EP4316288A1 - Aerosolerzeugungsvorrichtung - Google Patents

Aerosolerzeugungsvorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4316288A1
EP4316288A1 EP22779752.9A EP22779752A EP4316288A1 EP 4316288 A1 EP4316288 A1 EP 4316288A1 EP 22779752 A EP22779752 A EP 22779752A EP 4316288 A1 EP4316288 A1 EP 4316288A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
aerosol
cartridge
heater
menthol
power supply
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP22779752.9A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Keiji MARUBASHI
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Japan Tobacco Inc
Original Assignee
Japan Tobacco Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Japan Tobacco Inc filed Critical Japan Tobacco Inc
Publication of EP4316288A1 publication Critical patent/EP4316288A1/de
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A24F40/51—Arrangement of sensors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/42—Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an aerosol generating device.
  • Patent Literature 1 discloses an aerosol delivery system (aerosol generating device) which generates aerosol by heating an aerosol source to vaporize and/or atomize the aerosol source.
  • the generated aerosol flows through a second aerosol generating device (accommodation chamber) in which an aerosol generating element (flavor source) is accommodated, whereby a flavor component contained in the flavor source is added to the aerosol, and a user can suction the aerosol containing the flavor component.
  • Patent Literature 1 discloses that menthol may be contained in both an aerosol precursor composition of a reservoir substrate and the aerosol generating element of the second aerosol generating device.
  • a desired fragrance inhaling taste depending on the user varies also for the user of the aerosol generating device.
  • users of the aerosol generating device include those who prefer a menthol flavor and those who prefer a regular flavor which does not contain the menthol flavor.
  • the aerosol generating device is capable of selecting a plurality of types of aerosol sources and/or flavor sources, and is capable of generating aerosol to which a plurality of types of the fragrance inhaling taste is added.
  • Patent Literature 2 discloses an electric-heating-type smoking system which includes a detector capable of identifying a specific smoking article based on identification information printed on the smoking article, and establishes a heating protocol based on the specific smoking article identified by the detector.
  • Patent Literature 3 discloses an aerosol generating device which includes a cigarette sensing unit capable of recognizing a type of cigarette based on the number of protrusions protruding from a bonding portion of the cigarette, selects a temperature profile corresponding to the type of cigarette recognized by the cigarette sensing unit, and controls electric power of a battery to be supplied to a heater according to the selected temperature profile.
  • the present invention provides an aerosol generating device capable of acquiring information on an aerosol source, and capable of reducing the number of processes in manufacturing without requiring a process of attaching identification information to an aerosol source storage unit.
  • the present invention relates to an aerosol generating device including:
  • the information on the aerosol source stored in the aerosol source storage unit can be acquired, and the number of processes in manufacturing can be reduced without requiring a process of attaching the identification information to the aerosol source storage unit.
  • the aerosol suction device 1 is an instrument for generating an aerosol without combustion, adding a flavor component to the generated aerosol, and enabling a user to suction the aerosol containing the flavor component.
  • the aerosol suction device 1 has a rod shape.
  • the aerosol suction device 1 includes a power supply unit 10, a cartridge cover 20 in which a cartridge 40 storing an aerosol source 71 is accommodated, and a capsule holder 30 in which a capsule 50 having an accommodation chamber 53 in which a flavor source 52 is accommodated is accommodated.
  • the power supply unit 10, the cartridge cover 20, and the capsule holder 30 are provided in this order from one end side to the other end side in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • the power supply unit 10 has a substantially cylindrical shape centered on a center line L extending in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • the cartridge cover 20 and the capsule holder 30 have a substantially annular shape centered on the center line L extending in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • An outer peripheral surface of the power supply unit 10 and an outer peripheral surface of the cartridge cover 20 have a substantially annular shape having substantially the same diameter
  • the capsule holder 30 has a substantially annular shape slightly smaller in diameter than the power supply unit 10 and the cartridge cover 20.
  • the longitudinal direction of the aerosol suction device 1 having a rod shape is defined as a first direction X.
  • first direction X a side of the aerosol suction device 1 on which the power supply unit 10 is disposed is defined as a bottom side
  • a side of the aerosol suction device 1 on which the capsule holder 30 is disposed is defined as a top side.
