RU2844505C2 - Aerosol generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: aerosol generating devices.

SUBSTANCE: device comprises an oscillating unit configured to generate microwaves, resonator unit configured to receive the aerosol-generating article and heat the aerosol-generating article by applying an electric field caused by microwave resonance to the aerosol-generating article, and a processor configured to control the output signal of the oscillating unit in such a way that the region of greatest absorption of the electric field in the aerosol-generating article is moved.

EFFECT: heating an article to generate an aerosol by dielectric heating using microwave resonance.

10 cl, 12 dwg

Description

Field of technology

[1] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device that enables heating of an aerosol generating article by a dielectric heating method, in particular to an aerosol generating device that enables shifting the region of greatest absorption of an electric field in an aerosol generating article.

State of the art

[2] Recently, there has been an increased demand for alternative ways to solve the problems associated with conventional cigarettes. For example, there has been an increased need for a system for generating an aerosol by heating a cigarette (or an "aerosol-generating article") using an aerosol-generating device, rather than the method of generating an aerosol by burning a cigarette.

[3] In addition, the known aerosol generating devices heat the aerosol generating material by a resistive heating method, an induction heating method, or an ultrasonic heating method. Thus, the disadvantages of the known aerosol generating devices are a low preheating rate and uneven heating compared to the dielectric heating method.

[4] In addition, some known aerosol generating devices use a dielectric heating method, which is limited to a microwave radiation method using an antenna, which leads to a significant decrease in the power transfer efficiency.

Disclosure

Technical problem of the invention

[5] The present invention provides an aerosol generating device that enables heating of an aerosol generating article by a dielectric heating method using microwave resonance.

[6] The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to those listed above, and other technical problems can be logically deduced from the following examples.

Technical solution

[7] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an aerosol generating device comprises an oscillating unit configured to generate microwaves, a resonator unit configured to accommodate an aerosol generating article and heat the aerosol generating article by applying an electric field caused by microwave resonance to the aerosol generating article, and a processor configured to control the output signal of the oscillating unit so that the region of greatest absorption of the electric field in the aerosol generating article is shifted.

Beneficial effects of the invention

[8] The aerosol generating device according to the present invention heats a dielectric material by microwave resonance, which can significantly improve the power transfer efficiency.

[9] In addition, the aerosol generating device heats the aerosol generating article by microwave resonance, which makes it possible to quickly preheat the aerosol generating article.

[10] In addition, when the aerosol generating device heats the aerosol generating article by microwave resonance, the power consumption can be significantly reduced.

[11] In addition, the aerosol generating device can ensure a uniform smoke taste throughout the entire heating section by shifting the region of greatest absorption of the electric field due to microwave resonance in the aerosol generating article.

[12] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above disclosure, and the present description also contains other effects.

Description of drawings

[13] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the invention.

[14] FIG. 2 shows an internal block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the invention.

[15] FIG. 3 is an internal block diagram of the dielectric heating unit shown in FIG. 2.

[16] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a heating unit according to one embodiment of the invention.

[17] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a heating unit according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4.

[18] FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of a heating unit according to an embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4.

[19] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the distribution of the electric field in the heating block according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4.

[20] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the distribution of heat density in an aerosol generating article heated by a heating unit according to an embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4.

[21] FIG. 9 is an internal block diagram illustrating a method for controlling an output signal of an oscillatory unit according to one embodiment of the invention.

[22] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a power profile for controlling the output signal of an oscillatory unit according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 9.

[23] FIG. 11 shows the shift of the region of greatest absorption of the electric field in accordance with the power profile according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 10.

[24] FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a method of operating an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the invention.

The best embodiment of the invention

[25] According to a first aspect, the aerosol generating device comprises an oscillating unit configured to generate microwaves, a resonant unit configured to position an aerosol generating article and heat the aerosol generating article by applying an electric field caused by microwave resonance to the aerosol generating article, and a processor configured to control the output signal of the oscillating unit so that the region of greatest absorption of the electric field in the aerosol generating article moves.

[26] In addition, the resonator unit comprises a first plate surrounding one region of the aerosol generating article; a second plate separated from the first plate in the circumferential direction of the aerosol generating article and surrounding another region of the aerosol generating article; and a connector configured to connect the first plate to the second plate, wherein microwaves resonate with the first plate, the second plate and the connector, and the aerosol generating article is heated by an electric field generated by the end portions of the first plate and the second plate.

[27] In addition, the length of the first plate and the second plate is less than the length of the tobacco rod included in the aerosol generating article, the tobacco rod is located in a position protruding from the end portions of the first plate and the second plate in the direction toward the opening in which the aerosol generating article is placed, and the region of greatest absorption of the electric field is generated in a given region of the tobacco rod located in the direction of the end portions of the first plate and the second plate at the beginning of heating.

[28] In addition, the processor controls the output signal of the oscillatory unit in such a way that the region of greatest absorption of the electric field moves in the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod included in the aerosol generating product.

[29] In addition, the region of greatest absorption of the electric field moves inside the tobacco rod in a direction opposite to the direction of the opening in which the aerosol generating article is placed.

[30] In addition, the processor adjusts the amount of microwave power at the output of the oscillating unit in accordance with a predetermined power profile in such a way as to move the region of greatest absorption of the electric field in the article for generating an aerosol.

[31] In addition, the processor controls the oscillating unit to output the microwave power of the first value in the preheating section.

[32] In addition, if the smoking section begins after the preheating section, the processor controls the oscillating unit to output a microwave power of a second magnitude less than the first magnitude, and as the smoking section passes, the processor gradually increases the microwave power at the output of the oscillating unit so as to move the region of greatest absorption of the electric field.

[33] In addition, the processor monitors in real time the change in the resonant frequency of the resonator unit caused by the consumption of the dielectric material in the aerosol generating article, and adjusts the output frequency of the microwave power of the oscillating unit based on the change in the resonant frequency of the resonator unit.

[34] In addition, the processor independently controls the microwave power value and the microwave power output frequency.

Principle of the invention

[35] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein, regardless of the designations in the drawings, identical or similar components have the same reference designations, and unnecessary descriptions will be omitted.

[36] The terms "module", "unit" and "part" used for components in the following disclosure are or are used as synonyms only for convenience in describing the invention and do not have separate meanings or functions.

[37] Furthermore, if it is found in the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention that detailed descriptions of known related technologies may distort the essence of the embodiments of the invention disclosed in the present invention, the detailed descriptions will be omitted. Furthermore, the accompanying drawings are intended only to facilitate understanding of the disclosed embodiments of the invention, and the disclosed technical idea is not limited to the accompanying drawings and should be interpreted as covering any changes, equivalents and replacements included in the spirit and technical scope of the invention.

[38] Terms including ordinal numbers such as "first", "second", etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited to these terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

[39] When a component is described as being “connected” or “linked” to another component, it should be understood that the component may be directly connected or linked to the other component, and may also be connected or linked to other components located between them. Furthermore, when a component is described as being “directly connected” or “directly linked” to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components between them.

[40] The singular also implies the plural, unless the context indicates otherwise.

[41] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the invention.

[42] As shown in FIG. 1, an aerosol generating device 100 according to one embodiment of the invention may comprise a housing 110 in which an aerosol generating article 10 may be placed, and a heating unit 200 for heating the aerosol generating article 10 placed in the housing 110.

[43] The housing 110 may form the external appearance of the aerosol generating device 100, and the components of the aerosol generating device 100 may be located in the interior space (or “mounting space”) of the housing 110. For example, the heating unit 200, the battery, the processor, and/or the sensor may be located in the interior space of the housing 110, but the components located in the interior space of the housing 110 are not limited to this option.

[44] An insertion opening 110h may be formed in one region of the housing 110, and at least one part of the aerosol generating article 10 may be inserted into the housing 110 through the insertion opening 110h. For example, the insertion opening 110h may be formed in one portion of the upper surface (for example, the surface in the z direction) of the housing 110, but the position of the insertion opening 110h is not limited to this embodiment. In another embodiment of the invention, the insertion opening 110h may be formed in one portion of the side surface (for example, the surface in the x direction) of the housing 110.

[45] The heating unit 200 is located in the interior space of the housing 110 and can heat the aerosol-generating article 10 inserted or placed in the housing 110 through the insertion opening 110h. For example, the heating unit 200 can surround at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 10 inserted or placed in the housing 110 to heat the aerosol-generating article 10.

