AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLE AND AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following embodiments relate to an aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating system.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, demands for alternative ways to overcome disadvantages of general cigarettes have increased. For example, there is an increasing demand for a device (e.g., a heated tobacco product) that generates an aerosol by electrically heating a cigarette stick. Accordingly, research on an electrically heated aerosol generating device and a cigarette stick (or an aerosol generating article) applied thereto is being actively conducted. For example, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0132823 discloses a non-combustion type flavor inhaler, a flavor inhalation component source unit, and an atomizing unit.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Technical Goals

An aspect according to an embodiment is to provide an aerosol generating article including a medium rod including a plurality of airflow paths to allow airflow and an aerosol generated by heat to smoothly flow.

An aspect according to an embodiment is to provide an aerosol generating system with increased heating efficiency by arranging a plurality of heating bodies and dispersing heating sources.

Technical Solutions

An aerosol generating article according to various embodiments includes a medium rod and a filter rod aligned along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article, wherein the medium rod may include a medium portion configured to accommodate a medium and a plurality of airflow paths formed through the medium portion in the longitudinal direction.

In an embodiment, the airflow paths may include a main airflow path formed through a center of the medium portion and at least one sub-airflow path formed around the main airflow path.

In an embodiment, the sub-airflow paths may have a cross-sectional area narrower than a cross-sectional area of the main airflow path.

In an embodiment, the medium rod may further include a wrapper wrapped around the medium portion of the medium rod, and a side airflow path formed between the medium portion and the wrapper in the longitudinal direction.

In an embodiment, a cross-section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal direction may have one of a circular shape, an elliptical shape, a convex polygonal shape, and a concave polygonal shape.

In an embodiment, the aerosol generating article may further include an atomizing rod configured to accommodate an aerosol forming substrate, wherein the atomizing rod may be disposed at an upstream end of the medium rod.

In an embodiment, the aerosol generating article may further include a soft capsule accommodated in at least one of the medium rod, the filter rod, and the atomizing rod, wherein the soft capsule may be formed of a thermally decomposable material.

An aerosol generating system according to various embodiments includes an aerosol generating article including a medium rod including a medium portion configured to accommodate a medium, a main airflow path formed through a center of the medium portion in a longitudinal direction, and at least one sub-airflow path formed to be parallel with the main airflow path around the main airflow path, and an aerosol generating device including a housing, an elongated cavity formed in the housing and configured to accommodate the aerosol generating article, and a heater configured to heat the aerosol generating article accommodated in the elongated cavity.

In an embodiment, the heater may include a first heating element which is inserted into the aerosol generating article when the aerosol generating article is accommodated in the elongated cavity and a second heating element which is positioned outside of the aerosol generating article when the aerosol generating article is accommodated in the elongated cavity.

In an embodiment, the first heating element and the second heating element may be a direct heating type, an induction heating type, or a hot air blow heating type.

In an embodiment, a maximum heating temperature of the first heating element may be lower than a maximum heating temperature of the second heating element.

In an embodiment, an aerosol generated by heat of the heater may move to a downstream side of the aerosol generating article through the main airflow path and the sub-airflow path.

In an embodiment, the medium rod may further include a medium sheet wrapped around an outer side surface of the medium portion, a wrapper wrapped around the medium sheet, and a side airflow path formed between the medium sheet and the wrapper in the longitudinal direction. The aerosol generated by heat of the heater may move to a downstream side of the aerosol generating article through the sub-airflow path and the side airflow path.

In an embodiment, the aerosol generating article may further include an atomizing rod configured to accommodate an aerosol forming substrate and disposed at an upstream end of the medium rod, wherein the atomizing rod may generate an aerosol from the aerosol forming substrate when heated by the heater of the aerosol generating device.

In an embodiment, the heater may be configured to protrude from an end of the elongated cavity.

In an embodiment, the heater may include a heating unit configured to generate heat and a hot air blow unit configured to emit hot air heated by the heating unit.

Effects

According to an embodiment, an aerosol generating article may allow airflow and an aerosol generated by heat to smoothly flow by including a medium rod including a plurality of airflow paths.

According to an embodiment, an aerosol generating system may increase heating efficiency by arranging a plurality of heating bodies and dispersing heat sources.

