EP4623730A1

EP4623730A1 - Aerosol generating apparatus and control method therefor

Info

Publication number: EP4623730A1
Application number: EP23893784.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Guangping CAO; Chengque YANG; Zhongli XU; Yonghai LI
Original assignee: Shenzhen FirstUnion Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen FirstUnion Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-11-25
Filing date: 2023-11-20
Publication date: 2025-10-01
Also published as: CN118077962A; KR20250114083A; WO2024109694A1; JP2025538875A

Abstract

An aerosol generating apparatus and a control method therefor. The control method comprises: after a heating initiation instruction is received, entering a plurality of time phases, and correspondingly controlling a power source to supply energy to a heater multiple times; and if the supplied energy reaches a set energy corresponding to the current time phase, controlling the power source to stop supplying energy in the current time phase. Starting from the heat required by an aerosol forming substrate in different phases, control is performed, so that the amount of an aerosol during vaping can be met, thus improving the vaping experience of a user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202211488324.5, filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on November 25, 2022 and entitled "AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR", which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to the field of vapor generation technologies, and in particular, to an aerosol generating device and a control method therefor.

BACKGROUND

During the use of objects such as cigarettes or cigars, tobaccos are burnt to generate tobacco vapor. Attempts have been made to provide substitutes for these tobacco-burning objects by producing products that release compounds without burning. An example of such products is a heat-not-burn product, also referred to a tobacco heating product or a tobacco heating apparatus. The product or apparatus releases compounds by heating materials rather than burning materials. For example, the materials may be tobaccos or other non-tobacco products or combinations, for example, a blended mixture that may contain or not contain nicotine.
In existing aerosol generating devices, a temperature curve needs to be preset, and during the heating process, the real-time temperature of a heater is monitored via temperature sensors of the heater, and a power output to the heater is controlled based on the real-time temperature to ensure that the temperature of the heater conforms to the preset temperature curve.

SUMMARY

An aspect of this application provides a control method for an aerosol generating device. The aerosol generating device includes a heater configured to heat an aerosol forming substrate to generate an aerosol and a power source providing energy to the heater. The method includes:

correspondingly controlling, in a plurality of time phases after a heating initiation instruction is received, the power source to supply energy to the heater a plurality of times;
in one of the time phases, controlling the power source to supply energy to the heater in the current time phase, including:
- controlling the power source to initiate energy supply to the heater in the current time phase;
- determining supplied energy in the current time phase; and
- controlling, if the supplied energy reaches set energy corresponding to the current time phase, the power source to stop the energy supply in the current time phase.

Another aspect of this application provides an aerosol generating device, including:

a heater, configured to heat an aerosol forming substrate to generate an aerosol;
a power source, configured to provide energy to the heater; and
a controller, configured to: correspondingly control, in a plurality of time phases after a heating initiation instruction is received, the power source to supply energy to the heater a plurality of times; and in one of the time phases, control the power source to supply energy to the heater in the current time phase, including: controlling the power source to initiate energy supply to the heater in the current time phase; determining supplied energy in the current time phase; and controlling, if the supplied energy reaches set energy corresponding to the current time phase, the power source to stop the energy supply in the current time phase.

a heater, configured to heat an aerosol forming substrate to generate an aerosol;
a power source, configured to provide energy to the heater; and
a controller, configured to: enter a plurality of time phases after a heating initiation instruction is received, correspondingly control the power source to initiate energy supply to the heater in a current time phase; determine supplied energy in the current time phase, and control, if the supplied energy supplied by the power source reaches set energy corresponding to the current time phase, the power source to stop the energy supply in the current time phase.

a heater, configured to heat an aerosol forming substrate to generate an aerosol;
a power source, configured to provide energy to the heater; and
a controller, configured to correspondingly control, in a plurality of time phases after a heating initiation instruction is received, the power source to supply energy to the heater based on set energy and a natural cooldown period of each time phase.

Yet another aspect of this application provides an aerosol generating device, including:

a heater, configured to heat an aerosol forming substrate to generate an aerosol;
a power source, configured to provide energy to the heater; and
a controller, configured to correspondingly control, in a plurality of time phases in a vaping operational stage, the power source to supply energy to the heater based on set energy and a natural cooldown period of each time phase, where
at least two of the time phases have the same set energy and natural cooldown period.