[46] In one embodiment of the invention, the heating unit 200 can heat the article 10 to generate an aerosol by a dielectric heating method. According to the invention, a “dielectric heating method” means a method of heating a dielectric, which is an object to be heated, by means of microwave resonance and/or an electric field (or a magnetic field) of microwaves. Microwaves are used as an energy source for heating the object to be heated and are generated by high-frequency power, accordingly, microwaves can be considered equivalent to the microwave power specified below.

[47] The electric charges or ions of the dielectric included in the aerosol generating article 10 may vibrate or rotate under the action of microwave resonance inside the heating unit 200, and heat is generated in the dielectric under the action of frictional heat released during vibration or rotation of the electric charges or ions, which makes it possible to heat the aerosol generating article 10.

[48] When the aerosol generating article 10 is heated by the heating unit 200, an aerosol can be generated from the aerosol generating article 10. According to the invention, the "aerosol" can be understood to mean gas particles formed by mixing air and steam generated by heating the aerosol generating article 10.

[49] The aerosol generated by the aerosol generating article 10 may pass through the aerosol generating article 10 or exit to the outside of the aerosol generating device 100 through the empty space between the aerosol generating article 10 and the insertion opening 110h. The user can smoke by contacting with the mouth the area of the aerosol generating article 10 exiting to the outside from the housing 110 and inhaling the aerosol emitted to the outside from the aerosol generating device 100.

[50] The aerosol generating device 100 according to one embodiment of the invention may further comprise a cover 111 disposed on the housing 110 with the ability to move to open or close the insertion opening 110h. For example, the cover 111 may be slidably connected to the upper surface of the housing 110 and may open the insertion opening 110h to the outside of the aerosol generating device 100 or close the insertion opening 110h in such a way as to prevent the opening of the insertion opening 110h to the outside of the aerosol generating device 100.

[51] In one example, the cover 111 in the first position (or "open position") may open the opening 110h for introducing the aerosol generating device 100 outwardly. When the aerosol generating device 100 is opened outwardly, the aerosol generating article 10 may be inserted into the housing 110 through the opening 110h for introduction.

[52] In another example, the cover 111 in the second position (or "closed position") can cover the insertion opening 110h, which allows preventing the opening of the insertion opening 110h from opening to the outside of the aerosol generating device 100. In this case, the cover 111 can prevent external foreign materials from entering the heating unit 200 through the insertion opening 110h when the aerosol generating device 100 is not in use.

[53] Although FIG. 1 shows only an aerosol generating device 100 for heating an article 10 to generate an aerosol in a solid state, the aerosol generating device 100 is not limited to the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

[54] The aerosol generating device according to another embodiment of the invention may also generate an aerosol by heating the aerosol generating material in a liquid or gel state by means of the heating unit 200 instead of heating the aerosol generating article 10 in a solid state.

[55] An aerosol generating device according to another embodiment of the invention comprises a heating unit 200 for heating an aerosol generating article 10 and an aerosol generating material in a liquid or gel state, and may also comprise a cartridge (or "evaporator") for heating the aerosol generating material. The aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material may enter the aerosol generating article 10 through an air flow channel connecting the cartridge to the aerosol generating article 10, mix with the aerosol generated from the aerosol generating article 10, and then pass through the aerosol generating article of the article 10 to be transferred to the user.

[56] FIG. 2 shows an internal block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the invention.

[57] As shown in FIG. 2, the aerosol generating device 100 may comprise an input unit 102, an output unit 103, a sensor unit 104, a communication unit 105, a memory 106, a battery 107, an interface unit 108, a power conversion unit 109, and a dielectric heating unit 200.

[58] The input unit 102 may receive user commands. For example, the input unit 102 may be a single push button. In another example, the input unit 102 may be a touch panel comprising at least one touch sensor. The input unit 102 may transmit an input signal to the processor 101. The processor 101 may supply power to the dielectric heating unit 200 based on the user command or control the output unit 103 to output a notification to the user.

[59] The output unit 103 can output information about the state of the aerosol generating device 100. The output unit 103 can output data about the charge/discharge state of the battery 107, the heating state of the dielectric heating unit 200, the state of insertion of the aerosol generating article 10, and error information of the aerosol generating device 100. For this, the output unit 103 can include a display, a tactile motor, and a sound output device.

[60] The sensor unit 104 may detect a state of the aerosol generating device 100 or a state of the environment around the aerosol generating device 100, and transmit the received information to the processor 101. Based on the received information, the processor 101 may control the aerosol generating device 100 to perform various functions, such as controlling the heating of the dielectric heating unit 200, restricting smoking, determining the introduction of the aerosol generating article 10, and displaying a notification.

[61] The sensor unit 104 may comprise a temperature sensor, a puff sensor, and an insertion recognition sensor.

[62] The temperature sensor may detect the temperature inside the dielectric heating block 200 in a non-contact manner or directly measure the temperature of the resonator upon contact with the dielectric heating block 200. In one embodiment of the invention, the temperature sensor may also recognize the temperature of the aerosol generating article 10. In addition, the temperature sensor may be located near the battery 107 to measure the temperature of the battery 107. The processor 101 may control the power supplied to the dielectric heating block 200 based on the temperature information received from the temperature sensor.

[63] The puff sensor may detect a user's puff. The puff sensor may detect a user's puff based on a change in temperature and/or flow rate and/or power and/or pressure. The processor 101 may control the power supplied to the dielectric heating unit 200 based on the puff information received from the puff sensor. For example, the processor 101 may count the number of puffs and turn off the power supplied to the dielectric heating unit 200 when the number of puffs reaches a predetermined maximum number of puffs. In another example, the processor 101 may turn off the power supply to the dielectric heating unit 200 if a puff is not detected for a predetermined time or longer.

[64] The insertion recognition sensor may be located inside the placement space 220h (see FIG. 4) or near the placement space 220h and, thus, may recognize the insertion and removal of the aerosol generating article 10 placed in the insertion opening 110h. For example, the insertion recognition sensor may be an inductive sensor and/or a capacitive sensor. When the aerosol generating article 10 is inserted into the insertion opening 110h, the processor 101 may supply power to the dielectric heating unit 200.

[65] In one embodiment of the invention, the sensor unit 104 may further comprise a reuse recognition sensor, a motion recognition sensor, a humidity sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, a cover removal recognition sensor, a location sensor (global positioning system (GPS)), a contactless sensor, etc. The functions of the corresponding sensor may be intuitively understood from the names of the corresponding sensors, so their detailed description will be omitted.

[66] The communication unit 105 may comprise at least one communication module for communicating with an external electronic device. The processor 101 may control the communication unit 105 so as to transmit information about the aerosol generating device 100 to the external electronic device. In addition, the processor 101 may receive information from the external electronic device via the communication unit 105 and control the components included in the aerosol generating device 100. For example, the information transmitted between the communication unit 105 and the external electronic device may comprise user authentication information, microcode update information, and user smoking information, etc.

[67] Memory 106 is a hardware component that stores various types of data processed in the aerosol generating device 100 and may store data processed by the processor 101 and data to be processed by the processor 101. For example, memory 106 may store the operating time of the aerosol generating device 100, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, data on the user's smoking habits, etc.

[68] The battery 107 can supply power to the dielectric heating unit 200 so that the article 10 can be heated to generate an aerosol. In addition, the battery 107 can supply the power necessary for the operation of other components included in the device 100 for generating an aerosol. The battery 107 can be a rechargeable battery or a detachable removable battery.

[69] The interface unit 108 may comprise a connection terminal that may be physically connected to an external electronic device. The connection terminal may be a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connector and/or a USB connector and/or a secure digital card (SD) connector and/or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector), as well as a combination thereof. The interface unit 108 may transmit information to and receive information from the external electronic device via the connection terminal, as well as perform charging.

[70] The power conversion unit 109 may convert the direct current power supplied from the battery 107 into alternating current (AC) power. In addition, the power conversion unit 109 may supply the alternating current power to the dielectric heating unit 200. The power conversion unit 109 may be an inverter comprising at least one switching element, and the processor 101 may control turning on or off the switching element contained in the power conversion unit 109 to convert the direct current power into alternating current power. The power conversion unit 109 may be configured as a full-bridge or half-bridge connection.

