JP7578220B2 - Aerosol generation method and electronic device for carrying out said method - Google Patents

Description

The following embodiments relate to aerosol generation technology, specifically to heat generation technology based on electric current.

Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternative methods to overcome the shortcomings of conventional cigarettes. For example, there is an increasing demand for methods of generating aerosol by heating an aerosol-generating substrate within a cigarette, rather than generating aerosol by burning the cigarette. As a result, active research is being conducted into heated cigarettes or heated aerosol generating devices.

One embodiment provides an aerosol generation method performed by an electronic device.

One embodiment provides an electronic device that generates an aerosol.

In one embodiment, the electronic device includes a control unit that controls the operation of the electronic device, a heating unit that uses a supplied current to heat an aerosol-generating substrate inserted into the electronic device, and a sensor unit that measures the temperature of the space in which the aerosol-generating substrate is located, and the control unit controls the current supplied to the heating unit based on an initial current profile, and the control unit can adjust the initial current profile based on a temperature change in the space caused by the insertion of a new aerosol-generating substrate.

The adjustment of the current profile can occur when smoking of a first aerosol-generating substrate is completed and then a new aerosol-generating substrate is inserted.

When smoking of the first aerosol-generating substrate is completed, the control unit can monitor the temperature change of the space using the sensor unit for a preset time period.

When smoking is initiated on the new aerosol-generating substrate, the control unit can calculate a current compensation value based on the temperature change, generate a compensation current profile by adjusting the initial current profile based on the current compensation value, and supply current to the heating unit based on the compensation current profile.

The current compensation value may include a target time calculated for a target current value.

The control unit can generate the compensation current profile so as to reduce the time during which the target current value is output in the initial current profile by the target time.

A method for controlling an electronic device according to one embodiment includes the steps of: monitoring the temperature of a space in which a first aerosol-generating substrate inserted into the electronic device is located after smoking of the first aerosol-generating substrate is completed; calculating a current compensation value based on a temperature change in the space when heating of a new second aerosol-generating substrate inserted into the space is initiated; generating a compensation current profile by adjusting an initial current profile based on the current compensation value; and controlling a current supplied to a heating unit based on the compensation current profile.

The act of monitoring the temperature of the space may include an act of determining whether the first aerosol-generating substrate has been removed based on the monitoring.

The act of monitoring the temperature of the space may include an act of determining a first time point at which the second aerosol-generating substrate was inserted based on the monitoring.

The operation of calculating a current compensation value based on a temperature change in the space may include an operation of calculating the current compensation value based on the first time point and a second time point at which heating of the second aerosol generating substrate begins.

A method for generating aerosols can be provided that is performed by an electronic device.

An electronic device can be provided to generate the aerosol.

1 illustrates an electronic device according to an example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to an example. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a control unit according to an embodiment. 4 illustrates an initial current profile and temperature change within the bobbin space according to an example. 1 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a current supplied to a heating section according to an embodiment. 4 illustrates a compensation current profile and temperature change within the bobbin space according to an example.

Specific structural or functional descriptions of the embodiments are disclosed for illustrative purposes only and may be modified in various forms. Therefore, the embodiments are not limited to the specific disclosed forms, and the scope of this specification includes modifications, equivalents, or alternatives within the technical spirit.

Although terms such as first or second may be used to describe multiple components, such terms should be construed only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from the other components. For example, a "first component" may be termed a "second component," and similarly, a "second component" may be termed a "first component."

When a component is referred to as being "coupled" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the component is directly coupled or connected to the other component, but that there may be other components in between.

Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this disclosure, terms such as "include" or "have" are intended to specify the presence of a described feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof, and should be understood not to preclude the presence or additional possibility of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms commonly used and predefined should be interpreted to have a meaning consistent with the meaning they have in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted as having an ideal or overly formal meaning unless expressly defined in this specification.

Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the description with reference to the attached drawings, the same components are given the same reference numerals regardless of the drawing numerals, and the duplicated description thereof will be omitted.

Figure 1 shows an example of an electronic device.

