AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLES AND AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEMS

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0047466, filed on Apr. 8, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments relate to an aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating system configured to prevent reuse of the aerosol generating article.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternative methods that reduce disadvantages of general cigarettes. For example, there has been an increasing demand for a device (or an “aerosol generating device”) that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material (or an “aerosol generating article”) by using the aerosol generating device, instead of a method of generating an aerosol by burning a cigarette.

Research and development on methods of generating aerosols by heating aerosol generating materials in various phases have been actively conducted, and more particularly, methods of generating aerosols by only directly heating an aerosol generating material in a liquid phase and then using the generated aerosol for low-temperature heating or non-heating aerosol generation.

SUMMARY

Sometimes, when a user does not experience a sufficient sense of smoking even after smoking an aerosol generating article through a heating method, the user attempts to reheat and reuse the aerosol generating article that has been already used, but the user may be not provided with high-quality aerosol.

The embodiments provide an aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating system, in which a wrapper may discolor when the use of the aerosol generating article is finished, to thereby provide the user with a sufficient sense of smoking and high-quality aerosol.

The problems to be solved through the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the problems described above, and problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments belong from this specification and the attached 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 article may include a front-end portion, through which aerosol generated from a cartridge flows into the aerosol generating article, a medium portion positioned downstream of the front-end portion and including the aerosol generating material, a filter positioned downstream of the medium portion, a first wrapper surrounding the front-end portion, the medium portion, and the filter, a second wrapper surrounding the first wrapper, and a reactive material positioned between the first wrapper and the second wrapper, wherein, in a process in which the aerosol is liquefied as the aerosol passes through the aerosol generating article, the reactive material chemically reacts with liquefied aerosol and ignites.

According to another embodiment, an aerosol generating system may include an aerosol generating device including an aerosol generating article and an article accommodation portion for accommodating the aerosol generating article, wherein the aerosol generating article includes a front-end portion, a medium portion positioned downstream of the front-end portion and including a first aerosol generating material, a filter positioned downstream of the medium portion, a first wrapper surrounding the front-end portion, the medium portion, and the filter, and a reactive material positioned between the first wrapper and the second wrapper, wherein, in a process in which the aerosol is liquefied as the aerosol passes through the aerosol generating article, the reactive material chemically reacts with the liquefied aerosol and ignites, wherein the aerosol generating device includes a main body including a cartridge accommodation portion and a cartridge accommodated in the cartridge accommodation portion, wherein the cartridge includes a storage tank configured to store a second aerosol generating material in a liquid state and an atomizer configured to generate aerosol by heating the second aerosol generating material, and the aerosol generated from the second aerosol generating material may pass through the aerosol generating article and then be discharged to outside of the aerosol generating device.

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 illustrates an aerosol generating system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2A illustrates an aerosol generating article according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2B illustrates an aerosol generating article according to another embodiment;

FIGS. 2C to 2E each illustrate a cross-section of the aerosol generating article illustrated in FIG. 2B, taken in a longitudinal direction;

FIG. 2F is a cross-section of a medium portion according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2G is a cross-section of a medium portion according to another embodiment;

FIGS. 3 to 5 each illustrate an exploded perspective view of a final wrapper illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of area A illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for describing a method of controlling power supplied to a heater by using a color sensor; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The terms used in the examples are selected from commonly used terms as much as possible while considering the functions in the present examples, but these may vary depending on the intention of engineers working in the field, precedents, the emergence of new technologies, etc. Additionally, in certain cases, there are terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in such cases, their meanings will be described in detail in the description of the relevant invention. Therefore, the terms used in this disclosure should be defined based on the meaning of the terms and the overall content of the present invention, rather than simply the names of the terms.

When a part of the specification is said to “include” a component, this does not mean that it excludes other components, but rather that it may include other components, unless otherwise specifically stated. In addition, terms such as “-part” and “-module” described in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which may be implemented as hardware or software, or as a combination of hardware and software.

As used herein, when an expression such as “at least one” is preceded by an array of elements, it modifies the entire array of elements, not just each element individually. For example, the expression “at least one of a, b, and c” should be interpreted to include a, b, c, or a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c.

Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The above terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another.

Throughout the specification, “tobacco materials” may indicate any type of materials containing ingredients derived from tobacco plants. For example, the tobacco materials may include tobacco granules or tobacco powder.

In addition, throughout the specification, “a longitudinal direction” of an element may indicate a direction in which the element extends along an axis in a direction of the element, and the axis in the direction of the element may indicate a direction in which the element extends to a greater length than a length of an axis in another direction crossing the axis in the direction. “A longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article” indicates a direction in which a length of the aerosol generating article extends or a direction in which combustion progresses when the aerosol generating article is combusted.

For example, in FIG. 1, the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 100 may indicate a direction in which a front-end portion 110, a medium portion 120, and a filter 130 extend. That is, the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 100 may indicate a height direction of the aerosol generating article 100 having a cylindrical shape.

In addition, when a user inhales air using the aerosol generating article, a portion of the aerosol generating article, where the air enters from the outside to the inside, may indicate “upstream”, and another portion of the aerosol generating article, where the air moves from the inside to the outside, may indicate “downstream”. Terms “upstream” and “downstream” may be used to indicate relative positions or directions of parts or segments included in the aerosol generating article.

In the descriptions of the embodiments disclosed herein, when it is determined that detailed descriptions with respect to related public technologies may make unclear of the main idea of the embodiments disclosed herein, detailed descriptions of the embodiments will be omitted. In addition, it will be understood that the accompanying drawings are only used for the ease of understanding about the embodiments disclosed herein and are not to limit the technical idea disclosed herein, and the accompanying drawings enclose all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions included in the technical spirit and the scope of the disclosure.

Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The above terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another.

When a component is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another component, it should be understood that the component may be directly connected or coupled to the other component, or there may be intervening components in between. On the other hand, when a component is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another component, it should be understood that there are no intervening components in between.

Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Below, with reference to the attached drawings, an embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail so that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs can easily implement the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure can be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and identical or similar components will be assigned the same reference numbers, regardless of the drawing symbols, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 1 illustrates an aerosol generating system 300 according to an embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, the aerosol generating system 300 according to an embodiment may include an aerosol generating article 100 and an aerosol generating device 200. In the disclosure, the aerosol generating article may indicate an article used for smoking by the user. For example, the aerosol generating article may include a cigarette directly combusted by the aerosol generating device and/or a non-heated cigarette that is not heated and/or a cigarette that may be heated at a low temperature.

The aerosol generating device 200 may include a main body 210 and a cartridge 230. The aerosol generating device 200 may form the entire appearance of the aerosol generating device 200, and elements of the aerosol generating device 200 may be arranged in the main body 210. For example, a battery and/or a processor may be arranged in the main body 210, but the elements arranged in the main body 210 are not limited thereto.

The main body 210 may include a cartridge accommodation portion 220, and the cartridge 230 may be accommodated in the cartridge accommodation portion 220. The cartridge 230 may be removably coupled to the main body 210, but is not limited thereto. The cartridge 230 may be integrally formed with the main body 210 or assembled to the main body 210, or may be fixed so as not to be detached by the user.

