AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0119567 filed on September 3, 2024, the contents of which are all hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosure relates to an aerosol generating device, and more particularly, to an aerosol generating device which may accurately estimate the temperature of a heating element in a non-contact manner.

2. Description of the Related Art

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

Some aerosol generating devices employ heating methods that are different from conventional methods in which a heater formed as an electric resistor is disposed inside or outside a cigarette and the cigarette is heated by supplying power to the heater. For example, research has been actively conducted on methods of heating cigarettes using an induction heating method.

The induction heating method may enable a measurement of the temperature of a susceptor by directly contacting a temperature sensor with the inside or outside of the susceptor. However, according to a temperature detection method using such a contact method, as the temperature sensor is in contact with the susceptor, the temperature sensor may be damaged due to heating of the susceptor.

To solve the above issue, a method of detecting the temperature of a susceptor in a non-contact manner has been proposed, but a temperature sensing method in a non-contact manner according to the related art may be inaccurate because the temperature of the susceptor is detected based on only any one of a direct current (DC) output from a battery and an alternating current (AC) supplied to a coil.

SUMMARY

Provide is an aerosol generating device which may accurately estimate the temperature of a heating element in a non-contact manner.

The technical objectives to be achieved by the disclosure are not limited to the above-described objectives, and other technical objectives may be inferred from the following embodiments.

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

According to an aspect of the disclosure, an aerosol generating device includes a power supply configured to provide direct current (DC) power, a power converter configured to convert the DC power to alternating current (AC) power, a coil configured to generate an induction magnetic field by the AC power, a susceptor configured to be heated by the induction magnetic field, a magnetic field sensor configured to detect intensity of the induction magnetic field, and a controller configured to estimate a temperature of the susceptor based on the intensity of the induction magnetic field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

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

FIG. 2 illustrates an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a heater assembly according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a partial configuration of an aerosol generating device for describing a temperature estimation method according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a temperature profile of an aerosol generating device, for describing a temperature estimation method according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a graph showing an output of a current sensor for describing a temperature estimation method in a preheating section of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a graph showing an output of a current sensor for describing a temperature estimation method in a smoking section of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a temperature profile of an aerosol generating device for describing a temperature estimation method in a preheating section according to another embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a graph showing an output of a current sensor for describing a temperature estimation method in the preheating section of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation method of an aerosol generating device, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the same or similar components will be assigned the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals in the drawings, and the same descriptions thereof will be omitted. With regard to the description of the drawings, like reference numerals may be used to represent like or related elements.

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. The suffix "module" or “unit”, as used herein, may include a unit implemented as hardware, software, or firmware. For example, the suffix "module" or “unit” may be interchangeably used with the term a "logic", a "logical block", a "component", or a "circuit". The "module" or “unit” may be an integrally formed component, a minimum unit of the component performing one or more functions, or a part of the minimum unit. For example, the "module" or “unit” may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

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.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented as software including one or more instructions stored in a storage medium (e.g., a memory 17) readable by a machine (e.g., an aerosol generating device 1). For example, a processor (e.g., a controller 12) of the machine (e.g., the aerosol generating device 1) may call at least one instruction among one or more instructions stored from the storage medium and execute the at least one instruction. This makes it possible for the machine to be operated to perform at least one function according to the called at least one instruction. Examples of the one or more instructions may include codes created by a compiler, or codes executable by an interpreter. A machine-readable storage medium may be provided as a non-transitory storage medium. The 'non-transitory storage medium' is a tangible device and only means that it does not contain a signal (e.g., electromagnetic waves). This term does not distinguish a case in which data is stored semi-permanently in a storage medium from a case in which data is temporarily stored.

In the present disclosure, a direction of the aerosol generating device 1 may be defined based on an orthogonal coordinate system. The x-axis direction in the orthogonal coordinate system may be defined as a left-right direction of the aerosol generating device 1. The y-axis direction may be defined as a front-back direction of the aerosol generating device 1. The z-axis direction may be defined as an upward and downward direction of the aerosol generating device 1.

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

According to an embodiment, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a power supply 11, the controller 12, a sensor unit 13, an output unit 14, an input unit 15, a communication unit 16, a memory 17, and/or heater 18 or 24. However, it may be understood by those skilled in the art that some of the components shown in FIG. 1 may be omitted or new components may be added, according to the design of the aerosol generating device 1.

According to an embodiment, the sensor unit 13 may sense a state of the aerosol generating device 1 or a state of the surroundings of the aerosol generating device 1 and may transmit information corresponding to the sensed state to the controller 12. For example, the sensor unit 13 may include a temperature sensor, a puff sensor, an insertion detection sensor, a reuse detection sensor, an overwetting detection sensor, a cigarette identification sensor, a cartridge detection sensor, a cap detection sensor, and/or a movement detection sensor. The sensor unit 13 may further include various sensors, such as a liquid remaining amount sensor for detecting the liquid remaining amount of a cartridge and an immersion sensor for detecting immersion of the aerosol generating device 1.

According to an embodiment, the temperature sensor may detect the heating temperature of the heater 18 or 24. The aerosol generating device 1 may include a separate temperature sensor for detecting respective temperatures of the heater 18 or 24, or the heater 18 or 24 may serve as a temperature sensor. For example, the temperature sensor may be used to measure an impedance of the heater 18. The impedance of the heater 18 may be correlated with the temperature of the heater 18. The temperature sensor may measure a current and/or voltage applied to the heater 18 (or an induction coil). Based on the measured current and/or voltage, the impedance for the heater 18 may be calculated. The controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the heater 18, based on the calculated impedance.

For example, the temperature sensor may include a resistive element (e.g., a thermistor) whose resistance value changes in response to a change in temperatures of the heater 18 or 24. The temperature sensor may output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the resistive element, and the controller 12 may detect the temperatures and/or temperature changes of the heater 18 or 24, based on the signal corresponding to the resistance value.

As another example, the temperature sensor may include a sensor for detecting the resistance values of the heater 18 or 24. The temperature sensor may output signals corresponding to the resistance values of the heater 18 or 24, and the controller 12 may detect the temperatures and/or temperature changes of the heater 18 or 24, based on the signals corresponding to the resistance values.

According to an embodiment, the temperature sensor may detect a temperature of the power supply 11. The temperature sensor may be disposed adjacent to the power supply 11. For example, the temperature sensor may be attached to one surface of the power supply 11 (e.g., a battery) and/or mounted on one surface of a printed circuit board. For example, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a power protection circuit module (PCM), and the temperature sensor may be disposed adjacent to the power supply 11 together with the power PCM.

According to an embodiment, the temperature sensor may be disposed inside a housing (not shown) of the aerosol generating device 1 to detect an internal temperature of the housing.

According to an embodiment, the puff sensor may detect a puff of a user.

For example, the puff sensor may include a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor may output a signal corresponding to an internal pressure of the aerosol generating device 1, and the controller 12 may detect the puff of the user, based on the signal corresponding to the internal pressure. The internal pressure of the aerosol generating device 1 may correspond to pressure of an airflow path along which gas flows. The puff sensor may be disposed to correspond to the airflow path along which gas flows, in the aerosol generating device 1.

As another example, the puff sensor may include a temperature sensor. When the user' puff occurs, a temporary temperature drop may occur in the airflow path, a space where an aerosol generating article is inserted (hereinafter, an insertion space), the heater 18 or 24, etc. The controller 12 may detect the user's puff, based on a signal corresponding to the temperature of the airflow path, etc. output from the temperature sensor.

As another example, the puff sensor may include both a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor. In this case, the temperature sensor may measure a temperature that is used to correct an internal pressure measured by the pressure sensor. For example, the puff sensor may correct the signal corresponding to the internal pressure, based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor, and may output the corrected signal. As another example, the puff sensor may output the signal corresponding to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor, and the signal corresponding to the internal pressure measured by the puff sensor. In this case, the controller 12 may receive the signals, and may correct the signal corresponding to the internal pressure, based on the signal corresponding to the temperature.

As another example, the puff sensor may include a capacitance sensor. In the present disclosure, the capacitance sensor may also be referred to as a cap sensor or a capacitive sensor. When the user's puff occurs, a temperature change and/or aerosol flow may occur within the insertion space of the aerosol generating article, and accordingly, an internal permittivity of the insertion space may change. The controller 12 may detect the user's puff, based on a signal corresponding to the internal permittivity, etc. of the insertion space output by the temperature sensor.

The puff sensor is not limited to the aforementioned examples, and may be implemented using various sensors for detecting the user's puff.

According to an embodiment, the insertion detection sensor may detect insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article. The insertion detection sensor may be provided around the insertion space. The insertion detection sensor may also include any combination of the aforementioned examples.

