Aerosol generation device and control method thereof

Abstract

An aerosol generation device and a control method thereof are provided. The aerosol generation device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may include a liquid supply part configured to supply a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a vaporization element configured to vaporize the supplied liquid aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol in a vaporization space, and an airflow path configured to allow the aerosol generated in the vaporization space to move toward a mouthpiece. Here, the vaporization element, an inlet of the airflow path, and an outlet of the airflow path may be formed in a nonlinear structure, and accordingly, a droplet discharge phenomenon and an airflow path blockage phenomenon may be prevented.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerosol generation device comprising:
 a liquid supply part configured to supply a liquid aerosol-forming substrate;   a vaporization element configured to vaporize the supplied liquid aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol in a vaporization space; and   an airflow path configured to allow the aerosol generated in the vaporization space to move toward a mouthpiece,   wherein the vaporization element, an inlet of the airflow path, and an outlet of the airflow path are formed in a nonlinear structure.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generation device of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet of the airflow path is disposed in a direction that is not perpendicular to the vaporization element. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generation device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the liquid supply part includes a wick configured to absorb the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and supply the absorbed liquid aerosol-forming substrate into the vaporization space; and   the vaporization element, the wick, and the inlet of the airflow path are formed in the nonlinear structure.   
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generation device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the liquid supply part includes a wick configured to absorb the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and deliver the absorbed liquid aerosol-forming substrate into the vaporization space;   the vaporization element vaporizes the supplied liquid aerosol-forming substrate through ultrasonic vibrations; and   the vaporization element is disposed in contact with the wick.   
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generation device of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the wick is disposed at a central portion of the vaporization element; and   a contact area between the wick and the vaporization element is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the vaporization element.   
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generation device of  claim 4 , wherein a diameter of the wick or a diameter of a contact area between the wick and the vaporization element is in a range of 2.0 mm to 6.0 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generation device of  claim 4 , wherein a distance from an edge of the wick to an edge of the vaporization element is 1.5 mm or more. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generation device of  claim 1 , wherein the vaporization element heats the supplied liquid aerosol-forming substrate to generate the aerosol. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generation device of  claim 1 , wherein a liquid absorber is disposed on an inner wall of the airflow path. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generation device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 surface treatment for increasing wettability is performed on a specific region of the inner wall of the airflow path; and   the liquid absorber is disposed in the specific region.   
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generation device of  claim 1 , wherein a mesh element is disposed inside the airflow path. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generation device of  claim 1 , wherein an obstacle configured to impede movement of the generated aerosol is disposed inside the airflow path. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol generation device of  claim 1 , wherein surface treatment for increasing wettability is performed on at least a partial region of an inner wall of the airflow path. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol generation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to control power supplied to the vaporization element,
 wherein the controller estimates a degree to which droplets are formed in the vaporization space, and controls the power supplied to the vaporization element based on the estimated degree.