Aerosol Generator

Abstract

An aerosol generating device comprising: a heating section extending along a first direction, the heating section including a base at a first end and an opening opposite the base, and arranged so that a user can insert a consumable containing an aerosol-generating substance through the opening; protective means for exposing and covering the opening of the heating section; a heater configured to supply heat to the heating section, thereby heating the aerosol-generating substance in the consumable; and detection means arranged outside the heating section, configured to detect whether a consumable has been inserted into the heating section, the detection means including at least one Hall sensor and at least one magnet, the Hall sensor and the magnet being arranged outside the heating section on both sides of the heating section in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of aerosol generating devices, and in particular to the detection of consumables within aerosol generating devices. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, devices that heat, rather than burn or combust, a substance to produce a vapor or aerosol for inhalation by a user have become more popular.

[0003] Such commonly used devices that heat rather than burn or combust a substance may be tobacco-based devices, also known as heated tobacco products. These devices typically use tobacco and / or other suitable substances that are heated rather than burned to generate an inhalable aerosol. The tobacco and / or other suitable substances may be generally referred to as aerosol-generating materials, and the devices may be generally referred to as aerosol-generating devices.

[0004] Typically, the aerosol-generating material is placed in a container, also called a stick or tobacco stick, which can be inserted into and removed from the aerosol-generating device by a user, and the stick or tobacco stick is therefore a consumable item.

[0005] Typically, a user inserts a consumable into a heating section of an aerosol generating device. The heating section of an aerosol generating device may also be referred to as a heating chamber or oven. When the user has inserted the consumable into the heating section, the user typically turns on the heating of the aerosol generating device, for example by operating an operating button, or instructs the aerosol generating device by other means to turn on the heating of the aerosol generating device so that the aerosol generating material can be heated. Turning on the heating of the aerosol generating material may also be referred to as initiating an aerosol generating session. The user then waits until the heating has progressed to a state where the heated aerosol generating material is capable of generating an aerosol that can be consumed by the user.

[0006] This waiting time may be inconvenient for a user, since a user usually prefers to consume the aerosol as soon as possible after the consumable is inserted into the heating compartment of the aerosol generating device. Furthermore, for a user to manually turn on the heating, an operating button or other means must be provided to instruct the aerosol generating device to turn on the heating of the aerosol generating material, which not only makes the structure of the aerosol generating device more complicated, but also reduces the user's convenience in operating the aerosol generating device. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to reduce the time required to generate an aerosol after a consumable is inserted into the heating section of an aerosol generating device, while also improving user convenience in operating the aerosol generating device and reducing the complexity of the aerosol generating device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The above mentioned problems and objects are achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol generating device comprising: a heating section extending along a first direction, the heating section including a base portion at a first end and an opening opposite the base portion, and arranged so that a user can insert a consumable containing an aerosol-generating substance through the opening; protective means for exposing and covering the opening of the heating section; a heater configured to supply heat to the heating section, thereby heating the aerosol-generating substance in the consumable; and detection means arranged outside the heating section, configured to detect whether a consumable has been inserted into the heating section, the detection means including at least one Hall sensor and at least one magnet, the Hall sensor and the magnet being arranged outside the heating section on both sides of the heating section in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0010] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a system including an aerosol generating device according to the previous aspect and a consumable, the consumable including an aerosol generating substance and a metal foil. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, which are presented for a better understanding of the inventive concept of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting the present invention.

[0012] [Figure 1A] 1 shows a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B] 1 shows a schematic diagram of consumables for use with an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2A-2B] 1 shows a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3A-3B] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of further details of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5]FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of further details of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 shows a schematic diagram of the functional components of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7A-7C] 1 shows a schematic diagram of the operation of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] FIG. 1A shows a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] The aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a handheld device shaped like an elongated pebble and includes a housing part 1 and an access part 2. The access part 2 is at the top of the aerosol generating device 100. The access part 2 includes a protection means 11 for exposing (or opening) and covering (or closing) an opening 13 to the heating section of the aerosol generating device 100. The access part 2 may further include other means, electrical or mechanical means, for moving or supporting the movement of the protection means 11, sensing (or determining) the position of the protection means 11, etc. Such means for sensing (or determining) the position of the protection means 11 are also referred to herein below as sensing means. When the opening 13 is exposed in the heating section, a user can place at least one consumable 200 containing an aerosol generating substance.