For example, the insertion detection sensor may include a capacitance sensor. The capacitance sensor may include at least one conductor. The at least one conductor may be arranged adjacent to the insertion space. When the aerosol generating article is inserted into or removed from the insertion space, a permittivity around the conductor may change. The controller 12 may detect the insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article, based on a signal corresponding to the internal permittivity, etc. of the insertion space output by the capacitance sensor.

As another example, the insertion detection sensor may include an inductive sensor. The inductive sensor may include at least one coil. The at least one coil may be disposed adjacent to the insertion space. When the aerosol generating article (e.g., a wrapper of the aerosol-generating article) includes a conductor and is inserted into or removed from the insertion space, a change in a magnetic field may occur around a coil where a current flows. The controller 12 may detect insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article including the conductor, based on the characteristics (e.g., a frequency, a current value, a voltage value, an inductance value, and an impedance value of an alternating current) of a current output or detected by the inductive sensor. Alternatively, the aerosol generating article (e.g., a medium portion of the aerosol generating article) may include a susceptor (SUS), etc. Even in this case, a change in the magnetic field around the coil may occur based on the insertion or removal of the susceptor, etc. within the insertion space, and the controller 12 may also detect the insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article, based on the characteristics of the current of the inductive sensor.

The insertion detection sensor is not limited to the aforementioned examples, and may be implemented using any of various sensors (e.g., a proximity sensor) for detecting insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article. The insertion detection sensor may also include any combination of the aforementioned examples. According to an embodiment, the insertion detection sensor may include a switch, etc. for detecting compression performed by the aerosol generating article.

According to an embodiment, the reuse detection sensor may detect whether the aerosol generating article is reused For example, the reuse detection sensor may be a color sensor for detecting a color of the aerosol generating article. When the aerosol generating article is used by the user, a change in the color of a portion of the wrapper surrounding the outside of the aerosol generating article may occur due to generated aerosol or heating. The color sensor may output a signal corresponding to optical characteristics (e.g., a wavelength of light) corresponding to the color of the wrapper, based on light reflected by the wrapper. When a change in the color of the portion of the wrapper is detected, the controller 12 may determine that the aerosol generating article inserted into the insertion space has already been used.

According to an embodiment, the overwetting detection sensor may detect whether the aerosol generating article is in an overwetting state. For example, the overwetting detection sensor may include a capacitance sensor. The capacitance sensor may include at least one conductor disposed adjacent to the insertion space. The controller 12 may detect whether the aerosol generating article is in an overwetting state, based on the level of a signal corresponding to a permittivity, etc. output by the capacitance sensor. For example, the controller 12 may check a level range including the level of the signal, based on a look-up table, and may determine a moisture content for the aerosol generating article, based on the checked level range.

According to an embodiment, the cigarette identification sensor may detect whether the aerosol generating article is authentic, and/or detect the type of the aerosol generating article.

For example, the cigarette identification sensor may include an optical sensor for detecting an identification material (or an identification mark) located on an outer surface (e.g., a wrapper) of the aerosol generating article. The optical sensor may radiate light toward the identification material (or the identification mark) of the aerosol generating article, and may detect the authenticity and/or the type of the aerosol generating article, based on the reflected light. For example, the identification material may include a material that emits light of a wavelength in a specific band, based on the radiated light. The controller 12 may detect the authenticity and/or the type of the aerosol generating article, based on the range of the wavelength.

As another example, the cigarette identification sensor may include a capacitance sensor. According to the types of aerosol generating article inserted into the insertion space, the internal permittivity of the insertion space may vary. The controller 12 may detect he authenticity of and/or the type of the aerosol generating article, based on the signal corresponding to the internal permittivity, etc. of the insertion space output by the capacitance sensor.

As another example, the cigarette identification sensor may include an inductive sensor. When a conductor is included in the wrapper and/or interior (e.g., a medium portion) of the aerosol generating article inserted into the insertion space, the characteristics of a current detected by the inductive sensor (e.g., a frequency, a current value, a voltage value, an inductance value, and an impedance value of an AC current) may differ according to the types of aerosol generating article inserted into the insertion space. The controller 12 may detect the authenticity of and/or the type of the aerosol generating article, based on the characteristics of a current output by the capacitance sensor or detected by the inductive sensor.

The cigarette identification sensor is not limited to the aforementioned examples, and may be implemented using any of various sensors for detecting whether the aerosol generating article is authentic, and/or detecting the type of the aerosol generating article. The cigarette identification sensor may also include any combination of the aforementioned examples.

According to an embodiment, the cartridge detection sensor may detect insertion and/or removal of the cartridge. For example, the cartridge detection sensor may include an inductive sensor, a capacitance sensor, a resistance sensor, a hall sensor (a hall IC) using a hall effect, and/or an optical sensor.

According to an embodiment, the cap detection sensor may detect insertion and/or removal of the cap. For example, the cap detection sensor may include an inductive sensor, a capacitance sensor, a resistance sensor, a hall sensor (a hall IC), and/or an optical sensor. The cap may include a structure that covers at least a portion of the cartridge mounted on or inserted into the aerosol generating device 1 or covers at least a portion of the housing of the aerosol generating device 1. When the cap is mounted on or removed from the housing, the cap detection sensor may output a signal corresponding to the mounting or removal of the cap. The controller 12 may detect the mounting or removal of the cap, based on a signal corresponding to the mounting or removal.

According to an embodiment, the movement detection sensor may detect a motion of the aerosol generating device 1. The movement detection sensor may be implemented using at least one of an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor.

According to an embodiment, the sensor unit 13 may further include at least one of a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, a global positioning sensor (GPS), or a proximity sensor, in addition to the above-described sensors. Functions of the sensors would be instinctively understood by one of ordinary skill in the art in view of their names and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted herein.

According to an embodiment, the output unit 14 may output information about the state of the aerosol generating device 1. The output unit 14 may include a display, a haptic unit, and/or a sound output unit, but embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, information about the aerosol generating device 1 may include a charging/discharging state of the power supply 11 of the aerosol generating device 1, preheating states of the heater 18 or 24, an insertion/removal state of the aerosol generating article and/or the cartridge, a mounting and/or removal state of the cap, or a state in which use of the aerosol generating device 1 is limited (e.g., detection of an abnormal article). The display may visually provide the information about the state of the aerosol generating device 1 to the user. For example, the display may include a light-emitting diode (LED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), etc. When the display includes a touch pad, the display may also be used as an input unit 15. A haptic unit may tactually provide the information about the state of the aerosol generating device 1 to the user. For example, the haptic unit may include a vibration motor, a piezoelectric element, an electrical stimulation device, etc. The sound output unit may acoustically provide the information about the aerosol generating device 1 to the user. For example, the sound output unit may convert an electrical signal into a sound signal and may output the sound signal to the outside.

According to an embodiment, the power supply 11 may output power for operating the aerosol generating device 1. The power supply 11 may include one or more batteries. The power supply 11 may supply power so that the heater 18 or 24 may be heated. In addition, the power supply 11 may supply power required for operations of the controller 12, the sensor unit 13, the output unit 14, the input unit 15, the communication unit 16, the memory 17, etc. which are other components included in the aerosol generating device 1. The power supply 11 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the power supply 11 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but embodiments are not limited thereto. The power supply 11 may be a rechargeable (separate-type) battery (hereinafter, a detachable battery. The detachable battery may be mounted on a battery accommodation part provided within the aerosol generating device 1, or may be removed from the battery accommodation part. The detachable battery may be charged either via wire or wirelessly.

According to an embodiment, the heater 18 or 24 may heat a medium and/or an aerosol generating material within the aerosol generating article and/or the cartridge by receiving power from the power supply 11. The aerosol generating device 1 may include a heater 18 for heating the aerosol generating article and/or a cartridge heater 24 for heating the cartridge (i.e., a solid and/or liquid medium).

According to an embodiment, the heater 18 or 24 may be electro-resistive heaters. For example, the electro-resistive heaters may include an electro-resistive material, such as a metal including titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, nichrome, or the like, or a metal alloy. The electro-resistive heaters may be implemented using a metal heating wire, a metal heating plate on which an electric conductive track is disposed, a ceramic heating body, or the like.

According to an embodiment, the heater 18 or 24 may be induction heating heaters. For example, the induction heating heaters may include a susceptor that generates heat through a magnetic field. The magnetic field may be generated from an induction coil by an AC current flowing through the induction coil. The generated magnetic field may penetrates a heater and an eddy current may be generated by the susceptor. The susceptor may be heated based on the generation of the eddy current. According to an embodiment, the susceptor may be included within the aerosol generating article (e.g., the medium portion). Even in this case, the susceptor included within the aerosol generating article may be heated by the induction coil.

The heater 18 or 24 are not limited to the aforementioned examples, and may include or be replaced with various heating methods, structures, components, etc. for heating the aerosol generating article and/or the cartridge.