The cartridge 230 may include a storage tank 231 configured to store an aerosol generating material and an atomizer 232 configured to heat the aerosol generating material. The cartridge 230 may be attached to the main body 210 in a state where the aerosol generating material is stored in the storage tank 231. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and the aerosol generating material may also be injected into the storage tank 231 in a state where the cartridge 230 is combined to the main body 210.

The storage tank 231 may contain the aerosol generating material having any one of a liquid state, a solid state, a gas state, and a gel state. The aerosol generating material may include a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may include liquid including a tobacco-containing material including a volatile tobacco-flavored ingredients, and may also include liquid containing non-tobacco materials.

The aerosol generating material may include water, solvents, ethanol, plant extracts, spices, flavorings, or vitamin mixtures. The spices may include menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, various types of fruit-flavor ingredients, but are not limited thereto. The flavorings may contain ingredients for providing various flavors or aromas to the user. The vitamin mixtures may include a mixture of at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E, but are not limited thereto. In addition, the aerosol generating material may include an aerosol forming substance, such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

The atomizer 232 may be configured to generate aerosol by heating the aerosol generating material. The atomizer 232 may include a heater and a wick. The aerosol may be generated as the heater heats the aerosol generating material that has been released from the storage tank 231 and absorbed into the wick. In the disclosure, “aerosol” may refer to a gas in a state in which vaporized particles generated from the aerosol generating material are mixed with air.

The cartridge 230 may further include an article accommodation portion 233 for accommodating the aerosol generating article 100. The aerosol generated from the cartridge 230 may be delivered to the aerosol generating article 100 accommodated in the article accommodation portion 233.

The cartridge 230 may be initiated by an electrical signal or a wireless signal transmitted from the main body 210 to perform a function of generating aerosol by converting a phase of the aerosol generating material stored in the cartridge 230 to a gas phase. The aerosol generating article 100 generated from the cartridge 230 may be introduced into the article accommodation portion 233 and then delivered to the aerosol generating article 100.

The aerosol generating article 100 may include the front-end portion 110, the medium portion 120, and the filter 130. For example, the front-end portion 110, the medium portion 120, and the filter 130 of the aerosol generating article 100 may be sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 100. However, the elements of the aerosol generating article 100 are not limited to the elements illustrated in FIG. 1, and other general-purpose elements may be further included in the aerosol generating article 100.

As the cartridge 230 is heated, aerosol may be generated from the aerosol generating material stored in the storage tank 231. Aerosol generated from the cartridge 230 may sequentially pass through the front-end portion 110, the medium portion 120, and the filter 130 of the aerosol generating article 100, and then may be discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 200. The user may contact an end portion (e.g., the filter 130) of the aerosol generating article 100 by the mouth and inhale aerosol discharged through the aerosol generating article 100.

The aerosol generating article 100 may further include a reactive material that chemically reacts with aerosol and ignites. In a process where the aerosol generated from the cartridge 230 is introduced into the aerosol generating article 100 and discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 200, the aerosol and the reactive material may encounter and cause an ignition reaction. Due to the ignition reaction of the aerosol and the reactive material, an area of a surface of the aerosol generating article 100 may be combusted and burnt black.

From a soot stain formed on the surface of the aerosol generating article 100, the user may determine that the aerosol generating article 100 has been already used. Alternatively, the aerosol generating device 200 may further include a color sensor 400 configured to detect whether the surface of the aerosol generating article 100 discolored, and upon determination by the color sensor 400 that the surface of the aerosol generating article 100 inserted into the aerosol generating device 200 has been discolored, the aerosol generating device 200 may prevent the aerosol generating article 100 from being heated. Details thereof will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.

The aerosol generating article 100 may be manufactured in a cylindrical shape. In an embodiment, when the aerosol generating article 100 is manufactured in the cylindrical shape, a diameter of the aerosol generating article 100 may be about 5 mm to about 9 mm.

A length of the aerosol generating article 100 may be about 20 mm to about 60 mm. For example, a length of the front-end portion 110 may be about 5 mm to about 15 mm, a length of the medium portion 120 may be about 10 mm to about 30 mm, and a length of the filter 130 may be about 5 mm to about 15 mm.

However, lengths or diameters of the aerosol generating article 100 and the elements included therein are not limited thereto, and may be variously modified according to designs. For example, FIG. 1 only illustrates an image in which an area of each of the front-end portion 110, the medium portion 120, and the filter 130 is introduced into the aerosol generating device 200 when the aerosol generating article 100 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 200, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. When the aerosol generating article 100 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 200, the front-end portion 110 and the medium portion 120 may be introduced into the aerosol generating device 200, and the entire portion of the filter 130 may be exposed to the outside of the aerosol generating device 200.

The front-end portion 110 may prevent materials to be contained in the medium portion 120 from being detached outwards and prevent the aerosol generated from the medium portion 120 from flowing into the aerosol generating device 200, during smoking.

In addition, the front-end portion 110 may introduce an external airflow into the aerosol generating article 100. The front-end portion 110 may introduce the aerosol, which is generated as the cartridge 230 is heated, into the aerosol generating article 100, as the external airflow.

The front-end portion 110 may include any one of an acetate filter including a cellulose acetate tows and a paper filter including paper. The front-end portion 110 may be manufactured by adding a plasticizer (e.g., triacetin) to a cellulose acetate tow. The hardness of the front-end portion 110 may be adjusted by adjusting a content of the plasticizer.

In this case, when the front-end portion 110 includes the acetate filter including the cellulose acetate tow, the front-end portion 110 may be manufactured to release favors. For example, when the front-end portion 110 includes the acetate filter, flavoring liquid containing flavoring materials may be sprayed onto the acetate filter, and an additional fiber, onto which flavoring liquid has been applied, may be included in the acetate filter. As another example, when the front-end portion 110 includes the acetate filter, the acetate filter may also include a capsule including the flavoring materials.

The flavoring materials may include menthol, but are not limited thereto. In addition, the flavoring materials may also include plant-based flavorings such as Ceylon cinnamon, sage, herb, chamomile, Mimosa pudica, Hydrangea serrata var.thunbergii, lavender, bergamot, lemon, orange, Cassia cinnamon, jasmine, ginger, vanilla, spearmint, peppermint, acacia, coffee, celery, sandalwood, and cocoa. Alternatively, the flavoring materials may include animal-derived flavorings such as musk, ambergris, civet, and castoreum.

The flavoring materials may include alcohol compounds, e.g., geraniol, linalool, anethole, and eugenol, or may include aldehyde compounds, e.g., vanilline, benzaldehyde, and anisaldehyde. Alternatively, the flavoring materials may also include ester compounds, e.g., isoamyl acetate, linalyl acetate, isoamyl propionate, and linalyl butyrate.

The front-end portion 110 may include at least one channel as needed, and a cross-section of the channel may be manufactured in various shapes. For example, the front-end portion 110 may have the form of a tube.

The medium portion 120 may be located downstream of the front-end portion 110 and include the aerosol generating material. The medium portion 120 may further include a tobacco medium containing a tobacco material having the form of granules. The tobacco material may include various types of tobacco powder.

The tobacco powder may include tobacco leaf strips, tobacco stems, and/or tobacco fine powder produced during tobacco-manufacturing processes. The tobacco powder may include crushed tobacco leaves, crushed reconstituted tobacco, and the like. The tobacco powder may include powder of at least one of flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, fire-cured tobacco, air-cured tobacco, and sun-cured tobacco.

