AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE

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. 10-2024-0051174, filed on Apr. 17, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosure relates to an aerosol generating device capable of precisely detecting a user's puff operation.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternative methods of overcoming the disadvantages of general cigarettes. For example, there is an increasing demand for a system that generates aerosol by heating a cigarette or an aerosol generating material by using an aerosol generating device, rather than a method of generating aerosol by burning a cigarette.

As the demand for aerosol generating devices increases, aerosol generating devices that not only generate aerosol by heating a cigarette or an aerosol generating material, but also improve a user's smoking convenience are emerging. For example, there has been proposed an aerosol generating device that detects a user's puff operation through a sensor and, when the user's puff operation is detected, operates a heater to supply aerosol to the user even without the user's manipulation.

SUMMARY

An aerosol generating device generally detects whether a user's puff operation occurs by detecting a pressure change in an airflow path through a pressure sensor disposed in the airflow path.

In the aerosol generating device including the pressure sensor, a pressure change amount in the airflow path detected by the pressure sensor may vary according to relative positions of the airflow path and the pressure sensor. For example, in a cross-sectional view of the aerosol generating device, when the pressure sensor is located on a virtual horizontal line or vertical line crossing an air inlet through which external air is introduced into the airflow path, a flow rate difference between the air inlet and the pressure sensor is not large, and thus, a pressure change around the pressure sensor may be minimal even if a user's puff operation occurs.

When a pressure change amount detected by the pressure sensor is small even though the user's puff operation occurs, the aerosol generating device may recognize that pressure has changed due to noise and may misjudge that the user's puff operation has not occurred.

When the aerosol generating device does not recognize the user's puff operation, a heater may not operate and the user may not be able to smoke, thereby reducing the convenience of using the aerosol generating device. Accordingly, there is an increasing need for an arrangement structure of an airflow path and a pressure sensor which may improve the detection precision of a puff operation.

Accordingly, various embodiments provide an aerosol generating device capable of improving the precision of puff detection by increasing a pressure change amount around a pressure sensor through the pressure sensor that is misaligned with an air inlet in a cross-sectional view.

The technical problems of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described description, and other technical problems may be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the embodiments to be described hereinafter.

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.

According to an embodiment, an aerosol generating device includes a housing including an air inlet through which air is introduced, a heater located inside the housing and configured to heat an aerosol generating material, an airflow path disposed to connect the air inlet to the aerosol generating material and allowing air introduced through the air inlet to flow toward the aerosol generating material, and a pressure sensor disposed to be connected to the airflow path and configured to detect a pressure change of the airflow path, wherein the pressure sensor is disposed to be misaligned with the air inlet, when viewed from a top surface of the aerosol generating device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

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

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

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view illustrating an aerosol generating device, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view illustrating the aerosol generating device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view illustrating an aerosol generating device, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8B is a top view illustrating the aerosol generating device of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a cross-section of an aerosol generating device and a top surface of a portion of the aerosol generating device, according to another embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an aerosol generating device, according to another embodiment; and

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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

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

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

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

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

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

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the aerosol-generating device 1 may include at least one of a battery 11, a controller 12, a sensor unit 13, or a heater 18. At least one of the battery 11, the controller 12, the sensor unit 13, and the heater 18 may be disposed inside a body 10 of the aerosol-generating device 1. The body 10 may provide a space opened upward to allow a stick S, which is an aerosol-generating article (or ‘aerosol generating material), to the inserted thereinto. The space opened upward may be referred to as an insertion space. The insertion space may be formed by being recessed toward the interior of the body 10 to a certain depth so that at least a part of the stick S may be inserted into the insertion space. The depth of the insertion space may correspond to a length of a region of the stick S including an aerosol-generating material and/or a medium. A lower end of the stick S may be inserted into the body 10, and an upper end of the stick S may protrude to the outside of the body 10. A user may inhale air by holding, in the mouth, the upper end of the stick S exposed to the outside.

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

For example, referring to FIG. 1, the heater 18 may be a resistive heater. For example, the heater 18 may include an electrically conductive track, and be heated as a current flows through the electrically conductive track. The heater 18 may be electrically connected to the battery 11. The heater 18 may directly generate heat by receiving a current from the battery 11. The heater 18 may be a hollow shape heater disposed to surround at least a part of the stick S inserted into the insertion space to heat the outside of the inserted stick S, or may be a heater in the shape of a needle, rod, or tube inserted into the stick S inserted into the insertion space to heat the inside of the inserted stick S.

For another example, referring to FIG. 2, the heater 18 may be an induction heater. For example, referring to FIG. 2, the aerosol-generating device 1 may include an induction coil 181 surrounding the heater 18. The induction coil 181 may make the heater 18 generate heat. The heater 18, which is a susceptor, may generate heat by a magnetic field generated by an AC current flowing through the induction coil 181. The magnetic field may penetrate the heater 18 and generate an eddy current within the heater 18. The current may generate heat in the heater 18. The current may generate heat in the heater 18.

On the other hand, a susceptor may be included inside the stick S, and the susceptor inside the stick S may be heated by the magnetic field generated by the AC current flowing through the induction coil 181.

The battery 11 may supply power such that the components of the aerosol-generating device 1 operate. The battery 11 may supply power to at least one of the controller 12, the sensor unit 13, or the heater 18. When the aerosol-generating device 1 includes the induction coil 181, the battery 11 may supply power to the induction coil 181.