According to an embodiment, the input unit 15 may receive information input by the user. For example, the input unit 15 may include a touch panel, a button, a keypad, a dome switch, a jog wheel, a jog switch, etc.

According to an embodiment, the memory 17 is hardware for storing various kinds of data processed in the aerosol generating device 1, and may store pieces of data that have been processed and are to be processed by the controller 12. For example, the memory 17 may include at least one type of storage medium selected from among a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (for example, a secure digital (SD) or extreme digital (XD) memory), a random access memory (RAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk. For example, the memory 17 may store data about an operating time of the aerosol generating device 1, a maximum number of puffs, a current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, and the user's smoking pattern.

According to an embodiment, the communication unit 16 may include at least one component for communication with another electronic device (e.g., a portable electronic apparatus). For example, the communication unit 16 may include a Bluetooth communication unit, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication unit, an Near Field Communication (NFC) communication unit, a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication unit, a ZigBee communication unit, an infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication unit, a Wireless Fidelity Direct (WFD) communication unit, an ultra wideband (UWB) communication unit, an Adaptive Network Topology (Ant)+ communication unit, a cellular network communication unit, an Internet communication unit, a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN) communication unit, etc.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control overall operations of the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the controller 12 may include at least one processor. The controller 12 may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates, or as a combination of a general-use micro controller unit (MCU) (or a microprocessor) and a memory in which a program executable by the general-use MCU is stored. It will also be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present embodiment pertains that the controller 12 may be implemented as other types of hardware.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control supplying of the power of the power supply 11 to the heater 18 or 24, thereby controlling the temperatures of the heater 18 or 24. The controller 12 may control the temperatures of the heater 18 or 24 and/or power supplied to the heater 18 or 24, based on the temperatures of the heater 18 or 24 detected using the temperature sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13). The controller 12 may control the temperatures of the heater 18 or 24 and/or the power supplied to the heater 18 or 24, based on a temperature profile and/or a power profile stored in the memory 17.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control power (e.g., a voltage and/or a current) supplied to the heater 18 or 24 by controlling a power conversion circuit (not shown) electrically connected to the heater 18 or 24 and the power supply 11. For example, the power conversion circuit may include a DC/DC converter (e.g., a buck converter, a buck-boost converter, a boost converter, or a Zener diode) that converts power that is to be supplied to the heater 18 or 24, and a DC/AC converter (e.g., an inverter) that converts power that is to be supplied to an induction coil (not shown). The DC/AC inverter may be implemented as a full-bridge circuit or half-bridge circuit including a plurality of switching elements. For example, the power conversion circuit may include at least one switching element, such as a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) and a field effect transistor (FET).

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control the current and/or voltage supplied to the heater 18 or 24 by controlling the frequency and/or duty ratio of a current pulse input to the at least one switching element of the power conversion circuit. A duty ratio with respect to an on/off operation of the switching element may correspond to a ratio of an output voltage of the power conversion circuit to an output voltage of the power supply 11.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control power that is supplied to the heater 18 or 24, by using at least one method among 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 a duty ratio to be supplied to the heater 18 or 24, by using the PWM method. The controller 12 may control the power supplied to the heater 18 or 24, by adjusting the frequency and duty ratio of the current pulse. For example, the controller 12 may determine a target temperature that is a target of control, based on the temperature profile. The controller 12 may control the power supplied to the heater 18 or 24, by using a PID method, which is a feedback control method using a difference value between the temperatures of the heater 18 or 24 and the target temperature thereof, a value obtained by integrating the difference value according to the flow of time, and a value obtained by differentiating the difference value according to the flow of time.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may determine target power that is a target of control, based on the power profile. The controller 12 may control the power supplied to the heater 18 or 24 to correspond to preset target power, according to the flow of time.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may detect the user's puff by detecting the power supplied to the heater 18 or 24. In more detail, the controller 12 may control the power supplied to the heater 18 or 24, by using the PID method. When the user' puff occurs, a temporary temperature drop may occur in a space where the aerosol generating article is inserted (hereinafter, the insertion space), the heater 18 or 24, etc. Accordingly, a change may occur in the power (or current) supplied to the heater 18 or 24 during power control using the PID method. The controller 12 may detect the user's puff, based on a change in the power that is controlled.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may prevent the heater 18 or 24 from being heated. For example, the controller 12 may control an operation of the power conversion circuit so that the amount of the power supplied to the heater 18 or 24 is reduced or the power supply to the heater 18 or 24 is stopped, based on the temperatures of the heater 18 or 24 exceeding a preset limit temperature.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control charging/discharging of the power supply 11. For example, the controller 12 may check the temperature of the power supply 11 by using the temperature sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13). When the temperature of the power supply 11 is equal to or greater than a first limit temperature, the controller 12 may block charging of the power supply 11. When the temperature of the power supply 11 is greater than or equal to a second limit temperature, the controller 12 may stop using (e.g., discharging) the power stored in the power supply 11. The controller 12 may calculate the remaining capacity of the power stored in the power supply 11. For example, the controller 12 may calculate the remaining capacity of the power supply 11, based on a voltage and/or current sensing value of the power supply 11.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control supply of power to the heater 18 or 24, based on a result of the sensing performed by the sensor 13.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control supply of power to the heater 18 or 24, based on insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article into and/or the insertion space. For example, when it is determined using the insertion detection sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13) that the aerosol generating article has been inserted into the insertion space, the controller 12 may control power to be supplied to the heater 18 or 24. When it is determined using the insertion detection sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13) that the aerosol generating article has been removed from the insertion space, the controller 12 may block the supply of power to the heater 18 or 24. When the temperatures of the heater 18 or 24 are equal to or greater than a limit temperature or temperature change slopes of the heater 18 or 24 are equal to or greater than a set slope, the controller 12 may determine that the aerosol generating article has been removed from the insertion space.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control power supply time periods and/or power supply amounts for the heater 18 or 24, based on the state of the aerosol generating article. For example, when it is determined using the overwetting detection sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13) that the aerosol generating article is in an overwetting state, the controller 12 may increase the power supply time periods (e.g., preheating time periods) for the heater 18 or 24.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control supply of power to the heater 18 or 24, based on reuse or non-reuse of the aerosol generating article. For example, when it is determined that the aerosol generating article has been used, the controller 12 may block supply of power to the heater 18 or 24.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control supply of power to the heater 18 or 24, based on attachment and/or removal of the cartridge. For example, when it is determined using the cartridge detection sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13) that the cartridge is in a separated state, the controller 12 may block supply of power to the heater 18 or 24 or may control power to be not supplied to the heater 18 or 24.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control supply of power to the heater 18 or 24, based on whether the aerosol generating material of the cartridge has been exhausted. For example, when it is determined that the temperatures of the heater 18 or 24 exceed the limit temperature while the heater 18 or 24 are being preheated (i.e., in a preheating section), the controller 12 may determine that the aerosol generating material in the cartridge has been exhausted. When it is determined that the aerosol generating material of the cartridge has been exhausted, the controller 12 may cut off the supply of power to the heater 18 or 24.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control the supply of power to the heater 18 or 24, based on whether use of the cartridge is possible. For example, when it is determined based on data stored in the memory 17 that a current number of puffs is equal to or greater than a maximum number of puffs set in the cartridge, the controller 12 may determine that the use of the cartridge is not possible. For example, when a total time period during which the heater 18 or 24 are heated is greater than or equal to a preset maximum time period or a total amount of power supplied to the heater 18 or 24 is greater than or equal to a preset maximum power amount, the controller 12 may determine that the use of the cartridge is not possible. In this case, the controller 12 may block supply of power to the heater 18 or 24 or may control power to be not supplied to the heater 18 or 24.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control the supply of power to the heater 18 or 24, based on the user's puff. For example, the controller 12 may determine occurrence or non-occurrence of a puff and/or the intensity of the puff, by using the puff sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13). When the number of puffs reaches the preset maximum of puffs or puffs are not sensed for a preset time period or more, the controller 12 may cut off the supply of power to the heater 18 or 24. When a puff is sensed, the controller 12 may control the supply of power to the heater 18 or 24.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control supply of power to the heater 18 or 24, based on authenticity of the aerosol generating article (or the cartridge) and/or the type of the aerosol generating article. For example, the controller 12 may detect authenticity or of the aerosol generating article and/or the type of the aerosol generating article, by using the cigarette identification sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13). For example, when the aerosol generating article (or the cartridge) is detected as counterfeit, the controller 12 may block supply of power to the heater 18 or 24. When the aerosol generating article (or the cartridge) is detected as authentic, the controller 12 may control (e.g., start) supply of power to the heater 18 or 24. As another example, the controller 12 may differently control power supply to the heater 18 or 24 according to the types of aerosol generating article (or cartridge). In more detail, when the aerosol generating article (or the cartridge) is detected as a first aerosol generating article (or a first cartridge), the controller 12 may control the temperatures and/or power of the heater 18 or 24, based on a first temperature profile (or a first power profile), and, when the aerosol generating article (or cartridge) is detected as a second aerosol generating article (or a second cartridge), may control the temperatures and/or power of the heater 18 or 24, based on a second temperature profile (or a second power profile).