  • D the bottom side in the first direction X of the aerosol suction device 1
  • U the top side in the first direction of the aerosol suction device 1 is denoted by U.
  • the cartridge cover 20 has a hollow and substantially annular shape in which both end surfaces on the bottom side and the top side are opened.
  • the cartridge cover 20 is connected to an end portion of the top side of the power supply unit 10 on an end portion of the bottom side.
  • the cartridge cover 20 is attachable to and detachable from the power supply unit 10.
  • the capsule holder 30 has a hollow and substantially annular shape in which both end surfaces on the bottom side and the top side are opened. An end portion of the capsule holder 30 on the bottom side is connected to an end portion of the cartridge cover 20 on the top side.
  • the capsule holder 30 is formed of, for example, a metal such as aluminum. The capsule holder 30 is attachable to and detachable from the cartridge cover 20.
  • the cartridge 40 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is accommodated inside the cartridge cover 20.
  • the cartridge 40 can be accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 in a state where the capsule holder 30 is removed from the cartridge cover 20, and can be removed from inside the cartridge cover 20. Therefore, the aerosol suction device 1 can be used by replacing the cartridge 40.
  • the capsule 50 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is accommodated in a hollow portion of the capsule holder 30 having a hollow and substantially annular shape such that an end portion on the top side in the first direction X is exposed in the first direction X from an end portion of the capsule holder 30 on the top side.
  • the capsule 50 is attachable to and detachable from the capsule holder 30. Therefore, the aerosol suction device 1 can be used by replacing the capsule 50.
  • the power supply unit 10 includes a power supply unit case 11 having a hollow and substantially annular shape centered on the center line L extending in the first direction X.
  • the power supply unit case 11 is formed of, for example, a metal such as stainless steel.
  • the power supply unit case 11 has a top surface 11a which is an end surface on the top side in the first direction X of the power supply unit case 11, a bottom surface 11b which is an end surface on the bottom side in the first direction X of the power supply unit case 11, and a side surface 11c extending in the first direction X from the top surface 1 1a to the bottom surface 11b in a substantially annular shape centered on the center line L.
  • a discharge terminal 12 is provided on the top surface 11a of the power supply unit case 11.
  • the discharge terminal 12 is provided so as to protrude from the top surface 11a of the power supply unit case 11 toward the top side in the first direction X.
  • an air supply unit 13 for supplying air to a later-described heating chamber 43 of the cartridge 40 is provided in the vicinity of the discharge terminal 12.
  • the air supply unit 13 is provided so as to protrude from the top surface 1 1a of the power supply unit case 11 toward the top side in the first direction X.
  • a charge terminal 14 electrically connectable to an external power supply (not illustrated) is provided on the side surface 11c of the power supply unit case 11.
  • the charge terminal 14 is provided on the side surface 11c in the vicinity of the bottom surface 11b, and is, for example, a receptacle to which a universal serial bus (USB) terminal, a micro USB terminal, or the like can be connected.
  • USB universal serial bus
  • the charge terminal 14 may be a power receiving unit capable of wirelessly receiving electric power transmitted from the external power supply.
  • the charge terminal 14 (power receiving unit) may be implemented by a power receiving coil.
  • a method for wireless power transfer (WPT) may be of an electromagnetic induction type, a magnetic resonance type, or a combination of the electromagnetic induction type and the magnetic resonance type.
  • the charge terminal 14 may be a power receiving unit capable of receiving electric power transmitted from the external power supply in a contactless manner.
  • the charge terminal 14 may include both the above-mentioned power receiving unit and the receptacle to which a USB terminal, a micro USB terminal, or the like can be connected.
  • An operation unit 15 operable by the user is provided on the side surface 11c of the power supply unit case 11.
  • the operation unit 15 is provided on the side surface 11c in the vicinity of the top surface 11a.
  • the operation unit 15 is provided at a position about 180 degrees away from the charge terminal 14 centered on the center line L when viewed from the first direction X.
  • the operation unit 15 is a push button type switch having a circular shape when the side surface 11c of the power supply unit case 11 is viewed from an outer side.
  • the operation unit 15 may have a shape other than the circular shape, and may be implemented by a touch panel, a switch other than the push button type switch, or the like.
