Aerosol-generating device

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device is disclosed. The aerosol-generating device according to various embodiments of the present invention may include: a housing including an insertion space open to allow insertion of at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article; a sensor unit; an airflow channel through which air flows into the housing; and at least one processor configured to recognize an insertion of the aerosol-generating article through the sensor unit, detect a color change due to the inflow of the air through the sensor unit for at least a portion of the aerosol-generating device into which the aerosol-generating article is inserted, and recognize a puff of a user based on the detected color change.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerosol-generating device, comprising:
 a housing comprising an insertion space open to allow insertion of at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article;   a sensor unit;   an airflow channel through which air flows into the housing; and   at least one processor configured to recognize an insertion of the aerosol-generating article through the sensor unit, detect a color change due to the inflow of the air through the sensor unit for at least a portion of the aerosol-generating device into which the aerosol-generating article is inserted, and recognize a puff of a user based on the detected color change.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the sensor unit comprises at least one sensor capable of sensing a color, and   the at least one sensor is positioned to look at at least a partial area of the aerosol-generating article within the housing.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the at least one processor is configured to:   detect a first color change of the at least a partial area according to an event associated with preheating of the aerosol-generating device;   detect a second color change of the at least a partial area according to an event related to the user puff, and   recognize a state associated with aerosol generation based on at least one of the first color change and the second color change.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the at least one processor is configured to:   further detect a third color change related to termination of use of the aerosol-generating device, and   recognize a state associated with aerosol generation based on at least one of the first color change, the second color change, and the third color change.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises an output unit, and   the at least one processor is configured to:   output, via the output unit, a state associated with aerosol generation recognized based on at least one of the first color change, the second color change, and the third color change.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the at least some partial areas are specific areas of the aerosol-generating article.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the at least some partial areas comprise at least a discoloration member that discolors according to a temperature change.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the discoloration member comprises:   a transparent window; and   a discoloration material bonded or applied to the transparent window.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the discoloration member is configured in an area adjacent to the airflow channel.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the discoloration member is configured in an area adjacent to an inlet of the airflow channel.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises:   a heating body heated to a predetermined temperature or higher by the operation of the aerosol-generating device; and   a temperature transmitter having a thermal conductivity greater than a predetermined value and connected to the heating body and the discoloration member to conduct heat from the heating body to the discoloration member.   
     
     
         12 . A control method of an aerosol-generating device comprising a housing comprising an insertion space open to allow insertion of at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article, a sensor unit, an airflow channel through which air flows into the housing, and at least one processor, the method comprising:
 a step of recognizing insertion of the aerosol-generating article through the sensor unit;   a step of detecting, for at least a partial area of the aerosol-generating device into which the aerosol-generating article is inserted, a color change due to the inflow of the air through the sensor unit; and   a step of recognizing a puff of a user based on the detected color change.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 by the at least one processor, a step of detecting a first color change of the at least a partial area according to an event associated with preheating of the aerosol-generating device;   a step of detecting a second color change of the at least a partial area according to an event related to the user puff; and   a step of recognizing a state associated with aerosol generation based on at least one of the first color change and the second color change.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a step of detecting a third color change associated with termination of use of the aerosol-generating device, and   wherein the step of recognizing a state associated with aerosol generation is further based on the third color change.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises an output unit, and   a step of outputting, via the output unit, a state associated with aerosol generation recognized based on at least one of the first color change, the second color change, and the third color change.