AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2024-0116819 and 10-2024-0173945, respectively filed on Aug. 29, 2024 and Nov. 28, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosure relates to an aerosol generating device, and more particularly, to an aerosol generating device which may accurately determine a temperature of a heater unit.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, the demand for alternative methods to overcome the disadvantages of traditional cigarettes has increased. For example, there is growing demand for a system for generating aerosols by heating an aerosol generating substrate by using an aerosol generating device, rather than a method of generating aerosols by burning a cigarette.

With respect to the aerosol generating device, heating methods that are different from a traditional method, in which a heater including an electrical resistor is arranged inside or outside a cigarette and the cigarette is heated by supplying power to the heater, have been proposed. For example, research is being actively conducted on a method of heating a cigarette by using an induction heating method.

According to the induction heating method, a temperature of a susceptor may be measured by arranging a temperature sensor inside or outside the susceptor to be in direct contact with the susceptor. However, according to this temperature detection method in a contact manner, the temperature sensor is arranged in contact with the susceptor, and thus, there is a possibility of damage to the temperature sensor due to heating of the susceptor.

In this regard, a method of detecting a temperature of a susceptor in a non-contact manner has been introduced, but adding additional components, such as an infrared sensor, etc., may increase manufacturing costs. Thus, methods of estimating a temperature of a susceptor by comparing power of a battery or an induction coil with temperature data stored in a memory have been introduced. However, such methods of the related art ignore non-correspondence between actual power of the battery or the induction coil and the temperature data, according to accumulation of heating cycles.

SUMMARY

Provided are an aerosol generating device which may accurately estimate a temperature of a susceptor by calibrating non-correspondence between actual power of a power source or an induction coil and temperature data, according to accumulation of heating cycles.

The technical problems of the disclosure are not limited to the above-described description, and other technical problems may be derived from the embodiments to be described hereinafter.

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

According to an embodiment, an aerosol generating device includes a power supply configured to output direct current (DC) power, a power conversion unit configured to convert the DC power into an alternating current (AC) power, an induction coil configured to receive the AC power and generate an alternating magnetic field, a susceptor configured to generate heat by the alternating magnetic field generated by the induction coil and to be inserted into an aerosol generating substrate accommodated in an insertion space so as to heat the aerosol generating substrate, a flange temperature sensor arranged adjacent to a support body supporting the susceptor outside the insertion space a current detection sensor configured to sense a DC output by the power supply, and a controller configured to, when a flange temperature detected by the flange temperature sensor is within a predetermined reference temperature range, obtain at least one DC value from the current detection sensor by sweeping a switching frequency of the power conversion unit within a reference frequency range, and generate, based on the DC value, temperature data for estimating a temperature of the susceptor.

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

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates internal components for describing a method of generating temperature data, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 illustrates changes in frequency and direct current according to temperatures of a susceptor, for describing a method of generating temperature data, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 illustrates a relationship between a direct current and a temperature of a susceptor, for describing a method of generating temperature data, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates a relationship between a flange temperature and an actual temperature of a susceptor for describing a reference temperature range according to an embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing a method of normalizing a direct current value according to an embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method of generating temperature data in a stand-by mode, according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method of generating temperature data in a heating mode, 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 the 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.

Referring to FIG. 2, 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 FIG. 2. It may be understood by those skilled in the art that some of the components shown in FIG. 2 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 S. 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 (or aerosol generating substrate) S 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 S 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 S, in which an aerosol generating material and/or a medium is included. A lower end of the aerosol generating article S may be inserted into the housing 10, and an upper end of the aerosol generating article S 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 S exposed to the outside.

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

The internal heating heater may extend long upward in a space (i.e., the insertion space) into which the aerosol generating article S 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 S.

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 S. 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 S, and the susceptor included within the aerosol generating article S may be implemented to generate heat, based on the magnetic field generated by the induction coil 181.

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 S through the lower end (i.e., an upstream side) of the aerosol generating article S. Aerosol generated based on the heating of the aerosol generating article S, 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 S.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, an upper case 40 may be detachably coupled to a body 10. The body 10 may accommodate internal components and may thus correspond to the housing 10 of FIG. 2. The upper case 40 may be coupled to an upper side of the body 10. The upper case 40 may cover an area around an upper portion of the body 10. The upper case 40 may include an insertion hole 44. An aerosol generating substrate S may be inserted into the insertion hole 44. The aerosol generating substrate S may correspond to the aerosol generating article S of FIG. 2. The upper case 40 may include a cover 45 configured to open or close the insertion hole 44. The cover 45 may slide in a lateral direction to open or close the insertion hole 44.

The upper case 40 may include an upper case wing 42. The upper case wing 42 may extend from both sides of an upper case body 41 to a lower side. The upper case wing 42 may be referred to as an upper case grip 42.

The body 10 may include a body wing 19. The body wing 19 may extend from an edge of the upper portion of the body 10 toward an upper side. The body wing 19 may be formed as a pair of body wings facing each other with respect to the upper portion of the body 10. The body wing 19 may be located to be misaligned with the upper case wing 42.

When the upper case 40 is coupled to the body 10, the upper case 40 may form the upper exterior of the aerosol generating device 1. When the upper case 40 is coupled to the body 10, the body wing 19 may cover a side portion of the upper case 40 exposed through the upper case wing 42. When the upper case 40 is coupled to the body 10, the upper case wing 42 may cover an outer side wall of the body 10.

