AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE AND AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0201175, filed on Dec. 30, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments relate to an aerosol generating device capable of generating aerosols from a partial region of an aerosol generating article later than a remaining region of the aerosol generating article without having to use a plurality of heaters, and an aerosol generating system including the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternative methods for overcoming shortcomings of general cigarettes. For example, there is an increasing demand for a system for generating aerosols by heating a cigarette or an aerosol generating article by using an aerosol generating device, rather than by burning a cigarette.

An aerosol generating device generates aerosols by heating, through a heater, an aerosol generating article inserted into the aerosol generating device, and recently, studies on various methods to simply heat an aerosol generating article to generate aerosols as well as to improve smoking sensation of a user have increased.

SUMMARY

With respect to an existing aerosol generating device that heats an aerosol generating article

through a heater, a sufficient amount of aerosols is generated from the aerosol generating article in an early smoking period, but in a later smoking period, the aerosol generating material included in the aerosol generating article is mostly heated, and thus, the amount of aerosols generated is insufficient, and as a result, smoking sensation of a user may deteriorate at a later point in time of smoking.

In other words, with respect to the existing aerosol generating device, the amount of aerosols generated varies depending on a point in time of smoking, which deteriorates the smoking sensation of the user. Accordingly, various methods have been proposed to maintain a constant amount of aerosols generated regardless of a point in time of smoking.

As one method, a method of maintaining a constant amount of aerosols generated by heating regions of an aerosol generating article in different methods by using a plurality of heaters has been proposed. As another method, a method of maintaining, even when one heater is used, a constant amount of aerosols generated by making a shape or material of a heater different for each region of an aerosol generating article or by making a shape or density of a conductive pattern arranged in a heater different for each region of an aerosol generating article has been proposed.

However, according to the above methods, an overall usage time of an aerosol generating device may be reduced due to large power consumption resulting from the use of the plurality of heaters, or manufacturing processes may become complicated and manufacturing costs may increase so as to make the shape or material of the heater different for each region of the aerosol generating article. In other words, methods that have been proposed may reduce user convenience or complicate manufacturing processes, and thus, a new method to maintain a constant amount of aerosols generated is required.

The disclosure is to improve smoking sensation of a user by maintaining a constant amount of aerosols generated throughout points in time of smoking without having to use a plurality of heaters or change a shape or material of a heater, through an aerosol generating device including a buffer layer that allows a partial region of an aerosol generating article to be heated slower (or delayed in heating) than other regions.

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.

An aerosol generating device according to an embodiment may include a housing including an accommodation space accommodating an aerosol generating article, a heater configured to generate heat when power is supplied, a conductor configured to heat the aerosol generating article by transferring heat generated in the heater to the aerosol generating article accommodated in the accommodation space, and a buffer layer configured to delay transfer of heat from the heater to the aerosol generating article.

An aerosol generating system according to an embodiment may include an aerosol generating article including a medium portion, and an aerosol generating device configured to heat the aerosol generating article, wherein the aerosol generating device includes a housing including an accommodation space for accommodating the aerosol generating article, a heater configured to generate heat when power is supplied, a conductor configured to heat the aerosol generating article by transferring heat generated in the heater to the aerosol generating article, and a buffer layer configured to delay transfer of heat from the heater to the aerosol generating article, and wherein the buffer layer is arranged to surround only a partial region of the medium portion to delay transfer of heat to the partial region so that the partial region of the medium portion reaches a designated temperature later than remaining regions of the medium portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments will be more

apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

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

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

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

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a partial region of the aerosol generating device of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing changes in temperatures over time of a first region of a medium portion of an aerosol generating article, surrounded by a buffer layer, and remaining regions of the medium portion, from a point in time when an operation of a heater starts;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a partial region of the aerosol generating device of FIG. 3, according to another embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a partial region of the aerosol generating device of FIG. 3, according to another embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to another 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 capacitance sensor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As another example, the cigarette identification sensor may include an inductive sensor. When a conductor is included in the wrapper and/or interior (e.g., a medium portion) of the aerosol generating article inserted into the insertion space, the characteristics of a current detected by the inductive sensor (e.g., a frequency, a current value, a voltage value, an inductance value, and an impedance value of an AC current) may differ according to the types of aerosol generating article inserted into the insertion space. The controller 12 may detect he 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. 2A illustrates an aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment and FIG. 2B illustrates an aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Referring to FIG. 2B, the heater 183 may be an external heating heater.

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

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

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

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

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

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, an aerosol generating device 100 (e.g., the aerosol generating device 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2A or 2B) according to an embodiment may include a housing 110 (e.g., the housing 10 of FIG. 2A or 2B), a heater 200 (e.g., the heater 18 of FIG. 1), a conductor 210, and a buffer layer 220. Components of the aerosol generating device 100 may be the same as or similar to at least one of the components of the aerosol generating device 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2A or 2B, and redundant descriptions will be omitted below.