By applying pH-adjusting solution to the granules, pH of the tobacco material included in the granules may be adjusted towards the alkaline range. As the pH of the tobacco material is adjusted towards the alkaline range, even when the aerosol generating article 100 is not directly heated by an additional heating element, a sufficient amount of nicotine may be transferred at a low temperature. A pH-adjusting agent may include at least one of potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃), sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO₃), and a mixture thereof, but is not limited thereto.

The medium portion 120 may include at least one of an acetate filter including a cellulose acetate tow and a paper filter including paper.

For example, when the medium portion 120 includes at least one of the acetate filter and the paper filter, the tobacco medium described above may be filled into the filter. In this case, the tobacco medium may be filled into the filter in an amount of about 2 mg/mm to about 8 mg/mm. As another example, the tobacco medium may be filled into the filter in an amount of about 4 mg/mm to about 6 mg/mm.

When the pH of the tobacco medium included in the medium portion 120 is adjusted toward the alkaline range by using the pH-adjusting agent, an amount of nicotine released from the tobacco medium at a low temperature may increase. Accordingly, when the medium portion 120 is manufactured in a method of filling a pH-adjusted tobacco medium into at least one of the acetate filter and the paper filter, a state in which the acetate filter or the paper filter has absorbed nicotine released from the tobacco material may be maintained, and therefore, the nicotine that has been released may be prevented from being released to the outside of the aerosol generating article 100. Details thereof will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 5.

The filter 130 may be arranged at a position corresponding to a position of the front-end portion 110 with respect to the medium portion 120. The filter 130 may be positioned downstream of the medium portion 120 and may filter at least one of materials included in mainstream smoke including the aerosol generated from the medium portion 120.

The filter 130 may be implemented in various shapes. For example, the filter 130 may include a cylindrical rod, and may also include a tube-type rod including a hollow therein. Alternatively, the filter 130 may include a recessed rod.

The filter 130 may include one of an acetate filter including a cellulose acetate tow and a paper tube filter including paper. In this case, when the filter 130 includes the acetate filter including the cellulose acetate tow, the filter 130 may be manufactured to generate flavors.

When the filter 130 includes the acetate filter, flavoring liquid containing flavoring materials may be sprayed onto the acetate filter, and an additional filter, on which the flavoring liquid has been applied, may be included in the acetate filter. When the filter 130 includes the acetate filter, the acetate filter may also include a capsule including the flavoring materials.

The flavoring materials that may be included in the filter 130 may be identical or similar to the flavoring materials that may be included in the front-end portion 110 described above.

For example, when the front-end portion 110 includes the capsule including the flavoring materials or a fiber onto which the flavoring liquid including the flavoring material has been applied, the filter 130 may not include the flavoring materials. That is, when the flavoring material is included in the front-end portion 110, the filter 130 may include a recess-type rod including the cellulose acetate tow, or may include the paper tube including paper.

As another example, when the filter 130 includes the capsule including the flavoring materials or a fiber onto which the flavoring liquid including the flavoring materials have been applied, the front-end portion 110 may not include the flavoring materials. That is, when the flavoring materials are included in the filter 130, the front-end portion 110 may include the acetate filter including cellulose acetate tow, or may include the paper tube including paper.

Hereinafter, the aerosol generating article 100 will be described in further detail with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2B.

FIG. 2A illustrates the aerosol generating article 100 according to an embodiment. Referring to FIG. 2A, the aerosol generating article 100 sequentially includes the front-end portion 110, the medium portion 120, and the filter 130.

A length of the aerosol generating article 100 according to an embodiment may be from about 20 mm to about 60 mm. For example, a length of the front-end portion 110 may be about 5 mm to about 15 mm, a length of the medium portion 120 may be about 10 mm to about 30 mm, and a length of the filter 130 may be about 5 mm to about 15 mm.

The aerosol generating article 100 may be packaged by a wrapper 150. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and the aerosol generating article 100 may be packaged in an overlapping manner with a plurality of wrappers 150. For example, the front-end portion 110 may be packaged by a front-end portion wrapper 151, the medium portion 120 may be packaged by a medium portion wrapper 152, and the filter 130 may be packaged by a filter wrapper 153. Then, the entire portion of the aerosol generating article 100 may be packaged again with a single final wrapper 155.

The front-end portion wrapper 151, the medium portion wrapper 152, and the filter wrapper 153 may be manufactured with standard filter rolling paper. For example, the front-end portion wrapper 151, the medium portion wrapper 152, and the filter wrapper 153 may include porous rolling paper or non-porous rolling paper. In addition, the front-end portion wrapper 151, the medium portion wrapper 152, and the filter wrapper 153 may be manufactured with oil-resistant paper and/or an aluminum-laminated packaging material.

Furthermore, the filter wrapper 153 may be manufactured with oil-resistant hard rolling paper. For example, when the filter 130 includes a capsule 131, the filter wrapper 153 may be manufactured with oil-resistant hard rolling paper.

According to an embodiment, at least one capsule 131 may be included in the filter 130. Here, the capsule 131 may perform a function of generating flavors, and may also perform a function of generating aerosol. For example, the capsule 131 may have a configuration in which liquid containing flavorings is wrapped with a film. The capsule 131 may have a spherical or a cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

The final wrapper 155 may be manufactured with sterile paper (MFW). Here, the sterile paper (MFW) may indicate fabricated in a particular manner such that a tensile strength, water resistance, and smoothness thereof are improved compared with general paper.

Certain materials may be added to the final wrapper 155. Here, silicon may be an example of the certain materials, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, silicon may have properties such as heat resistance, i.e., the property of not being easily deformed due to temperatures, oxidation resistance, i.e., the property of not being easily oxidized, resistance against various types of drugs, water-repellency, electrical resistivity, or the like. However, any material having the aforementioned properties, even the material is not silicon, may be applied (or coated) onto the final wrapper 155 without limitation.

The final wrapper 155 may prevent contamination of the aerosol generating device 200 due to the materials generated in the aerosol generating article 100. For example, through puffs of the user, liquid materials may be generated in the aerosol generating article 100. For example, as aerosol generated in the aerosol generating article 100 is cooled by external air, the liquid materials (e.g., moisture) may be generated. As the final wrapper 155 packages the aerosol generating article 100, leakage of the liquid materials generated in the aerosol generating article 100 to the outside of the aerosol generating article 100 may be prevented.

Although not shown, at least one hole, through which external air is introduced or internal air is discharged, may be formed in the wrapper 150.

The filter 130 may include a single segment, but is not limited thereto. The filter 130 may further include a segment having a cooling function and include a plurality of segments. As needed, the filter 130 may also further include at least one segment performing another function.

FIG. 2B illustrates the aerosol generating article 100 according to another embodiment. The aerosol generating article 100 in FIG. 2B may be different from the aerosol generating article 100 in FIG. 2A only in that a second filter 140 and a second filter wrapper 154 are further added, and hereinafter, descriptions thereof will not be repeatedly given.

The second filter 140 may have the form of a tube including a paper tube or cellulose acetate. The second filter 140 may be manufactured to generate flavors. For example, flavoring liquid may be sprayed onto a paper tube or a tube included in the second filter 140, or an additional fiber, onto which flavoring liquid has been applied, may be inserted into the second filter 140.