[71] The dielectric heating unit 200 may heat the article 10 to generate an aerosol by a dielectric heating method. The dielectric heating unit 200 may correspond to the heating unit 200 in FIG. 1.

[72] The dielectric heating unit 200 can heat the article 10 to generate an aerosol using microwaves and/or an electric field of microwaves (hereinafter referred to as microwaves or microwave power when there is no need to distinguish). The heating method of the dielectric heating unit 200 may be a method of heating the object to be heated by generating microwaves in a resonant structure, rather than a method of emitting microwaves by means of an antenna. The resonant structure is disclosed below with reference to FIG. 4 and the following.

[73] The dielectric heating block 200 may output high frequency microwaves to the resonator block 220 (see FIG. 3). The microwaves may be power in the frequency range for industrial, scientific and medical equipment approved for heating; other options are also possible. The resonator block 220 may be designed taking into account the wavelength of the microwaves so that the microwaves can resonate within the resonator block 220.

[74] The aerosol generating article 10 may be inserted into the resonator unit 220, and a dielectric material in the aerosol generating article 10 may be heated by the resonator unit 220. For example, the aerosol generating article 10 may contain a polar material, and molecules of the polar material may be polarized in the resonator unit 220. The molecules may vibrate or rotate due to the polarization phenomenon, and the aerosol generating article 10 may be heated by frictional heat generated by the vibration or rotation of the molecules. The dielectric heating unit 200 is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3.

[75] The processor 101 may control all operations of the aerosol generating device 100. The processor 101 may be implemented as a series of logic elements or a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executed in the general-purpose microprocessor is stored. In addition, the processor 101 may be implemented as other hardware components.

[76] The processor 101 may control the direct current power supplied from the battery 107 to the power conversion unit 109 in accordance with the consumed power of the dielectric heating unit 200, and/or the alternating current power supplied from the power conversion unit 109 to the dielectric heating unit 200. In one embodiment of the invention, the aerosol generating device 100 may comprise a converter that increases or decreases the direct current power, and the processor 101 may adjust the direct current power level by controlling the converter. In addition, the processor 101 may control the alternating current power supplied to the dielectric heating unit 200 by adjusting the switching frequency and the duty cycle of the switching element included in the power conversion unit 109.

[77] The processor 101 can control the heating temperature of the article 10 for generating an aerosol by controlling the microwave power of the dielectric heating unit 200 and the resonant frequency of the dielectric heating unit 200. Thus, the oscillating unit 210, the insulating unit 240, the power control unit 250 and the matching unit 260 in FIG. 3, disclosed below, can also be components of the processor 101.

[78] The processor 101 may control the microwave power of the dielectric heating unit 200 based on the temperature profile information stored in the memory 106. That is, the temperature profile may contain information about a set temperature of the dielectric heating unit 200 over time, and the processor 101 may control the microwave power of the dielectric heating unit 200 over time.

[79] The processor 101 can adjust the microwave frequency so that the resonant frequency of the dielectric heating unit 200 is constant. The processor 101 can monitor the change in the resonant frequency of the dielectric heating unit 200 in real time as the heating object is heated and control the dielectric heating unit 200 to output the microwave frequency in accordance with the change in the resonant frequency. That is, the processor 101 can change the microwave frequency in real time regardless of the previously stored temperature profile.

[80] FIG. 3 shows an internal block diagram of the dielectric heating block 200 shown in FIG. 2.

[81] As shown in FIG. 3, the dielectric heating unit 200 may include an oscillating unit 210, an insulating unit 240, a power control unit 250, a matching unit 260, a microwave output unit 230, and a resonator unit 220.

[82] The oscillatory unit 210 may receive alternating current power from the power conversion unit 109 and generate high-frequency microwave power. In one embodiment of the invention, the power conversion unit 109 may be included in the oscillatory unit 210. The microwave power may be selected from the frequency ranges of 915 MHz, 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz, which are included in the frequency range for industrial, scientific and medical equipment.

[83] The oscillating unit 210 may comprise a solid-state radio frequency generating device and generate microwave power with the help of it. The solid-state radio frequency generating device may be implemented as a semiconductor. If the oscillating unit 210 is implemented as a semiconductor, the advantage is that the size of the dielectric heating unit 200 is reduced and the service life is increased.

[84] The oscillating unit 210 may output microwave power to the resonator unit 220. The oscillating unit 210 may comprise a power amplifier that increases or decreases microwave power, and the power amplifier may adjust the microwave power under the control of the processor 101. For example, the power amplifier may decrease or increase the amplitude of the microwaves. By adjusting the amplitude of the microwaves, the microwave power may be adjusted.

[85] The processor 101 may adjust the output microwave power of the oscillating unit 210 based on a previously stored power profile. For example, the power profile may contain information about a set power according to a preheating period and a smoking period, and the oscillating unit 210 may output the microwave power as a first power in the preheating period and output the microwave power as a second power, which is less than the first power, in the smoking period.

[86] The isolation unit 240 may block the microwave power supplied to the oscillation unit 210 from the resonator unit 220. Most of the microwave power supplied from the oscillation unit 210 is absorbed by the heated object, but depending on the heating characteristics of the heated object, some of the microwave power may be reflected from the heated object and transmitted back to the oscillation unit 210. This is due to the fact that the impedance from the oscillation unit 210 to the resonator unit 220 changes due to the consumption of polar molecules as a result of heating the heated object. The expression "the impedance from the oscillation unit 210 to the resonator unit 220 changes" may correspond to the expression "the resonant frequency of the resonator unit 220 changes." When the microwave power reflected from the resonator unit 220 is supplied to the oscillating unit 210, not only the operation of the oscillating unit 210 may be disrupted, but also the expected output characteristics may not be achieved. The isolator unit 240 may absorb the microwave power reflected from the resonator unit 220, directing the microwave power in a predetermined direction, without returning the microwave power to the oscillating unit 210. Thus, the isolator unit 240 may include a circulator and an absorbing load.

[87] The power control unit 250 may control both the output microwave power from the oscillatory unit 210 and the microwave power reflected from the resonator unit 220. The power control unit 250 may transmit information about the microwave power and the reflected microwave power to the matching unit 260.

[88] The matching unit 260 may match the impedance of the resonator unit 220 from the oscillating unit 210 with the impedance of the oscillating unit 210 from the resonator unit 220 to reduce the reflected microwave power. The impedance matching may have the same meaning as matching the frequency of the oscillating unit 210 with the resonant frequency of the resonator unit 220. Therefore, the matching unit 260 may change the frequency of the oscillating unit 210 to match the impedance of the matching unit 260. That is, the matching unit 260 may adjust the frequency of the microwave power that is output from the oscillating unit 210 to reduce the reflected microwave power. The impedance matching of the matching unit 260 may be performed in real time regardless of the temperature profile.

[89] In addition, the oscillating unit 210, the isolating unit 240, the power control unit 250 and the matching unit 260 disclosed above may be separate components that are not included in the microwave output unit 230 and the resonator unit 220 disclosed below, and may be implemented as microwave sources in the form of microcircuits. Thus, in one example of the invention, the oscillating unit 210, the isolating unit 240, the power control unit 250 and the matching unit 260 disclosed above may be implemented as part of the processor 101.

[90] The microwave output unit 230 may supply microwave power to the resonator unit 220 and may correspond to the connector shown in FIG. 4 and later. The microwave output unit 230 may be configured as an SMA, SMB, MCX or MMCX connector. The microwave output unit 230 may connect a microwave source in the form of a chip to the resonator unit 220 and, accordingly, supply microwave power generated by the microwave source to the resonator unit 220.

[91] The resonator unit 220 can heat the heated object by generating microwaves inside the resonant structure. The resonator unit 220 can include a space for accommodating in which the aerosol generating article 10 is placed, and the aerosol generating article 10 can be exposed to microwaves for dielectric heating. For example, the aerosol generating article 10 can include a polar material, and the molecules of the polar material can be polarized by microwaves in the resonator unit 220. The molecules can vibrate or rotate due to the polarization phenomenon, and the aerosol generating article 10 can be heated by frictional heat generated by the vibration or rotation of the molecules.

[92] The resonator unit 220 may comprise at least one inner conductor that allows microwaves to resonate, and the microwaves may resonate in the resonator unit 220 according to the location, thickness, length and other characteristics of the inner conductor.