The housing 110 may form an overall exterior of the aerosol generating device 100 and may include an internal space where the components of the aerosol generating device 100 may be arranged. For example, a power supply 111 (e.g., the power supply 11 of FIGS. 1 and 2A or 2B), a controller 112 (e.g., the controller 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2A or 2B), the heater 200, the conductor 210, and/or the buffer layer 220 may be arranged in the internal space of the housing 110, but components arranged in the internal space of the housing 110 are not limited thereto.

The power supply 111 may be arranged in the internal space of the housing 110 and supply power required for operations of the aerosol generating device 100. For example, the power supply 111 may supply power to the heater 200 so that the heater 200 may generate heat. In another example, the power supply 111 may supply power required for operations of the controller 112.

The controller 112 may be arranged in the internal space of the housing 110 and control general operations of the aerosol generating device 100. For example, the controller 112 may be electrically or operatively connected to the power supply 111 and/or the heater 200, and control power supplied from the power supply 111 to the heater 200. In the disclosure, the expression “operatively connected” may indicate that components are connected to each other to transmit/receive signals via wireless communication or to transmit/receive optical signals and/or magnetic signals, and such an expression may be used in a same meaning below. In another example, the controller 112 may be electrically or operatively connected to a sensor unit (not shown) (e.g., the sensor unit 13 of FIGS. 1 and 2A or 2B), and control power supplied from the power supply 111 to the heater 200, based on a result of detection by the sensor unit.

In an embodiment, the housing 110 may include an opening 110h connecting the internal space of the housing 110 to the outside, and an accommodation space 110a (or an insertion space) into which an aerosol generating article S (e.g., the aerosol generating article 2 of FIG. 2A or 2B) may be inserted. At least a partial region of the aerosol generating article S may be inserted into the accommodation space 110a through the opening 110h. In the drawings, only an embodiment in which the opening 110h is arranged at an upper region of the housing 110 is illustrated, but the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the opening 110h may be arranged on a side surface of the housing 110, according to an embodiment.

The heater 200 may be arranged in the internal space of the housing 110 and generate heat to heat the aerosol generating article S. For example, the heater 200 may generate heat when power is supplied from the power supply 111, and the aerosol generating article S may be heated when heat generated in the heater 200 is transferred to the aerosol generating article S.

In an embodiment, the heater 200 may include an electric resistance heater surrounding the aerosol generating article S accommodated in the accommodation space 110a. For example, the heater 200 may include a film heater surrounding an outer circumference of the aerosol generating article S. The film heater may include an electrically conductive track and generate heat when power is supplied to the electrically conductive track.

In another embodiment, the heater 200 may include an induction heater (or a susceptor) surrounding the aerosol generating article S. For example, the heater 200 may generate heat according to an alternating magnetic field generated from a coil (not shown) (e.g., the induction coil 181 of FIG. 2B).

A type of the heater 200 is not limited to the above embodiments, and the aerosol generating device 100 may include a type of heater other than the heater 200 described above, according to an embodiment, as long as a temperature of the aerosol generating article S is increased to a designated temperature. In the disclosure, the designated temperature may denote a temperature at which vaporized particles may be generated from the aerosol generating article S. Here, the designated temperature may be a temperature pre-set in the aerosol generating device 100, but may be changed according to a type of the aerosol generating device 100 or an operation of a user.

The conductor 210 may transfer heat generated in the heater 200 to the aerosol generating article S to heat the aerosol generating article S. For example, the conductor 210 may include a material (e.g., a metal) having high thermal conductivity, and may be arranged adjacent to the accommodation space 110a and the heater 200 to transfer heat generated in the heater 200 to the aerosol generating article S.

In an embodiment, the conductor 210 may be arranged to surround the outer circumference of the aerosol generating article S, between the heater 200 and the aerosol generating article S accommodated in the accommodation space 110a. Here, the heater 200 may be arranged to surround an outer circumference of the conductor 210, and heat generated in the heater 200 may be transferred to the aerosol generating article S through the conductor 210 through a structure in which the heater 200 is arranged to surround the conductor 210 and the conductor 210 is arranged to surround the aerosol generating article S.

When the aerosol generating article S is heated by heat transferred through the conductor 210, vaporized particles may be generated from the aerosol generating article S. The vaporized particles generated from the aerosol generating article S may be mixed with external air introduced through an airflow path (not shown) or a space between the aerosol generating article S and the opening 110h, and as a result aerosols may be generated inside the accommodation space 110a. The user may inhale the aerosols generated in the accommodation space 110a by bringing the mouth in contact with the aerosol generating article S and performing an inhalation motion.

The buffer layer 220 may delay transfer of heat generated in the heater 200 to the aerosol generating article S. The buffer layer 220 may also be referred to as a heat buffer layer. In an embodiment, the buffer layer 220 may include a material that is heat resistant so as not to be damaged by heat generated in the heater 200, has a temperature increase rate lower than a temperature increase rate of the conductor 210 by absorbing some of heat generated in the heater 200 from a point in time when an operation of the heater 200 starts to a designated point in time, and a temperature pf the buffer layer 220 may increase to the designated temperature like the conductor 210 when a sufficient amount of heat is supplied after the designated point in time.