According to one embodiment, the electronic device 100 can generate an aerosol by heating an aerosol-generating substrate in a cigarette 2 inserted into the electronic device 100. A user can smoke by inhaling the generated aerosol. For example, the electronic device 100 can employ a scheme in which heat is generated using a coil (e.g., an induction coil) located in the vicinity of the cigarette 2 inserted into the electronic device 100, and the generated heat is used to heat the aerosol-generating substrate. The electronic device 100 can provide a current through the coil such that the coil generates heat.

According to one embodiment, induction heating using a coil is advantageous for instantaneous heating and consumes low power. For example, the heating unit of the electronic device 100 may include a susceptor. As a different example, the heating unit of the electronic device 100 may not include a susceptor and may inductively heat the wrapping paper (e.g., metal foil) that encases the aerosol-generating substrate of the cigarette 2.

Below, a method for supplying current to a coil to generate an aerosol is described in detail with reference to Figures 2 to 6.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

According to one embodiment, the electronic device 100 includes a control unit 210, a heating unit 220, an insertion unit 230, a sensor unit 240, and a battery 250. Although not shown, the electronic device 100 may further include a general-purpose configuration. For example, the electronic device 100 may include a display (or an indicator) capable of outputting visual information and/or a motor for outputting tactile information. The electronic device 100 may further include at least one sensor (such as a puff detection sensor, a temperature detection sensor, or a cigarette insertion detection sensor). The electronic device 100 may also be manufactured with a structure that allows outside air to flow in and internal gas to flow out even when a cigarette 2 is inserted.

The outside air flows in through at least one air passage formed in the electronic device 100. For example, the opening and closing of the air passage formed in the electronic device 100 and/or the size of the air passage may be adjusted by the user. Therefore, the amount of smoke, smoking sensation, etc. may be adjusted by the user. As another example, the outside air may flow into the inside of the cigarette 2 through at least one hole formed in the surface of the cigarette 2.

According to one embodiment, although not shown, the electronic device 100 may form a system together with a separate cradle. For example, the cradle is used to charge the battery of the electronic device 100.

The control unit 210 can control the operation of the electronic device 100. The control unit 210 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 3.

The control unit 210 can control the current supplied to the heating unit 220. For example, the control unit 210 can control the magnitude and time of the current supplied to the heating unit 220.

The heating unit 220 heats at least a portion of the cigarette 2 inserted through the insertion unit 230. For example, the coil of the heating unit 220 may heat the aerosol-generating substrate of the cigarette 2 by generating heat based on the supplied current. The manner in which the heating unit 220 heats the aerosol-generating substrate is not limited to the described embodiment.

According to one embodiment, if the heating unit 220 does not include a susceptor that is inserted inside the aerosol-generating substrate of the cigarette 2, the temperature of the aerosol-generating substrate cannot be measured directly. To monitor the temperature of the aerosol-generating substrate or the insertion unit 240, a temperature sensor of the sensor unit 240 can be disposed in at least a portion of the insertion unit 230. For example, the temperature sensor can measure the temperature of the space into which the cigarette 2 is inserted (hereinafter referred to as the bobbin space). The control unit 210 can control the current supplied to the heating unit 220 based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

According to one embodiment, the control unit 210 may supply current to the heating unit 220 based on a preset initial current profile. The initial current profile will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 4.

According to one embodiment, the battery 250 can provide power used for the operation of the electronic device 100. The battery 250 can provide power via the control unit 210 so that the coil of the heating unit 220 can be heated. The battery 250 can also provide power required for the operation of different components (e.g., the control unit 210 and the sensor unit 240) provided in the electronic device 100. The battery 250 can be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 250 can be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited to the described embodiment.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a control unit according to one embodiment.

The control unit 210 in one aspect includes a communication unit 310, a processor 320, and a memory 330.

The communication unit 310 is connected to the processor 320 and the memory 330 to transmit and receive data. The communication unit 310 can be connected to other external devices to transmit and receive data. Hereinafter, the expression "transmitting and receiving "A" refers to transmitting and receiving "information or data indicating A".

The communication unit 310 can be realized by a circuit network within the control unit 210. For example, the communication unit 310 may include an internal bus and an external bus. As a different example, the communication unit 310 may be an element that connects the control unit 210 to an external device. The communication unit 310 may be an interface. The communication unit 310 receives data from an external device and transmits the data to the processor 320 and the memory 330.