The input portion 15 may be arranged on a side surface of the aerosol generating device 1. The input portion 15 may be provided as a push button and may receive a user input.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the upper case 40 may be detachably coupled to the body 10. The upper case 40 may include the insertion hole 44. A cover 45 may be movably mounted on the upper case 40 and may open or close the insertion hole 44. An insertion space 420 may be included in the body 10, and the body 10 may be open or closed according to movement of the cover 45. The insertion space 420 may be open toward an upper side. The insertion space 420 may have a cylindrical shape extending long in upper and lower directions. The insertion space 420 may be defined by a side wall 101 and a lower wall 102.

When the insertion hole 44 is open, the aerosol generating substrate S may be accommodated in the aerosol generating device 1 through the insertion space 420. A susceptor 182 may be fixed to the body 10, or according to an embodiment, may be coupled to the body 10 to be replaceable. FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which the susceptor 182 is fixed to the body 10.

In more detail, the susceptor 182 may extend long toward an opening of the insertion space 420. An upper end of the susceptor 182 may be sharp toward an upper side. The susceptor 182 may be inserted into the aerosol generating substrate S, when the aerosol generating substrate S is accommodated in the aerosol generating device 1 through the insertion space 420. The susceptor 182 may be inserted into a support body 410 and may be fixed to a lower wall 102 of the insertion space 420. According to an embodiment, the support body 410 may include a protrusion portion, and at least a portion of the protrusion portion may be inserted into an inner space of the susceptor 182. The susceptor 182 may be inserted into the support body 410. The support body 410 may also be referred to as a flange. The support body 410 may be inserted into the lower wall 102 of the insertion space 420. According to an embodiment, the support body 410 may be coupled to the lower wall 102 of the insertion space 420 by insert injection.

A flange temperature sensor 133 may be arranged adjacent to the support body 410 supporting the susceptor 182 outside the insertion space 420. The susceptor 182 may be arranged on a first surface of the lower wall 102, and the flange temperature sensor 133 may be arranged on a second surface of the lower wall 102. Here, the first surface may face the insertion space 420, and the second surface may be an opposite surface to the first surface. The flange temperature sensor 133 may be provided to sense the ambient temperature of the support body 410. The sensing result by the flange temperature sensor 133 may be used to determine whether or not the temperature of the susceptor 182 has sufficiently decreased.

An induction coil 181 may surround an outer circumferential surface of an accommodation space forming the insertion hole 44 and may generate a variable magnetic field due to alternating current power. The variable magnetic field may be provided to the susceptor 182, and induction heating may be performed on the susceptor 182 by the variable magnetic field.

According to an embodiment, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a substrate detection sensor 131 and an upper case detection sensor 132. The substrate detection sensor 131 and the upper case detection sensor 132 may be integrally formed.

The substrate detection sensor 131 may correspond to the insertion detection sensor of FIG. 1. The substrate detection sensor 131 may be arranged between the outer circumferential surface of the accommodation space and the induction coil 181 and may detect whether or not there is the aerosol generating substrate S inserted into the accommodation space through the insertion hole 44. The substrate detection sensor 131 may be formed as a thin layer so as to be arranged between the accommodation space and the induction coil 181. The substrate detection sensor 131 may surround at least a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the accommodation space and have a varying output value according to the insertion of the aerosol generating substrate S. Also, the substrate detection sensor 131 may transmit an output value to a controller 12 (see FIG. 6).

The upper case detection sensor 132 may be connected to the substrate detection sensor 131 to be integrally formed with the substrate detection sensor 131. The upper case detection sensor 132 may be arranged inside a surface of the upper case 40 touching the body 10 and may extend in one direction. The one direction may be perpendicular to an insertion direction of the aerosol generating substrate S. The upper case 40 may include at least one conductor 43 at a portion thereof touching the upper case detection sensor 132, and the upper case detection sensor 132 may output an output value varying according to approaching or backing off of the at least one conductor 43. The upper case detection sensor 132 may transmit the output value to the controller 12.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is different from FIG. 4 in that the susceptor 182 is coupled to be detachable from the body 10. Hereinafter, the components performing the same functions may maintain the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions with respect to FIG. 4 are omitted.

Referring to FIG. 5, a first insertion space 520 may be provided in the body 10. The first insertion space 520 may be open toward an upper side. The first insertion space 520 may have a cylindrical shape extending long in upper and lower directions. The first insertion space 520 may be defined by a side wall 111 and a lower wall 112.

A heater holder 20 may be detachably inserted into the first insertion space 520. A pipe 200′ may include a side wall 210 extending long in upper and lower directions and a lower wall 220 formed at a lower end of the side wall 210. The pipe 200′ may be referred to as a heater holder pipe 200′. The lower wall 220 of the pipe 200′ may be referred to as a bottom 220 or a mount 220. The lower wall 220 of the pipe 20′ may form the bottom 220 of the heater holder 20. The susceptor 182 may be coupled or fixed to the heater holder 20. In this case, the bottom 220 or the mount 220 may perform the same function as the support body 410 of FIG. 4. In other words, according to an embodiment in which the susceptor 182 is detached from the body 10, the bottom 220 or the mount 220 may be referred to as the support body 410. The susceptor 182 may be replaced together with the heater holder 20.