[93] The resonator unit 220 can be designed taking into account the length of microwaves so that the microwaves can resonate inside the resonator unit 220. For the resonation of microwaves in the resonator unit 220, a closed/short end having a closed cross-section and an open end with at least one region of the cross-section open in the direction opposite to the closed end is necessary. In addition, the distance between the closed/short end and the open end must be set to a multiple of a quarter of the microwave length. The resonator unit 220 according to the invention selects a quarter of the microwave length to reduce the size of the device. That is, the distance between the closed/short end and the open end of the resonator unit 220 can be set to a quarter of the microwave length.

[94] The resonator unit 220 may comprise a space for accommodating dielectrics. The space 226 for accommodating dielectrics is different from the space for accommodating in the article 10 for generating an aerosol, and a material is provided in the space 226 for accommodating dielectrics that is capable of changing all the resonant frequencies of the resonator unit 220 and reducing the size of the resonator unit 220. In one embodiment of the invention, a dielectric with a low level of microwave absorption may be placed in the space 226 for accommodating dielectrics. This is necessary to prevent the phenomenon in which the energy that should be transferred to the heated object is transferred to the dielectric, and the dielectric is heated. The absorption of microwaves can be expressed as a loss tangent, which is the ratio of the real part of the complex permittivity to its imaginary part. In one embodiment of the invention, dielectrics with a loss tangent below a specified value may be placed in the space 227 for accommodating dielectrics, wherein the specified value may be 1/100. For example, the dielectric may be quartz and/or tetrafluoroethylene and/or aluminum oxide or a combination thereof, but one or more embodiments of the invention are not limited to this.

[95] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a heating unit according to one embodiment of the invention.

[96] As shown in FIG. 4, the heating unit 200 in one embodiment of the invention may include an oscillatory unit 210 and a resonator unit 220. FIG. 4 may show an example of the heating unit 200 and the dielectric heating unit 200 disclosed above, and repeated description may be omitted.

[97] The oscillating unit 210 can generate microwaves in a predetermined frequency range when power is supplied to the oscillating unit 210. The microwaves generated by the oscillating unit 210 can be transmitted to the resonator unit 220 through a connector (not shown in the figure).

[98] The resonator unit 220 may comprise a space 220h for accommodating at least one portion of the aerosol-generating article 10 and heat the aerosol-generating article 10 by a dielectric heating method by resonating microwaves generated by the oscillating unit 210. For example, the electric charges of the glycerin included in the aerosol-generating article 10 may vibrate or rotate under the action of microwave resonance, and the glycerin may generate heat under the action of frictional heat released by the vibration or rotation of the electric charges, which makes it possible to heat the aerosol-generating article 10.

[99] In one embodiment of the invention, the resonator unit 220 may be made of a material with a low level of microwave absorption to prevent the microwaves generated by the oscillatory unit 210 from being absorbed in the resonator unit 220.

[100] Hereinafter, the structure of the resonator unit 220 of the heating unit 200 is explained in detail with reference to FIG. 5.

[101] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a heating unit according to another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4.

[102] As shown in FIG. 5, the heating unit 200 according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5 may include a resonator unit 220 that generates microwave resonance and a connector 211 that supplies microwaves to the resonator unit 220.

[103] The resonator unit 220 may comprise a housing 221, a first plate 223a, a second plate 223b, and a connector 222 connecting the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b to the housing 221.

[104] The connector 211 may supply microwaves to the first plate 223a and/or the second plate 223b to generate microwave resonance in the resonator unit 220.

[105] The resonator unit 220 may surround at least one region of the aerosol-generating article 10 inserted into the aerosol-generating device. The connector 211 may supply microwaves generated by the oscillating unit (not shown in the figure) to the resonator unit 220. When microwaves are supplied to the resonator unit 220, a microwave resonance occurs in the resonator unit 220, and accordingly, the resonator unit 220 can heat the aerosol-generating article 10. For example, dielectrics included in the aerosol-generating article 10 may be heated by an electric field generated inside the resonator unit 220 under the action of microwaves, and the aerosol-generating article 10 may be heated by the heat generated by the dielectrics.

[106] The housing 221 of the resonator unit 220 serves as an "outer conductor." The housing 221 has a hollow shape, and the interior of the housing 221 is empty, accordingly, the components of the resonator unit 220 can be located inside the housing 221.

[107] The housing 221 may comprise a receiving space 220h in which the aerosol generating article 10 can be received, and an opening 221a in which the aerosol generating article 10 can be inserted. The opening 221a may be connected to the receiving space 220h. The opening 221a is open to the outside of the housing 221, accordingly, the receiving space 220h can be connected to the environment outside through the opening 221a. Thus, the aerosol generating article 10 can be inserted into the receiving space 220h of the housing 221 through the opening 221a of the housing 221.

[108] Although FIG. 5 shows that the body 221 has a square cross-section, the body 221 may have various shapes. For example, the structure of the body 221 may have a cross-section in one of various shapes, in particular, in the form of a rectangle, an oval, or a circle. The body 221 may be elongated in one direction.

[109] The first plate 223a and the second plate 223b, which may serve as the “inner conductor” of the resonator unit 220, may be located inside the housing 221.

[110] The first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be arranged so that they are separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the aerosol generating article 10 placed in the accommodation space 220h. The first plate 223a surrounds one region of the aerosol generating article 10, and the second plate 223b surrounds another region of the aerosol generating article 10.

[111] The first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be connected to the body 221 via the connector 222. In addition, one end of the first plate 223a may be connected to one end of the second plate 223b via the connector 222. Therefore, closed ends may be formed at the ends of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b via the connector 222.

[112] The end 223af of the first plate 223a and the end 223bf of the second plate 223b may be separated from each other and may be open. Since the ends 223af and 223bf are separated from each other, open ends may be formed at the other ends of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b.

[113] The resonator assembly may be realized by connecting the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b with the connector 222. The cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction of the resonator assembly may have the shape of a horseshoe.

[114] The first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be oriented in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 10. At least a portion of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may have a curved shape and protrude outward from the center of the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 10.

[115] For example, if the aerosol generating article 10 has a cylindrical shape, the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be curved in a circumferential direction along the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol generating article 10. The radius of curvature of the cross section of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be equal to the radius of curvature of the aerosol generating article 10. The radius of curvature of the cross section of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be changed in various ways. For example, the radius of curvature of the cross section of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be larger or smaller than the radius of curvature of the aerosol generating article 10.

[116] According to the structure in which the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b are curved in the circumferential direction along the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol generating article 10, a more uniform electric field can be formed in the resonator unit 220, and thus the heating unit 200 can uniformly heat the aerosol generating article 10.

[117] The open ends 223af and 223bf of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may face the opening 221a of the housing 221. The opening 221a of the housing 221 may be separated from the end portions of the ends 223af and 223bf of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b, that is, located far from them.

[118] The open ends 223af and 223bf of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be aligned with respect to the opening 221a of the housing 221. Therefore, when the aerosol generating article 10 is inserted into the receiving space 220h through the opening 221a of the housing 221, the portion of the aerosol generating article 10 placed in the receiving space 220h may be surrounded by the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b.

[119] The first plate 223a and the second plate 223b are arranged on the side opposite to the center of the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 10. Embodiments of the invention are not limited to the number of the first plates 223a and the second plates 223b, and the number of the first plates 223a and the second plates 223b may be, for example, three, four or more.

[120] The first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be arranged symmetrically to the central axis of the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 10, that is, the direction in which the aerosol generating article 10 is oriented.

[121] At least the first plate 223a and/or the second plate 223b may contact the connector 211 connected to the oscillating unit (not shown in the figure). The resonator unit 220 may comprise a housing 221, a plurality of plates 223a and 223b, and a connector 222 connecting the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b to the housing 221. When microwaves are transmitted to the first plate 223a through the connector 211, a microwave resonance may occur between the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b. In addition, microwave resonance can occur between the first plate 223a and the upper plate of the housing 221 and between the second plate 223b and the lower plate of the housing 221. Therefore, an electric field can occur between the first and second plates 223a and 223b and the connector 222, between the first plate 223a and the upper plate of the housing 221, and also between the second plate 223b and the lower plate of the housing 221.

[122] The connector 211 may pass through the housing 221, whereby one end of the connector 211 may contact the oscillating unit (not shown in the figure), and the other end of the connector 211 may contact one region of the first plate 223a. When microwaves generated by the oscillating unit (not shown in the figure) are transmitted to the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b and the connector 222 through the connector 211, an electric field may be generated inside the assembly of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b and the connector 222.