The second filter 140 may be packaged by a second filter wrapper 154. Alternatively, there may not be an additional wrapper surrounding the second filter 140. In this case, the second filter 140, together with the front-end portion 110, the medium portion 120, and the filter 130, may be surrounded only by the final wrapper 155.

Hereinafter, an interior configuration of the aerosol generating article 100 in FIG. 2B will be described in further detail with reference to FIGS. 2C to 2E.

FIGS. 2C to 2E each illustrate a cross-section of the aerosol generating article 100 illustrated in FIG. 2B, taken in a longitudinal direction.

Referring to FIG. 2C, the aerosol generating article 100 may sequentially include the front-end portion 110, the medium portion 120, the second filter 140, and the filter 130. Here, the medium portion 120 may include the tobacco medium 121, and the second filter 140 may include a flavoring element 141 including flavoring liquid. In addition, the filter 130 may include a capsule.

The aerosol, which is generated from the cartridge as the cartridge (i.e., the cartridge 230 in FIG. 1) is heated, may be introduced into the aerosol generating article 100 through the front-end portion 110, and then may be sequentially transferred through the medium portion 120, the second filter 140, and the filter 130.

That is, the aerosol introduced through the front-end portion 110 is mixed with ingredients such as nicotine released from the tobacco medium 121 of the medium portion 120, and then may sequentially spread through the second filter 140 and the filter 130. In this case, the flavoring element 141 included in the second filter 140 may be mixed with the aerosol and delivered to the user.

In the medium portion 120, the tobacco medium 121 may be filled into a cellulose acetate filter 122, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. The medium portion 120 may also be manufactured as the tobacco medium 121 is filled into a paper filter.

Referring to FIG. 2D, the aerosol generating article 100 may sequentially include the front-end portion 110, the second filter 140, the medium portion 120, and the filter 130.

The aerosol, which is generated from the cartridge as the cartridge (e.g. the cartridge 230 in FIG. 1) is heated, may be introduced into the aerosol generating article 100 through the front-end portion 110, and then may be sequentially transferred through the second filter 140, the medium portion 120, and the filter 130.

That is, the aerosol introduced through the front-end portion 110 may be mixed with the flavoring element 141 included in the second filter 140 and delivered to the medium portion 120, mixed with the ingredients such as nicotine released from the tobacco medium 121 of the medium portion 120, and then delivered to the user through the second filter 140.

Referring to FIG. 2E, the aerosol generating article 100 may sequentially include the front-end portion 110, a first medium portion 120a, a second medium portion 120b, and the filter 130.

The aerosol, which is generated from the cartridge as the cartridge (e.g., the cartridge 230 in FIG. 1) is heated, may be introduced through the front-end portion 110, and then may be sequentially transferred through the first medium portion 120a, the second medium portion 120b, and the filter 130.

The medium portion 120 may include the first medium portion 120a and the second medium portion 120b including separate segments. The first medium portion 120a and the second medium portion 120b may each include the tobacco medium 121.

The first medium portion 120a and the second medium portion 120b may each be manufactured as the tobacco medium 121 is filled into the cellulose acetate filter 122. However, this is only an example, and the embodiment is not limited thereto. The first medium portion 120a may be manufactured as the tobacco medium 121 is filled into an acetate filter, and the second medium portion 120b may be manufactured as the tobacco medium 121 is filled into a paper filter. Alternatively, the first medium portion 120a may be manufactured as the tobacco medium 121 is filled into a paper filter, the second medium portion 120b may be manufactured as the tobacco medium 121 is filled into an acetate filter, and the first medium portion 120a and the second medium portion 120b may each be manufactured as the tobacco medium 121 is filled into a paper filter.

Hereinafter, an interior configuration of the medium portion 120 will be described in further detail with reference to FIGS. 2F and 2G.

FIG. 2F is a cross-section of the medium portion 120 according to an embodiment. Referring to FIG. 2F, the medium portion 120 of an aerosol generating article (e.g., the aerosol generating article 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2A to 2E) may include the cellulose acetate filter 122 and the tobacco medium 121 filled into the cellulose acetate filter 122. The cellulose acetate filter 122 may include a plurality of cellulose acetate tows 122a, and the tobacco medium 121 may be filled between the plurality of cellulose acetate tows 122a.

In the medium portion 120, the tobacco medium 121 may be filled into the cellulose acetate filter 122 in an amount of about 2 mg/mm to about 8 mg/mm. Alternatively, in the medium portion 120, the tobacco medium 121 may be filled into the cellulose acetate filter 122 in an amount of about 4 mg/mm to about 6 mg/mm.

For example, when the medium portion 120 only includes a segment including the tobacco medium 121, like the medium portion 120 in FIGS. 2C and 2D, and when a length of the segment including the tobacco medium 121 is from about 5 mm to about 15 mm, the medium portion 120 may be filled with the tobacco medium 121 in an amount of about 20 mg to about 90 mg.

As another example, when the medium portion 120 includes two segments including the tobacco medium 121, like in the medium portion 120 in FIG. 2E, and a length of the two segments is from about 10 mm to about 30 mm, the medium portion 120 may also be filled with the tobacco medium 121 in an amount of about 40 mg to about 180 mg. In addition, when the medium portion 120 includes a segment including the tobacco medium 121, like the medium portion 120 in FIG. 2A, and a length of the segment is from about 10 mm to about 30 mm, the medium portion 120 may still be filled with the tobacco medium 121 in an amount of about 40 mg to about 180 mg.

The cellulose acetate filter 122 may include a plurality of cellulose acetate tows 122a having a mono denier of 9.0, a total denier of 25,000, and Y-shaped cross-sections, but the embodiment is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the tobacco medium 121 may be obtained by coating granules by spraying pH solution to the granules, and a diameter of the tobacco medium 121 may be from about 0.1 mm to about 1.2 mm. In another embodiment, the diameter of the tobacco medium 121 may be from about 0.3 mm to about 0.6 mm. When the diameter of the tobacco medium 121 is in a range from about 0.1 mm to about 1.2 mm, or a range from about 0.3 mm to about 0.6 mm, ease of manufacturing the medium portion may increase.

That is, when the medium portion 120 is manufactured, in a case where the plurality of cellulose acetate tows 122a are combined to each other to manufacture the cellulose acetate filter 122 and, at the same time, the tobacco medium 121 is filled into the cellulose acetate filter 122, it is required that the diameter of the tobacco medium 121 is in a range from about 0.1 mm to about 1. 2 mm or a range from about 0.3 mm to about 0.6 mm so as to be stably filled into the cellulose acetate filter 122.

As described above, the pH of the tobacco medium 121 may be adjusted towards the alkaline range through the pH-adjusting agent, and accordingly, the tobacco medium 121 may release nicotine even at a relatively low temperature at which the aerosol generating article 100 is not directly heated. For example, as the aerosol, which is generated as the cartridge (e.g., the cartridge 230 in FIG. 1) is heated, is delivered to the aerosol generating article 100, nicotine may be released from the tobacco medium 121 in the medium portion 120.

Here, as the nicotine released from the tobacco medium 121 is absorbed by the cellulose acetate filter 122 (or as release of the nicotine from the tobacco medium 121 is inhibited due to the cellulose acetate filter 122, nicotine stability of the aerosol generating article (e.g., aerosol generating article 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2A to 2E) may be improved.

