation portion, a second heating portion arranged in a lower portion of the accommodation portion, and a third heating portion extending in a lengthwise direction of the cigarette from the lower portion of the accommodation portion, and the first heating portion, the second heating portion, and the third heating portion may be thermally connected to one another.

The first heating portion and the second heating portion are arranged to contact each other, and the second heating portion and the third heating portion are arranged to contact each other.

When the cigarette is inserted into the accommodation portion, the first heating portion may surround at least a portion of an outer surface of the cigarette to heat the outer surface of the cigarette, the second heating portion may contact one end portion of the cigarette to heat the one end portion of the cigarette, and the third heating portion may be inserted into the cigarette to heat the inside of the cigarette.

The first heating portion may be concavely curved toward the third heating portion.

The first heating portion is heated to a first temperature, the second heating portion is heated to a second temperature lower than or equal to the first temperature, and the third heating portion is heated to a third temperature lower than or equal to the second temperature.

The first heating portion may include a material having a first thermal conductivity, the second heating portion may include a material having a second thermal conductivity lower than the first thermal conductivity, and the third heating portion may include a material having a third thermal conductivity lower than the second thermal conductivity.

The cigarette may include a medium portion including an aerosol generating material, and a length of the first heating portion may be <NUM> times to <NUM> time a length of the medium portion.

The heater may further include a fourth heating portion arranged in the accommodation portion to be thermally connected to the first heating portion, wherein the first heating portion may be heated by the fourth heating portion to transfer heat to the second heating portion, and the second heating portion may transfer heat to the third heating portion.

The fourth heating portion may cover at least a portion of an inner surface of the accommodation portion, and may be arranged apart from the first heating portion by a certain distance.

A length of the fourth heating portion may be <NUM> times to <NUM> time the length of the first heating portion.

The heater may further include an induction coil arranged outside the accommodation portion to generate an alternating magnetic field, wherein the first heating portion may receive the alternating magnetic field to generate heat, the second heating portion may receive heat from the first heating portion, and the third heating portion may receive heat from the second heating portion.

The heater may further include an induction coil arranged outside the accommodation portion to generate an alternating magnetic field, wherein the first heating portion and the third heating portion may receive the alternating magnetic field to generate heat, and the second heating portion may receive heat from the first heating portion and the third heating portion.

As used herein, terms including an ordinal number such as "first" or "second" may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from other components.

Throughout the specification, a "longitudinal direction" of a component may refer to a direction in which the component extends along one direction axis of the component, and in that case one direction axis of the component may refer to a direction in which the component extends longer than the other direction axis crossing the one direction axis.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an 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>.

<FIG> illustrates components of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, which are related to the present embodiment.

<FIG> illustrates that the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, and the heater <NUM> are arranged in series, but the arrangement of these are not limited thereto. 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> heats the heater <NUM>. The temperature of an aerosol generating material in the cigarette <NUM> is raised by the heated heater <NUM>, and thus the aerosol is generated. The generated aerosol is delivered to a user through a filter rod <NUM> of the cigarette <NUM>.

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

For example, the battery <NUM> may supply power to heat the heater <NUM>, and may supply power for operating the controller <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 heater <NUM> is heated by power supplied from the battery <NUM>. For example, when the cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the heater <NUM> may be located within the cigarette. Therefore, the heated heater <NUM> may raise a temperature of an aerosol generating material within the cigarette.

Here, the desired temperature may be pre-set in the aerosol generating device <NUM> or may be set by a user.

More specifically, the heater <NUM> may include an electrically conductive coil to heat the cigarette in an induction heating method, and the cigarette may include a susceptor capable of being heated by an induction-heating- type heater.

<FIG> illustrates that the heater <NUM> is inserted into the cigarette <NUM>, but it 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 shape illustrated in <FIG>, and may include various shapes.

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, an cigarette insertion detecting sensor, etc.).

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

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 or the like. 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.

The first portion may be completely inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and the second portion may be exposed to the outside. Alternatively, only a portion of the first portion may be inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, or a portion of the first portion and a portion of the second portion may be inserted thereinto.

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

<FIG> shows a view showing an example of a cigarette.

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

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

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

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

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

<FIG> is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the cigarette <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment includes an accommodation portion <NUM> configured to accommodate at least a portion of the cigarette <NUM>, and the heater <NUM> configured to heat the cigarette <NUM>. The heater <NUM> includes a first heating portion <NUM>, a second heating portion <NUM>, and a third heating portion <NUM>.

A heating portion included in the heater <NUM> refers to a component configured to heat the cigarette <NUM> by generating heat. For example, the heating portion included in the heater <NUM> may be electrically connected to the battery <NUM> and generate heat to heat the cigarette <NUM>. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. The heating portion included in the heater <NUM> may receive heat from another heating portion included in the heater <NUM> and generate heat to heat the cigarette <NUM>.

