Aerosol-generating device

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device is disclosed. The aerosol-generating device includes a body, a cartridge coupled to the body and including a heater configured to heat an aerosol-generating substance, a sensor disposed in the body, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine whether an object is received in or approaches the body based on a signal output from the sensor, and determine whether the cartridge is coupled to the body based on the object being received in or approaching the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerosol-generating device comprising:
 a body;   a cartridge coupled to the body, the cartridge comprising a heater configured to heat an aerosol-generating substance;   a sensor disposed in the body; and   a controller configured to:   determine whether an object is received in or approaches the body based on a signal output from the sensor; and   determine whether the cartridge is coupled to the body based on the object being received in or approaching the body.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , comprising an output unit, and
 wherein the controller is configured to output a first alarm through the output unit based on the object being received in or approaching the body and on the cartridge not being coupled to the body.   
     
     
         3 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to output a second alarm through the output unit based on the object being received in or approaching the body and on the cartridge being coupled to the body. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , comprising a power supply configured to supply power to the heater,
 wherein the controller is configured to control the power supply to interrupt supply of power to the heater based on the object being received in or approaching the body and on the cartridge not being coupled to the body.   
     
     
         5 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to control the power supply to supply power to the heater based on the object being received in or approaching the body and on the cartridge being coupled to the body. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a power supply configured to supply power to the heater; and   a power supply terminal disposed in the body, the power supply terminal being connected to the power supply, the power supply terminal being connected to the heater when the cartridge is coupled to the body,   wherein the controller is configured to:   control the power supply to apply a specific current through the power supply terminal based on the object being received in or approaching the body; and   determine whether the cartridge is coupled to the body based on whether a current corresponding to the specific current is received through the power supply terminal.   
     
     
         7 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to control the power supply to interrupt supply of current to the power supply terminal based on the object being neither received in nor approaching the body. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , comprising an insertion space with one side open,
 wherein the sensor is disposed adjacent to the insertion space, and   wherein the controller is configured to:   determine whether the object is received in the insertion space based on a signal output from the sensor; and   determine whether the cartridge is coupled to the body based on the object being received in the insertion space.   
     
     
         9 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , comprising a cap coupled to the body to cover the cartridge, the cap having an insertion hole disposed on one side of the cartridge,
 wherein the sensor is disposed adjacent to the insertion hole, and   wherein the controller is configured to:   determine whether the object is received in the insertion hole based on a signal output from the sensor; and   determine whether the cartridge is coupled to the body based on the object being received in the insertion hole.   
     
     
         10 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 9 , wherein the cartridge comprises an insertion space with one side open, and
 wherein the insertion hole is aligned with the open side of the insertion space when the cap is coupled to the body.   
     
     
         11 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 2 , wherein the first alarm comprises at least one of information related to non-coupling of the cartridge, information that induces coupling of the cartridge, or information indicating interruption of heating of the heater. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 3 , wherein the second alarm comprises at least one of information indicating that a stick is received in the body or information indicating commencement of heating of the heater. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of an optical proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, an ultrasonic proximity sensor, or an inductive proximity sensor.