The controller 12 may control overall operations of the aerosol-generating device 1. The controller 12 may be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB). The controller 12 may control an operation of at least one of the battery 11 or the sensor unit 13. The controller 12 may control the operation of the induction coil 181. The controller 12 may control operations of a display, a motor, etc. installed in the aerosol-generating device 1. The controller 12 may check a state of each of the components of the aerosol-generating device 1 to determine whether the aerosol-generating device 1 is in an operable state.

The controller 12 may analyze a result detected by the sensor unit 13 and control processes to be performed subsequently. For example, the controller 12 may control the power supplied to the heater 18 such that the operation of the heater 18 starts or ends based on a result detected by the sensor unit 13. For example, the controller 12 may control an amount of power supplied to the heater 18 and a time for which the power is supplied to the heater 18 such that the heater 18 may be heated to a certain temperature or maintained at an appropriate temperature based on the result detected by the sensor unit 13.

The sensor unit 13 may include at least one of a temperature sensor, a puff sensor, or an insertion detection sensor. For example, the sensor unit 13 may sense at least one of the temperature of the heater 18, the temperature of the battery 11, or the temperature inside and outside the body 10. For example, the sensor unit 13 may sense a puff by the user. For example, the sensor unit 13 may sense whether the stick S has been inserted into the insertion space.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the aerosol generating device 1 may include at least one of a battery 11, a controller 12, a sensor 13, a heater 18, and a cartridge 19. At least one of the battery 11, the controller 12, the sensor unit 13, and the heater 18 may be arranged inside a body 10 of the aerosol-generating device 1. The body 10 may provide a space opened upwards so that a stick S, which is an aerosol generating article, is inserted thereinto. The space opened upwards may be referred to as an insertion space. The insertion space may be formed by being recessed toward the inside of the body 10 by a certain depth so that at least a portion of the stick S may be inserted thereinto. The depth of the insertion space may correspond to a length of a region in the stick S, which includes an aerosol generating material and/or a medium. A lower end of the stick S may be inserted into the body 10, and an upper end of the stick S may protrude to the outside of the body 10. A user may inhale air by holding, in the mouth, the upper end of the stick S exposed to the outside.

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

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

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

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

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

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

For example, referring to FIG. 3, the cartridge 19 may be integrally formed with the body 10 and may communicate with the insertion space through an air flow channel CN.

For example, referring to FIG. 4, a space may be formed in one side of the body 10, and at least a portion of the cartridge 19 may be inserted into the space formed in one side of the body 10, so that the cartridge 19 may be mounted in the body 10. The air flow channel CN may be defined by a portion of the cartridge 19 and/or a portion of the body 10, and the cartridge 19 may communicate with the insertion space through the air flow channel CN.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an aerosol generating device, according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the aerosol generating device 1 according to another embodiment may include the body 10 and the cartridge 19. The body 10 may include at least one of the battery 11, the controller 12, and the sensor unit 13. At least one of the battery 11, the controller 12, and the sensor unit 13 may be disposed inside the body 10. The cartridge 19, which is an aerosol generating article, may be mounted on the body 10. The user may inhale aerosol while holding a mouthpiece provided at one end of the cartridge 19 in this/her mouth.

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

The cartridge 19 may be detachably coupled to the body 10. For example, the cartridge 19 may be mounted on the body 10 by being inserted into the body 10.

The body 10 may be formed in a structure in which external air may be introduced into the body 10 in a state where the cartridge 19 is inserted. In this case, the external air introduced into the body 10 may pass through the cartridge 19 and may flow to the user's mouth through the airflow channel CN.

The cartridge 19 may include a chamber CO containing an aerosol generating material and/or the heater 24 configured to heat the aerosol generating material of the chamber CO. A liquid transfer means 25 in which the aerosol generating material is impregnated (contained) may be disposed inside the chamber CO. The liquid transfer means 25 may include a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic. An electrically conductive track of the heater 24 may have a coil structure that is wound around the liquid transfer means 25 or a structure that contacts one side of the liquid transfer means 25. The heater 24 may be referred to as a cartridge heater.

The cartridge 19 may generate aerosol. Aerosol may be generated as the liquid transfer means 25 is heated by the cartridge heater 24. The generated aerosol may be inhaled into the user's mouth through the airflow channel CN.

The airflow channel CN may be provided in the cartridge 19. The chamber in which the heater 24 of the cartridge 19 is disposed and the outside of the cartridge may communicate with each other through the airflow channel CN. One end of the airflow channel CN may be open to the chamber in which the heater 24 is disposed and the other end of the airflow channel CN may communicate with the mouthpiece. For example, referring to FIG. 5, the airflow channel CN may extend along a longitudinal direction of the cartridge 19 from one side of the chamber CO of the cartridge 19. Although not shown, in another example, the airflow channel CN may pass through the chamber CO of the cartridge 19 and may extend long along the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 19.

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

The controller 12 may control an overall operation of the aerosol generating device 1. The controller may be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB). The controller 12 may control an operation of at least one of the battery 11, the sensor unit 13, and the cartridge 19. The controller 12 may control operations of a display and a motor provided in the aerosol generating device. The controller 12 may check a state of each of components of the aerosol generating device 1 and may determine whether the aerosol generating device 1 is operable.

The controller 12 may analyze a result detected by the sensor unit 13, and then may control processes to be performed later. For example, the controller 12 may control power supplied to the cartridge heater 24 so that an operation of the cartridge heater 24 starts or ends, based on the result detected by the sensor unit 13. For example, the controller 12 may control the amount and time of power supplied to the cartridge heater 24 so that the cartridge heater 24 is heated to a certain temperature or is maintained at an appropriate temperature, based on the result detected by the sensor unit 13.