[123] Furthermore, according to the structure of the resonator unit 220 of the heating unit 200, a triple resonance mode can be formed in the resonator unit 220. A resonance of the transverse electric and magnetic (TEM) mode of microwaves is formed between the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b. Furthermore, resonances of the TEM mode, different from the resonance occurring between the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b, can occur, respectively, between the first plate 223a and the upper plate of the housing 221 and between the second plate 223b and the lower plate of the housing 221. The resonator unit 220 according to FIG. 5 includes a TEM mode resonance formed by the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b, and accordingly, the resonator unit 220 can have a smaller size compared to the cylindrical resonator known from the prior art, which provides only a resonance of the transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) mode of microwaves.

[124] Since a triple resonance occurs in the resonator unit 220 of the heating unit 200, the aerosol generating article 10 can be heated more efficiently and uniformly.

[125] The resonator unit 220 according to the above-disclosed embodiment of the invention may comprise a closed end/short end, the cross-section of which is closed and has l/4 of the length l of the microwave, and an open end, the cross-section of which is oriented in a direction opposite to the closed/short end, and at least one region is open.

[126] In FIG. 5, a region of one end of the resonator unit 220 corresponding to the left region forms a closed end/short end closed by a structure in which one end of both the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b and the connector 222 are connected to the housing 221. In FIG. 5, a region of the other end of the resonator unit 220 corresponding to the right region forms an open end, opening the opening 221a of the housing 221 to the outside. Due to its structure, the resonator unit 220 can operate as a quarter-wavelength resonator.

[127] According to the above-disclosed resonant structure of the resonator unit 220, the electric field may not be transmitted to the outer region of the resonator unit 220. Thus, the heating unit 200 can prevent the electric field from leaking outward from the heating unit 200 even without a separate shielding element for shielding the electric field.

[128] The aerosol generating article 10 inserted into the space 220h for receiving the housing 221 may be surrounded by the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b for heating by a dielectric heating method. For example, a part containing a carrier of the aerosol generating article 10 inserted into the space 220h for receiving the housing 221 may be located in the space between the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b. The aerosol generating article 10 may be heated when a dielectric included in the aerosol generating article 10 is heated by an electric field generated in the space between the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b.

[129] In addition, secondary heating of the article 10 for generating an aerosol may occur under the action of an electric field arising as a result of the resonance mode between the first plate 223a and the upper plate of the housing 221 and between the second plate 223b and the lower plate of the housing 221.

[130] In one embodiment of the invention, the aerosol generating article 10 may comprise a tobacco rod 11 and a filter rod 12.

[131] The tobacco rod 11 comprises an aerosol generating material and may be in the form of a sheet or strand or in the form of tobacco sheets cut into small pieces. For example, the aerosol generating material may comprise at least one of the following components: glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol and oleyl alcohol; other components are also possible. In addition, the tobacco rod 11 may comprise other additives such as a flavoring agent, a humectant and/or an organic acid. In addition, a liquid flavoring agent, in particular menthol, a humectant, etc., can be added to the tobacco rod 11 by spraying onto the tobacco rod 11.

[132] The filter rod 12 may be a cellulose acetate filter. In addition, the choice of the shape of the filter rod 12 is not limited. For example, the filter rod 12 may be a cylindrical rod or a rod in the form of a tube with a cavity inside. Also, the filter rod 12 may be a rod with a recess. If the filter rod 12 contains several segments, at least one of the several segments may have a different shape.

[133] At least a portion of the aerosol generating material (e.g., glycerin) included in the aerosol generating article 10 may be a dielectric with polarity in an electric field, and at least a portion of the aerosol generating material may generate heat when the dielectric heating method is performed, thereby heating the aerosol generating article 10.

[134] When the aerosol generating article 10 is inserted into the resonator unit 220 through the receiving space 220h, the tobacco rod 11 of the aerosol generating article 10 may be located between the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b.

[135] The length L4 of the tobacco rod 11 may exceed the length L1 of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b. Therefore, the front end 11f of the tobacco rod 11, which contacts the filter rod 12, may be located in a position protruding further than the other end 223af of the first plate 223a and the other end 223bf of the second plate 223b in the direction of the opening 221a of the housing 221.

[136] The resonance peak can be formed at the other end of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b, which operate as resonators, which allows generating a stronger electric field compared to other areas. When the article 10 for generating an aerosol is inserted into the heating unit 200, the tobacco rod 11 containing a dielectric capable of generating heat under the action of an electric field can be positioned so that it corresponds to the area with the strongest electric field and, accordingly, the heating efficiency (or "dielectric heating efficiency") of the heating unit 200.

[137] As shown in FIG. 5, the length L1 of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be less than the length L1 + L2 of the inner space of the housing 221. Therefore, the other ends of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be located inside the housing 221, and not the opening 221a. That is, the other ends of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be removed from the rear end of the opening 221a by a distance L2.

[138] The length from the rear end of the opening 221a, in which the opening 221a is connected to the body 221, to the front end of the opening 221a, in which the opening 221a is open, may be equal to L3. The total length of the body 221 in the longitudinal direction of the body 221 may be equal to L. The total length L of the body 221 may be determined by the sum of the lengths L1 of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b, the length L2, which is the separation distance of the rear end of the opening 221a and the first and second plates 223a and 223b, and the length L3 of the protrusion of the opening 221a from the body 221.

[139] In order to prevent leakage of microwaves, the front end of the opening 221a, at which the opening 221a is open, is positioned so that the opening 221a protrudes from the housing 221 by a length L3. Since the opening 221a of the housing 221 protrudes from the housing 221, the opening 221a can serve to prevent leakage of microwaves inside the housing 221 of the resonator unit 220 to the outside of the housing 221.

[140] The resonator unit 220 may further comprise a space 227 for accommodating dielectrics. The space 227 for accommodating dielectrics may be formed in the free space between the housing 221 and the first and second plates 223a and 223b. A dielectric with a low level of microwave absorption may be placed in the space 227 for accommodating dielectrics.

[141] Since the heating unit 200 places the dielectric inside the space 227 for accommodating dielectrics, the overall size of the resonator unit 220 can be reduced, and an electric field of the same level as the electric field generated by the resonator unit that does not contain the dielectric can be generated. That is, the installation space of the resonator unit 220 in the aerosol generating device can be reduced by reducing the size of the resonator unit 220 with the dielectric located inside the space 227 for accommodating dielectrics, which makes it possible to minimize the size of the aerosol generating device.

[142] FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of a heating unit according to an embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4.

[143] As shown in FIG. 6, when the aerosol generating article 10 is inserted into the support tube 225 of the resonator unit 220, the tobacco rod 11 of the aerosol generating article 10 may be located between the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b. The closed surface of one end of the support tube 225 serves as a support for the left end portion of the tobacco rod 11, which accordingly makes it possible to restrict the displacement of the aerosol generating article 10 to the left.

[144] The length L1 of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be less than the length L1+L2 of the inner space of the housing 221. Therefore, the other ends of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be located at positions remote from the opening 221a inside the housing 221. That is, the other ends of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be remote by a distance L2 from the rear end of the opening 221a.

[145] The length of the opening 221a protruding from the housing 221 may be equal to L3. The total length of the housing 221 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 221 may be equal to L. The total length L of the housing 221 may be from 25 to 35 mm, and the total length L of the housing 221 in FIG. 6 is approximately 29 mm. In order to prevent leakage of microwaves, the length L3 of the opening 221a may be 5 mm or more.

[146] The height H of the housing 221 in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the housing 221 may be from 13 to 25 mm, and the height H of the housing 221 in FIG. 6 is approximately 16 mm.

[147] The front end portion of the dielectric 224, located inside the resonator unit 220, may protrude in the longitudinal direction of the housing 221 further than the other ends of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b. In FIG. 6, the front end portion of the dielectric 224 may contact the inner surface of the housing 221. The length L2 by which the front end portion of the dielectric 224 protrudes further than the other ends of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b can be changed. Therefore, the front end portion of the dielectric 224 protrudes further than the other ends of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b and may be separated from the inner surface of the housing 221 so as not to contact the inner surface of the housing 221.

