RU2848009C2 - Aerosol generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: technical devices.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a device for generating aerosol. For this purpose, the device contains a processor designed to control the operation of the aerosol generating device, an oscillating unit designed to generate microwaves in a specified frequency range when receiving alternating current power, a resonator unit containing a space for accommodating an aerosol-generating product, designed to resonate incident microwaves emitted by the oscillation unit and designed to heat the aerosol-generating product introduced into the accommodation space, and a power control unit configured to track microwaves reflected from the resonator unit, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the aerosol generating device has been inserted based on the reflected microwaves tracked by the power control unit.

EFFECT: increased power transfer efficiency by heating dielectric material using microwave resonance.

11 cl, 8 dwg

Description

Field of technology

[1] One or more embodiments of the invention relate to an aerosol generating device that enables heating of an aerosol generating article by a dielectric heating method.

Prior art

[2] Recently, there has been a growing demand for alternative methods to overcome the disadvantages of conventional cigarettes. For example, there is a growing demand for systems in which aerosol is generated by heating cigarettes or aerosol-generating materials using aerosol-generating devices, rather than generating aerosol by burning cigarettes.

Disclosure

Technical problem of the invention

[3] Recently, active research has been conducted into methods for automatically turning on the heating of an aerosol generating device upon detection of the insertion of an aerosol generating article into the aerosol generating device. In addition, active research has been conducted into methods for automatically stopping the heating of the aerosol generating device upon detection of the depletion of the aerosol generating material in the aerosol generating article.

[4] In this case, a separate sensor (for example, a pressure sensor, a film sensor, an optical sensor, or an infrared sensor) may be installed in the aerosol generating device to detect the insertion of the aerosol generating article.

[5] Methods for initiating heating upon detection of insertion of an aerosol-generating article without user intervention may improve ease of use. However, if the aerosol-generating device includes a separate sensor for detecting insertion of the aerosol-generating article or depletion of the aerosol-generating material, the complexity of the equipment and the manufacturing cost of the aerosol-generating device may increase. Furthermore, if the aerosol-generating device, which is a relatively compact electronic device, includes space for installing a separate sensor, restrictions on changes to the design of the aerosol-generating device may arise.

[6] The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to the above description, and a person skilled in the art will be able to understand other technical problems based on the embodiments of the invention disclosed below.

Technical solution

[7] In one embodiment of the invention, an aerosol generating device comprises a processor configured to control the operation of the aerosol generating device, an oscillating unit configured to generate microwaves in a given frequency range in response to receiving alternating current power, a resonator unit comprising a space for accommodating an article for generating an aerosol, configured to resonate incident microwaves output by the oscillating unit and configured to heat the article for generating an aerosol introduced into the space for accommodating, and a power control unit configured to monitor microwaves reflected from the resonator unit, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether an article for generating an aerosol is introduced into the space for accommodating, based on the reflected microwaves monitored by the power control unit.

Beneficial effects of the invention

[8] Because the aerosol generating device according to one or more embodiments of the invention heats the dielectric material using microwave resonance, the power transfer efficiency can be significantly improved.

[9] An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the invention can determine whether an aerosol generating article is inserted by monitoring reflected microwaves of a resonator into which the aerosol generating article is inserted, and can determine whether the aerosol generating material is consumed.

[10] The effects of the invention are not limited to the effects disclosed above, and effects not disclosed will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the present description and the accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings

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

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

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

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

[15] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section of the heating unit according to FIG. 4.

[16] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a heating unit according to another embodiment of the invention.

[17] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the invention.

[18] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the invention.

The best embodiment of the invention

[19] In one embodiment of the invention, an aerosol generating device comprises a processor configured to control the operation of the aerosol generating device, an oscillating unit configured to generate microwaves in a given frequency range upon receiving alternating current power, a resonator unit comprising a space for accommodating an article for generating an aerosol, configured to resonate incident microwaves output by the oscillating unit and configured to heat an article for generating an aerosol introduced into the space for accommodating, and a power control unit configured to monitor microwaves reflected from the resonator unit, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether an article for generating an aerosol is introduced based on the reflected microwaves monitored by the power control unit.

[20] The processor may be further configured to determine the introduction of an aerosol generating article if the reflected microwaves are less than a first threshold.

[21] The processor may be further configured to determine the introduction of an aerosol generating article if the phase difference between the incident microwaves and the reflected microwaves exceeds a second threshold.

[22] The processor may be further configured to control a first power supplied to the oscillating unit and determine the insertion of the aerosol generating article, and if it is determined that the aerosol generating article has been inserted, the processor may be further configured to control a second power, different from the first power, supplied to the oscillating unit for heating the aerosol generating article.

[23] The first power may be less than the second power.

[24] The processor may be further configured to monitor the ratio of the amplitudes of the reflected and incident microwaves and control the first supplied power if the ratio of the ratio of the amplitudes at the start of heating to the current ratio of the amplitudes is less than a third threshold value.

[25] The processor may be further configured to view the output frequency of the microwave power output from the oscillatory unit within a predetermined range of reference frequencies and to derive a resonant frequency at which the magnitude of the reflected microwaves is minimal and to supply the first power if the difference between the resonant frequency and the resonant frequency at the start of heating exceeds a fourth threshold value.

[26] The aerosol generating device may further comprise an output unit configured to output information about the state of the aerosol generating device, and the controller may further be configured to provide information to the user by means of visual and/or tactile and/or audio means.

[27] The processor may be further configured to view the output frequency of the microwave power output from the oscillatory unit in a reference frequency range of 2.4 to 2.5 GHz.

[28] The resonator unit may comprise a first inner conductor having the shape of a hollow cylinder surrounding a first region, and a second inner conductor placed at a certain distance from the first inner conductor and having the shape of a hollow cylinder surrounding a second region, wherein the second region is different from the first region, and microwaves can resonate between the first inner conductor and the second inner conductor.

[29] The resonator unit may comprise a first plate surrounding a third region and a second plate located at a certain distance from the first plate along a circumferential direction of the third region and surrounding a fourth region, wherein the fourth region is different from the third region, and microwaves can resonate between the first and second plates.

Principle of the invention

[30] Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein identical or similar components will be assigned the same reference numerals regardless of the numerals in the drawings, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[31] The terms "module" and "block" as used in this description are assigned or used interchangeably solely for convenience of description and have no separate meaning or role in themselves.

[32] Furthermore, when disclosing the embodiments claimed in this specification, detailed disclosure of known technologies may be omitted if it is found that they may distort the essence of the embodiments disclosed herein. Furthermore, the accompanying drawings are provided only to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed in the present description, and the technical essence of the present invention is not limited to the drawings. It should be understood that all modifications, equivalents and substitutes that correspond to the essence and scope of the present disclosure are included in the protected scope of the invention.

[33] 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. These terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another.

[34] When a component is referred to as "connected" or "linked" to another component, it is to be understood that it may be directly connected or linked to the other component, or there may be intermediate components between them. On the other hand, when a component is referred to as "directly connected" or "directly linked" to another component, it is to be understood that there are no intermediate components between them.

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

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

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

[38] The housing 110 may form the overall appearance of the aerosol generating device 100, and components of the aerosol generating device 100 may be housed 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 housed in the interior space of the housing 110, but the components housed in the interior space are not limited to this list.

[39] An insertion opening 110h may be formed in a portion of the housing 110, and at least a portion 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 a 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 a portion of the side surface (for example, the surface in the x-direction) of the housing 110.