The processor 320 processes data received by the communication unit 310 and data stored in the memory 330. The "processor" may be a data processing device implemented in hardware having a circuit with a physical structure for performing a desired operation. For example, the desired operation may include code or instructions included in a program. For example, a data processing device implemented in hardware may include a microprocessor, a central processing unit, a processor core, a multi-core processor, a multiprocessor, an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

Processor 320 executes computer readable code (e.g., software) stored in a memory (e.g., memory 330) and instructions triggered by processor 320.

The memory 330 stores data received by the communication unit 310 and data processed by the processor 320. For example, the memory 330 may store a program (or application, software). The stored program may be a set of syntax that is coded to control the electronic device 100 and can be executed by the processor 320.

In one embodiment, memory 330 may include one or more of volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and random access memory (RAM), flash memory, a hard disk drive, and an optical disk drive.

The memory 330 stores an instruction set (e.g., software) that operates the control unit 210. The instruction set that operates the control unit 210 is executed by the processor 320.

The communication unit 310, the processor 320, and the memory 330 are described in more detail below with reference to Figures 4 to 6.

Figure 4 shows an example of the initial current profile and temperature change within the bobbin space.

According to one embodiment, a user of the electronic device 100 may smoke a first cigarette using a first aerosol-generating substrate (e.g., a first cigarette). For example, the first cigarette may be a first cigarette smoked while the electronic device 100 is idle or a cigarette smoked a significant amount of time after the last cigarette.

The control unit 210 may supply a current to the heating unit 220 based on the initial current profile 410. For example, the initial current profile 410 may have a maximum current value I _m for an instantaneous temperature rise and a constant current value I _s for maintaining a constant temperature. The maximum current value I _m may be maintained during a peak time t _p1 . The user may end the first smoking at a time _te . For example, the user may control the electronic device 100 so that the power or current supplied to the heating unit 220 is interrupted.

According to one embodiment, the temperature sensor of the sensor portion 240 monitors the temperature of the bobbin space. A first temperature curve 421 illustrates the temperature of the bobbin space during a first smoke. Although the first temperature curve 421 is shown beginning at an origin, the origin illustrates the temperature at which temperature monitoring begins. The temperature of the bobbin space may be rapidly increased by the initial current profile 410 and then maintained at a constant level (e.g., temperature T _m ). The first smoke is performed during a first time period (time 0 to time t _e ).

According to one embodiment, when the first smoke is finished, no current is supplied to the heating section 220, and the temperature of the bobbin space decreases. The decreasing temperature is shown as a second temperature curve 422. For example, the second curve 422 is shown during a second time period (time t _e to time t ₁ ).

According to one embodiment, the temperature of the bobbin space may further decrease when the user removes the first aerosol-generating substrate from the insert 230. The decreasing temperature is shown as a third temperature curve 424. For example, the third curve 424 is shown for a third time period (from time _t1 to time _t2 ).

According to one embodiment, if the user inserts a second aerosol-generating substrate into the insert 230 for successive taps, the second aerosol-generating substrate may absorb heat within the bobbin space, causing an additional decrease in temperature within the bobbin space. The decreasing temperature is shown as a fourth temperature curve 426. For example, the fourth curve 426 is shown during a fourth time period (from time _t2 to time _t3 ).

According to one embodiment, the second aerosol-generating substrate absorbing a portion of the heat in the bobbin space is treated as being heated by the second aerosol-generating substrate before the heating unit 220 is activated. Therefore, the control unit 220 can reduce the current supplied to the heating unit 220 for the second smoke compared to the current for the first smoke. According to one example, the control unit 220 can calculate a current compensation value for the heat absorbed by the second aerosol-generating substrate and generate a current profile such that the calculated current compensation value is reflected. Below, a method for controlling the current supplied to the heating unit for repeated puffs will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 6.

Figure 5 is a flowchart of a method for controlling the current supplied to a heating section according to one embodiment.

The following operations 510-550 can be performed by the electronic device 100 described above with reference to Figures 1-4.