In the aerosol generating device and the control method therefor provided in this application, after the heating initiation instruction is received, energy is provided to the heater a plurality of times in a plurality of time phases. The control of one of the time phases is used as an example. The power source is controlled to initiate energy supply to the heater. It is monitored whether supplied energy reaches set energy of the current time phase. The power source is controlled to stop the energy supply if the set energy is reached. The outputting of power to the heater is implemented in this control mode, thereby reducing or eliminating reliance on the real-time temperature of the heater, and this control mode is truly based on required energy of the heater and/or the aerosol forming substrate. Compared with conventional control manners relying on the real-time temperature of the heater, first, this control mode controls energy supply to the heater truly from the fundamental requirement of actual energy demand by the aerosol forming substrate in different time phases, thereby improving the taste of the aerosol forming substrate for vaping, and improving the vaping experience of a user. Second, the problem of insufficient heat absorption of the aerosol forming substrate caused by the problem of an inaccurate real-time temperature of the heater can be avoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments are exemplarily described with reference to the corresponding figures in the accompanying drawings, and the descriptions do not constitute a limitation to the embodiments. Components in the accompanying drawings that have same reference numerals are represented as similar components, and unless otherwise particularly stated, the figures in the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generating article according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a control method for an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a control method for an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a voltage regulation circuit of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a control method for an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a control method for an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of a supply voltage in a preheating operational stage according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram of a supply voltage in a preheating operational stage according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 8C is a schematic diagram of a supply voltage in a preheating operational stage according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 8D is a schematic diagram of a supply voltage in a preheating operational stage according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram of a supply voltage in a vaping operational stage according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram of a supply voltage in a vaping operational stage according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 9C is a schematic diagram of a supply voltage in a vaping operational stage according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram of a real-time temperature curve of a heater according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 10B is a schematic diagram of a real-time temperature curve of a heater according to an embodiment of this application; and
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a real-time temperature curve of a heater and output power according to an embodiment of this application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For ease of understanding of this application, this application is described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementations. It should be noted that, when an element is expressed as "being fixed to" another element, the element may be directly on the another element, or one or more intermediate elements may exist between the element and the another element. When an element is expressed as "being connected to" another element, the element may be directly connected to the another element, or one or more intermediate elements may exist between the element and the another element. The terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inside", "outside" and similar expressions used in this specification are merely used for an illustrative purpose.
Unless otherwise defined, meanings of all technical and scientific terms used in this specification are the same as those usually understood by a person skilled in art of this application. Terms used in this specification of this application are merely intended to describe objectives of the specific implementations, and are not intended to limit this application. The term "and/or" used in this specification includes any or all combinations of one or more related listed items.
The accompanying drawings may only show elements related to this embodiment. A person skilled in the art should understand that the accompanying drawings may further include other common elements in addition to elements shown in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generating article according to an embodiment of this application.
As shown in FIG. 1, an aerosol generating article 20 includes a filter segment 21 and a substrate segment 22.
The substrate segment 22 includes an aerosol forming substrate. The aerosol forming substrate is a substrate that can release volatile compounds forming aerosols, and the volatile compounds can be released by heating the aerosol forming substrate.
The aerosol forming substrate may be a solid aerosol forming substrate. Alternatively, the solid aerosol forming substrate may include solid and liquid components. The aerosol forming substrate may include a tobacco-containing material, which contains volatile tobacco-flavor compounds that are released from the aerosol forming substrate when the aerosol forming substrate is heated. Alternatively, the aerosol forming substrate may include a non-tobacco material. The aerosol forming substrate may further include an aerosol forming substance. An example of an appropriate aerosol forming substance is glycerin and propanediol.
An aerosol generated by heating the substrate segment 22 is conveyed to a user through the filter segment 21. The filter segment 21 may be a cellulose acetate filter. A flavoring liquid may be sprayed on the filter segment 21 to provide a flavor or separate fiber coated with a flavoring liquid may be inserted into the filter segment 21, thereby enhancing the persistence of the taste conveyed to the user. The filter segment 21 may be further provided with a spherical or cylindrical capsule. The capsule may hold a core containing a flavorant.
The aerosol generating article 20 may further include a cooling segment 23 that is disposed between the substrate segment 22 and the filter segment 21 and configured to cool the aerosol generated when the substrate segment 22 is heated, to allow the user to inhale the aerosol that is cooled to an optimal temperature.
FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of this application.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the aerosol generating device 10 includes a battery cell 101, a controller 102, and a heater 103. In addition, the aerosol generating device 10 is provided with an internal space defined by a housing. The aerosol generating article 20 may be inserted into the internal space of the aerosol generating device 10.
The battery cell 101, i.e., a power source, is configured to provide electric power for operating the aerosol generating device 10. For example, the battery cell 101 may provide electric power to heat the heater 103, and may provide electric power required for operating the controller 102. In addition, the battery cell 101 may provide electric power required for operating a display device, a sensor, a motor, and the like provided in the aerosol generating device 10.
