Aerosol-generating device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12369629-B2
Application number	US-202117798805-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2021
Priority date	Dec 21, 2020
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device is disclosed. The aerosol-generating device of the present disclosure includes a first container configured to accommodate an aerosol-generating substance, a heater configured to heat the aerosol-generating substance, a second container configured to be rotatable about a rotating shaft thereof and including a plurality of partitioned chambers, a first sensor configured to output a signal indicating rotation of the second container, and a controller. The controller determines a chamber through which an aerosol generated in the first container passes, among the plurality of chambers, in response to a signal received from the first sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aerosol-generating device comprising:
a first container configured to accommodate an aerosol-generating substance;
a heater configured to heat the aerosol-generating substance;
a second container configured to be rotatable about a rotating shaft, the second container comprising a plurality of partitioned chambers;
a first sensor configured to output a signal indicating rotation of the second container;
a controller configured to determine, based on a signal received from the first sensor, a chamber through which an aerosol generated in the first container passes;
a memory for storing data;
a housing having a reception space formed therein to allow a cartridge to be inserted thereinto; and
a cartridge detection sensor configured to sense mounting of the cartridge,
wherein the cartridge comprises at least one of the first container or the second container, and
wherein the controller is further configured to:
maintain, in the memory, data on usage of the plurality of partitioned chambers based on the mounting of the cartridge being before a threshold time period after a demounting of the cartridge is sensed, and
initialize, in the memory, data on usage of the plurality of partitioned chambers based on the mounting of the cartridge being after the threshold time period after the demounting of the cartridge.

2. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a usage of each of the plurality of partitioned chambers.

3. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 2 , further comprising a second sensor configured to sense inhalation by a user,
wherein the controller is configured to update data on usage of a first chamber of the plurality of partitioned chambers based on inhalation by the user being sensed by the second sensor in a state in which the aerosol is determined to pass through the first chamber.

4. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to:
determine usage of a first chamber of the plurality of partitioned chambers based on the aerosol being determined to pass through the first chamber;
perform control such that electric power is supplied to the heater based on the usage of the first chamber being less than a preset reference; and
perform control such that supply of electric power to the heater is interrupted based on the usage of the first chamber being greater than or equal to the preset reference.

5. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 2 , further comprising an output device configured to output information,
wherein the controller is configured to output a message via the output device prompting to change to another chamber based on usage of a first chamber through which the aerosol passes of the plurality of partitioned chambers being greater than or equal to a preset reference.

6. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to:
determine whether there is a second chamber other than the first chamber having usage less than the preset reference, and
based on a determination that the second chamber having usage less than the preset reference is present, output information via the output device prompting to change the chamber through which the aerosol passes from the first chamber to the second chamber.

7. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to:
based on a determination that a number of the second chambers is plural, determine a third chamber of the plurality of second chambers adjacent to the first chamber, and
output information via the output device prompting to change the chamber through which the aerosol passes from the first chamber to the third chamber.

8. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to output information via the output device indicating that the plurality of partitioned chambers is unusable based on usage of each of the plurality of partitioned chambers being greater than or equal to the preset reference.

9. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
based on mounting of the cartridge sensed using the cartridge detection sensor, determine a first chamber of the plurality of partitioned chambers to be the chamber through which the aerosol passes based on a signal received from the first sensor, and
determine, based on the first chamber, an order of remaining chambers of the plurality of partitioned chambers other than the first chamber.

10. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first gear having an inner surface thereof is configured to be engaged with an outer peripheral surface of the second container; and
a second gear configured to be engaged with an outer peripheral surface of the first gear,
wherein the first sensor is a rotary switch mounted coaxially with the second gear.

11. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of partitioned chambers is arranged around the rotating shaft of the second container.

12. An aerosol-generating device comprising:
a first container configured to accommodate an aerosol-generating substance;
a heater configured to heat the aerosol-generating substance;
a second container configured to be rotatable about a rotating shaft, the second container comprising a plurality of partitioned chambers;
a first sensor configured to output a signal indicating rotation of the second container;
a controller configured to determine, based on a signal received from the first sensor, a chamber through which an aerosol generated in the first container passes;
a first gear having an inner surface thereof is configured to be engaged with an outer peripheral surface of the second container; and
a second gear configured to be engaged with an outer peripheral surface of the first gear,

wherein the first sensor is a rotary switch mounted coaxially with the second gear.

Assignees

• Kt & G Corp

Inventors

• Lee Jongsub
• Kim Minkyu
• Park Jueon
• Cho Byungsung

Classifications

• A24F40/51 Primary

  Arrangement of sensors · CPC title

• A24F40/46

  Shape or structure of electric heating means · CPC title

• A24F40/60

  Devices with integrated user interfaces · CPC title

• A24F40/42 Primary

  Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors · CPC title

• A24F40/65

  Devices with integrated communication means, e.g. wireless communication means · CPC title