[40] The heating unit 200 may be disposed in the interior of the housing 110 and heat the aerosol-generating article 10 introduced into the housing 110 or accommodated therein through the insertion opening 110h. For example, the heating unit 200 may be arranged to surround at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 10 introduced into the housing 110 or accommodated therein, and thus heat the aerosol-generating article 10.

[41] In one embodiment of the invention, the heating unit 200 may heat the article 10 to generate an aerosol using a dielectric heating method. In the present description, the term "dielectric heating method" refers to a method of heating a dielectric, which is an object of heating, using microwave resonance and/or an electric field (which may include a magnetic field) of microwaves. Microwaves are energy sources used to heat the heating object and are generated by high-frequency power, therefore, the term "microwaves" may be considered synonymous with the term "microwave power" hereinafter.

[42] The charges or ions in the dielectric material included in the aerosol generating article 10 may vibrate or rotate due to microwave resonance in the heating unit 200, and frictional heat generated by the vibration or rotation of the charges or ions may cause the dielectric material to generate heat, causing the aerosol generating article 10 to heat up.

[43] When the aerosol generating article 10 is heated by the heating unit 200, an aerosol can be generated from the aerosol generating article 10. In the present description, the “aerosol” may refer to gaseous particles formed from a mixture of steam and air when the aerosol generating article 10 is heated.

[44] The aerosol generated by the aerosol generating article 10 may pass through the aerosol generating article 10 or exit outside the aerosol generating device 100 through the empty space between the aerosol generating article 10 and the insertion opening 110h. The user may place his mouth on the part of the aerosol generating article 10 open to the outside from the housing 110 and inhale the aerosol emitted from the aerosol generating device 100, thereby performing smoking.

[45] The aerosol generating device 100 according to one embodiment of the invention may further comprise a cover 111 disposed on the housing 110 in a movable manner 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 into an environment outside the aerosol generating device 100 or close the insertion opening 110h to prevent it from opening into an environment outside the aerosol generating device 100.

[46] In one embodiment of the invention, the lid 111 may allow the opening 110h to be opened for insertion into the environment from the outside of the aerosol generating device 100 in a first position (or "open position"). When the aerosol generating device 100 is opened to the environment from the outside, the aerosol generating article 10 can be inserted into the housing 110 through the opening 110h for insertion.

[47] In another embodiment of the invention, the cover 111 covers the insertion opening 110h in a second position (or “closed position”) to prevent the insertion opening 110h from opening into an environment outside 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.

[48] In FIG. 1, only an aerosol generating device 100 for heating an article 10 to generate an aerosol in a solid state is shown, but the aerosol generating device 100 is not limited to this embodiment.

[49] An aerosol generating device according to another embodiment of the invention may generate an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material in a liquid or gel state by means of a heating unit 200, rather than by heating the aerosol generating article 10 in a solid state.

[50] An aerosol generating device according to another embodiment may comprise a heating unit 200 that heats an aerosol generating article 10, and a cartridge (or "evaporator") that contains an aerosol generating material in a liquid or gel state and heats it. After moving to the aerosol generating article 10 through an air flow path connecting the cartridge and the aerosol generating article 10, the aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material may be mixed with the aerosol produced by the aerosol generating article 10, and then delivered to the user through the aerosol generating article 10.

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

[52] As shown in FIG. 2, the aerosol generating device 100 may include 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 converter 109, and a dielectric heating unit 200. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 100 is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. According to the design of the aerosol generating device 100, some of the components shown in FIG. 2 may be omitted, or new components may be added.

[53] 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 containing 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.

[54] The output unit 103 may output information on the state of the aerosol generating device 100. The output unit 103 may output data on the charge/discharge state of the battery 107, the heating state of the dielectric heating unit 200, the insertion state of the aerosol generating article 10, and error information of the aerosol generating device 100. For this, the output unit 103 may comprise a display, a vibration motor, and a sound output device.

[55] The sensor unit 104 may detect the state of the aerosol generating device 100 and the 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 insertion of the aerosol generating article 10, and displaying a notification.

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

[57] The temperature sensor may detect the internal temperature of the dielectric heating block 200 in a contactless manner or may contact the dielectric heating block 200 to directly detect the temperature of the resonator. In one embodiment of the invention, the temperature sensor may detect the temperature of the aerosol generating article 10. In addition, the temperature sensor may be placed near the battery 107 and measure its temperature. The processor 101 may control the power supplied to the dielectric heating block 200 based on the temperature information received from the temperature sensor.

[58] 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 when the number of puffs reaches a predetermined maximum number of puffs, the processor 101 may block the power supply to the dielectric heating unit 200. In another example, the processor 101 may block the power supply to the dielectric heating unit 200 if no puffs are detected for a certain period of time.

[59] The insertion recognition sensor may be located within or near the placement space (220h in FIG. 4) 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.

[60] In one embodiment of the invention, the insertion recognition sensor may be absent from the aerosol generating device 100. The aerosol generating device 100 may determine whether the aerosol generating article 10 is inserted based on the incident microwaves and/or reflected microwaves used in the dielectric heating block 200.

[61] 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 lid detachment recognition sensor, a location sensor (Global Positioning System (GPS)), a proximity sensor, and the like. Since the purpose of each sensor may be intuitively clear from its name, a detailed disclosure of this purpose may be omitted herein.

[62] The communication unit 105 may comprise at least one communication module for communicating with another electronic device. The processor 101 may control the communication unit 105 and transmit information about the aerosol generating device 100 to the external electronic device. Alternatively, the processor 101 may receive information from the external electronic device via the communication unit 105 and control components included in the aerosol generating device 100. For example, the information exchanged between the communication unit 105 and the external electronic device may include user authentication information, firmware update information, and information about the user's smoking habits.

[63] Memory 106 may be a hardware component that stores various types of data processed in the aerosol generating device 100 and may store data to be processed and data 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 smoking habits of the user, and the like.

[64] The battery 107 may supply power to the dielectric heating unit 200 to heat the article 10 to generate an aerosol. In addition, the battery 107 may supply power necessary for the operation of other components included in the aerosol generating device 100. The battery 110 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable detachable battery.

[65] 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), or a combination thereof. The interface unit 108 may exchange information with the external electronic device via the connection terminal or a charger.

[66] The power converter 109 may convert the direct current power from the battery 107 into alternating current power. In addition, the power converter 109 may supply the converted alternating current power to the dielectric heating unit 200. The power converter 109 may be an inverter comprising at least one switching device, and the processor 101 may control the on/off switching of the switching device included in the power converter 109 and convert the direct current power into alternating current power. The power converter 109 may be implemented using a full bridge or a half bridge circuit.

[67] 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 assembly 200 in FIG. 1.

[68] The dielectric heating unit 200 may use microwaves and/or an electric field of microwaves (hereinafter, if classification is not required, microwaves or microwave power) to heat the article 10 to generate an aerosol. The heating method of the dielectric heating unit 200 may be heating the heating object by generating microwaves in a resonant structure, rather than emitting microwaves using an antenna. The resonant structure is disclosed below with reference to FIG. 4 and subsequent figures.

[69] The dielectric heating block 200 may output high frequency microwaves to the resonator block (220 in FIG. 3). The microwaves may be power in the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) frequency range permitted for heating, but one or more embodiments are not limited to this. The resonator block 220 may be designed taking into account the wavelength of the microwaves to ensure resonance of the microwaves within the resonator block 220.

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

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

[72] The processor 101 may control the direct current power supplied from the battery 107 to the power converter 109 and/or the alternating current power supplied from the power converter 109 to the dielectric heating unit 200, depending on the power required for 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 control the converter to adjust the amount of direct current power. In addition, the processor 101 may adjust the switching frequency and the efficiency of the switching device included in the power converter 109, thereby controlling the alternating current power supplied to the dielectric heating unit 200.