The first heating portion <NUM> is arranged along the inside of the accommodation portion <NUM>. <FIG> shows that the first heating portion <NUM> is arranged apart from an inner surface of the accommodation portion <NUM> by a certain distance, but the first heating portion <NUM> may be arranged to be in contact with the inner surface of the accommodation portion <NUM>.

The first heating portion <NUM> may be concavely curved toward the third heating portion <NUM>. That is, the first heating portion <NUM> may be concavely curved toward the third heating portion <NUM> to surround the third heating portion <NUM>. As the first heating portion <NUM> is curved, when the cigarette <NUM> is inserted, an outer surface of the cigarette <NUM> may be wrapped to efficiently heat the outer surface of the cigarette <NUM>.

The second heating portion <NUM> is arranged in a lower portion of the accommodation portion <NUM>. When the cigarette <NUM> is inserted into the accommodation portion <NUM>, the lower portion of the accommodation portion <NUM> may refer to a portion of the accommodation portion <NUM> faced by one end portion of the cigarette <NUM> inserted into the accommodation portion <NUM>.

The second heating portion <NUM> may be arranged to be in contact with a lower surface of the accommodation portion <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, but may be arranged apart from the lower surface of the accommodation portion <NUM> by a certain distance. Alternatively, the second heating portion <NUM> may be arranged to cover a certain surface of the lower portion of the accommodation portion <NUM>.

The second heating portion <NUM> may have a plate shape or a hollow disk shape, but is not limited thereto and may be transformed into various shapes to heat one end portion of a cigarette.

The third heating portion <NUM> is arranged to extend in a lengthwise direction of the cigarette <NUM> from the lower portion of the accommodation portion <NUM>. The third heating portion <NUM> may also be arranged to extend in the lengthwise direction of the cigarette <NUM> from a surface of the second heating portion <NUM>.

The third heating portion <NUM> may be elongate (e.g., rod-shaped, needle-shaped, blade-shaped) or cylindrical, but is not limited thereto and may be transformed into various shapes to heat the inside of the cigarette.

The first heating portion <NUM>, the second heating portion <NUM>, and the third heating portion <NUM> are thermally connected to one another. Thermally connected means that heat from one component of the heater <NUM> is transferred to other components of the heater <NUM> through conduction, convection, and radiation.

For example, the first heating portion <NUM> and the second heating portion <NUM> may be arranged to be in contact with each other, and the second heating portion <NUM> and the third heating portion <NUM> may be arranged to be in contact with each other. In that case, heat between the first heating portion <NUM>, the second heating portion <NUM>, and the third heating portion <NUM> may be conducted and moved to one another. When heat is transferred through convection or radiation, each component of the heater <NUM> may be arranged apart from each other by a certain distance.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment may provide the heater <NUM> capable of simultaneously heating the inside, outside, and one end portion of the cigarette <NUM>.

In the case of an internal-heating-type heater according to a comparative example, since the heater heats the inside of the cigarette <NUM>, heat moves from the inside of the cigarette <NUM> to the outside of the cigarette <NUM>. Therefore, the inside of the cigarette <NUM> needs to be heated to a high temperature to transfer heat to the outside of the cigarette <NUM>. Accordingly, the inside of the cigarette <NUM> may be carbonized by the heater inserted into the cigarette, and there may be a problem in that a preheating time of the heater is prolonged.

On the other hand, in the case of an external-heating-type heater according to another comparative example, since the outside of the cigarette <NUM> is heated, heat moves from the outside of the cigarette <NUM> to the inside of the cigarette <NUM>. Therefore, a large area needs to be heated to transfer heat to the inside of the cigarette <NUM>.

In that case, since the area to be heated becomes great, a preheating time of the heater (for example, time to reach a set temperature) may increase at the beginning of an operation of the heater. In addition, there may be a problem in that an amount of aerosol generated at a later time is relatively reduced compared to an amount of aerosol generated at the beginning of the operation of the heater.

At least a portion of the cigarette <NUM> may be inserted into the accommodation portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, when the cigarette <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodation portion <NUM>, the third heating portion <NUM> may be inserted into the cigarette <NUM>. In addition, the first heating portion <NUM> may surround at least a portion of an outer surface of the cigarette <NUM>, and the second heating portion <NUM> may be in contact with one end portion of the cigarette <NUM>.

When the heater <NUM> operates, the first heating portion <NUM> may heat the outer surface of the cigarette <NUM>, the second heating portion <NUM> may heat one end portion of the cigarette <NUM>, and the third heating portion <NUM> may heat the inside of the cigarette <NUM>.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment may heat the cigarette <NUM> with a uniform temperature distribution by using the components of the heater <NUM> described above.