The battery cell 101 may be, but is not limited to, a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) battery. For example, the battery cell 101 may be alternatively a lithium cobaltate (LiCoO₂) battery or a lithium titanate battery. The battery cell 101 may be alternatively a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery.
When the aerosol generating article 20 is inserted inside the aerosol generating device 10, through the electric power provided by the battery cell 101, the aerosol generating device 10 may heat the heater 103. The heater 103 enables the temperature of the aerosol forming substrate in the aerosol generating article 20 to generate an aerosol. The generated aerosol is transferred to the user through the filter segment 21 of the aerosol generating article 20 for vaping.
The heater 103 and the aerosol forming substrate may use various heating coupling configurations. For example, the heater 103 may use a center-heating type. The heater 103 has configurations such as a needle, a sheet, and a pin, and is inserted inside the aerosol forming substrate to enable a periphery of the heater 103 be in contact with or in immediate proximity to (as close as practicable to) the aerosol forming substrate, thereby implementing the transfer of heat. The heater 103 may use a peripheral-heating type. The heater 103 is usually a hollow cylinder, and the aerosol forming substrate is disposed inside the hollow cylinder of the heater 103 to enable an inner wall of the heater 103 to be in contact with or in immediate proximity to (as close as practicable to) a circumference of the aerosol forming substrate, thereby implementing the transfer of heat.
The heater 103 may use various heating manners. For example, the aerosol forming substrate is heated in one or more manners of resistive heating, electromagnetic induction, chemical reaction, infrared radiation, resonance, photoelectric conversion, photothermal conversion, and air heating.
The controller 102 may control the operation of main components in the aerosol generating device 10. Specifically, the controller 102 may control the operation of the battery cell 101 and the heater 103, and may further control the operation of other components in the aerosol generating device 10.
The controller 102 is further configured to perform a control method for the aerosol generating device 10.
The controller 102 includes at least one processor. The controller 102 may include a logic gate array, or may include a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory that stores programs executable in the microprocessor.
For example, the controller 102 controls the operation of the heater 103. The controller 102 may control an amount of electric power provided to the heater 103, a period of continuously providing electric power to the heater 103, and stop providing power to the heater 103. In addition, the controller 102 may further monitor the status (e.g., the remaining battery capacity of the battery cell 101) of the battery cell 101, and/or monitor the operating status (e.g., a resistance change of the heater 103) of the heater 103, and may generate a notification signal if necessary to notify the user.
In addition to the battery cell 101, the controller 102, and the heater 103, the aerosol generating device 10 may further include other general-purpose components. For example, the aerosol generating device 10 may include a display device configured to output visual information. The display device may be visual display components such as a display, a touchscreen, a lighting assembly, or the like. The controller 102 may send, to the user, information (e.g., whether the aerosol generating device 10 is available for use) about the status of the aerosol generating device 10, information (e.g., preheating started, preheating in progress, or preheating completed) about the heater 103, information (e.g., the remaining battery capacity of the battery cell 101 and whether the battery cell 101 is available for use) about the battery cell 101, information (e.g., reset timing, reset in progress, or reset completed) about reset of the aerosol generating device 10, information (e.g., cleaning time, cleaning required, cleaning in progress, or cleaning completed) about cleaning of the aerosol generating device 10, information (e.g., charging required, charging in progress, or charging completed) about charging of the aerosol generating device 10, information (e.g., a vaping count and a vaping termination notice) about vaping, and information (e.g., use time) about safety. For example, the aerosol generating device 10 may further include a vibration motor configured to output haptic feedback information. The controller 102 may generate a vibration feedback signal by using the vibration motor and send the information to the user. For example, the aerosol generating device 10 further includes an airflow sensor configured to detect whether the user is vaping and/or the intensity of vaping. For example, the aerosol generating device 10 may include at least one input apparatus to control the functions of the aerosol generating device 10. Specifically, the input apparatus may include buttons, a touchscreen, or the like. The user may perform various functions by using the input apparatus. For example, the number of times (e.g., once or twice) that the user presses the input apparatus or the time (e.g., 0.1 s or 0.2 s) for which the user presses the input apparatus is adjusted to perform a desired function among multiple functions of the aerosol generating device 10. In addition, the user may use the input apparatus to perform the function of heating by the heater 103, the function of adjusting the temperature of the heater 103, the function of cleaning the space for inserting the aerosol generating article 20, the function of checking whether the aerosol generating device 10 is operable, the function of displaying the remaining battery capacity (available electric power) of the battery cell 101, or the function of resetting the aerosol generating device 10. However, the functions of the aerosol generating device 10 are not limited thereto.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a control method for an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 102 is configured to perform a control method for the aerosol generating device 10. The method includes the following steps.
Step S11: Correspondingly control, in a plurality of time phases after a heating initiation instruction is received, the power source to supply energy to the heater 103 a plurality of times.
After receiving the heating initiation instruction, the controller 102 may control the heater 103 to initiate heating. The heating process of the heater 103 includes the plurality of time phases. The plurality of time phases may be distributed throughout the entire operational stage including a preheating operational stage and a vaping operational stage of the aerosol generating device 10, or may be distributed only in the preheating operational stage, or may be distributed only in the vaping operational stage.
The preheating operational stage is an operational stage in which the temperature of the aerosol forming substrate is increased to a point at which a satisfying amount of aerosol is generated. The aerosol may be generated in this stage, but is usually not very likely to be sucked outside the aerosol generating device 10 by the user. For example, when the preheating operational stage ends, the aerosol forming substrate may already reach a temperature at which volatile components that tobaccos contain are released.