At operation 510, the control unit 210 supplies a current to the heating unit 220 based on a preset initial current profile (e.g., initial current profile 410 of FIG. 4). For example, the control unit 210 may supply a current to the heating unit 220 for a first smoke. A user may smoke a first aerosol-generating substrate inserted into the electronic device 100 during a first time period (e.g., from time 0 to time t _e of FIG. 4).

In operation 520, the control unit 210 monitors the temperature of the space in which the first aerosol-generating substrate is located (e.g., the bobbin space) after the first smoke is terminated (or completed). The results of the temperature monitoring for the bobbin space are shown in the second temperature curve 422, the third temperature curve 424, and the fourth temperature curve 426 described with reference to FIG. 4.

According to one embodiment, the control unit 210 can determine whether the first aerosol-generating substrate has been removed based on the monitoring. For example, if the second temperature curve 422 is indicated, it is determined that the first aerosol-generating substrate has been removed.

According to one embodiment, the control unit 210 can determine whether a new aerosol generating substrate has been inserted based on the monitoring. For example, when the third temperature curve 424 is shown, a new aerosol generating substrate (e.g., a second aerosol generating substrate) has been inserted. The temperature of the bobbin space shows the third temperature curve 424 because the new aerosol generating substrate has absorbed some of the heat of the bobbin space. Based on the monitoring, the first time point at which the new aerosol generating substrate was inserted can be determined.

According to one embodiment, the temperature monitoring of the bobbin space may be performed for a preset time (e.g., 60 seconds). After the preset time, the temperature monitoring of the bobbin space is interrupted. According to a different embodiment, the temperature monitoring of the bobbin space may be interrupted if the measured temperature of the bobbin space falls below a preset threshold temperature (e.g., temperature T _th in FIG. 4 ). If the temperature monitoring is interrupted, the following operation 530 may not be performed. Any smoke that occurs after the temperature monitoring is interrupted is not treated as a hit.

In operation 530, the controller 210 calculates a current compensation value based on a temperature change in the bobbin space when heating of a new aerosol-generating substrate is started (e.g., starting at _t3 in FIG. 4 ). For example, the current compensation value can be calculated based on a first time point when the new aerosol-generating substrate is inserted and a second time point when heating of the new aerosol-generating substrate is started.

According to one embodiment, the compensation heat amount can be calculated based on the difference between temperature _T2 at time _t2 and temperature _T3 at time _t3 . For example, the compensation heat amount can be calculated based on the specific heat of the substance, the mass of the substance, and the temperature change (e.g., _T3 - _T2 ). The specific heat of the substance and the mass of the substance can be preset for the aerosol-generating substrate to be inserted. Thus, the controller 210 can calculate the compensation heat amount based on the temperature change.

According to one embodiment, the control unit 210 can calculate the current compensation value based on the compensation heat amount. For example, the total amount of current supplied to the heating unit 220 so that the heating unit 220 generates the calculated compensation heat amount is calculated as the current compensation value.

In operation 540, the control unit 210 generates a compensation current profile by adjusting the initial current profile based on the current compensation value. For example, the compensation current profile can be generated by decreasing the peak time t _p1 of the initial current profile by a time corresponding to the current compensation value. For example, the control unit 210 can determine a target decrease time corresponding to the current compensation value using the maximum current value I _m . The time obtained by subtracting the target decrease time from the peak time t _p1 is a new peak time t _p2 of the compensation current profile. The compensation current profile will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 6.

In operation 550, the control unit 210 controls the current supplied to the heating unit 220 based on the compensation current profile. Based on the compensation current profile, the user may smoke a second cigarette.

Figure 6 shows an example of a compensation current profile and temperature change in the bobbin space.

According to one embodiment, following the first smoke described above with reference to Figure 4, the user may smoke a second smoke beginning at time _t3 . For example, time _t3 may be the time when the user activates the heating element 220. For example, the temperature of the bobbin space at time _t3 is measured at _T3 .