[73] The processor 101 can control the microwave power of the dielectric heating unit 200 and the resonant frequency of the dielectric heating unit 200, thereby adjusting the heating temperature of the article 10 for generating an aerosol. Thus, the oscillating unit 210, the insulating unit 240, the power control unit 250 and the matching unit 260 in FIG. 3, disclosed below, may represent some components of the processor 101.

[74] The processor 101 may control the microwave power of the dielectric heating block 200 based on the temperature profile information stored in the memory 106. In other words, the temperature profile may contain information about the target temperature of the dielectric heating block 200 over time, and the processor 101 may control the microwave power of the dielectric heating block 200 over time.

[75] The processor 101 can adjust the microwave frequency so that it corresponds to the resonant frequency of the dielectric heating unit 200. The processor 101 can monitor changes 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 a microwave frequency in accordance with the change in the resonant frequency. In other words, the processor 101 can adjust the microwave frequency in real time, regardless of the predetermined temperature profile.

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

[77] 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. However, the internal structure of the dielectric heating unit 200 is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. According to the design of the dielectric heating unit 200, some of the components shown in FIG. 3 may be omitted, or new components may be added.

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

[79] The oscillating unit 210 may comprise a solid-state radio frequency generating device and generate microwave power using 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 size of the dielectric heating unit 200 can be reduced and the service life of the device can be increased.

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

[81] The processor 101 may control the amount of microwave power output by the oscillating unit 210 depending on the operating mode of the aerosol generating device 100. For example, the aerosol generating device 100 may operate in a standby mode and a heating mode. The standby mode refers to a state in which the heating unit 200 or the dielectric heating unit 200 does not perform a heating operation while the aerosol generating device 100 is turned on. The heating mode refers to a state in which the heating unit 200 or the dielectric heating unit 200 performs a heating operation, and may be divided into a preheating step and a smoking step. The oscillating unit 210 may supply microwave power at a first power level in the standby mode and supply microwave power at a second power level in the heating mode, wherein the second power level is higher than the first power level. The processor 101 can determine whether an aerosol-generating article is inserted in the standby mode, and if it is determined that an aerosol-generating article is inserted, the processor 101 can control the aerosol-generating device 100 to operate in the heating mode. Furthermore, in the heating mode, the processor 101 can monitor the consumption of the aerosol-generating material in the aerosol-generating article, and when the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating material falls below a threshold, the processor 101 can determine that the aerosol-generating material is consumed and thus terminate the heating mode.

[82] The processor 101 may adjust the amount of microwave power output by the oscillating unit 210 based on a pre-stored temperature profile. For example, the temperature profile may contain information about the target temperature in the preheating step and the smoking step, and the oscillating unit 210 may output microwave power at power level 2-1 in the preheating step and output microwave power at power level 2-2 in the smoking step, wherein the power level 2-2 is less than the power level 2-1.

[83] The isolation unit 240 may block the microwave power supplied to the oscillation unit 210 from the resonator unit 220. A portion of the microwave power output from the oscillation unit 210 may be reflected from the heating object and then transmitted back to the oscillation unit 210. When the microwave power reflected from the resonator unit 220 is supplied to the oscillation unit 210, not only may the operation of the oscillation unit 210 be disrupted, but also the expected output characteristics may not be achieved. The isolation unit 240 may not redirect the microwave power reflected from the resonator unit 220 to the oscillation unit 210, and direct the microwave power in a certain direction to absorb it. For this, the isolation unit 240 may include a circulator and an absorbing load.

[84] The power monitoring unit 250 may monitor the reflected microwave power reflected from the resonator unit 220. In addition, the power monitoring unit 250 may monitor the incident microwave power that is output from the oscillator unit 210 and supplied to the resonator unit 220. The power monitoring unit 250 may transmit information about the microwave power and the reflected microwave power to the matching unit 260.

[85] The microwave reflection characteristics in the resonator unit 220 may vary depending on the permittivity within the resonator unit 220. Permittivity is a key characteristic that reflects the electrical properties of a dielectric material, i.e., a non-conducting material. Permittivity is not related to the electrical properties of direct currents, but is directly related to the properties of alternating currents, in particular, alternating current electromagnetic waves. More specifically, the magnitude of the reflected microwaves reflected from the resonator unit 220 may vary depending on the complex permittivity of the resonator unit 220. Microwave absorption in the resonator unit 220 can be expressed as the loss tangent, which is the ratio of the imaginary part to the real part of the complex permittivity. In addition, the phase of the reflected microwaves reflected from the resonator unit 220 may vary depending on the permittivity of the resonator unit 220. When an aerosol-generating article containing a dielectric material is introduced into the space for accommodating the resonator unit 220, the permittivity in the resonator unit 220 may change. Thus, by analyzing the microwaves reflected from the resonator unit 220, it can be determined whether an aerosol-generating article has been introduced into the space for accommodating the resonator unit 220.

[86] The matching unit 260 may match the impedance measured between the oscillating unit 210 and the resonator unit 220 to minimize the reflected microwave power with the impedance measured between the resonator unit 220 and the oscillating unit 210. Impedance matching may mean that the frequency of the oscillating unit 210 matches 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. In other words, the matching unit 260 may adjust the frequency of the microwave power that is output from the oscillating unit 210 to minimize the reflected microwave power. Impedance matching of the matching unit 260 may be performed in real time regardless of the temperature profile.

[87] The oscillating unit 210, the isolating unit 240, the power control unit 250, and the matching unit 260 disclosed above may differ from the microwave output unit 230 and the resonator unit 220 disclosed below, and may be implemented as microwave sources in the form of microcircuits. In one embodiment of the invention, the oscillating unit 210, the isolating unit 240, the power control unit 250, and the matching unit 260 may be implemented as some components of the processor 101.

[88] The microwave output unit 230 may be a component configured to supply microwave power to the resonator unit 220 and correspond to the connector shown in FIG. 3 and subsequent figures. The microwave output unit 230 may be implemented in the form of subminiature connectors of version A (SMA), subminiature connectors of version B (SMB), microcoaxial connectors (MCX) and microminiature coaxial connectors (MMCX). The microwave output unit 230 may connect the resonator unit 220 to a microwave source in the form of a microcircuit and supply microwave power generated by the microwave source to the resonator unit 220.

[89] The resonator unit 220 may generate microwaves in a resonant structure, thereby heating an object to be heated. The resonator unit 220 may comprise a housing space in which the aerosol generating article 10 is placed, and the aerosol generating article 10 may be exposed to microwaves and dielectric heating. For example, the aerosol generating article 10 may comprise a polar substance, and the molecules of the polar substance may be polarized by microwaves inside the resonator unit 220. The molecules may vibrate or rotate due to the polarization, and the aerosol generating article 10 may be heated by frictional heat generated by the vibration or rotation.

[90] The resonator unit 220 may comprise at least one internal conductor for providing resonance of microwaves, and depending on the location, thickness, length, etc. of the internal conductor, microwaves may resonate within the resonator unit 220.

[91] The resonator unit 220 can be designed taking into account the wavelength of microwaves in order to facilitate the resonance of microwaves inside the resonator unit 220. For the resonance of microwaves inside the resonator unit 220, a closed end/short end with a closed cross-section and an open end with at least one open portion on the opposite side are required. In addition, the length of the section between the closed end/short end and the open end should be taken to be an integer multiple of 1/4 of the microwave wavelength. The resonator unit 220 selects a length equal to 1/4 of the microwave wavelength, which can significantly reduce the size of the device. In other words, the length of the section between the closed end/short end and the open end of the resonator unit 220 can be set to be 1/4 of the microwave wavelength.

