AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE USING PLURALITY OF HEATERS

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2023-0079810 and 10-2023-0107931, filed on Jun. 21, 2023 and Aug. 17, 2023, respectively, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosure relates to an aerosol generating device using a plurality of heaters.

2. Description of the Related Art

There is an increasing demand for aerosol generating devices that generate aerosols via non-combustion methods instead of methods of generating aerosols by burning cigarettes. Aerosol generating devices refer to, for example, devices that perform functions of generating aerosols from aerosol generating materials in a non-combustion method and providing the aerosols to users or generating aerosols having flavors by passing a vapor generated from aerosol generating materials through flavor media.

Portability is significant for the aerosol generating devices, and thus, the overall sizes of the aerosol generating devices may be limited. Therefore, specifications of batteries provided in the aerosol generating devices may also be limited. Some aerosol generating devices may use a plurality of heaters to provide a rich amount of smoke or to deliver improved flavors. However, an aerosol generating device using a plurality of heaters consumes more power than an aerosol generating device including a single heater, and thus, a technology that makes the most efficient use of batteries having limited specifications may be needed.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to an aerosol generating device using a plurality of heaters. When a battery is in a low voltage or low temperature state, the voltage drop in the battery may be greater than in a normal state. Therefore, when the plurality of heaters operate simultaneously while the battery is in the low voltage or low temperature state, an error state in which heating is unavailable, such as a system down, may occur due to an instantaneous voltage drop in the battery. Various embodiments may provide a technology for preventing the occurrence of an error state by reducing a voltage drop in a battery in a period in which a plurality of heaters operate simultaneously.

Problems to be solved through embodiments of the disclosure are not limited to the above-described problems, and problems not mentioned may be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments belong from the description and accompanying drawings.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments of the disclosure.

According to an embodiment, an aerosol generating device may include a battery, a DC/DC converter configured to boost a voltage of the battery to supply a boosted voltage to a first heater and a second heater, a first resistor circuit connected in series with the second heater and used to detect a current flowing through the second heater, a second resistor circuit connected in series with the first resistor circuit and configured to reduce a peak value of the current flowing through the second heater, an operation switch configured to determine whether or not the current flows through the second heater, and a processor configured to control the battery, the DC/DC converter, and the operation switch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a combined perspective view of a body, a cartridge, and a cap of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a combined perspective view of a body, a cartridge, and a cap of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a cartridge of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are block diagrams illustrating a circuit structure of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are views illustrating a first resistor circuit and a second resistor circuit according to embodiments;

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating an example of a second resistor circuit shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a DC/DC converter circuit according to an embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating an example of the DC-DC converter circuit shown in FIG. 17; and

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an operating method of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the same or similar components will be assigned the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals in the drawings, and the same descriptions thereof will be omitted.

The suffixes “module”, “-er”, and “-or” for the components used in the following description are given or used interchangeably by considering only the ease of writing the description, and do not have distinct meanings or roles in themselves.

In addition, when describing the embodiments of the disclosure, the detailed description of the related known art, which may obscure the subject matter of the embodiments, may be omitted. Also, the accompanying drawings are only intended to facilitate understanding of the embodiments described herein, and the spirit of the disclosure is not limited by the accompanying drawings and should be understood to include all changes, equivalents or alternatives included in the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements or components, these elements or components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element or component from another element or component.

When an element is referred to as being “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element, there are no intervening elements present.

The singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment.

The aerosol generating device 1 may include a power source 11, a controller 12, a sensor 13, an output unit 14, an input unit 15, a communicator 16, a memory 17, and at least one heater 18 and 24. However, an internal structure of the aerosol generating device 1 is not limited to that illustrated in FIG. 1. In other words, according to the design of the aerosol generating device 1, one of ordinary skill in the art related to the present embodiment that some of the components shown in FIG. 1 may be omitted or new components may be added.

The sensor 13 may detect a state of the aerosol generating device 1 or a state around the aerosol generating device 1 and transmit detected information to the controller 12. On the basis of the detected information, the controller 12 may control the aerosol generating device 1 to perform various functions such as control of operations of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18, a restriction on smoking, determination of whether or not the stick S and/or the cartridge 19 are inserted, and a notification display.

The sensor 13 may include at least one of a temperature sensor 131, a puff sensor 132, an insertion detection sensor 133, a reuse detection sensor 134, a cartridge detection sensor 135, a cap detection sensor 136, and a motion detection sensor 137.

The temperature sensor 131 may detect a temperature at which the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 are heated. The aerosol generating device 1 may include a separate temperature sensor for detecting the temperatures of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18, or the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 may operate as temperature sensors.

The temperature sensor 131 may output a signal corresponding to the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18. For example, the temperature sensor 131 may include a resistor element whose resistance value changes in correspondence to a change in the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18. The temperature sensor 131 may be implemented by a thermistor or the like, which is an element using a property of changing resistance according to temperature. Here, the temperature sensor 131 may output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the resistor element as a signal corresponding to the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18. For example, the temperature sensor 131 may include a sensor that detects a resistance value of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18. Here, the temperature sensor 131 may output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 as a signal corresponding to the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18.

The temperature sensor 131 may be arranged around the power source 11 to monitor a temperature of the power source 11. The temperature sensor 131 may be arranged adjacent to the power source 11. For example, the temperature sensor 131 may be attached to one surface of a battery that is the power source 11. For example, the temperature sensor 131 may be mounted on one surface of a PCB.

The temperature sensor 131 may be arranged inside the body 10 to detect an internal temperature of the body 10.

The puff sensor 132 may detect a puff by a user on the basis of various physical changes in an air flow path. The puff sensor 132 may output a signal corresponding to the puff. For example, the puff sensor 132 may be a pressure sensor. The puff sensor 132 may output a signal corresponding to internal pressure of the aerosol generating device 1. Here, the internal pressure of the aerosol generating device 1 may correspond to pressure of the air flow path through which a gas flows. The puff sensor 132 may be arranged in correspondence to the air flow path through which the gas flows in the aerosol generating device 1.

The insertion detection sensor 133 may detect insertion and/or removal of the stick S. The insertion detection sensor 133 may detect a signal change due to the insertion and/or removal of the stick S. The insertion detection sensor 133 may be installed around an insertion space. The insertion detection sensor 133 may detect the insertion and/or removal of the stick S according to a change in a dielectric constant inside the insertion space. For example, the insertion detection sensor 133 may be an inductive sensor and/or a capacitance sensor.

The inductive sensor may include at least one coil. The coil of the inductive sensor may be arranged adjacent to the insertion space. For example, when a magnetic field changes around the coil through which a current flows, characteristics of the current flowing through the coil may change according to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. Here, the characteristics of the current flowing through the coil may include a frequency of an alternating current, a current value, a voltage value, an inductance value, an impedance value, and the like.

The inductive sensor may output a signal corresponding to the characteristics of the current flowing through the coil. For example, the inductive sensor may output a signal corresponding to an inductance value of the coil.

The capacitance sensor may include a conductor. The conductor of the capacitance sensor may be arranged adjacent to the insertion space. The capacitance sensor may output a signal corresponding to an ambient electromagnetic characteristic, e.g., a capacitance around the conductor. For example, when the stick S including a metal wrapper is inserted into the insertion space, the electromagnetic characteristic around the conductor may be changed by the wrapper of the stick S.

The reuse detection sensor 134 may detect whether or not the stick S is reused. The reuse detection sensor 134 may be a color sensor. The color sensor may detect a color of the stick S. The color sensor may detect a color of a portion of the wrapper wrapping the outside of the stick S. The color sensor may detect a value for an optical characteristic corresponding to a color of an object, on the basis of light reflected from the object. For example, the optical characteristic may be a wavelength of light. The color sensor may be implemented as a single component with a proximity sensor or may be implemented as a separate component distinguished from the proximity sensor.

At least a portion of the wrapper constituting the stick S may have a color changing by an aerosol. When the stick S is inserted into the insertion space, the reuse detection sensor 134 may be arranged in correspondence to a location at which at least the portion of the wrapper whose color changes by the aerosol is arranged. For example, before the stick S is used by the user, the color of at least the portion of the wrapper may be a first color. Here, when at least the portion of the wrapper is wetted by the aerosol while the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating device 1 passes through the stick S, the color of at least the portion of the wrapper may be changed to a second color. The color of at least the portion of the wrapper may be maintained in the second color after changing from the first color to the second color.

The cartridge detection sensor 135 may detect mounting and/or removal of the cartridge 19. The cartridge detection sensor 135 may be implemented by an inductance-based sensor, a capacitive sensor, a resistance sensor, a hall sensor (a hall IC) using a hall effect, or the like.

The cap detection sensor 136 may detect mounting and/or removal of a cap. When the cap is detached from the body 10, a portion of the cartridge 19 and the body 10 covered by the cap may be exposed to the outside. The cap detection sensor 136 may be implemented by a contact sensor, a hall sensor (a hall IC), an optical sensor, or the like.

The motion detection sensor 137 may detect a motion of the aerosol generating device 1. The motion detection sensor 137 may be implemented as at least one of an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor.

In addition to the sensors 131 to 137 described above, the sensor 13 may further include at least one of a humidity sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, a position sensor (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS)), and a proximity sensor. Functions of the respective sensors may be intuitively inferred from names thereof by one of ordinary skill in the art, and thus, detailed descriptions thereof may be omitted.

The output unit 14 may output information regarding the state of the aerosol generating device 1 and provide the information to the user. The output unit 14 may include at least one of a display 141, a haptic unit 142, and a sound output unit 143, but is not limited thereto. When the display 141 and a touch pad form a layer structure to form a touch screen, the display 141 may be used as an input device in addition to an output device.

The display 141 may visually provide the user with information regarding the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the information regarding the aerosol generating device 1 may refer to various types of information such as a charging/discharging state of the power source 11 of the aerosol-generating device 1, a preheating state of the heater 18, the insertion/removal state of the stick S and/or the cartridge 19, the mounting/removal state of the cap, and the restriction on use of the aerosol generating device 1 (e.g., detection of an abnormal article), and the display 141 may output the information to the outside. For example, the display 141 may be in the form of a light emitting diode (LED) light emitting device. For example, the display 141 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, an organic light emitting display (OLED) panel, or the like.

The haptic unit 142 may tactilely provide the user with the information regarding the aerosol generating device 1 by converting an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus or an electrical stimulus. For example, when initial power is supplied to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 for a set time, the haptic unit 142 may generate vibration corresponding to completion of initial preheating. The haptic unit 142 may include a vibration motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

The sound output unit 143 may audibly provide the user with the information regarding the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the sound output unit 143 may convert the electrical signal into a sound signal and output the sound signal to the outside.