The controller <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to claim <NUM> heats the first heating portion <NUM> to a first temperature, the second heating portion <NUM> to a second temperature lower than the first temperature, and the third heating portion <NUM> to a third temperature lower than the second temperature.

In order to heat the cigarette <NUM> to a uniform temperature, the heater <NUM> may be heated such that a temperature at which the first heating portion <NUM> configured to heat the outer surface of the cigarette <NUM> is heated is relatively higher than a temperature at which the third heating portion <NUM> configured to heat the inside of the cigarette <NUM> is heated.

For example, in a preheating process at the beginning of the operation of the heater <NUM>, the first temperature may be <NUM> to <NUM>, the second temperature may be <NUM> to <NUM>, and the third temperature may be <NUM> to <NUM>. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. After the heater <NUM> is preheated, temperatures of the first heating portion <NUM>, the second heating portion <NUM>, and the third heating portion <NUM> may be maintained at <NUM> to <NUM>.

Yet, an optimum heating temperature of the cigarette <NUM> may vary depending on a type of material constituting the cigarette <NUM>, a composition ratio, and the like.

Materials of the first heating portion <NUM>, the second heating portion <NUM>, and the third heating portion <NUM> may include ceramics, CNTs, metal materials having thermal conductivity, and the like. The first heating portion <NUM>, the second heating portion <NUM>, and the third heating portion <NUM> may be manufactured to include the same material. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, in order to evenly heat the cigarette <NUM>, the first heating portion <NUM> may include a material having a first thermal conductivity, and the second heating portion <NUM> may include a material having a second thermal conductivity lower than the first thermal conductivity. In addition, the third heating portion <NUM> may include a material having a third thermal conductivity lower than the second thermal conductivity.

A length of the first heating portion <NUM> may be <NUM> times to <NUM> time a length of the medium portion <NUM>. Flavor provided to a user may vary depending on a ratio between the length of the first heating portion <NUM> and the length of the medium portion <NUM>. The above-described length refers to the length of the first heating portion <NUM> in a direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the cigarette <NUM>.

For example, when the length of the first heating portion <NUM> is <NUM> times the length of the medium portion <NUM>, the inside, outside, and one end portion of the cigarette <NUM> may be evenly heated, and at the same time, excellent flavor and an adequate amount of atomization may be provided to the user.

As described above, the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment may simultaneously heat the inside, outside, and one end portion of the cigarette <NUM>, thereby providing excellent flavor and an adequate amount of atomization to the user. In addition, the heater <NUM> may not be heated above a required temperature. Therefore, carbonization of the cigarette <NUM> and off-flavor may be prevented, and power consumption of the battery <NUM> may be cut.

The same reference numerals for the elements of the embodiment illustrated in <FIG> may refer to the same elements hereinafter, and the elements of the embodiment may equally apply to other embodiments.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device, according to another embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the heater <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to another embodiment may further include a fourth heating portion <NUM>. The fourth heating portion <NUM> may be electrically connected to the battery <NUM>. In addition, the fourth heating portion <NUM> may be arranged to cover at least a portion of an inner surface of the accommodation portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is perspective view of a heater of the aerosol generating device illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the fourth heating portion <NUM> may be thermally connected to the first heating portion <NUM>. The fourth heating portion <NUM> may be arranged apart from the first heating portion <NUM> by a certain distance while covering at least a portion of an inner surface of the accommodation portion <NUM> (<FIG>).

The fourth heating portion <NUM> may be manufactured in a film shape having an electrical resistive pattern. Material of the fourth heating portion <NUM> may include CNTs, ceramics, etc. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

A length of the fourth heating portion <NUM> may be <NUM> times to <NUM> time a length of the first heating portion <NUM>. The above-described lengths refer to lengths of the first heating portion <NUM> and the fourth heating portion <NUM> in a direction parallel to a lengthwise direction of the cigarette <NUM>.

For example, the length of the fourth heating portion <NUM> may be <NUM> time the length of the first heating portion <NUM>. That is, when the length of the fourth heating portion <NUM> is the same as the length of the first heating portion <NUM>, the fourth heating portion <NUM> may intensively heat only the first heating portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a cross section of the heater illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the first heating portion <NUM> and the second heating portion <NUM> may be in contact with each other, and the second heating portion <NUM> and the third heating portion <NUM> may be in contact with each other. In that case, heat may be transferred between the first heating portion <NUM>, the second heating portion <NUM>, and the third heating portion <NUM> in a conductive manner. Therefore, the first heating portion <NUM>, the second heating portion <NUM>, and the third heating portion <NUM> described above may each serve as a heat conductor for one another.