The effects of the aerosol generating device and the aerosol generating system according to an embodiment are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other unmentioned effects may be clearly understood from the following description by one of ordinary skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

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

FIGS. 2a and 2b are schematic perspective views of an aerosol generating article according to embodiments.

FIGS. 3a through 3c are schematic cross-sectional views of an aerosol generating article according to embodiments.

FIGS. 4a and 4b are diagrams schematically illustrating an aerosol generating device according to embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an aerosol generating device including a heater according to another embodiment.

FIGS. 6a and 6b are diagrams schematically illustrating an aerosol generating system according to an embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The terms used to describe the embodiments are selected from among common terms that are currently widely used, in consideration of their function in the disclosure. However, different terms may be used depending on an intention of one of ordinary skill in the art, a precedent, or the advent of new technology. Also, in particular cases, the terms are discretionally selected by the applicant of the disclosure, and the meaning of those terms will be described in detail in the corresponding part of the detailed description. Therefore, the terms used to describe the disclosure should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and all the content of the disclosure, rather than the terms themselves.

It will be understood that when a certain part “includes” a certain component, the part does not exclude another component but may further include another component, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, terms such as “unit,” “module,” etc., as used in the specification may refer to a part for processing at least one function or operation and which may be implemented as hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

As used herein, an expression such as “at least one of” that precedes listed components modifies not each of the listed components but all the listed components. For example, the expression “at least one of a, b, or c” should be construed as including a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c.

In following descriptions of embodiments, the term “aerosol generating article” may refer to an article that accommodates a medium, in which an aerosol passes through the article and the medium is transferred. A representative example of the aerosol generating article may be a cigarette. However, the scope of the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In following descriptions of embodiments, the terms “upstream” or “upstream direction” may refer to a direction away from a mouth of a user (smoker), and the terms “downstream” or “downstream direction” may refer to a direction toward the mouth of the user. The terms “upstream” and “downstream” may be used to describe relative positions of components of the aerosol generating article.

In following descriptions of embodiments, the term “puff” may refer to inhalation by the user, in a situation in which an aerosol is sucked in through the mouth or nose of the user, or into the lungs of the user through the mouth or nose of the user.

In an embodiment, an aerosol generating device may be a device that generates an aerosol by electrically heating a cigarette accommodated in an inner space.

The aerosol generating device may include a heater. In an embodiment, the heater may be an electrically resistive heater. For example, the heater may include an electrically conductive track, and the heater may be heated as a current flows through the electrically conductive track.

The heater may include a tubular heating element, a plate-shaped heating element, a needle-shaped heating element, or a rod-shaped heating element, and may heat the inside or outside of the cigarette according to the shape of a heating element.

The cigarette may include a tobacco rod and a filter rod. The tobacco rod may be formed as a sheet or a strand, or may be formed of tobacco leaves finely cut from a tobacco sheet. In addition, the tobacco rod may be enveloped by a thermally conductive material. For example, the thermally conductive material may be a metal foil such as an aluminum foil. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

The filter rod may be a cellulose acetate filter. The filter rod may include at least one segment. For example, the filter rod may include a first segment that cools an aerosol and a second segment that filters a predetermined ingredient contained in the aerosol.

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device may be a device that generates an aerosol using a cartridge containing an aerosol forming substrate.

The aerosol generating device may include a cartridge containing the aerosol forming substrate and a main body supporting the cartridge. The cartridge may be detachably coupled to the main body. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. The cartridge may be integrally formed or assembled with the main body, and may be secured to the main body so as not to be detachable by a user. The cartridge may be mounted on the main body while the aerosol forming substrate is accommodated therein. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. The aerosol forming substrate may be injected into the cartridge while the cartridge is coupled to the main body.

The cartridge may hold the aerosol forming substrate in any one of various states, such as a liquid state, a solid state, a gaseous state, and a gel state. The aerosol forming substrate may include a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containing material having a volatile tobacco flavor ingredient, or a liquid including a non-tobacco material.