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control the output unit 14, based on a result of the sensing performed by the sensor unit 13. For example, when the number of puffs counted using the puff sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13) reaches a preset number, the controller 12 may control the output unit 14 to visually, tactually, and/or acoustically provide information indicating that the aerosol generating device 1 is about to be terminated. For example, the controller 12 may control the output unit 14 to visually, tactually, and/or acoustically provide information about the temperatures of the heater 18 or 24.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may store and update a history of an event occurred in the memory 17, based on certain event occurrence. For example, the event may include insertion detection of the aerosol generating article, heating start of the aerosol generating article, puff detection, puff end, overheat detection of the heater 18 or 24, detection of overvoltage application to the heater 18 or 24, heating end of the aerosol generating article, an operation such as power on/off of the aerosol generation device 1, charging start of the power supply 11, detection of overcharging of the power supply 11, and charging end of the power supply 11, which are performed by the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the history of the event may include, for example, a date and time of the event, and log data corresponding to the event. For example, when a predetermined event is insertion detection of the aerosol generating article, log data corresponding to the event may include data for a sensing value, etc. of the insertion detection sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13). For example, when the predetermined event is overheating detection of the heater 18 or 24, the log data corresponding to the event may include data about, for example, the temperature of the heater 18 or 24, the voltage applied to the heater 18 or 24, and the current flowing through the heater 18 or 24.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control the communication unit 16 to form a communication link with an external device, such as the user's mobile terminal.

According to an embodiment, when receiving data on authentication from the external device through the communication link, the controller 12 may dismiss limitation of the use of at least one function (e.g., a heating function) of the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the data on authentication may include the user's birthday, a unique number representing the user, and completion or non-completion of authentication of the user.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may transmit data on the state of the aerosol generating device 1 (e.g., a remaining capacity of the power supply 11, and an operating mode) to the external device via the communication link. The transmitted data may be output through, for example, a display of the external device.

According to an embodiment, when a request for a location search of the aerosol generating device 1 is received from the external device via the communication link, the controller 12 may control the communication unit 16 to perform an operation corresponding to the location search. For example, the controller 12 may control the haptic unit to generate vibration, or may control the display to output an object corresponding to the location search and a search end.

According to an embodiment, when receiving firmware data from the external device via the communication link, the controller 12 may perform firmware update.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may transmit data on a sensing value of at least one sensor unit 13 to an external server (not shown) through the communication link, and may receive and store a learning model generated by learning sensing values from a server through machine learning, such as deep learning. The controller 12 may perform, for example, an operation of determining the user's inhaling pattern and an operation of generating a temperature profile, by using the learning model received from the server.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a power supply protection circuit. The power protection circuit may include at least one switching element, and may cut off transmission path to the power supply 11 in response to overcharging and/or overdischarging of the power supply 11. The aerosol generating device 1 may further include a connection interface, such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and may transmit/receive information by being connected to another external device through the connection interface, or may charge the power supply 11.

The aerosol generating article as described herein may include at least one aerosol generating rod (e.g., a medium portion) and at least one filter rod. The heater 18 may be arranged to correspond to the at least one aerosol generating rod, and may be designed differently according to arrangement orders and/or locations of the aerosol generating rod and the filter rod. The aerosol generating rod may include at least one of nicotine, an aerosol generating material, and additives. For example, the aerosol generating material may include glycerin (e.g., vegetable glycerin (VG)) and/or propylene glycol (PG), but may also include various other materials. For example, the additives may include flavors and/or organic acid, and may also include various other materials. For example, the aerosol generating rod may include an aerosol generating substrate (e.g., a sheet) impregnated with a liquid non-tobacco material (e.g., an aerosol generating material and/or nicotine), and/or may include a solid tobacco material (e.g., leaf tobacco and reconstituted tobacco). The tobacco material may be included in the aerosol generating rod in various forms, such as Cut Tobacco, granules, or powder. According to an embodiment, the additives of the aerosol generating rod may include an alkaline substance. Based on the basic material, the nicotine of the tobacco material included in the aerosol generating rod may have an alkaline pH (e.g., pH 7.0 or higher). In this case, freebase nicotine may be released from the aerosol generating rod even at low temperature. According to an embodiment, the aerosol generating rod may include two or more aerosol generating rods, wherein the two or more aerosol generating rods may include a tobacco material and/or a non-tobacco material, respectively. Although not shown, at least one aerosol generating rod and at least one filter rod may be individually and/or integrally wrapped by at least one wrapper. In the disclosure, the aerosol generating article may be referred to as a stick.

The cartridge mentioned in the disclosure may contain an aerosol generating material in any one state among 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 may be a liquid including a non-tobacco material. The cartridge may include a storage containing an aerosol generating material and/or a liquid delivery unit impregnated with (containing) the aerosol-generating material. For example, the liquid delivery unit may include a wick or the like, such as a cotton fiber, a ceramic fiber, a glass fiber, or porous ceramic. The cartridge heater 24 may be included in the cartridge, as a coil-shaped structure that is wound around the liquid delivery unit or in a structure in contact with one side of the liquid delivery unit. Alternatively, the cartridge heater 24 may be included in an aerosol generating device 1 that is separable from the cartridge.

FIG. 2 illustrates an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 illustrates an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

According to an embodiment, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a housing 10, the power supply 11, the controller 12, the sensor unit 13, and/or a heater 182 or 183 (e.g., the heater 18 of FIG. 1). However, the components included in the aerosol generating device 1 are not limited to those shown in FIGS. 2 or 3. It may be understood by those skilled in the art that some of the components shown in FIGS. 2 or 3 may be omitted or new components may be added. The aerosol generating device 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 may be referred to as an 'internal heating type' aerosol generating device that heats the inside of an aerosol generating article 2. The aerosol generating device 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 may be referred to as an 'external heating type' aerosol generating device that heats the outside of the aerosol generating article 2. In the drawings below, any description that overlaps with FIG. 1 will be omitted.

According to an embodiment, the housing 10 may provide a space opened upward so that the aerosol generating article 2 may be inserted. In the disclosure, the upwardly-opened space may be referred to as an insertion space. The insertion space may be recessed toward the inside of the body 10 by a certain depth so that at least a portion of the aerosol generating article 2 may be inserted thereinto. The depth of the insertion space may be equal to or greater than a length of a region in the aerosol generating article 2, in which an aerosol generating material and/or a medium is included. A lower end of the aerosol generating article 2 may be inserted into the housing 10, and an upper end of the aerosol generating article 2 may protrude to the outside of the housing 10. A user may inhale aerosol by holding, in his or her mouth, the upper end of the aerosol generating article 2 exposed to the outside.

According to an embodiment, the heaters 182 and 183 may heat the aerosol generating article 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, the heater 182 may be implemented as an internal heating heater.

According to an embodiment, the internal heating heater may extend long upward in a space (i.e., the insertion space) into which the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the internal heating heater may include a rod-shaped heating element or a needle-shaped heating element. However, the internal heating heater may include any of various heating elements, such as a tube-shaped heating element or a plate-shaped heating element. The internal heating heater may be inserted through a lower side of the aerosol generating article 2.

According to an embodiment, the internal heating heater may include an electrically resistive heater and/or an induction heating heater.

For example, the electrically resistive heater may include an electrically resistive material on the inside (e.g., an inner hollow or an inner surface) or the outside (e.g., an outer surface), and may be heated as a current flows through the electrically resistive material. In this case, the electrically resistive heater may be electrically connected to the power supply 11, and may directly generate heat by receiving a current from the power supply 11. An induction coil 181 may be omitted.

For example, in the case of induction heating heaters, the aerosol generating device 1 may include the induction coil 181 surrounding at least a portion of the internal heating heater (e.g., being positioned outside to correspond to a length of at least a portion of the heater). In this case, a magnetic flux concentrator, etc. may be further included on the outside of the induction coil 181 in order to increase the efficiency of induction heating. An induction heating heater may include a susceptor, and may generate heat based on a magnetic field generated by the induction coil 181. According to an embodiment, the induction heating heater (e.g., a susceptor) (or a heater module including the induction heating heater) may be arranged to be detachable from the housing 10.