  • the power supply unit case 11 is provided with a notification unit 16 which notifies various kinds of information.
  • the notification unit 16 is implemented by a light-emitting element 161 and a vibration element 162 (see Fig. 6 ).
  • the light-emitting element 161 is provided on an inner side of the power supply unit case 11 of the operation unit 15.
  • a periphery of the circular operation unit 15 has transparency when the side surface 11c of the power supply unit case 11 is viewed from the outer side, and is implemented to be lit by the light-emitting element 161.
  • the light-emitting element 161 can emit red light, green light, blue light, white light, and purple light.
  • the power supply unit case 11 is provided with an air intake port (not illustrated) for taking in outside air.
  • the air intake port may be provided in a periphery of the charge terminal 14, in the periphery of the operation unit 15, or in the power supply unit case 11 at a position away from the charge terminal 14 and the operation unit 15.
  • the air intake port may be provided in the cartridge cover 20.
  • the air intake port may be provided at two or more of the above-mentioned portions.
  • a power supply 61 In the hollow portion of the power supply unit case 11 having a hollow and substantially annular shape, a power supply 61, an intake sensor 62, a micro controller unit (MCU) 63, and a charging integrated circuit (IC) 64 are accommodated.
  • a low drop out (LDO) regulator 65 Inside the power supply unit case 11, a low drop out (LDO) regulator 65, a DC/DC converter 66, a first temperature detection element 67 including a voltage sensor 671 and a current sensor 672, and a second temperature detection element 68 including a voltage sensor 681 and a current sensor 682 are further accommodated (see Figs. 6 and 7 ).
  • LDO low drop out
  • the power supply 61 is a chargeable/dischargeable power storage device such as a secondary battery or an electric double layer capacitor, and is preferably a lithium ion secondary battery.
  • An electrolyte of the power supply 61 may be implemented by one or a combination of a gel electrolyte, an electrolyte solution, a solid electrolyte, and an ionic liquid.
  • the intake sensor 62 is provided in the vicinity of the operation unit 15.
  • the intake sensor 62 is a pressure sensor which detects a puff (suction) operation.
  • the intake sensor 62 is implemented so as to output a value of a change in pressure (internal pressure) inside the power supply unit 10 generated by suction of the user through a later-described suction port 58 of the capsule 50.
  • the intake sensor 62 outputs, for example, an output value (for example, a voltage value or a current value) corresponding to an internal pressure which changes according to a flow rate of air sucked from the air intake port toward the suction port 58 of the capsule 50 (that is, the puff operation of the user).
  • the intake sensor 62 may output an analog value or may output a digital value converted from the analog value.
  • the intake sensor 62 may include a built-in temperature sensor which detects a temperature (outside air temperature) of an environment where the power supply unit 10 is placed.
  • the intake sensor 62 may be implemented by a condenser microphone, a flow rate sensor, or the like, instead of the pressure sensor.
  • the MCU 63 is an electronic component which executes various types of control of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • the MCU 63 is specifically implemented by a processor as a main component, and further includes a memory 63a implemented by a storage medium such as a random access memory (RAM) necessary for an operation of the processor and a read only memory (ROM) which stores various kinds of information (see Fig. 6 ).
  • the processor in the present description is an electrical circuit in which circuit elements such as semiconductor devices are combined.
  • the MCU 63 determines that an aerosol generation request is made, and thereafter, when the output value of the intake sensor 62 falls below this threshold value, the MCU 63 determines that the aerosol generation request is ended. In this way, the output value of the intake sensor 62 is used as a signal indicating the aerosol generation request. Therefore, the intake sensor 62 constitutes a sensor which outputs the aerosol generation request. Instead of the MCU 63, the intake sensor 62 may execute the above-mentioned determination, and the MCU 63 may receive a digital value corresponding to a determination result from the intake sensor 62.
  • the intake sensor 62 may output a high-level signal in response to determining that the aerosol generation request is made, and the intake sensor 62 may output a low-level signal in response to determining that the aerosol generation request is ended.
  • the threshold value with which the MCU 63 or the intake sensor 62 determines that the aerosol generation request is made may be different from the threshold value with which the MCU 63 or the intake sensor 62 determines that the aerosol generation request is ended.