The cartridge may be operated by an electrical signal or a wireless signal transmitted from the main body to perform the function of generating an aerosol by converting the phase of the aerosol forming substrate inside the cartridge to a gaseous phase. The term “aerosol” may refer to a gas in which vaporized particles generated from the aerosol forming substrate are mixed with air.

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device may generate an aerosol by heating the liquid composition, and the generated aerosol may pass through the cigarette and be delivered to the user. That is, the aerosol generated from the liquid composition may travel along airflow paths of the aerosol generating device, and the airflow paths may be configured to allow the aerosol to pass through the cigarette and be delivered to the user.

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device may be a device that generates an aerosol from the aerosol forming substrate using an ultrasonic vibration technique. In this case, the ultrasonic vibration technique may be a technique of generating an aerosol by atomizing the aerosol forming substrate with ultrasonic vibration generated by a vibrator.

The aerosol generating device may include a vibrator, and may generate vibration at short intervals through the vibrator to atomize the aerosol forming substrate. The vibration generated by the vibrator may be ultrasonic vibration, and a frequency band of the ultrasonic vibration may be from about 100 kilohertz (kHz) to about 3.5 megahertz (MHz). However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

The aerosol generating device may further include a wick that absorbs the aerosol forming substrate. For example, the wick may be disposed to surround at least one area of the vibrator or may be disposed to contact at least one area of the vibrator.

As a voltage (e.g., an alternating voltage) is applied to the vibrator, the vibrator may generate heat and/or ultrasonic vibration, and the heat and/or ultrasonic vibration generated by the vibrator may be transmitted to the aerosol forming substrate absorbed in the wick. The aerosol forming substrate absorbed in the wick may be converted into a gas phase by the heat and/or ultrasonic vibration transmitted from the vibrator, and consequently, an aerosol may be generated.

For example, viscosity of the aerosol forming substrate absorbed in the wick may be lowered by the heat generated by the vibrator, and the aerosol forming substrate with lowered viscosity may be changed to fine particles by the ultrasonic vibration generated by the vibrator, and thereby an aerosol may be generated. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device may be a device that generates an aerosol by heating the aerosol generating article accommodated therein by induction heating.

The aerosol generating device may include a susceptor and a coil. In an embodiment, the coil may apply a magnetic field to the susceptor. As the aerosol generating device supplies power to the coil, a magnetic field may be formed inside the coil. In an embodiment, the susceptor may be a magnetic body that generates heat by an external magnetic field. As the susceptor is positioned inside the coil and generates heat with the magnetic field applied, the aerosol generating article may be heated. Also, optionally, the susceptor may be positioned in the aerosol generating article.

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device may further include a cradle.

The aerosol generating device and the separate cradle may form a system together. For example, the cradle may be used to charge a battery of the aerosol generating device. Alternatively, a heater may be heated when the cradle and the aerosol generating device are coupled to each other.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that one of ordinary skill in the art may easily practice the disclosure. The disclosure may be practiced in forms that are implementable in the aerosol generating devices according to various embodiments described above or may be embodied and practiced in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment.

The aerosol generating device 100 may include a controller 110, a sensing unit 120, an output unit 130, a battery 140, a heater 150, a user input unit 160, a memory 170, and a communication unit 180. However, an internal structure of the aerosol generating device 100 is not limited to what is shown in FIG. 1. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains 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 100.

The sensing unit 120 may sense a state of the aerosol generating device 100 or a state of an environment around the aerosol generating device 100, and transmit sensing information obtained through the sensing to the controller 110. Based on the sensing information, the controller 110 may control the aerosol generating device 100 to control operations of the heater 150, restrict smoking, determine whether an aerosol generating article (e.g., an aerosol generating article, a cartridge, etc.) is inserted, display a notification, and perform other functions.

The sensing unit 120 may include at least one of a temperature sensor 122, an insertion detection sensor 124, or a puff sensor 126. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

The temperature sensor 122 may sense a temperature at which the heater 150 (or an aerosol forming substrate) is heated. The aerosol generating device 100 may include a separate temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heater 150, or the heater 150 itself may also function as a temperature sensor. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 122 may be arranged around the battery 140 to monitor the temperature of the battery 140.