The power supply 11 may supply power used to operate the aerosol generating device 1. The power source 11 may supply power so that the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 may be heated. In addition, the power source 11 may supply power needed for operations of the sensor 13, the output unit 14, the input unit 15, the communicator 16, and the memory 17, which are other components provided within the aerosol generating device 1. The power source 11 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the power supply 11 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited thereto.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a power protection circuit. The power protection circuit may be electrically connected to the power source 11 and may include a switching element.

The power protection circuit may cut off an electrical path for the power source 11 according to a certain condition. For example, the power protection circuit may cut off the electrical path for the power source 11 when a voltage level of the power source 11 is a first voltage or more corresponding to overcharging. For example, the power protection circuit may cut off the electrical path for the power source 11 when the voltage level of the power source 11 is less than a second voltage corresponding to overdischarge.

The heater 18 may be supplied with power from the power source 11 and heat a medium or an aerosol generating material within the stick S. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a DC/DC converter) that converts power of the power source 11 and supplies the converted power to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18. In addition, when the aerosol generating device 1 generates an aerosol by an induction heating method, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a DC/AC converter that converts DC power of the power source 11 into AC power.

The controller 12, the sensor 13, the output unit 14, the input unit 15, the communicator 16, and the memory 17 may be supplied with power from the power source 11 to perform functions. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a power conversion circuit that converts power of the power source 11 and supplies the power to each of components, e.g., a low-dropout (LDO) circuit or a voltage regulator circuit. Also, although not shown in FIG. 1, a noise filter may be provided between the power source 11 and the heater 18. The noise filter may be a low pass filter. The low pass filter may include at least one inductor and a capacitor. A cutoff frequency of the low pass filter may correspond to a frequency of a high-frequency switching current applied from the power source 11 to the heater 18. The low pass filter may prevent a high-frequency noise component from being applied to the sensor 13, such as the insertion detection sensor 133.

In an embodiment, the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 may be formed of any suitable electrically resistive material. For example, the suitable electrically resistive material may be a metal or a metal alloy including titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, or nichrome, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the heater 18 may be implemented by a metal wire, a metal plate on which an electrically conductive track is arranged, or a ceramic heating element, but is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the heater 18 may include an induction heater. For example, the heater 18 may include a susceptor that generates heat through a magnetic field applied by a coil to heat an aerosol generating material.

The input unit 15 may receive information input from the user or output the information to the user. For example, the input unit 15 may be a touch panel. The touch panel may include at least one touch sensor for detecting a touch. For example, the touch sensor may include a capacitive touch sensor, a resistive touch sensor, a surface acoustic touch sensor, an infrared touch sensor, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

The display 141 and the touch panel may be implemented as one panel. For example, the touch panel may be inserted into the display 141 (e.g., may be a on-cell type or in-cell type). For example, the touch panel may be added on the display 141 (e.g., may be an add-on type).

Meanwhile, the input unit 15 may include a button, a keypad, a dome switch, a jog wheel, a jog switch, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

The memory 17 may be hardware for storing various types of data processed within the aerosol generating device 1 and may store pieces of data processed by the controller 12 and pieces of data to be processed by the controller 12. The memory 17 may include at least one type of storage medium from among a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (e.g., a SD or XD memory or the like), random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk. The memory 17 may store data or the like regarding an operation time of the aerosol generating device 1, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, and a smoking pattern of the user.

The communicator 16 may include at least one component for communication with another electronic device. For example, the communicator 16 may include at least one of a short-range wireless communication unit and a wireless communication unit.

The short-range wireless communication unit may include a Bluetooth communication unit, a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication unit, a near field communication unit, a wireless local area network ((WLAN) (Wi-Fi)) communication unit, a Zigbee communication unit, an infrared data association (IrDA) communication unit, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication unit, an ultra wideband (UWB) communication unit, an Ant+ communication unit, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

The wireless communication unit may include a cellular network communication unit, an Internet communication unit, a computer network (e.g., LAN or WAN) communication unit, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a connection interface such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and may connect with another external device through the connection interface such as a USB interface to transmit and receive information or charge the power 11.

The controller 12 may control an overall operation of the aerosol generating device 1. In an embodiment, the controller 12 may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory that stores a program executable by the microprocessor. In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present embodiment pertains may understand that the processor may be implemented as other types of hardware.

The controller 12 may control the temperature of the heater 18 by controlling supply power from the power source 11 to the heater 18. The controller 12 may control the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 on the basis of the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 sensed by the temperature sensor 131. The controller 12 may adjust power supplied to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18, on the basis of the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18. For example, the controller 12 may determine a target temperature for the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18, on the basis of a temperature profile stored in the memory 17.

The aerosol generating device 1 may include a power supply circuit (not shown) electrically connected to the power source 11 between the power source 11 and the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18. The power supply circuit may be electrically connected to the cartridge heater 24, the heater 18, or an induction coil. The power supply circuit may include at least one switching element. The switching element may be implemented by a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), a field effective transistor (FET), or the like. The controller 12 may control the power supply circuit.

The controller 12 may control power supply by controlling switching of the switching element of the power supply circuit. The power supply circuit may be an inverter that converts DC power output from the power source 11 into AC power. For example, the inverter may include a full-bridge circuit or a half-bridge circuit including a plurality of switching elements.

The controller 12 may turn on the switching element so that power is supplied from the power source 11 to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18. The controller 12 may turn off the switching element to cut off the supply of power to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18. The controller 12 may adjust a current supplied from the power source 11 by adjusting a frequency and/or duty ratio of a current pulse input into the switching element.

The controller 12 may control a voltage output from the power source 11 by controlling switching of the switching element of the power supply circuit. The power conversion circuit may convert the voltage output from the power source 11. For example, the power conversion circuit may include a buck-converter that steps down the voltage output from the power source 11. For example, the power conversion circuit may be implemented through a buck-boost converter, a zener diode, or the like.

The controller 12 may adjust a level of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit by controlling an on/off operation of the switching element included in the power conversion circuit. When the switching element continues to be turned on, the level of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit may correspond to a level of a voltage output from the power source 11. The duty ratio for the on/off operation of the switching element may correspond to a ratio of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit to the voltage output from the power source 11. The level of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit may decrease with a decrease in the duty ratio for the on/off operation of the switching element. The heater 18 may be heated on the basis of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit.

The controller 12 may control power to be supplied to the heater 18 by using at least one of a pulse width modulation (PWM) method and a proportional-integral-differential (PID) method.

For example, the controller 12 may control a current pulse having a certain frequency and duty ratio to be supplied to the heater 18 by using the PWM method. The controller 12 may control the power supplied to the heater 18 by adjusting the frequency and duty ratio of the current pulse.

For example, the controller 12 may determine a target temperature to be controlled, on the basis of the temperature profile. The controller 12 may control the power supplied to the heater 18 by using the PID method, which is a feedback control method through a difference value between the temperature of the heater 18 and the target temperature, a value obtained by integrating the difference value over time, and a value obtained by differentiating the difference value over time.

The controller 12 may prevent the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 from overheating. For example, on the basis that the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 exceeds a preset limit temperature, the controller 12 may control an operation of the power conversion circuit so that the supply of power to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 stops. For example, on the basis that the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 exceeds the preset limit temperature, the controller 12 may reduce an amount of power supplied to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 by a certain ratio. For example, on the basis that the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 exceeds the preset limit temperature, the controller 12 may determine that the aerosol generating material accommodated in the cartridge 19 is exhausted and cut off the power supply to the cartridge heater 24.

The controller 12 may control charging and discharging of the power source 11. The controller 12 may identify the temperature of the power source 11 on the basis of an output signal of the temperature sensor 131.

When a power line is connected to a battery terminal of the aerosol generating device 1, the controller 12 may identify whether or not the temperature of the power source 11 is a first limit temperature or more which is a reference for blocking charging of the power source 11. When the temperature of the power source 11 is less than the first limit temperature, the controller 12 may control the power source 11 to be charged, on the basis of a preset charging current. The controller 12 may block charging of the power source 11 when the temperature of the power source 11 is the first limit temperature or more.

While the power of the aerosol generating device 1 is turned on, the controller 12 may identify whether or not the temperature of the power source 11 is a second limit temperature or more which is a reference for blocking discharge of the power source 11. The controller 12 may control power stored in the power source 11 to be used when the temperature of the power source 11 is less than the second limit temperature. When the temperature of the power source 11 is the second limit temperature or more, the controller 12 may stop using the power stored in the power source 11.

The controller 12 may calculate a remaining capacity of the power stored in the power source 11. For example, the controller 12 may calculate the remaining capacity of the power source 11 on the basis of a voltage and/or current sensing value of the power source 11.

The controller 12 may determine, through the insertion detection sensor 133, whether or not the stick S is inserted into the insertion space. The controller 12 may determine that the stick S is inserted, on the basis of the output signal of the insertion detection sensor 133. When determining that the stick S is inserted into the insertion space, the controller 12 may control power to be supplied to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18. For example, the controller 12 may supply power to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18, on the basis of the temperature profile stored in the memory 17.

The controller 12 may determine whether or not the stick S is removed from the insertion space. For example, the controller 12 may determine, through the insertion detection sensor 133, whether or not the stick S is removed from the insertion space. For example, when the temperature of the heater 18 is the preset limit temperature or more or when a temperature change gradient of the heater 18 is a set gradient, the controller 12 may determine that the stick S is removed from the insertion space. When determining that the stick S is removed from the insertion space, the controller 12 may cut off the supply of power to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18.

The controller 12 may control a power supply time and/or a power supply amount with respect to the heater 18, according to a state of the stick S detected by the sensor 13. The controller 12 may identify, on the basis of a look-up table, a level range including a level of a signal of the capacitance sensor. The controller 12 may determine an amount of moisture in the stick S, according to the identified level range.

When the stick S is over-humidified, the controller 12 may increase a preheating time of the stick S compared to a normal state by controlling the power supply time with respect to the heater 18.

The controller 12 may determine, through the reuse detection sensor 134, whether or not the stick S inserted into the insertion space is reused. For example, the controller 12 may compare a sensing value of a signal of the reuse detection sensor 134 with a first reference range including a first color and when the sensing value is included in the first reference range, determine that the stick S is not used. For example, the controller 12 may compare the sensing value of the signal of the reuse detection sensor 134 with a second reference range including a second color and when the sensing value is included in the second reference range, determine that the stick S is used. When determining that the stick S is used, the controller 12 may cut off the supply of power to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18.