The vaping operational stage is an operational stage in which the aerosol may be generated by the aerosol generating device 10 at a satisfying rate and inhaled by the user.
An end moment of the preheating operational stage is equivalent to a start moment of the vaping operational stage. The aerosol generating device 10 may provide a notification via the vibration motor, a visual display component, or the like to notify the user that the aerosol generating device 10 enters the vaping operational stage and a vaping action may be performed.
The heating initiation instruction may be a signal generated by the user operating an input element, or may be obtained relying on a detection signal of a sensor. For example, an engagement trigger signal is generated upon the insertion of the aerosol generating article 20 into the aerosol generating device 10 detected via a pressure sensor, an electrical parameter sensor, or the like, or a signal for initiation through vaping by the user is detected via the airflow sensor.
The controller 102 controls the power source 101 to supply energy to the heater 103 a plurality of times strictly based on preset supplied energy (also referred to as set energy) corresponding to each time phase. The supplied energy corresponding to the plurality of time phases may be prestored in a memory inside the aerosol generating device 10 for retrieval by the controller 102. The supplied energy corresponding to the plurality of time phases may be alternatively stored in an external apparatus connected to the aerosol generating device 10, for example, a cloud server, a charging case memory, or a memory inside the aerosol generating device 10 linked thereto. The controller 102 may retrieve and apply the supplied energy from an external memory or server during the operating process.
The preset energy may be an experimental value obtained through extensive testing and experiment by the applicant after the mechanical design of the aerosol generating device 10 is completed in combination with specific materials of the aerosol forming substrate or may be an empirical value. It should be understood that the set energy may be adjusted based on the heat retention performance of a heating module, may be adjusted based on a heat transfer rate between the aerosol forming substrate and the heater 103, etc.
In some embodiments, at least two of the time phases have different set energy. For example, in an early-stage (also referred to as a first time phase, or a heat-up stage) of the preheating operational stage, a heating requirement is to enable the heater 103 to quickly reach a maximum temperature, thereby increasing a heat transfer rate between the heater 103 and the aerosol forming substrate. In a mid-to-late-stage (also referred to as a second time phase, a heat retention stage) of the preheating operational stage, a heating requirement is to sustain heat transfer between the aerosol forming substrate and the heater 103, thereby enabling the aerosol forming substrate to continue to absorb heat from the heater 103. Therefore, the set energy of the first time phase is far greater than the set energy of the second time phase, and even a ratio of the set energy of the first time phase to the set energy of the second time phase is up to 8:2 or 9:1. For example, in the vaping operational stage, to increase the output amount of vapor in an early-stage of vaping, set energy of at least one time phase in an early-stage of the vaping operational stage may be greater than set energy of at least one time phase in a late-stage of the vaping operational stage.
In some embodiments, at least two of the time phases correspond to the same set energy. For example, in the vaping operational stage (also referred to as a constant temperature stage), a heating requirement is to compensate for a heat loss of the aerosol forming substrate, thereby ensuring that the aerosol is generated at a particular rate. Because a heat loss of the aerosol forming substrate caused by the vaping action is very small, in the plurality of time phases in the vaping operational stage, the same set energy can be provided, provided that other fixed thermal energy losses of the aerosol forming substrate are compensated for. For example, in the late-stage (the second time phase, or the heat retention stage) of the preheating operational stage, the heating requirement is to sustain heat transfer between the aerosol forming substrate and the heater 103, thereby enabling the aerosol forming substrate to continue to absorb heat from the heater 103. Therefore, in the heat retention stage, the same set energy may be alternatively provided, and fixed thermal energy losses of the heater 103 caused by other reasons are compensated for, so that the temperature of the heater 103 is kept from significantly decreasing, thereby sustaining the heat transfer between the aerosol forming substrate and the heater 103.
One of the time phases is used as an example. Referring to FIG. 4, a process of controlling the power source 101 to supply energy to the heater 103 in the current time phase (Step S12) is described below, and specifically includes:
Step S121: Control the power source 103 to initiate energy supply to the heater in the current time phase.
The controller 102 retrieves set energy of the current time phase, and the controller 102 controls the battery cell 101 based on the set energy to provide power, thereby supplying the set energy to the heater 103.
The power provided by the controller 102 may be maximum real-time power that the battery cell 101 can provide. In this case, as the capacity of the battery cell attenuates, duration for which the battery cell 101 supplies energy to the heater 103 also extends accordingly.
The power provided by the controller 102 may be alternatively stable power outputted by the battery cell 101 through a voltage regulation circuit. Specifically, the aerosol generating device 10 further includes the voltage regulation circuit coupled between the heater 103 and the battery cell 101. The voltage regulation circuit includes a boost circuit and/or a buck circuit, for example, a BUCK-BOOST converter circuit shown in FIG. 5. It should be understood that the voltage regulation circuit is not limited to a BUCK-BOOST converter circuit, and may be alternatively at least one of a BOOST converter circuit, a BUCK converter circuit, a CUK converter circuit, a ZETA converter circuit, and a SEPIC converter circuit.
A process in which the controller 102 provides power may be uninterrupted continuous output. In this way, heat losses of the heater 103 and the aerosol forming substrate can be better compensated for. One time phase is used as an example. A period for which the controller 102 continuously outputs power only accounts for a part of the current time phase. This part is referred to as an energy supply period herein. In some embodiments, the energy supply period is varying. The controller 102 controls the energy supply based on the set energy of the current time phase and real-time output power rather than limits the energy supply period. In some embodiments, in a case that the output power of the power source 102 is stable, the energy supply period may be preset. Therefore, the controller 102 may determine the output power based on the set energy of the current time phase and a preset energy supply period. In some embodiments, for example, within the energy supply period, during the energy supply of the heater 103, generally, the temperature of the heater 103 starts to rise. A rate at which the temperature of the heater 103 rises is determined by the set energy, an actual power output, and the like.