The insertion detection sensor 124 may sense whether the aerosol generating article is inserted and/or removed. The insertion detection sensor 124 may include, for example, at least one of a film sensor, a pressure sensor, a light sensor, a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, or an infrared sensor, which may sense a signal change by the insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article.

The puff sensor 126 may sense a puff from a user based on various physical changes in an airflow path or airflow channel. For example, the puff sensor 126 may sense the puff from the user based on any one of a temperature change, a flow change, a voltage change, and a pressure change.

The sensing unit 120 may further include at least one of a temperature/humidity sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a position sensor (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS)), a proximity sensor, or a red, green, blue (RGB) sensor (e.g., an illuminance sensor), in addition to the sensors 122 through 126 described above. A function of a sensor may be intuitively inferred from the name of the sensor by one of ordinary skill in the art, and thus, a more detailed description thereof is not included here.

The output unit 130 may output information about the state of the aerosol generating device 100 and provide the information to the user. The output unit 130 may include at least one of a display 132, a haptic portion 134, or a sound outputter 136. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. When the display 132 and a touchpad are provided in a layered structure to form a touchscreen, the display 132 may be used as an input device in addition to an output device.

The display 132 may visually provide information about the aerosol generating device 100 to the user. The information about the aerosol generating device 100 may include, for example, a charging/discharging state of the battery 140 of the aerosol generating device 100, a preheating state of the heater 150, an insertion/removal state of the aerosol generating article, a limited usage state (e.g., an abnormal article detected) of the aerosol generating device 100, or the like, and the display 132 may externally output the information. The display 132 may be, for example, a liquid-crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light-emitting display panel (OLED), or the like. The display 132 may also be in the form of a light-emitting diode (LED) device.

The haptic portion 134 may provide information about the aerosol generating device 100 to the user in a haptic way by converting an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus or an electrical stimulus. The haptic portion 134 may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

The sound outputter 136 may provide information about the aerosol generating device 100 to the user in an auditory way. For example, the sound outputter 136 may convert an electric signal into a sound signal and externally output the sound signal.

The battery 140 may supply power to be used to operate the aerosol generating device 100. The battery 140 may supply power to heat the heater 150. In addition, the battery 140 may supply power required for operations of the other components (e.g., the sensing unit 120, the output unit 130, the user input unit 160, the memory 170, and the communication unit 180) included in the aerosol generating device 100. The battery 140 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. The battery 140 may be, for example, a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

The heater 150 may receive power from the battery 140 to heat the aerosol generating material. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a direct current (DC)-to-DC (DC/DC) converter) that converts power of the battery 140 and supplies the power to the heater 150. In addition, when the aerosol generating device 100 generates an aerosol by induction heating, the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a DC-to-alternating current (AC) (DC/AC) converter that converts DC power of the battery 140 into AC power.

The controller 110, the sensing unit 120, the output unit 130, the user input unit 160, the memory 170, and the communication unit 180 may receive power from the battery 140 to perform functions. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a power conversion circuit, for example, a low dropout (LDO) circuit or a voltage regulator circuit, which converts power of the battery 140 and supplies the power to respective components.

In an embodiment, the heater 150 may be formed of a predetermined electrically resistive material that is suitable. The electrically resistive material may be a metal or a metal alloy including, for example, titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, nichrome, or the like. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. In addition, the heater 150 may be implemented as a metal heating wire, a metal heating plate on which an electrically conductive track is arranged, a ceramic heating element, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

In another embodiment, the heater 150 may be an induction heater. For example, the heater 150 may include a susceptor that heats the aerosol forming substrate by generating heat through a magnetic field applied by a coil.

In an embodiment, the heater 150 may include a plurality of heaters. For example, the heater 150 may include a first heater for heating the aerosol generating article and a second heater for heating a liquid.

The user input unit 160 may receive information input from the user or may output information to the user. For example, the user input unit 160 may include a keypad, a dome switch, a touchpad (e.g., a contact capacitive type, a pressure resistive film type, an infrared sensing type, a surface ultrasonic conduction type, an integral tension measurement type, a piezo effect method, etc.), a jog wheel, a jog switch, or the like. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. In addition, although not shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 100 may further include a connection interface such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and may be connected to another external device through the connection interface such as a USB interface to transmit and receive information or to charge the battery 140.

