KR102737189B1 - Aerosol generating device and system comprising the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device according to various embodiments may include a first housing, a second housing positioned within the first housing and configured to receive an aerosol-generating article, a first heater positioned on a first side of the second housing within the first housing, and a second heater positioned on a second side of the second housing within the first housing opposite the first side.

Description

{AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE AND SYSTEM COMPRISING THE SAME}

The various embodiments below relate to aerosol generating devices and systems including the same.

Aerosol generating devices that generate aerosols in a non-combustible manner from aerosol-generating articles (e.g., cigarettes) are being developed. For example, Patent Publication No. 10-2019-0119465 discloses an aerosol generating device.

An aerosol generating device and a system including the same can be provided to improve the transfer of aerosol and thereby increase the taste of a user.

An aerosol-generating device according to various embodiments may include a first housing, a second housing positioned within the first housing and configured to receive an aerosol-generating article, a first heater positioned on a first side of the second housing within the first housing, and a second heater positioned on a second side of the second housing within the first housing opposite the first side.

In one embodiment, the first heater may be configured to operate before the second heater.

In one embodiment, the first heater may be configured to continue to operate when the second heater is operating.

In one embodiment, the first heater may be configured to heat a first region of the aerosol generating article, and the second heater may be configured to heat a second region of the aerosol generating article that is different from the first region.

In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device may further include a sensor configured to detect a number of puffs, and a controller configured to operate the second heater if the number of puffs is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of puffs.

In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating device may further include a sensor configured to detect an amount of aerosol-generating material within the aerosol-generating article, and a controller configured to operate the second heater if the amount of aerosol-generating material is less than a predetermined amount.

In one embodiment, the aerosol generating article can include a first region comprising a first medium configured to be heated by the first heater, and a second region comprising a second medium configured to be heated by the second heater.

An aerosol-generating system according to various embodiments may include an aerosol-generating device comprising an aerosol-generating article comprising a first region comprising a first medium and a second region comprising a second medium different from the first medium, and a first housing, a second housing positioned within the first housing and configured to receive the aerosol-generating article, a first heater positioned at a first side of the second housing within the first housing and configured to heat the first region, and a second heater positioned at a second side of the second housing within the first housing opposite the first side and configured to heat the second region.

According to various embodiments, the amount of aerosol generating material (e.g., nicotine) can be continuously expressed while decreasing as the user's puff increases. According to various embodiments, the amount of aerosol generating material (e.g., nicotine) and/or the taste of the aerosol generating material can be adjusted. The effects of the aerosol generating device and the system including the same according to various embodiments are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an aerosol generating system according to one embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of an aerosol generating system according to one embodiment.
Figure 3 is a graph showing the operating points of the first heater and the second heater according to one embodiment.
Figure 4 is a graph showing the operating points of the first heater and the second heater according to another embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, since various modifications may be made to the embodiments, the scope of the patent application is not limited or restricted by these embodiments. It should be understood that all modifications, equivalents, or substitutes to the embodiments are included in the scope of the rights.

The terms used in the examples are for the purpose of description only and should not be construed as limiting. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, the terms "comprises" or "has" and the like are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in the specification, but should be understood to not exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments belong. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries, such as those defined in common dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning they have in the context of the relevant art, and shall not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly defined in this application.

In addition, when describing with reference to the attached drawings, the same components will be given the same reference numerals regardless of the drawing numbers, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. When describing an embodiment, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known technology may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the embodiment, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Also, in describing components of the embodiments, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only intended to distinguish the components from other components, and the nature, order, or sequence of the components are not limited by the terms. When it is described that a component is "connected," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the component may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but another component may also be "connected," "coupled," or "connected" between each component.

Components included in one embodiment and components that have common functions will be described using the same names in other embodiments. Unless otherwise stated, descriptions made in one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments, and specific descriptions will be omitted to the extent of overlap.

The term "aerosol generating material" as used herein means a material capable of generating an aerosol. The aerosol may comprise volatile compounds. The aerosol generating material may be solid or liquid. For example, the solid aerosol generating material may comprise a solid material based on tobacco raw materials such as leaf tobacco, cut tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, and the liquid aerosol generating material may comprise a liquid composition based on nicotine, tobacco extracts, and/or various flavoring agents. The aerosol generating material may comprise an aerosol former to stably form a visible smoke and/or aerosol.

An "aerosol-generating device" as described in this document means a device that generates an aerosol using an aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol that can be inhaled directly into the user's lungs through the user's mouth.