During the vaping operational stage, when the current time phase and the vaping action of the user simultaneously occur, due to the frequency setting of the plurality of time phases in the vaping operational stage, energy supply of one time phase at least exists in the period (approximately 5 s) of one vaping action. Because an amount of heat taken away by the vaping action is very small, only some jitters occur during the temperature change of the heater 103. Heat of the heater 103 and the aerosol forming substrate can still be compensated for in time. Therefore, the temperature of the heater 103 can still be kept within a temperature range, and a significant temperature drop does not occur.
It should be emphasized that the energy supply of the plurality of time phases provided in this solution is to meet thermal energy requirements of the aerosol forming substrate in different stages, and it is only necessary to supply energy at a low frequency. Therefore, the energy supply period of each time phase is greater than or equal to 500 milliseconds (ms), and optionally, is more than 1 s, or the frequency is less than or equal to 2 Hz. In conventional PWM control, to output precise power, an output frequency in the PWM control is usually approximately 100 Hz, which is high-frequency output, bearing a different intention from this solution.
Step S122: Determine supplied energy in the current time phase.
While outputting power, the controller 102 synchronously quantifies outputted supplied energy.
In some embodiments, electrical parameters such as a voltage, a current, and/or a resistance of the heater 103 and the duration (the energy supply period) of supply may be detected by using a detection circuit, and then the supplied energy of the heater 103 may be calculated according to the formula of energy Q = P * t = U²/R * t = I² * R * t = U * I * t.
In some embodiments, in a process of heating by the heater 103, in a case that some electrical parameters are kept constant, for example, in a case of constant-voltage supply or constant-current supply for the heater 103, or in a case that the resistance of the heater 103 is kept constant, the supplied energy may be in directly represented by monitoring only some electrical parameters or the period of continuous supply.
Step S123: Determine whether the supplied energy in the current time phase reaches set energy corresponding to the current time phase.
The controller 102 determines through comparison whether the supplied energy reaches the set energy, if the supplied energy does not reach the set energy, the process turns to Step S124.
Step S124: Control, if the supplied energy reaches the set energy corresponding to the current time phase, the power source to stop the energy supply in the current time phase.
That the controller 102 stops the energy supply to the heater 103 and maintains the state for a period of time is referred to as a natural cooldown period herein. In some embodiments, the natural cooldown period is preset, and is related to the heat retention performance of the heating module, a heat transfer requirement between the heater 103 and the aerosol forming substrate, or other factors. Therefore, after completing the energy supply in the current time phase, the controller 102 stops the energy supply to the heater 103 within the preset natural cooldown period, and measures the time to determine whether the natural cooldown period reaches the cutoff time. In some embodiments, the natural cooldown period may not be directly set. For example, it is determined, by detecting the real-time temperature of the heater 103, whether to end the natural cooldown period. The natural cooldown period in this case is variable in a plurality of time phases.
Within the natural cooldown period, because the heater 103 has no energy supply, the temperature of the heater 103 naturally starts to drop. This part of temperature loss is caused by heat losses of the heater 103 and the outside/the aerosol forming substrate, and may be added with a heat loss caused by the vaping action in the vaping operational stage.
As the natural cooldown period ends, the current time phase also formally ends. In this case, total operating duration (or a preset vaping count is met) of the aerosol generating device 10 has reached a preset threshold, or the controller 102 receives a heating termination instruction. The operation of the aerosol generating device 10 is ended, and a next time phase is no longer entered. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, after the current time phase ends, it is necessary to jump to a next time phase (Step S12') and repeat the foregoing Steps S121 to S124.
FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 specifically show a jump process between the current time phase and the next time phase.
In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, after ending the energy supply of the current time phase, the controller 102 enters the natural cooldown period of the current time phase, and starts timing. When the preset cutoff time of the natural cooldown period is reached, the current time phase is ended, and the next time phase is entered. In this case, the controller 102 may directly perform energy supply and jump of a plurality of time phases based on the set energy and natural cooldown period of each time phase. In this manner, the real-time temperature of the heater 103 needs to be considered in neither the initiation nor the stop of the energy supply in the current time phase, and it is only necessary to perform energy supply and jump by strictly following the settings of parameters such as the set energy and the natural cooldown period of each time phase, so that adverse interference of the temperature of the heater 103 can be excluded, and control is truly performed from heat that needs to be absorbed by the aerosol forming substrate to generate an aerosol.
In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the aerosol generating device 10 further includes a temperature sensor configured to detect the real-time temperature of the heater 103. After ending the energy supply of the current time phase, the controller 102 enters the natural cooldown period of the current time phase, and synchronously detects the real-time temperature of the heater 103 within the natural cooldown period. When the real-time temperature meets the preset low-temperature threshold (e.g., T3 in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B), the current time phase is ended, a next time phase is entered, and energy supply in the next time phase is initiated.. In this way, it is only necessary to refer to the real-time temperature of the heater 103 when it is necessary to initiate a time phase to provide energy to the heater 103. The energy supply in one time phase, for example, when to stop the energy supply in one time phase, still strictly follows the set energy of each time phase. This can also exclude the impact of differences in the real-time temperature of the heater 103 on temperature control, and control is performed from heat that needs to be absorbed by the aerosol forming substrate to generate an aerosol.
FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D are schematic diagrams of supply voltages in various form in a preheating operational stage. A preheating operational stage t₀ to t₂ includes a plurality of time phases (t₀ to t₁₂), (t₁₂ to t₁₄), (t₁₄ to t₁₆), ....
After receiving a heating initiation instruction, the controller 102 formally enters the preheating operational stage, and initiates energy supply in a first time phase (t₀ to t₁₂). In this case, the controller 102 provides a maximum output voltage U₀ to the heater 103, and maintains the supply for a particular period (an energy supply period t₀ to t₁₁). The controller 102 synchronously calculates supplied energy. When the supplied energy reaches a set value Q1 in the first time phase, the controller 102 controls the power source 101 to stop outputting power, and maintains the state for a particular period (a natural cooldown period, t₁₁ to t₁₂). When the natural cooldown period t₁₁ to t₁₂ reaches set duration of the first time phase, the first time phase is ended, and a second time phase (t₁₂ to t₁₄) is entered, and outputting of power is initiated.
