Aerosol-generating device

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device is disclosed. The aerosol-generating device of the disclosure includes a cartridge having an elongated insertion space, a body coupled to the cartridge, a heater configured to heat an aerosol-generating substance, a stick detection sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to a stick inserted into the insertion space, a resistance detection sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to the resistance of the heater, and a controller. The controller determines a reference resistance, which is a criterion for determining the temperature of the heater, based on at least one of an elapsed time period from the point in time of end of use of the stick or the resistance of the heater monitored from the point in time of end of use of the stick.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerosol-generating device comprising:
 a cartridge shaped to define an elongated insertion space;   a body coupled to the cartridge;   a heater configured to heat an aerosol-generating substance;
 a stick detection sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to a stick inserted into the elongated insertion space; 
 a resistance detection sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to a resistance of the heater; and 
   a controller configured to determine a reference resistance based on at least one of an elapsed time period beginning from an end of use of the stick or a resistance of the heater monitored after the end of use of the stick, the reference resistance being a criterion for determining a temperature of the heater.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 interrupt supply of power to the heater based on the end of use of the stick,   wherein the elapsed time period is a time period elapsed from a point in time of the interruption of the supply of power to the heater to a point in time of a start of use of the stick.   
     
     
         3 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the reference resistance as the resistance of the heater based on the elapsed time period being longer than or equal to a defined time period. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to maintain the reference resistance based on use of the stick being initiated in a state in which the elapsed time period is shorter than a defined time period. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 3 , wherein length of the defined time period correspondingly depends on a temperature of the heater at the end of use of the stick. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether to terminate monitoring of the resistance of the heater based on at least one of the elapsed time period or the resistance of the heater while the resistance of the heater is being monitored; and   determine the reference resistance as the resistance of the heater detected by the resistance detection sensor, based on use of the stick being initiated after monitoring of the resistance of the heater is terminated.   
     
     
         7 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether the resistance of the heater corresponds to the reference resistance while monitoring the resistance of the heater, and   terminate monitoring of the resistance of the heater in response to the resistance of the heater corresponding to the reference resistance in a state in which the elapsed time period is shorter than a defined time period, or in response to the elapsed time period being longer than or equal to the defined time period.   
     
     
         8 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the end of use of the stick, based on a determination that the stick is removed from the elongated insertion space using the stick detection sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the end of use of the stick, based on to the aerosol-generating device being powered off in a state in which the stick is inserted into the elongated insertion space. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a puff sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to inhalation of a user,   wherein the controller is further configured to determine the end of use of the stick, based on a number of puffs corresponding to the inhalation detected by the puff sensor being greater than or equal to a defined number of times in a state in which the stick is inserted into the elongated insertion space.   
     
     
         11 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine that use of the stick is initiated based on a determination that the stick is newly inserted into the elongated insertion space using the stick detection sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine that use of the stick is initiated in response to the aerosol-generating device being powered on in a state in which the stick is inserted into the elongated insertion space. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises:
 a first container shaped to define a chamber configured to store a liquid;   a second container coupled to the first container;   a wick mounted in the second container and shaped to be in communication with the chamber; and   the heater configured to heat the wick,   wherein the first container comprises an inner wall defining an elongated insertion space and an outer wall surrounding the inner wall,   wherein the chamber is formed between the inner wall and the outer wall, and wherein the wick is positioned in the second container.   
     
     
         14 . An aerosol-generating device comprising:
 a cartridge shaped to define an elongated insertion space;   a body coupled to the cartridge;   a heater configured to heat an aerosol-generating substance;
 a stick detection sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to a stick inserted into the elongated insertion space; 
 a resistance detection sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to a resistance of the heater; and 
 a controller configured to: 
 determine reference resistance based on at least one of an elapsed time beginning from an end of use of the stick or a resistance of the heater monitored after the end of use of the stick; and 
 determine a temperature of the heater based on the reference resistance.