The controller 12 may determine, through the cartridge detection sensor 135, whether or not the cartridge 19 is coupled and/or removed. For example, the controller 12 may determine whether or not the cartridge 19 is coupled or removed, on the basis of a sensing value of the signal of the cartridge detection sensor 135.

The controller 12 may determine whether or not the aerosol generating material of the cartridge 19 is exhausted. For example, the controller 12 may apply power to preheat the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18, determine whether or not the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 exceeds the limit temperature in a preheating period, and when the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 exceeds the limit temperature, determine that the aerosol generating material of the cartridge 19 is exhausted. When determining that the aerosol generating material of the cartridge 19 is exhausted, the controller 12 may cut off the supply of power to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18.

The controller 12 may determine whether or not the cartridge 19 may be usable. When the current number of puffs is greater than or equal to the maximum number of puffs set in the cartridge 19, the controller 12 may determine, on the basis of data stored in the memory 17, that the cartridge 19 may not be usable. For example, when the total time for which the heater 24 is heated is a preset maximum time or more or the total amount of power supplied to the heater 24 is a preset maximum amount of power or more, the controller 12 may determine that the cartridge 19 may not be usable.

The controller 12 may determine inhalation by the user through the puff sensor 132. For example, the controller 12 may determine whether or not a puff occurs, on the basis of a sensing value of a signal of the puff sensor 132. For example, the controller 12 may determine an intensity of the puff, on the basis of the sensing value of the signal of the puff sensor 132. When the number of puffs reaches the preset maximum number of puffs or when puffs are not detected for a preset time or more, the controller 12 may cut off the supply of power to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18.

The controller 12 may determine, through the cap detection sensor 136, whether a cap is coupled and/or removed. For example, the controller 12 may determine whether or not the cap is coupled and/or removed, on the basis of a sensing value of a signal of the cap detection sensor 136.

The controller 12 may control the output unit 14 on the basis of the result of detection by the sensor 13. For example, when the number of puffs counted through the puff sensor 132 reaches a preset number, the controller 12 may notify the user that the aerosol generating device 1 is soon terminated, through at least one of the display 141, the haptic unit 142, and the sound output unit 143. For example, the controller 12 may notify the user through the output unit 14 that the stick S is not present in the insertion space, on the basis of the determination that the stick S is not present in the insertion space. For example, the controller 12 may notify the user through the output unit 14 that the cartridge 19 and/or the cap are not mounted, on the basis of the determination that the cartridge 19 and/or the cap are not mounted. For example, the controller 12 may transmit information regarding the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 to the user through the output unit 14.

The controller 12 may store and update, in the memory 17, a history of a certain event that occurs, on the basis of the occurrence of the event. The event may include detection of insertion of the stick S, initiation of heating of the stick S, detection of puffs, termination of the puffs, detection of overheating of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18, detection of application of an overvoltage to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18, termination of heating of the stick S, an operation such as power on/off of the aerosol generating device 1, initiation of charging of the power source 11, detection of overcharging of the power source 11, termination of charging of the power source 11, and the like. The history of the event may include a date and time when the event occurs, log data corresponding to the event, and the like. For example, when the certain event is the detection of insertion of the stick S, the log data corresponding to the event may include data regarding the sensing value of the insertion detection sensor 133 and the like. For example, when the certain event is the detection of overheating of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18, the log data corresponding to the event may include data regarding the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18, the voltage applied to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18, a current flowing through the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18, and the like.

The controller 12 may control to form a communication link with an external device such as a mobile terminal of the user. When data regarding authentication is received from the external device through the communication link, the controller 12 may release a restriction on use of at least one function of the aerosol generating device 1. Here, the data regarding the authentication may include data indicating completion of user authentication for the user corresponding to the external device. The user may perform the user authentication through the external device. The external device may determine whether or not user data is valid, on the basis of the birthday of the user, a unique number indicating the user, and the like and receive, from an external server, data regarding use authority over the aerosol generating device 1. The external device may transmit the data indicating the completion of the user authentication to the aerosol generating device 1, on the basis of the data regarding the use authority. When the user authentication is completed, the controller 12 may release the restriction on the use of at least one function of the aerosol generating device 1. For example, when the user authentication is completed, the controller 12 may release a restriction on use of a heating function of supplying power to the heater 18.

The controller 12 may transmit data regarding the state of the aerosol generating device 1 to the external device through the communication link formed with the external device. On the basis of the received data regarding the state of the aerosol generating device 1, the external device may output the remaining capacity of the power source 11 of the aerosol generating device 1, an operation mode, and the like through a display of the external device.

The external device may transmit a location search request to the aerosol generating device 1, on the basis of an input for initiating a location search of the aerosol generating device 1. When receiving the location search request from the external device, the controller 12 may control at least one of output devices to perform an operation corresponding to the location search, on the basis of the received location search request. For example, the haptic unit 142 may generate vibration in response to the location search request. For example, the display 141 may output an object corresponding to the location search and an end of the search in response to the location search request.

When receiving firmware data from the external device, the controller 12 may control to perform a firmware update. The external device may identify a current version of firmware of the aerosol generating device 1 and determine whether or not a new version of the firmware is present. When an input for requesting firmware download is received, the external device may receive a new version of firmware data and transmit the new version of firmware data to the aerosol generating device 1. When receiving the new version of firmware data, the controller 12 may control the firmware update of the aerosol generating device 1 to be performed.

The controller 12 may transmit data regarding a sensing value of at least one sensor 13 to the external server (not shown) through the communicator 16, and receive from the server and store a learning model generated by learning the sensing value through machine learning such as deep learning. The controller 12 may perform an operation of determining an inhalation pattern of the user, an operation of generating a temperature profile, and the like by using the learning model received from the server. The controller 12 may store, in the memory 17, sensing value data of at least one sensor 13, data for training an artificial neural network (ANN), and the like. For example, the memory 17 may store a database for each component provided in the aerosol generating device 1, which is for training the ANN, and weights and biases constituting the structure of the ANN. The controller 12 may generate at least one learning model used for determining the inhalation pattern of the user, generating the temperature profile, and the like, by learning data regarding the sensing value of the at least one sensor 13, the inhalation pattern of the user, the temperature profile, and the like which are stored in the memory 17.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an aerosol generating device 1 according to embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 2, the aerosol generating device 1 may include at least one of a power source 11, a controller 12, a sensor 13, a heater 18, and a cartridge 19. At least one of the power source 11, the controller 12, the sensor 13, and the heater 18 may be arranged inside a body 10 of the aerosol-generating device 1. The body 10 may provide a space opened upwards so that a stick S, which is an aerosol generating article, is inserted thereinto. The space opened upwards may be referred to as an insertion space. The insertion space may be formed by being recessed toward the inside of the body 10 by a certain depth so that at least a portion of the stick S may be inserted thereinto. The depth of the insertion space may correspond to a length of a region in the stick S, which includes an aerosol generating material and/or a medium. A lower end of the stick S may be inserted into the body 10, and an upper end of the stick S may protrude to the outside of the body 10. A user may inhale air by holding, in the mouth, the upper end of the stick S exposed to the outside.

The heater 18 may heat the stick S. The heater 18 may extend long upwards around a space into which the stick S is inserted. For example, the heater 18 may be in the form of a tube including a hollow therein. The heater 18 may be arranged around the insertion space. The heater 18 may be arranged to surround at least a portion of the insertion space. The heater 18 may heat the insertion space or the stick S inserted into the insertion space. The heater 18 may include an electrically resistive heater and/or an induction heater.

For example, the heater 18 may be a resistive heater. For example, the heater 18 may include an electrically conductive track and the heater 18 may be heated when currents flow through the electrically conductive track. The heater 18 may be electrically connected to the power source 11. The heater 18 may be provided with a current from the power source 11 and directly generate heat.

For example, the aerosol generating device 1 may include an induction coil surrounding the heater 18. The induction coil may generate heat in the heater 18. The heater 18 may be a susceptor, and the heater 18 may generate heat by a magnetic field generated by an AC current flowing through the induction coil. The magnetic field may pass through the heater 18 and generate an eddy current within the heater 18. The current may generate heat in the heater 18.

Meanwhile, a susceptor may be included inside the stick S, and the susceptor inside the stick S may generate heat by the magnetic field generated by the AC current flowing through the induction coil.

The cartridge 19 may contain an aerosol generating material in any one of a liquid state, a solid state, a gaseous state, a gel state, and the like. The aerosol generating material may include a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containing material having a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquid including a non-tobacco material.

The cartridge 19 may be integrally formed with the body 10 or detachably coupled to the body 10.

For example, referring to FIG. 2, the cartridge 19 may be integrally formed with the body 10 and may communicate with the insertion space through an air flow channel CN.

For example, referring to FIG. 3, a space may be formed in one side of the body 10, and at least a portion of the cartridge 19 may be inserted into the space formed in one side of the body 10, so that the cartridge 19 may be mounted in the body 10. The air flow channel CN may be defined by a portion of the cartridge 19 and/or a portion of the body 10, and the cartridge 19 may communicate with the insertion space through the air flow channel CN.

The body 10 may be formed in a structure in which external air may be introduced into the body 10 while the cartridge 19 is inserted the body 10. Here, the external air introduced into the body 10 may pass through the cartridge 19 and flow into the mouth of the user.

The cartridge 19 may include a storage CO containing the aerosol generating material and/or a heater 24 heating the aerosol generating material in the storage CO. A liquid delivery element impregnated with (containing) the aerosol generating material may be arranged inside the storage CO. Here, the liquid delivery element may include a wick or the like such as a cotton fiber, a ceramic fiber, a glass fiber, or porous ceramic. An electrically conductive track of the heater 24 may be formed in a coil-shaped structure that is wound around the liquid delivery element or in a structure in contact with one side of the liquid delivery element. The heater 24 may be referred to as a cartridge heater 24.

The cartridge 19 may generate an aerosol. When the liquid delivery element is heated by the cartridge heater 24, an aerosol may be generated. The aerosol may be generated by heating the stick S by the heater 18. While the aerosol generated by the cartridge heater 24 and the heater 18 passes through the stick S, a tobacco material may be added to the aerosol, and the aerosol having the tobacco material added thereto may be inhaled into the mouth of the user through one end of the stick S.

The aerosol generating device 1 may include only the cartridge heater 24 and may not include the heater 18 in the body 10. Here, the aerosol generated by the cartridge heater 24 may have the tobacco material added thereto while passing through the stick S and may be inhaled into the mouth of the user.

The aerosol generating device 1 may include a cap (not shown). The cap may be detachably coupled to the body 10 to cover at least a portion of the cartridge 19 coupled to the body 10. The stick S may pass through the cap and be inserted into the body 10.