[148] At least a portion of the first plate 223a of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may contact the connector 211. The position in which the connector 211 contacts the first plate 223a may be defined as a position closer to the connector 222 than to the opening 221a in the section from the opening 221a to the connector 222.

[149] When microwaves are transmitted to the first plate 223a through the connector 211, microwave resonance occurs between the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b. In addition, microwave resonances occur respectively between the first plate 223a and the upper plate of the housing 221 and between the second plate 223b and the lower plate of the housing 221. Therefore, electric fields can occur respectively between the first and second plates 223a and 223b and the connector 222, between the first plate 223a and the upper plate of the housing 221, and between the second plate 223b and the lower plate of the housing 221. In particular, resonance peaks are formed at the end portion 223af of the first plate 223a and the end portion 223bf of the second plate 223b, operating as a resonator, as a result of which a stronger electric field can be generated in the end portions 223af and 223bf compared to other regions.

[150] In addition, the front end of the tobacco rod 11 in contact with the filter rod 12 is located in a position protruding further than the other end 223af of the first plate 223a and the other end 223bf of the second plate 223b in the direction of the opening 221a of the housing 221. Accordingly, the region 610 of greatest absorption of the electric field may be located on the tobacco rod 11 oriented in the direction of the end portion 223af of the first plate 223a and the other end portion 223bf of the second plate 223b at the beginning of heating. The region 610 of greatest absorption of the electric field may increase or decrease depending on the output signals of the oscillatory unit 210. In addition, the beginning of heating may mean a period of time from the beginning of the smoking section until the expiration of a predetermined time.

[151] The region of greatest formation of the electric field inside the resonator is determined by the distribution of the electric field in FIG. 7, and the region of greatest absorption of the electric field is determined by the distribution of the heating density of the tobacco rod 11 in FIG. 8.

[152] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the electric field distribution in the heating unit according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4.

[153] The electric field distribution shown in FIG. 7 reflects the voltage intensity in V/m per unit length of the resonant element.

[154] As shown in FIG. 7, a triple resonance mode can be formed in the resonator unit 220 according to the structure of the resonator unit 220 of the heating unit. A TEM mode (transverse electric and magnetic mode) of microwaves is formed between the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b. In addition, resonances of the TEM mode different from the resonance occurring between the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b occur, respectively, between the first plate 223a and the upper plate of the housing 221 and between the second plate 223b and the lower plate of the housing 221. In particular, it can be seen that resonance peaks are formed at the end portions of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b, respectively, and stronger electric fields are generated in the end portions compared to other regions.

[155] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a heating density distribution in an aerosol generating article heated by a heating unit according to an embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4.

[156] The heating density distribution shown in FIG. 8 reflects the temperature energy per unit volume W/ ^m3 in each region of the heated article for generating an aerosol.

[157] As shown in FIG. 8, the region 810 of the greatest heating density may be located in the tobacco rod 11 oriented in the direction of the end portions of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b, which is caused by a strong electric field generated at the end portions of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b. The heating density is related to the absorption of the electric field as the energy of temperature per unit volume, accordingly, the region 810 of the greatest heating density may coincide with the region 610 of the greatest absorption of the electric field.

[158] In addition, the region 810 of the highest heating density has a high temperature energy per unit volume, accordingly, the heating rate of the dielectric material in the region 810 of the highest heating density is higher than in other regions. In other words, the region in which the tobacco rod 11 contacts the filter rod 12 is heated first. Accordingly, there is a decrease in the initial suction resistance of the aerosol generating article 10.

[159] In addition, if the region of greatest absorption of the electric field is fixed inside the tobacco rod 11, only the material placed in a certain region is quickly consumed, which, accordingly, does not allow for a uniform smoke taste throughout the entire smoking area. To solve this problem, the present invention proposes shifting the region of greatest absorption of the electric field inside the tobacco rod 11 by controlling the power supplied to the oscillatory unit 210, depending on time.

[160] FIG. 9 is an internal block diagram illustrating a method for controlling an output signal of an oscillatory unit according to one embodiment of the invention.

[161] In particular, FIG. 9 shows only the configurations for controlling the magnitude and frequency of the microwave power output from the oscillating unit 210 among the configurations in FIGS. 2 and 3 contained in the aerosol generating device 100. Thus, redundant description repeating the above with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 will be omitted.

[162] As shown in FIG. 9, the aerosol generating device 100 may comprise a memory 106, an oscillatory unit 210, a power control unit 250, a resonator unit 220, and a processor 101.

[163] The oscillating unit 210 may output microwaves with a predetermined output frequency and a predetermined power. The oscillating unit 210 may transmit the generated microwaves to the resonator unit 220.

[164] The resonator unit 220 may accommodate the article 10 for generating an aerosol and resonate microwaves received from the oscillating unit 210, thereby heating the article 10 for generating an aerosol. The internal structure of the resonator unit 220 may correspond to the structure shown in FIG. 1-6.

[165] The memory 106 may contain information about a temperature profile and a power profile. The temperature profile contains information about a specified temperature of the resonator unit 220 depending on time, and the processor 101 may control the amount of output microwave power of the oscillating unit 210 based on the information about the temperature profile. In addition, the power profile contains information about a specified power of the oscillating unit 210 depending on time, and the processor 101 may control the amount of microwave power at the output of the oscillating unit 210 based on the power profile. Hereinafter, a method for controlling the amount of microwave power based on the power profile is disclosed, and the following description may also be applied to a method for controlling the amount of microwave power based on a temperature profile.

[166] The processor 101 may control the oscillating unit 210 in accordance with the power profile to output a first microwave power value in the preheating section. In addition, the processor 101 may control the oscillating unit 210 to output a microwave power of a second value, which is less than the first value, in the smoking section after the preheating section. In addition, the processor 101 may gradually increase the microwave power value in the smoking section. As the microwave power value in the smoking section is gradually increased, the region of greatest absorption of the electric field may move inside the tobacco rod 11.

[167] The oscillating unit 210 comprises a power amplifier, and the processor 101 may control the power amplifier to regulate the amount of microwave power disclosed above. The power amplifier may regulate the amount of microwave power by increasing or decreasing the amplitude of the microwaves under the control of the processor 101. For example, the processor 101 may control the oscillating unit 210 to output microwaves with any of the power values selected from the range from 3 to 20 watts.

[168] In addition, the processor 101 can monitor the change in the resonant frequency of the resonator unit 220 in real time, regardless of the control of the amount of microwave power disclosed above, and makes the output frequency of the oscillating unit 210 match the resonant frequency of the resonator unit 220. In other words, the processor 101 can match the output frequency of the oscillating unit 210 with the resonant frequency of the resonator unit 220 in real time in a state in which the amount of microwave power at the output of the oscillating unit 210 is adjusted according to a predetermined power profile. Since the output frequency of the oscillating unit 210 matches the resonant frequency of the resonator unit 220, the power transmission efficiency is significantly increased, and the article 10 can be uniformly heated to generate an aerosol.

[169] The power monitoring unit 250 may monitor the change in the resonant frequency of the resonator unit 220 in real time.

[170] More specifically, as the dielectric material included in the aerosol generating article 10 is heated and consumed under the action of microwaves, the impedance of the resonator unit 220 may change. If the oscillating unit 210 is set to a fixed output signal, then even if the impedance of the resonator unit 220 changes, the first impedance from the oscillating unit 210 to the resonator unit 220 may not match the second impedance from the resonator unit 220 to the oscillating unit 210. In other words, the first impedance may not match the second impedance. In addition, impedance matching is associated with the condition of the greatest power transfer, and, accordingly, the condition of the greatest power transfer may not be satisfied. Accordingly, the power supplied from the oscillatory unit 210 may not be completely transmitted to the resonator unit 220, and some of the power may be reflected from the resonator unit 220 and fed back to the oscillatory unit 210.

[171] To match the first impedance and the second impedance, the power control unit 250 may measure the second power P2 output from the oscillatory unit 210 and supplied to the resonator unit 220, as well as the second power P2 reflected from the resonator unit 220 and supplied to the oscillatory unit 210. In this case, the first power P1 and the second power P2 may express the magnitude of the power.

[172] The power control unit 250 may transmit information about the first power P1 and the second power P2 to the processor 101.

[173] The processor 101 can match the first impedance and the second impedance based on the information about the first power P1 and the second power P2 received from the power control unit 250. The impedance matching can be realized by adjusting the output frequency of the oscillatory unit 210. This is because the impedance is a parameter related to frequency.