In some embodiments, an input voltage of the heater 103 in the first time phase may be kept unchanged. Preferably, the natural cooldown period of the first time phase in this case does not exceed 3 s.
In some embodiments, the power (an output voltage) provided by the controller 102 to the heater 103 is decreased at least once in a late-stage of the first time phase, so that while high-power continuous energy supply is provided to the heater 103 within the first time phase, heat transfer between the aerosol forming substrate 20 and the heater 103 is further sustained through a low-power output without causing temperature overshoot of the heater 103, thereby improving the vaping experience of the user. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, the temperature of the heater 103 quickly rises to a maximum temperature from an initial temperature, and decreases slightly in a parabolic manner.
Power adjustment in the late-stage of the first time phase may be implemented in various manners. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the input voltage of the heater 103 decreases stepwise a plurality of times over time. The duration/decrease amplitude of each step voltage may be adjusted according to an actual requirement. As shown in FIG. 8B, the input voltage of the heater 103 decreases stepwise once over time. As shown in FIG. 8C, the input voltage of the heater 103 decreases linearly, and may decrease linearly with a constant slope, or decrease linearly with a varying slope. As shown in FIG. 8D, the input voltage of the heater 103 varies in a wave-like pattern over time, or in other words, the input voltage of the heater 103 rises and drops.
The duration (t₁ to t₁₁) for which the power decreases in the late-stage of the first time phase ranges from 2 seconds (s) to 3 s.
In the second time phase (t₁₂ to t₁₄), the controller 102 outputs a voltage U₁ (U₁ < U₀) to the heater 103, and maintains the output for a particular period (an energy supply period t₁₂ to t₁₃). In this case, the temperature of the heater 103 slightly rises. When the outputted supplied energy reaches a set value Q2 (Q2 < Q1) in the second time phase, the controller 102 stops outputting power, and then maintains the state for a particular period (the natural cooldown period, t₁₃ to t₁₄). In this case, the temperature of the heater 103 decreases slightly. As shown in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, during the second time phase (t₁₂ to t₂), the temperature of the heater 103 fluctuates.
Operation steps of the second time phase may be performed repeatedly, for example, 3 times to 5 times. The settings of the set energy or the natural cooldown periods of a plurality of second time phases may be the same or may be different to some extent. In this case, if the set energy of the plurality of second time phases and the natural cooldown periods thereof are set to be the same, the temperature of the heater 103 demonstrates a fluctuating pattern within a particular time range.
Total duration of the plurality of second time phases ranges from 5 s to 8 s, and the aerosol forming substrate may fully absorb heat within this period of time without causing excessive generation of an aerosol.
In the preheating operational stage, the set energy of the first time phase accounts for more than 80% of a sum of set energy of the preheating operational stage, thereby facilitating the quick generation of a sufficient desirable aerosol from the aerosol forming substrate.
When the second time phase ends, the preheating operational stage (t₀ to t₂) formally ends. In this case, the vaping operational stage (t₂ to t₃) is entered, and the controller 102 sends notification information indicating that the vaping operational stage starts to the user.
FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are schematic diagrams of supply voltages in various form in a vaping operational stage.
In the vaping operational stage, there are also a plurality of time phases (referred to as third time phases here) t₂₁, ..., t_2n, ..., t_2k, where k ranges from 6 to 20. Control steps of the third time phase are the same as those of the second time phase. However, the settings of the set energy and the natural cooldown periods may be different to some extent. The total duration of the third time phase is at least 2 s, or ranges from 2.5 s to 5 s, or ranges from 3 s to 4 s, and is specifically determined based on the heat-up characteristics and the heat retention characteristics of different heating modules.
As shown in FIG. 9A to FIG. 9C, the vaping operational stage (t₂ to t₃) starts, and the first third time phase (t₂₁) is initiated. The controller 102 outputs a voltage U21 to the heater 103, and maintains the supply within an energy supply period (t_21-1). The controller 102 synchronously calculates supplied energy. When the supplied energy meets set energy Q₂₁, the controller 102 stops outputting power, and maintains the state for a natural cooldown period (t_21-2). When the duration for which outputting of power is stopped meets a preset natural cooldown period, or, when the real-time temperature of the heater 103 reaches a temperature threshold T3 in this case, the third time phase (t₂₁) ends, and the second third time phase (t₂₂) is entered and energy supply in the second third time phase (t₂₂) is initiated.
In the first third time phase, the temperature of the heater 103 starts to rise slightly and reaches a temperature threshold T2, and within the natural cooldown period, the temperature of the heater 103 drops slightly and reaches the temperature threshold T3.
In some embodiments, in a case that that energy supply is initiated by using the real-time temperature of the heater 103, if a vaping action exists, within the energy supply period of the third time phase, the temperature of the heater 103 still rises. However, a rate at which the temperature may be slightly small due to the impact of the vaping action. In the natural cooldown period of the third time phase, the temperature of the heater 103 still decreases. However, a rate at which the temperature decreases may increase due to the impact of the vaping action. However, in this case, energy supply in a next third time phase is started as soon as it is recognized that the real-time temperature of the heater 103 reaches the temperature threshold T3. In this case, the temperature of the heater 103 rises immediately. In this case, the natural cooldown period ends in advance. Energy supply in the plurality of third time phases is more compact. The impact caused by the vaping action can be eliminated by increasing a quantity of third time phases, and the temperature of the heater 103 is still kept fluctuating within the temperature range (T2 to T3).
In some embodiments, in a case that control is performed entirely without relying on the real-time temperature of the heater 103, if a vaping action exists, within the energy supply period of the third time phase, the temperature of the heater 103 still rises. However, a rate at which the temperature may be slightly small due to the impact of the vaping action. In the natural cooldown period of the third time phase, the temperature of the heater 103 still decreases. However, a rate at which the temperature decreases may increase due to the impact of the vaping action. Energy supply in at least one third time phase exists within duration of one vaping action, an energy loss caused by the vaping action is less than total energy supply of the at least one third time phase. Therefore, no significant drop is caused to the temperature of the heater 103. The temperature of the heater 103 can still be kept fluctuating within a small temperature range (T2 to T3). The amplitudes of the fluctuations of the heater 103 may be inconsistent.