The power source 11 may supply power so that components of the aerosol generating device 1 operate. The power source 11 may be referred to as a battery. The power source 11 may supply power to at least one of the controller 12, the sensor 13, the cartridge heater 24, and the heater 18. When the aerosol generating device 1 includes an induction coil, the power supply 11 may supply power to the induction coil.

The controller 12 may control an overall operation of the aerosol generating device 1. The controller 12 may be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB). The controller 12 may control an operation of at least one of the power source 11, the sensor 13, the heater 18, and the cartridge 19. The controller 12 may control operations of a display, a motor, and the like installed in the aerosol generating device 1. The controller 12 may check a state of each of the components of the aerosol generating device 1 to determine whether or not the aerosol generating device 1 is able to operate.

The controller 12 may analyze a result of detection by the sensor 13 and control processes to be performed subsequently. For example, the controller 12 may control power supplied to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 so that the operation of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 is initiated or terminated, on the basis of the result of the detection by the sensor 13. For example, on the basis of the result of the detection by the sensor 13, the controller 12 may control an amount of power supplied to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 and a time for which the power is supplied to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 so that the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 may be heated to a certain temperature or maintain an appropriate temperature.

The sensor 13 may include at least one of a temperature sensor, a puff sensor, an insertion detection sensor, a color sensor, a cartridge detection sensor, and a cap detection sensor. For example, the sensor 13 may sense at least one of a temperature of the heater 18, a temperature of the power source 11, and a temperature inside and outside the body 10. For example, the sensor 13 may sense a puff by a user. For example, the sensor 13 may sense whether or not the stick S is inserted into the insertion space. For example, the sensor 13 may sense whether or not the cartridge 19 is mounted in the body 10. For example, the sensor 13 may sense whether or not the cap is mounted on the body 10.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment, FIG. 5 is a combined perspective view of a body, a cartridge, and a cap of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, an aerosol generating device A100 according to an embodiment may include a body A3. The aerosol generating device A100 may include a cap A30. The aerosol generating device A100 may include a cartridge A40. The cartridge A40 may be detachably coupled to one side of the body A3. The cap A30 may be detachably coupled to the body A3 to cover the cartridge A40. A stick S may pass through the cap A30 and be inserted into the body A3.

Referring to FIG. 5, the body A3 may include a lower body A1 and an upper body A2. Components of the aerosol generating device A100, such as a battery and a controller, may be installed inside the lower body A1. The upper body A2 may be coupled to an upper side of the lower body A1.

The upper body A2 may include a column A10 and a seating portion A20. The column A10 may extend long in a vertical direction. The column A10 may include an outer wall A11, an inner wall A12, and an upper wall A13.

The seating portion A20 may protrude from a lower portion of the inner wall A12 of the column A10. The seating portion A20 may face an upper side. A cartridge area A24 may be formed between the inner wall A12 of the column A10 and the seating portion A20. The cartridge area A24 may be located on one side of the inner wall A12 of the column A10 and may be located above the seating portion A20.

The column A10 may include an insertion space A142. The insertion space A142 may extend in the vertical direction inside the column A10 and may be opened upwards so that the upper wall A13 is opened.

A body inlet A141 may be formed in one side of the column A10. The body inlet A141 may be formed by opening the inner wall A12. The body inlet A141 may be opened to the outside of the column A10. The body inlet A141 may communicate with the insertion space A142. The body inlet A141 may be arranged to face the cartridge area A24. The body inlet A141 may communicate with the cartridge area A24.

The cartridge A40 may be detachably coupled to the upper body A2 in the cartridge area A24. The cartridge A40 may be coupled to the inner wall A12 of the column A10 and may be seated on the seating portion A20 so that a bottom thereof is supported. The cartridge A40 may include a first container A41 and a second container A42. The first container A41 may be arranged on an upper side of the second container A42. The first container A41 may store a liquid.

The cap A30 may cover the upper body A2 and may be detachably coupled to the body A3. The cap A30 may cover the upper body A2 and the cartridge A40 coupled to the upper body A2. The cap A30 may have formed therein a space into which the upper body A2 and the cartridge A40 are inserted. The space inside the cap A30 may be opened downwards. A sidewall A31 of the cap A30 may surround a side portion of the space inside the cap A30. An upper wall A33 of the cap A30 may cover an upper portion of the space inside the cap A30. An insertion hole A34 may be formed by opening the upper wall A33. When the cap A30 is coupled to the body A3, the insertion hole A34 may communicate with the insertion space A142 above the insertion space A142. A cover A35 may be movably installed on the upper wall A33. The cover A35 may slide on the upper wall A33. The cover A35 may open and close the insertion hole A34.

Referring to FIG. 6, a first chamber AC1 may be formed inside the first container A41. A liquid may be stored in the first chamber AC1. A second chamber AC2 may be formed inside the second container A42.

A cartridge inlet A441 may be formed by opening the cartridge A40. A cartridge outlet A442 may be formed by opening the cartridge A40. A cartridge flow path A443 may connect the cartridge inlet A441 to the second chamber AC2. The cartridge outlet A442 may communicate with the second chamber AC2.

The cartridge outlet A442 may be formed by opening one side of the second container A42. A discharge port A422 may surround the cartridge discharge outlet A442. The discharge port A422 may protrude from one side of the second container A42. When the cartridge A40 is coupled to the upper body A2, the discharge port A422 may be inserted into the body inlet A141, and the cartridge outlet A442 and the body inlet A141 may communicate with each other.

A wick A45 may be installed in the second chamber AC2. The wick A45 may be connected to the first chamber AC1. The wick A45 may be supplied with a liquid from the first chamber AC1. A heater A46 may generate heat and heat the wick A45. The heater A46 may be arranged in the second chamber AC2. The heater A46 may be wound around the wick A45. When the heater A46 heats the wick A45, an aerosol may be generated around the wick A45 in the second chamber AC2.

A heater terminal A47 may be exposed to a lower portion of the cartridge A40. The heater terminal A47 may be formed at a bottom of the second container A42. The heater terminal A47 may be electrically connected to the heater A46. When the cartridge A40 is coupled to the upper body A2, the heater terminal A47 may be in contact with and electrically connected to a first pin A50. Here, the heater terminal A47 may be referred to as a second pin A47.

The first pin A50 may protrude to the outside of the seating portion A20. The first pin A50 may be supplied with power from a battery installed inside the lower body A1 through a connector A97 and provide the power to the heater terminal A47 and the heater A46. The heater A46 may be supplied with power and generate heat.

Air outside the cartridge A40 may be introduced into the cartridge A40 through the cartridge inlet A441. The air may sequentially flow through the cartridge inlet A441, the cartridge flow path A443, the second chamber AC2, and the cartridge outlet A442. Air inside the cartridge A40 may be discharged to the outside of the cartridge A40 through the cartridge outlet A442. The air introduced into the cartridge A40 may be accompanied by an aerosol generated in the second chamber AC2 and discharged to the outside of the cartridge A40 through the cartridge outlet A442.

The first pin A50 may be arranged inside the body A3 and may protrude to the outside of the body A3. The body A3 may include the seating portion A20.

The seating portion A20 may have an outer recessed groove A25. The outer recessed groove A25 may be formed by recessing an upper surface A21 of the seating portion A20 downwards. The outer recessed groove A25 may be located below the cartridge area A24. The upper surface A21 of the seating portion A20 may be referred to as an outer surface of the body A3. The outer recessed groove A25 may be formed in the outer surface of the body A3.

A lower portion of the outer recessed groove A25 may be covered with a bottom portion A251, and a side portion of the outer recessed groove A25 may be covered with a circumferential portion A252. An upper side of the outer recessed groove A25 may be opened. One side portion of the outer recessed groove A25 may be opened without being covered with the circumferential portion A252. When an x direction indicated in a coordinate system is defined as the front, the front of the outer recessed groove A25 may be opened. An upper end of the first pin A50 may convexly protrude or be exposed upwards from the bottom portion A251 of the outer recessed groove A25 toward the outer recessed groove A25.

The bottom of the cartridge A40 may have a shape corresponding to the seating portion A20 and the outer recessed groove A25. When the cartridge A40 is coupled to the upper body A2, the bottom of the cartridge A40 may be seated on the seating port A20, and the first pin A50 and the second pin A47 may be electrically connected to each other.

A plurality of guide portions A253 may be provided. The guide portion A253 may extend long from the front to the rear. The guide portion A253 may be formed to be inclined and gradually become higher from the front to the rear. Each of the plurality of guide portions A253 may be arranged in front of each of a plurality of first pins A50. A height of a rear end of the guide portion A253 adjacent to the first pin A50 may be the same as or similar to a height of the first pin A50.

Accordingly, when the cartridge A40 is coupled to the upper body A2, the guide portion A253 may guide the arrangement of the cartridge A40 so that the first pin A50 and the second pin A47 contact each other.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment, FIG. 8 is a combined perspective view of a body, a cartridge, and a cap of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment, FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a cartridge of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment, FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment may include a body B100 including an upper body B120 and a lower body B110. The upper body B120 may be located on an upper side of the lower body B110. The lower body B110 may extend long in a vertical direction. The body B100 may accommodate therein components for driving the aerosol generating device. The upper body B120 may provide an insertion space B134 that is opened upwards. The insertion space B134 may be located inside the upper body B120. The insertion space B134 may extend long in the vertical direction. The insertion space B134 may be formed in a pipe B130 located inside the upper body B120.

An upper case B200 may have a hollow shape with an open lower portion. The upper body B120 may be inserted into a hollow of the upper case B200. The upper case B200 may be detachably coupled to the body B100. The upper case B200 may cover the upper body B120 to surround the upper body B120. A lateral portion B211 of the upper case B200 may surround and cover an outer wall B121 of the upper body B120. An upper portion B212 of the upper case B200 may cover an upper portion B180 or an outer cover B180 of the upper body B120. When the upper case B200 is coupled to the body B100, the upper case B200 may cover the body B100 and a cartridge B300 together. The cartridge B300 may be arranged inside the upper case B200.

An insertion hole B214 may be formed by opening the upper portion B212 of the upper case B200. The insertion hole B214 may correspond to an opening of the insertion space B134. A cap B215 may be movably installed on the upper portion B212 of the upper case B200. A slide hole B213 may be formed by extending from the insertion hole B214 to one side, in the upper portion B212 of the upper case B200. The cap B215 may move along the slide hole B213. The cap B215 may open and close the insertion hole B214 and the insertion space B134. A stick S may be inserted into the insertion space B134 through the insertion hole B214. For example, the stick S may be a cigarette.