As used herein, "upstream" or "upstream direction" means away from the user's mouth, and "downstream" or "downstream direction" means toward the user's mouth. The terms upstream and downstream may be used to describe the relative positions of elements that make up an aerosol-generating article.

A "puff" as described in this document refers to inhalation by the user. Inhalation refers to the situation where the user draws air into the user's oral cavity, nasal cavity, or lungs through the user's mouth or nose.

The term “longitudinal direction” as described in this document means the direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating article.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an aerosol generating system (10) according to one embodiment may include an aerosol generating article (100) including an aerosol generating material, and an aerosol generating device (200) configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol generating article (100).

The aerosol generating article (100) may include a plurality of segments (110, 120, 130, 140). For example, the aerosol generating article (100) may include, from upstream to downstream, a first segment (110), a second segment (120), a third segment (130), and a fourth segment (140).

The first segment (110) may include a filter. For example, the first segment (110) may include a cellulose acetate filter. In one embodiment, the first segment (110) may include a first cavity (112).

The second segment (120) may include a first region (121) and a second region (122) that are separated from each other. For example, the first region (121) may be positioned on a first side (e.g., the upper side in FIG. 2) with respect to the longitudinal axis of the second segment (120), and the second region (122) may be positioned on a second side (e.g., the lower side in FIG. 2) opposite to the first side with respect to the longitudinal axis of the second segment (120).

In one embodiment, the first region (121) and the second region (122) may be positioned so as not to overlap each other. In some embodiments, the first region (121) and the second region (122) may be substantially connected to each other (e.g., in contact with each other). In other embodiments, an additional region (e.g., a separation region) may be provided between the first region (121) and the second region (122).

In one embodiment, the first region (121) may include a first medium, and the second region (122) may include a second medium different from the first medium. For example, the first region (121) may include an aerosol generating material, and the second region (122) may include a flavoring material. In another example, the first region (121) may include a flavoring material, and the second region (122) may include an aerosol generating material. In yet another example, the first region (121) may include one of nicotine and an organic acid, and the second region (122) may include the other of nicotine and an organic acid.

The third segment (130) may include a filter. For example, the third segment (130) may include a cellulose acetate filter. In one embodiment, the third segment (130) may include a second cavity (132).

The fourth segment (140) may include a filter. For example, the fourth segment (140) may include a cellulose acetate filter. In one embodiment, the fourth segment (140) may not include a cavity.

The aerosol generating device (200) may include a first housing (210), a second housing (220), a first heater (231), a second heater (232), a controller (240), and a sensor (250).

The first housing (210) may form the exterior of the aerosol generating device (200). The second housing (220) may be positioned within the first housing (210) and configured to at least partially accommodate the aerosol generating article (100).

The first heater (231) and the second heater (232) may be configured to heat the aerosol generating article (100) positioned within the second housing (220). For example, the first heater (231) may be configured to heat the first region (121), and the second heater (232) may be configured to heat the second region (122).

In one embodiment, the first heater (231) may be positioned on a first side (e.g., the upper side in FIG. 1) of the second housing (220), and the second heater (232) may be positioned on a second side (e.g., the lower side in FIG. 1) opposite the first side of the second housing (220).

In one embodiment, the first heater (231) and the second heater (232) may be configured to operate at different times. For example, the heating start time of the first heater (231) may be earlier than the heating start time of the second heater (232). After the first medium in the first region (121) is heated through the first heater (231), the second medium in the second region (122) may be heated through the second heater (232).

Heating different media at different times using the first heater (231) and the second heater (232) can allow the aerosol generating material in the aerosol generating article (100) to be heated quickly, and can also allow the aerosol generating material (e.g., nicotine) to be continuously transferred without being completely consumed at the beginning of operation.

When different substances are included in the first medium and the second medium, for example, when the first medium and the second medium are composed by considering various combinations of flavoring conditions and/or substances, the amount of aerosol-generating substance transferred and/or the taste perceived by the user can be varied.

In one embodiment, the first heater (231) may be configured to continue operating when the second heater (232) is initiated. Continuing to operate the first heater (231) after the initiation of heating of the second heater (232) may assist in the sustained expression of the aerosol generating agent (e.g., nicotine) and may vary the taste for the user. In another embodiment, the first heater (231) may end operation when the second heater (232) is initiated.

In one embodiment, the first heater (231) and the second heater (232) may be configured to operate based on the user's puff. For example, the operation of the first heater (231) may be initiated when the user starts puffing, and the operation of the second heater (232) may be initiated when the number of puffs of the user is a predetermined number (e.g., 7 times) or more.