FIG. 2G is a cross-sectional view of the medium portion 120 according to another embodiment. Referring to FIG. 2G, the aerosol generating article (e.g., the aerosol generating article 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2A to 2E) may include a paper filter 123 and the tobacco medium 121 filled into the paper filter 123. The paper filter 123 may be manufactured such that paper has a rolled shape, i.e., a rolled-up shape, and the tobacco medium 121 may be filled between layers of rolled paper.

In the medium portion 120, the tobacco medium 121 may be filled into the paper filter 123 in an amount of about 2 mg/mm to about 8 mg/mm. Alternatively, in the medium portion 120, the tobacco medium 121 may be filled into the paper filter 123 in an amount of about 4 mg/mm to about 6 mg/mm.

For example, the paper filter 123 may be manufactured in a rolled shape with paper having a smooth surface. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and as another example, the paper filter 123 may also be manufactured in a rolled shape with paper having a surface roughness of a certain value or greater or crimped paper.

The paper filter 123 may be manufactured in a rolled shape with paper having a horizontal length from about 5 mm to about 15 mm and a vertical length from about 100 mm to about 150 mm. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and a size of the paper may be variously modified according to design by the manufacturer.

When the medium portion 120 is manufactured, in a case where the paper filter 123 having the form of rolled paper and, at the same time, the tobacco medium 121 is filled into the paper filter 123, it is required that the diameter of the tobacco medium 121 is in a range from about 0.1 mm to about 1.2 mm or in a range from about 0.3 mm to about 0.6 mm to be stably filled into the paper filter 123.

As described above, the pH of the tobacco medium 121 may be adjusted towards the alkaline range through the pH-adjusting agent, and accordingly, the tobacco medium 121 may release nicotine even at a relatively low temperature at which the aerosol generating article 100 is not directly heated. For example, as the aerosol, which is generated as the cartridge (e.g., the cartridge 230 in FIG. 1) is heated, is delivered to the aerosol generating article 100, nicotine may be released from the tobacco medium 121 in the medium portion 120.

Here, as the nicotine released from the tobacco medium 121 is absorbed by the cellulose acetate filter 122 (or as release of the nicotine from the tobacco medium 121 is inhibited due to the cellulose acetate filter 122, nicotine stability of the aerosol generating article (e.g., aerosol generating article 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2A to 2E) may be improved.

FIGS. 3 to 5 each illustrate an exploded perspective view of the final wrapper 155 illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2B. Here, FIGS. 3 to 5 each illustrate a state where the final wrapper 155 is unfolded, and the final wrapper 155 shown in FIG. 3 may be an embodiment of the final wrapper 155 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the final wrapper 155 according to an embodiment may include a first wrapper 156 and a second wrapper 157.

The first wrapper 156 may surround the front-end portion 110, the medium portion 120, and the filter 130, as shown in FIG. 2A. The front-end portion 110, the medium portion 120, and the filter 130 may be respectively surrounded by the front-end portion wrapper 151, the medium portion wrapper 152, and the filter wrapper 153. The first wrapper 156, as the final wrapper 155, may surround the front-end portion wrapper 151, the medium portion wrapper 152, and the filter wrapper 153, and the second wrapper 157 may further surround the first wrapper 156.

The first wrapper 156 may surround the front-end portion 110, the medium portion 120, the filter 130, and the second filter 140, as illustrated in FIG. 2B. The front-end portion 110, the medium portion 120, the filter 130, and the second filter 140 may be respectively surrounded by the front-end portion wrapper 151, the medium portion wrapper 152, the filter wrapper 153, and the second filter wrapper 154. The first wrapper 156, as a portion of the final wrapper 155, may surround the front-end portion wrapper 151, the medium portion wrapper 152, the filter wrapper 153, and the second filter wrapper 154, and the second wrapper 157 may further surround the first wrapper 156.

Referring to FIG. 3, a reactive material 101 may be arranged between the first wrapper 156 and the second wrapper 157. For example, the reactive material 101 may be applied in the form of particles between the first wrapper 156 and the second wrapper 157. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and the reactive material 101 may be applied by being sprayed in the form of liquid onto the first wrapper 156 and/or the second wrapper 157 and then being dried.

The reactive material 101 may include a material that chemically reacts with aerosol 201 and ignites. The aerosol 201, which is generated as the cartridge (e.g., the cartridge 230 in FIG. 1) is heated, may pass through the aerosol generating article (e.g., the aerosol generating article 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2A to 2E), and referring to FIG. 4, the aerosol 201 liquefied in this process may be immersed into the first wrapper 156 and/or the second wrapper 157. The reactive material 101 may react with the aerosol 201 absorbed into the first wrapper 156 and/or the second wrapper 157 and ignite.

For example, the reactive material 101 may include potassium permanganate, and the aerosol 201 may include glycerin. Potassium permanganate may come into contact with glycerin and undergo an ignition reaction. However, the reactive material 101 and/or the aerosol 201 used for the ignition reaction are/is not limited thereto, and any material may be used without limitation as long as the material is capable of causing an ignition reaction within a range in which the safety of the user may be secured.

The first wrapper 156 and/or the second wrapper 157 may be combusted in a result of the ignition reaction of the reactive material 101 and the aerosol 201, and thus, the first wrapper 156 and/or the second wrapper 157 may discolor. For example, referring to FIG. 5, as the first wrapper 156 and/or the second wrapper 157 are/is combusted as the result of the ignition reaction, a black soot stain 301 may be formed in at least an area of the first wrapper 156 and/or the second wrapper 157.

Although FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate that the reactive material 101 is thoroughly applied between the first wrapper 156 and the second wrapper 157, this is only an embodiment, and the reactive material 101 may also be applied only in a certain area between the first wrapper 156 and the second wrapper 157.

Although FIGS. 3 to 5 only illustrate an image in which the reactive material 101 is applied onto a position corresponding to the entire area of the aerosol generating article 100, between the first wrapper 156 and the second wrapper 157, but this is only an embodiment.

The reactive material 101 may also be applied onto a position corresponding to a local area of the aerosol generating article 100, between the first wrapper 156 and the second wrapper 157. For example, the reactive material 101, between the first wrapper 156 and the second wrapper 157, may be applied onto a position corresponding to an upstream portion of the medium portion 120 or the filter 130. In the disclosure, “the upstream portion of the filter 130” may indicate an area drawn into the aerosol generating device 200 when the aerosol generating article 100 is accommodated into the aerosol generating device (e.g., the aerosol generating article 100 in FIG. 1).

When the aerosol generating article 100 is used in a state where the reactive material 101 is applied onto the position corresponding to the position of the medium portion 120 between the first wrapper 156 and the second wrapper 157, the black soot stain 301 may be formed in an area corresponding to the medium portion 120 in the entire area of the second wrapper 157.

Alternatively, when the aerosol generating article 100 is used in a state where the reactive material 101 is applied onto the position corresponding to a position of the upstream portion of the filter 130 between the first wrapper 156 and the second wrapper 157, the black soot stain 301 may be formed in an area corresponding to the upstream portion of the filter 130 in the entire area of the second wrapper 157.

Hereinafter, a color sensor (e.g., the color sensor 400 in FIG. 1) configured to discoloration of the second wrapper 157 as the result of the reactive material 101 and the aerosol 201 will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of area A illustrated in FIG. 1. Elements of the aerosol generating system shown in FIG. 6 may be identical or similar to at least one of the elements of the aerosol generating system 300 in FIG. 1, and hereinafter, repeated descriptions will not be given.

