KR-20260067739-A - AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE

KR20260067739AKR 20260067739 AKR20260067739 AKR 20260067739AKR-20260067739-A

Abstract

An aerosol generating device comprises a cartridge including a storage portion for storing an aerosol generating substance and a generating portion for generating an aerosol from the aerosol generating substance, a light source for irradiating light toward the aerosol generating substance stored in the cartridge, and a shooting portion positioned in at least one area of the side portion of the cartridge and arranged to face the storage portion to detect the remaining amount of the aerosol generating substance stored in the storage portion.

Inventors

신연지
박주언
이종섭
임헌일
정형진

Assignees

주식회사 케이티앤지

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20241106

Claims (15)

A cartridge comprising a storage unit for storing an aerosol generating material and a generating unit for generating an aerosol from the aerosol generating material; A light source that irradiates light toward an aerosol-generating substance stored in the cartridge; and An aerosol generating device comprising: a shooting unit positioned in at least one area of the side portion of the cartridge and arranged to face the storage unit to detect the remaining amount of an aerosol generating substance stored in the storage unit.
In paragraph 1, The above-mentioned imaging unit is an aerosol generating device that images the interior of the above-mentioned storage unit.
In paragraph 1, An aerosol generating device in which the light source is positioned to face the imaging unit with the cartridge in between.
In paragraph 1, It further includes a screen on which an image is formed by light irradiated from the above light source, and The above-mentioned imaging unit is an aerosol generating device that images the above-mentioned screen.
In paragraph 1, It further includes a control unit electrically connected to the above-mentioned imaging unit, and The above control unit controls the operation of the above generation unit based on an image captured by the above shooting unit, an aerosol generating device.
In paragraph 1, A control unit electrically connected to the above-mentioned imaging unit; and It further includes an output unit that outputs information regarding the state of the aerosol generating device. An aerosol generating device, wherein the control unit controls the output unit to output information regarding the remaining amount of an aerosol generating substance based on an image captured by the imaging unit.
In paragraph 1, A control unit electrically connected to the above-mentioned imaging unit; and It further includes an output unit that outputs information regarding the state of the aerosol generating device; and An aerosol generating device, wherein the control unit controls the output unit to output information regarding the tilt of the aerosol generating device based on an image captured by the capturing unit.
In Paragraph 7, The above-mentioned imaging unit is arranged in multiple numbers to surround the cartridge, and The above control unit determines the tilt of the aerosol generating device by combining images captured by the plurality of imaging units.
In paragraph 1, A first light receiving unit comprising one or more light receiving sensors arranged to surround at least a portion of the storage unit and receiving light reflected from an aerosol generating material stored in the storage unit; and An aerosol generating device further comprising: a second light receiving unit comprising one or more light receiving sensors arranged to surround at least a portion of the storage unit and receiving light that transmits an aerosol generating substance stored in the storage unit.
In Paragraph 9, The light source is positioned on the upper part of the storage unit, and The first light receiving part is disposed in at least one area of the upper and side parts of the storage part, and The above second light receiving unit is an aerosol generating device positioned below the storage unit.
In Paragraph 9, The light source is placed inside the storage unit, and An aerosol generating device in which light irradiated from the above light source is refracted and passes through the aerosol generating material stored in the above storage unit when it reaches the aerosol generating material.
In Paragraph 9, It further includes a control unit electrically connected to the first light receiving unit and the second light receiving unit, and The above control unit determines the remaining amount of an aerosol generating material stored in the cartridge based on at least one of the intensity of light and the receiving position of the light received by the first light receiving unit and the second light receiving unit, respectively, and controls the operation of the aerosol generating device based on the remaining amount of the aerosol generating material.
In Paragraph 9, A control unit electrically connected to the first light receiving unit and the second light receiving unit; and It further includes an output unit that outputs information regarding the state of the aerosol generating device; and An aerosol generating device, wherein the control unit determines the tilt of the aerosol generating device based on at least one of whether light is received by each of the first light receiving unit and the second light receiving unit, the intensity of the received light, and the position of the light receiving, and controls the output unit to output information regarding the tilt of the aerosol generating device.
A storage unit for storing aerosol-generating substances; A generating unit for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generating substance; A light source that irradiates light toward an aerosol generating substance stored in the above storage unit; and A cartridge comprising: a shooting unit positioned on the side of the storage unit and arranged to face the storage unit to detect the remaining amount of an aerosol-generating substance stored in the storage unit.
In Paragraph 14, A first light receiving unit comprising one or more first light receiving sensors that receive light reflected from an aerosol generating substance stored in the storage unit; and A cartridge further comprising: a second light receiving unit comprising one or more second light receiving sensors that receive light transmitting an aerosol generating substance stored in the storage unit.

Description

Aerosol generating device Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an aerosol generating device, and more specifically, to an aerosol generating device capable of checking the remaining amount of a liquid composition stored in a cartridge. Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternative methods to overcome the disadvantages of conventional cigarettes. For example, there is a growing demand for systems that generate aerosols by heating cigarettes or aerosol-generating materials using an aerosol-generating device, rather than by burning cigarettes to produce aerosols. Accordingly, research on heated aerosol-generating devices is actively underway. The aerosol generating device may be equipped with additional features that can provide user convenience. For example, in the case of an aerosol generating device using a liquid aerosol generating substance, it may be equipped with a function that provides the user with information regarding the remaining amount of the aerosol generating substance or controls the operation of the aerosol generating device based on the remaining amount of the aerosol generating substance. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view showing the main body of an aerosol generating device and a cartridge detachably coupled thereto according to one embodiment. FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view showing a cartridge of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment. FIG. 5 is a drawing showing an example of a configuration arranged to detect the remaining amount of aerosol-generating material stored in a cartridge. FIG. 6 is a drawing showing another example of a configuration rearranged to detect the remaining amount of aerosol-generating material shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which a configuration arranged to detect the remaining amount of aerosol generating material shown in FIG. 5 is used to detect the tilt of an aerosol generating device. FIGS. 8A and FIGS. 8B are drawings showing other examples of configurations arranged to detect the remaining amount of aerosol-generating material stored in a cartridge. FIGS. 9a to 9g are drawings showing an example in which a configuration arranged to detect the remaining amount of aerosol generating material shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b is used to detect the tilt of an aerosol generating device. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which a configuration arranged to detect the remaining amount of aerosol-generating material shown in FIG. 8a and FIG. 8b is used to determine the type of aerosol-generating material. Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Identical or similar components are assigned the same reference numeral regardless of the drawing symbols, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. In relation to the description of the drawings, similar drawing symbols may be used for similar or related components. The suffixes "module" and "unit" for components used in the following description are assigned or used interchangeably solely for the sake of ease of drafting the specification, and do not inherently possess distinct meanings or roles. Meanwhile, the suffixes "module" or "unit" may include units implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as logic, logic block, component, or circuit. "Module" or "unit" may be a component formed as a whole, or the smallest unit of said component or a part thereof that performs one or more functions. For example, "module" or "unit" may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In addition, when describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a detailed description of related prior art may obscure the essence of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, such detailed description is omitted. Furthermore, the attached drawings are intended only to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical concept disclosed in this specification is not limited by the attached drawings; it should be understood that the drawings include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the concept and technical scope of this disclosure. Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components are not limited by said terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. When it is stated that one component is "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that w