Aerosol Generating Device

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0051174, filed on Apr. 17, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For another example, referring to, the heatermay be an induction heater. For example, referring to, the aerosol-generating devicemay include an induction coilsurrounding the heater. The induction coilmay make the heatergenerate heat. The heater, which is a susceptor, may generate heat by a magnetic field generated by an AC current flowing through the induction coil. The magnetic field may penetrate the heaterand generate an eddy current within the heater. The current may generate heat in the heater. The current may generate heat in the heater.

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

The batterymay supply power such that the components of the aerosol-generating deviceoperate. The batterymay supply power to at least one of the controller, the sensor unit, or the heater. When the aerosol-generating deviceincludes the induction coil, the batterymay supply power to the induction coil.

The controllermay control overall operations of the aerosol-generating device. The controllermay be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB). The controllermay control an operation of at least one of the batteryor the sensor unit. The controllermay control the operation of the induction coil. The controllermay control operations of a display, a motor, etc. installed in the aerosol-generating device. The controllermay check a state of each of the components of the aerosol-generating deviceto determine whether the aerosol-generating deviceis in an operable state.

The controllermay analyze a result detected by the sensor unitand control processes to be performed subsequently. For example, the controllermay control the power supplied to the heatersuch that the operation of the heaterstarts or ends based on a result detected by the sensor unit. For example, the controllermay control an amount of power supplied to the heaterand a time for which the power is supplied to the heatersuch that the heatermay be heated to a certain temperature or maintained at an appropriate temperature based on the result detected by the sensor unit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The cartridgemay be integrally formed with the bodyor detachably coupled to the body.

For example, referring to, the cartridgemay be integrally formed with the bodyand may communicate with the insertion space through an air flow channel CN.

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

The bodymay be formed in a structure in which external air may be introduced into the bodywhile the cartridgeis inserted into the body. Here, the external air introduced into the bodymay pass through the cartridgeand flow into the mouth of the user.

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

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

The aerosol generating devicemay include only the cartridge heaterand may not include the heaterin the body. Here, the aerosol generated by the cartridge heatermay have the tobacco material added thereto while passing through the stick S and may be inhaled into the mouth of the user.

The aerosol generating devicemay include a cap (not shown). The cap may be detachably coupled to the bodyto cover at least a portion of the cartridgecoupled to the body. The stick S may pass through the cap and be inserted into the body.

The batterymay supply power so that components of the aerosol generating deviceoperate. The batterymay supply power to at least one of the controller, the sensor unit, the cartridge heater, and the heater. When the aerosol generating deviceincludes an induction coil, the power supplymay supply power to the induction coil.

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

The controllermay analyze a result of detection by the sensor unitand control processes to be performed subsequently. For example, the controllermay control power supplied to the cartridge heaterand/or the heaterso that the operation of the cartridge heaterand/or the heateris initiated or terminated, on the basis of the result of the detection by the sensor unit. For example, on the basis of the result of the detection by the sensor unit, the controllermay control an amount of power supplied to the cartridge heaterand/or the heaterand a time for which the power is supplied to the cartridge heaterand/or the heaterso that the cartridge heaterand/or the heatermay be heated to a certain temperature or maintain an appropriate temperature.

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

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

Referring to, the aerosol generating deviceaccording to another embodiment may include the bodyand the cartridge. The bodymay include at least one of the battery, the controller, and the sensor unit. At least one of the battery, the controller, and the sensor unitmay be disposed inside the body. The cartridge, which is an aerosol generating article, may be mounted on the body. The user may inhale aerosol while holding a mouthpiece provided at one end of the cartridgein this/her mouth.

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