The outer wall B121 and a partition wall B125 may form a lateral portion of the upper body B120. The outer wall B121 and the partition wall B125 may be connected to each other. The outer wall B121 may be covered by an inner surface of the upper case B200. The partition wall B125 may separate a cartridge coupling space B124a from the insertion space B134.

The upper body B120 may include a seating portion B122. The seating portion B122 may extend from a lower portion of the partition wall B125 to one side. The seating portion B122 may be formed on an upper side of the lower body B110. The seating portion B122 may cover a lower portion of the cartridge coupling space B124a. A bottom surface of the cartridge B300 may be seated on and supported by the seating portion B122.

The upper body B120 may include an extension portion B140. The extension portion B140 may extend from an upper portion of the partition wall B125 to one side. The extension portion B140 may extend in a direction in which the seating portion B122 is formed. The extension portion B140 may cover an upper portion of the cartridge coupling space B124a. The extension portion B140 may cover an upper end surface of the cartridge B300. The extension portion B140 may cover a cartridge inlet B301 formed in the cartridge B300. A gap through which air may flow may be formed between the extension portion B140 and the cartridge inlet B301.

The cartridge coupling space B124a may be formed on one side of the upper body B120. The cartridge coupling space B124a may be defined by the seating portion B122 and the partition wall B125 of the upper body B120 and the extension portion B140. A bottom of the cartridge coupling space B124a may be covered by the seating portion B122. One side of the cartridge coupling space B124a may be covered by the partition wall B125 of the upper body B120. An upper side of the cartridge coupling space B124a may be covered by the extension portion B140. The cartridge coupling space B124a may be opened to the outside between the seating portion B122 and the extension portion B140.

The cartridge B300 may be inserted into the cartridge coupling space B124a to be coupled to the body B100. The cartridge B300 may be detachably coupled to the body B100. A lateral surface B311 of the cartridge B300 may face the partition wall B125. An upper end surface B312 of the cartridge B300 may be covered by the extension portion B140. A bottom surface B322 of the cartridge B300 may be seated on the seating portion B122. A cartridge terminal B128 may be connected to the cartridge B300 to supply power to a heater B342 inside the cartridge B300.

A coupling hook B125a may be formed at the upper body B120. A pusher B125b may be formed on the upper body B120. The coupling hook B125a and the pusher B125b may be formed in a pair on both sides of the upper body B120 and arranged at locations facing each other. The cartridge B300 may include a hook coupling groove B315. The hook coupling groove B315 may be formed at a location corresponding to the coupling hook B125a. When the cartridge B300 is inserted into the cartridge coupling space B124a, the coupling hook B125a may be coupled to the hook coupling groove B315 to couple the cartridge B300 to the body B100. The pusher B125b and the coupling hook B125a may move in conjunction with each other. When the pusher B125b is pressed, the coupling hook B125a may be moved in a direction detached from the hook coupling groove B315, and the cartridge B300 may be detached from the body B100.

A connection flow path B133 may be formed in a lower portion of the partition wall B125. The connection flow path B133 may communicate with the insertion space B134. The connection flow path B133 may be opened to one side of the upper body B120. When the cartridge B300 is coupled to the body B100, a discharge port B323 may be inserted into the connection flow path B133, and the connection flow path B133 and a cartridge discharge port B304 may communicate with each other.

Referring to FIG. 9, the cartridge B300 may include a first container B31 and a second container B32. The first container B31 may be coupled to an upper side of the second container B32. A plate B35 may be coupled between the first container B31 and the second container B32 or between the first container B31 and a frame B33.

The first container B31 may include a first chamber BC1 that may store a liquid therein. The first container B31 may surround the first chamber BC1, and a lower portion of the first chamber BC1 may be opened. An opening of the first chamber BC1 may be covered by the plate B35.

Referring to FIG. 10, the first container B31 may include an inflow passage B302 through which air passes. The first chamber BC1 and the inflow passage B302 may be separated from each other. The inflow passage B302 may vertically extend long in one side of the first container B31.

The first container B31 may include a cartridge inlet B301. The cartridge inlet B301 may be formed by opening an upper portion of the first container B31 and may communicate with the inflow passage B302. The cartridge inlet B301 may communicate with an upper end of the inflow passage B302. A lower end of the inflow passage B302 may communicate with a connection hole B351 and a chamber inlet B303.

The second container B32 may be coupled to a lower portion of the first container B31. The second container B32 may include a space B324 having an opened upper portion and a covered lower portion. The frame B33 may be accommodated inside the space B324 of the second container B32.

The second container B32 may include the cartridge outlet B304. The cartridge outlet B304 may be formed in a lateral portion B321 of the second container B32. The cartridge outlet B304 may be formed inside a port protruding from the lateral portion of the second container B32 in a thickness direction. The cartridge outlet B304 may communicate with the space B324. The second container B32 may include a discharge port B323. The discharge port B323 may have the cartridge outlet B304 formed therein. The discharge port B323 may protrude from the lateral portion B321 of the second container B32 to one side. The discharge port B323 may surround the cartridge outlet B304. The cartridge outlet B304 may be referred to as an outlet B304.

The frame B33 may be inserted into the space B324 inside the second container B32 to be coupled to the second container B32. A fastening element B326, which protrudes from a sidewall of the second container B32 to the space B324, may be fastened to the frame B33 to fix the frame B33.

The frame B33 may include a second chamber BC2 therein. The frame B33 may surround the second chamber BC2, and an upper portion of the second chamber BC2 may be opened. The upper portion of the second chamber BC2 may be covered by the plate B35.

The frame B33 may include the chamber inlet B303. The chamber inlet B303 may be formed by opening one surface of a sidewall surrounding the second chamber BC2. The chamber inlet B303 may be bent and extend upwards from the second chamber BC2 toward the inflow passage B302. One end of the chamber inlet B303 may communicate with the second chamber BC2, and the other end of the chamber inlet B303 may be connected to the inflow passage B302 and the connection hole B351.

The frame B33 may include a chamber outlet B332. The chamber outlet B332 may be formed in a lateral portion of the frame B33. The chamber outlet B332 may communicate with the second chamber BC2. The chamber outlet B332 may be formed inside a port protruding from the lateral portion of the frame B33 in a thickness direction. The chamber outlet B332 may communicate with the second chamber BC2. The chamber outlet B332 may be formed at a location corresponding to the cartridge outlet B304. The chamber outlet B332 may be formed at a location opposite to the chamber inlet B303 with respect to the second chamber BC2. When the frame B33 is coupled to the second container B32, the chamber outlet B332 and the cartridge outlet B304 may communicate with each other.

The frame B33 may include a wick coupling groove B334 therein. The wick coupling groove B334 may communicate with the second chamber BC2. The wick coupling groove B334 may be formed by the second chamber BC2 being depressing to one side thereof. The wick coupling grooves B334 may be formed in a pair, and the pair of wick coupling grooves B334 may be formed to be located opposite to each other in the second chamber BC2. An upper portion of the wick coupling groove B334 may be opened.

A wick B341 may have a cylindrical shape extending laterally long in the second chamber BC2. Both ends of the wick B341 may be located by being inserted into the pair of wick coupling grooves B334, respectively. A central portion of the wick B341 may be located in the second chamber BC2. The wick B341 may be connected to the first chamber BC1 to be supplied with a liquid from the first chamber BC1. The wick B341 may be fixed in the wick coupling groove B334 by the frame B33 and the plate B35.

The heater B342 may be wound around the central portion of the wick B341. The heater B342 may generate heat to heat the wick B341. For example, the heater B342 may be a resistive heater. The heater B342 may be arranged in the second chamber BC2. An end of the heater B342 may pass through a bottom of the frame B33 and be electrically connected to an electrode arranged at the bottom of the second container B32.

The plate B35 may be coupled between the first container B31 and the second container B32 or between the first container B31 and the frame B33. The plate B35 may cover and seal an opened portion of the first chamber BC1. The plate B35 may cover an upper portion of the frame B33. The plate B35 may cover and seal an opened portion of the second chamber BC2.

The plate B35 may have the connection hole B351 in one side thereof. The connection hole B351 may be located between the inflow passage B302 and the chamber inlet B303. The connection hole B351 may connect the inflow passage B302 to the chamber inlet B303.

The plate B35 may include a liquid inflow hole B354. A pair of liquid inflow holes B354 may be formed at locations corresponding to the wick coupling grooves B334. The pair of liquid inflow holes B354 may be located above both ends of the wick B341. The liquid inflow hole B354 may connect the first chamber BC1 to the wick coupling groove B334. The wick B341 may be connected to the first chamber BC1 through the liquid inflow hole B354.

A hook groove B335 may be formed above the chamber outlet B332 at a location adjacent to the chamber outlet B332. The hook B353 may protrude downwards from one side of the plate B35. The hook B353 may be inserted into and fastened to the hook groove B335 formed in an upper portion of the frame B33. The plate B35 may be fastened to the frame B33, and the first container B31 coupled to the second container B32 may press an edge portion of the plate B35 toward the frame B33.

A user may hold, in the mouth, the stick S inserted into the insertion space B134 and inhale air. While the upper case B200 is coupled to the body B100, air may be introduced into the cartridge inlet B301 through an opening B201 formed in the upper case B200. Air may be introduced into the cartridge B300 through the cartridge inlet B301 and may be discharged to the outside of the cartridge B300 through the cartridge outlet B304. The air introduced into the cartridge B300 may be discharged to the outside by sequentially passing through the inflow passage B302, the connection hole B351, the chamber inlet B303, the second chamber BC2, the chamber outlet B332, and the cartridge outlet B304.

When the heater B342 heats the wick B341, an aerosol may be formed from the wick B341 within the second chamber BC2. Air passing through the cartridge B300 may be accompanied by an aerosol from the second chamber BC2 and discharged to the cartridge outlet B304. The air discharged through the cartridge outlet B304 may be supplied through the connection flow path B133 to the insertion space B134 and the stick S inserted into the insertion space B134.

Referring to FIG. 11, the upper body B120 may include the outer wall B121 and the partition wall B125. The outer wall B121 and the partition wall B125 may be connected to each other. The partition wall B125 may be formed by extending vertically between the pipe B130 and the cartridge coupling space B124a.

The extension portion B140 may be formed by extending from the upper portion of the upper body B120 to one side. The upper end surface B312 of the cartridge B300 may be covered by the extension portion B140. The extension portion B140 may cover the cartridge inlet B301 and the periphery thereof. A gap may be formed between the extension portion B140 and the cartridge inlet B301 and between a lower portion of the extension portion B140 and the upper end surface B312 of the cartridge B300. The gap may communicate the cartridge inlet B301 with the outside.

