Aerosol-generating device and operation method thereof

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device and an operation method thereof are disclosed. The aerosol-generating device of the disclosure includes a body. a first container including a wick. a heater and an identifier, a second container configured to store a liquid, a cartridge detection sensor configured to detect a coupling between the first container and the second container, a memory and a controller. The body and the first container are detachably coupled to each other. The first container and the second container are detachably coupled to each other. The controller is configured to identify the identifier included in the first container, based on the body and the first container being coupled. determining whether or not to supply initial power corresponding to coupling of the first container and the second container to the heater, based on data of the identified identifier stored in the memory. and control so that the initial power is supplied to the heater, based on a determination to supply the initial power to the heater.

1 . An aerosol-generating device comprising:
 a body;   a first container associated with an identifier and configured to be detachably coupled to the body and including a wick and a heater;   a second container detachably coupled to the first container and configured to store a liquid;   a cartridge detection sensor configured to detect a coupling between the first container and the second container;   a first memory; and   a controller configured to:   obtain the identifier of the first container based on the body and the first container being coupled; and   determine whether initial power is to be supplied to the heater in response to coupling of the first container and the second container based on data of the identifier associated with the first container; and   cause the initial power to be supplied to the heater based on the determination,   wherein the data of the identifier is stored in the first memory.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first memory is configured to store a database comprising data associated with identifiers, and
 wherein the controller is configured to add the data of the identifier to the database based on a determination that data of the identifier is not already included in the database.   
     
     
         3 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the identifier includes a plurality of detailed identifier elements each indicating one or more characteristics of the first container, and
 wherein the controller is configured to generate the data of the identifier indicating the one or more characteristics of the first container based on the plurality of detailed identifier elements.   
     
     
         4 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first container comprises a second memory configured to store the identifier associated with the first container, and
 wherein the controller is configured to obtain the identifier stored in the second memory based on the body and the first container being coupled.   
     
     
         5 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to interrupt the supply of the initial power to the heater based on elapse of an initial time period. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to add information to the stored data of the identifier regarding a point in time when the first container and the second container are uncoupled from each other. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the data of the identifier includes a first point in time when the first container and the second container are uncoupled from each other, and
 wherein the controller is configured to:   calculate an elapsed time from the first point in time to a second point in time when the first container and the second container are coupled together; and   determine that the initial power is to be supplied to the heater based on the elapsed time exceeding a predetermined reference length of time.   
     
     
         8 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a puff sensor configured to a sense a puff by a user; and   a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the heater,   wherein the controller is configured to:   determine whether the liquid stored in the second container is exhausted based on at least the temperature of the heater or a number of puffs, and   add information to the stored data of the identifier on a history of determinations of whether the liquid is exhausted.   
     
     
         9 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the stored data of the identifier includes information on a history of determinations of whether the liquid is exhausted, and
 wherein the controller is configured to determine that the initial power is to be supplied to the heater based on the stored data of the identifier indicating that the liquid was not exhausted when the first container and the second container were previously uncoupled.   
     
     
         10 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an interface configured to output a notification,
 wherein the stored data of the identifier includes information on a history of determinations of whether the liquid is exhausted, and   wherein the controller is configured to:   control the interface to output a notification corresponding to the initial power being supplied for a first time period based on a determination that the liquid was exhausted when the first container and the second container were previously uncoupled, and   control the interface to output the notification corresponding to the initial power being supplied for a second time period less than the first time period based on a determination that the liquid was not exhausted when the first container and the second container were previously uncoupled.   
     
     
         11 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 10 , wherein the first time period corresponds to an initial time period for supplying the initial power to the heater. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the wick comprises:
 a first wick part disposed inside the first container; and   a second wick part disposed to be exposed outside of the first container through a liquid inlet of the first container,   wherein the heater is disposed to be in contact with the first wick part.   
     
     
         13 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second container comprises:
 a chamber configured to store the liquid; and   an absorbent portion configured to absorb the liquid,   wherein the absorbent portion is disposed to be exposed outside of the second container, and   wherein the liquid absorbed in the absorbent portion is supplied to the first container in response to the first container and the second container being coupled.   
     
     
         14 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the wick is made of a ceramic material.