Operation steps of the third time phase may be performed repeatedly in the vaping operational stage. For the jump between the plurality of third time phases, refer to the jump between t₂₁ and t₂₂.
FIG. 9A to FIG. 9C show a plurality of cases of energy supply and natural cooldown periods of the plurality of third time phases.
As shown in FIG. 9A, for the plurality of third time phases, the same set energy is set, the energy supply periods are set to be different, and the same natural cooldown period is set. In this case, temperature fluctuations of the heater 103 in the temperature interval (T2 to T3) demonstrates a variable frequency. The natural cooldown period is related to the heat retention performance of the heating module.
As shown in FIG. 9B, for the plurality of third time phases, the same set energy is set, the energy supply periods are set to be the same, and the same natural cooldown period is also set. In this case, temperature fluctuations of the heater 103 in the temperature interval (T2 to T3) demonstrates a constant frequency. The natural cooldown period is related to the heat retention performance of the heating module.
As shown in FIG. 9C, for the plurality of third time phases, different set energy is set, for example, set energy of an earlier third time phase is larger, and set energy of a later third time phase is relatively small, the energy supply periods are set to be the same, and the same natural cooldown period is also set. In this case, the temperature fluctuations of the heater 103 within the temperature interval (T2 to T3) demonstrate a variable frequency, and are small first and large later, so that a sufficient aerosol can be generated in an early-stage of the vaping operational stage. The natural cooldown period is related to the heat retention performance of the heating module.
In some embodiments, a heater 103 with thick-film resistive heating in a circumferential configuration is used as an example. Because a thick-film resistive heater has characteristics of quick heat-up and weak heat retention performance, after receiving the heating initiation instruction, the controller 102 enters a preheating operational stage. First, based on set energy of the first time phase, in the first time phase, output power may be approximately 25 W, and an energy supply period is approximately 15 s. In this case, the temperature of the heater 103 rises from an initial temperature to 380°C. Next, after energy supply is stopped for the natural cooldown period (approximately 3 s) of the first time phase, 3 to 5 second time phases are sequentially initiated. For each second time phase, output power is approximately 6 W, an energy supply period is approximately 1 s (which may change based on real-time power), and a natural cooldown period is approximately 3 s. After the energy supply of the plurality of second time phases, in this case, the temperature of the heater 103 is approximately 230°C. Subsequently, the vaping operational stage is entered, and 6 to 20 third time phases are repeatedly initiated. For each third time phase, output power is approximately 5 W, an energy supply period is approximately 1 s to 2 s (which may change based on real-time power), and a natural cooldown period is approximately 3 s. In this way, the temperature of the heater 103 fluctuates in a wave-like form around 230°C until the vaping operational stage ends.
In some embodiments, a heater 103 with infrared heating in a circumferential configuration is used as an example. Because an infrared heater has characteristics of slow heat-up and good heat retention performance, after receiving the heating initiation instruction, the controller 102 enters a preheating operational stage. First, based on set energy of the first time phase, in the first time phase, output power may be approximately 35 W, and an energy supply period is approximately 20 s. In this case, the temperature of the heater 103 rises from an initial temperature to 280°C. Next, after energy supply is stopped for the natural cooldown period (approximately 3 s) of the first time phase, 3 to 5 second time phases are sequentially initiated. For each second time phase, output power is approximately 6 W, an energy supply period is approximately 1 s (which may change based on real-time power), and a natural cooldown period ranges from approximately 4 s to 8 s. After the energy supply of the plurality of second time phases, in this case, the temperature of the heater 103 is approximately above 240°C. Subsequently, the vaping operational stage is entered, and 6 to 20 third time phases are repeatedly initiated. For each third time phase, output power is approximately 5 W, an energy supply period is approximately 5 s (which may change based on real-time power), and a natural cooldown period is approximately 4 s. In this way, the temperature of the heater 103 fluctuates in a wave-like form around 240°C until the vaping operational stage ends.
In some embodiments, a controller 102 is provided, including a memory and a processor. The memory stores a computer program. The processor, when executing the computer program, implements the steps of the control method for an aerosol generating device in any foregoing method embodiment.
In some embodiments, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, having a computer program stored thereon. The computer program, when executed by a processor, implements all or some of the procedures in the control method for an aerosol generating device of the foregoing embodiments. The procedures may be implemented, by a computer program instructing relevant hardware. The computer program may be stored in a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium. The computer program is executed to perform the procedures in the foregoing embodiments of the methods. Any usage of a memory, storage, a database or another medium in the embodiments provided in this application may include at least one of non-volatile and volatile memories. The non-volatile memory may include a read-only memory (ROM), a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, a flash memory, an optical memory, or the like. The volatile memory may include a random access memory (RAM) or an external cache. By way of illustration and not limitation, the RAM may take various forms such as a static random access memory (SRAM) or a dynamic random access memory (DRAM).
It should be noted that the specification of this application and the accompanying drawings thereof illustrate preferred embodiments of this application. However, this application may be implemented in various different forms, and is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. These embodiments are not intended to be an additional limitation on the content of this application, and are described for the purpose of providing a more thorough and comprehensive understanding of the content disclosed in this application. Moreover, the above technical features may further be combined to form various embodiments not listed above, and all such embodiments shall be construed as falling within the scope of the specification of this application. Further, a person of ordinary skill in the art may make improvements and variations according to the above descriptions, and such improvements and variations shall all fall within the protection scope of the appended claims of this application.