The upper case 40 may include an extractor 30 and may be detachably coupled to the heater holder 20 by snap-fit coupling. When the heater holder 20 is coupled to the extractor 30, a second insertion space may be provided. According to an embodiment, when the heater holder 20 is coupled to the extractor 30, the side wall 210 of the heater holder 20 and a side wall 31 of the extractor 30 may define the second insertion space that is open toward an upper side. In more detail, the side wall 210 of the heater holder 20 may be arranged as a plurality along a circumference of the lower wall 220 of the heater holder 20. A first slit 214 extending long in upper and lower directions may be formed between each pair of the plurality of side walls 210 of the heater holder 20. The side wall 31 of the extractor 30 may be arranged as a plurality along a circumference of a lower wall 32 of the extractor 30. A second slit 314 extending long in upper and lower directions may be formed between each pair of the plurality of side walls 31 of the extractor 30. The extractor 30 may be inserted into the heater holder 20. When the extractor 30 is inserted into the heater holder 20, the side wall 210 of the heater holder 20 may be arranged in the second slit 314, and the side wall 31 of the extractor 30 may be arranged in the first slit 214. Thus, the side wall 210 of the heater holder 20 and the side wall 31 of the extractor 30 may form the second insertion space.

The susceptor 182 of the heater holder 20 may extend long toward an opening of the second insertion space. An upper end of the susceptor 182 may be sharp toward an upper side. A through-hole 25 may be formed by the open lower wall 32 of the extractor 30. The through-hole 35 may be open in upper and lower directions. When the extractor 30 is inserted into the heater holder 20, the susceptor 182 may pass through the through-hole 35 and protrude into the second insertion space. When the aerosol generating substrate S is inserted into the second insertion space, the susceptor 182 may be inserted below the aerosol generating substrate S.

The induction coil 181 may surround the first insertion space 520. The induction coil 181 may wind a circumference of the side wall 111 of the first insertion space 520. The induction coil 181 may surround the susceptor 182. The induction coil 181 can generate heat in the susceptor 182.

A lower end of the aerosol generating substrate S may be inserted into the second insertion space, and an upper end of the aerosol generating substrate S may protrude externally from the aerosol generating device 1. The susceptor 182 may heat the first insertion space 520 and the second insertion space. According to an embodiment in which the susceptor 182 is detachably coupled to the body 10, the insertion space 420 may correspond to the first insertion space 520 and/or the second insertion space.

The upper case 40 may be detachably coupled to the body 10. The heater holder 20 may be detachably coupled to the upper case 40. When the upper case 40 is separated from the body 10, the heater holder 20, while being coupled to the upper case 40, may be separated from the body 10 together with the upper case 40. The upper case 40, to which the heater holder 20 is coupled, being separated from the body 10, the heater holder 20 may be separated from the upper case 40.

The heater holder 20 coupled to the upper case 40 may protrude toward a lower side from the upper case 40. The heater holder 20 may be arranged between the pair or upper case wings 42. The pipe 200′ may protrude, from the upper case body 41, further toward a lower side, than the upper case wing 42. Thus, it may easy to hold the heater holder 20. Also, the susceptor 182 may be conveniently replaced. A user may easily separate the extractor 30 from the heater holder 20, thereby easily separating the aerosol generating substrate S from the susceptor 182. The aerosol generating substrate S inserted into the extractor 30 may be separated from the susceptor 182, and thus may be further easily separated from the extractor 30.

Also, according to an embodiment in which the susceptor 182 is coupled to be detachable from the body 10, the flange temperature sensor 133 may be arranged outside the insertion space to be adjacent to the support body 410 supporting the susceptor 182. Here, the insertion space may denote the first insertion space 520. In other words, the susceptor 182 may be arranged on a first surface (an inner surface) of the lower wall 112 of the first insertion space 520, and the flange temperature sensor 133 may be arranged on a second surface (an outer surface) of the lower wall 112, which is the opposite to the first surface.

FIG. 6 illustrates internal components for describing a method of generating temperature data, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a power supply 11, a power conversion unit 190, a heater unit 180, a sensor unit 13, a controller 12, and a memory 17. FIG. 6 illustrates only the components used for describing the method of generating the temperature data according to the disclosure from among the components of FIG. 1, and the aerosol generating device 1 according to the disclosure may further include the components described with reference to FIG. 1.

The power supply 11 may include a battery 1011 described with reference to FIG. 1. According to an embodiment, the power supply 11 may further include a direct current (DC)/DC converter 1012 described with reference to FIG. 1. The battery 1011 may output DC power. The DC/DC converter 1012 may increase or decrease the DC power output from the battery 1011. The DC power output by the DC/DC converter 1012 may be used for the operations of the aerosol generating device 1.

The power conversion unit 190 may correspond to a DC/AC converter from among power conversion circuits described with reference to FIG. 1. The power conversion unit 190 may convert the DC power output by the power supply 11 into AC power. To this end, the power conversion unit 190 may include at least one switching device.

The heater unit 180 may correspond to the heater 18 or 24 described with reference to FIG. 1. The heater unit 180 may include the induction coil 181 and the susceptor 182. The induction coil 181 may generate an alternating magnetic field when the induction coil 181 receives AC power. The susceptor 182 can generate heat by the alternating magnetic field. Also, the susceptor 182 may heat the aerosol generating substrate S accommodated in the insertion space. Thus, aerosol may be generated.

The sensor unit 13 may include the substrate detection sensor 131, the upper case detection sensor 132, the flange temperature sensor 133, and a current detection sensor 134.

Each of the substrate detection sensor 131 and the upper case detection sensor 132 may be realized to have a pattern shape on one insulating substrate. The substrate detection sensor 131 may include a capacitance sensor including at least one electrode. Thus, the capacitance of the substrate detection sensor 131 may vary according to insertion or extraction of the aerosol generating substrate S into or from a cavity. The substrate detection sensor 131 may transmit the capacitance value to the controller 12 in real time or periodically.