The memory 170, which is hardware for storing various pieces of data processed in the aerosol generating device 100, may store data processed by the controller 110 and data to be processed thereby. The memory 170 may include at least one type of storage medium of a flash memory type memory, a hard disk type memory, a multimedia card micro type memory, a card type memory (e.g., an SD or XE memory), a random access memory (RAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk. The memory 170 may store an operating time of the aerosol generating device 100, a maximum number of puffs, a current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, data associated with a smoking pattern of the user, or the like.

The communication unit 180 may include at least one component for communicating with another electronic device. For example, the communication unit 180 may include a short-range wireless communication unit 182 and a wireless communication unit 184.

The short-range wireless communication unit 182 may include a Bluetooth communication unit, a BLE communication unit, a near field communication unit, a wireless area network (WLAN) (wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi)) communication unit, a ZigBee communication unit, an infrared data association (IrDA) communication unit, a Wi-Fi direct (WFD) communication unit, an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication unit, and an Ant+ communication unit. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

The wireless communication unit 184 may include, for example, a cellular network communicator, an Internet communicator, a computer network (e.g., a local area network (LAN) or a wide-area network (WAN)) communicator, or the like. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto. The wireless communication unit 184 may use subscriber information (e.g., international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) to identify and authenticate the aerosol generating device 100 in a communication network.

The controller 110 may control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 100. In an embodiment, the controller 110 may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates, or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable by the microprocessor is stored. In addition, it is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains that the processor may be implemented in other types of hardware.

The controller 110 may control the temperature of the heater 150 by controlling supply of power from the battery 140 to the heater 150. For example, the controller 110 may control the supply of power by controlling switching of a switching element between the battery 140 and the heater 150. In another example, a direct heating circuit may control the supply of power to the heater 150 according to a control command from the controller 110.

The controller 110 may analyze a sensing result obtained by the sensing of the sensing unit 120 and control processes to be performed thereafter. For example, the controller 110 may control power to be supplied to the heater 150 to start or end an operation of the heater 150 based on the sensing result obtained by the sensing unit 120. As another example, the controller 110 may control an amount of power to be supplied to the heater 150 and a time for which the power is to be supplied, such that the heater 150 may be heated up to a predetermined temperature or maintained at a desired temperature, based on the sensing result obtained by the sensing unit 120.

The controller 110 may control the output unit 130 based on the sensing result obtained by the sensing unit 120. For example, when the number of puffs counted through the puff sensor 126 reaches a preset number, the controller 110 may inform the user that operation of the aerosol generating device 100 is ending soon, through at least one of the display 132, the haptic portion 134, or the sound outputter 136.

In an embodiment, the controller 110 may control a power supply time and/or a power supply amount for the heater 150 according to a state of the aerosol generating article sensed by the sensing unit 120. For example, when the aerosol generating article is in an over-humidified state, the controller 110 may control the power supply time for an inductive coil to increase a preheating time, compared to a case where the aerosol generating article is in a general state.

An embodiment may also be implemented in the form of a recording medium including instructions executable by a computer, such as a program module executable by the computer. A computer-readable medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer and includes a volatile medium, a non-volatile medium, a removable medium, and a non-removable medium. In addition, the computer-readable medium may include both a computer storage medium and a communication medium. The computer storage medium includes all of a volatile medium, a non-volatile medium, a removable medium, and a non-removable medium implemented by any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. The communication medium typically includes computer-readable instructions, data structures, other data in modulated data signals such as program modules, or other transmission mechanisms, and includes any information transfer medium.

FIGS. 2a and 2b are schematic perspective views of an aerosol generating article 2 according to embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, the aerosol generating article 2 may include a first end 2a and a second end 2b. The length of the aerosol generating article 2 may be a distance between the first end 2a and the second end 2b. For example, referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, the first end 2a may be an upstream end of the aerosol generating article 2, and the second end 2b may be a downstream end of the aerosol generating article 2.

Referring to FIG. 2a, the aerosol generating article 2 may further include a medium rod 21 and a filter rod 22. In an embodiment, the medium rod 21 and the filter rod 22 may be aligned in a longitudinal direction (i.e., lengthwise direction).