Referring to FIG. 6, the aerosol generating system according to an embodiment (e.g., the aerosol generating system 300 in FIG. 1) may include the medium portion 120, the filter 130, the final wrapper 155, and the color sensor 400. The final wrapper 155 may include the first wrapper 156 and the second wrapper 157, and the reactive material 101 may be arranged between the first wrapper 156 and the second wrapper 157.

As shown in FIG. 6, the reactive material 101 may be applied in the form of particles onto a position corresponding to upstream portions of the medium portion 120 and the filter, between the first wrapper 156 and the second wrapper 157.

The color sensor 400 may be positioned adjacent to the article accommodation portion 223, and may also be arranged at a position corresponding to a position of the reactive material 101 when the aerosol generating article (e.g., the aerosol generating article 100 in FIG. 1) is accommodated into the article accommodation portion 223. That is, when the aerosol generating article (e.g., the aerosol generating article 100 in FIG. 1) is accommodated into the article accommodation portion 223, the color sensor 400 may be arranged opposite to at least a portion of the reactive material 101.

For example, in a state where the aerosol generating article (e.g., the aerosol generating article 100 in FIG. 1) is accommodated into the article accommodation portion 223, the color sensor 400 may be arranged opposite to the at least a portion of the reactive material 101. Accordingly, the color sensor 400 may be arranged at a position corresponding to the upstream portion of the medium portion 120 or the filter 130.

However, a position to arrange the color sensor 400 is not limited thereto, and according to the performance of the color sensor 400 or methods of designing the aerosol generating system (e.g., the aerosol generating system 300 in FIG. 1), a position of the color sensor 400 may be appropriately modified.

The color sensor 400 may sense color of the second wrapper 157. The aerosol generating device (e.g., the aerosol generating device 200 in FIG. 1) may detect, by using the color sensor 400, whether the second wrapper 157 discolored.

The aerosol generated from the cartridge (e.g., the cartridge 230 in FIG. 1) may pass through the aerosol generating article and then be released to the outside of the aerosol generating device (e.g., the aerosol generating device 200 in FIG. 1). The user may contact an end of the filter 130 by the mouth and inhale the aerosol that is released. In this process, the aerosol may be absorbed into the first wrapper 156 and/or the second wrapper 157, and may come into contact with the reactive material 101 and undergo an ignition reaction. The first wrapper 156 and/or the second wrapper 157 may be combusted as a result of the ignition reaction between the aerosol and the reactive material 101, and accordingly, a black soot stain (e.g., the black soot stain 301 in FIG. 5) may be formed on the second wrapper 157.

When an aerosol generating article (e.g., the aerosol generating article 100 in FIG. 1) is accommodated into the article accommodation portion 223, the color sensor 400 may sense color of at least an area of the second wrapper 157. The aerosol generating device (e.g., the aerosol generating device 200 in FIG. 1) may detect, based on a result of the detection by the color sensor 400, whether the second wrapper 157 discolored.

Hereinafter, a method of controlling an operation of the aerosol generating device (e.g., the aerosol generating device 200 in FIG. 1) by using the result of the detection by the color sensor 400 will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for describing a method of controlling power supplied to the heater by using the color sensor 400. Referring to FIG. 7, the method of controlling the power supplied to the heater by using the color sensor 400 includes operations processed in the aerosol generating system 300 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. Accordingly, the descriptions given above about the aerosol generating device 200 with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 and the aerosol generating article 100 with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 may also be applied to the method of controlling the power supplied to the heater by using the color sensor 400, which is shown in FIG. 7.

The method of controlling the power supplied to the heater by using the color sensor 400 may be initiated as the aerosol generating article 100 is accommodated into the article accommodation portion 223 in S710.

In S720, the aerosol generating device 200 may sense color of the final wrapper 155 by using the color sensor 400. More particularly, the aerosol generating device 200 may sense color of the second wrapper 157 by using the color sensor 400.

When the aerosol generating article 100 accommodated in the article accommodation portion 223 has been already used, the black soot stain 301 may be formed on the second wrapper 157. As the cartridge 230 storing the aerosol generating material is heated, the aerosol may be generated from the cartridge 230, and the aerosol 201 that has been generated, while passing through the aerosol generating article 100, may come into contact with the reactive material 101 arranged between the first wrapper and the second wrapper 157. As a result of the ignition reaction between the aerosol 201 and the reactive material 101, an area of the first wrapper 156 and/or the second wrapper 157 may be combusted, and accordingly, a black soot stain 301 may be formed in some areas of the first wrapper 156 and/or the second wrapper 157.

The color sensor 400 may be positioned adjacent to the article accommodation portion 223, and may sense color of the second wrapper 157 of the aerosol generating article 100 inserted into the article accommodation portion 223. The color sensor 400 may be arranged opposite to at least a portion of the reactive material 101 in a state where the aerosol generating article 100 is accommodated in the article accommodation portion 223.

For example, in a case where the active material 101 is arranged at a position corresponding to the upstream portions of the medium portion 120 and the filter 130, the color sensor 400 may also be arranged to the position corresponding to the upstream portion(s) of the medium portion 120 and/or the filter 130.

In S730, the aerosol generating device 200 may detect, based on a result of the detection in S720, whether the second wrapper 157 discolored.

In a case of the aerosol generating article 100 whose use has been finished, the black soot stain 301 may be formed in an area of the second wrapper 157. In a case of the aerosol generating article 100 that has not been used, the black soot stain 301 will not be formed in any area of the second wrapper 157. That is, as the aerosol generating article 100 is used, the second wrapper 157 may discolor.

The aerosol generating device 200 may detect whether there is the black soot stain 301 on the second wrapper 157, by using the color sensor 400, and by doing so, may determine whether the second color 157 of the aerosol generating article 100 accommodated in the article accommodation portion 223 discolored.

When the aerosol generating device 200 determines that the second wrapper 157 of the aerosol generating article 100 accommodated in the article accommodating portion 223 did not discolor, the aerosol generating device 200 may supply power to a heater of the atomizer 232 according to S740.

On the other hand, when the aerosol generating device 200 determines that the second wrapper 157 of the aerosol generating article 100 accommodated in the article accommodation portion 223 discolored, the aerosol generating device 200 may interrupt power supply to the heater of the atomizer 232. The aerosol generating article 100 includes the reactive material 101 and therefore cause discoloration of the second wrapper 157 when the aerosol generating article 100 is used, and the aerosol generating device 200 may, by detecting discoloration of the second wrapper 157 by using the color sensor 400, prevent reuse of the aerosol generating article 100 that has been already used.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the aerosol generating device 200 according to an embodiment.

The aerosol generating device 1 may include a power source 12, a controller 13, a sensor 14, an output unit 40, an input unit 70, a communicator 50, a memory 60, and at least one heater 15. However, an internal structure of the aerosol generating device 1 is not limited to that illustrated in FIG. 8 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. 8may be omitted or new components may be added.

The sensor 14 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 13. On the basis of the detected information, the controller 13 may control the aerosol generating device 1 to perform various functions such as control of operations of the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15, a restriction on smoking, determination of whether or not the aerosol generating article and/or the cartridge 19 are inserted, and a notification display.

