Aerosol-generating device

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device is disclosed. The aerosol-generating device of the disclosure includes a housing having an insertion space defined therein, a capacitance sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to the insertion space, a memory storing a plurality of temperature profiles, a heater configured to heat a stick inserted into the insertion space, and a controller. The controller determines the amount of moisture contained in the stick based on a signal received from the capacitance sensor, and determines a target temperature of the heater based on a temperature profile corresponding to the determined amount of moisture. In at least part of a predetermined initial heating period, a first target temperature based on a first temperature profile corresponding to a first moisture amount exceeds a second target temperature based on a second temperature profile corresponding to a second moisture amount, which is larger than the first moisture amount.

1 . An aerosol-generating device comprising:
 a housing comprising an insertion space;   a capacitance sensor adjacent to the insertion space;   a memory configured to store a plurality of temperature profiles;
 a heater configured to heat a stick inserted into the insertion space; and 
 a controller configured to: 
 determine an amount of moisture contained in the stick based on a signal received from the capacitance sensor, and 
 determine a target temperature of the heater based on a temperature profile selected among the stored plurality of temperature profiles based on the determined amount of moisture, 
 wherein among the stored plurality of temperature profiles, a first target temperature for an initial heating period based on a first temperature profile corresponding to a first moisture amount exceeds a second target temperature for the initial heating period based on a second temperature profile corresponding to a second moisture amount, wherein the second moisture amount is larger than the first moisture amount. 
   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the determined amount of moisture increases in proportion to variation in a level of the signal received from the capacitance sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein a difference between the first target temperature and the second target temperature is proportional to a difference between the first moisture amount and the second moisture amount. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein a difference between the first target temperature and the second target temperature decreases over time during the initial heating period. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first target temperature and the second target temperature correspond to each other in a heating period subsequent to the initial heating period. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine that the stick has been inserted into the insertion space in response to variation in a level of the signal being equal to or greater than a predetermined minimum level. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a light-emitting element,
 wherein the controller is further configured to control the light-emitting element to emit light corresponding to a change of an aerosol in response to the determined amount of moisture being equal to or larger than a predetermined reference amount.   
     
     
         8 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display,   wherein the controller is further configured to:
 output a message via the display related to use of the stick in response to the determined amount of moisture being equal to or larger than a predetermined reference amount, and 
 determine whether to supply power to the heater in response to a user input related to use of the stick. 
   
     
     
         9 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the capacitance sensor comprises an electrode disposed so as to surround at least a portion of the insertion space. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 9 , wherein the capacitance sensor further comprises a shielding member disposed so as to surround at least a portion of the electrode.