The sensor unit 13 may include at least one of a temperature sensor, a puff sensor, a cartridge detection sensor, and a movement detection sensor. For example, the sensor unit 13 may sense at least one of a temperature of the cartridge heater 24, a temperature of the battery 11, and a temperature inside and outside the body 10. For example, the sensor unit 13 may sense the user's puff. For example, the sensor unit 13 may sense whether the cartridge is mounted. For example, the sensor unit 13 may sense a movement of the aerosol generating device.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view illustrating an aerosol generating device, according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view illustrating the aerosol generating device of FIG. 6. An aerosol generating device 100 of FIGS. 6 and 7 may be an embodiment of the aerosol generating device 1 of FIGS. 1 to 4, and a repeated description will be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment may include at least one of a battery 140, a processor 150, and a sensor 160. At least one of the battery 140, the processor 150, and the sensor 160 may be disposed inside a housing 110 of the aerosol generating device 100.

In this case, the battery 140, the processor 150, and the sensor 160 may be substantially the same as or similar to the battery 11, the controller 12, and the sensor unit 13 of FIGS. 1 to 4, and a repeated description will be omitted. Also, although not shown, according to an embodiment, the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a cartridge (e.g., the cartridge 19 of FIGS. 3 and 4).

The housing 110 may form an overall outer appearance of the aerosol generating device 100, and may include an inner space in which components of the aerosol generating device 100 may be disposed. Although an embodiment where the housing 110 has a substantially semicircular cross-section is illustrated, a shape of the housing 110 is not limited thereto, and the housing 110 may have a cylindrical shape or a polygonal columnar shape.

The housing 110 may include a top surface 110A, a bottom surface 110B opposite to the top surface 110A, and a side surface 110C surrounding a portion between the top surface 110A and the bottom surface 110B.

Referring to FIG. 6, the housing 110 may have an insertion space 112 formed therein. The insertion space 112 may be formed in an upper portion of the housing 110. The insertion space 112 may be open upward (e.g., in a z direction of FIG. 6). The insertion space 112 may have a cylindrical shape that vertically extends. At least a part of an aerosol generating material M may be inserted into the housing 110 through an opening 110h over the insertion space 112. In this case, the aerosol generating material M may be a cigarette type such as the stick S of FIGS. 1 to 2, but a type of the aerosol generating material M is not limited thereto.

A heater 200 (e.g., the heater 18 of FIGS. 1 and 2) may surround at least a part of the outside of the insertion space 112. The heater 200 may vertically extend along the insertion space 112. For example, the heater 200 may be a cylindrical electro-resistive heater surrounding at least a part of the insertion space 112. For example, the heater 200 may include a cylindrical susceptor surrounding at least a part of the insertion space 112 and an induction coil surrounding the susceptor. The heater 200 may heat the outside of the aerosol generating material M accommodated in the insertion space 112.

Aerosol may be generated as vaporized particles generated by the heating of the aerosol generating material M and air are mixed with each other, and the generated aerosol may pass through the aerosol generating material M or may be discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 100 through a space between the aerosol generating material M and the insertion space 112. For example, an air inlet 300i through which external air is introduced into the housing 100 may be formed in a first body surface (the top surface 110A) of the housing 110. Air introduced into the housing 110 through the air inlet 300i may flow toward the aerosol generating material M along an airflow path (not shown), and then may be mixed with vaporized particles generated by the heating of the aerosol generating material M to generate aerosol.

According to an embodiment, the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a display 130. The display 130 may be disposed on at least a part of the side surface 110C of the housing 110. At least a portion of the display 130 may be exposed to the outside of the housing 110.

The display 130 may provide various visual information to a user. The display 130 may include a display panel and/or a touch panel. The display 130 may include a cover glass.

The cover glass may form an outer appearance of the aerosol generating device 100 together with the housing 110. The cover glass may contact the user's body part. The cover glass may protect the display panel and/or the touch panel from external impact.

The display panel may be disposed in a direction from the cover glass toward the inside of the housing 110. The display panel may be disposed parallel to the cover glass.

The touch panel may detect a touch corresponding to an object contact. For example, the touch panel may detect a touch corresponding to a contact of the user's body part. The touch panel may receive the user's input.

A cover 114 may be provided on the top surface 110A of the housing 110. The cover 114 may have a shape corresponding to a shape of the opening 110h of the housing 110. For example, the opening 110h of the housing 110 may have a circular shape, and the cover 114 may have a circular shape with a diameter larger than a diameter of the opening 110h.

The cover 114 may be movably connected to a guide 113 formed on the top surface 110A of the housing 110. The cover 114 may move along the guide 113. For example, the guide 113 may be a groove formed in one surface of the housing 110, and the cover 114 may include a protrusion sliding while being inserted into the groove of the housing 110. For example, the guide 113 may be a protrusion producing from one surface of the housing 110, and the cover 114 may include a groove fitted around the protrusion and may slide along the protrusion.

The cover 114 may move along the guide 113 to open and close the opening 110h of the housing 110. For example, the cover 114 may close the opening 110h at a first position, and may open the opening 110h at a second position. A position of the cover 114 may be manually changed by the user. Alternatively, a driving device may be provided in the aerosol generating device 100, and a position of the cover 114 may be changed by the driving device.

The housing 110 may include a connection terminal (not shown). The connection terminal may include a connector through which the aerosol generating device 100 may be physically connected to an external electronic device. For example, the connection terminal may include at least one of an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector), or a combination thereof.