[92] The resonator unit 220 may comprise a space for accommodating dielectrics. The space for accommodating dielectrics is separated from the space for accommodating the aerosol generating article 10 and comprises a material that can reduce the size of the resonator unit 220 by changing the overall resonant frequency of the resonator unit 220. In one embodiment of the invention, dielectric materials with a low level of microwave absorption may be placed in the space 327 for accommodating dielectrics. Such placement is intended to prevent the transfer of energy, which should be supplied to the heated object, to the dielectric materials and the subsequent generation of heat by the dielectric materials. Microwave absorption in the resonator unit 220 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, dielectric materials with a loss tangent equal to or lower than a predetermined value may be placed in the dielectric accommodation space 227, wherein the predetermined value may be 1/100. For example, the dielectric material 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. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a heating assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.

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

[94] 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. In FIG. 4, one embodiment of the heating unit 200 and the dielectric heating unit 200 disclosed above may be shown, and repeated description may be omitted.

[95] The oscillating unit 210 can generate microwaves in a given frequency range when power is supplied. The microwaves generated by the oscillating unit 210 can be transmitted to the resonator unit 220 via a connector (not shown in the figure). In one embodiment of the invention, the oscillating unit 210 can be supported by brackets 220b protruding along the x-direction on a part of the resonator unit 220 and, thus, can be fixed on the resonator unit 220.

[96] The resonator unit 220 may comprise a space 220h for accommodating at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 10 and resonate microwaves generated by the oscillating unit 210, thereby heating the aerosol-generating article 10 by a dielectric heating method. For example, charges of glycerin included in the aerosol-generating article 10 may vibrate or rotate under the action of microwaves, and frictional heat generated by such vibration or rotation may cause heat to be released in the glycerin, as a result of which the aerosol-generating article 10 may be heated.

[97] In one embodiment of the invention, the resonator unit 220 may comprise 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.

[98] Hereinafter, the detailed structure of the resonator unit 220 of the heating unit 200 is disclosed with reference to FIG. 5.

[99] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the heating assembly of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the heating assembly 200 of FIG. 4 taken along line A-A'.

[100] As shown in FIG. 5, the heating unit 200 in one embodiment of the invention may include an oscillatory unit 210, a resonator unit 220, and a connector 230. The components of the heating unit 200 may be the same or similar to at least one of the components of the heating unit 200 in FIG. 4, and repeated description will be omitted.

[101] The oscillating unit 210 can generate microwaves in a predetermined frequency range when an alternating current voltage is supplied, and the microwaves generated by the oscillating unit 210 can be supplied to the resonator unit 220 through the connector 230.

[102] In one embodiment of the invention, the oscillating unit 210 may be secured to the resonator unit 220 to prevent separation from the resonator unit 220 during use of the aerosol generating device. In one embodiment of the invention, the oscillating unit 210 may be supported by brackets 220b extending along the x-direction on a portion of the resonator unit 220 and thus secured to the resonator unit 220. In another embodiment of the invention, the oscillating unit 210 may be secured to a portion of the resonator unit 220 without brackets 220b.

[103] In the drawing, the oscillating unit 210 is fixed to the part of the resonator unit 220 facing in the x-direction, but the position of the oscillating unit 210 is not limited to this embodiment. In another embodiment of the invention, the oscillating unit 210 may be fixed to another part of the resonator unit 220 that faces in the -z-direction.

[104] The resonator unit 220 may be arranged to surround at least a portion of the aerosol generating article 10 introduced into the aerosol generating device and may heat the aerosol generating article 10 using microwaves generated by the oscillating unit 210. For example, dielectric materials included in the aerosol generating article 10 may generate heat under the action of an electric field created in the resonator unit 220 under the action of microwaves, and the aerosol generating article 10 may be heated by the heat generated by the dielectric materials.

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

[106] The tobacco rod 11 may comprise an aerosol generating material and may be formed in the form of a sheet, strand, or pipe tobacco consisting of small pieces cut from a tobacco leaf. 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, as well as other components. In addition, the tobacco rod 11 may comprise other additives, in particular, flavorings, a humectant, and/or an organic acid. Also, the tobacco rod 11 may comprise a flavored liquid, in particular, menthol or a humectant, injected into the tobacco rod 11.

[107] The filter rod 12 may comprise a cellulose acetate filter. The filter rod 12 may have any shape. For example, the filter rod 12 may have the shape of a hollow cylinder or a hollow tube. In addition, the filter rod 12 may comprise a rod with a recess. If the filter rod 12 comprises multiple segments, at least one of the multiple segments may have a different shape.

[108] At least a portion (e.g., glycerin) of the aerosol generating material included in the aerosol generating article 10 may be a dielectric material 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.

[109] In one embodiment of the invention, the resonator unit 220 may comprise an outer conductor 221, a first inner conductor 223, and a second inner conductor 225.

[110] The outer conductor 221 may form the overall appearance of the resonator unit 220 and have a hollow space inside; thus, the components of the resonator unit 220 can be accommodated inside the outer conductor 221. The outer conductor 221 may have a space 220h for accommodating the aerosol generating article 10, and the aerosol generating article 10 can be inserted into the outer conductor 221 through the space 220h for accommodating.

[111] In one embodiment of the invention, the outer conductor 221 may comprise a first surface 221a, a second surface 221b facing the first surface 221a, and side surfaces 221c surrounding the empty space between the first surface 221a and the second surface 221b. At least a portion (for example, the first inner conductor 223 and the second inner conductor 225) of the components of the resonator unit 220 may be placed in the inner space of the resonator unit 220 defined by the first surface 221a, the second surface 221b, and the side surfaces 221c.

[112] The first inner conductor 223 may have the shape of a hollow cylinder oriented in the direction of the inner space of the outer conductor 221 from the first surface 221a of the outer conductor 221.

[113] In one embodiment of the invention, a portion of the first inner conductor 223 may come into contact with a connector 230 connected to the oscillating unit 210, and microwaves generated by the oscillating unit 210 may be transmitted to the first inner conductor 223 through the connector 230. For example, the connector 230 may penetrate the outer conductor 221 and may be positioned such that one end of the connector 230 comes into contact with the oscillating unit 210 and the other end comes into contact with a portion of the first inner conductor 223, and microwaves generated by the oscillating unit 210 may be transmitted to the first inner conductor 223 through the connector 230.

[114] In this case, the connector 230 may be positioned so as not to come into contact with the outer conductor 221, but to penetrate it for transmitting microwaves, but the positioning of the connector 230 is not limited to this option, provided that the possibility of microwaves generated by the oscillatory unit 210 reaching the first inner conductor 223 is maintained.

[115] The first region formed between the outer conductor 221 and the first inner conductor 223 may function as a "first resonator" that generates an electric field by microwave resonance. The first region may refer to a space formed by the first surface 221a and the side surfaces 221c of the outer conductor 221 and the first inner conductor 223, and within the first region, an electric field may be generated by resonance of microwaves passing through the connector 230.

[116] The second inner conductor 225 may have the shape of a hollow cylinder oriented in the direction of the inner space of the outer conductor 221 from the second surface 221b of the outer conductor 221. The second inner conductor 225 may be located in the inner space of the outer conductor 221 at a certain distance from the first inner conductor 223, and a gap may be provided between the first inner conductor 223 and the second inner conductor 225.

[117] The second region formed between the outer conductor 221 and the second inner conductor 225 can function as a "second resonator" that generates an electric field through microwave resonance. The second inner conductor 225 can be connected to the first inner conductor 223 (e.g., by capacitive coupling), and when an electric field is generated in the first region under the action of the above-mentioned coupling, the induced electric field can also be generated in the second region. In the present description, "capacitive coupling" can be understood as a coupling in which energy can be transferred due to the capacitance between two conductors.