The pipe B130 may be formed long in a vertical direction. The pipe B130 may be formed as a hollow. The insertion space B134 may be formed inside the pipe B130. The insertion space B134 may be opened upwards. The insertion space B134 may extend vertically. The connection flow path B133 may be formed inside the pipe B130. The connection flow path B133 may be formed below the insertion space B134. One end of the connection flow path B133 may communicate with the outside of the pipe B130, and the other end of the connection flow path B133 may communicate with the insertion space B134. The connection flow path B133 may be bent to one side from a lower portion of the insertion space B134.

A first sensor B161 may be installed inside the extension portion B140. The first sensor B161 may face the upper end surface B312 of the cartridge B300 or the cartridge inlet B301. The first sensor B161 may be installed adjacent to the cartridge inlet B301. The first sensor B161 may be located above the cartridge inlet B301. The first sensor B161 may overlap the cartridge inlet B301 on the basis of the vertical direction.

The first sensor B161 may sense an ambient air flow. The first sensor B161 may be an air flow sensor or a pressure sensor. The first sensor B161 may sense a flow of air through a change in ambient air pressure. At a location adjacent to the cartridge inlet B301, the extension portion B140 may include a first sensing hole B144 for sensing an air flow. The first sensor B161 may be mounted on a substrate arranged inside the extension portion B140 and may be electrically connected to a controller (not shown). The controller may control operations of various types of components connected, on the basis that the first sensor B161 detects the flow of air.

A first sealing portion B151 may be arranged between a first partition wall portion B1251 and an inner plate B171. The first sealing portion B151 may surround and be in contact with an upper end portion of the first partition wall portion B1251. The first sealing portion B151 may be in contact with a lower end of the inner plate B171.

A sensor accommodation portion B156 of a second sealing portion may seal the periphery of a first sensing hole B144. The sensor accommodation portion B156 may be in contact with an extension plate around the first sensing hole B144. A second sensing hole formed in the sensor accommodation portion B156 may communicate with the first sensing hole B144. The sensor accommodation portion B156 may surround and be in contact with the first sensor B161.

Accordingly, a failure of a substrate or sensor may be prevented by foreign substances, aerosol discharged from around an opening of the pipe B130, or foreign substances through the first sensing hole B144.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are block diagrams illustrating a circuit structure of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 12, an aerosol generating device 120 may include a battery 1210, a DC/DC converter 1220, a first heater 1230, a second heater 1240, a first resistor circuit 1250, a second resistor circuit 1260, an operation switch 1270, and a processor 1280.

FIG. 12 illustrates that the aerosol generating device 120 includes components related to the present embodiment. Therefore, one of ordinary skill in the art related to the present embodiment may understand that the aerosol generating device 120 may further include other components in addition to the components shown in FIG. 12. For example, the aerosol generating device 120 may be substantially the same as the aerosol generating device 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. Therefore, the aerosol generating device 120 may further include other components described above with respect to the aerosol generating device 1, in addition to the components illustrated in FIG. 12.

The battery 1210 and the processor 1280 may respectively correspond to the power source 11 and the controller 12 of FIGS. 1 to 3, and thus, the same descriptions thereof are omitted. The first heater 1230 may include a heater (e.g., the heater 18 of FIGS. 1 to 3) that is arranged within the aerosol generating device 120 to heat a stick accommodated in an insertion space of the aerosol generating device 120. The second heater 1240 may include a cartridge heater (e.g., the cartridge heater 24 of FIGS. 1 to 3) that is arranged within a cartridge (e.g., the cartridge 19 of FIGS. 1 to 3) detachably coupled to the aerosol generating device 120 to heat a liquid composition contained in the cartridge. However, the first heater 1230 and the second heater 1240 are not limited thereto. The first heater 1230 may be a cartridge heater, and the second heater 1240 may be a stick heater. In addition, the first heater 1230 and the second heater 1240 may also be heaters for heating the same or different flavor sources and/or aerosol sources.

The DC/DC converter 1220 may be configured to boost a voltage V_BAT of the battery 1210 to supply a boosted voltage V_OUT to the first heater 1230 and the second heater 1240. In an example, when the voltage V_BAT of the battery 1210 is included in a range of 3.4 V to 4.2 V, the boosted voltage V_OUT may be included in a range of 4.2 V to 5.0 V, but is not limited thereto. In an example, the DC/DC converter 1220 may be controlled to output the fixed boosted voltage V_OUT even when the voltage V_BAT of the battery 1210 corresponding to an input voltage changes.

Referring to FIG. 13, in addition to the battery 1210 and the processor 1280, the aerosol generating device 120 may further include low-dropout (LDO) regulators 1310, 1320, and 1330, a display 1325, and a vibration motor 1335. Although not illustrated in FIG. 13, the aerosol generating device 120 may further include other components and other LDO regulators for providing appropriate voltages to the other components.

The LDO regulator 1310 may be configured to regulate the voltage V_BAT of the battery 1210 to supply an appropriate voltage V₁ to the processor 1280, the LDO regulator 1320 may be configured to regulate the voltage V_BAT of the battery 1210 to supply an appropriate voltage V₂ to the display 1325, and the LDO regulator 1330 may be configured to regulate the voltage V_BAT of the battery 1210 to supply an appropriate voltage Vs to the vibration motor 1335. When voltages demanded by the processor 1280, the display 1325, and the vibration motor 1335 are different from one another, the voltages V₁, V₂, and Vs may be different from one another. However, at least some of the voltages V₁, V₂, and Vs may be the same as each other according to the voltages demanded by the processor 1280, the display 1325, and the vibration motor 1335, respectively. In a normal operation state, the LDO regulator 1310, the LDO regulator 1320, and the LDO regulator 1330 may output voltages having fixed magnitudes regardless of the magnitude of the voltage V_BAT that is input. The normal operation state may refer to a case where a voltage greater than or equal to the lowest operation voltage value is input to each LDO regulator.

Meanwhile, the voltage V_BAT of the battery 1210 may generally decrease with a decrease in the remaining capacity of the battery 1210, but a voltage drop may occur in the battery 1210 due to instantaneous power consumption. In particular, when the battery 1210 is in a low voltage or low temperature state, the amount of voltage drop in the battery 1210 may be greater than in a normal state (e.g., a room temperature state).

For example, when the battery 1210 is in the low voltage state, a boosting gap of the DC/DC converter 1220 for supplying a voltage needed for heating operations of the first heater 1230 and the second heater 1240 may increase. Here, the boosting gap may refer to a difference between a magnitude of a boosted output voltage and a magnitude of an input voltage. When the boosting gap of the DC/DC converter 1220 increases, boosting efficiency of the DC/DC converter 1220 may decrease and thus power consumption may increase. Accordingly, the amount of a voltage drop in the battery 1210 may increase. In addition, when the battery 1210 is in the low temperature state, cell balancing of the battery 1210 may decrease, and thus, the amount of voltage drop may increase even with a small change in power consumption.

When a plurality of heaters (e.g., the first heater 1230 and the second heater 1240) operate simultaneously while the battery 1210 is in the low voltage or low temperature state, a significant instantaneous voltage drop in the battery 1210 may occur. When the voltage V_BAT of the battery 1210 is lower than the voltage V₁ demanded by the processor 1280 due to the instantaneous voltage drop in the battery 1210, the LDO regulator 1310 may not supply the voltage V₁ demanded by the processor 1280. Accordingly, normal power supply to the processor 1280 may be stopped, and an error state in which heating is unavailable, such as system down, may occur.

The aerosol generating device 120 according to the disclosure may use both the first heater 1230 and the second heater 1240, and thus, power consumption may be greater than in an aerosol generating device including a single heater. However, the aerosol generating device 120 according to the disclosure may prevent the occurrence of an error state by reducing the voltage drop in the battery 1210 in a period in which a plurality of heaters operate simultaneously.

For example, the aerosol generating device 120 may further include the second resistor circuit 1260 in addition to the first resistor circuit 1250 to reduce the voltage drop in the battery 1210. The first resistor circuit 1250 may be connected in series with the second heater 1240 and used to detect a current flowing through the second heater 1240, and the second resistor circuit 1260 may be connected in series with the first resistor circuit 1250 and reduce a peak value of the current flowing through the second heater 1240. In other words, the aerosol generating device 120 according to the disclosure may increase resistance of a heating line by applying a separate dummy resistor circuit to the heating line of the second heater 1240 and accordingly, may reduce a peak value of the total current. The voltage drop in the battery 1210 may decrease with the decrease in the peak value of the total current. Hereinafter, the first resistor circuit 1250 and the second resistor circuit 1260 are described in detail with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are views illustrating a first resistor circuit and a second resistor circuit according to embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, a first resistor circuit 1250 may include a sensing resistor R_SENSE connected in series with the second heater 1240, and a current-sense amplifier for detecting an intensity of a current flowing through the sensing resistor R_SENSE. The sensing resistor R_SENSE may have a predetermined resistance value. For example, the sensing resistor R_SENSE may have a resistance value of about 0.02Ω. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. The resistance value of the sensing resistor R_SENSE may be predetermined, and thus, according to Ohms law, detecting the intensity of the current flowing through the sensing resistor R_SENSE may be substantially the same as measuring voltage values at both ends of the sensing resistor R_SENSE.

The processor 1280 may measure an electrical characteristic of the second heater 1240 on the basis of the intensity of the current detected by the current-sense amplifier. The electrical characteristic of the second heater 1240 may include a resistance value. The electrical characteristic of the second heater 1240 may be changed according to temperature. Accordingly, the processor 1280 may convert the measured electrical characteristic into a temperature value and control an operation of the second heater 1240 on the basis of the converted temperature value. For example, when a temperature of the second heater 1240 exceeds a first threshold value, the processor 1280 may delete preheating power for a next puff. In addition, when the temperature of the second heater 1240 exceeds a second threshold value, the processor 1280 may cut off power to be supplied at the next puff. Accordingly, overheating of the second heater 1240 may be prevented. In an example, when the temperature of the second heater 1240 exceeds the second threshold value, the processor 1280 may determine that a liquid composition is depleted.

Referring to FIG. 14, a second resistor circuit 1260 may include a dummy resistor R_DUMMY having a fixed resistance value. The resistance value of the dummy resistor R_DUMMY may be experimentally determined by identifying a heat generation value of the dummy resistor R_DUMMY when operating the second heater 1240. For example, the resistance value of the dummy resistor R_DUMMY may be determined to be at a level at which an issue due to heat generation of the dummy resistor R_DUMMY does not occur. Here, the issue due to the heat generation may refer to internal heat generation that affects normal operations of other components inside the aerosol generating device 120. However, the issue due to the heat generation is not limited thereto and may include external heat generation at which a user feels hot from the aerosol generating device 120. The resistance value of the dummy resistor R_DUMMY may be determined to be a value less than or equal to an experimentally determined upper limit.