[0015] FIG. 1B shows a schematic diagram of a consumable 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The consumable 200 may be a stick or tobacco stick containing tobacco and / or other suitable substances that are heated rather than burned in a heating section to generate an inhalable aerosol. The consumable 200 may further include a flavoring substance. The consumable 200 may have an elongated shape, for example a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 1B. The consumable 200 may be divided into two parts. In the first part 210, the aerosol-generating substance is placed, while the second part is a filter portion 220. In some embodiments of the present invention, the consumable 200 may further include a metal foil, for example an aluminum foil. The metal foil may reduce the flammability of the consumable 200.

[0016] A system including an aerosol generating device 100 as described herein and a consumable product 200 as described herein comprises a system for generating an aerosol-generating material according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] As further shown in Fig. 1A, the aerosol generating device 100 may comprise, on the outside of the housing part 1, a means 3 including one or more input means (e.g. including one or more buttons) for giving instructions to the aerosol generating device 100, e.g. instructions to output battery level information, and / or one or more output means for showing different information to a user, such as battery level information, possible error information, etc. The output means may be any suitable output means, e.g. a liquid crystal display (LCD display) or a LED display, or one or more indicators, e.g. lamps or light emitting devices (LEDs). However, such input means and / or output means should be considered as optional means that do not limit the present invention in any way.

[0018] The protection means 11 for exposing (or opening) and covering (or closing) the opening 13 to the heating section of the aerosol generating device 100 may for example comprise a slider 11 as shown diagrammatically in Figures 2A and 2B. The slider 11 may be moved, for example by sliding, between a first position and a second position such that the opening 13 to the heating section is covered when the slider is in the first position and exposed when the slider is in the second position. The slider 11 in the first position is also referred to herein below as the slider being closed, and the slider 11 in the second position is also referred to herein below as the slider 11 being open.

[0019] Figure 2A shows a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device 100 having a heating section 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention when the slider 11 is in a first position such that the opening 13 is covered by the slider 11. Figure 2B shows a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention when the slider 11 is in a second position such that the opening 13 is exposed. When the opening 13 is exposed, a user can insert a consumable 200 into the heating section 10.

[0020] In other embodiments of the invention, the protection means 11 may comprise, for example, a cover or flip-up door 11 that can be at least partially detached from the housing part 12, as shown diagrammatically in Figures 3A and 3B. The cover or flip-up door 11 is arranged to be movable between a first position and a second position such that an opening 13 (not shown in Figures 3A and 3B) in the heating compartment 10 is covered when the cover or flip-up door 11 is in the first position and exposed when the cover or flip-up door 11 is in the second position.

[0021] Figure 3A shows a schematic diagram of the aerosol generating device 100 according to this embodiment of the invention when the cover or flip door 11 is in a first position such that the opening 13 is covered by the cover or flip door 11. Figure 3B shows a schematic diagram of the aerosol generating device 100 according to this embodiment of the invention when the cover or flip door 11 is in a second position such that the opening 13 is exposed. When the opening is exposed, a user can insert a consumable 200 into the heating compartment 10.

[0022] The housing portion 1 of the aerosol generating device 100 may have a smooth outer surface which, together with its elongated, pebble-like shape, provides a physical ergonomic advantage to the user. The housing portion 1 houses at least the heating section 10 described above, and further components of the aerosol generating device 100, as described in more detail below.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device 100. As shown in FIG.

[0024] As detailed above, the housing portion 1 of the aerosol generating device 100 houses the heating section 10, hereinafter also referred to as the heating chamber or oven. The heating section 10 may be such that a user can place one consumable 200 at a time, or a user can place multiple consumables 200 at a time in the heating section 10. The heating section 10 may have an elongated cylindrical shape, similar to the consumable 200, but may also have a different elongated shape. The shapes of the consumable 200 and the heating section 10 should not be considered as limiting the concept of the present invention.