  • the MCU 63 may detect the aerosol generation request based on the operation of the operation unit 15 instead of the intake sensor 62. For example, when the user performs a predetermined operation on the operation unit 15 to start the suction of aerosol, the operation unit 15 may output a signal indicating the aerosol generation request to the MCU 63. In this case, the operation unit 15 constitutes a sensor which outputs the aerosol generation request.
  • the charging IC 64 is provided in the vicinity of the charge terminal 14.
  • the charging IC 64 controls electric power which is input from the charge terminal 14 and charged to the power supply 61 to execute charge control of the power supply 61.
  • the charging IC 64 may be disposed in the vicinity of the MCU 63.
  • the cartridge 40 includes a cartridge case 41 having a substantially columnar shape with an axial direction as the longitudinal direction.
  • the cartridge case 41 is formed of a colorless transparent resin such as polycarbonate.
  • a storage chamber 42 which stores the aerosol source 71 and a heating chamber 43 which heats the aerosol source 71 are formed inside the cartridge case 41.
  • a wick 44 which transports the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 to the heating chamber 43 and holds the aerosol source 71 in the heating chamber 43, and a first heater 45 which heats the aerosol source 71 held by the wick 44 to vaporize and/or atomize the aerosol source 71 are accommodated.
  • the cartridge 40 further includes a first aerosol flow path 46 which aerosolizes the aerosol source 71, which is heated by the first heater 45 and vaporized and/or atomized, and transports the aerosol source 71 from the heating chamber 43 toward the capsule 50.
  • the storage chamber 42 and the heating chamber 43 are formed adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40.
  • the heating chamber 43 is formed on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40, and the storage chamber 42 is formed so as to be adjacent to the heating chamber 43 in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40 and extend to an end portion of the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40.
  • the storage chamber 42 has a hollow and substantially annular shape with the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40 as an axial direction, and stores the aerosol source 71 in an annular portion.
  • a porous body such as a resin web or cotton may be accommodated, and the aerosol source 71 may be impregnated in the porous body.
  • the storage chamber 42 may store only the aerosol source 71 without accommodating the porous body on the resin web or cotton.
  • the aerosol source 71 contains a liquid such as glycerin and/or propylene glycol.
  • the aerosol source 71 may contain menthol 80.
  • a regular type cartridge 40 in which the aerosol source 71 not containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42 and a menthol type cartridge 40 in which the aerosol source 71 containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42 are provided for the user by a manufacturer or the like of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates an example in which the menthol type cartridge 40 in which the aerosol source 71 containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42 is mounted.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates an example in which the menthol type cartridge 40 in which the aerosol source 71 containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42 is mounted.
  • the menthol 80 is illustrated in a form of particles for easy understanding, but in the present embodiment, the menthol 80 is dissolved in a liquid such as glycerin and/or propylene glycol. Further, it should be noted that the menthol 80 illustrated in Fig. 3 and the like is merely simulated, and a position and an amount of the menthol 80 in the storage chamber 42, a position and an amount of the menthol 80 in the capsule 50, and a positional relation between the menthol 80 and the flavor source 52 do not always coincide with those of real objects.
  • the wick 44 is a liquid holding member which draws the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 from the storage chamber 42 into the heating chamber 43 using capillary action and holds the aerosol source 71 in the heating chamber 43.
  • the wick 44 is implemented by, for example, glass fiber or porous ceramic. The wick 44 may extend into the storage chamber 42.
  • the first heater 45 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 47.
  • the first heater 45 is implemented by a heating wire (coil) wound around the wick 44 at a predetermined pitch.
  • the first heater 45 may be any element which can heat the aerosol source 71 held by the wick 44 and vaporize and/or atomize the aerosol source 71.
  • the first heater 45 may be a heating element such as a heating resistor, a ceramic heater, or an induction heating heater.
  • a heater having a correlation between a temperature and an electrical resistance value is used.
  • a heater having a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) characteristic in which the electrical resistance value increases as the temperature increases is used.
  • a heater having a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) characteristic in which the electrical resistance value decreases as the temperature increases may be used.
