Photodetector for measuring aerosol precursor composition in an aerosol delivery device

A cartridge coupled or coupleable with a control body that is equipped with a control component, the control body being coupled or coupleable with the cartridge to form an aerosol delivery device, the cartridge comprising:

• at least one housing enclosing a reservoir configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition;
• a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition;
• a light source configured to emit light into the reservoir;
• and
• a photodetector configured to detect a reflection of the light, wherein the reflection of the light indicates an amount of aerosol precursor composition retained in the reservoir,
• wherein the control component is coupled to the photodetector when the control body is coupled with the cartridge, the control component being configured to control operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device based on the reflection so detected, and thereby the amount of aerosol precursor composition, and
• wherein the control component is further configured to operate in an active mode to control the heating element to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition only when both a flow of air is detected by a flow sensor, and the reflection of the light indicates at least a threshold amount of the aerosol precursor composition.

A control body coupled or coupleable with a cartridge to form an aerosol delivery device, the cartridge including a reservoir configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition, a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition, a light source configured to emit light into the reservoir, and a photodetector configured to detect a reflection of the light, wherein the reflection of the light indicates an amount of aerosol precursor composition retained in the reservoir, the control body comprising:

• a housing;
• and within the housing,
• a flow sensor configured to detect a flow of air through at least a portion of the housing, and
• a control component coupled to the photodetector when the control body is coupled with the cartridge, the control component being configured to control operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device based on the reflection so detected, and thereby the amount of aerosol precursor composition,
• wherein the control component is configured to operate in an active mode to control the heating element to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition only when both the flow of air is detected by the flow sensor, and the reflection of the light indicates at least a threshold amount of the aerosol precursor composition.

An aerosol delivery device comprising:

• at least one housing enclosing a reservoir configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition;
• an atomizer controllable to activate and to produce an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition;
• a light source configured to emit light into the reservoir;
• a photodetector configured to detect a reflection of the light, wherein the reflection of the light indicates an amount of aerosol precursor composition retained in the reservoir;
• a flow sensor configured to detect a flow of air through at least a portion of the at least one housing;
• and
• a control component coupled to the photodetector and configured to control operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device based on the reflection so detected, and thereby the amount of aerosol precursor composition,
• wherein the control component is configured to operate in an active mode to control the atomizer to activate and to produce an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition only when both the flow of air is detected by the flow sensor, and the reflection of the light indicates at least a threshold amount of the aerosol precursor composition.