Hereinafter, components of the aerosol generating device 100 disposed inside the housing 110 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view illustrating an aerosol generating device, according to an embodiment. FIG. 8B is a top view illustrating the aerosol generating device of FIG. 8A. FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view illustrating the aerosol generating device 100 of FIGS. 6 and 7 taken along a yz plane, according to an embodiment. FIG. 8B is a view illustrating the aerosol generating device 100 of FIGS. 6 and 7 viewed in the z direction.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment may include the housing 110, the battery 140, the processor 150, the heater 200, an airflow path 300, and a pressure sensor 400. Components of the aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment may be the same as or similar to at least one of components of the aerosol generating device 100 of FIGS. 6 and 7. Components of the aerosol generating device 100 are not limited to the illustrated components, and according to an embodiment, the aerosol generating device 100 may further include other components not illustrated (e.g., the cartridge 19 of FIGS. 3 and 4).

The housing 110 may form an overall outer appearance of the aerosol generating device 100, and an inner space in which components of the aerosol generating device 100 may be disposed may be formed inside the housing 110. For example, the heater 200, the airflow path 300, the pressure sensor 400, and/or a shielding member 500 may be disposed in the inner space of the housing 110, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the housing 110 may include the opening 110h, and at least a part of the aerosol generating device M may be inserted into or accommodated inside the housing 110 through the opening 110h. Although an embodiment where the opening 110h is formed in a portion of the housing 110 facing the z direction is illustrated, an arrangement structure of the opening 110h is not limited thereto.

The battery 140 may supply power required for an operation of the aerosol generating device 100. For example, in order to heat a heater of the heater 200, the battery 140 may supply power to the heater. In another example, the battery 140 may supply power required for an operation of the processor 150, or may supply power required for an operation of the pressure sensor 400.

The processor 150 may generally control an operation of the aerosol generating device 100. According to an embodiment, the processor 150 may be disposed or mounted on a printed circuit board (not shown) located in the inner space of the housing 110, and may be electrically or operatively connected to the heater 200 and/or the pressure sensor 400 through an electrical connection member (e.g., a cable, a C-clip, or an FPCB) that connects the printed circuit board to the heater 200 and/or the pressure sensor 400. In the disclosure, when components are ‘operatively connected’, it may mean that the components are connected to transmit and receive signals through wireless communication or transmit and receive optical signals and/or magnetic signals, and hereinafter, the expression may have the same meaning.

In an example, the processor 150 may be electrically or operatively connected to the heater of the heater 200 and may control an operation of the heater 200.

In another example, the processor 150 may be electrically or operatively connected to the pressure sensor 400 and may detect a user's puff operation based on a pressure change of the airflow path 300 detected by the pressure sensor 400. For example, the processor 150 may determine that the user's puff operation has occurred when a pressure change amount of the airflow path 300 detected through the pressure sensor 400 is equal to or greater than a designated value. In the disclosure, the term ‘designated value’ may refer to a pressure change amount that is a criterion for detecting whether a puff operation has occurred. For example, because there may be a situation where a pressure change is detected due to noise generated by the pressure sensor 400 itself or noise generated during a process of transmitting data from the pressure sensor 400 to the processor 150, the aerosol generating device 100 may determine that a puff operation has occurred only when a pressure change amount of the airflow path 300 is equal to or greater than a designated value.

The heater 200 is located in the inner space of the housing 110, and may generate aerosol by heating the aerosol generating material M inserted into or accommodated in the insertion space 112 of the housing 110 through the opening 110h. For example, the heater 200 may generate heat as power is supplied to heat the aerosol generating material M inserted into or accommodated in the insertion space 112, and vaporized particles generated by the heating of the aerosol generating material M may be mixed with air to generate aerosol.

In an example, the heater of the heater 200 may include an induction heater. For example, the heater may include a coil (e.g., the induction coil 181 of FIG. 2) that generates an alternating magnetic field as power is supplied, and a susceptor (e.g., the heater 18 of FIG. 2) that generates heat due to the alternating magnetic field generated by the coil. The susceptor may be disposed to surround at least a part of an outer circumferential surface of the aerosol generating material M inserted into the housing 110 and may heat the inserted aerosol generating material M.

In another example, the heater of the heater 200 may include an electro-resistive heater. For example, the heater may include a film heater disposed to surround at least a part of an outer circumferential surface of the aerosol generating material M inserted into the housing 110. The film heater may include an electrically conductive track, and as current flows through the electrically conductive track, the heater may generate heat to heat the aerosol generating material M inserted into the housing 110.

In another example, the heater 200 may include at least one of a needle-type heater, a rod-type heater, and a tube-type heater capable of heating the inside of the aerosol generating material M inserted into the housing 110. For example, the heater may be inserted into at least a portion of the aerosol generating material M to heat the inside of the aerosol generating material M.

Types of the heater 200 are not limited to the embodiments, and as long as the aerosol generating material M may be heated to a designated temperature, the aerosol generating device 100 may include another type of heater 200 other than the heater 200.

In the disclosure, the term ‘designated temperature’ may refer to a temperature at which the aerosol generating material M may be heated to generate vaporized particles from the aerosol generating material M. The designated temperature may be a temperature preset in the aerosol generating device 100, but the temperature may be changed according to a type of the aerosol generating device 100 and/or the user's manipulation.

The airflow path 300 may connect the inner space of the housing 110 to the outside of the aerosol generating device 100. The housing 110 may include the air inlet 300i through which external air is introduced into the housing 110 and an air outlet 300e through which the air introduced into the housing 110 flows to the insertion space 112.