According to an embodiment, the heater 181 may be multiple heaters. The multiple heaters may include a first heater and a second heater, and may be inserted into the aerosol generating article 2. The first heater and the second heater may be arranged in parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction. The first heater and the second heater may operate as electrically resistive heaters and/or induction heating heaters, and may be sequentially heated or may be simultaneously heated. In this case, the first heater and the second heater may be respectively arranged at locations corresponding to longitudinal locations of two or more aerosol generating rods. Alternatively, the first heater and the second heater may be respectively arranged at locations corresponding to longitudinal locations of a first portion and a second portion of one aerosol generating rod. When the heater 182 is an induction heating heater, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a first induction coil and a second induction coil, and the first induction coil and the second induction coil may be respectively arranged at locations corresponding to longitudinal locations of the first heater and the second heater. Alternatively, the first heater and the second heater may be respectively arranged at locations corresponding to longitudinal locations of a first portion and a second portion of the one heater 182. Three or more heaters and/or three or more induction coils may be included.

According to an embodiment, a susceptor may be disposed (or included) in the inside (e.g., the medium portion) of the aerosol generating article 2, and the susceptor included within the aerosol generating article 2 may be implemented to generate heat, based on the magnetic field generated by the induction coil 181.

Referring to FIG. 3, the heater 183 may be an external heating heater.

According to an embodiment, the external heating heater may extend long upward around a space (i.e., the insertion space) into which the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted. For example, the external heating heater may be disposed to surround at least a portion of the insertion space. For example, the external heating heater may include a tubular shape (e.g., a cylindrical shape) including a hollow therein. The external heating heater may have a shape including a hollow on the inside and surrounding the hollow. In this case, the external heating heater may be supported by a polyimide film. A heater supported by such a film may be referred to as a film heater. The external heating heater may be disposed to surround at least a portion of the insertion space. The external heating heater may heat the outside of the aerosol generating article 2 inserted into the hollow.

According to an embodiment, the external heating heater may include an electrically resistive heater and/or an induction heating heater. A description of FIG. 3 that overlaps with FIG. 2 will be omitted. In the case of induction heating heaters, the aerosol generating device 1 may include an external heating heater implemented as a tube-shaped susceptor, and may include the induction coil 181 surrounding at least a portion of the external heating heater (e.g., being positioned outside to correspond to a length of at least a portion of the heater). The induction coil 181 may include a fan coil. When the external heating heater is an electrically resistive heater, heat generation is possible through a current flow on a tube-shaped electrically resistive heater (e.g., a film heater), and thus the separate induction coil 181 may be omitted. Insulation may also be disposed on the outside of the external heating heater. Accordingly, the heat radiated outward by the heater 183 and applied to the outside of the housing 10 may be reduced.

According to one embodiment, the heater 183 may be multiple heaters, and the first heater and the second heater may be arranged side by side along the longitudinal direction so as to each surround at least a portion of the insertion space. The first heater and the second heater may operate as electrically resistive heaters and/or induction heating heaters, and may be sequentially heated or may be simultaneously heated. When the heater 183 is an induction heating heater, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a first induction coil and a second induction coil, and the first induction coil and the second induction coil may be respectively arranged at locations corresponding to longitudinal locations of the first heater and the second heater. Alternatively, the first heater and the second heater may be respectively arranged at locations corresponding to longitudinal locations of a first portion and a second portion of the one heater 183.

Unlike what shown in FIGS. 2 or 3, the heater 182 of FIG. 2 and the heater 183 of FIG. 3 may be included together in the aerosol generating device 1. In this case, the heater 182 may heat the inside of the aerosol generating article 2, and the heater 183 may heat the outside of the aerosol generating article 2.

According to an embodiment, the aerosol generating device 1 may be provided with an airflow channel through which air flows. For example, the housing 10 may include a structure (e.g., a hole) in which air may be introduced from the outside into the housing 10. The air introduced into the housing 10 may be introduced into the aerosol generating article 2 through the lower end (i.e., an upstream side) of the aerosol generating article 2. Aerosol generated based on the heating of the aerosol generating article 2, together with the introduced air, may be inhaled into the user's mouth through the upper end (i.e., the downstream side) of the aerosol generating article 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a heater assembly according to an embodiment.

In FIG. 4, an example is illustrated in which the heater 18 is an external heating type that heats the outside of the aerosol generating article 2. However, the heater 18 of the disclosure is not limited thereto, and as long as the aerosol generating device 1 has a hole h1 for accommodating the aerosol generating article 2 and heats the aerosol generating article 2 in an induction heating method, the heater 18 of the disclosure is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 4. In other words, the heater 18 may be applied to the internal heating method described with reference to FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 4, the heater 18 may be arranged within the housing 10. The heater 18 may be referred to as a heater assembly. The heater 18 may have a tube shape or a cylinder shape having a hole therein. The heater 18 may surround the hole h1. The hole h1 may be referred to as an insertion space and provided by the heater 18. The heater 18 may heat the hole h1 or the aerosol generating article 2 inserted into the hole h1.

The heater 18 may include a flange 180, a susceptor 183, the coil 181 and a blocking member 184. Hereinafter, the coil 181 may refer to the induction coil 181 shown in FIGS. 2 to 3.

The flange 180 may be coupled to the housing 10. The susceptor 183 may be attached to or press-fitted into the flange 180. The flange 180 may support the susceptor 183. The hole h1 may be formed by the coupling of flange 180 and the susceptor 183.

The susceptor 183 may be a component corresponding to the heater 183 of FIG. 3. The susceptor 183 may be located at the innermost side of the heater 18. The susceptor 183 may have a cylinder shape. The susceptor 183 may be coupled to the flange 180 and may extend in the up and down directions of the aerosol generating device 1. The susceptor 183 may be arranged inside the coil 181 and may surround at least part of the hole h1. At least part of the inner circumferential surface of the susceptor 183 may be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol generating article 2 inserted into the hole h1. The susceptor 183 may include metal or carbon. The susceptor 183 may include at least one of ferrite, ferromagnetic alloy, stainless steel, and aluminum (Al). Furthermore, the susceptor 183 may include at least one of ceramic, such as graphite, molybdenum, silicon carbide, niobium, nickel alloy, a metal film, or zirconia, a transition metal, such as nickel (Ni) or cobalt (Co), and a semimetal, such as boron (B) or phosphorus (P).

The coil 181 may be arranged outside the susceptor 183. The coil 181 may surround at least part of the susceptor 183. According to an embodiment, an insulator (not shown) may be arranged between the susceptor 183 and the coil 181. The insulator may be formed of a material with flexibility and heat resistance. The insulator may include polyimide or polyetheretherketone (PEEK), but not limited thereto, and may include other materials with elasticity, heat resistance, and electrical insulation. The coil 181 may receive power from the power supply 11 to generate an induced magnetic field. The induced magnetic field may be referred to as an alternating magnetic field whose direction changes periodically.

When the induced magnetic field is applied to the susceptor 183, energy loss may occur in the susceptor 183 according to eddy current loss and hysteresis loss, and lost energy may be discharged, as heat energy, from the susceptor 183. As the amplitude or frequency of the induced magnetic field applied to the susceptor 183 increases, a lot of heat energy may be discharged from the susceptor 183. As such, the aerosol generating article 2 in contact with the susceptor 183 may be heated by the heat generated by the susceptor 183.

The susceptor 183 may be manufactured to converge to a certain saturation temperature at a preset induced magnetic field intensity. For this purpose, the susceptor 183 may be manufactured to have a preset power per cubic millimeter (w/mm³). This may be achieved by performing a heat treatment operation, a magnetic field supply operation, and a gas (e.g., nitrogen, argon, etc.) providing operation during the manufacturing of the susceptor 183. In an embodiment, the temperature of the susceptor 183 may converge to any temperature selected from a range of 270°C to 280°C at any magnetic field intensity selected from a range of 4T (tesla) to 5T. Furthermore, the temperature of the susceptor 183 may converge to any temperature selected from a range of 240°C to 250°C at any magnetic field intensity selected from a range of 3T to 4T. Furthermore, the temperature of the susceptor 183 may converge to any temperature selected from a range of 230°C to 240°C at any magnetic field intensity selected from a range of 2T to 3T. Furthermore, the temperature of the susceptor 183 may converge to any temperature selected from a range of 220°C to 230°C at any magnetic field intensity selected from a range of 1T to 2T. The estimation of the temperature of the susceptor 183 according to the intensity of a magnetic field may be possible based on the temperature saturation of the susceptor 183.

The flange 180 may include an aperture h2. The aperture h2 may be formed on one side of the flange 180 and communicated with the hole h1. The aerosol generating article 2 may be inserted into the hole h1. The external air may be introduced through the aperture h2 and flow into the aerosol generating article 2 that is heated, through an end portion of the aerosol generating article 2.