For example, the buffer layer 220 may include a block including a phase change material (PCM) or liquid that absorbs heat from the point in time when an operation of the heater 200 starts to the designated point in time, so as to suppress or delay an increase in temperature, but the buffer layer 220 is not limited thereto. In another example, the buffer layer 220 may include a polymer compound having relatively high heat capacity. The polymer compound may include at least one of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyimide (PI), polyetherimide (PEI), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polysulfone (PSU), and polyphenyl sulfone (PPSU), but is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround only a partial region of the aerosol generating article S accommodated in the accommodation space 110a, between the heater 200 and the conductor 210. Heat transferred to the partial region of the aerosol generating article S is delayed according to such an arrangement structure of the buffer layer 220, and thus, it may take a longer time for the partial region of the aerosol generating article S to reach the designated temperature than other regions of the aerosol generating article S. As a result, aerosols may be generated later in the partial region of the aerosol generating article S surrounded by the buffer layer 220 than in the other regions of the aerosol generating article S.

In an aerosol generating device without the buffer layer 220, the entire aerosol generating article S is heated from an early smoking period, and thus, an aerosol generating material included in the aerosol generating article S is exhausted in a latter smoking period, and the amount of aerosols generated may be relatively reduced. As a result, the amount of aerosols generated may not be constant and smoking sensation of the user may deteriorate. In the disclosure, the early smoking period may denote a time period from a point in time when an operation of a heater starts to a designated point in time, and the latter smoking period may denote a time period from the designated point in time to when smoking ends.

However, the aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment may delay transfer of heat to the partial region of the aerosol generating article S through the buffer layer 220, so that aerosols are generated from the other regions of the aerosol generating article S during an early smoking period and aerosols are generated from the partial region of the aerosol generating article S during a later smoking period. In other words, the aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment may provide a constant amount of aerosols to the user throughout smoking by varying a point in time when aerosols are generated for each region of the aerosol generating article S by using only one heater 200.

In an embodiment, the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a tube 230 that fixes the heater 200, the conductor 210, and the buffer layer 220. In an embodiment, the tube 230 may be arranged to surround the heater 200 surrounding the conductor 210 and the buffer layer 220, and press the heater 200 towards the conductor 210, thereby fixing positions of the heater 200, the conductor 210, and the buffer layer 220 inside the housing 110. For example, the tube 230 may be a thermal contraction tube that contracts by heat and presses the heater 200 towards the conductor 210, but is not limited thereto.

Hereinafter, a process in which the aerosol generating article S is heated by the heater 200, the conductor 210, and the buffer layer 220 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a partial region of the aerosol generating device of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a graph showing changes in temperatures over time of a first region of a medium portion of the aerosol generating article, surrounded by the buffer layer, and remaining regions of the medium portion, from a point in time when an operation of the heater starts. In FIG. 5, T₁ denotes a change in temperature over time of a first region A of a medium portion S₁, and T₂ denotes a change in temperature over time of the remaining regions of the medium portion S₁, excluding the first region A.

Referring to FIG. 4, an aerosol generating device (e.g., the aerosol generating device 100 of FIG. 3) according to an embodiment may include the heater 200, the conductor 210, the buffer layer 220, and the tube 230. Components of the aerosol generating device may be substantially the same as or similar to the components of the aerosol generating device 100 of FIG. 3, and redundant descriptions will be omitted below. The components of the aerosol generating device are not limited thereto, and another component may be added or at least one component (e.g., the tube 230) may be omitted, according to an embodiment.

The conductor 210 may be arranged to surround an outer circumference of the aerosol generating article S accommodated in an accommodation space (e.g., the accommodation space 110a of FIG. 3), the heater 200 may be arranged to surround an outer circumference of the conductor 210, and heat generated in the heater 200 may be transferred to the aerosol generating article S through the conductor 210. For example, the heater 200 may generate heat when power is supplied from a power supply (e.g., the power supply 111 of FIG. 3), heat generated in the heater 200 may be transferred to the conductor 210, and the aerosol generating article S may be heated by heat transferred to the conductor 210.

The buffer layer 220 is arranged to surround only a partial region of the aerosol generating article S accommodated in the accommodation space, between the heater 200 and the conductor 210, to delay transfer of heat to the partial region of the aerosol generating article S.

In an embodiment, the heater 200 may include a first portion 201 extending in a length direction of the accommodation space and being in contact with an outer circumference of the conductor 210, and a second portion 202 including a recess 200r connected to the first portion 201 and spaced apart from the conductor 210 to accommodate the buffer layer 220 between the heater 200 and the conductor 210. The buffer layer 220 may be accommodated in the recess 200r and have a position fixed between the heater 200 and the conductor 210. The recess 200r may be arranged to surround an outer circumference of the partial region of the aerosol generating article S, and the buffer layer 220 may be accommodated in the recess 200r described above to surround the outer circumference of the partial region of the aerosol generating article S.