The sensor 14 may include at least one of a temperature sensor 141, a puff sensor 142, an insertion detection sensor 143, a reuse detection sensor 144, a cartridge detection sensor 145, a cap detection sensor 146, and a motion detection sensor 147.

The temperature sensor 141 may detect a temperature at which the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15 are heated. The aerosol generating device 1 may include a separate temperature sensor for detecting the temperatures of the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15, or the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15 may operate as temperature sensors.

The temperature sensor 141 may output a signal corresponding to the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15. For example, the temperature sensor 141 may include a resistor element whose resistance value changes in correspondence to a change in the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15. The temperature sensor 141 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 141 may output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the resistor element as a signal corresponding to the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15. For example, the temperature sensor 141 may include a sensor that detects a resistance value of the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15. Here, the temperature sensor 141 may output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15 as a signal corresponding to the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15.

The temperature sensor 141 may be arranged around the power source 12 to monitor a temperature of the power source 12. The temperature sensor 141 may be arranged adjacent to the power source 12. For example, the temperature sensor 141 may be attached to one surface of a battery that is the power source 12. For example, the temperature sensor 141 may be mounted on one surface of a PCB.

The temperature sensor 141 may be arranged inside the body 10 to detect an internal temperature of the body 10.

The puff sensor 142 may detect a puff by a user on the basis of various physical changes in an air flow path. The puff sensor 142 may output a signal corresponding to the puff. For example, the puff sensor 142 may be a pressure sensor. The puff sensor 142 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 142 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 143 may detect insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article. The insertion detection sensor 143 may detect a signal change due to the insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article. The insertion detection sensor 143 may be installed around an insertion space. The insertion detection sensor 143 may detect the insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article according to a change in a dielectric constant inside the insertion space. For example, the insertion detection sensor 143 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 aerosol generating article including a metal wrapper is inserted into the insertion space, the electromagnetic characteristic around the conductor may be changed by the wrapper of the aerosol generating article.

The reuse detection sensor 144 may detect whether or not the aerosol generating article is reused. The reuse detection sensor 144 may be a color sensor. The color sensor may detect a color of the aerosol generating article. The color sensor may detect a color of a portion of the wrapper wrapping the outside of the aerosol generating article. 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 aerosol generating article may have a color changing by an aerosol. When the aerosol generating article is inserted into the insertion space, the reuse detection sensor 144 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 aerosol generating article 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 aerosol generating article, 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 cap detection sensor 146 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 146 may be implemented by a contact sensor, a hall sensor (a hall IC), an optical sensor, or the like.

The motion detection sensor 147 may detect a motion of the aerosol generating device 1. The motion detection sensor 147 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 14 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 40 may output information regarding the state of the aerosol generating device 1 and provide the information to the user. The output unit 40 may include at least one of a display 141, a haptic unit 42, and a sound output unit 43, but is not limited thereto. When the display 41 and a touch pad form a layer structure to form a touch screen, the display 41 may be used as an input device in addition to an output device.

The display 41 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 12 of the aerosol-generating device 1, a preheating state of the heater 15, the insertion/removal state of the aerosol generating article 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 41 may output the information to the outside. For example, the display 41 may be in the form of a light emitting diode (LED) light emitting device. For example, the display 41 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, an organic light emitting display (OLED) panel, or the like.

The haptic unit 42 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 15 and/or the heater 15 for a set time, the haptic unit 42 may generate vibration corresponding to completion of initial preheating. The haptic unit 42 may include a vibration motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

The sound output unit 43 may audibly provide the user with the information regarding the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the sound output unit 43 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 12 may supply power so that the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15 may be heated. In addition, the power source 12 may supply power needed for operations of the sensor 14, the output unit 40, the input unit 70, the communicator 50, and the memory 60, which are other components provided within the aerosol generating device 1. The power source 12 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. 8, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a power protection circuit. The power protection circuit may be electrically connected to the power source 12 and may include a switching element.

The power protection circuit may cut off an electrical path for the power source 12 according to a certain condition. For example, the power protection circuit may cut off the electrical path for the power source 12 when a voltage level of the power source 12 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 12 when the voltage level of the power source 12 is less than a second voltage corresponding to overdischarge.

The heater 15 may be supplied with power from the power source 12 and heat a medium or an aerosol generating material within the aerosol generating article. Although not shown in FIG. 8, 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 12 and supplies the converted power to the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15. 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 12 into AC power.

The controller 13, the sensor 14, the output unit 40, the input unit 70, the communicator 50, and the memory 60 may be supplied with power from the power source 12 to perform functions. Although not shown in FIG. 8, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a power conversion circuit that converts power of the power source 12 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. 8, a noise filter may be provided between the power source 12 and the heater 15. 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 12 to the heater 15. The low pass filter may prevent a high-frequency noise component from being applied to the sensor 14, such as the insertion detection sensor 143.

In an embodiment, the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15 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 15 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 15 may include an induction heater. For example, the heater 15 may include a susceptor that generates heat through a magnetic field applied by a coil to heat an aerosol generating material.

The input unit 70 may receive information input from the user or output the information to the user. For example, the input unit 70 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 41 and the touch panel may be implemented as one panel. For example, the touch panel may be inserted into the display 41 (e.g., may be an on-cell type or in-cell type). For example, the touch panel may be added on the display 41 (e.g., may be an add-on type).

Meanwhile, the input unit 70 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 60 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 13 and pieces of data to be processed by the controller 13. The memory 60 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 60 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 50 may include at least one component for communication with another electronic device. For example, the communicator 50 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. 8, 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 13 may control an overall operation of the aerosol generating device 1. In an embodiment, the controller 13 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 13 may control the temperature of the heater 15 by controlling supply power from the power source 12 to the heater 15. The controller 13 may control the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15 on the basis of the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15 sensed by the temperature sensor 141. The controller 13 may control the temperature of the heater 15 on the basis of the temperature of the heater 15 sensed by the temperature sensor 141. For example, the controller 13 may determine a target temperature for the heater 15, on the basis of a temperature profile stored in the memory 60.

The aerosol generating device 1 may include a power supply circuit (not shown) electrically connected to the power source 12 between the power source 12 and the heater 15. The power supply circuit may be electrically connected to the cartridge heater 15, the heater 15, 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 13 may control the power supply circuit.

The controller 13 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 12 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 13 may turn on the switching element so that power is supplied from the power source 12 to the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15. The controller 13 may turn off the switching element to cut off the supply of power to the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15. The controller 13 may adjust a current supplied from the power source 12 by adjusting a frequency and/or duty ratio of a current pulse input into the switching element.

The controller 13 may control a voltage output from the power source 12 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 12. For example, the power conversion circuit may include a buck-converter that steps down the voltage output from the power source 12. For example, the power conversion circuit may be implemented through a buck-boost converter, a zener diode, or the like.

The controller 13 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 12. 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 12. 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 15 may be heated on the basis of the voltage output from the power conversion circuit.

The controller 13 may control power to be supplied to the heater 15 by using at least one of a pulse width modulation (PWM) method and a proportional-integral-differential (PID) method.

For example, the controller 13 may control a current pulse having a certain frequency and duty ratio to be supplied to the heater 15 by using the PWM method. The controller 13 may control the power supplied to the heater 15 by adjusting the frequency and duty ratio of the current pulse.