[174] The oscillating unit 210 comprises at least one switching element, and the processor 101 can control turning on and off the switching element in order to adjust the output frequency of the oscillating unit 210 disclosed above.

[175] The processor 101 can adjust the output frequency of the oscillating unit 210 so that the difference between the first power P1 and the second power P2 measured by the power control unit 250 falls within a predetermined reference power range. For example, the reference power range can be from 0 to 1 W, and other options are also possible.

[176] The processor 101 may control the oscillating unit 210 such that the difference between the first power P1 and the second power P2 is within a predetermined range while maintaining the output frequency of the oscillating unit 210 within a predetermined reference range. For example, the predetermined reference range may be from 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz or from 5.7 GHz to 5.9 GHz; other options are also possible.

[177] The adjustment of the output frequency by the above-disclosed processor 101 can be performed in real time. In other words, the processor 101 can adjust the output frequency of the oscillating unit 210 independently of the adjustment of the power of the oscillating unit 210.

[178] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a power profile for controlling the output signal of the oscillatory unit 210 according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 9.

[179] As shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 10 shows a power profile according to one embodiment of the invention. The power profile contains information about a set power in a preheating section and a smoking section. In FIG. 10, the preheating section may correspond to a first time t1, and the smoking section may be a period from the first time t1 to the fifth time t5. For example, the first time t1 may be 20 seconds, and the fifth time t5 may be 4 minutes 30 seconds or more; other options are also possible.

[180] The processor 101 may control the oscillatory unit 210 during a first time t1 to output microwave power of a first value Pa. For example, the first value Pa may be 20 W.

[181] In addition, the first time t1 corresponds to the preheating section, and the specified power at the first time t1 does not depend on the shift of the region of greatest absorption of the electric field. In other words, the first value Pa exceeds the second value Pb to the fifth value Pe disclosed below, serves to quickly heat the tobacco rod 11 and is maintained only for a short time, in particular 20 seconds; accordingly, not only is the dielectric material not completely consumed in a certain region of the tobacco rod 11, but also a relatively high power is supplied to the resonant unit 220, and the dielectric material as a whole is quickly heated. Therefore, there is no need to shift the region of greatest absorption of the electric field in the preheating section.

[182] The processor 101 may control the oscillatory unit 210 in the period from the first time t1 to the second time t2 to output a microwave power of a second value Pb that is less than the first value Pa. The difference between the second time t2 and the first time t1 may be greater than the first time t1. For example, the difference between the second time t2 and the first time t1 may be, in particular, 1 minute 30 seconds. In addition, the second value Pb may be from 3 to 4 W.

[183] When the microwave power of the second magnitude Pb is output to the resonator unit 220, a stronger electric field can be output to a portion of the tobacco rod 11, which makes it possible to obtain a region of greatest absorption of the electric field in the tobacco rod 11.

[184] If the region of greatest absorption of the electric field of the tobacco rod 11 does not shift, the electric field is concentrated in a certain region, as a result of which the tobacco rod 11 is heated unevenly. Therefore, the processor 101 gradually increases the microwave power in order to shift the region of greatest absorption of the electric field of the tobacco rod 11 to the smoking area.

[185] The processor 101 may control the oscillating unit 210 in the period from the second time t2 to the third time t3 so as to output the microwave power of the third value Pc exceeding the second value Pb. The difference between the third time t3 and the second time t2 may be equal to or greater than the difference between the second time t2 and the first time t1. For example, the difference between the third time t3 and the second time t2 may be 1 minute 30 seconds and more or less than 2 minutes; other options are also possible. In addition, the third value Pc may be from 4 to 5 W. Since the oscillating unit 210 outputs the microwave power of the third value Pc exceeding the second value Pb, the region of greatest absorption of the electric field may shift inside the tobacco rod 11.

[186] The processor 101 can control the oscillating unit 210 in the period from the third time t3 to the fourth time t4 so as to output the microwave power of the fourth value Pd exceeding the third value Pc. The difference between the fourth time t4 and the third time t3 can be equal to or greater than the difference between the third time t3 and the second time t2. For example, the difference between the fourth time t4 and the third time t3 can be 1 minute 30 seconds and more or less than 2 minutes; other options are also possible. In addition, the fourth value Pd can be from 5 to 6 watts. Since the oscillating unit 210 outputs the microwave power of the fourth value Pd exceeding the third value Pc, the region of greatest absorption of the electric field can shift inside the tobacco rod 11.

[187] The processor 101 can control the oscillating unit 210 in the period from the fourth time t4 to the fifth time t5 so as to output the microwave power of the fifth value Pe exceeding the fourth value Pd. The difference between the fifth time t5 and the fourth time t4 can be equal to or greater than the difference between the fourth time t4 and the third time t3. For example, the difference between the fifth time t5 and the fourth time t4 can be 1 minute 30 seconds and more or less than 2 minutes; other options are also possible. Thus, the fifth value Pe can be from 6 to 7 watts. Since the oscillating unit 210 outputs the microwave power of the fifth value Pe exceeding the fourth value Pd, the region of greatest absorption of the electric field can shift inside the tobacco rod 11.

[188] FIG. 11 shows the shift of the region of greatest absorption of the electric field in accordance with the power profile according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 10.

[189] As shown in FIG. 11, the processor 101 can control the oscillating unit 210 in the first part of the smoking section so as to output the microwave power of the second value Pb. The first part may be a section from the first time t1 to the second time t2, and the second value Pb may be any value from the range of 3 to 4 W. When the microwave power of the second value Pb is output, a resonance peak is formed at the end sections of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b of the resonator unit 220, and a stronger electric field is generated at the end sections compared to other regions. Accordingly, the region of the greatest absorption of the electric field can be generated in the first region 1110 of the tobacco rod 11 located in the direction of the end section of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b.

[190] In addition, the aerosol generating device 100 according to the present invention is characterized by reducing the initial suction resistance of the aerosol generating article 10 because the first region 1110, which is a portion where the tobacco rod 11 contacts the filter rod, is heated first. However, if the region of greatest absorption of the electric field is fixed in the entire heating section, there is a problem that the tobacco rod 11 is unevenly heated. Therefore, the processor 101 gradually increases the microwave power to shift the region of greatest absorption of the electric field of the tobacco rod 11 in the smoking section.

[191] The processor 101 gradually increases the amount of microwave power at the output of the oscillating unit 210 so that the region of greatest absorption of the electric field shifts in the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod 11. As the amount of microwave power at the output of the oscillating unit 210 increases, the region of greatest absorption of the electric field in the tobacco rod 11 shifts in the opposite direction to the opening in which the article 10 is placed for generating an aerosol, as shown in FIG. 11.

[192] More specifically, the processor 101 can control the oscillatory unit 210 in the second part after the first part of the smoking section in such a way as to output a microwave power of a third value Pc exceeding the second value Pb. The second part can be a section from the second time t2 to the third time t3. There is no dielectric material in the filter rod, and since the consumption of the dielectric material in the first region 1110 in the first part is significant, when the microwave power increases to the third value Pc, the region of greatest absorption of the electric field shifts to the second region 1120 in the direction opposite to the opening in which the article 10 is placed for generating an aerosol.

[193] The processor 101 can control the oscillatory unit 210 in the third part after the second part to again shift the region of greatest absorption of the electric field of the tobacco rod 11 and, accordingly, the microwave power of the fourth value Pd exceeding the third value Pc can be output. The third part can be a section from the third time t3 to the fourth time t4. Similarly, there is no dielectric material in the filter rod, and since the consumption of the dielectric material in the second region 1120 in the second part is significant, when the microwave power is increased to the fourth value Pd, the region of greatest absorption of the electric field shifts to the third region 1130 in the direction opposite to the opening in which the article 10 is placed for generating an aerosol.

[194] The processor 101 can control the oscillating unit 210 in the fourth part after the third part so as to shift the region of greatest absorption of the electric field of the tobacco rod 11 again and, accordingly, the microwave power of the fifth value Pe exceeding the fourth value Pd can be output. The fourth part can be a section from the fourth time t4 to the fifth time t5. Similarly, there is no dielectric material in the filter rod, and since the consumption of the dielectric material in the third region 1130 in the third part is significant, when the microwave power is increased to the fifth value Pe, the region of greatest absorption of the electric field shifts to the fourth region 1140 in the direction opposite to the opening in which the article 10 is placed for generating an aerosol. In addition, FIG. 11 shows only a method for gradually increasing the microwave power through four sections that can increase or decrease depending on the length of the carriers and the value of the microwave power.