  • a part of the first heater 45 may be provided outside the heating chamber 43.
  • the first aerosol flow path 46 is formed in a hollow portion of the storage chamber 42 having a hollow and substantially annular shape, and extends in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40.
  • the first aerosol flow path 46 is formed by a wall portion 46a extending in a substantially annular shape in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40.
  • the wall portion 46a of the first aerosol flow path 46 is also an inner peripheral side wall portion of the storage chamber 42 having a substantially annular shape.
  • a first end portion 461 in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40 is connected to the heating chamber 43, and a second end portion 462 in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40 is open to an end surface on the other end side of the cartridge case 41.
  • An electrode portion 48 provided with the connection terminal 47 is fitted to an end portion on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge case 41, that is, an end portion of the cartridge case 41 on a side where the heating chamber 43 is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40.
  • the electrode portion 48 has a bottomed cylindrical shape having substantially the same center and substantially the same diameter as the cartridge case 41, and a bottom surface 48a of the electrode portion 48 constitutes, in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40, an end surface of the cartridge 40 on the side where the heating chamber 43 is disposed.
  • the connection terminal 47 is provided on a surface of the bottom surface 48a of the electrode portion 48 facing an outer side of the cartridge 40, and is exposed on an outer surface of the cartridge 40.
  • the cartridge 40 is formed with a colored portion 49 which is colored.
  • the colored portion 49 is formed in the electrode portion 48 of the cartridge 40.
  • the colored portion 49 is formed by forming at least a part of the electrode portion 48 with a colored resin.
  • the colored portion 49 is formed over the entire electrode portion 48 having a bottomed cylindrical shape, and an outer surface of a cylindrical surface of the electrode portion 48 is the colored portion 49.
  • the colored portion 49 constitutes a part of the outer surface of the cartridge 40 and is visible from an outside of the cartridge 40.
  • the colored portion 49 may be positioned inside the cartridge case 41 formed of a colorless transparent resin, and may be visible from the outside of the cartridge 40 through the cartridge case 41 formed of the colorless transparent resin.
  • the colored portion 49 may be formed in the cartridge 40, and may be formed in a portion other than the electrode portion 48. In this case, it is preferable that the colored portion 49 constitutes a part of the outer surface of the cartridge 40 and is visible from the outside of the cartridge 40.
  • the colored portion 49 is colored in a different color for each flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40.
  • the colored portion 49 may be colored in any different color for each flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40.
  • the colored portion 49 is preferably colored in any of red, green, and blue for each flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40.
  • the colored portion 49 of the regular type cartridge 40 in which the aerosol source 71 not containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42 is colored red
  • the colored portion 49 of the menthol type cartridge 40 in which the aerosol source 71 containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42 is colored green.
  • the colored portion 49 is formed so as not to allow light to be transmitted.
  • the cartridge 40 is accommodated in a hollow portion of the cartridge cover 20 having a hollow and substantially annular shape such that the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40 is the first direction X which is the longitudinal direction of the aerosol suction device 1. Further, the cartridge 40 is accommodated in the hollow portion of the cartridge cover 20 such that the heating chamber 43 is on the bottom side of the aerosol suction device 1 (that is, power supply unit 10 side) and the storage chamber 42 is on the top side of the aerosol suction device 1 (that is, capsule 50 side) in the first direction X.
  • the first aerosol flow path 46 of the cartridge 40 is formed to extend in the first direction X on the center line L of the aerosol suction device 1 in a state where the cartridge 40 is accommodated inside the cartridge cover 20.
  • the cartridge 40 is accommodated in the hollow portion of the cartridge cover 20 such that the connection terminal 47 is kept in contact with the discharge terminal 12 provided on the top surface 11a of the power supply unit case 11.
  • the discharge terminal 12 of the power supply unit 10 comes into contact with the connection terminal 47 of the cartridge 40, whereby the power supply 61 of the power supply unit 10 is electrically connected to the first heater 45 of the cartridge 40 via the discharge terminal 12 and the connection terminal 47.
  • the cartridge 40 is accommodated in the hollow portion of the cartridge cover 20 such that air flowing in from the air intake port (not illustrated) provided in the power supply unit case 11 is taken into the heating chamber 43 from the air supply unit 13 provided on the top surface 11a of the power supply unit case 11 as indicated by an arrow B in Fig. 3 .