[0025] The heating section 10 extends along a first direction, which is indicated as the x-direction in Fig. 4. The first direction follows the elongated shape of the aerosol generating device 100, i.e. in other words, the aerosol generating device 100 is elongated along the first direction. The heating section 10 comprises a base 12 at a first end and an opening 13 as described above at a second end. The opening 13 is opposite the base 12. The heating section 10 comprises one or more further side walls. For example, the heating section 10 comprises a cylindrical side wall when the shape of the heating section 10 is cylindrical as described above, or comprises multiple side walls when the shape of the heating section 10 is different from cylindrical.

[0026] The aerosol generating device 100 further includes a heater 20 (or heating mechanism 20 or heating engine 20) for supplying heat to the heating section 10, thereby heating the aerosol generating material 210 in the consumable 200 when inserted into the heating section. The heater 20 is also located in the housing part 1. The heater 20 can be a heater 20 that supplies heat to the heating section 10 based on resistive heating, but also a heater 20 that supplies heat to the heating section 10 based on induction heating. The type of heating should not be considered as limiting the concept of the present invention.

[0027] In this embodiment of the invention, the heater 20 is disposed outside the heating section 10 so as to indirectly heat the aerosol-generating material 210, for example through convective heat transfer. FIG. 4 shows that the heater 20 is disposed outside the heating section 10 and extends along a first direction (x-direction) from the base 12 towards the opening 13 of the heating section 10. In other words, FIG. 4 shows that the heater 20 extends along a side wall of the heating section 10. Furthermore, the heater 20 may be disposed outside the heating section 10, for example on one side of the heating section 10 closer to the wall of the housing 1, or on two opposite sides of the heating section 10, or wrapped around the heating section 10. In other embodiments of the invention, the heater 20 may be disposed at least partially within the heating section 10 and may heat the aerosol-generating material 210 directly or indirectly.

[0028] The aerosol generating device 100 further comprises detection means 31, 32 arranged outside the heating section 10 and configured to detect whether a consumable 200 has been inserted into the heating section 10. The detection means 31, 32 are also arranged within the housing part 1.

[0029] The detection means 31, 32 comprise at least one Hall sensor 31 and at least one magnet 32, said Hall sensor 31 and said magnet 32 ​​being arranged outside the heating section 10. FIG. 4 shows that the Hall sensor 31 and the heating section 33 are arranged outside the heating section 10 on both sides of the heating section 10 in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction (x direction), and is displayed in the figure as y direction. Although FIG. 4 shows that the Hall sensor 31 is arranged closer to the side wall of the housing 1 and the magnet 32 ​​is arranged on the opposite side of the heating section 10 in the second direction, the opposite arrangement is also possible, i.e. the magnet 32 ​​is arranged closer to the side wall of the housing 1 and the Hall sensor 31 is arranged on the opposite side of the heating section 10 in the second direction. Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows that the Hall sensor 31 and the magnet 32 ​​are arranged close to the base 12 of the heating section 10. However, in different embodiments of the invention, the Hall sensor 31 and the magnet 32 ​​can be arranged further away from the base 12, towards the opening 13.

[0030] In this embodiment of the invention, magnet 32 ​​is a permanent magnet. In other embodiments of the invention, magnet 32 ​​may be an electromagnet, for example a coil that creates an electromagnetic field when a current passes through the coil.

[0031] The Hall sensor 31 may comprise a thin strip of typically semiconductor material through which a continuous electric current is passed to generate a magnetic field. When the Hall sensor 31 is placed near a magnet 32, the magnetic flux exerts a force on the semiconductor material. This force causes electrons to move, producing a Hall voltage that can be measured by the Hall sensor.

[0032] The output Hall voltage from the Hall sensor 31 is directly proportional to the strength of the magnetic field passing through the semiconductor material of the Hall sensor 31 .