[118] For example, when microwaves generated by the oscillating unit 210 are supplied to the first inner conductor 223, an electric field may be generated in the first region due to resonance, and an induced electric field may be generated in the second region formed by the second inner conductor 225 connected to the outer conductor 221 and the first inner conductor 223.

[119] In one embodiment of the invention, the first region and the second region of the resonator unit 220 may operate as resonators with a length equal to a quarter of the wavelength λ of the microwave.

[120] In one embodiment of the invention, one end of the first region (e.g., the end in the -z direction) may be formed as a closed end/short end, since the cross-section of the first region is closed by the first surface 221a of the outer conductor 221, and the other end of the first region (e.g., the end in the z direction) may be formed as an open end, since the first surface 221a is absent, leaving the cross-section open. In another example, one end of the second region (e.g., the end in the -z direction) may be formed as an open end, since the cross-section is open, and the other end of the second region (e.g., the end in the z direction) may be formed as a closed end/short end, since the cross-section of the second region is closed by the second surface 221b of the outer conductor 221.

[121] That is, in the xz plane, the first region and the second region, each of which contains a closed end/short end and an open end, can be formed in the shape of a Korean letter and due to the above mentioned structure, the first region and the second region can work as a resonator having 1/4 of the microwave wavelength.

[122] In one embodiment of the invention, the first inner conductor 223 and the second inner conductor 225 are configured to have the same length relative to the z-axis, and thus the first region and the second region may be arranged symmetrically; however, one or more embodiments of the invention are not limited to this.

[123] The aerosol generating article 10 introduced into the inner space of the outer conductor 221 through the accommodation space 220h may be surrounded by the first inner conductor 223 and the second inner conductor 225 and may be heated by a dielectric heating method.

[124] At least a portion of the electric field generated in the first region and/or the second region as a result of the microwave resonance may propagate to the interior of the first inner conductor 223 and/or the second inner conductor 225 through the gap 226 between the first inner conductor 223 and/or the second inner conductor 225, and the aerosol generating article 10 surrounded by the first inner conductor 223 and the second inner conductor 225 may be heated by the propagating electric field. For example, dielectric materials included in the aerosol generating article 10 may generate heat by the action of the electric field propagating through the gap 226, and the aerosol generating article 10 may be heated by the heat generated in the dielectric materials.

[125] The heating assembly 200 according to one embodiment of the invention may be configured such that both the diameter of the first inner conductor 223 and the diameter of the second inner conductor 225 may be less than a predetermined value, which prevents the electric field propagating in the first inner conductor 223 and/or the second inner conductor 225 from leaking out of the heating assembly 200 or the resonator unit 220. In the present description, the “predetermined value” may refer to the diameter value at which the electric field begins to propagate to the outside of the first inner conductor 223 and/or the second inner conductor 225. For example, if the diameter of the first inner conductor 223 and/or the second inner conductor 225 has a predetermined value or greater, a portion of the electric field entering the first inner conductor 223 and/or the second inner conductor 225 may leak out of the resonator unit 220. In contrast, the heating assembly 200 according to one embodiment The embodiment of the invention can prevent the electric field from spreading outward from the resonator unit 220 in accordance with a structure in which the diameters of the first inner conductor 223 and the second inner conductor 225 are less than a predetermined value, thereby preventing the electric field from leaking outward from the heating unit 200 or the resonator unit 220 without a separate blocking element.

[126] In one embodiment of the invention, 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 positioned in a position corresponding to a gap 226 between the first inner conductor 223 and the second inner conductor 225.

[127] Since the electric field generated in the first region and the electric field generated in the second region are input into the first inner conductor 223 and/or the second inner conductor 225 through the gap 226, the strongest electric field can be generated in the peripheral region of the gap 226 inside the inner region of the resonator unit 220. In the heating unit 200 according to one embodiment of the invention, the tobacco rod 11 containing dielectric materials that generate heat under the action of an electric field is placed in a position corresponding to the gap 226 where the strength of the electric field is the strongest, which can improve the heating efficiency (or “dielectric heating efficiency”) of the heating unit 200.

[128] In one embodiment of the invention, the resonator unit 220 may further comprise a closing unit 224 that is located inside the first inner conductor 223, closes the cross-section of the first inner conductor 223, and limits the flow direction of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating article 10. For example, the closing unit 224 may block the flow of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating article 10 in the -z direction by closing the cross-section of the first inner conductor 223.

[129] When the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating article 10 or the droplets generated by liquefying the aerosol flow in the -z direction and enter other components of the aerosol generating device (for example, the aerosol generating device 100 in FIG. 1), malfunctions or damage to the components of the aerosol generating device may occur. In contrast, the heating unit 200 according to one embodiment of the invention limits the direction of the aerosol flow through the closing unit 224, thereby preventing malfunctions or damage to the components of the aerosol generating device from the aerosol or droplets.

[130] In one embodiment of the invention, the resonator unit 220 may further comprise a dielectric accommodation space 227 for accommodating dielectric materials. The dielectric accommodation space 227 may be an empty space between the outer conductor 221, the first inner conductor 223 and the second inner conductor 225, and dielectric materials with a low level of microwave absorption may be placed in the dielectric accommodation space 227. For example, the dielectric material 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.

[131] In the heating unit 200 according to one embodiment of the invention, dielectric materials may be disposed in the dielectric accommodating space 227, and thus an electric field similar to the resonator unit 220 without the dielectric materials may be generated while reducing the overall size of the resonator unit 220. That is, in the heating unit 200 according to one embodiment of the invention, the size of the resonator unit 220 may be reduced by using dielectric materials disposed in the dielectric accommodating space 227 in order to reduce the installation space required for the resonator unit 220 in the aerosol generating device, which makes it possible to reduce the size of the aerosol generating device.

[132] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a heating unit according to another embodiment of the invention.

[133] The heating unit 300 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6 may comprise a resonator unit 320 that generates microwave resonance and a connector 311 that supplies microwaves to the resonator unit 320.

[134] The resonator unit 320 may comprise a housing 321, a plurality of plates 323a and 323b, and a connecting portion 322 connecting the housing 321 to the plates 323a and 323b.

[135] The connector 311 may supply microwaves to at least one of the plates 323a and 323b to create resonance in the resonator unit 320.

[136] The resonator unit 320 may surround at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 10 introduced into the aerosol-generating device. The connector 311 may supply microwaves generated by an oscillatory unit (not shown in the figure) to the resonator unit 320. When the microwaves are supplied to the resonator unit 320, a microwave resonance occurs in the resonator unit 320, as a result of which the resonator unit 320 can heat the aerosol-generating article 10. For example, dielectric materials included in the aerosol-generating article 10 can generate heat under the action of an electric field created in the resonator unit 220 under the action of microwaves, and the aerosol-generating article 10 can be heated by the heat generated by the dielectric materials.

[137] The housing 321 of the resonator unit 320 functions as an "outer conductor." Since the housing 321 has a hollow shape, the components of the resonator unit 320 can be located inside the housing 321.

[138] The housing 321 may comprise a space 320h for accommodating the aerosol-generating article 10, and an opening 321a through which the aerosol-generating article 10 can be introduced. The opening 321a is connected to the space 320h for accommodating. Since the opening 321a is open to the outside of the housing 321, the space 320h for accommodating can be connected to the outside space through the opening 321a. Thus, the aerosol-generating article 10 can be introduced into the space 320h for accommodating in the housing 321 through the opening 321a of the housing 321.