In an embodiment, the medium rod 21 may be disposed upstream of the filter rod 22.

In an embodiment, the medium rod 21 may include a medium. According to an embodiment, the medium may include solid materials based on tobacco raw materials (e.g., tobacco sheets, cut tobacco leaves, and reconstituted tobacco), a liquid composition based on nicotine, a tobacco extract, and/or various fragrances. However, the medium is not limited thereto and may include materials such as vitamin, taurine, caffeine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The medium rod 21 may also include other additives such as a flavoring agent, a wetting agent, and/or organic acid. In addition, the medium rod 21 may include a flavoring liquid such as menthol or a moisturizing agent that is added as being sprayed onto the medium rod 21.

In an embodiment, the filter rod 22 may be a cellulose acetate filter or a paper filter. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. A shape of the filter rod 22 is not limited. For example, the filter rod 22 may be a cylindrical rod or a tubular rod including a hollow therein. The filter rod 22 may also be a recess-type rod. For example, when the filter rod 22 includes a plurality of segments, at least one of the segments may be manufactured in a different shape.

Referring to FIG. 2b, the aerosol generating article 2 may further include an atomizing rod 23. In an embodiment, the atomizing rod 23 may be disposed at an upstream end of the medium rod 21. In an embodiment, the atomizing rod 23 may include an aerosol forming substrate. The aerosol forming substrate may include, for example, at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, or oleyl alcohol. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. The medium rod 21 may also include other additives such as a flavoring agent, a wetting agent, and/or organic acid. In addition, the medium rod 21 may include a flavoring liquid such as menthol or a moisturizing agent that is added as being sprayed onto the medium rod 21.

The aerosol generating article 2 may be wrapped with at least one wrapper 24. The wrapper 24 may have at least one hole through which external air is introduced or internal gas flows out. As an example, the aerosol generating article 2 may be wrapped with one wrapper 24. As another example, the aerosol generating article 2 may be wrapped with two or more of wrappers 24 in an overlapping manner. For example, the medium rod 21 may be wrapped with a first wrapper 241, and the filter rod 22 may be wrapped with wrappers 242, 243, and 244. In addition, the aerosol generating article 2 may be entirely wrapped again with a single wrapper 245. For example, when the filter rod 22 includes a plurality of segments, the plurality of segments may be wrapped with the wrappers 242, 243, and 244, respectively.

The aerosol generating article 2 may include at least one capsule C or C2. The capsule C or C2 may perform a function of generating a flavor or a function of generating an aerosol. For example, the capsule C or C2 may have a structure in which a liquid containing a fragrance is wrapped with a film. Such soft capsule C or C2 may be accommodated in at least one of the medium rod 21, the filter rod 22, and the atomizing rod 23. The soft capsule C or C2 may be made of a thermally decomposable material. When the soft capsule C or C2 is made of the thermally decomposable material, as an aerosol generated by heat of an aerosol generating device moves from an upstream side to a downstream side of the aerosol generating article 2, the heat is transmitted to the soft capsule C or C2, the soft capsule C or C2 is decomposed, and a material included in the capsule may be transferred with the aerosol. In an embodiment, the soft capsule C or C2 may have a spherical or cylindrical shape. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

FIGS. 3a through 3c are schematic cross-sectional views of the aerosol generating article 2 according to embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 3a through 3c, the medium rod 21 of the aerosol generating article 2 may include a medium portion 211 and an airflow path 212. The airflow path 212 may form a longitudinal path in a space between compressed media of the medium portion 211 to allow the media to be smoothly transferred from an upstream side to a downstream side of the aerosol generating article 2 by the aerosol.

According to an embodiment, the medium portion 211 may include a medium. The medium may include solid materials based on tobacco raw materials (e.g., tobacco sheets, cut tobacco leaves, and reconstituted tobacco), a liquid composition based on nicotine, a tobacco extract, and/or various fragrances. However, the medium is not limited thereto and may include materials such as vitamin, taurine, caffeine, and GABA.

Referring to FIG. 3a, the airflow path 212 may be formed through the medium portion 211 in a longitudinal direction. In an embodiment, the medium rod 21 may include one or more airflow paths 212.