The upper case detection sensor 132 may include an inductive sensor. Thus, the inductance of the upper case detection sensor 132 may vary according to whether the upper case 40 approaches or retreats from the body 10. The upper case detection sensor 132 may transmit the inductance value to the controller 12 in real time or periodically.

The flange temperature sensor 133 may be arranged adjacent to the support body 410 supporting the susceptor 182 outside the insertion space. The support body 410 of the susceptor 182 may touch the insertion space, and thus, the flange temperature sensor 133 may detect the temperature of the support body 410. The flange temperature sensor 133 may transmit a temperature detection result to the controller 12 in real time or periodically. For example, the flange temperature sensor 133 may include a positive temperature coefficient thermistor (PTC) and/or a negative temperature coefficient thermistor (NTC), but is not limited thereto.

The current detection sensor 134 may detect a DC output from the power supply 11. The current detection sensor 134 may detect a DC output by the battery 1011 or detect a DC output by the DC/DC converter 1012. To this end, the current detection sensor 134 may include at least one shunt resistor. The current detection sensor 134 may transmit information about the DC to the controller 12 in real time or periodically. The DC output by the current detection sensor 134 may be used to determine the temperature of the susceptor 182.

The memory 17 may store the capacitance value output by the substrate detection sensor 131 in real time. Alternatively, the memory 17 may store a monitoring value of the substrate detection sensor 131 obtained by the controller 12 in real time. The capacitance value and the monitoring value stored in the memory 17 may be used to calculate the amount of change with respect to values before and after a reference time point.

Also, the memory 17 may store information about temperature data described below. The memory 17 may store current temperature data about a current heating cycle and/or previous temperature data about a previous heating cycle. Here, the heating cycle may denote a time duration from a heating start point to a heating end point. For example, when a predetermined time period passes, while the aerosol generating substrate S inserted into the insertion space is not being detached from the insertion space, the time duration from a heating start time point to a predetermined time point may be referred to as one heating cycle. Alternatively, when, although the aerosol generating substrate S is inserted into the insertion space, the aerosol generating substrate S is detached from the insertion space or a user inputs a stop request before a predetermined time period passes, the time duration from a heating start point to a time point at which the heating of the susceptor 182 is stopped because of the detachment of the aerosol generating substrate S or the user's stop request, may be referred to as one heating cycle.

When the aerosol generating substrate S is inserted into a cavity, the controller 12 may control the heater unit 180 to heat the aerosol generating substrate S. According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control the DC power output from the battery 1011 and/or the DC/DC converter 1012 so that the induction coil 181 may generate a variable magnetic field. Alternatively, the controller 12 may control AC power supplied to the induction coil 181 so that the induction coil 181 may generate the variable magnetic field. While fixing a switching frequency of the power conversion unit in a heating mode, the controller 12 may control the DC power output from the power supply 11 or the AC power supplied to the induction coil 181. The susceptor 182 may be heated by the variable magnetic field generated by the induction coil 181, and thus, aerosol may be generated. As described above, the aerosol generating device 1 according to the disclosure may automatically heat, without a user's input, the aerosol generating substrate S, when the aerosol generating substrate S is inserted into a cavity.

When the heating of the aerosol generating substrate S is started, the controller 12 may control power supplied to the heater unit 180, according to a temperature profile stored in the memory 17. In order to determine the temperature of the susceptor 182 in direct contact with the aerosol generating substrate S, the controller 12 may use the DC output from the power supply 11, without using an additional temperature sensor. According to an embodiment, the DC output from the power supply 11 may linearly increase or decrease according to a temperature rise of the susceptor 182. In other words, the DC output from the power supply 11 may have a linear relationship with the temperature of the susceptor 182. Like this, the controller 12 may determine, based on the linear relationship between the DC and the susceptor 182, the temperature of the susceptor 182, and may compare the determined temperature with the temperature profile and control the power supplied to the heater unit 180.

Also, the relationship between the actual temperature of the susceptor 182 and the DC may be mapped in a manufacturing process before shipping. However, when the susceptor 182 after being replaced is heated by using this mapping information generated in the manufacturing process, accurate temperature control may not be possible. That is because due to manufacturing tolerance, etc., each susceptor 182 may have a different relationship between the actual temperature and the DC. Also, in the induction heating method, even when the susceptor 182 is not replaced, the relationship between the actual temperature of the susceptor 182 and the DC may be changed according to accumulation of heating cycles.

According to the disclosure, in order to accurately map the relationship between the actual temperature of the susceptor 182 and the DC, temperature data, which is new mapping information for each heating cycle, may be generated. Hereinafter, a method of generating the temperature data, based on the relationship between the actual temperature of the susceptor 182 and the DC, is described.

FIG. 7 illustrates changes in frequency and DC, according to temperatures of the susceptor, for describing the method of generating the temperature data, according to an embodiment, and FIG. 8 illustrates the relationship between the DC and the temperature of the susceptor, for describing the method of generating the temperature data, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, as the temperature of the susceptor 182 increases, an impedance component of the susceptor 182 from the perspective of the power supply 11 may change, and thus, a DC value (or DC current value) detected by the current detection sensor 134 may also change. Also, the impedance of the susceptor 182 may change the intrinsic resonant frequency. The change of the resonant frequency may also change the maximum DC value detected by the current detection sensor 134. In other words, even when the power conversion unit 190 operates at the same operating frequency, the DC value detected by the current detection sensor 134 may also change, due to the change of the intrinsic resonant frequency.