The airflow path 300 may be disposed inside the housing 110 to connect the air inlet 300i to the air outlet 300e, and external air introduced into the air inlet 300i may flow along the airflow path 300 and then may be introduced into the insertion space 112 through the air outlet 300e. For example, the air inlet 300i may be formed in the top surface 110A facing the z direction of the housing 110, but a shape of the air inlet 300i is not limited thereto.

Due to the arrangement structure of the airflow path 300 described above, the aerosol generating material M inserted into or accommodated the insertion space 112 may fluidly communicate with or may be fluidly connected to the air inlet 300i, and external air may flow toward the aerosol generating material M along the airflow path 300 and may be introduced into the aerosol generating material M.

According to an embodiment, the airflow path 300 may have a “U” shape when viewed from a cross-sectional view of the aerosol generating device 100 as shown in FIG. 8A, but a shape of the airflow path 300 is not limited thereto. According to an embodiment, when viewed from a cross-section of the aerosol generating device 100, the airflow path 300 may have a linear shape or a “L” shape.

The pressure sensor 400 (e.g., the sensor 160 of FIG. 7) may be disposed in the inner space of the housing 110 to be fluidly connected to or fluidly communicate with the airflow path 300, and may detect a pressure change of the airflow path 300. For example, the pressure sensor 400 may be accommodated inside a sensor receiving chamber 400a adjacent to the air inlet 300i and connected to the airflow path 300, and may detect a pressure change of the airflow path 300 adjacent to the pressure sensor 400 or the sensor receiving chamber 400a.

When the user's puff operation occurs, pressure inside the airflow path 300 may change, and the pressure sensor 400 may detect a pressure change of the airflow path 300. Data on a pressure change amount of the airflow path 300 detected by the pressure sensor 400 may be transmitted to the processor 150, and the processor 150 may detect whether the user's puff operation has occurred based on the received pressure change amount of the airflow path 300.

Referring to FIG. 8B, in the aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment, in order to increase the precision of puff detection, the pressure sensor 400 may be disposed to be misaligned with the air inlet 300i when viewed from the top surface 110A or the z direction of the aerosol generating device 100.

In an example, when viewed from the top surface 110A of the aerosol generating device 100, the pressure sensor 400 may be misaligned with the air inlet 300i by being located at a position deviating from a vertical extension line V crossing the air inlet 300i and a horizontal extension line H crossing the air inlet 300i. For example, when viewed from the top surface 110A of the aerosol generating device 100, the pressure sensor 400 may be misaligned with the air inlet 300i by being located on a virtual extension line EL forming a first angle α with the horizontal extension line H of the air inlet 300i and a second angle (90°−α) with the vertical extension line V. In the disclosure, the terms “vertical extension line V” and “horizontal extension line H” may refer to extension lines crossing the center of the air inlet 300i and perpendicular to each other, and hereinafter, the terms may have the same meaning.

When the pressure sensor 400 is disposed on the virtual extension line EL forming an angle of about 35° to about 55° with the horizontal extension line H of the air inlet 300i, a flow rate change amount of air around the pressure sensor 400 may be greater than when the pressure sensor 400 is located at another position (e.g., disposed on the virtual extension line EL forming an angle less than about 35° or greater than about 55° with the horizontal extension line H). The aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment may maximize a flow rate change amount of air around the pressure sensor 400 through a structure where the pressure sensor 400 is disposed on the virtual extension line EL forming an angle of about 35° to about 55° with the horizontal extension line H of the air inlet 300i.

When the pressure sensor 400 is disposed on the vertical extension line V or the horizontal extension line H of the air inlet 300i and connected to the airflow path 300 when viewed from the top surface 110A of the aerosol generating device 100, a difference between a flow rate of air introduced into the air inlet 300i and a flow rate of air around the pressure sensor 400 may not be large.

According to Bernoulli's theorem, a difference in pressure increases as a difference in a flow rate of air increases. When the pressure sensor 400 is disposed on the vertical extension line V or the horizontal extension line H of the air inlet 300i, a pressure change amount around the pressure sensor 400 may be small even though the user's puff operation occurs. In this case, the aerosol generating device 100 may misjudge that a pressure change amount detected by the pressure sensor 400 is a pressure change due to noise, and thus, may not detect a puff operation even when the user's puff operation has occurred. For example, even though the user's puff operation has occurred, a pressure change amount detected by the pressure sensor 400 is less than a designated value, and thus, the aerosol generating device 100 may misjudge that the user's puff operation has not occurred.

On the other hand, the aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment may improve the precision of puff detection by increasing a pressure change amount around the pressure sensor 400 when the user's puff occurs through a structure where the air inlet 300i and the pressure sensor 400 are disposed to be misaligned with each other when viewed from the top surface 110A.

When the air inlet 300i and the pressure sensor 400 are disposed to be misaligned with each other, a flow rate of air may greatly change while external air introduced through the air inlet 300i flows to the pressure sensor 400. For example, a flow rate of air may slow down and a flow rate change amount may increase when air introduced into the air inlet 300i reaches the pressure sensor 400 misaligned with the air inlet 300i.

In other words, when the air inlet 300i and the pressure sensor 400 are disposed to be misaligned with each other, a flow rate change amount of air may increase compared to when the pressure sensor 400 is disposed on the vertical extension line V or the horizontal extension line H of the air inlet 300i, and according to Bernoulli's theorem, a pressure change amount around the pressure sensor 400 may also increase.

The aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment may precisely detect whether a puff operation has occurred without misjudging that a pressure change due to the user's puff operation is a pressure change due to noise, by allowing a pressure change amount around the pressure sensor 400 to be equal to or greater than a designated value through a structure where the air inlet 300i and the pressure sensor 400 are disposed to be misaligned with each other.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a cross-section of an aerosol generating device and a top surface of a portion of the aerosol generating device, according to another embodiment. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view illustrating a cross-section of the aerosol generating device 100 of FIGS. 6 and 7 taken along a yz plane and a portion of the top surface 110A of the aerosol generating device 100 around the air inlet 300i and the pressure sensor 400, according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, the aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment may include the housing 110, the battery 140, the processor 150, the heater 200, the airflow path 300, and the pressure sensor 400. The aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment may be a device obtained by changing only a shape of the airflow path 300 and an arrangement structure of the pressure sensor 400 in the aerosol generating device 100 of FIGS. 8A and 8B, and thus, a repeated description will be omitted.

The airflow path 300 may be located inside the housing 110 and may connect the air inlet 300i to the aerosol generating material M inserted into the housing 110, and the pressure sensor 400 may be connected to the airflow path 300 and may detect a pressure change of the airflow path 300.

According to an embodiment, the airflow path 300 may include a first airflow path 310 having one end connected to the air inlet 300i and the other end connected to the air outlet 300e (e.g., the air outlet 300e of FIG. 8A), and a second airflow path 320 branching from one point of the first airflow path 310 and connecting the first airflow path 310 to the sensor receiving chamber 400a.

At least part of external air introduced through the air inlet 300i may flow toward the aerosol generating material M along the first airflow path 310, and the other part of the external air may flow toward the pressure sensor 400 through the second airflow path 320. For example, the sensor receiving chamber 400a may be formed in an area adjacent to the second airflow path 320 inside the housing 110 and may be connected to or fluidly communicate with the second airflow path 320, and air introduced into the second airflow path 320 may flow toward the pressure sensor 400 disposed inside the sensor receiving chamber 400a along the second airflow path 320.

According to an embodiment, the first airflow path 310 may include a first portion 311 having one end connected to the air inlet 300i and extending along a first direction parallel to a longitudinal direction (e.g., the z direction) of the housing 110, and a second portion 312 extending along a second direction (e.g., a-y direction) crossing the first direction and having one end connected to the other end of the first portion 311 and the other end connected to the air outlet 300e. Although an embodiment where the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other is illustrated, an angle formed between the first direction and the second direction is not limited thereto.

The second airflow path 320 may extend along a third direction (e.g., a y direction) opposite to the second direction from one point of the first portion 311 of the first airflow path 310, and may connect the first airflow path 310 to the pressure sensor 400 accommodated inside the sensor receiving chamber 400a.

While air introduced into the first airflow path 310 through the air inlet 300i branches to the second airflow path 320 and then flows toward the pressure sensor 400, a flow rate of the air may change, and according to Bernoulli's theorem, a pressure change amount around the pressure sensor 400 may also increase.

The aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment may prevent misjudgment that a pressure change due to a user's puff operation is a pressure change due to noise by increasing a pressure change amount around the pressure sensor 400 according to the user's puff operation through a structure where the pressure sensor 400 is connected to the second airflow path 320 branching from the first airflow path 310.

Also, the aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment may improve the precision of puff detection through a structure where the pressure sensor 400 is connected to the second airflow path 320 branching from the first airflow path 310 and the pressure sensor 400 is misaligned with the air inlet 300i when viewed from the top surface 110A of the aerosol generating device 100.

According to an embodiment, the pressure sensor 400 may be located at a position deviating from the vertical extension line V crossing the air inlet 300i and the horizontal extension line H crossing the air inlet 300i in an inner space of the sensor receiving chamber 400, when viewed from the top surface 110A of the aerosol generating device 100. For example, the pressure sensor 400 may be misaligned with the air inlet 300i by being located on the virtual extension line EL forming a first angle β with the horizontal extension line H of the air inlet 300i and a second angle (90°−β) with the vertical extension line V of the air inlet 300i when viewed from the top surface 110A of the aerosol generating device 100.

A flow rate of air may primarily change when air introduced into the first airflow path 310 through the air inlet 300i branches to the second airflow path 320, and may be secondarily change when air introduced into the second airflow path 320 flows to the pressure sensor 400 misaligned with the air inlet 300i. The aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment may increase a flow rate difference between air around the air inlet 300i and air around the pressure sensor 400 through the above structure, and may also increase (scale up) a pressure change amount around the pressure sensor 400 when the user's puff operation occurs due to Bernoulli's theorem as the flow rate difference of the air increases. As a result, the aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment may precisely detect whether a puff operation has occurred without misjudging that a pressure change due to the user's puff operation is a pressure change due to noise.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an aerosol generating device, according to another embodiment. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view illustrating a cross-section of the aerosol generating device 100 taken along a yz plane and a portion of the top surface 110A of the aerosol generating device 100 around the air inlet 300i and the pressure sensor 400.

Referring to FIG. 10, the aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment may include the housing 110, a storage tank 120, the battery 140, the processor 150, the airflow path 300, and the pressure sensor 400.

The housing 110 may form an overall outer appearance of the aerosol generating device 100, and an inner space in which components of the aerosol generating device 100 may be disposed may be formed inside the housing 110. For example, the storage tank 120, the heater 200, the airflow path 300, the pressure sensor 400, and/or the shielding member 500 may be disposed in the inner space of the housing 110, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the housing 110 may include a mouthpiece 110m. Aerosol generated inside the housing 110 may be discharged to the outside of the housing 110 through the mouthpiece 110m, and a user may put his/her mouth on the mouthpiece 110m and may inhale the aerosol discharged to the outside of the housing 110.