According to one embodiment, when a second cigarette is started, the controller 210 may generate a compensation current profile 610 for the second cigarette. For example, the controller 210 may calculate a current compensation value based on the fourth curve 426 during a fourth time (time t ₂ to time t ₃ ) measured for the first cigarette, and modify the initial current profile to reflect the current compensation value, thereby generating the compensation current profile 610. For example, the controller 210 may reduce a peak time t _p1 at which the maximum current value I _m is output in the initial current profile to correspond to the current compensation value. For example, the compensation current profile 610 may have a peak time t _p2 at which the maximum current value I _m is output.

The heating element 220 can heat new aerosol generating substrate via the current supplied according to the compensation current profile 610. The temperature of the bobbin space during the second smoke is shown as temperature curve 621. The user can end the second smoke by deactivating the heating element 220 at time _t4 .

Although not shown, the temperature of the bobbin space may also be monitored after time _t4 , similar to Fig. 4. If an additional third smoke occurs as a series of puffs after the second smoke, a compensation current profile for the third smoke may be generated.

The method according to the present invention is embodied in the form of program instructions to be executed by various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The recording medium includes program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like, alone or in combination. The recording medium and program instructions may be specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or may be known and available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, magneto-optical media such as floptical disks, and hardware devices specially configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROMs, RAMs, flash memories, and the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine language code, such as that generated by a compiler, but also high-level language code executed by a computer using an interpreter, and the like. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations shown in the present invention, and vice versa.

Software may include computer programs, codes, instructions, or any combination of one or more thereof, to configure or instruct a processing device to operate as desired, either independently or in combination. The software and/or data may be embodied permanently or temporarily in any type of machine, component, physical device, virtual device, computer storage medium or device, or transmitted signal wave, to be interpreted by or provide instructions or data to a processing device. The software may be distributed across computer systems coupled to a network, and may be stored and executed in a distributed manner. The software and data may be stored on one or more computer readable recording media.

Although the embodiments have been described above with reference to limited drawings, a person having ordinary skill in the art may apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above description. For example, the described techniques may be performed in a different order than described, and/or the components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, etc. may be combined or combined in a different manner than described, and may be replaced or substituted with other components or equivalents to achieve suitable results.

Therefore, other realizations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims are also within the scope of the claims set forth below.

Claims (8)

The electronic device is
A control unit for controlling an operation of the electronic device;
a heating unit that uses the supplied current to heat an aerosol-generating substrate inserted into the electronic device;
a sensor unit for measuring the temperature of a space in which the aerosol-generating substrate is located;
Including,
The control unit controls the current supplied to the heating unit based on an initial current profile;
the controller adjusts the initial current profile based on a temperature change in the space caused by the insertion of a new aerosol-generating substrate ;
the adjustment of the initial current profile occurs when a new aerosol-generating substrate is subsequently inserted after a puff on a first aerosol-generating substrate is completed;
The control unit is
When smoking of the first aerosol-generating substrate is completed, a temperature change of the space is monitored using the sensor unit for a preset time period;
calculating a current compensation value based on the temperature change when smoking is initiated on the new aerosol-generating substrate;
generating a compensated current profile by adjusting the initial current profile based on the current compensation value;
supplying a current to the heating section based on the compensation current profile;
Electronic device. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the current compensation value comprises a target time calculated for a target current value. The electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit generates the compensation current profile such that a time during which the target current value is output in the initial current profile is reduced by the target time. A method for controlling an electronic device, comprising:
monitoring a temperature of a space in which the first aerosol-generating substrate is located after a smoking session is completed for the first aerosol-generating substrate inserted in the electronic device;
calculating a current compensation value based on a temperature change in the space when heating of a new second aerosol-generating substrate inserted in the space is started;
generating a compensated current profile by adjusting an initial current profile based on the current compensation value;
an operation of controlling a current supplied to a heating unit based on the compensation current profile;
A method for controlling an electronic device, comprising: The method of claim 4 , wherein monitoring the temperature of the space includes determining whether the first aerosol-generating substrate has been removed based on the monitoring. The method of claim 4 , wherein monitoring the temperature of the space includes determining a first time point at which the second aerosol-generating substrate was inserted based on the monitoring. The electronic device control method of claim 6, wherein the operation of calculating a current compensation value based on a temperature change in the space includes an operation of calculating the current compensation value based on the first point in time and a second point in time at which heating of the second aerosol generating substrate is initiated. A program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 4 .

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