FIG. 7 illustrates a graph 710 about the DC value detected by the current detection sensor 134 according to a frequency at a first temperature and a graph 720 about the DC detected by the current detection sensor 134 according to a frequency at a second temperature different from the first temperature. For example, the first temperature may be 25° C. included in a predetermined room temperature range, and the second temperature may be 300° C., which is one of temperatures of the susceptor 182 in a heating mode of the aerosol generating device 1. Here, the room temperature range may be selected between about 20° and about 30° C., but is not limited thereto. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the room temperature is described as 25° C. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

When the susceptor 182 is manufactured to have a power density w/mm³ within a predetermined reference range, the susceptor 182 may converge to a certain saturation temperature at the predetermined operating frequency and/or the predetermined power range. For example, when DC power of about 5 w to about 12 w is supplied to the susceptor 182 when the switching frequency is 290 kHz, the susceptor 182 may be manufactured to be converged to any one temperature selected from temperatures in the range of about 290° C. to about 340° C. For example, the converged temperature may be 335° C., but is not limited thereto.

This may be achieved by performing heat treatment, supplying a magnetic field, and providing gas (for example, nitrogen, argon, etc.) when manufacturing the susceptor 182.

According to experiments, when the susceptor 182 is manufactured to have a certain power density w/mm³ within a reference range, a DC value detected by the current detection sensor 134, when the temperature of the susceptor 182 is the same as room temperature (for example, 25° C.), and the power conversion unit 190 operates at a predetermined frequency, may be the same as a DC value detected by the current detection sensor 134, when the susceptor 182 reaches a predetermined temperature, with the power conversion unit 190 operating at another predetermined frequency and heating the susceptor 182. Also, the temperature of the susceptor 182 may linearly increase or decrease in a section between a DC value detected at a predetermined operating frequency of room temperature described above and a DC value detected at another predetermined frequency of room temperature. According to the disclosure, by using this section in which the relationship between the DC value and the temperature of the susceptor 182 is linear, the temperature of the susceptor 182 may be estimated.

In more detail, to indirectly determine the temperature of the susceptor 182, the flange temperature sensor 133 may detect the temperature of the support body 140. The controller 12 may receive temperature information of the support body 410 from the flange temperature sensor 133. The controller 12 may sweep the switching frequency of the power conversion unit 190 at room temperature within a reference frequency range. For example, the reference frequency range may be selected between about 100 kHz and about 350 kHz, but is not limited thereto.

The controller 12 may obtain a first DC (or DC current) I1 detected by the current detection sensor 134 at a first frequency f1 included in the reference frequency range. For example, the first frequency f1 may be 303 kHz. Also, the controller 12 may obtain a second DC (or DC current) I2 detected by the current detection sensor 134 at a second frequency f2 included in the reference frequency range and different from the first frequency f1. Here, the second frequency f2 may be the same as an operating frequency of the power conversion unit 190 in a heating mode. In other words, the controller 12 may fix the operating frequency of the power conversion unit 190 as the second frequency f2 in the heating mode. For example, the second frequency f2 may be less than the first frequency f1 and may be 290 KHz.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the first DC I1 detected by the current detection sensor 134 at the first frequency f1 of a first temperature which is the room temperature may be the same as the first DC I1 detected by the current detection sensor 134 at the second frequency f2 of a second temperature which is a heating temperature. Also, when the current detection sensor 134 detects the second DC I2 at the second frequency f2 which is an actual operating frequency of the heating mode, it denotes that the temperature of the susceptor 182 has reached the first temperature which is the room temperature.

As described above, the temperature of the susceptor 182 may linearly increase or decrease in the section between the first DC I1 and the second DC I2. In other words, at the second frequency f2, which is the actual operating frequency, the current value and the temperature of the susceptor 182 may have a linear relationship in the section between the first DC I1 and the second DC I2. The controller 12 may generate the temperature data for estimating the temperature of the susceptor 182 by using this section in which the current value and the temperature of the susceptor 182 may have the linear relationship.

Referring to FIG. 8, the controller 12 may generate the temperature data such that the temperature of the susceptor 182 may linearly increase or decrease in the section between the first DC I1 and the second DC I2. FIG. 8 illustrates a graph 810 in which the temperature of the susceptor 182 linearly increases according to an increase of the DC and a graph 820 in which the temperature of the susceptor 182 linearly decreases according to an increase of the DC. In any case, in the linear section, the DC and the temperature of the susceptor 182 may be in a linear function relationship.

The controller 12 may calculate the linear function between the DC and the temperature of the susceptor 182 in the section between the first DC I1 and the second DC I2. In more detail, the controller 12 may calculate a gradient and a y-intercept according to Equation 1 below.

T = a · I + b [ Equation ⁢ 1 ]

Here, I may be the DC value, and T may be the temperature (including an estimated temperature) of the susceptor 182. The gradient a in Equation 1 may be calculated by using the Equation as below.

a = T ⁢ 1 - T ⁢ 2 I ⁢ 2 - I ⁢ 1 [ Equation ⁢ 2 ]

By using the examples described above, T1 may be 25° C., and T2 may be 300° C. Also, according to an embodiment in which the temperature of the susceptor 182 linearly decreases according to an increase of the DC, I1 may be 1 A, and I2 may be 6 A. Accordingly, the controller 12 may obtain −55 as the value of the gradient a. The y-intercept b of Equation 1 may be deduced by substituting the values of T1, T2, I1, and I2 described above into Equation 1. In the example described above, the y-intercept b may be 355. The first DC I1 and the second DC I2 may be values for deducing the gradient of Equation 2, and the temperature of the susceptor 182 may be estimated by Equation in all sections of operating temperatures. In other words, the aerosol generating device 1 according to the disclosure may deduce, by using only the first DC I1 and the second DCI2, the entire temperature data for estimating the temperature of the susceptor 182.