The fourth heating portion <NUM> may heat the first heating portion <NUM>. The fourth heating portion <NUM> may be arranged apart from the first heating portion <NUM> by a certain distance, so that heat from the fourth heating portion <NUM> may be transferred to the first heating portion <NUM> in a convection manner.

The second heating portion <NUM> may receive heat from the first heating portion <NUM> to be heated. In addition, the third heating portion <NUM> may receive heat from the second heating portion <NUM> to be heated. As a result, heat from the fourth heating portion <NUM> may be sequentially transferred to the first heating portion <NUM>, the second heating portion <NUM>, and the third heating portion <NUM> in order.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure may heat the entire heater <NUM> by heating the fourth heating portion <NUM> rather than heating the first heating portion <NUM>, the second heating portion <NUM>, and the third heating portion <NUM> separately, thereby cutting power consumption of the battery <NUM>.

The fourth heating portion <NUM> may be heated to <NUM> to <NUM> in a process of preheating the heater <NUM> at the beginning of an operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. After the heater <NUM> is preheated, a temperature of the fourth heating portion <NUM> may be maintained at <NUM> to <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may further include an induction coil <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates that the induction coil <NUM> is arranged outside the accommodation portion <NUM>. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. The induction coil <NUM> may be arranged within the accommodation portion <NUM>.

The induction coil <NUM> may be an electrically conductive coil configured to generate an alternating magnetic field by power supplied from the battery <NUM>. The induction coil <NUM> may be arranged to surround at least a portion of the accommodation portion <NUM>.

When the cigarette <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodation portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may supply power to the induction coil <NUM> such that the induction coil <NUM> generates an alternating magnetic field.

The first heating portion <NUM> may include a susceptor configured to be heated by the alternating magnetic field. In that case, the first heating portion <NUM> may include a material different from that of the second heating portion <NUM> and the third heating portion <NUM>.

The susceptor of the first heating portion <NUM> may be heated by the alternating magnetic field generated from the induction coil <NUM>, and may include metal or carbon. For example, the susceptor may include at least one selected from ferrite, ferromagnetic alloy, stainless steel, aluminum, or a combination thereof.

Alternatively, the susceptor <NUM> may include at least one selected from ceramic such as graphite, molybdenum, silicon carbide, niobium, a nickel alloy, a metal film, zirconia, or the like, a transition metal such as nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), or the like, a metalloid such as boron (B) or phosphorus (P), or a combination thereof. However, the susceptor is not limited to the above-described examples, and may include anything as long as it is able to be heated to a desired temperature as an alternating magnetic field is applied.

The first heating portion <NUM> may generate heat by applying the alternating magnetic field generated by the induction coil <NUM>. The second heating portion <NUM> may receive heat from the first heating portion <NUM> to be heated. In addition, the third heating portion <NUM> may receive heat from the second heating portion <NUM> to be heated. That is, heat from the first heating portion <NUM> may be sequentially transferred to the second heating portion <NUM> and the third heating portion <NUM> in order.

As described above, the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to another embodiment may heat the first heating portion <NUM>, which is a susceptor, through the induction coil <NUM> to heat the remaining second heating portion <NUM> and the third heating portion, thereby cutting power consumption of the battery <NUM>.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to another embodiment may further include the induction coil <NUM> configured to generate an alternating magnetic field, and the first heating portion <NUM> and the third heating portion <NUM> may include a susceptor heated by the alternating magnetic field.

The first heating portion <NUM> and the third heating portion <NUM> may receive the alternating magnetic field to generate heat. The second heating portion <NUM> may receive heat from the first heating portion <NUM> and the third heating portion <NUM>. That is, heat from the first heating portion <NUM> and the third heating portion <NUM> may be transferred to the second heating portion <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An aerosol generating device (<NUM>) comprising:
an accommodation portion (<NUM>) configured to accommodate at least a portion of a cigarette (<NUM>); and
a heater (<NUM>) arranged in the accommodation portion (<NUM>) to heat the cigarette (<NUM>),
wherein the heater (<NUM>) comprises:
a first heating portion (<NUM>) arranged along the inside of the accommodation portion (<NUM>);
a second heating portion (<NUM>) arranged in a lower portion of the accommodation portion (<NUM>); and
a third heating portion (<NUM>) extending in a lengthwise direction of the cigarette (<NUM>) from the lower portion of the accommodation portion (<NUM>), and
the first heating portion (<NUM>), the second heating portion (<NUM>), and the third heating portion (<NUM>) are thermally connected to one another,
characterized in that:
the first heating portion (<NUM>) is configured to be heated to a first temperature,
the second heating portion (<NUM>) is configured to be heated to a second temperature lower than the first temperature, and
the third heating portion (<NUM>) is configured to be heated to a third temperature lower than the second temperature.