Referring to FIG. 3b, the airflow paths 212 may include a main airflow path 212a formed through a center of a cross-section of the medium portion 211, a sub-airflow path 212b formed in a direction parallel to the main airflow path around the main airflow path 212a. The medium rod 21 may include one or more sub-airflow paths 212b. Continuing to refer to FIG. 3b, the sub-airflow path 212b may have a cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the main airflow path 212a. According to another embodiment, the sub-airflow path 212b may have a cross-sectional area equal to or wider than the cross-sectional area of the main airflow path 212a.

Referring to FIG. 3c, the airflow paths 212 may further include a side airflow path 212c. The medium rod 21 may include the wrapper 24 that wraps the medium portion 211. A space may be created in a longitudinal direction between the medium portion 211 and the wrapper 24. The space may function as the side airflow path 212c according to an embodiment.

In an embodiment, a horizontal cross-section of the medium portion 211 (refer to FIG. 3c) taken perpendicular to a longitudinal direction may have one of a circular shape, an elliptical shape, a convex polygonal shape, and a concave polygonal shape. For example, referring to FIG. 3c, the horizontal cross-section of the medium portion 211 may have a star shape, which is one of concave polygonal shapes.

When the horizontal cross-section of the medium portion 211 is not a circular shape, the medium rod 21 may further include a medium sheet 213 that helps the medium 211 maintain its shape. When the horizontal cross-section of the medium portion 211 is not a circular shape, a plurality of side airflow paths 212c may be formed between the medium portion 211 and the wrapper 24. Since the airflow paths 212 serve to allow the compressed media of the medium portion 211 to be smoothly transferred by the aerosol, it is desirable that the medium sheet 213 wrapped around a side surface of the medium portion 211 is formed of a transparent material.

In an embodiment, when the medium portion 211 has a polygonal shape as illustrated in FIG. 3c and is heated by a central heating type heater, an amount of medium present near the edge of the medium portion, which is discarded without being sufficiently heated, may be reduced.

FIGS. 4a and 4b are diagrams schematically illustrating an aerosol generating device 3 according to embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 4a and 4b, the aerosol generating device 3 may include a housing 31, an elongated cavity 32, a heater 33, a battery 34, and a controller 35.

The housing 31 may be configured to accommodate at least a portion of the aerosol generating article 2 and accommodate various electric/mechanical components.

The elongated cavity 32 may accommodate at least a portion of the aerosol generating article 2. The aerosol generating article 2 accommodated in the elongated cavity 32 may generate an aerosol as it is heated by the heater 33, and the generated aerosol may be inhaled through a mouth of a user.

The heater 33 may heat the aerosol generating article 2 accommodated in the elongated cavity 32. In an embodiment, the heater 33 may include one or more heating elements (e.g., 331 and 332 of FIG. 4b). For example, when the aerosol generating article 2 is accommodated in the elongated cavity 32, the heater 33 may include a first heating element 331, which is an internal heating type heating element, that heats an inside of a medium, that is, a central portion of the medium, and may include a second heating element 332, which is an external heating type heating element, that heats an outside of the medium, that is, a circumference of the medium. For example, the first heating element 331 and the second heating element 332 may be a structure of a direct heating type, an induction heating type, or a hot air blow heating type. Desirably, the first heating element 331 may be a blade type, a pin type, a needle type, or a hot air blow type, and the second heating element 332 may be a contact (direct) heating type or an induction heating type. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 4b, a maximum heating temperature of the first heating element 331 may be lower than a maximum heating temperature of the second heating element 332. The first heating element 331 is the internal heating type heating element, and when the temperature of the first heating element 331 is too high, a user may taste a burnt flavor because a medium in direct contact with the element is burnt. Therefore, it may be possible to evenly heat the medium in the aerosol generating article 2 by setting the maximum heating temperature of the second heating element 332, which is the external heating type heating element, below the maximum heating temperature of the first heating element 331.

The battery 34 (e.g., the battery 140 of FIG. 1) may supply power to be used to operate the aerosol generating device 3. For example, the battery 34 may supply power to operate the heater 33 such that the medium portion 211 in the aerosol generating article 2 or an aerosol forming substrate is heated and may supply power to operate the controller 35 (e.g., the controller 110 of FIG. 1). In addition, the battery 34 may supply power required to operate a display, a sensor, a motor, or the like installed in the aerosol generating device 3.