[0033] When the consumable 200 is inserted into the heating compartment, it will weaken the magnetic field from the magnet 32 ​​that is detected by the Hall sensor 31. In other words, the inserted consumable 200 will act as a shield for the Hall sensor 31 against the magnetic field of the magnet 32, and therefore the Hall sensor 31 will detect a decrease in the strength of the magnetic field of the magnet 32 ​​(a decrease in the magnetic field). When the consumable 200 includes a thin metal foil as detailed above, it will cause a larger decrease in the magnetic field, and therefore it will be easier for the Hall sensor 31 to detect the presence of the consumable 200.

[0034] In a different embodiment of the invention, the detection means 31, 32 may comprise a number of Hall sensors 31 and a number of magnets 32, as shown in Fig. 5. The number of sensors 31 and the number of magnets 32 are arranged in pairs such that in each pair the Hall sensors 31 and the magnets 32 are located outside the heating section 10 on either side of the heating section 10 in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The different pairs are arranged along the first direction from the base of the heating section 10 towards the opening 13 of the heating section 10.

[0035] The aerosol generating device 100 further includes a power supply unit 40. The power supply unit 40 is also disposed within the housing portion 1. Although FIG. 4 shows that the power supply unit 40 is disposed at the bottom of the aerosol generating device 100, the location of the power supply unit 40 should not be considered as limiting the present invention. In other words, in different embodiments of the present invention, the power supply unit 40 may be disposed laterally from other parts of the aerosol generating device 100, such as the heating section 10. The power supply unit 40 may be a battery. The battery may be a rechargeable battery.

[0036] Power supply unit 40 is configured to supply current to heater 20. Power supply unit 40 is further configured to supply current to Hall sensor 31. In embodiments of the invention in which magnet 32 ​​is an electromagnet, power supply unit 40 is further configured to supply current to the electromagnet.

[0037] The aerosol generating device 100 further comprises a control unit (not shown in FIG. 4) for carrying out various processes as described in further detail below. The control unit is further configured for receiving signals as described in further detail below and for activating the supply of current from the power supply unit 40 to the heater 20, and / or the Hall sensor 31, and / or the magnet 32 ​​in embodiments of the invention where the magnet 32 ​​is an electromagnet. The control unit is also arranged within the housing part 1.

[0038] The control unit may be or include any suitable unit, such as a computer processing unit capable of performing computer processing. The control unit 50 (also called controller) may be, for example, a microprocessing unit (MCU). Furthermore, the control unit 50 may include storage means, such as a memory 60. The memory 60 may also be a separate unit from the control unit 50, which is also located inside the housing part 1. The memory 60 may store various information required for processing by the control unit 50, as will be described in further detail below. Furthermore, the memory may store a computer program (code) including instructions, which, when executed by the control unit 50, cause the control unit 50 to perform the processing of embodiments of the present invention, as will be described in further detail below.

[0039] Figure 6 shows diagrammatically the functional components of an aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment of the invention arranged within the housing part 1. More specifically, Figure 6 shows an aerosol generating device comprising a heating section 10, a heater 20, detection means 30, a power supply unit 40, a control unit 50 and a memory 60. Protection means 11 are arranged in the access part 2, as detailed above.

[0040] 7A, 7B and 7C show schematic details of detection of the presence of a consumable 200 by an aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Fig. 7A shows diagrammatically the state of the aerosol generating device 100 in which the protection means 11 is in the first position, i.e. the opening 13 of the heating section 10 is covered (the protection means 11 is closed). In this state, there is no current flowing through the Hall sensor 31, and therefore the latter does not detect the strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnet 32. In other words, the control unit 50 does not activate the supply of current from the power supply unit 40 to the Hall sensor 31. It should be noted that although Fig. 7A (as well as Figs. 7B and 7C) shows that the protection means 11 comprises a slider as detailed above, the details given here also apply to embodiments of the invention in which the protection means 11 comprises a cover or a flip-up door as detailed above.

[0042] When the protection means 11 is moved from the first position to the second position such that the opening 13 of the heating section 12 is exposed (the protection means 11 is open), the control unit 50 is configured to activate the supply of current from the power supply unit 40 to the Hall sensor 31. For example, the control unit 50 may be configured to activate the supply of current from the power supply unit 40 to the Hall sensor 31 at the time when the protection means 11 reaches the second position by being moved from the first position to the second position or after a predetermined time from the time when the protection means 11 reaches the second position by being moved from the first position to the second position.