The blocking member 184 may surround at least part of the outer circumferential surface of the coil 181. The blocking member 184 may prevent the induced magnetic field generated by the coil 181 from being discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 1. That the induced magnetic field is blocked from being discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 1 may mean that the intensity of the induced magnetic field discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 1 is reduced. The blocking member 184 may increase the magnetic field density in the blocking member 184 more than the magnetic field density outside the blocking member 184, by reflecting, scattering, and distorting the induced magnetic field. For this purpose, the blocking member 184 may include a Cu-based or Fe-based soft magnetic alloy. The blocking member 184 may reduce an extent to which the induced magnetic field propagates beyond the blocking member 184. As such, as the blocking member 184 performs the function of a magnetic flux concentrator, the heating efficiency of the aerosol generating device 1 may be increased.

According to an embodiment, an insulator (not shown) may be arranged between the coil 181 and the blocking member 184. The insulator may be formed of a material with flexibility and heat resistance. The insulator may include polyimide or PEEK, but not limited thereto, and may include other materials with elasticity, heat resistance, and electrical insulation.

A magnetic field sensor 131 may be arranged close to the coil 181. The magnetic field sensor 131 may be arranged to be in contact with a partial area of the lower side of the coil 181. As the magnetic field sensor 131 is arranged in the area farthest from the opening of the hole h1, the induced magnetic field actually output from the coil 181 may be accurately detected. In an embodiment, the blocking member 184 may have a recess at a position corresponding to the partial area of the lower side of the coil 181. The magnetic field sensor 131 may be placed in the recess of the blocking member 184 such that a partial area of magnetic field sensor 131 is exposed to the coil 181. In another embodiment, when the blocking member 184 has high ductility and malleability, the blocking member 184 may press the magnetic field sensor 131 arranged in the lower side of the coil 181 in a direction toward the coil 181. As the blocking member 184 prevents the induced magnetic field generated by the coil 181 from being discharged to the outside, the magnetic field sensor 131 may accurately detect the induced magnetic field actually output from the coil 181.

The controller 12 may obtain, from the magnetic field sensor 131, information about the intensity of the induced magnetic field actually output from the coil 181. The controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the magnetic field intensity. As such, the aerosol generating device 1 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 in a non-contact manner. Furthermore, as the aerosol generating device 1 estimates the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field actually output from the coil 181, not on indirect factors, such as impedance of a resonance circuit, accurate estimation of the temperature of the susceptor 183 is possible. In the following description, a method of estimating the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field is described below in detail.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a partial configuration of an aerosol generating device for describing a temperature estimation method according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates only components related to the estimation of the temperature of the susceptor 183. However, the aerosol generating device 1 of the disclosure may include components other than the components shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, the aerosol generating device 1 may include the power supply 11, a power converter 111, the coil 181, the magnetic field sensor 131, a current sensor 132, and the controller 12.

The power supply 11 may provide DC power. The power supply 11 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery that provides DC power, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. According to an embodiment, the power supply 11 may be a detachable battery.

The power converter 111 may be electrically connected to the power supply 11. The power converter 111 may include at least one switching element and convert the DC power to AC power. For this purpose, the power converter 111 may be configured as a full- bridge or half-bridge circuit.

The coil 181 may generate an induced magnetic field whose direction changes periodically by AC power. The susceptor 183 may be heated by the induced magnetic field.

The controller 12 may control the power supply 11 or the power converter 111 to control the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on a temperature profile stored in a memory 17. The temperature profile may include information about a target temperature of each of a preheating section and a smoking section after the preheating section. The controller 12 may control power supplied to the coil 181 based on the target temperature of each of the preheating section and the smoking section. That the controller 12 controls the power supplied to the coil 181 may have the meaning that the controller 12 controls the DC power output from the power supply 11 or the AC power output from the power converter 111. In an embodiment, the controller 12 may control the DC power output from the power supply 11 through a first signal Si1. Alternatively, the controller 12 may control the AC power output from the power converter 111 through a second signal Si2.

The magnetic field sensor 131 may be arranged close to the coil 181 to detect the intensity of the induced magnetic field output from the coil 181. For example, the magnetic field sensor 131 may include at least one Hall sensor. The magnetic field sensor 131 may transmit information Md about the intensity of the induced magnetic field to the controller 12.

The memory 17 may store a correspondence between the intensity of the induced magnetic field and the temperature of the susceptor 183. The correspondence between the intensity of the induced magnetic field and the temperature of the susceptor 183 may be stored in the form of a lookup table. In an embodiment, as the intensity of the induced magnetic field increases, the temperature of the susceptor 183 may increase.

The controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the lookup table stored in the memory 17. In an embodiment, the controller 12 may determine that the temperature of the susceptor 183 increases as the intensity of the induced magnetic field increases.

The temperature of the susceptor 183 does not converge simultaneously with the output of the induced magnetic field. In other words, when a sufficient time is given in the state where a certain induced magnetic field is output, the temperature of the susceptor 183 may converge to a certain temperature, but until the temperature of the susceptor 183 converges to a certain temperature, the temperature of the susceptor 183 may increase or decrease. As such, in spite that the temperature of the susceptor 183 has a temperature increase section or a temperature decrease section, when the temperature of the susceptor 183 is determined with only the intensity of the induced magnetic field, an inaccurate temperature of the susceptor 183 may be derived. In order to solve such an issue, according to the disclosure, a temperature converging section may be estimated through the current sensor 132.

In detail, the susceptor 183 in view of the power supply 11 or the power converter 111 may be reflected as an impedance component. Furthermore, the impedance of the susceptor 183 may vary corresponding to a change in the temperature of the susceptor 183. For example, the impedance of the susceptor 183 may increase corresponding to the increase in the temperature of the susceptor 183. The change in the impedance of the susceptor 183 may cause a current change in the circuit as viewed from the power supply 11 of power converter 111 toward the output side (e.g., coil). In other words, the change in the impedance of the susceptor 183 may change the AC current flowing in the coil 181. Reversely, when the temperature of the susceptor 183 converges to a certain temperature, the impedance of the susceptor 183 may be maintained within a certain range. Accordingly, the AC current flowing in the coil 181 may be maintained within a certain range. The change in the AC current flowing in the coil 181 as described above may be described as a change in the resonance frequency according to the impedance change.

The current sensor 132 may be provided to detect the change in the impedance of the susceptor 183. The current sensor 132 may include at least one Shunt resistance and detect the AC current flowing in the coil 181. The current sensor 132 may transmit information Id about the AC current flowing in the coil 181 to the controller 12.

The controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the information Id about the AC current flowing in the coil 181. The controller 12 may obtain the information Md about the intensity of the induced magnetic field from the magnetic field sensor 131 based on the detection result of the current sensor 132. In an embodiment, when the AC current flowing in the coil 181 is maintained within a preset range, the controller 12 may request the information Md about the intensity of the induced magnetic field from the magnetic field sensor 131 and obtain the information. Alternatively, when the AC current flowing in the coil 181 is maintained within a preset range, the controller 12 may use the obtained information Md about the intensity of the induced magnetic field for the estimation of the temperature of the susceptor 183.

When the amount (or magnitude) of the AC current flowing in the coil 181 is maintained within a preset range, the controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field. In an embodiment, the magnitude of the AC current may mean any one of the maximum value, the average value, and the root mean square (RMS) value of the AC current. Furthermore, the preset range may be appropriately set according to the inductance and temperature profile of the coil 181. For example, when the inductance of the coil 181 is 3.2 uH, a first range of the preheating section may be selected from 70 mA to 90 mA, and second ranges of the smoking section may be selected from 90 mA to 120 mA. Alternatively, the preset range may mean a case in which the measured AC current is maintained in a deviation range selected from a range of 0 mA to 20 mA.

In the following description, the method of estimating the temperature of the susceptor 183 according to the temperature profile is described in detail.

FIG. 6 is a temperature profile of the aerosol generating device 1 for describing a temperature estimation method according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a graph showing the output of the current sensor 132 for describing a temperature estimation method in the preheating section of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a graph showing the output of the current sensor 132 for describing a temperature estimation method in the smoking section of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 6, the actual temperature of the susceptor 183 according to the target temperature is schematically illustrated. The controller 12 may control the temperature of the susceptor 183 according to the temperature profile stored in the memory 17. The temperature profile may include information about the target temperature of each of the preheating section and the smoking section.

The controller 12 may control the power supplied to the coil 181 based on a target preheating temperature Tp until a first time t1 that is the preheating section. The coil 181 may generate the induced magnetic field under the control of the controller 12. For example, the coil 181 may output the induced magnetic field having an intensity of 4.5T in the preheating section.

