Aerosol Generating Device

Abstract

An aerosol generating device includes a heating compartment, a protection means for exposing and covering an opening of the heating compartment, a heater configured to supply heat to the heating compartment to thereby heat an aerosol generating substance in a consumable article inserted in the heating compartment, and a detection means arranged outside the heating compartment and configured to detect whether the consumable article has been inserted in the heating compartment. The heating compartment extends along a first direction and includes a base portion at a first end and an opening opposite of the base portion, the opening arranged so that a user can insert, via the opening, the consumable article. The detection means includes at least one hall sensor and at least one magnet arranged outwards of the heating compartment on opposite sides of the heating compartment in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction.

1 . An aerosol generating device comprising:
 a heating compartment extending along a first direction and comprising a base portion at a first end and an opening opposite of the base portion and arranged so that a user can insert, via the opening, a consumable article containing an aerosol generating substance;   a cover for selectively covering said opening of the heating compartment,   a heater configured to supply heat to the heating compartment to thereby heat the aerosol generating substance in the consumable article; and   a detection means arranged outside the heating compartment and configured to detect whether the consumable article has been inserted in the heating compartment,
 wherein the detection means comprises at least one hall sensor and at least one magnet, said hall sensor and said magnet being arranged outwards of the heating compartment on opposite sides of the heating compartment in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cover is arranged to be movable between a first position and a second position so that said opening of the heating compartment is covered when the cover is in the first position and exposed when the cover is in the second position.   
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control unit configured to activate a supply of current to the hall sensor when the cover is moved from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the hall sensor is arranged to measure a strength of the magnetic field of the magnet when the cover is moved from the first position to the second position and to output a first value indicating said measured strength of the magnetic field to the control unit.   
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 4 ,
 further comprising a memory,
 wherein the control unit is configured to store said first value received from the hall sensor in the memory. 
   
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the hall sensor is configured to measure the strength of the magnetic field at a predetermined time point after the cover is moved from the first position to the second position and to output a second value indicating said strength of the magnetic field to the control unit.   
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the control unit is configured to calculate a percentage decrease of the first value with respect to the second value.   
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 7 ,
 further comprising a power supply unit configured to supply current to the heater,   wherein the control unit is configured to activate a supply of current from the power supply unit to the heater when said percentage decrease is equal to or higher than a pre-determined threshold.   
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 8 , wherein the power supply unit is further configured to supply current to the hall sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 3 , wherein the control unit is configured to de-activate the supply of current to the hall sensor when the cover is moved from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater is arranged outward of the heating compartment and extends in the first direction from a bottom portion of the heating compartment towards the opening. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hall sensor and the at least one magnet of the detection means comprises a plurality of pairs each including a respective hall sensor with a respective magnet, wherein for each pair, said respective hall sensor and said respective magnet are arranged outwards of the heating compartment on respective opposite sides of the heating compartment in the second direction. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising the aerosol generating device according to  claim 1  and the consumable article, said consumable article comprising the aerosol generating substance and a metal foil.