In addition, the dummy resistor R_DUMMY may have a resistance value sufficient to prevent the occurrence of an error state by reducing a voltage drop in the battery 1210. For example, even when the first heater 1230 and the second heater 1240 operate simultaneously while a voltage of the battery 1210 is near a cut-off voltage, the dummy resistor R_DUMMY may have a sufficiently great resistance value so that the voltage of the battery 1210 does not drop below the voltage V₁ demanded for a normal operation of the processor 1280. The resistance value of the dummy resistor R_DUMMY may be determined to be a value greater than or equal to or an experimentally determined lower limit.

In an embodiment, the dummy resistor R_DUMMY constituting the second resistor circuit 1260 may have a resistance value in a range of about 0.08Ω to about 0.2 Ω. 0.08Ω may correspond to the lowest resistance value at which the occurrence of the error state may be prevented by reducing the voltage drop in the battery 1210, and 0.2Ω may correspond to the highest resistance value at which an issue due to heat generation of the dummy resistor R_DUMMY does not occur.

Also, the dummy resistor R_DUMMY may have a value for compensating for a deviation in the resistance value of the second heater 1240. In an example, the second heater 1240 may have a resistance value of 1.25 Ω±0.1Ω, and thus, the deviation in the resistance value of the second heater 1240 may be relatively great compared to the overall size. When the resistance value of the second heater 1240 is the lowest value, a peak value of a current flowing through a heating line including the second heater 1240 may be relatively great. When the dummy resistor R_DUMMY is not present and the battery 1210 is in a low voltage or low temperature state, an error state in which heating is unavailable, such as system down, may occur due to an instantaneous voltage drop in the battery 1210. Therefore, the dummy resistor R_DUMMY may have a resistance value of about 0.1 (to prevent an excessive voltage drop in the battery 1210 by compensating for the deviation in the resistance value of the second heater 1240.

In an embodiment in which the first heater 1230 is a heater for heating a stick accommodated in the insertion space of the aerosol generating device 120 and the second heater 1240 is a cartridge heater for heating a liquid composition accommodated in a cartridge, the second resistor circuit 1260 for reducing a peak value of the total current may be included only in the heating line including the second heater 1240. This is because less power may be consumed to vaporize liquid than solid, and thus, reducing the current flowing through the second heater 1240, which heats the liquid composition, may less affect the total amount of smoke or a smoking taste.

Meanwhile, the second resistor circuit 1260 may be included in a main body of the aerosol generating device 120. However, the second resistor circuit 1260 is not limited thereto and may be included together with the second heater 1240 in the cartridge detachably coupled to the main body of the aerosol generating device 120.

Referring to FIG. 15, the second resistor circuit 1260 may include a variable resistor circuit R_DUMMY_VAR having a resistance value that may be adjusted in real time. The variable resistor circuit R_DUMMY_VAR may include at least two resistors and at least one switch element, but is not limited thereto. When determining that the battery 1210 is in the low voltage or low temperature state, the processor 1280 may increase the resistance value of the variable resistor circuit R_DUMMY_VAR. In other words, the processor 1280 may selectively increase the resistance value of the variable resistor circuit R_DUMMY_VAR when the excessive voltage drop in the battery 1210 needs to be prevented.

The battery 1210 may have an operating temperature range for performing charging and/or discharging. For example, a dischargeable temperature range of the battery 1210 may be −20° C. to 70° C. or −15° C. to 60° C. The low temperature state may refer to a state that is included in the dischargeable temperature range but is at a relatively low temperature. For example, the low temperature state of the battery 1210 may refer to a case where the temperature of the battery 1210 is −20° C. to 0° C. or −15° C. to 5° C. However, the above-described numerical ranges are not limited thereto and merely examples for describing the low temperature state of the battery 1210. The processor 1280 may determine whether or not the battery 1210 is in the low temperature state by comparing a temperature value acquired from a temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the battery 1210 with at least one threshold value.

In addition, the battery 1210 may have a cut-off voltage at which discharge is considered completed. The battery 1210 being in the low voltage state may indicate that the battery 1210 has a voltage near the cut-off voltage. For example, when the cut-off voltage of the battery 1210 is 3.0 V, the low voltage state of the battery 1210 may indicate a case where the voltage of the battery 1210 is 3.1 V or less. However, the above-described numerical values are not limited thereto and merely examples for describing the low voltage state of the battery 1210. The processor 1280 may measure the voltage of the battery 1210 and determine whether or not the battery 1210 is in the low voltage state by comparing the voltage of the battery 1210 with at least one threshold value.

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating an example of a second resistor circuit shown in FIG. 15.

Referring to FIG. 16, a second resistor circuit 1260 may include a first dummy resistor R_DUMMY1, a second dummy resistor R_DUMMY2, and a switch element SW. The switch element SW may be implemented as a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), but is not limited thereto. The switch element SW may be implemented as a type of transistor other than a MOSFET and may include any switch element that may determine, through a control signal, whether or not a current flows therethrough.

When the switch element SW is turned on, a resistance value of the second resistor circuit 1260 may correspond to a resistance value of the first dummy resistor R_DUMMY1, and when the switch element SW is turned off, the resistance value of the second resistor circuit 1260 may correspond to the sum of the resistance value of the first dummy resistor R_DUMMY1 and a resistance value of the second dummy resistor R_DUMMY2. In other words, when the switch element SW is turned off, the resistance value of the second resistor circuit 1260 may increase compared to when the switch element SW is turned on. When the battery 1210 is in a low voltage or low temperature state, the processor 1280 may increase the resistance value of the second resistor circuit 1260 by turning off the switch element SW.

Meanwhile, the second resistor circuit 1260 illustrated in FIG. 16 may correspond to only an example of the second resistor circuit 1260 illustrated in FIG. 15. The second resistor circuit 1260 illustrated in FIG. 15 may have a different circuit structure from the second resistor circuit 1260 illustrated in FIG. 16. For example, the second resistor circuit 1260 illustrated in FIG. 15 may be implemented so that a resistance value thereof increases when at least one switch element is turned on.

Referring back to FIG. 12, the operation switch 1270 may determine whether or not a current flows through the second heater 1240. In other words, the operation switch 1270 may provide an electrical connection so that a current may flow through the second heater 1240 when the operation switch 1270 is turned on and may cut off the electrical connection so that a current does not flow through the second heater 1240 when the operation switch 1270 is turned off.

The operation switch 1270 may be implemented as an N-channel MOSFET. However, the operation switch 1270 is not limited thereto and may be implemented as a P-channel MOSFET or other types of semiconductor switching elements rather than an N-channel MOSFET. In addition, the operation switch 1270 may be implemented as other types of transistors rather than an MOSFET and may include any operation switch that may determine, through a control signal, whether or not a current flows. The operation switch 1270 may be controlled to be turned on/off by a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal.

The processor 1280 may control the battery 1210, the DC-DC converter 1220, and the operation switch 1270. For example, the processor 1280 may control at least one of the battery 1210, the DC/DC converter 1220, and the operation switch 1270 so that power is supplied to the first heater 1230 and/or the second heater 1240. In addition, the processor 1280 may receive a signal related to the electrical characteristic of the second heater 1240 from the first resistor circuit 1250 and may control an operation of the second heater 1240 on the basis of the received signal. In addition, in an embodiment in which the second resistor circuit 1260 includes the variable resistor circuit R_{DUMMY_VAR}, the processor 1280 may adjust the resistance value of the variable resistor circuit R_{DUMMY_VAR} by using the control signal.

Meanwhile, FIG. 12 illustrates that the second heater 1240, the first resistor circuit 1250, the second resistor circuit 1260, and the operation switch 1270 are arranged in the listed order, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The second heater 1240, the first resistor circuit 1250, the second resistor circuit 1260, and the operation switch 1270 may be arranged in any suitable order along the heating line.

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a DC/DC converter circuit according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 17, the aerosol generating device 120 may further include a first resistor R1 connected between an output terminal OUT of a DC/DC converter 1220 and a feedback terminal FB of the DC/DC converter 1220, and a variable resistor circuit R2 connected between the feedback terminal FB and the ground. An output voltage V_OUT, which is output through the output terminal OUT of the DC/DC converter 1220, may be determined on the basis of a voltage V_FB of the feedback terminal FB and resistance values of resistance distribution circuit (i.e., R1 and R2). For example, the output voltage V_OUT of the DC-DC converter 1220 may be determined according to Equation 1 below.

V OUT = V FB × ( 1 + R ⁢ 1 / R ⁢ 2 ) [ Equation ⁢ 1 ]

Accordingly, when the resistance value of the variable resistor circuit R2 increases, the output voltage V_OUT of the DC-DC converter 1220 may decrease. In contrast, when the resistance value of the variable resistor circuit R2 decreases, the output voltage V_OUT of the DC-DC converter 1220 may increase.

The processor 1280 may adjust the resistance value of the variable resistor circuit R2 so that the DC/DC converter 1220 outputs a first boosted voltage when only one of the first heater 1230 and the second heater 1240 performs a heating operation and adjust the resistance value of the variable resistor circuit R2 so that the DC/DC converter 1220 outputs a second boosted voltage lower than the first boosted voltage when both the first heater 1230 and the second heater 1240 perform heating operations.

When the heating operation of the first heater 1230 is already in progress before the heating operation of the second heater 1240 is performed, the processor 1280 may control the DC/DC converter 1220 to output the first boosted voltage while the second heater 1240 does not perform the heating operation and control the DC/DC converter 1220 to output the second boosted voltage lower than the first boosted voltage while the second heater 1240 performs the heating operation.

The second boosted voltage may be lower than the first boosted voltage to a degree that prevents an excessive voltage drop in the battery 1210 but does not significantly affect the heating operations of the first heater 1230 and the second heater 1240. For example, the second boosted voltage may be lower than the first boosted voltage only by a difference in a range of 2% to 5% of the first boosted voltage. In a detailed example, the first boosted voltage may be 4.5 V, and the second boosted voltage may be about 4.3 V to about 4.4 V.

In an embodiment, when the aerosol generating device 120 includes a puff sensor for detecting a puff by a user, the processor 1280 may initiate the heating operation of the second heater 1240 by driving the operation switch 1270 when the puff is detected by the puff sensor. The first heater 1230 may be already in progress of performing the heating operation before the heating operation of the second heater 1240 is initiated. For example, when insertion of a stick is detected by an insertion detection sensor, the heating operation of the first heater 1230 may be initiated. Accordingly, when the puff is detected by the puff sensor, the first heater 1230 and the second heater 1240 may be heated together.