As described above, the controller 12 may generate the temperature data by using the linear relationship between the DC value and the temperature of the susceptor 182, and may use this temperature data in an actual heating section to estimate the temperature of the susceptor 182.

The temperature data according to the disclosure may be optimally adjusted by using the equations described above, and thus, the generation of the temperature data may be referred to as calibration.

FIG. 9 illustrates a relationship between a flange temperature and an actual temperature of the susceptor for describing a reference temperature range according to an embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing a method of normalizing a DC value according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, the flange temperature sensor 133 may be provided to estimate an actual temperature of the susceptor 182. The flange temperature sensor 133 may not be in direct contact with the susceptor 182 and may be arranged adjacent to the support body 410 supporting the susceptor 182 outside the insertion space.

Because the flange temperature sensor 133 may not be in direct contact with the susceptor 182, the actual temperature of the susceptor 182 and a detection result by the flange temperature sensor 133 may not correspond to each other at a certain time point. However, a temperature falling speed of the susceptor 182 may be higher than a temperature falling speed of the support body 410, and thus, the actual temperature of the susceptor 182 and the temperature of the support body 410 may correspond to each other at another certain time point. FIG. 9 illustrates a graph 910 about an actual temperature of the susceptor 182 and a graph 920 about a detection result by the flange temperature sensor 133.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, there may be a difference between the actual temperature of the susceptor 182 and the temperature falling speed of the support body 410, and thus, the actual temperature of the susceptor 182 and the detection result by the flange temperature sensor 133 may not correspond to each other in a section exceeding a predetermined temperature Tr. However, it is shown that the actual temperature of the susceptor 182 and the detection result by the flange temperature sensor 133 may correspond to each other and may likewise gradually decrease at the predetermined temperature Tr or lower. According to experiments, the predetermined temperature Tr may be determined in a range of about 45° C. to about 50° C., and for example, the predetermined temperature Tr may be set as 45° C. In other words, when the detection result by the flange temperature sensor 133 is 45° C. or lower, the detection result by the flange temperature sensor 133 may correspond to the actual temperature of the susceptor 182. As described below, the predetermined temperature Tr may correspond to the temperature to start generating the temperature data, and thus may be referred to as a starting temperature Tr.

The controller 12 may set the reference temperature range, and thus may not stand by until the detection result by the flange temperature sensor 133 decreases to the room temperature described with reference to FIG. 7 and may normalize the detection results by the flange temperature sensor 133 as detection results at the predetermined room temperature. The reference temperature range may be set based on temperatures with respect to which the detection result by the flange temperature sensor 133 and the actual temperature of the susceptor 182 correspond to each other, and for example, may be selected within the range of 0° C. to about 45° C.

Referring to FIG. 10, a DC value detected at each of temperatures within the reference temperature range may be converted to a DC value detected at a room temperature Trf, which may be determined based on an experiment. FIG. 10 illustrates an example in which the DC value linearly decreases according to an increase of a temperature detected by the flange temperature sensor 133. However, according to an embodiment, the temperature detected by the flange temperature sensor 133 and the DC value may have a linear relationship having a positive gradient. Alternatively, the temperature detected by the flange temperature sensor 133 and the DC value may be in a non-linear relationship.

The memory 17 may store the relationship between the temperature of the flange temperature sensor 133 and the DC within the reference temperature range as a look-up table.

The controller 12 may sweep an operating frequency of the power conversion unit 190, when the detection result by the flange temperature sensor 133 is included in the reference temperature range. When the detection result by the flange temperature sensor 133 is a first starting temperature Tr1 included in the reference temperature range, the controller 12 may convert a third DC I3 detected by the current detection sensor 134 to the first DC I1 detected by the current detection sensor at the room temperature Trf described with reference to FIG. 7. Likewise, the controller 12 may convert DC values detected at second to fourth starting temperatures Tr2 to Tr4, respectively, to the first IC 11.

The normalization process described above may be configured because there is a section in which the detection result by the flange temperature sensor 133 correspond to the actual temperature of the susceptor 182. In other words, the relationship between the actual temperature of the susceptor 182 and the DC value may be pre-identified according to an experiment, and because it is identified that there is a section of correspondence as described above, the aerosol generating device 1 according to the disclosure may normalize the DC values by using the experimental data.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method of generating temperature data in a stand-by mode, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 11, in operation S1110, the controller 12 may enter into a stand-by mode.

The stand-by mode may denote at least one of modes other than a heating mode in which the susceptor 182 is heated.

In operation S1120, the controller 12 may identify whether or not the upper case 40 is detected.

The upper case detection sensor 132 may be arranged in the body 10 and may detect whether or not the upper case 40 is mounted. The upper case detection sensor 132 may transmit a detection result of the upper case 40 to the controller 12. The controller 12 may wake up for each reference wake-up time and identify whether or not the upper case 40 is mounted. For example, the reference wake up time may be 10 seconds.