In an embodiment, the aerosol generating article S may include the medium portion S₁. For example, the medium portion S₁ may include a tobacco material and/or a non-tobacco material. The tobacco material and the non-tobacco material may have various forms. For example, the tobacco material and the non-tobacco material may have at least one form from among sheets, cut tobacco, strands, particles, beads, granules, powder, and extracts, but are not limited thereto.

The tobacco material may be manufactured by using at least one tobacco raw material from among a leaf tobacco raw material and a reconstituted tobacco raw material. The leaf tobacco raw material may include at least one of flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, and oriental tobacco, but is not limited thereto. The reconstituted tobacco raw material may refer to a tobacco raw material regenerated by using a tobacco by-product. For example, the reconstituted tobacco raw material may include reconstituted tobacco leaves. The non-tobacco material may be a material manufactured without using a tobacco raw material. For example, the non-tobacco material may be manufactured by using cellulose, nicotine, organic acids, or the like. In addition, the non-tobacco material may be manufactured by using, but not limited to, cellulose, nicotine salts, or the like.

The tobacco material and the non-tobacco material may include an aerosol generating material. For example, the aerosol generating material may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol, but it is not limited thereto. The tobacco material may include other additives such as a flavoring agent or organic acids.

For example, the medium portion S₁ may include a plurality of cut tobacco, but is not limited thereto. In another example, the medium portion S₁ may include at least one reconstituted tobacco leaf sheet or a plurality of tobacco granules. In another example, the medium portion S₁ may include an aerosol generating substrate impregnated with a nicotine liquid composition.

A temperature of the medium portion S₁ may increase according to heat transferred to the medium portion S₁ of the aerosol generating article S through the conductor 210, and aerosols may be generated from the medium portion S₁ when the temperature of the medium portion S₁ increases above a designated first temperature. In the disclosure, the designated first temperature may denote a temperature at which vaporized particles may be generated from the medium portion S₁.

In an embodiment, the buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround only the partial region of the medium portion S₁ of the aerosol generating article S when the aerosol generating article S is completely accommodated in the accommodation space. For example, the buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround only an outer circumference of the first region A of the medium portion S₁ to delay transfer of heat generated in the heater 200 to the first region A.

Referring to FIG. 5, the first region A of the medium portion S₁ may have a temperature increase rate lower than remaining regions of the medium portion S₁ as heat transfer is delayed by the buffer layer 220 in a first puff period P₁ (or an early smoking period) from a point in time when an operation of the heater 200 starts to a designated point in time t. In other words, the first region A of the medium portion S₁ may be heated later than the remaining regions of the medium portion S₁, by the buffer layer 220.

A temperature of the buffer layer 220 may be increased to a same temperature as the conductor 210 when a sufficient amount of heat is supplied to the buffer layer 220 in a second puff period P₂ (or a latter smoking period) after the designated point in time t. For example, after a temperature of the remaining regions of the medium portion S₁ increases to a designated temperature T_tg (e.g., a first temperature), a temperature of the first region A of the medium portion S₁ may also increase up to the designated temperature T_tg.

Because the remaining regions of the medium portion S₁ reaches the designated temperature T_tg before the first region A of the medium portion S_1, based on the point in time when an operation of the heater 200 starts, aerosols may be generated from the first region A of the medium portion S₁ after aerosols are generated from the remaining regions of the medium portion S₁.

In an embodiment, the first region A may be less than half of the total region of the medium portion S₁, and thus, the buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround less than half of the outer circumference of the medium portion S₁. When the buffer layer 220 is arranged to surround more than half of the outer circumference of the medium portion S₁, a sufficient amount of aerosols may not be generated in the early smoking period. However, the aerosol generating device according to an embodiment may generate a constant amount of aerosols regardless of a point in time of smoking, through a structure in which the buffer layer 220 is arranged to surround less than half of the outer circumference of the medium portion S₁.

In the aerosol generating device according to an embodiment, aerosols may be generated from the first region A of the medium portion S₁ after an aerosol generating material included in the remaining regions of the medium portion S₁ is consumed through a heating method described above, and as a result, a constant amount of aerosols may be generated throughout the point in time of smoking.

Hereinafter, various arrangement structure of the buffer layer 220 and the aerosol generating article S, and respective heating processes will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the partial region of the aerosol generating device of FIG. 3, according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, an aerosol generating device (e.g., the aerosol generating device 100 of FIG. 3) according to another embodiment may include the heater 200, the conductor 210, the buffer layer 220, and the tube 230. The aerosol generating device according to another embodiment may be a device in which only a relative arrangement structure of the aerosol generating article S and the buffer layer 220 is changed from the aerosol generating device of FIG. 4, and redundant descriptions will be omitted below.

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating article S may include the medium portion S₁ (e.g., the medium portion S₁ of FIG. 4) and an aerosol substrate portion S₂, and the buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround a partial region of the medium portion S₁ and a partial region of the aerosol substrate portion S₂ when the aerosol generating article S is completely accommodated in an accommodation space (e.g., the accommodation space 110a of FIG. 3).

