IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,583,008
Granted Patent B2
US 11,583,008 · App. 16/479,114 · Granted Feb 21, 2023

Fine particle generating device

Inventors: Choong Sheek Hong (Yongin-si, KR); Seung Kiu Jeong (Gimhae-si, KR); Jung Ho Han (Daejeon, KR); Jong Sub Lee (Seongnam-si, KR); Hun Il Lim (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
A24F40/57A24D1/02A24F40/65A24F40/20A24F40/60A24F40/95A61M15/06G01K7/16H05B3/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,583,008
App. No.
16/479,114
Granted
Feb 21, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a fine particle generating apparatus outputting usage information, and in particular, a fine particle generating apparatus that generates fine particles through electrical heating and outputs usage information thereof to a user. Also, provided is a fine particle generating apparatus that generates fine particles by determining whether a puff has occurred according to a temperature variation amount per unit time. Also, provided is a fine particle generating apparatus or an aerosol generating apparatus capable of changing puff conditions by controlling a heater. Also, provided is a fine particle generating apparatus that generates fine particles through electrical heating.

Claims (52)

1. An aerosol generating apparatus comprising:

a heater configured to generate aerosol by using electricity;

a processor configured to detect a puff based on a temperature variation amount per unit time of the heater, and control the heater to generate the aerosol based on detecting the puff;

an inhalation sensor configured to sense an inhalation amount per one puff of a user;

a battery configured to supply electric power to the heater and the processor,

wherein the processor is configured to predict a temperature of the heater to be decreased according to the inhalation amount, and control the battery to supply the electric power supplied to the heater based on the predicted temperature such that the temperature of the heater is maintained within a preset range.

2. The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the processor determines that the puff has occurred based on the temperature variation amount per unit time of the heater being equal to or greater than a preset value, and determines that no puff has occurred based on the temperature variation amount per unit time of the heater being less than the preset value.

3. The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to determine the temperature variation amount per unit time of the heater,

wherein, based on the inhalation sensor sensing air introduced to the aerosol generating apparatus according to a puff, the processor obtains information indicating the temperature variation amount per unit time of the heater from the temperature sensor and determines whether the puff has occurred based on the information.

4. The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 3 , wherein

based on velocity of the air introduced into the aerosol generating apparatus being equal to or greater than a preset value, the temperature sensor begins sensing the temperature variation amount per unit time of the heater.

5. The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

based on velocity of air introduced into the aerosol generating apparatus being equal to or greater than a preset value, the processor begins determining whether the puff has occurred according to the temperature variation amount per unit time of the heater.

6. The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

based on the puff being detected, the processor updates previously stored information about a number of uses and/or a number of puffs by increasing the number of uses and/or the number of puffs.

7. The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a display configured to display the number of uses and/or the number of puffs.

8. A fine particle generating apparatus of a heating type, the fine particle generating apparatus comprising:

a heater;

a battery configured to supply electric power to the heater;

a memory configured to store one or more instructions for controlling the heater; and

a processor configured to operate the battery via the one or more instructions,

wherein the one or more instructions comprise temperature profile information of the heater, the temperature profile information comprising (i) at least one vaporizing temperature retaining section for the heater, in which a vaporizing material is heated to a predetermined temperature or greater to discharge the vaporizing material, (ii) at least one vaporizing temperature decreasing section, in which a temperature of the heater is decreased to a minimum vaporizing temperature due to an absence of a puff, (iii) at least one minimum vaporizing temperature retaining section in which the minimum vaporizing temperature is maintained, and (iv) at least one puff section in which the temperature of the heater is decreased from the minimum vaporizing temperature due to an occurrence of the puff, and

wherein the temperature profile information includes information about a temperature that the heater has to reach within a predetermined time period in each section, and information about the electric power supplied by the battery to the heater in correspondence with each section.

9. An aerosol generating apparatus comprising:

a heater;

a sensor including an inhalation sensor, the inhalation sensor being configured to sense an inhalation amount per one puff of a user;

a processor configured to predicts a temperature of the heater to be decreased according to the inhalation amount, and control electric power supplied to the heater based on the predicted temperature such that the temperature of the heater is maintained within a preset range.

10. The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 9 , wherein

the processor controls the electric power supplied to the heater such that the electric power is supplied to the heater before the temperature of the heater decreases to a predetermined level due to an air introduced into the aerosol generating apparatus.

11. The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 9 , wherein

the sensor further senses a temperature of an air introduced into the aerosol generating apparatus according to the puff, or velocity of the air, and

the processor controls the electric power supplied to the heater further based on the temperature of the air, and the velocity of the air.

12. An aerosol generating method comprising:

sensing an inhalation amount per one puff of a user; and

predicting a temperature of a heater to be decreased according to the inhalation amount; and

controlling electric power supplied to the heater based on the predicted temperature, such that the temperature of the heater is maintained within a preset range.

13. An aerosol generating apparatus comprising:

a heater configured to generate aerosol;

a sensor configured to sense air introduced into the aerosol generating apparatus according to a puff;

a processor configured to determine a temperature control profile with respect to the heater based on a result of sensing the air introduced into the aerosol generating apparatus, and control electric power supplied to the heater according to the temperature control profile,

wherein the temperature control profile corresponds to one section of temperature profile information, the temperature profile information comprising (i) at least one vaporizing temperature retaining section for the heater, in which a vaporizing material is heated to a predetermined temperature or greater to discharge the vaporizing material, (ii) at least one vaporizing temperature decreasing section, in which a temperature of the heater is decreased to a minimum vaporizing temperature due to an absence of a puff, (iii) at least one minimum vaporizing temperature retaining section in which the minimum vaporizing temperature is maintained, and (iv) at least one puff section in which the temperature of the heater is decreased from the minimum vaporizing temperature due to an occurrence of the puff,

wherein the temperature control profile corresponds to information, included in the temperature profile information, about a temperature that the heater has to reach within a predetermined time period in a corresponding section, and information about the electric power supplied to the heater in correspondence with the corresponding section.

14. The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 13 , wherein

the processor selects one temperature control profile corresponding to the result of sensing, from among a plurality of temperature control profiles.

15. The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 13 , wherein

the result of sensing comprises an inhalation amount generated per one puff of a user, and

the processor determines a temperature control profile corresponding to the inhalation amount generated per one puff of the user, from among a plurality of temperature control profiles.

16. The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 13 , wherein

the sensor senses at least one of an amount of the air introduced into the aerosol generating apparatus according to the puff, a temperature of the air, and velocity of the air, and

the processor selects one temperature control profile from among a plurality of temperature control profiles based on at least one of the amount of the air, the temperature of the air, and the velocity of the air.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2019
From: HONG, CHOONG SHEEK; JEONG, SEUNG KIU; HAN, JUNG HO; LEE, JONG SUB; LIM, HUN IL
To: KT & G CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050026/0515 →
Priority Claims (9)
KR 10-2017-0008900 · Jan 18, 2017 · national
KR 10-2017-0008902 · Jan 18, 2017 · national
KR 10-2017-0008903 · Jan 18, 2017 · national
KR 10-2017-0058771 · May 11, 2017 · national
KR 10-2017-0058773 · May 11, 2017 · national
KR 10-2017-0058774 · May 11, 2017 · national
KR 10-2018-0006555 · Jan 18, 2018 · national
KR 10-2018-0006557 · Jan 18, 2018 · national
KR 10-2018-0006558 · Jan 18, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190380389A1 · Dec 19, 2019
Cited By (2)
US 12,520,880 US 12,550,942