The controller 35 (e.g., the controller 110 of FIG. 1) may control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 3. For example, the controller 35 may control power supplied to the heater 33 from the battery 34. The controller 35 may also control respective operations of other components included in the aerosol generating device 3, in addition to the heater 33 and the battery 34. In addition, the controller 35 may verify a state of each of the components of the aerosol generating device 3 to determine whether the aerosol generating device 3 is in an operable state.

The controller 35 may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates, or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable by the microprocessor is stored. In addition, it is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains that the processor may be implemented in other types of hardware.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating the aerosol generating device 3 including the heater 33 according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the heater 33 included in the aerosol generating device 3 may protrude from one end of an elongated cavity (e.g., the elongated cavity 32 of FIG. 4a). The heater 33 may include a heating unit 33a that substantially generates heat and a hot air blow unit 33b that emits air heated by the heating unit 33a to an outside of the heater. With this structure of the heater 33, when accommodated in the elongated cavity 32 of the aerosol generating device 3, the aerosol generating article 2 may heat a medium and/or an aerosol forming substrate more efficiently.

FIGS. 6a and 6b are diagrams schematically illustrating an aerosol generating system according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 6a and 6b, the aerosol generating system may include the aerosol generating article 2 including the medium rod 21 and the filter rod 22, wherein the medium rod 21 includes the medium portion 211 that accommodates a medium, the main airflow path 212a formed through a center of the medium portion 211 in a longitudinal direction, and one or more sub-airflow paths 212b formed to be parallel with the main airflow path 212a around the main airflow path 212a, and the aerosol generating device 3 including a housing (e.g., the housing 31 of FIG. 4a), an elongated cavity (e.g., the elongated cavity 32 of FIG. 4a), and the heater 33 that heats the aerosol generating article 2 accommodated in the elongated cavity.

Referring to FIG. 6a, media accommodated in the medium portion 211 of the aerosol generating article 2 may move toward the filter rod 22 as it is heated by the heater 33 and aerosolized. The aerosolized media may move to a downstream side along the main airflow path 212a and the sub-airflow path 212b formed through the medium portion 211 in a longitudinal direction. The heater 33 is illustrated as having a single unit in FIG. 6a. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the heater 33 of the aerosol generating device 3 may include one or more heating elements (e.g., 331 and 332 of FIG. 4b). For example, the heater 33 may include the first heating element 331 which is an internal heating type heating element that heats an inside (i.e., a central portion) of a medium, and may include the second heating element 332 which is an external heating type heating element that heats an outside (i.e., a circumference) of the medium when the aerosol generating article 2 is accommodated in the elongated cavity 32. In an embodiment, the first heating element 331 and the second heating element 332 may be one of a direct heating type, an induction heating type, or a hot air blow heating type.

The medium rod 21 may further include a medium sheet (e.g., the medium sheet 213 of FIG. 3c) that wraps an outer side surface of the medium portion 211, a wrapper (e.g., the wrapper 24 of FIG. 3c) that wraps the medium sheet of the medium rod 21, and the side airflow path 212c formed between the medium sheet 213 and the wrapper 24 in a longitudinal direction. The aerosolized media may move to a downstream side along the side airflow path 212c in addition to the main airflow path 212a and the sub-airflow path 212b.

Referring to FIG. 6b, the aerosol generating article 2 of the aerosol generating system may further include the atomizing rod 23. The atomizing rod 23 may accommodate an aerosol forming substrate and may be disposed at an upstream end of the medium rod 21. When the aerosol generating article 2 is accommodated in the elongated cavity 32 of the aerosol generating device 3, the heater 33 may heat the atomizing rod 23 and/or heat the medium rod 21 and the atomizing rod 23. Accordingly, larger amounts of aerosols may be generated and transferred to a mouth of a user.

While the embodiments are described with reference to drawings, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various alterations and modifications in form and details may be made to these embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. For example, suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents.

Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents of the claims are within the scope of the following claims.

AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLE AND AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEM

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