[0043] In an embodiment of the invention, the access portion 2 of the aerosol generating device may include sensing means for sensing or determining the position of the protection means 11 etc., as detailed above. When the sensing means senses or detects that the protection means 11 has reached the second position by being moved from the first position to the second position, the sensing means may send a signal to the control unit 50.

[0044] 7B shows the aerosol generating device 1 in a state where the protective means 11 is in the second position (the protective means is open). For example, the sensing means can transmit a signal to the control unit 50 when the protective means 11 reaches the second position by being moved from the first position to the second position, or a predetermined time after the protective means 11 reaches the second position by being moved from the first position to the second position.

[0045] In different embodiments of the invention, the signal may be sent at any time when movement of the protection means 11 from the first position towards the second position is sensed or detected by the sensing means.

[0046] In response to, or in other words triggered by, receipt of such a signal, the control unit 50 activates the supply of current from the power supply unit to the Hall sensor 31 .

[0047] In response, the Hall sensor 31 measures the strength of the magnetic field of the magnet 32 ​​when a current is passed through the Hall sensor 31, as detailed above. The Hall sensor 31 outputs a value indicative of said measured strength of the magnetic field (hereinafter referred to as a first value) to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 receives said first value from the Hall sensor 31 and stores said first value in a memory 60.

[0048] The Hall sensor 31 continuously measures the strength of the magnetic field of the magnet 32 ​​while the protection means 11 is in the second position and outputs a series of second values ​​indicative of the strength of the magnetic field to the control unit 50, each second value being indicative of the strength of the magnetic field at a corresponding measurement. For example, the Hall sensor 31 may be arranged to measure the strength of the magnetic field at a predetermined time point after the time point at which the measurement at which the first value was obtained was performed, thereby obtaining a second value for each measurement and outputting each second value to the control unit 50.

[0049] The control unit 50 calculates the decrease in the magnetic field based on the first and second values ​​for each measurement. For example, the control unit 50 calculates the decrease in the magnetic field by calculating the change from the first value to the second value in terms of a decrease rate. To this end, the control unit 50 subtracts the second value from the first value to obtain a difference between the first and second values, divides the obtained difference between the first and second values ​​by the first value, and multiplies the result by 100, thereby obtaining the decrease rate of the first value. The control unit 50 can also store each received second value and / or each determined decrease rate in the memory 60.

[0050] When the control unit 50 detects that the rate of decrease of the first value reaches a predefined threshold, or in other words that the rate of decrease of the first value is equal to or greater than the predefined threshold (the reduction in magnetic field strength is at least x%, where x is a predefined value), the control unit 50 activates the supply of current from the power supply unit 40 to the heater 20. The predefined threshold may also be pre-stored in the memory 60.

[0051] As detailed above, when the consumable 200 is inserted into the heating section 10, it will weaken the magnetic field from the magnet 32 ​​detected by the Hall sensor 31. This state of the aerosol generating device is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7C. In other words, the inserted consumable 200 acts as a shield for the Hall sensor 31 against the magnetic field of the magnet 32, which therefore measures a lower magnetic field strength (the magnetic field is weakened). As detailed above, this decrease in the magnetic field, being at least x%, will trigger the control unit 50 to turn on the heater 20 of the aerosol generating device 100 by activating the supply of current from the power supply unit 40 to the heater 20.

[0052] After the supply of current to the heater 20 is activated, the Hall sensor 31 continues to measure the strength of the magnetic field of the magnet 32 ​​and output said second value for each measurement to the control unit 50, as detailed above. The control unit 50 can continue to determine the decrease in the magnetic field of the magnet 32, as detailed above. In this way, the control unit 50 can monitor the use of the consumable 200. In a different embodiment of the invention, the control unit 50 can also stop determining the decrease in the magnetic field after the supply of current to the heater 20 is activated.