When heating starts, the susceptor 183 may be heated by the induced magnetic field output from the coil 181. The temperature of the susceptor 183 may increase until a rise time ta. A section from a heating start point to the rise time ta may be referred to as a first section S1. The temperature of the susceptor 183 may reach the target preheating temperature Tp at the rise time ta. Furthermore, the temperature of the susceptor 183 may be maintained at the target preheating temperature Tp until the first time t1. A section from the rise time ta to the first time t1 may be referred to as a second section S2. As such, in the preheating section, the intensity of the induced magnetic field output by the coil 181 may be constant both in the first section S1 and the second section S2. In contrast, it may be seen that the temperature of the susceptor 183 is not constant, but gradually increases in the first section S1. Accordingly, when the temperature of the susceptor 183 is estimated with only the intensity of the induced magnetic field, the actual temperature of the susceptor 183 may not match the estimation temperature of the susceptor 183. In order to solve such an issue, according to the disclosure, the detection result of the current sensor 132 may be used. The controller 12 may set the detection result of the current sensor 132 as a prerequisite for the estimation of the temperature of the susceptor 183.

Referring to FIG. 7, a graph shows a change in the AC current of the coil 181 according to the change in the impedance of the susceptor 183 in the preheating section. In FIG. 7, the rise time ta may correspond to the rise time ta of FIG. 6, and the first time t1 may correspond to the first time t1 of FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 7, the AC current flowing in the coil 181 may gradually decrease until the rise time ta. This is because the impedance of the circuit increases according to the increase in the temperature of the susceptor 183. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the AC current flowing in the coil 181 may be maintained from the rise time ta to the first time t1. This is because the impedance of the circuit is maintained constant as the temperature of the susceptor 183 is constant.

The controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of magnetic field obtained between the rise time ta and the first time t1. In other words, the controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field, in the second section S2 in which the AC current flowing in the coil 181 is maintained within a preset range. For example, the preset range may be selected from a range of 70 mA to 90 mA. Alternatively, the preset range may mean a case in which the measured AC current is maintained in a deviation range selected from a range of 0 mA to 20 mA.

The temperature of the susceptor 183 may be saturated to a certain temperature by the preset intensity of the induced magnetic field. Accordingly, the controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field. For example, when the coil 181 outputs the induced magnetic field having the intensity of 4.5T in the preheating section, the controller 12 may determine that the temperature of the susceptor 183 is 275°C.

Referring back to FIG. 6, the controller 12 may control the temperature of the susceptor 183 in the smoking section after the preheating section. The smoking section may include a plurality of sub-smoking sections in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 decreases step by step from the target preheating temperature Tp.

The controller 12 may control the power supplied to the coil 181, after the first time t1, based on target smoking temperatures (Ts1, Ts2, and Ts3; hereinafter, referred to as Ts when there is no need for distinction) that are lower than the target preheating temperature Tp and different from one another.

In detail, the controller 12 may control the power supplied to the coil 181 for a period from the first time t1 to a second time t2, which is a first sub-smoking section. The coil 181 may generate the induced magnetic field under the control of the controller 12. For example, the coil 181 may output the induced magnetic field having an intensity of 3.5T in the first sub-smoking section. Furthermore, the controller 12 may control the power supplied to the coil 181 based on a second target smoking temperature Ts2, for a period from the second time t2 to a third time t3, which is a second sub-smoking section. Accordingly, the coil 181 may output the induced magnetic field having an intensity of 2.5T in the second sub-smoking section. Furthermore, the controller 12 may control the power supplied to the coil 181 based on a third target smoking temperature Ts3 for a period from the third time t3 to a heat end point (not shown), which is a third sub-smoking section. Accordingly, the coil 181 may output the induced magnetic field having an intensity of 1.5T in the third sub-smoking section.

The susceptor 183 may be heated by the induced magnetic field in each of the sub-smoking sections. The temperature of the susceptor 183 may be reduced from the target preheating temperature Tp to each target smoking temperature Ts. Unlike the preheating section, the smoking section may include a third section (S3a, S3b, and S3c; hereinafter, referred to as S3 when there is no need for distinction) in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 decreases and a fourth section (S4a, S4b, and S4c; hereinafter, referred to as S4 when there is no need for distinction) in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 is maintained. For example, in FIG. 6, in the first sub-smoking section, the third section S3a is a section between the first time t1 and a first fall time tb, in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 decreased from the target preheating temperature Tp to the first target smoking temperature Ts1, and the fourth section S4a is a section between the first fall time tb and the second time t2, in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 is maintained at the first target smoking temperature Ts1. Furthermore, in the second sub-smoking section, the third section S3b is a section between the second time t2 and a second fall time tc, in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 decreases from the first target smoking temperature Ts1 to the second target smoking temperature Ts2, and the fourth section S4b is a section between the second fall time tc and the third time t3, in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 is maintained at the second target smoking temperature Ts2. Furthermore, in the third sub-smoking section, the third section S3c is a section between the third time t3 and a third fall time td, in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 decreases from the second target smoking temperature Ts2 to the third target smoking temperature Ts3, and the fourth section S4c is a section between the third fall time td and the heat end point, in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 is maintained at the third target smoking temperature Ts3.

As such, in each of the sub-smoking sections, although the intensity of the induced magnetic field output by the coil 181 is constant in both of the third section S3 and the fourth section S4, there is a section in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 is not maintained at a certain temperature. It is a difference from the preheating section that each of the sub-smoking sections includes the third section S3 in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 drops. Accordingly, in the smoking section, when the temperature of the susceptor 183 is estimated only by using the intensity of the induced magnetic field, the actual temperature of the susceptor 183 and the estimation temperature of the susceptor 183 may not match each other. In order to solve such an issue, according to the disclosure, the detection result of the current sensor 132 may be used in the smoking section. The controller 12 may set the detection result of the current sensor 132 as a prerequisite for the estimation of the temperature of the susceptor 183.

Although FIG. 8 is a graph showing only a change in the AC current of the coil 181 according to the change in the impedance of the susceptor 183 in the first sub-smoking section, the following description is applied to both of the second sub-smoking section and the third sub-smoking section.

Referring to FIG. 8, the first fall time tb in FIG. 8 may correspond to the first fall time tb in FIG. 6, and the second time t2 in FIG. 8 may correspond to the second time t2 in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 8, the AC current flowing in the coil 181 may gradually increase to the first fall time tb. This is because the impedance of the circuit decreases according to the decrease in the temperature of the susceptor 183. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, the AC current flowing in the coil 181 may be maintained from the first fall time tb to the second time t2. This is because, as the temperature of the susceptor 183 is constant, the impedance of the circuit is maintained constant.

The controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field obtained between the first fall time tb and the second time t2. In other words, the controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field, in the fourth section S4 in which the AC current flowing in the coil 181 is maintained within a preset range. For example, the preset range may be selected from a range of 90 mA to 120 mA. Alternatively, the preset range may mean a case in which the measured AC current is maintained in a deviation range selected from a range of 0 mA to 20 mA.

The temperature of the susceptor 183 may be saturated to a certain temperature by the preset intensity of the induced magnetic field. Accordingly, the controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field. For example, when the coil 181 outputs the induced magnetic field having the intensity of 3.5T in the first sub-smoking section, the controller 12 may determine that the temperature of the susceptor 183 is 245°C.

FIG. 9 is a temperature profile of an aerosol generating device for describing a temperature estimation method in a preheating section according to another embodiment. FIG. 10 is a graph showing an output of a current sensor for describing a temperature estimation method in the preheating section of FIG. 9.

The temperature profile of FIG. 9 has a difference only in the target temperature in the preheating section when compared to the temperature profile of FIG. 6. Accordingly, as the description of the smoking section in FIG. 9 is redundant to the description in FIG. 6, the description is omitted.

Referring to FIG. 9, the controller 12 may preheat the susceptor 183 step by step in the preheating section. In other words, the preheating section may include a plurality of sub-preheating sections to increase step by step the temperature of the susceptor 183 to the target preheating temperature Tp.

The controller 12 may control the power supplied to the coil 181, after the start of preheating, based on intermediate target temperatures (Tp1 and Tp2; hereinafter, referred to as Tp when there is no need for distinction) that are different from each other and lower than the target preheating temperature Tp.

In detail, the controller 12 may control the power supplied to the coil 181 according to a first sub-preheating section, a second sub-preheating section, and a third sub-preheating section. The coil 181 may generate the induced magnetic field under the control of the controller 12. For example, the coil 181 may output the induced magnetic field having an intensity of 2.5T in first sub-preheating section. Furthermore, the coil 181 may output the induced magnetic field having the intensity of 3.5T in the second sub-preheating section. Furthermore, the coil 181 may output the induced magnetic field having the intensity of 4.5T in the third sub-preheating section.

The susceptor 183 may be heated by the induced magnetic field in each of the sub-preheating sections. The sub-preheating sections may include a first section (S1a, S1b, and S1c; hereinafter, referred to as S1 when there is no need for distinction) in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 increases and a second section (S2a, S2b, and S2c; hereinafter, referred to as S2 when there is no need for distinction) in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 is maintained.