The aerosol substrate portion S₂ may include an aerosol generating material generating aerosols when heated. For example, the aerosol generating material may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol, but a type of the aerosol generating material is not limited thereto. In another example, the aerosol substrate portion S₂ may further include other additives such as a flavoring agent and organic acids.

In an embodiment, the aerosol substrate portion S₂ may include an aerosol generating substrate impregnated with an aerosol generating material in a liquid state. The aerosol generating substrate may be in the form of a sheet. For example, the aerosol generating substrate may be a crimped sheet with pleats. The aerosol generating substrate in the form of a sheet may be included in the aerosol substrate portion S₂ in a rolled state. In this case, the aerosol generating substrate may include a polymer material. The polymer material may include at least one of paper, cellulose, cellulose acetate, lyocell, and polylactic acid. For example, the aerosol generating substrate may be a paper sheet that does not generate an off-flavor due to heat even when heated to a high temperature.

In drawings, only a structure in which the aerosol substrate portion S₂ and the medium portion S₁ are arranged in the stated order in a length direction of the aerosol generating article S, based on a bottom surface of the accommodation space, is illustrated, but arranged positions of the medium portion S₁ and the aerosol substrate portion S₂ may be changed according to an embodiment. For example, the medium portion S₁ and the aerosol substrate portion S₂ may be arranged in the stated order in the length direction of the aerosol generating article S, based on the bottom surface of the accommodation space.

In an embodiment, the buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround an outer circumference of the first region A of the medium portion S₁ and an outer circumference of a second region B of the aerosol substrate portion S₂, when the aerosol generating article S is completely accommodated in the accommodation space, and as a result, transfer of heat generated in the heater 200 to the first region A of the medium portion S₁ and the second region B of the aerosol substrate portion S₂ may be delayed.

When transfer of heat from the heater 200 to the first region A of the medium portion S₁ and t he second region B of the aerosol substrate portion S₂ is delayed by the buffer layer 220, aerosols may be generated later in the first region A than in the remaining regions of the medium portion S₁, and aerosols may be generated later in the second region B than in remaining regions of the aerosol substrate portion S₂. For example, when the first region A is delay-heated by the buffer layer 220, a temperature of the remaining regions of the medium portion S₁, heated by the conductor 210 without the buffer layer 220, may increase faster than a temperature of the first region A, and as a result, aerosols may be generated in the first region A after aerosols are first generated in the remaining regions of the medium portion S₁. Also, when the second region B is delay-heated by the buffer layer 220, a temperature of the remaining regions of the aerosol substrate portion S₂, heated by the conductor 210 without the buffer layer 220, may increase faster than a temperature of the second region B, and as a result, aerosols may be generated in the second region B after aerosols are first generated in the remaining regions of the aerosol substrate portion S₂.

When the buffer layer 220 is arranged to surround more than half of the outer circumference of the medium portion S₁ and/or the outer circumference of the aerosol substrate portion S₂, a sufficient amount of aerosols may not be generated in an early smoking period. However, in an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment, a constant amount of aerosols may be generated regardless of a point in time of smoking, through a structure in which the buffer layer 220 is arranged to surround less than half of the outer circumference of the medium portion S₁ and/or the outer circumference of the aerosol substrate portion S₂. In other words, the first region A may be less than half of the total region of the medium portion S₁ and the second region B may be less than half of the total region of the aerosol substrate portion S₂, but are not limited thereto.

In the aerosol generating device according to another embodiment, aerosols may be generated from the first region A of the medium portion S₁ and the second region B of the aerosol substrate portion S₂ after the aerosol generating material is consumed in the remaining regions of the medium portion S₁ and the remaining regions of the aerosol substrate portion S₂, through the above arrangement structure. Accordingly, in the aerosol generating device according to another embodiment, a constant amount of aerosols may be generated throughout the point in time of smoking, and as a result, the constant amount of aerosols may be provided to the user, thereby improving smoking sensation of the user.

Although not illustrated, according to another embodiment, the buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround only the outer circumference of the second region B of the aerosol substrate portion S₂ when the aerosol generating article S is completely accommodated in the accommodation space. In this case, when heat is generated in the heater 200, aerosols may be generated from the second region B of the aerosol substrate portion S₂ after aerosols are first generated in the medium portion S₁ and the remaining regions of the aerosol substrate portion S₂.

According to another embodiment, the buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround the outer circumference of the first region A of the medium portion S₁ and the entire outer circumference of the aerosol substrate portion S₂ when the aerosol generating article S is completely accommodated in the accommodation space. In this case, when heat is generated in the heater 200, aerosols may be generated from the first region A of the medium portion S₁ and the aerosol substrate portion S₂ after aerosols are first generated in the remaining regions of the medium portion S₁.