[139] The housing 321 in the drawing has a square shape, but other shapes are also possible. For example, the housing 321 can have various cross-sectional shapes, such as a rectangle, oval, or circle. The housing 321 can be oriented in any direction.

[140] Several plates 323a and 323b, which function as “internal conductors” of the resonator unit 320, may be placed inside the housing 321.

[141] The plates 323a and 323b may be arranged at a certain distance from each other along the circumferential direction of the aerosol generating article 10 arranged in the accommodation space 320h. The plates 323a and 323b may comprise a first plate 323a arranged so as to surround a portion of the aerosol generating article 10, and a second plate 323b arranged so as to surround another portion of the aerosol generating article 10.

[142] The plates 323a and 323b may be connected to the body 321 via the connecting portion 322. In addition, one end of the first plate 323a of the plates 323a and 323b may be connected to one end of the second plate 323b via the connecting portion 322. Therefore, closed ends/short ends may be formed at one end of the plates 323a and 323b via the connecting portion 322.

[143] The other end 323af of the first plate 323a of the plates 323a and 323b and the other end 323bf of the second plate 323b may be at some distance from each other and thus open. Since the other ends of the plates 323a and 323b are at some distance from each other, open ends may be formed at the other ends of the plates 323a and 323b.

[144] When the plates 323a and 323b are connected to the connecting portion 322, the assembly of the resonator can be completed. The cross-sectional shape of the resonator assembly in the longitudinal direction may have a horseshoe shape.

[145] The plates 323a and 323b are oriented in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 10. At least a portion of the plates 323a and 323b may be curved so as to protrude outward from the center of the aerosol generating article 10 in its longitudinal direction.

[146] For example, if the aerosol generating article 10 has a cylindrical shape, the plates 323a and 323b 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 plates 323a and 323b may be identical to the radius of curvature of the aerosol generating article 10. The radius of curvature of the cross section of the plates 323a and 323b may be changed in various ways. For example, the radius of curvature of the cross section of the plates 323a and 323b may be larger or smaller than that of the aerosol generating article 10.

[147] According to the structure in which the plates 323a and 323b are curved in the circumferential direction along the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol generating article 10, a more uniform electric field can be generated in the resonator unit 320, and thus the heating unit 300 can uniformly heat the aerosol generating article 10.

[148] The open ends at the other ends of the plates 323a and 323b may face the opening 321a of the housing 321. The opening 321a of the housing 321 may be located at some distance from the other ends of the plates 323a and 323b.

[149] The open ends at the other ends of the plates 323a and 323b may be aligned with the opening 321a of the housing 321. Therefore, when the aerosol generating article 10 is inserted through the opening 321a of the housing 321 and placed in the accommodation space 320h, the portion of the aerosol generating article 10 located in the space 320h may be surrounded by the plates 323a and 323b.

[150] Two plates, namely plates 323a and 323b, may be placed in opposite locations relative to the center of the article 10 to generate an aerosol in its longitudinal direction. One or more embodiments of the invention are not limited to the number of plates 323a and 323b, and the number of plates 323a and 323b may be, for example, three or at least four.

[151] The plates 323a and 323b may be arranged symmetrically to each other relative to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 10, that is, the central axis in the direction of extension of the aerosol generating article 10.

[152] At least one of the plates 323a and 323b may come into contact with a connector 311 connected to an oscillatory unit (not shown in the figure). More specifically, at least a portion of the first plate 323a may come into contact with the connector 311. If microwaves are supplied to the first plate 323a through the connector 311, a microwave resonance is formed between the plates 323a and 323b. In addition, microwave resonance is formed not only between the first plate 323a and the upper side plate of the housing 321, but also between the second plate 323b and the lower side plate of the housing 321. Therefore, between the plates 323a and 323b and the connecting portion 322, between the first plate 323a and the upper side plate of the housing 321 and between the second plate 323b and the lower side plate of the housing 321, corresponding electric fields can be generated.

[153] When the connector 311 is inserted into the housing 321, one end of the connector 311 may come into contact with the oscillating unit (not shown in the figure), and the other end thereof may come into contact with a portion of the first plate 323a. When microwaves generated by the oscillating unit (not shown in the figure) are supplied to the plates 323a and 323b and the connecting portion 322 through the connector 311, an electric field may be generated inside the assembly of the plates 323a and 323b and the connecting portion 322.

[154] Furthermore, according to the structure of the resonator unit 320 of the heating unit 300, a triple resonance mode can be formed in the resonator unit 320. A resonance of the transverse electric and magnetic (TEM) mode of microwaves is formed between the plates 323a and 323b. Furthermore, the resonance of the TEM mode, which is different from the resonance formed between the plates 323a and 323b, occurs not only between the first plate 323a and the upper side plate of the housing 321, but also between the second plate 323b and the lower side plate of the housing 321. Since the resonator unit 320 in FIG. 6 can resonate in the TEM mode using the plates 323a and 323b, the resonator unit 320 in FIG. 6 may have a smaller size than the resonator unit 220 in FIG. 5, which can resonate only in transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes.

[155] Since a triple resonance occurs in the resonator unit 320 of the heating unit 300, the aerosol generating article 10 can be heated more efficiently and uniformly.

[156] The resonator unit 320 according to one embodiment of the invention may comprise a closed end/short end in which the cross-section is closed and has a length equal to a quarter (λ/4) of the wavelength (λ) of the microwave, and an open end in which at least a portion of the cross-section is open.

[157] The region at one end of the resonator unit 320, which corresponds to the region on the left in FIG. 6, can form a closed end/short end due to the structure in which the connecting portion 322 and the ends of the plates 323a and 323b are connected to the housing 321. The region at the other end of the resonator unit 320, which corresponds to the region on the right in FIG. 6, forms an open end, since the opening 321a of the housing 321 is opened to the outside. With the above-described structure of the resonator unit 320, the resonator unit 320 can function as a resonator with a length of a quarter of the wavelength of microwaves.

[158] According to the above-described resonant structure of the resonator unit 320, the electric field may not spread to the outer region of the resonator unit 320. Therefore, the heating unit 300 can prevent the electric field from leaking outward from the heating unit 300 without a separate blocking element for blocking the electric field.

[159] The aerosol generating article 10 introduced into the receiving space 320h in the housing 321 may be surrounded by the first plate 323a and the second plate 323b and thus heated by a dielectric heating method. For example, a portion containing a carrier of the aerosol generating article 10 introduced into the receiving space 320h in the housing 321 may be accommodated in the space between the first plate 323a and the second plate 323b. Since the dielectric materials included in the aerosol generating article 10 generate heat under the action of an electric field formed in the space between the first plate 323a and the second plate 323b, the aerosol generating article 10 can be heated.

[160] In addition, secondary heating of the article 10 for generating an aerosol may occur under the action of an electric field, respectively, formed as a result of resonant modes between the first plate 323a and the upper side plate of the housing 321 and between the second plate 323b and the lower side plate of the housing 321.

[161] When the aerosol generating article 10 is inserted into the resonator unit 320 through the receiving space 320h, the tobacco rod 11 of the aerosol generating article 10 may be positioned between the plates 323a and 323b.

[162] The length L4 of the tobacco rod 11 may be greater than the length L1 of the plates 323a and 323b. Therefore, the front end 11f of the tobacco rod 11, which comes into contact with the filter rod 12, protrudes more in the direction of the opening 321a of the housing 321 than the other end 323af of the first plate 323a and the other end 323bf of the second plate 323b.