When the puff is detected by the puff sensor, the processor 1280 may decrease the output voltage V_OUT of the DC/DC converter 1220 by increasing the resistance value of the variable resistor circuit R2. When the output voltage V_OUT of the DC/DC converter 1220 decreases, a voltage supplied to the first heater 1230 and the second heater 1240 may decrease, and thus, a peak value of the total current consumption may decrease. Therefore, the aerosol generating device 120 according to the disclosure may control the output voltage V_OUT of the DC/DC converter 1220 to additionally prevent an error state from occurring due to a voltage drop due to an instantaneous increase in power consumption. According to a dummy resistor (e.g., the second resistor circuit 1260) arranged on the heating line of the second heater 1240, only a peak value of a current consumed to heat the second heater 1240 may be reduced, but when the output voltage V_OUT of the DC/DC converter 1220 is reduced, a peak value of a current consumed to heat both the first heater 1230 and the second heater 1240 may be reduced.

When the termination of the puff is detected by the puff sensor or a preset time elapses after initiating the heating operation of the second heater 1240, the processor 1280 may terminate the heating operation of the second heater 1240, and increase the output voltage V_OUT of the DC/DC converter 1220 again by reducing the resistance value of the variable resistor circuit R2.

The processor 1280 may determine only one of whether or not the termination of the puff is detected by the puff sensor and whether or not the preset time elapses after initiating the heating operation of the second heater 1240. However, the processor 1280 is not limited thereto and may determine both whether or not the termination of the puff is detected by the puff sensor and whether or not the preset time elapses after initiating the heating operation of the second heater 1240. In an example, when the processor 1280 determines only whether or not the preset time elapses after initiating the heating operation of the second heater 1240, the processor 1280 may terminate the heating operation of the second heater 1240 when the preset time elapses after initiating the heating operation of the second heater 1240, regardless of whether or not the termination of the puff is detected.

Meanwhile, the DC/DC converter 1220 may also adjust the output voltage V_OUT by changing a switching frequency, but a range of an output voltage, which may be efficiently boosted by changing the switching frequency, may be limited. Therefore, as in the embodiments, the output voltage V_OUT of the DC/DC converter 1220 may be adjusted by using the variable resistor circuit R2.

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating an example of a DC-DC converter circuit shown in FIG. 17.

Referring to FIG. 18, a variable resistor circuit R2 corresponding to the variable resistor circuit R2 of FIG. 17 may include a second resistor R21 and a third resistor R22 connected in series between a feedback terminal FB of a DC/DC converter 1220 and the ground. In addition, the variable resistor circuit R2 may include a transistor FET connected between a node connecting the second resistor R21 and the third resistor R22 and the ground. The transistor FET may be implemented as an MOSFET, but is not limited thereto. The transistor FET may be implemented as other types of transistors rather than the MOSFET and may include any transistor that may determine, through a control signal, whether or not a current flows therethrough.

When the transistor FET is turned on, a resistance value of the variable resistor circuit R2 may correspond to a resistance value of the second resistor R21, and when the transistor FET is turned off, the resistance value of the variable resistor circuit R2 may correspond to the sum of the resistance value of the second resistance R21 and a resistance value of the third resistor R22. In other words, when the transistor FET is turned off, the resistance value of the variable resistor circuit R2 may increase compared to when the transistor FET is turned on. The processor 1280 may apply an on signal to the transistor FET when only one of the first heater 1230 and the second heater 1240 performs a heating operation and apply an off signal to the transistor FET when the first heater 1230 and the second heater 1240 simultaneously perform heating operations.

In an embodiment, when a puff is detected by a puff sensor, the processor 1280 may initiate the heating operation of the second heater 1240 by driving the operation switch 1270 and reduce an output voltage V_OUT of a DC/DC converter 1220 by applying the off signal to the transistor FET. In addition, when the termination of the puff is detected by the puff sensor or a preset time elapses after initiating the heating operation of the second heater 1240, the processor 1280 may terminate the heating operation of the second heater 1240, and increase the output voltage V_OUT of the DC/DC converter 1220 again by applying the on signal to the transistor FET.

Meanwhile, a DC/DC converter circuit shown in FIG. 18 may correspond to only an example of the DC/DC converter circuit shown in FIG. 17. The DC/DC converter circuit shown in FIG. 17 may have a different structure from the DC/DC converter circuit shown in FIG. 18. For example, the DC/DC converter circuit illustrated in FIG. 17 may be implemented to reduce the output voltage V_OUT of the DC/DC converter 1220 when the transistor FET is turned on. In addition, FIG. 18 illustrates an embodiment in which the resistance value of the variable resistor circuit R2 is variable, but unlike the illustration in FIG. 18, an embodiment in which the resistance value of the first resistor R1 is variable may be implemented.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an operating method of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 19, the operating method of the aerosol generating device may include operations processed by the aerosol generating device 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11 or the aerosol generating device 120 described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 18. Therefore, even when the same description of the aerosol generating device 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11 or the aerosol generating device 120 described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 18 as the operating method of the aerosol generating device of FIG. 19 is omitted, the description may also be applied to the operating method of the aerosol generating device of FIG. 19.

In operation 1910, the aerosol generating device may determine whether or not insertion of a stick is detected. For example, the aerosol generating device may include an insertion detection sensor for detecting the insertion and/or removal of the stick and determine, by using the insertion detection sensor, whether or not the insertion of the stick is detected. The aerosol generating device may perform operation 1920 when the insertion of the stick is detected and may wait for the insertion of the stick when the insertion of the stick is not detected.

In operation 1920, the aerosol generating device may initiate a heating operation of a first heater (e.g., the heater 18 of FIGS. 1 to 3 or the first heater 1230 of FIG. 12) according to a preset temperature profile. The temperature profile may refer to a predetermined temperature change in a process of one smoking operation according to time or the number of puffs. The first heater may include a heater which is arranged within the aerosol generating device to heat the stick accommodated in an insertion space of the aerosol generating device.

In operation 1930, the aerosol generating device may determine whether or not a puff by a user is detected. For example, the aerosol generating device may include a puff sensor that detects the puff by the user and determine, by using the puff sensor, whether or not the puff by the user is detected. The aerosol generating device may perform operation 1940 when the puff by the user is detected and may wait for the puff by the user when the puff by the user is not detected.

In operation 1940, the aerosol generating device may initiate a heating operation of a second heater (e.g., the cartridge heater 24 of FIGS. 1 to 3 or the second heater 1240 of FIG. 12) and reduce an output voltage of a DC/DC converter (e.g., the DC/DC converter 1220 of FIG. 12). The second heater may include a cartridge heater which is arranged within a cartridge detachably coupled to the aerosol generating device to heat a liquid composition accommodated in the cartridge.

When the puff by the user occurs while the first heater heats the stick, the aerosol generating device may need to heat the second heater together with the first heater. A peak in current consumption may occur in a period in which the first heater and the second heater are heated together, and thus, a voltage drop in a battery may occur significantly. The aerosol generating device according to the disclosure may reduce the output voltage of the DC/DC converter to prevent an error state such as system down from occurring due to a voltage drop in the battery.

In operation 1950, the aerosol generating device may determine whether or not the puff by the user is terminated, or whether or not a preset time elapses after the heating operation of the second heater is initiated. In other words, the aerosol generating device may determine whether or not to terminate the heating operation of the second heater. The aerosol generating device may determine only one of whether or not the termination of the puff is detected by the puff sensor and whether or not the preset time elapses after initiating the heating operation of the second heater. However, the aerosol generating device is not limited thereto and may determine both whether or not the termination of the puff is detected by the puff sensor and whether or not the preset time elapses after initiating the heating operation of the second heater. In an example, when the aerosol generating device determines only whether or not the preset time elapses after initiating the heating operation of the second heater, the aerosol generating device may terminate the heating operation of the second heater when the preset time elapses after initiating the heating operation of the second heater, regardless of whether or not the termination of the puff is detected. The aerosol generating device may perform operation 1960 when the puff by the user is terminated or the preset time elapses after the heating operation of the second heater is initiated.

In operation 1960, the aerosol generating device may terminate the heating operation of the second heater and increase the output voltage of the DC/DC converter again. When the heating operation of the second heater is terminated, the aerosol generating device may perform only the heating operation of the first heater. Here, the voltage drop in the battery may be reduced compared to a period in which both the first heater and the second heater are heated, and thus, a control operation for preventing the excessive voltage drop in the battery does not need to be performed. Accordingly, the aerosol generating device may increase the output voltage of the DC/DC converter again.

In operation 1970, the aerosol generating device may determine whether or not a temperature profile of the first heater is completed or the number of puffs reaches a threshold value. In other words, the aerosol generating device may determine whether or not to terminate the heating operation of the first heater. The aerosol generating device may perform operation 1980 when the temperature profile of the first heater is completed or the number of puffs reaches the threshold value.

In operation 1980, the aerosol generating device may terminate the heating operation of the first heater. The termination of the heating operation of the first heater may refer to the termination of one smoking operation using the aerosol generating device. The aerosol generating device may wait until a used stick is removed and a new stick is re-inserted. When the new stick is inserted, the aerosol generating device may initiate a new smoking operation and repeat the above-described operations.

An aerosol generating device according to various embodiments may prevent the occurrence of a situation in which a heating operation is unavailable due to a voltage drop due to an instantaneous increase in power consumption. For example, the aerosol generating device according to the disclosure may prevent the occurrence of an error state by reducing a voltage drop in a battery in a period in which a plurality of heaters operate simultaneously.

In an embodiment, the aerosol generating device may be a hybrid type of device using both a heater for heating a stick and a cartridge heater for heating a liquid composition. The aerosol generating device according to the disclosure may prevent the occurrence of an error state due to a sudden voltage drop by using a circuit structure and/or control method capable of reducing the amount of voltage drop in a period in which the heater and the cartridge heater are heated together.

However, effects of the embodiments are not limited to the above-described effects, and effects not mentioned may be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments belong from the description and accompanying drawings.

Some embodiments or other embodiments of the disclosure described above are not exclusive or distinct from each other. In some embodiments or other embodiments of the disclosure described above, respective components or functions may be used in combination with one another or combined with one another.

For example, a component A described in a particular embodiment and/or drawing and a component B described in another embodiment and/or drawing may be combined with each other. In other words, even when coupling between components is not directly described, the coupling may be made except when the coupling is described as impossible.

The above description should not be construed as being limited in all respects but should be considered illustrative. The scope of the disclosure should be determined by the logical interpretation of appended claims, and all changes within the equivalent scope of the disclosure are included in the scope of the disclosure.