The storage tank 120 may be disposed in the inner space of the housing 110, and the aerosol generating material M in a liquid state may be stored in the storage tank 120. For example, the aerosol generating material M may include a tobacco-containing material having a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquid composition including a non-tobacco material.

According to an embodiment, the liquid composition may include any one component of water, a solvent, ethanol, plant extract, spices, flavorings, and a vitamin mixture, or a mixture thereof. The spices may include menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, and various fruit-flavored ingredients, but are not limited thereto. The flavorings may include ingredients capable of providing various flavors or tastes to the user. The vitamin mixtures may be a mixture of at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E, but are not limited thereto. Also, the liquid composition may include an aerosol forming substance, such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

For example, the liquid composition may include any weight ratio of glycerin and propylene glycol solution to which nicotine salts are added. The liquid composition may include two or more types of nicotine salts. Nicotine salts may be formed by adding suitable acids including an organic acid or an inorganic acid to nicotine. Nicotine may be a naturally generated nicotine or synthetic nicotine, and may have any suitable weight concentration relative to a total solution weight of the liquid composition.

Acid for forming the nicotine salts may be appropriately selected by considering a rate of nicotine absorption in the blood, an operating temperature of the aerosol generating device 1000, flavor or savor, solubility, etc. For example, the acid for forming the nicotine salts may be a single acid selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, lauric acid, sorbic acid, levulinic acid, pyruvic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, citric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, phenylacetic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, saccharic acid, malonic acid, and malic acid, or may be a mixture of two or more acids selected from the group, but is not limited thereto.

An outlet 120e may be formed in a portion of the storage tank 120 facing the heater 200, and the aerosol generating material M stored inside the storage tank 120 may be supplied to the heater 200 through the outlet 120e. For example, the aerosol generating material M stored inside the storage tank 120 may pass through the outlet 120e due to gravity, and then may be supplied to the heater 200, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

The heater 200 may be located in the inner space of the housing 110, and may generate aerosol by heating the aerosol generating material M supplied from the storage tank 120. In an example, the heater 200 may include a wick 210 located at a position corresponding to the outlet 120e of the storage tank 120 and configured to absorb the aerosol generating material M supplied from the storage tank 120, and a heating element 220 configured to heat the aerosol generating material M absorbed by the wick 210, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In another example, the heater 200 may include a mesh heater.

Aerosol may be generated as vaporized particles generated when the aerosol generating material M is heated by the heater 200 are mixed with air, and the generated aerosol may flow toward the mouthpiece 110m along an aerosol discharge path (not shown), and then may be discharged to the outside of the housing 110 through the mouthpiece 110m.

The airflow path 300 may connect the inner space of the housing 110 to the outside of the aerosol generating device 100. For example, the airflow path 300 may be disposed to fluidly connect or fluidly communicate the heater 200 with the air inlet 300i through which external air is introduced into the housing 110.

The aerosol generating material M absorbed to the wick 210 may fluidly communicate with or be fluidly connected to the air inlet 300i due to the above arrangement structure of the airflow path 300, and external air introduced through the air inlet 300i may reach the aerosol generating material M absorbed by the wick 210 along the airflow path 300. In this case, as vaporized particles generated when the aerosol generating material M is heated are mixed with the air reaching the aerosol generating material M, aerosol may be generated around the heater 200. The generated aerosol may be discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 100 through an aerosol path (not shown) that connects the periphery of the heater 200 to the mouthpiece 110m, and the user may inhale the discharged aerosol.

The pressure sensor 400 may be disposed to be fluidly connected to or fluidly communicate with the airflow path 300 in the inner space of the housing 110, and may detect a pressure change of the airflow path 300. For example, the pressure sensor 400 may be accommodated inside the sensor receiving chamber 400a adjacent to the air inlet 300i and connected to the airflow path 300, and may detect a pressure change of the airflow path 300 adjacent to the pressure sensor 400 or the sensor receiving chamber 400a

When the user's puff operation occurs, pressure inside the airflow path 300 may change, and the pressure sensor 400 may pressure change of the airflow path 300. Data on a pressure change amount of the airflow path 300 detected by the pressure sensor 400 may be transmitted to the processor 150, and the processor 150 may detect whether the user's puff operation has occurred based on the received pressure change amount of the airflow path 300.

In the aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment, the pressure sensor 400 may be disposed to be misaligned with the air inlet 300i when viewed from the top surface 110A of the aerosol generating device 100.

In an example, the pressure sensor 400 may be located at a position deviating from the vertical extension line V crossing the air inlet 300i and the horizontal extension line H crossing the air inlet 300i in the inner space of the sensor receiving chamber 400a, when viewed from the top surface 110A of the aerosol generating device 100. For example, when viewed from the top surface 110A of the aerosol generating device 100, the pressure sensor 400 may be misaligned with the air inlet 300i by being located on the virtual extension line EL forming a first angle γ with the horizontal extension line H of the air inlet 300i and a second angle (90°−γ) with the vertical extension line V of the air inlet 300i.