The controller 12 may generate the temperature data described below, based on the detection result of the upper case 40. The controller 12 may generate the temperature data, based on the detection result of the upper case 40, because when the upper case 40 is detached from the body 10, it is highly likely that a user is not using the device. Thus, the aerosol generating device 1 according to the disclosure may have reduced power consumption.

When the upper case 40 is not detected, the controller 12 may return to operation S1110 and maintain a stand-by mode.

In operation S1130, when the upper case 40 is detected, the controller 12 may obtain information about a flange temperature of a previous heating cycle.

The memory 17 may store not only current flange temperature information about a current heating cycle, but also previous flange temperature information about a previous heating cycle. The controller 12 may obtain the previous flange temperature information from the memory 17.

In operation S1140, the controller 12 may compare a previous flange temperature with a calibrated temperature.

The calibrated temperature may be used to determine whether or not to store the current temperature data about the current heating cycle, in the stand-by mode.

According to the induction heating method, not only when the susceptor 182 is replaced, but also when the susceptor 182 is not replaced, the relationship between the actual temperature of the susceptor 182 and the DC value may vary according to accumulation of heating cycles, both when the susceptor 182 is replaced and when the susceptor 182 is not replaced. The relationship between the actual temperature of the susceptor 182 and the DC value may be affected not only by the number of heating times of the susceptor 182, but also by a heating temperature history. In particular, the relationship may vary according to a highest heating temperature of the susceptor 182. Also, according to an experiment, when heating is stopped when the susceptor 182 has not reached a certain highest heating temperature, a result of generating the temperature data at the room temperature described with reference to FIG. 7 may be inaccurate.

According to the disclosure, in order to prevent the inaccurate result of the temperature detection, new temperature data about a current heating cycle may not be generated, and previous temperature data may be used, when the heating is stopped when the temperature of the susceptor 182 has not reached a certain highest heating temperature in a previous heating cycle. This may also prevent the accumulation of inaccurate temperature detection results.

According to the disclosure, the certain highest heating temperature may be referred to as a calibrated temperature. According to an experiment, when heating is stopped when the susceptor 182 has not reached any one temperature degree selected in the range of about 45° C. and about 50° C., the relationship between the actual temperature of the susceptor 182 and the DC value may be changed. For example, the calibrated heating temperature may be set to be higher than the starting temperature, to be 50° C.

In operation S1150, when the previous flange temperature is higher than or equal to the calibrated temperature, the controller 12 may generate the current temperature data with respect to the current heating cycle.

The controller 12 may receive information about the flange temperature detected by the flange temperature sensor 133. The controller 12 may determine whether or not the flange temperature is included in a predetermined reference temperature range. The reference temperature range may be set based on temperatures with respect to which the detection result by the flange temperature sensor 133 and the actual temperature of the susceptor 182 correspond to each other, and for example, may be selected within the range of 0° C. to about 45° C.

When the flange temperature is included in the predetermined reference temperature range, the controller 12 may sweep the switching frequency of the power conversion unit 190 within the reference frequency range. For example, the reference frequency range may be selected between 100 KHz and 350 kHz, but is not limited thereto.

The controller 12 may obtain at least one DC value from the current detection sensor 134 while sweeping the switching frequency of the power conversion unit 190 within the reference frequency range. The controller 12 may obtain a first DC detected by the current detection sensor 134 at a first frequency f1 included in the reference frequency range. For example, the first frequency f1 may be set to be higher than an operating frequency of the power conversion unit 190, to be, for example, 303 kHz, in the heating mode. Also, the controller 12 may obtain a second DC detected by the current detection sensor 134 at a second frequency included in the reference frequency range and different from the first frequency. Here, the second frequency may be set to be the same as the fixed operating frequency of the power conversion unit 190 in the heating mode.

According to an experiment, the first DC detected by the current detection sensor 134 at the first frequency of a first temperature which is room temperature may be the same as the first DC detected by the current detection sensor 134 at the second frequency of a second temperature which is a target heating temperature. Thus, the controller 12 may generate the temperature data such that the first DC detected at the first temperature which is the room temperature may be the same as a first sensing current detected by the current detection sensor 134 when the temperature of the susceptor 182 reaches the predetermined target temperature in the heating mode. Also, according to an experiment, when the current detection sensor 134 detects the second DC at the second frequency which is the actual operating frequency in the heating mode, it may denote that the temperature of the susceptor 182 has reached the first temperature which is the room temperature. Thus, the controller 12 may generate the temperature data such that the second DC detected at the first temperature which is the room temperature may be the same as a second sensing current detected by the current detection sensor 134 when the temperature of the susceptor 182 reaches the room temperature in the heating mode. According to the disclosure, the room temperature may be selected within a range of about 20° C. to about 30° C. For example, the room temperature may denote 25° C.

The controller 12 may not stand by until the temperature of the susceptor 182 decreases to the room temperature, and when the detection result by the flange temperature sensor 133 is included in the reference temperature range, the controller 12 may convert the detection result by the current detection sensor 134 to a DC value corresponding to the room temperature. In more detail, there may be a section in which the detection result by the flange temperature sensor 133 and actual temperature of the susceptor 182 correspond to each other, and the section may be identified in advance based an experiment. The memory 17 may store normalized values based on this experimental data, and the controller 12 may convert, based on the normalized values stored in the memory 17, the DC values respectively detected at the starting temperatures included in the reference range to the DC values corresponding to the room temperature. The DC value corresponding to the room temperature may be used as a reference for conversion, and thus may be referred to as a reference DC value.

