Aerosol-generating device

Abstract

Disclosed is an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device includes a body providing a long and extended insertion space, a heater configured to heat the insertion space, a first sensor configured to detect that an object is inserted into or removed from the insertion space, and a controller configured to control power supplied to the heater, wherein the controller is configured to control the heater to be turned on and off at a specific cycle, and activate the first sensor while the heater is turned off, and the specific cycle is equal to or less than 1/20,000 sec.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerosol-generating device comprising:
 a body providing an insertion space;   a heater configured to heat the insertion space;   a first sensor configured to detect that an object is inserted into or removed from the insertion space; and   a controller configured to control power supplied to the heater, wherein:   the controller is configured to control the heater to be turned on and off at a specific cycle, and activate the first sensor while the heater is turned off, and   the specific cycle is equal to or less than 1/20,000 sec.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive a signal output from the activated first sensor,   determine whether a stick is inserted into or removed from the insertion space based on the output signal,   control the power supplied to the heater to be interrupted based on the stick being removed from the insertion space, and   
       activate the first sensor at the specific cycle while the heater is turned off. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 2 , wherein, based on the stick not being removed from the insertion space, the controller is configured to control the heater to be turned on and off at the specific cycle, and activate the first sensor while the heater is turned off. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power supply configured to supply power to the heater;   a capacitor connected to the power supply; and   a switching unit connected to the capacitor and the heater,   wherein the controller is configured to control the switching of the switching unit to supply power to the heater or interrupt the supply of power to the heater.   
     
     
         5 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the capacitor comprises at least one ceramic capacitor. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first sensor is an inductive sensor, and   the controller is configured to receive a signal output from the activated first sensor and determine that the object has been removed from the insertion space based on an amount of change of the output signal being greater than or equal to a first threshold.   
     
     
         7 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the specific cycle is greater than or equal to 1/20 sec. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to variably set the specific cycle. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 8 , further comprising a second sensor configured to detect a puff,
 wherein the controller is configured to:   determine, based on a signal output from the second sensor, whether a puff is generated and whether an additional puff is generated after the puff is generated,   set the specific cycle to a first cycle based on the additional puff not being generated until a time elapsed from a time point at which the puff is generated becomes a second threshold value or more, and   set the specific cycle to a second cycle different from the first cycle based on the additional puff being generated before the elapsed time becomes the second threshold value or more.   
     
     
         10 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 9 , wherein the second cycle is shorter than the first cycle. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 10 , wherein the second cycle is equal to or less than 1/20,000 sec. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 11 , wherein the first cycle is greater than or equal to 1/20,000 sec. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 8 , further comprising a second sensor configured to detect a puff,
 wherein the controller is configured to:   determine whether a puff is generated and count a number the puff based on a signal output from the second sensor,   compare the number of the puff with a third threshold and set the specific cycle to a first cycle based on the number the puff being greater than or equal to the third threshold, and   set the specific cycle to a second cycle different from the first cycle based on the number the puff being less than the third threshold.   
     
     
         14 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 8 , further comprising a third sensor disposed toward an outside of the body,
 wherein the controller is configured to:   determine a distance between the body and an external object based on a signal output from the third sensor,   compare the determined distance with a fourth threshold and set the specific cycle to a first cycle based on the determined distance being greater than or equal to the fourth threshold, and   set the specific cycle to a second cycle different from the first cycle based on the determined distance being less than the fourth threshold.