For example, the controller 13 may determine a target temperature to be controlled, on the basis of the temperature profile. The controller 13 may control the power supplied to the heater 15 by using the PID method, which is a feedback control method through a difference value between the temperature of the heater 15 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 13 may prevent the heater 15 from overheating. For example, on the basis that the temperature of the heater 15 exceeds a preset limit temperature, the controller 13 may control an operation of the power conversion circuit so that the supply of power to the heater 15 stops. For example, on the basis that the temperature of the heater 15 exceeds the preset limit temperature, the controller 13 may reduce an amount of power supplied to the heater 15 by a certain ratio. For example, on the basis that the temperature of the heater 15 exceeds the preset limit temperature, the controller 13 may determine that the aerosol generating material accommodated in the cartridge 19 is exhausted and cut off the power supply to the heater 15.

The controller 13 may control charging and discharging of the power source 12. The controller 13 may identify the temperature of the power source 12 on the basis of an output signal of the temperature sensor 141.

When a power line is connected to a battery terminal of the aerosol generating device 1, the controller 13 may identify whether or not the temperature of the power source 12 is a first limit temperature or more which is a reference for blocking charging of the power source 12. When the temperature of the power source 12 is less than the first limit temperature, the controller 13 may control the power source 12 to be charged, on the basis of a preset charging current. The controller 13 may block charging of the power source 12 when the temperature of the power source 12 is the first limit temperature or more.

While the power of the aerosol generating device 1 is turned on, the controller 13 may identify whether or not the temperature of the power source 12 is a second limit temperature or more which is a reference for blocking discharge of the power source 12. The controller 13 may control power stored in the power source 12 to be used when the temperature of the power source 12 is less than the second limit temperature. When the temperature of the power source 12 is the second limit temperature or more, the controller 13 may stop using the power stored in the power source 12.

The controller 13 may calculate a remaining capacity of the power stored in the power source 12. For example, the controller 13 may calculate the remaining capacity of the power source 12 on the basis of a voltage and/or current sensing value of the power source 12.

The controller 13 may determine, through the insertion detection sensor 143, whether or not the aerosol generating article is inserted into the insertion space. The controller 13 may determine that the aerosol generating article is inserted, on the basis of the output signal of the insertion detection sensor 143. When determining that the aerosol generating article is inserted into the insertion space, the controller 13 may control power to be supplied to the heater 15. For example, the controller 13 may supply power to the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15, on the basis of the temperature profile stored in the memory 60.

The controller 13 may determine whether or not the aerosol generating article is removed from the insertion space. For example, the controller 13 may determine, through the insertion detection sensor 143, whether or not the aerosol generating article is removed from the insertion space. For example, when the temperature of the heater 15 is the preset limit temperature or more or when a temperature change gradient of the heater 15 is a set gradient, the controller 13 may determine that the aerosol generating article is removed from the insertion space. When determining that the aerosol generating article is removed from the insertion space, the controller 13 may cut off the supply of power to the heater 15.

The controller 13 may control a power supply time and/or a power supply amount with respect to the heater 15, according to a state of the aerosol generating article detected by the sensor 14. The controller 13 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 13 may determine an amount of moisture in the aerosol generating article, according to the identified level range.

When the aerosol generating article is over-humidified, the controller 13 may increase a preheating time of the aerosol generating article compared to a normal state by controlling the power supply time with respect to the heater 15.

The controller 13 may determine, through the reuse detection sensor 144, whether or not the aerosol generating article inserted into the insertion space is reused. For example, the controller 13 may compare a sensing value of a signal of the reuse detection sensor 144 with a first reference range including a first color and when the sensing value is included in the first reference range, determine that the aerosol generating article is not used. For example, the controller 13 may compare the sensing value of the signal of the reuse detection sensor 144 with a second reference range including a second color and when the sensing value is included in the second reference range, determine that the aerosol generating article is used. When determining that the aerosol generating article is used, the controller 13 may cut off the supply of power to the heater 15.

The controller 13 may determine inhalation by the user through the puff sensor 142. For example, the controller 13 may determine whether or not a puff occurs, on the basis of a sensing value of a signal of the puff sensor 142. For example, the controller 13 may determine an intensity of the puff, on the basis of the sensing value of the signal of the puff sensor 142. 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 13 may cut off the supply of power to the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15.

The controller 13 may determine, through the cap detection sensor 146, whether a cap is coupled and/or removed. For example, the controller 13 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 146.

The controller 13 may control the output unit 40 on the basis of the result of detection by the sensor 14. For example, when the number of puffs counted through the puff sensor 142 reaches a preset number, the controller 13 may notify the user that the aerosol generating device 1 is soon terminated, through at least one of the display 41, the haptic unit 42, and the sound output unit 43. For example, the controller 13 may notify the user through the output unit 40 that the aerosol generating article is not present in the insertion space, on the basis of the determination that the aerosol generating article is not present in the insertion space. For example, the controller 13 may notify the user through the output unit 40 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 13 may transmit information regarding the temperature of the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15 to the user through the output unit 40.

The controller 13 may store and update, in the memory 60, 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 aerosol generating article, initiation of heating of the aerosol generating article, detection of puffs, termination of the puffs, detection of overheating of the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15, detection of application of an overvoltage to the cartridge heater 15 and/or the heater 15, termination of heating of the aerosol generating article, an operation such as power on/off of the aerosol generating device 1, initiation of charging of the power source 12, detection of overcharging of the power source 12, termination of charging of the power source 12, 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 aerosol generating article, the log data corresponding to the event may include data regarding the sensing value of the insertion detection sensor 143 and the like. For example, when the certain event is the detection of overheating of the heater 15, the log data corresponding to the event may include data regarding the temperature of the heater 15, the voltage applied to the heater 15, a current flowing through the heater 15, and the like.

The controller 13 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 13 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 13 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 13 may release a restriction on use of a heating function of supplying power to the heater 15.

The controller 13 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 12 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 13 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 42 may generate vibration in response to the location search request. For example, the display 41 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 13 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 13 may control the firmware update of the aerosol generating device 1 to be performed.

The controller 13 may transmit data regarding a sensing value of at least one sensor 14 to the external server (not shown) through the communicator 50, 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 13 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 13 may store, in the memory 60, sensing value data of at least one sensor 14, data for training an artificial neural network (ANN), and the like. For example, the memory 60 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 13 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 14, the inhalation pattern of the user, the temperature profile, and the like which are stored in the memory 60.

Any of the embodiments or other embodiments of the present disclosure described above are not mutually exclusive or distinct. Any of the embodiments or other embodiments of the present disclosure described above may be combined or combined in their respective configurations or functions.

For example, it means that the A configuration described in a specific embodiment and/or the drawings and the B configuration described in another embodiment and/or the drawings may be combined. That is, even if the combination between the configurations is not directly described, it means that the combination is possible, except in cases where the combination is described as impossible.

The above detailed description should not be construed as limiting in all respects, but should be considered as illustrative. The scope of the present disclosure should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the equivalent scope of the present disclosure are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

The aerosol generating article and the aerosol generating system according to various embodiments may be configured to provide a sufficient and excellent sense of smoking through a single aerosol generating article.

The aerosol generating article and the aerosol generating system according to various embodiment may prevent a single aerosol generating article from being heated twice or more by the user.

Advantageous effects achieved through the embodiments are not limited thereto, and other unmentioned advantageous effects may be clearly understood to those skilled in the art from the present specification and the accompanying drawings.