The controller 12 may generate the temperature data such that the temperature of the susceptor 182 may linearly increase or decrease in a section between the first DC and the second DC. The controller 12 may obtain information about the gradient (a) through Equations 1 and 2 described above and may generate the temperature data about the current heating cycle, based on the obtained information.

In operation S1160, the memory 17 may store the current temperature data.

The memory 17 may delete the previous temperature data and may store the current temperature data.

In operation S1170, when the previous flange temperature is lower than the calibrated temperature, the controller 12 may not generate the current temperature data with respect to the current heating cycle. Thus, the memory 17 may maintain the previous temperature data previously stored.

As described above, the method of generating the temperature data in the stand-by mode, may be automatically performed without a user input.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method of generating temperature data in a heating mode, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 12, in operation S1210, the controller 12 may determine whether or not the aerosol generating substrate S is detected.

The substrate detection sensor 131 may detect whether or not the aerosol generating substrate S is inserted and may transmit a result of the detection to the controller 12. The controller 12 may determine, based on the result of the detection by the substrate detection sensor 131, whether or not the aerosol generating substrate S is detected.

In operation S1220, when the aerosol generating substrate S is detected, the controller 12 may generate current temperature data with respect to a current heating cycle.

When the aerosol generating substrate S is detected, the controller 12 may not immediately heat the susceptor 182 and may generate the current temperature data with respect to the current heating cycle. The heating mode of FIG. 12 may be performed after the stand-by mode of FIG. 11, and thus, the aerosol generating device 1 according to the disclosure may generate the temperature data for estimating the temperature of the susceptor 182 in both the stand-by mode and the heating mode. In other words, the aerosol generating device 1 according to the disclosure may confirm the temperature data once again in the heating mode, and thus may further accurately estimate the temperature of the susceptor 182.

The method of generating the current temperature data with respect to the current heating cycle may be the same as the method of generating the temperature data in operation S1150 of FIG. 11. In other words, the controller 12 may generate the temperature data for estimating the temperature of the susceptor 182, based on the DC value detected by the current detection sensor 134, and the redundant description is omitted hereinafter.

In operation S1230, the controller 12 may compare a previous flange temperature with a calibrated temperature.

The difference from operation S1140 may be that in operation S1140, the comparison between the previous flange temperature and the calibrated temperature is a precondition for generating the current temperature data, but in operation S1230, the comparison is a precondition for storing the current temperature data. Based on this structure, the load of the controller 12 may be reduced particularly in the stand-by mode, and thus, power consumption may be reduced.

In operation S1240, the memory 17 may store the current temperature data.

The memory 17 may delete the previous temperature data and may store the current temperature data.

In operation S1250, the controller 12 may start heating the susceptor 182, when the temperature data about the current heating cycle is generated.

The controller 12 may heat the susceptor 182 by supplying AC power to the induction coil 181.

In operation S1260, when the previous flange temperature is lower than the calibrated temperature, the controller 12 may not generate the current temperature data with respect to the current heating cycle. Thus, the memory 17 may maintain the previous temperature data previously stored.

As described above, the method of generating the temperature data in the heating mode may be automatically performed without an additional input, when a user inserts the aerosol generating substrate S into the insertion space. The aerosol generating device 1 according to the disclosure may further accurately estimate the temperature of the susceptor 182 by using this method of generating the temperature data.

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

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

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

An aerosol generating device according to the disclosure may accurately estimate a temperature of a susceptor by calibrating non-correspondence between actual power of a power source or an induction coil and temperature data according to accumulation of heating cycles.

Also, such a calibration operation may be automatically performed without a user input, thereby minimizing inconvenience of a user.

Also, the aerosol generating device may periodically wake up without a user input in a stand-by mode and may periodically generate current temperature data with respect to a current heating cycle, and thus, the user's inconvenience may be minimized, and the temperature of the susceptor may be accurately estimated.

Also, the aerosol generating device may confirm the current temperature data once again before starting heating, also in a heating mode after the stand-by mode, and thus may further accurately estimate the temperature of the susceptor.

Also, when a certain condition in which generation of temperature data rather causes an inaccurate temperature sensing result, the aerosol generating device may use previous temperature data rather than current temperature data, and thus may prevent accumulation of inaccurate temperature data. Accordingly, the aerosol generating device may accurately estimate the temperature of the susceptor.

Also, the aerosol generating device may set the certain condition, in which the generation of the temperature data rather causes the inaccurate temperature sensing result, as a predetermined temperature range rather than a predetermined temperature. Accordingly, the aerosol generating device may reduce the time of generating the temperature data.

Also, the aerosol generating device may generate the temperature data in advance according to a result of sweeping a frequency at room temperature, rather than during heating. Thus, compared with a method of generating and calibrating the temperature data during heating, the time for generating the temperature data may be reduced.

Also, when an upper case of the aerosol generating device has been separated from a body, it is likely that the user is not using the device, and thus, the aerosol generating device may not perform the calibration operation. Thus, power consumption of the aerosol generating device may be reduced.

Also, the aerosol generating device may be configured such that the susceptor, which is a heater unit, is replaceable. Thus, inconvenience of cleaning the susceptor may be reduced, and optimal flavor experience may be provided to the user.

Also, the aerosol generating device may include the heater unit including the induction coil and the susceptor, and thus, connection between the replaceable susceptor and an electrode may be excluded.

The effect of the disclosure is not limited to the content described above, and various effects may be included in the specification.