While air introduced into the airflow path 300 through the air inlet 300i flows toward the pressure sensor 400 disposed to be misaligned with the air inlet 300i, a flow rate of the air may change. The aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment may increase a flow rate difference between air around the air inlet 300i and air around the pressure sensor 400 through the above structure, and may also increase a pressure change amount around the pressure sensor 400 when the user's puff operation occurs due to Bernoulli's theorem as the flow rate difference of the air increases. As a result, the aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment may precisely detect whether a puff operation has occurred without misjudging that a pressure change due to the user's puff operation is a pressure change due to noise.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

The aerosol generating device 1 may include a battery 11, a controller 12, a sensor 13, an output unit 40, an input unit 70, a communicator 50, a memory 60, and at least one heater 18. However, an internal structure of the aerosol generating device 1 is not limited to that illustrated in FIG. 11. 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. 11 may be omitted or new components may be added.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The output unit 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 41, 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 (e.g., display 130 of FIG. 4) 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 battery 11 of the aerosol-generating device 1, a preheating state of the heater 18, the insertion/removal state of the stick 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 24 and/or the heater 18 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 battery 11 may supply power so that the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 may be heated. In addition, the battery 11 may supply power needed for operations of the sensor 13, 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 battery 11 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the power supply 11 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited thereto.

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

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

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

The controller 12, the sensor 13, the output unit 40, the input unit 70, the communicator 50, and the memory 60 may be supplied with power from the battery 11 to perform functions. Although not shown in FIG. 11, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a power conversion circuit that converts power of the battery 11 and supplies the power to each of components, e.g., a low-dropout (LDO) circuit or a voltage regulator circuit. Also, although not shown in FIG. 11, a noise filter may be provided between the battery 11 and the heater 18. The noise filter may be a low pass filter. The low pass filter may include at least one inductor and a capacitor. A cutoff frequency of the low pass filter may correspond to a frequency of a high-frequency switching current applied from the battery 11 to the heater 18. The low pass filter may prevent a high-frequency noise component from being applied to the sensor 13, such as the insertion detection sensor 133.

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

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

The input unit 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 12 and pieces of data to be processed by the controller 12. 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. 11, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a connection interface such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and may connect with another external device through the connection interface such as a USB interface to transmit and receive information or charge the power 11.

The controller 12 (e.g., the processor 150 of FIG. 6 or FIG. 7) may control an overall operation of the aerosol generating device 1. In an embodiment, the controller 12 may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory that stores a program executable by the microprocessor. In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present embodiment pertains may understand that the processor may be implemented as other types of hardware.

The controller 12 may control the temperature of the heater 18 by controlling supply power from the battery 11 to the heater 18. The controller 12 may control the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 on the basis of the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 sensed by the temperature sensor 131. The controller 12 may adjust power supplied to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18, on the basis of the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18. For example, the controller 12 may determine a target temperature for the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18, on the basis of a temperature profile stored in the memory 60.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The controller 12 may determine, through the insertion detection sensor 133, whether or not the stick is inserted into the insertion space. The controller 12 may determine that the stick is inserted, on the basis of the output signal of the insertion detection sensor 133. When determining that the stick is inserted into the insertion space, the controller 12 may control power to be supplied to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18. For example, the controller 12 may supply power to the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18, on the basis of the temperature profile stored in the memory 60.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The controller 12 may determine whether or not the cartridge 19 may be usable. When the current number of puffs is greater than or equal to the maximum number of puffs set in the cartridge 19, the controller 12 may determine, on the basis of data stored in the memory 60, that the cartridge 19 may not be usable. For example, when the total time for which the heater 24 is heated is a preset maximum time or more or the total amount of power supplied to the heater 24 is a preset maximum amount of power or more, the controller 12 may determine that the cartridge 19 may not be usable.

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

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

The controller 12 may control the output unit 40 on the basis of the result of detection by the sensor 13. For example, when the number of puffs counted through the puff sensor 132 reaches a preset number, the controller 12 may notify the user that the aerosol generating device 1 is soon terminated, through at least one of the display 41, the haptic unit 42, and the sound output unit 43. For example, the controller 12 may notify the user through the output unit 40 that the stick is not present in the insertion space, on the basis of the determination that the stick is not present in the insertion space. For example, the controller 12 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 12 may transmit information regarding the temperature of the cartridge heater 24 and/or the heater 18 to the user through the output unit 40.

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

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

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

The external device may transmit a location search request to the aerosol generating device 1, on the basis of an input for initiating a location search of the aerosol generating device 1. When receiving the location search request from the external device, the controller 12 may control at least one of output devices to perform an operation corresponding to the location search, on the basis of the received location search request. For example, the haptic unit 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 12 may control to perform a firmware update. The external device may identify a current version of firmware of the aerosol generating device 1 and determine whether or not a new version of the firmware is present. When an input for requesting firmware download is received, the external device may receive a new version of firmware data and transmit the new version of firmware data to the aerosol generating device 1. When receiving the new version of firmware data, the controller 12 may control the firmware update of the aerosol generating device 1 to be performed.

The controller 12 may transmit data regarding a sensing value of at least one sensor 13 to the external server (not shown) through the communicator 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 12 may perform an operation of determining an inhalation pattern of the user, an operation of generating a temperature profile, and the like by using the learning model received from the server. The controller 12 may store, in the memory 60, sensing value data of at least one sensor 13, 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 12 may generate at least one learning model used for determining the inhalation pattern of the user, generating the temperature profile, and the like, by learning data regarding the sensing value of the at least one sensor 13, the inhalation pattern of the user, the temperature profile, and the like which are stored in the memory 60.

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

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

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

An aerosol generating device according to various embodiments may improve the precision of puff detection through a structure capable of increasing a pressure change amount of an airflow path around a pressure sensor when a puff operation occurs.

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