According to another embodiment, the buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround the entire outer circumference of the medium portion S₁ and the outer circumference of the second region B of the aerosol substrate portion S₂ when the aerosol generating article S is completely accommodated in the accommodation space. In this case, when heat is generated in the heater 200, aerosols may be generated from medium portion S₁ and the second region B of the aerosol substrate portion S₂ after aerosols are first generated in the remaining regions of the aerosol substrate portion S₂.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the partial region of the aerosol generating device of FIG. 3, according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, an aerosol generating device (e.g., the aerosol generating device 100 of FIG. 3) according to another embodiment may include the heater 200, the conductor 210, the buffer layer 220, and the tube 230. The aerosol generating device according to another embodiment may be a device in which only a relative arrangement structure of the aerosol generating article S and the buffer layer 220 is changed from the aerosol generating device of FIG. 6, and redundant descriptions will be omitted below.

In an embodiment, the buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround only the outer circumference of the medium portion S₁ without surrounding the aerosol substrate portion S₂, when the aerosol generating article S (e.g., the aerosol generating article S of FIG. 6) is completely accommodated in the accommodation space 110a. For example, when the buffer layer 220 is arranged to surround only the outer circumference of the medium portion S₁, transfer of heat generated in the heater 200 to the medium portion S₁ may be delayed.

For example, when the medium portion S₁ is delay-heated by the buffer layer 220, a temperature of the aerosol substrate portion S₂ heated by the conductor 210 without the buffer layer 220 may increase faster than a temperature of the medium portion S₁, and as a result, aerosols may be generated in the medium portion S₁ after aerosols are first generated in the aerosol substrate portion S₂.

In another embodiment, in the aerosol generating device, the temperature of the aerosol substrate portion S₂ may increase higher than that of the medium portion S₁ when the heater 200 operates, through a structure in which the buffer layer 220 is arranged to surround only the outer circumference of the medium portion S₁. For example, the buffer layer 220 may include a material with high heat capacity, and thus, even when heat is sufficiently supplied from the heater 200, a temperature of buffer layer 220 may not increase to a same temperature as the conductor 210. Accordingly, the medium portion S₁ and the aerosol substrate portion S₂ may be heated at different temperatures.

When the outer circumference of the medium portion S₁ is surrounded by the buffer layer 220, some of heat transferred from the heater 200 to the medium portion S₁ may be absorbed by the buffer layer 220. However, because the buffer layer 220 is not present on the outer circumference of the aerosol substrate portion S₂, heat transferred from the heater 200 to the aerosol substrate portion S₂ is not absorbed by the buffer layer 220 but is transferred to the aerosol substrate portion S₂, and as a result, the aerosol substrate portion S₂ may be heated at a temperature higher than the medium portion S₁.

When the medium portion S₁ and the aerosol substrate portion S₂ include different types of aerosol generating materials, a temperature at which aerosols are generated from the medium portion S₁ and a temperature at which aerosols are generated from the aerosol substrate portion S₂ may be different from each other. For example, aerosols may be generated at a first temperature in the medium portion S₁, and aerosols may be generated at a second temperature higher than the first temperature, in the aerosol substrate portion S₂.

To generate aerosols from the aerosol substrate portion S₂, the heater 200 needs to generate enough heat to increase a temperature of the aerosol substrate portion S₂ to the second temperature, but when the temperature of the medium portion S₁ increases to the second temperature higher than the first temperature, aerosols generated from the medium portion S₁ may have a burnt taste.

The aerosol generating device according to another embodiment heats the medium portion S₁ and the aerosol substrate portion S₂ to different temperatures through the buffer layer 220 without having to use a plurality of heaters 200, and thus, the medium portion S₁ may be prevented from being heated at a high temperature and burnt during an operation of the heater 200, and as a result, smoking sensation of the user may be prevented from deteriorating.

Although not illustrated, according to another embodiment, the buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround only the aerosol substrate portion S₂ without surrounding the medium portion S 1 when the aerosol generating article S is completely accommodated in the accommodation space. In this case, when heat is generated in the heater 200, aerosols may be generated from the aerosol substrate portion S₂ after aerosols are first generated in the medium portion S₁, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the aerosol substrate portion S₂ may be heated at a lower temperature than the medium portion S₁ by the buffer layer 220, according to the above arrangement structure.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the aerosol generating device according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, the aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment may include the housing 110 (e.g., the housing 110 of FIG. 3), the power supply 111 (e.g., the power supply 111 of FIG. 3), the controller 112 (e.g., the controller 112 of FIG. 3), the heater 200 (e.g., the heater 200 of FIG. 3), the conductor 210 (e.g., the conductor 210 of FIG. 3), the buffer layer 220 (e.g., the buffer layer 220 of FIG. 3), and the tube 230. The components of the aerosol generating device 100 are not limited thereto, and another component may be added or at least one component (e.g., the tube 230) may be omitted, according to an embodiment. Here, the aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment may be a device in which arrangement positions of the conductor 210 and the buffer layer 220 are changed from the aerosol generating device 100 of FIG. 3, and redundant descriptions will be omitted below.