[163] At the other ends of the plates 323a and 323b, which function as resonators, resonant peaks are formed, which makes it possible to generate a stronger electric field at the other ends than in other areas. When the aerosol generating article 10 is introduced into the heating unit 300, the tobacco rod 11, which contains dielectric materials capable of generating heat under the action of an electric field, is located in the area where the strength of the electric field is greatest, which makes it possible to increase the heating efficiency (or “dielectric heating efficiency”) of the heating unit 300.

[164] As shown in FIG. 6, the length L1 of the plates 323a and 323b may be less than the length L1+L2 of the inner space of the housing 321. Therefore, the other ends of the plates 323a and 323b may be located on the inner side of the housing 321 with respect to the opening 321a. In other words, the other ends of the plates 323a and 323b may be removed from the rear of the opening 321a by the length L2.

[165] The length from the rear end of the opening 321a, where the opening 321a is connected to the housing 321, to the front end of the opening 321a, where the opening 321a is open, may be L3. The total length of the housing 321 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 321 may be L. The total length L of the housing 321 may be determined by the sum of the length L1 of the plates 323a and 323b, the length L2 between the plates 323a and 323b and the rear end of the opening 321a, and the length L3 by which the opening 321a protrudes from the housing 321.

[166] In order to prevent leakage of microwaves, the front portion of the opening 321a, when the opening 321a is open, protrudes from the housing 321 by a length L3. Since the opening 321a of the housing 321 protrudes from the housing 321, the opening 321a can prevent leakage of microwaves from the housing 321 of the resonator unit 320 to the environment outside the housing 321.

[167] The resonator unit 320 may further comprise a dielectric accommodation space 327 for accommodating dielectric materials. The dielectric accommodation space 327 may be formed in the empty space between the housing 321 and the plates 323a and 323b. Dielectric materials with a low level of microwave absorption may be placed in the dielectric accommodation space 327.

[168] Because the dielectric materials are placed in the dielectric accommodating space, the heating unit 300 can generate an electric field that is similar to the electric field generated by the resonator unit without the dielectric materials, while reducing the overall size of the resonator unit 320. In other words, the installation space for the resonator unit 320 in the aerosol generating device can be reduced by reducing the size of the resonator unit 320 by using dielectric materials placed in the dielectric accommodating space 327, which makes it possible to reduce the size of the aerosol generating device.

[169] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the invention.

[170] In FIG. 7, only components for controlling the output of the oscillating unit 210 among the components of the aerosol generating device 100 shown in FIG. 2-4 are shown. The output of the oscillating unit 210 may indicate the magnitude and frequency of the microwave power. Therefore, the description already given with reference to FIG. 2-4 will be omitted.

[171] As shown in FIG. 7, the aerosol generating device 100 may comprise an oscillating unit 210, a power control unit 250, a resonator unit 220, and a processor 101.

[172] The oscillating unit 210 can output a frequency in a predetermined range and microwaves with a predetermined power under the control of the processor 101.

[173] The oscillating unit 210 may comprise at least one switching device, and the processor 101 may change the output frequency of the microwaves by adjusting the on/off switching of the switching device. For example, the processor 101 may control the oscillating unit 210 to output microwaves with an output frequency selected from a range of 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz or a range of 5.7 GHz to 5.9 GHz.

[174] Furthermore, the oscillating unit 210 may comprise a power amplifier, and the power amplifier may increase or decrease the amplitude of the microwaves and thus regulate the amount of microwave output power under the control of the processor 101. For example, the processor 101 may control the oscillating unit 210 and output microwaves with at least one power value selected from a range of 3 to 20 watts.

[175] Microwaves output from the oscillatory unit 210 may be supplied to the resonator unit 220.

[176] The resonator unit 220 may accommodate the aerosol generating article 10 and resonate microwaves supplied from the oscillating unit 210, thereby heating the aerosol generating article 10. The internal structure of the resonator unit 220 may be similar to that shown in FIGS. 4-6.

[177] The power control unit 250 may measure the reflected microwaves W2 that are reflected from the resonator unit 220 and input to the oscillating unit 210. In addition, the power control unit 250 may measure not only the reflected microwaves W2 that are reflected from the oscillating unit 220 and input to the oscillating unit 210, but also the incident microwaves W1 that are output from the oscillating unit 210. In one embodiment of the invention, the amount of incident microwave radiation W1 may correspond to the first power that is output from the oscillating unit 210 and input to the resonator unit 220, and the amount of reflected microwave radiation W2 may correspond to the second power that is reflected from the resonator unit 220 and input to the oscillating unit 210.

[178] The aerosol generating article 10 comprises dielectric materials. Depending on whether the aerosol generating article is inserted into the space 220h of the resonator unit 220, the permittivity of the resonator unit 220 may change. That is, the impedance of the resonator unit 220 may change depending on whether the aerosol generating article 10 is inserted. Although the incident microwaves W1 entering the resonator unit 220 are the same, the reflectivity may change when the impedance of the resonator unit 220 changes, which leads to a change in the magnitude of the reflected microwaves W2.

[179] During the insertion of the aerosol generating article 10, the permittivity of the resonator unit 220 may change. For example, when the user continues heating and smoking while the aerosol generating article 10 is inserted, the permittivity of the resonator unit 220 may change as the aerosol generating material is consumed. That is, as the user smokes, the impedance of the resonator unit 220 may change.

[180] The processor 101 may receive from the power control unit 250 the measurement values of the incident microwaves W1 and the reflected microwaves W2. The incident microwaves W1 may be determined in accordance with the output of the oscillatory unit 210 specified by the processor 101. Therefore, the processor 101 does not need to receive the measurement value of the incident microwaves W1 from the power control unit 250, and the processor 101 may receive only the measurement value of the reflected microwaves W2 from the power control unit 250.

[181] First, the operation of the processor 101 in the standby mode of the aerosol generating device 100 will be disclosed. In the standby mode, the processor 101 can determine whether the aerosol generating article 10 is inserted based on the reflected microwaves.

[182] In one embodiment of the invention, when the magnitude of the reflected microwaves W2 is less than the first threshold value, the processor 101 may determine that the aerosol generating article 10 is introduced into the space 220h for being placed in the resonator unit 220. The first threshold value may be determined based on the permittivity and the amount of dielectric materials included in the aerosol generating article 10. For example, when the permittivity of the aerosol generating article 10 is large, the aerosol generating article 10 can absorb most of the incident microwaves W1, and thus the first threshold value may be inversely proportional to the permittivity of the aerosol generating article 10. The first threshold value may be calculated experimentally. The first threshold value may be pre-stored in the memory 106.

[183] In one embodiment of the invention, when the phase difference between the incident microwaves W1 and the reflected microwaves W2 exceeds the second threshold value, the processor 101 may determine that the aerosol generating article 10 is introduced into the receiving space 220h of the resonator unit 220. Since the introduction of the aerosol generating article 10 into the receiving space 220h of the resonator unit 220 changes the permittivity of the resonator unit 220, a phase difference may arise between the incident microwaves W1 and the reflected microwaves W2. The second threshold value may be determined based on the permittivity and the amount of dielectric materials included in the aerosol generating article 10. The second threshold value may be experimentally calculated and stored in advance in the memory 106.

[184] The operation of the processor 101 in the heating mode of the aerosol generating device 100 will now be disclosed. In the heating mode, the processor 101 may determine that the aerosol generating material has been consumed and terminate the heating mode. In one embodiment of the invention, the processor 101 may terminate the heating mode and control the aerosol generating device 100 so that it operates again in the standby mode.

