US-20260123687-A1 - AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE AND AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM COMPRISING SAME

US20260123687A1US 20260123687 A1US20260123687 A1US 20260123687A1US-20260123687-A1

Abstract

An aerosol generating device may include a body which forms an exterior of the aerosol generating device, an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol generating material, a battery coupling unit to which a battery for power supply is removably coupled, a battery cover which is removably coupled to the body and optionally opens or closes the battery coupling unit, a liquid sensor configured to detect a liquid that penetrated between the body and the battery cover and generate a signal according to whether the liquid is detected, and a processor configured to control the aerosol generating device in response to the signal generated by the liquid sensor.

Inventors

Jae Hyuk Kim
Sang Cheol Park
Jang Won Seo
Young Min Woo
Won Kyeong LEE
Chul Ho Jang
Jin Chul Jung
Dae Nam HAN

Assignees

KT&G CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20240726
Priority Date: 20230801

Claims (14)

1 . An aerosol generating device which generates an aerosol, the aerosol generating device comprising: a body which forms an exterior of the aerosol generating device; an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol generating material; a battery coupling unit to which a battery for power supply is removably coupled; a battery cover which is removably coupled to the body and optionally opens or closes the battery coupling unit; a liquid sensor configured to detect a liquid that penetrated between the body and the battery cover and generate a signal according to whether the liquid is detected; and a processor configured to control the aerosol generating device in response to the signal generated by the liquid sensor.
2 . The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid sensor comprises a first pad and a second pad, and the first pad and the second pad are each electrically conductive, are arranged a certain distance apart from each other, and face each other.
3 . The aerosol generating device of claim 2 , wherein the first pad is arranged in the body and the second pad is arranged in the battery cover.
4 . The aerosol generating device of claim 2 , wherein the liquid sensor is configured to generate a signal in response to whether there is an electrical connection between the first pad and the second pad.
5 . The aerosol generating device of claim 2 , wherein the liquid sensor is configured to generate a signal in response to a change in an electric capacity between the first pad and the second pad.
6 . The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid sensor is electrically conductive, comprises an electrical resistor, and is configured to generate a signal in response to a change in an electrical resistance value of the electrical resistor.
7 . The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , further comprising a sealing member arranged between the body and the battery cover to prevent liquid penetration between the body and the battery cover toward the battery coupling unit.
8 . The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , further comprising a first display for outputting visual information, wherein the processor is configured to control the display in response to the signal generated by the liquid sensor.
9 . The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , further comprising a first audio output unit for outputting auditory information, wherein the processor is configured to control the audio output unit according to the signal generated by the liquid sensor.
10 . The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to stop power supply of the battery in response to the signal generated by the liquid sensor when it is determined that the liquid penetrated between the body and the battery cover.
11 . The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , further comprising a memory for storing information, wherein the processor is configured to store, in the memory, information corresponding to the signal generated by the liquid sensor.
12 . An aerosol generating system comprising: the aerosol generating device of claim 1 ; and an external device communicable with the aerosol generating device, wherein the aerosol generating device is configured to transmit, to the external device, information corresponding to the signal generated by the liquid sensor.
13 . The aerosol generating system of claim 12 , wherein the external device comprises a second display for outputting visual information and is configured to control the second display in response to the information received from the aerosol generating device.
14 . The aerosol generating system of claim 12 , wherein the external device comprises a second audio output unit for outputting auditory information and is configured to control the second audio output unit in response to the information received from the aerosol generating device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating system including the same, and more particularly, to an aerosol generating device which includes a battery coupling unit capable of accommodating a removable battery and detecting liquid penetrating into an electrode in contact with a detachable battery, and an aerosol generating system including the aerosol generating device. BACKGROUND ART The demand for aerosol generating devices that produce aerosols through a non-combustion method, instead of burning cigarettes to generate aerosols, is increasing. An aerosol generating device, for example, is a device that generates aerosols from an aerosol generating material using a non-combustion method and supplies them to the user, or generates flavored aerosols by passing vapor produced from the aerosol generating material through a flavoring medium. Aerosol generating devices may receive power from batteries. In this case, the batteries may be removable from the aerosol generating devices. An aerosol generating device may include a battery coupling unit capable of accommodating a removable battery and a battery cover for selectively opening or closing the battery coupling unit. However, when the battery of the aerosol generating device is configured as a detachable battery, water may penetrate into the device during an insertion and removal process of the detachable battery. Because an electrode in contact with the detachable battery is formed to be exposed, water that penetrated into the device may come into contact with the electrode, which may cause failure of internal elements of the device due to overcurrent and overvoltage. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem Liquids may penetrate through gaps between a battery cover for opening or closing a battery coupling portion of an aerosol generating device and other components. The liquid penetrating through the gaps between the battery cover and the other components may flow into other parts and cause electrical problems. The technical objective of the present disclosure is to provide an aerosol generating device in which water penetrating into an electrode in contact with a detachable battery may be detected. The objective to be achieved through various embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide an aerosol generating device in which liquid penetrating into gaps between a battery cover and other components is detected early and notified to the user, thereby ensuring safety of the user, and an aerosol generating system including same. Another objective to be achieved through various embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide an aerosol generating device in which liquid penetrating through gaps between a battery cover and other components is detected early so that power of the battery is stopped, thereby preventing damage to the aerosol generating device, and an aerosol generating system including same. 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. Solution to Problem An aerosol generating device for generating an aerosol may include a body which forms an exterior of the aerosol generating device, an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol generating material, a battery coupling unit to which a battery for power supply is removably coupled, a battery cover which is removably coupled to the body and optionally opens or closes the battery coupling unit, a liquid sensor configured to detect liquid that penetrated between the body and the battery cover and generate a signal according to whether the liquid is detected, and a processor configured to control the aerosol generating device in response to the signal generated by the liquid sensor. The liquid sensor may include a first pad and a second pad. The first pad and the second pad may be each electrically conductive, may be arranged a certain distance apart from each other, and may face each other. The first pad may be arranged in the body. The second pad may be arranged in the battery cover. The liquid sensor may be configured to generate a signal in response to whether there is an electrical connection between the first pad and the second pad. The liquid sensor may be configured to generate a signal in response to a change in an electric capacity between the first pad and the second pad. The liquid sensor may be electrically conductive, may include an electrical resistor, and may be configured to generate a signal in response to a change in an electrical resistance value of the electrical resistor. The aerosol generating device may include a sealing member. The sealing member may be arranged between the body and the battery cover. The sealing member may prevent liquid penetration between the body and the battery cover t