The conductor 210 may be arranged to surround the aerosol generating article S accommodated in the accommodation space 110a, inside the housing 110, and heat the aerosol generating article S by transferring heat generated in the heater 200 to the aerosol generating article S. For example, the heater 200 may be arranged to surround the outer circumference of the conductor 210, inside the housing 110, and when power is supplied from the power supply 111 to the heater 200, heat generated in the heater 200 may be transferred to the aerosol generating article S through the conductor 210.

The buffer layer 220 may be attached to an inner surface of the conductor 210 and arranged to surround only the outer circumference of the partial region of the aerosol generating article S accommodated in the accommodation space 110a. The buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround only the outer circumference of the partial region of the aerosol generating article S to delay transfer of heat from the heater 200 to the partial region of the aerosol generating article S. For example, heat generated in the heater 200 may be transferred to the aerosol generating article S through the conductor 210, and the buffer layer 220 located between the partial region of the aerosol generating article S and the conductor 210 may delay transfer of heat to the partial region of the aerosol generating article S.

In an embodiment, the buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround a partial region of a medium portion (e.g., the medium portion S₁ of FIG. 4) of the aerosol generating article S to delay transfer of heat to the partial region of the medium portion. When heat transferred to the partial region of the medium portion is delayed by the buffer layer 220, the partial region of the medium portion reaches a designated temperature at which aerosols may be generated later than remaining regions of the medium portion, and as a result, aerosols may be generated in the partial region of the medium portion later than in the remaining regions.

In another embodiment, the buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround the partial region of the medium portion of the aerosol generating article S and a partial region of an aerosol substrate portion (e.g., the aerosol substrate portion S₂ of FIG. 6), or may be arranged to surround only the partial region of the aerosol substrate portion S₂. In another embodiment, the buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround only an outer circumference of the medium portion, excluding the aerosol substrate portion, or may be arranged to surround only an outer circumference of the aerosol substrate portion, excluding the medium portion.

In the aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment, the partial region of the aerosol generating article S reaches a designated temperature later than other regions, through the buffer layer 220, and thus, aerosols may be generated in the partial region of the aerosol generating article S after aerosols are first generated in the other regions of the aerosol generating article S. In other words, in the aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment, aerosols are generated from the other regions of the aerosol generating article S during the early smoking period, and aerosols are generated from the partial region of the aerosol generating article S during the later smoking period, and thus, a constant amount of aerosols may be provided to the user throughout smoking.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the aerosol generating device according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, the aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment may include the housing 110 (e.g., the housing 110 of FIG. 3), the power supply 111 (e.g., the power supply 111 of FIG. 3), the controller 112 (e.g., the controller 112 of FIG. 3), the heater 200, the conductor 210, and the buffer layer 220. At least one of components of the aerosol generating device 100 may be substantially the same as or similar to at least one of the components of the aerosol generating device 100 of FIG. 3, and redundant descriptions will be omitted below.

The housing 110 may include the accommodation space 110a in which the aerosol generating article S may be accommodated, and may include the internal space where the components of the aerosol generating device 100 may be arranged.

The heater 200 may include a coil (or an induction coil) arranged in the internal space of the housing 110 and capable of generating a magnetic field when power is supplied. For example, the heater 200 may be electrically or operatively connected to the power supply 111, and generate an alternating magnetic field based on power supplied from the power supply 111.

The conductor 210 may be arranged inside the accommodation space 110a to be inserted into at least a portion of the aerosol generating article S when the aerosol generating article S is accommodated in the accommodation space 110a. The conductor 210 may generate heat according to the alternating magnetic field generated in the heater 200, and the aerosol generating article S may be heated by heat generated in the conductor 210. For example, the conductor 210 may be arranged to be inserted into the medium portion S₁ (e.g., the medium portion S₁ of FIG. 4) of the aerosol generating article S, inside the accommodation space 110a, and heat the medium portion S₁ according to the alternating magnetic field generated in the heater 200.

The buffer layer 220 may be arranged between the heater 200 and the conductor 210, in the internal space of the housing 110, and delay transfer of a portion of the magnetic field generated in the heater 200 to the conductor 210. For example, the buffer layer 220 may absorb at least a portion of the magnetic field generated in the heater 200 to delay transfer of the magnetic field to a partial region of the conductor 210, and as a result, a smaller amount of magnetic field may reach the partial region of the conductor 210 than other regions of the conductor 210. The buffer layer 220 may also be referred to as a magnetic field buffer layer.

In an embodiment, the buffer layer 220 may be arranged to surround only a partial region of the medium portion S₁ of the aerosol generating article S, between the heater 200 and the conductor 210. According to such an arrangement structure of the buffer layer 220, transfer of a magnetic field to one region of the conductor 210 inserted into the partial region of the medium portion S₁, from among the alternating magnetic field generated in the heater 200, may be delayed. When transfer of the magnetic field to one region of the conductor 210 is delayed by the buffer layer 220, the one region of the conductor 210 inserted into the partial region of the medium portion S1 may have a slower temperature increase rate than other regions of the conductor 210.