As such, in each sub-preheating section, although the intensity of the induced magnetic field output by the coil 181 is constant in both of the first section S1 and the second section S2, there is a section in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 is not maintained at a certain temperature. The controller 12 may set the detection result of the current sensor 132 as a prerequisite for the estimation of the temperature of the susceptor 183.

Referring to FIG. 10, the first sections S1a, S1b, and S1c and the second sections S2a, S2b, and S2c in in FIG. 10 correspond to the first sections S1a, S1b, and S1c and the second sections S2a, S2b, and S2c in FIG. 9, respectively. As shown in FIG. 10, the AC current flowing in the coil 181 may gradually decrease in the first sections S1a, S1b, and S1c. This is because the impedance of the circuit increases according to the increase in the temperature of the susceptor 183. Furthermore, in FIG. 10, the AC current flowing in the coil 181 may be maintained in the second sections S2a, S2b, and S2c. This is because, as the temperature of the susceptor 183 is constant, the impedance of the circuit is maintained constant.

The controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field obtained in each of the second sections S2a, S2b, and S2c. In other words, the controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field, in each of the second sections S2a, S2b, and S2c in which the AC current flowing in the coil 181 is maintained within a preset range.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the temperature of the susceptor 183 may be saturated to a certain temperature by the preset intensity of the induced magnetic field. Accordingly, the controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field.

The estimation of the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field output by the coil 181 in a temperature increase section included in the preheating section is similar to the estimation of the temperature of the susceptor 183 in a so-called forward control. In other words, as the estimation of the temperature of the susceptor 183 is impossible in the temperature increase section, there is a possibility of overheating of the susceptor 183 and device breakage according thereto. Accordingly, according to the disclosure, by heating the susceptor 183 step by step without heating the susceptor 183 with maximum power from the start of the preheating section, device breakage may be prevented.

Although FIGS. 6 to 10 illustrate an example in which the current of the coil 181 decreases as the temperature of the susceptor 183 increases, the opposite case is also possible depending on the physical properties or circuit design of the susceptor 183. In any case, the aerosol generating device 1 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 only when the AC current flowing in the coil 181 is maintained within a preset range.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation method of an aerosol generating device, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 11, in operation S1110, the current sensor 132 may detect the current flowing in the coil 181.

The controller 12 may control at least one of the DC power output from the power supply 11 and the AC power output from the power converter 111. The coil 181 may generate the induced magnetic field under the power control of the controller 12.

The current sensor 132 may be a component included in the sensor unit 13. The current sensor 132 may include at least one Shunt resistance and detect the AC current flowing in the coil 181. The current sensor 132 may transmit information about the AC current flowing in the coil 181 to the controller 12.

In operation S1120, the controller 12 may determine whether the magnitude of the current flowing in the coil 181 is included within a preset range.

In an embodiment, the magnitude of the AC current may mean any one of the maximum value, an average value, and an effective value of AC current. Furthermore, the preset range may be appropriately set according to the inductance and temperature profile of the coil 181. For example, when the inductance of the coil 181 is 3.2 uH, the first range of the preheating section may be selected from 70 mA to 90 mA, and the second ranges of the smoking section may be selected from 90 mA to 120 mA. Alternatively, the preset range may mean a case in which the measured AC current is maintained in a deviation range selected from a range of 0 mA to 20 mA.

The susceptor 183 may be heated by the induced magnetic field. The controller 12 may adjust the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the target temperature according to the temperature profile. The temperature of the susceptor 183 may be increased or decreased to reach the target temperature. In other words, the temperature of the susceptor 183 may have an increase section or a decrease section to reach the target temperature.

When the temperature of the susceptor 183 is not maintained at a certain temperature and gradually increased or decreased, the impedance of the susceptor 183 in view of an input terminal may vary together. In contrast, when the temperature of the susceptor 183 is maintained at the certain temperature, the impedance of the susceptor 183 in view of the input terminal may be maintained. The operation S1120 may be provided to detect the temperature change of the susceptor 183, not the actual temperature of the susceptor 183.

When the magnitude of the current flowing in the coil 181 is not included within a preset range, the controller 12 may determine that the temperature of the susceptor 183 increases or decreases without maintaining the certain temperature, and continuously obtain the magnitude of the current flowing in the coil 181.

In operation S1130, the magnetic field sensor 131 may detect the intensity of the induced magnetic field output from the coil 181.

The magnetic field sensor 131 may be a component included in the sensor unit 13. The magnetic field sensor 131 may be arranged close to the coil 181 and include at least one Hall sensor. In order to prevent the induced magnetic field output from the coil 181 from being discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 1 and simultaneously to concentrate the induced magnetic field at the magnetic field sensor 131, the blocking member 184 may surround the coil 181 and the magnetic field sensor 131.

The magnetic field sensor 131 may transmit the information about the intensity of the induced magnetic field to the controller 12.

In operation S1140, the controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field.

The temperature of the susceptor 183 may be saturated to a certain temperature by the preset intensity of the induced magnetic field. Accordingly the controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field.

The memory 17 may store the correspondence between the intensity of the induced magnetic field and the temperature of the susceptor 183 in the form of a lookup table.

The controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the lookup table stored in the memory 17. In an embodiment, the controller 12 may determine that the temperature of the susceptor 183 increases as the intensity of the induced magnetic field increases.

The susceptor 183 may be heated according to the temperature profile stored in the memory 17. Each of the operations of FIG. 11 may be performed in the entire section of the temperature profile.

In an embodiment, the controller 12 may control at least one of the power supply 11 and the power converter 111 such that first power is supplied to the coil 181 in the preheating section. According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control at least one of the power supply 11 and the power converter 111 such that the power that increases step by step is supplied to the coil 181 in the preheating section.

The susceptor 183 may be heated by the induced magnetic field output from the coil 181. The temperature of the susceptor 183 may gradually increase in the first section and may be maintained in the second section after the first section. The controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field detected in the second section.

The controller 12 may control at least one of the power supply 11 and the power converter 111 such that the temperature of the susceptor 183 decreases step by step in a plurality of smoking sections after the preheating section.

The smoking section may include a plurality of sub-smoking sections. The controller 12 may control at least one of the power supply 11 and the power converter 111 such that second power that is less than the first power in the first sub-smoking section is supplied to the coil 181. Furthermore, the controller 12 may control at least one of the power supply 11 and the power converter 111 such that third power that is less than the second power is supplied to the coil 181 in a second sub-smoking section after the first sub-smoking section. Furthermore, the controller 12 may control at least one of the power supply 11 and the power converter 111 such that fourth power that is less than the third power is supplied to the coil 181 in a third sub-smoking section after the second sub-smoking section. Accordingly, the temperature of the susceptor 183 may decrease step by step.

Each of the sub-smoking sections may have a different target smoking temperature. The temperature of the susceptor 183 may follow the target smoking temperatures in each of the sub-smoking sections. Accordingly, each of the sub-smoking sections may include a third section in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 decreases and a fourth section in which the temperature of the susceptor 183 is maintained, after the third section.

The controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 based on the intensity of the induced magnetic field detected in the fourth section. As such, the aerosol generating device 1 may estimate the temperature of the susceptor 183 even with the output of the coil 181. Furthermore, although the aerosol generating device 1 may use a current sensor, this is not to estimate the actual temperature of the susceptor 183, but for a start condition to determine the temperature of the susceptor 183. Accordingly, a current sensor with high sensitivity or resolution is unnecessary and the manufacturing cost is reduced much.

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.

The aerosol generating device according to the disclosure has an effect of significantly reducing the possibility of damage to the temperature sensor compared to a contact-type temperature detection technology.

Furthermore, the aerosol generating device does not use power supplied to the coil as a main method for temperature estimation, but estimates the temperature of the susceptor based on the magnetic field output from an actual coil, thereby enabling accurate temperature estimation.

Furthermore, the aerosol generating device does not use the power supplied to the coil as the main method for temperature estimation, but uses the power only as a condition for obtaining the magnetic field intensity, so that a high sensitivity current sensor is not required. Accordingly, accurate susceptor temperature estimation is possible while reducing manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, when estimating the temperature of the susceptor using only the magnetic field output from the actual coil, the intensity of the magnetic field and the temperature of the actual susceptor may not match in the initial section of the preheating section. The aerosol generating device according to the disclosure does not estimate the temperature using the power condition supplied to the coil in the initial section of the preheating section, but estimates the temperature of the susceptor when the temperature of the susceptor is constant in the later section of the preheating section, thereby enabling the accurate estimation of the temperature of the susceptor.

Furthermore, the aerosol generating device does not supply maximum power to the coil at once in the initial section of the preheating section, but rather enables step-by-step preheating, thereby preventing device breakage due to overheating of the susceptor in the section described above, in which the temperature is not estimated.

The effects of the disclosure are not limited to the contents disclosed herein, and other various effects may be further included in the disclosure.