[0053] When the protection means 11 moves from the second position back to the first position, e.g. as detected by the sensing means detailed above, a signal is sent by the sensing means to the control unit 50. For example, the signal is sent to the control unit 50 at the time when the protection means 11 reaches the first position by moving from the second position to the first position or a predefined time after the protection means 11 reaches the first position by moving from the second position to the first position. In response to receiving said signal, the control unit 50 switches off the supply of current to the Hall sensor 31. Accordingly, the control unit 50 is configured to stop the supply of current to the Hall sensor 31 when the protection means 11 is moved from the second position to the first position. In addition, the control unit 50 may be configured to delete the stored first value as well as all stored second values ​​and decay rate values ​​from the memory 60 in response to receiving a signal that the protection means 11 has moved from the second position to the first position.

[0054] In this way, when the consumable 200 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 100, the heater 20 can be quickly turned on. Accordingly, after inserting the consumable 200, the user does not need to manually turn on the heater 20 by operating an operation button or using other means to instruct the aerosol generating device 100 to turn on the heating of the aerosol generating material. This improves the user's convenience when using the aerosol generating device 100, and furthermore, the structure of the aerosol generating device 100 becomes less complicated because it is not necessary to provide an operation button or other means to instruct the aerosol generating device to turn on the heating of the aerosol generating material. Furthermore, since the detection means, i.e., the Hall sensor 31 and the magnet 32, are arranged outside the heating section 10, it is possible to prevent them from being damaged, for example, by the user, when cleaning the heating section 10.

[0055] In summary, in the aerosol generating device 100 detailed above, when insertion of the consumable 200 into the heating section 10 is detected, the heater 20 is activated, thus commencing heating of the aerosol generating material.

[0056] Although detailed embodiments have been described, they merely serve to provide a better understanding of the invention defined by the appended claims and should not be considered as limiting.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device, a heating section extending along a first direction, including a base portion at a first end and an opening opposite to the base portion, and the heating section is arranged such that a user can insert a consumable containing an aerosol generating substance through the opening; protection means for exposing and covering the opening of the heating section; a heater configured to supply heat to the heating section to thereby heat the aerosol generating substance in the consumable; detection means arranged outside the heating section, the detection means being configured to detect whether a consumable is inserted into the heating section; comprising, the detection means includes at least one Hall sensor and at least one magnet, and the at least one Hall sensor and the at least one magnet are arranged outside the heating section on both sides of the heating section in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the aerosol generating device.

2. The protection means is arranged to be movable between the first position and the second position such that the opening of the heating section is covered when the protection means is in the first position and exposed when the protection means is in the second position, the aerosol generating device according to claim 1.

3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 2, further comprising a control unit configured to activate the supply of current to the at least one Hall sensor when the protection means is moved from the first position to the second position.

4. The at least one Hall sensor is arranged to measure the strength of the magnetic field of the at least one magnet and output a first value indicating the measured strength of the magnetic field to the control unit when the protection means is moved from the first position to the second position, the aerosol generating device according to claim 3.

5. further comprising a memory, the control unit is configured to store the first value received from the at least one Hall sensor, the aerosol generating device according to claim 4.

6. The at least one hall sensor is configured to measure the strength of the magnetic field at a predetermined time point after the protection means has been moved from the first position to the second position, and output a second value indicating the strength of the magnetic field to the control unit. The aerosol generator according to claim 4.

7. The control unit is configured to calculate a reduction rate of the first value with respect to the second value. The aerosol generator according to claim 6.

8. Further includes a power supply unit configured to supply current to the heater. The control unit is configured to activate the supply of current from the power supply unit to the heater when the reduction rate is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. The aerosol generator according to claim 7.

9. The power supply unit is further configured to supply current to the at least one hall sensor. The aerosol generator according to claim 8.

10. The control unit is configured to stop the supply of current to the at least one hall sensor when the protection means is moved from the second position to the first position. The aerosol generator according to claim 3.

11. The heater is disposed outside the heating section and extends in the first direction from the bottom of the heating section toward the opening. The aerosol generator according to claim 1.

12. The detection means includes a plurality of pairs of hall sensors and magnets. For each pair, the hall sensor and the magnet are disposed outside the heating section on both sides of the heating section in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The aerosol generator according to claim 1.

13. A system including the aerosol generator according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and a consumable, wherein the consumable includes an aerosol generating substance and a metal foil.

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