In one embodiment, the first heater (231) and the second heater (232) may be configured to operate based on the amount of the aerosol generating material (e.g., nicotine). For example, when the amount of the aerosol generating material of the first medium contained in the first region (121) decreases below a predetermined amount (CP) after the operation of the first heater (231) is initiated, the operation of the second heater (232) may be initiated.

In one embodiment, the first heater (231) and the second heater (232) may include resistors. For example, the first heater (231) and the second heater (232) may include an electrically insulating substrate (e.g., a substrate formed of polyimide) and an electrically conductive track, and may include a heating element that generates heat as current flows through the electrically conductive track.

In another embodiment, the first heater (231) and the second heater (232) can include coils. At least a portion of the second housing (220) can include a susceptor material, and the first heater (231) and the second heater (232) can heat regions within the second housing (220) by being electromagnetically coupled with the susceptor material of the second housing (220).

The controller (240) may be configured to control the operation of the first heater (231) and/or the operation of the second heater (232). For example, the controller (240) may control the heating temperature of the first heater (231) and/or the heating temperature of the second heater (232). As another example, the controller (240) may determine the heating start time of the first heater (231) and/or the second heater (232). As yet another example, the controller (240) may determine the heating end time of the first heater (231) and/or the second heater (232).

The controller (240) may be configured to control the operation of the first heater (231) and/or the operation of the second heater (232) based on a received signal (e.g., a signal from the sensor (250)). For example, the controller (240) may operate the first heater (231) and then operate the second heater (232) based on the number of puffs of the user. As another example, the controller (240) may operate the first heater (231) and then operate the second heater (232) based on the amount of an aerosol generating substance (e.g., nicotine).

The controller (240) may be implemented by a processor. The controller (240) may be implemented by an array of a plurality of logic gates, or may be implemented by a combination of a microprocessor and a memory storing a program that can be executed by the microprocessor.

The sensor (250) may be configured to detect various characteristics of the aerosol generating article (100). For example, the sensor (250) may be configured to detect whether the aerosol generating article (100) is positioned at a predetermined location within the second housing (220). As another example, the sensor (250) may be configured to detect an amount of an aerosol generating substance (e.g., nicotine) within the aerosol generating article (100). As another example, the sensor (250) may include a puff sensor configured to detect a number of puffs taken by a user. As another example, the sensor (250) may include at least one (e.g., two) temperature sensors configured to detect a heating temperature of the first heater (231) and/or a heating temperature of the second heater (232). As another example, the sensor (250) may include at least one (e.g., two) temperature sensors configured to detect the temperature of the first region (121) and/or the temperature of the second region (122).

Although the embodiments have been described with limited drawings as described above, those skilled in the art can apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above. For example, appropriate results can be achieved even if the described techniques are performed in a different order than the described method, and/or components of the described system, structure, device, circuit, etc. are combined or combined in a different form than the described method, or are replaced or substituted by other components or equivalents.

Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims are also included within the scope of the claims described below.

Claims (8)

1st housing;
A second housing positioned within said first housing and configured to receive an aerosol generating article;
A first heater positioned on a first side of the second housing within the first housing;
A second heater positioned on a second side of the second housing within the first housing, opposite to the first side;
a sensor configured to detect the number of puffs; and
A controller configured to operate the second heater when the number of puffs is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of puffs;
Including,
The first heater is configured to operate before the second heater, is configured to continue to operate when the second heater operates, and is configured to heat the first region of the aerosol generating article.
An aerosol generating device wherein the second heater is configured to heat a second region different from the first region of the aerosol generating article. delete delete delete delete delete In paragraph 1,
The above aerosol generating article is,
a first region comprising a first medium configured to be heated by the first heater; and
A second region comprising a second medium configured to be heated by the second heater;
An aerosol generating device comprising: An aerosol generating article comprising a first region comprising a first medium and a second region comprising a second medium different from the first medium; and
An aerosol generating device comprising: a first housing, a second housing positioned within the first housing and configured to receive an aerosol generating article, a first heater positioned on a first side of the second housing within the first housing and configured to heat the first region, a second heater positioned on a second side of the second housing within the first housing opposite the first side and configured to heat the second region, a sensor configured to detect a number of puffs, and a controller configured to operate the second heater when the number of puffs is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of puffs;
Including,
The first heater is configured to operate before the second heater, is configured to continue to operate when the second heater operates, and is configured to heat the first region of the aerosol generating article.
An aerosol generating system wherein the second heater is configured to heat a second region of the aerosol generating article that is different from the first region.

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