[195] FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a method of operating an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the invention.

[196] As shown in FIG. 12, in step 1210, the oscillating unit 210 may generate microwaves.

[197] The oscillatory unit 210 may comprise a solid-state radio frequency generating device and generate microwaves using the device.

[198] The oscillating unit 210 can output microwaves at a predetermined output frequency and a predetermined power under the control of the processor 101.

[199] The oscillating unit 210 may comprise a power amplifier, and the power amplifier may regulate the amount of microwave power under the control of the processor 101. For example, the power amplifier may decrease or increase the amplitude of the microwaves. By regulating the amplitude of the microwaves, the microwave power may be regulated.

[200] At step 1220, the resonator unit 220 may heat the article 10 to generate an aerosol by applying an electric field caused by microwave resonance to the article 10 to generate an aerosol.

[201] As shown in FIG. 4-8, the resonator unit 220 may include a first plate 223a surrounding one region of the aerosol generating article 10, a second plate 223b separated from the first plate 223a in the circumferential direction of the aerosol generating article 10 and surrounding another region of the aerosol generating article 10, and a connector 222 connecting the first plate 223a to the second plate 223b. By means of the first plate 223a, the second plate 223b and the connector 222, the microwaves can respectively resonate (a so-called triple resonance structure) between the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b, and also between the first and second plates 223a and 223b and the body 221, and the aerosol generating article 10 can be heated by an electric field due to the microwave resonance.

[202] In particular, the length of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b may be shorter than the length of the tobacco rod 11 included in the aerosol generating article 10, and accordingly, the tobacco rod 11 may be located in a position protruding from the end portions of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b in a direction toward the opening in which the aerosol generating article 10 is placed. Since a stronger electric field is generated at the end portions of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b, a region of the greatest absorption of the electric field may be created in a predetermined region of the tobacco rod 11 oriented in the direction of the end portions of the first plate 223a and the second plate 223b at the beginning of heating. The beginning of heating may mean a period after the beginning of the smoking section and before the expiration of a predetermined time.

[203] In addition, if the region of greatest absorption of the electric field is fixed inside the tobacco rod 11, only the dielectric material placed in the specified region is quickly consumed, which, accordingly, does not allow for a uniform smoke taste throughout the entire smoking area. To solve this problem, the present invention proposes shifting the region of greatest absorption of the electric field inside the tobacco rod 11 by increasing the microwave power value in the smoking area.

[204] At step 1230, the processor 101 may control the output signal of the oscillatory unit 210 such that the region of greatest absorption of the electric field in the aerosol generating article 10 is shifted.

[205] The processor 101 may adjust the amount of microwave power at the output of the oscillatory unit 210 in accordance with a predetermined power profile so as to shift the region of greatest absorption of the electric field in the article 10 for generating an aerosol.

[206] The processor 101 can control the oscillating unit 210 so as to output the microwave power of the first value Pa in the preheating section. In addition, in the preheating section, the microwave power is relatively large, for example, 20 W, and the preheating section is maintained for a relatively short time, for example, 20 seconds, that is, the need to shift the region of greatest absorption of the electric field is also small. In other words, since a relatively high power is supplied to the resonator unit 220 for a relatively short time in the preheating section, the dielectric material as a whole is quickly heated, that is, the need to shift the region of greatest absorption of the electric field in the preheating section is small.

[207] When the smoking section begins after the preheating section, the processor 101 can control the oscillating unit 210 in such a way as to output microwave power of a second value Pb, less than the first value Pa. As the smoking section passes, the processor 101 can gradually increase the output power of the oscillating unit 210 in such a way as to shift the region of greatest absorption of the electric field.

[208] In one embodiment of the invention, the processor 101 may control the oscillating unit 210 in the first part of the smoking section so as to output a microwave power of the second value Pb. Furthermore, the processor 101 may control the oscillating unit 210 in the second part after the first part so as to output a microwave power of the third value Pc, exceeding the second value Pb. Furthermore, the processor 101 may control the oscillating unit 210 so as to output a microwave power of the fourth value Pd, exceeding the third value Pc, in the third part after the second part, and to output a microwave power of the fifth value Pe, exceeding the fourth value Pd, in the fourth part after the third part.

[209] As the microwave power in the smoking area gradually increases, the region of greatest absorption of the electric field shifts in the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod 11. In one embodiment of the invention, the region of greatest absorption of the electric field can be shifted inside the tobacco rod 11 in a direction opposite to the direction of the opening in which the aerosol generating article 10 is placed.

[210] In addition, the processor 101 can monitor in real time the change in the resonant frequency of the resonator unit 220 due to the consumption of the dielectric material included in the aerosol generating article 10, regardless of the power profile. In addition, the processor 101 can adjust the output frequency of the microwave power output by the oscillating unit 210 based on the change in the resonant frequency. In other words, the processor 101 can independently control the amount of microwave power at the output of the oscillating unit 210 and the output frequency of the microwave power.

[211] Any of the above-mentioned and other embodiments of the invention disclosed above are not mutually exclusive or different. Any of the above-mentioned or other embodiments of the invention disclosed above may be combined or used together in appropriate configurations or functions.

[212] For example, configuration "A" disclosed in one embodiment of the invention and/or in the drawings may be combined with configuration "B" disclosed in another embodiment of the invention and/or in the drawings. Even if the connection of the configurations is not explicitly disclosed, the connection may be performed, except for the case in which the connection is described as impossible.

[213] The foregoing detailed disclosure should not be construed as limiting in all respects and should be considered as illustrative. The scope of the invention is determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the equivalent scope of the disclosure are included within the scope of the invention.

Claims (15)

1. An aerosol generating device comprising: an oscillating unit capable of generating microwaves; a resonator unit configured to accommodate an aerosol generating article and to heat the aerosol generating article by applying an electric field caused by microwave resonance to the aerosol generating article; and a processor configured to control the output signal of the oscillatory unit in such a way that the region of greatest absorption of the electric field in the aerosol generating article is shifted. 2. An aerosol generating device according to claim 1, in which the resonator unit comprises a first plate surrounding one region of the aerosol generating article, a second plate separated from the first plate in the circumferential direction of the aerosol generating article and surrounding another region of the aerosol generating article, and a connector configured to connect the first plate to the second plate, and microwaves resonate with the first plate, the second plate and the connector, and the aerosol generating article is heated by the electric field from the end portions of the first and second plates. 3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 2, wherein the length of the first plate and the second plate is less than the length of the tobacco rod included in the aerosol generating article, the tobacco rod is located in a position protruding from the end portions of the first plate and the second plate in the direction of the opening in which the aerosol generating article is placed, and the region of greatest absorption of the electric field is generated in a given region of the tobacco rod located in the direction of the end portions of the first plate and the second plate at the beginning of heating. 4. An aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is additionally configured to control the output signal of the oscillatory unit in such a way that the region of greatest absorption of the electric field moves in the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod included in the aerosol generating product. 5. An aerosol generating device according to claim 4, wherein the region of greatest absorption of the electric field is moved inside the tobacco rod in a direction opposite to the direction of the opening in which the aerosol generating article is placed. 6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to regulate the amount of microwave power at the output of the oscillatory unit in accordance with a predetermined power profile in such a way as to move the region of greatest absorption of the electric field in the aerosol generating article. 7. The aerosol generating device according to claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to control the oscillatory unit for outputting microwave power of the first value in the preheating section. 8. The aerosol generating device according to claim 7, wherein, if the smoking section begins after the preheating section, the processor is additionally configured to control the oscillatory unit to output microwave power of a second value, less than the first value, and as the smoking section passes, the processor is configured to gradually increase the microwave power at the output of the oscillatory unit in such a way as to move the region of greatest absorption of the electric field. 9. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to monitor in real time a change in the resonant frequency of the resonator unit caused by the consumption of the dielectric material in the aerosol generating article, and to regulate the output frequency of the microwave power of the oscillatory unit based on the change in the resonant frequency of the resonator unit. 10. The aerosol generating device according to claim 9, wherein the processor is additionally configured to independently control the magnitude of the microwave power and the output frequency of the microwave power.