Accordingly, the one region of the conductor 210 reaches a designated temperature at which aerosols may be generated from the medium portion S₁, later than the other regions of the conductor 210, and as a result, aerosols may be generated in the partial region of the medium portion S₁ later than the remaining regions of the medium portion S₁.

When all regions of the medium portion S₁ of the aerosol generating article S are simultaneously heated, a large amount of aerosols may be generated during the early smoking period, but the aerosol generating material included in the medium portion S₁ may be exhausted during the latter smoking period and the amount of aerosols generated may be relatively reduced, and as a result, smoking sensation of the user may deteriorate.

The aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment may delay transfer of the magnetic field reaching the partial region of the conductor 210, through the buffer layer 220, so that aerosols are generated from the other regions of the medium portion S₁ during the early smoking period and aerosols are generated from the partial region of the medium portion S₁, surrounded by the buffer layer 220, during the later smoking period. The aerosol generating device 100 according to another embodiment may provide a constant amount of aerosols to the user throughout smoking by varying points in time when aerosols are generated for each region of the aerosol generating article S, through the buffer layer 220, so as to prevent the aerosol generating material included in the aerosol generating article S from being exhausted during the early smoking period.

In the disclosure, the aerosol generating device 100 and the aerosol generating article S of FIGS. 3 to 9 may be referred to as an aerosol generating system, and the aerosol generating system may denote a system for generating aerosols by heating the aerosol generating article S through the aerosol generating device 100.

An aerosol generating device according to an embodiment may include a housing including an accommodation space accommodating an aerosol generating article, a heater configured to generate heat when power is supplied, a conductor configured to heat the aerosol generating article by transferring heat generated in the heater to the aerosol generating article accommodated in the accommodation space, and a buffer layer configured to delay transfer of heat from the heater to the aerosol generating article.

In an embodiment, the buffer layer may be arranged to surround only a partial region of the aerosol generating article, and configured to delay transfer of heat from the heater to the partial region of the aerosol generating article so that aerosols are generated later in the partial region of the aerosol generating article than other regions of the aerosol generating article.

For example, the buffer layer may have a lower temperature increase rate than the conductor by absorbing heat generated in the heater from a point in time when an operation of the heater starts to a designated point in time, and a temperature of the buffer layer may increase to a same temperature as the conductor after the designated point in time.

For example, the buffer layer may include a heat-resistant material.

In an embodiment, the conductor may be arranged to surround the aerosol generating article accommodated in the accommodation space, and the heater may be arranged to surround the conductor so that heat generated in the heater is transferred to the conductor.

For example, the buffer layer may be arranged to surround only the partial region of the aerosol generating article, between the conductor and the heater.

Here, the heater may include a first portion in contact with an outer circumference of the conductor, and a second portion including a recess spaced apart from the conductor to accommodate the buffer layer between the conductor and the heater.

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device may further include a tube arranged to surround the heater and configured to press the heater towards the conductor to fix the heater, the conductor, and the buffer layer.

For example, the buffer layer may be attached to an inner surface of the conductor and arranged to surround only the partial region of the aerosol generating article.

In an embodiment, the buffer layer may be arranged to surround an outer circumference of a first region of a medium portion of the aerosol generating article, and aerosols may be generated later in the first region than in remaining regions of the medium portion.

In another embodiment, the buffer layer may be arranged to surround an outer circumference of a first region of a medium portion of the aerosol generating article and an outer circumference of a second region of an aerosol substrate portion, and aerosols may be generated later in the first region than in remaining regions of the medium portion, and aerosols may be generated later in the second region than in remaining regions of the aerosol substrate portion.

In another embodiment, the buffer layer may be arranged to surround an outer circumference of a second region of an aerosol substrate portion of the aerosol generating article, and aerosols may be generated later in the second region than in remaining regions of the aerosol substrate portion.

In another embodiment, the buffer layer may be arranged to surround an outer circumference of a first region of a medium portion of the aerosol generating article and an entire outer circumference of an aerosol substrate portion.

In another embodiment, the buffer layer may be arranged to surround an entire outer circumference of a medium portion of the aerosol generating article and an outer circumference of a second region of an aerosol substrate portion.

An aerosol generating system according to an embodiment may include an aerosol generating article including a medium portion, and an aerosol generating device configured to heat the aerosol generating article, wherein the aerosol generating device includes a housing including an accommodation space for accommodating the aerosol generating article, a heater configured to generate heat when power is supplied, a conductor configured to heat the aerosol generating article by transferring heat generated in the heater to the aerosol generating article, and a buffer layer configured to delay transfer of heat from the heater to the aerosol generating article, and wherein the buffer layer is arranged to surround only a partial region of the medium portion to delay transfer of heat to the partial region so that the partial region of the medium portion reaches a designated temperature later than remaining regions of the medium portion.

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

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

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

An aerosol generating device according to various embodiments may enable, through a buffer layer, a partial region of an aerosol generating article to be heated slower than other regions by only using one heater, and thus, a constant amount of aerosols may be generated throughout smoking.

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