[185] In one embodiment of the invention, the processor 101 determines whether the aerosol generating material is consumed based on the amplitude ratio (W2/W1) of the reflected microwaves W2 and the incident microwaves W1. In particular, the processor 101 may compare the amplitude ratio (W2/W1) at the time of the start of heating with the current amplitude ratio (W2/W1), and if the difference between them is less than a third threshold value, the processor 101 may determine that the aerosol generating material is consumed. At the time of the start of heating, the resonator unit 220 may have a relatively high permittivity due to the presence of the aerosol generating material in the aerosol generating article 10, and the amplitude ratio (W2/W1) of the reflected microwaves W2 and the incident microwaves W1 has a relatively small value. As the user smokes, the aerosol generating material is consumed, and the permittivity of the resonator unit 220 decreases. As the permittivity of resonator unit 220 decreases, the amplitude ratio (W2/W1) of reflected microwaves W2 and incident microwaves W1 may gradually increase. In other words, microwave absorption in resonator unit 220 decreases. The third threshold value can be determined based on the permittivity and amount of dielectric materials included in aerosol generating article 10. The third threshold value can be experimentally calculated and stored in advance in memory 106.

[186] In one embodiment, the processor 101 may view the output frequency of the microwave power output from the oscillatory unit 210 within a specified range of reference frequencies and calculate a resonant frequency at which the magnitude of the reflected microwaves W2 is minimal. For example, the range of reference frequencies may be from 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz or from 5.7 GHz to 5.9 GHz, but is not limited to this option. The output frequency of the processor 101 may be adjusted in real time. In other words, the processor 101 may adjust the output frequency of the oscillatory unit 210 independently of the adjustment of the magnitude of the power of the oscillatory unit 210.

[187] In one embodiment of the invention, the processor 101 may determine whether the aerosol generating material is depleted based on a change in the resonant frequency. In particular, the processor 101 may compare the resonant frequency at the start of heating with the current resonant frequency, and if the difference between them exceeds a fourth threshold, the processor 101 may determine that the aerosol generating material is depleted. As the user smokes, the aerosol generating material is consumed and the permittivity of the resonator unit 220 decreases. Since the permittivity of the resonator unit 220 changes, the resonant frequency at which the magnitude of the reflected microwaves W2 is minimal continues to change as the user smokes. The fourth threshold may be determined based on the permittivity and the amount of dielectric materials included in the aerosol generating article 10. The fourth threshold value can be experimentally calculated and stored in advance in memory 106.

[188] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a method for controlling an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the invention.

[189] As shown in FIGS. 1-8, at step 710, the processor 101 may determine whether the aerosol generating article 10 is inserted. At step 810, the aerosol generating device 100 disclosed above may operate in a standby mode. The processor 101 may determine whether the aerosol generating article 10 is inserted based on the reflected microwaves W2.

[190] In one embodiment of the invention, when the magnitude of the reflected microwaves W2 is less than the first threshold value, the processor 101 may determine that the aerosol generating article 10 is introduced into the space 220h for placement in the resonator unit 220.

[191] In one embodiment of the invention, when the phase difference between the incident microwaves W1 and the reflected microwaves W2 exceeds the second threshold, the processor 101 may determine that the aerosol generating article 10 is introduced into the space 220h for placement in the resonator unit 220.

[192] At step 820, when it is determined that the aerosol generating article 10 is inserted, the processor 101 may heat the aerosol generating article 10. The processor 101 may control such that the oscillating unit 210 outputs microwaves at a first power level in the standby mode and outputs microwaves at a second power level in the heating mode, wherein the second power level is higher than the first power level.

[193] At step 830, the processor 101 may determine whether the aerosol generating material included in the aerosol generating article 10 is consumed, and when it is determined that the aerosol generating material is consumed, the processor 101 may stop heating the aerosol generating article 10. At step 830, the aerosol generating device 100 disclosed above may be operated in a heating mode. In particular, step 830 may be a smoking step in which the aerosol generating device 100 is operated in a heating mode.

[194] In one embodiment of the invention, the processor 101 determines whether the aerosol generating material is consumed based on the ratio of the amplitudes of the reflected microwaves W2 and the incident microwaves W1. In particular, the processor 101 may compare the amplitude ratio (W2/W1) at the start of heating with the current amplitude ratio (W2/W1), and if the difference between them is less than a third threshold, the processor 101 may determine that the aerosol generating material is consumed.

[195] In one embodiment of the invention, the processor 101 may determine whether the aerosol generating material is depleted based on a change in the resonant frequency. In particular, the processor 101 may compare the resonant frequency at the start of heating with the current resonant frequency, and if the difference between them exceeds a fourth threshold, the processor 101 may determine that the aerosol generating material is depleted.

[196] Any of the embodiments of the present invention or other embodiments of the invention disclosed above are not mutually exclusive or different from each other. Any of the embodiments of the invention or other embodiments of the invention described in the present disclosure may be combined with each other in both configuration and functionality.

[197] For example, configuration A from a certain embodiment of the invention and/or drawing may be combined with configuration B from another embodiment of the invention and/or drawing. This means that even if the combination of components is not explicitly described, such combinations are still possible unless otherwise stated.

[198] The foregoing detailed description is not intended to be limiting in any respect, but is rather illustrative. The scope of the present invention is determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications that come within the equivalent scope of the present invention are included within its protected scope.

Claims (21)

1. An aerosol generating device comprising: a processor configured to control an aerosol generating device; an oscillating unit configured to generate microwaves in a given frequency range in response to receiving alternating current power; a resonator unit comprising a placement space in which an aerosol generating article is placed, configured to resonate incident microwaves output from the oscillatory unit, and configured to heat the aerosol generating article introduced into the placement space; a power control unit configured to control reflected microwaves reflected from the resonator unit, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether an aerosol generating article is introduced based on the reflected microwaves monitored by the power control unit. 2. The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the introduction of the aerosol generating article if the reflected microwaves are less than a first threshold value. 3. The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the introduction of the aerosol generating article if the phase difference between the incident microwaves and the reflected microwaves exceeds a second threshold value. 4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to control the first power supplied to the oscillatory unit and determine the introduction of the aerosol generating article, if it is determined that the aerosol generating article is introduced, the processor is further configured to control a second power, which is different from the first power, for supplying to the oscillating unit for heating the aerosol generating article. 5. The aerosol generating device of claim 4, wherein the first power is less than the second power. 6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to: tracking the ratio of the amplitudes of reflected microwaves and incident microwaves; control of the first power supply if the ratio of the amplitude ratio at the moment of the start of heating to the current amplitude ratio is less than the third threshold value. 7. The aerosol generating device according to claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to: viewing the output frequency of the microwave power output from the oscillatory unit within a given range of reference frequencies and deriving the resonant frequency at which the magnitude of the reflected microwaves is minimal; supply of the first power if the difference between the resonant frequency and the resonant frequency at the moment of the start of heating exceeds the fourth threshold value. 8. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit configured to output information about the state of the aerosol generating device, in which the controller is further configured to provide information to the user using visual and/or tactile and/or audio means. 9. The aerosol generating device according to claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to view the output frequency of the microwave power output from the oscillatory unit in the reference frequency range from 2.4 to 2.5 GHz. 10. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the resonator unit comprises a first internal conductor having the shape of a hollow cylinder surrounding a first region, and a second internal conductor placed at a certain distance from the first internal conductor and having the shape of a hollow cylinder surrounding a second region, wherein the second region differs from the first region, microwaves resonating between the first internal conductor and the second internal conductor. 11. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the resonator unit comprises a first plate surrounding a third region and a second plate located at some distance from the first plate along the circumferential direction of the third region and surrounding a fourth region, wherein the fourth region is different from the third region, microwaves resonating between the first and second plates.