Claims

A control method for an aerosol generating device, the aerosol generating device including a heater configured to heat an aerosol forming substrate to generate an aerosol and a power source providing energy to the heater, where the method includes:
correspondingly controlling, in a plurality of time phases after a heating initiation instruction is received, the power source to supply energy to the heater a plurality of times;

in one of the time phases, controlling the power source to supply energy to the heater in the current time phase, including:
controlling the power source to initiate energy supply to the heater in the current time phase;

determining supplied energy in the current time phase; and

controlling, if the supplied energy reaches set energy corresponding to the current time phase, the power source to stop the energy supply in the current time phase.
The method according to claim 1, where after the controlling, if the supplied energy reaches set energy corresponding to the current time phase, the power source to stop the energy supply in the current time phase, the method includes:
determining duration for which the power source stops the energy supply in the current time phase; and

if the duration meets a preset natural cooldown period of the current time phase, ending the current time phase, and entering a next time phase.
The method according to claim 1, where after the controlling, if the supplied energy reaches set energy corresponding to the current time phase, the power source to stop the energy supply in the current time phase, the method includes:
detecting a real-time temperature of the heater; and

if the real-time temperature drops to a preset low-temperature threshold, ending the current time phase, and entering a next time phase.
The method according to claim 2 or 3, where the entering a next time phase includes:
controlling the power source to initiate energy supply to the heater in the next time phase;

determining supplied energy in the next time phase; and

controlling, if the supplied energy reaches set energy corresponding to the next time phase, the power source to stop the energy supply in the next time phase.
The method according to claim 1, where the correspondingly controlling, in a plurality of time phases after a heating initiation instruction is received, the power source to supply energy to the heater a plurality of times includes:
after the heating initiation instruction is received, entering a preheating operational stage;
and

setting a first time phase and a second time phase in the preheating operational stage, and correspondingly controlling the power source to supply energy to the heater respectively, where

the first time phase is configured to enable the heater to quickly reach a temperature for generating an aerosol, the second time phase is configured to enable the heater to sustain heat transfer with the aerosol forming substrate, and set energy of the first time phase is greater than set energy of the second time phase.
The method according to claim 5, where the set energy of the first time phase accounts for more than 80% of a sum of set energy of the preheating operational stage.
The method according to claim 5, where a plurality of second time phases are set in the preheating operational stage, where
at least two of the second time phases have the same set energy.
The method according to claim 5, where at least three second time phases are set in the preheating operational stage; or
total duration of the plurality of second time phases ranges from 4 s to 8 s.
The method according to claim 5, including:
in the first time phase, the controlling the power source to supply energy to the heater in the current time phase includes:
controlling the power source to output a voltage to the heater to initiate the energy supply in the current time phase, where output power in the first time phase is decreased at least once;

determining the supplied energy in the current time phase; and

controlling, if the supplied energy reaches the set energy corresponding to the current time phase, the power source to stop the energy supply in the current time phase.
The method according to claim 9, where that output power in the first time phase is decreased at least once includes:
controlling the voltage provided by the power source to the heater is at least one of the following:
decreasing stepwise over time;

decreasing linearly over time; and

varying in a wave-like pattern over time.
The method according to claim 1, where the correspondingly controlling, in a plurality of time phases after a heating initiation instruction is received, the power source to supply energy to the heater a plurality of times includes:
after the heating initiation instruction is received, entering a vaping operational stage; and

setting a plurality of third time phases in the vaping operational stage, and correspondingly controlling the power source to supply energy to the heater a plurality of times.
The method according to claim 11, where at least two of the third time phases in the vaping operational stage have the same set energy.
The method according to claim 11, where set energy of at least one third time phase in an early-stage of the vaping operational stage is greater than set energy of at least one third time phase in a late-stage of the vaping operational stage.
The method according to claim 11, where natural cooling periods of at least two of the third time phases in the vaping operational stage are the same.
The method according to claim 11, where all the third time phases in the vaping operational stage have the same natural cooldown period.
The method according to claim 11, where a natural cooldown period of a third time phase accompanied by a vaping action is shorter than that in a third time phase not accompanied by the vaping action.
The method according to claim 1, where the controlling the power source to initiate energy supply to the heater in the current time phase includes:
controlling the power source to initiate the energy supply to the heater in the current time phase, and continuously supplying energy.
The method according to claim 17, where duration of the continuously supplying energy is an energy supply period, and the energy supply period is greater than or equal to 500 ms.
The method according to claim 1, where the correspondingly controlling, in a plurality of time phases after a heating initiation instruction is received, the power source to supply energy to the heater a plurality of times includes:
after the heating initiation instruction is received, sequentially entering a preheating operational stage and a vaping operational stage;

in a plurality of time phases in each of the preheating operational stage and the vaping operational stage, correspondingly controlling the power source to supply energy to the heater respectively, where

a ratio of a sum of set energy of the plurality of time phases in the preheating operational stage to a sum of set energy of the plurality of time phases in the vaping operational stage, and is approximately 1:1 or approximately 3:5.
An aerosol generating device, including:
a heater, configured to heat an aerosol forming substrate to generate an aerosol;

a power source, configured to provide energy to the heater; and

a controller, configured to: correspondingly control, in a plurality of time phases after a heating initiation instruction is received, the power source to supply energy to the heater a plurality of times; and in one of the time phases, control the power source to supply energy to the heater in the current time phase, including: controlling the power source to initiate energy supply to the heater in the current time phase; determining supplied energy in the current time phase; and controlling, if the supplied energy reaches set energy corresponding to the current time phase, the power source to stop the energy supply in the current time phase.
The device according to claim 20, where the controller is further configured to stop the energy supply to the heater in the current time phase without relying on a real-time temperature of the heater.
The device according to claim 20, where the controller is further configured to initiate energy supply in a next time phase to the heater by determining that duration for which the energy supply in the current time phase is stopped reaches a natural cooldown period of the current time phase.
The device according to claim 20, where the controller is further configured to initiate, in the current time phase, energy supply to the heater in a next time phase without relying on a real-time temperature of the heater.
An aerosol generating device, including:
a heater, configured to heat an aerosol forming substrate to generate an aerosol;

a power source, configured to provide energy to the heater; and

a controller, configured to correspondingly control, in a plurality of time phases after a heating initiation instruction is received, the power source to supply energy to the heater based on set energy and a natural cooldown period of each time phase.
An aerosol generating device, including:
a heater, configured to heat an aerosol forming substrate to generate an aerosol;

a power source, configured to provide energy to the heater; and

a controller, configured to correspondingly control, in a plurality of time phases in a vaping operational stage, the power source to supply energy to the heater based on set energy and a natural cooldown period of each time phase, where

at least two of the time phases have the same set energy and natural cooldown period.
The device according to claim 25, further including a temperature sensor, configured to detect a real-time temperature of the heater, where
in the vaping operational stage, the real-time temperature demonstrates a fluctuating pattern.