  • the arrow B is inclined with respect to the center line L in Fig. 3 , but may be in the same direction as the center line L. In other words, the arrow B may be parallel to the center line L.
  • the first heater 45 heats the aerosol source 71 held by the wick 44 without combustion by electric power supplied from the power supply 61 via the discharge terminal 12 provided in the power supply unit case 11 and the connection terminal 47 provided in the cartridge 40.
  • the aerosol source 71 heated by the first heater 45 is vaporized and/or atomized.
  • the cartridge 40 is a menthol type cartridge in which the aerosol source 71 containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42
  • the vaporized and/or atomized aerosol source 71 also contains vaporized and/or atomized menthol 80 together with vaporized and/or atomized glycerin and/or propylene glycol.
  • the aerosol source 71 vaporized and/or atomized in the heating chamber 43 is aerosolized by using the air taken into the heating chamber 43 from the air supply unit 13 of the power supply unit case 11 as a dispersion medium. Further, the aerosol source 71 vaporized and/or atomized in the heating chamber 43 and the air taken into the heating chamber 43 from the air supply unit 13 of the power supply unit case 11 flow through the first aerosol flow path 46 from the first end portion 461 of the first aerosol flow path 46 communicating with the heating chamber 43 to the second end portion 462 of the first aerosol flow path 46 while further being aerosolized.
  • the temperature of the aerosol source 71 vaporized and/or atomized in the heating chamber 43 decreases in the process of flowing through the first aerosol flow path 46, and the aerosolization thereof is promoted. In this way, an aerosol 72 is generated in the heating chamber 43 and the first aerosol flow path 46 by the aerosol source 71 vaporized and/or atomized in the heating chamber 43 and the air taken into the heating chamber 43 from the air supply unit 13 of the power supply unit case 11.
  • the cartridge 40 is a menthol type cartridge in which the aerosol source 71 containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42
  • the aerosol 72 in the heating chamber 43 and the first aerosol flow path 46 also contains the menthol 80 derived from the aerosol source 71.
  • the capsule 50 has a substantially cylindrical shape and includes a side wall 51 which is open at both end surfaces and extends in a substantially annular shape.
  • the side wall 51 is formed of, for example, a resin such as plastic.
  • the capsule 50 includes the accommodation chamber 53 in which the flavor source 52 is accommodated.
  • the flavor source 52 includes tobacco granules 521 obtained by molding a tobacco raw material into granules.
  • the flavor source 52 may contain the menthol 80 in addition to the tobacco granules 521.
  • a regular type capsule 50 which accommodates the flavor source 52 not containing the menthol 80 and a menthol type capsule 50 which accommodates the flavor source 52 containing the menthol 80 are provided for the user by the manufacturer or the like of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates an example in which the menthol type capsule 50 which accommodates the flavor source 52 containing the menthol 80 is mounted.
  • the menthol 80 is adsorbed to the tobacco granules 521.
  • the flavor source 52 may contain cut tobacco instead of the tobacco granules 521.
  • the flavor source 52 may contain plants other than tobacco (for example, mint, Chinese medicine, or herb) instead of the tobacco granules 521.
  • the flavor source 52 may have another fragrance added in addition to the menthol 80.
  • the accommodation chamber 53 is formed in an internal space of the capsule 50 surrounded by the side wall 51.
  • the accommodation chamber 53 includes an inlet portion 54 provided on one end side in a cylindrical axis direction of the capsule 50 extending in a substantially cylindrical shape, and an outlet portion 55 provided on the other end side in the cylindrical axis direction of the capsule 50.
  • the inlet portion 54 is formed at a bottom portion of the capsule 50 and constitutes the bottom surface of the capsule 50.
  • the inlet portion 54 is a mesh-like partition wall through which the flavor source 52 cannot pass and the aerosol 72 can pass.
  • the outlet portion 55 is a filter member filled in the internal space of the capsule 50 surrounded by the side wall 51 at the end portion of the side wall 51 on the top side in the cylindrical axis direction of the capsule 50.
  • the outlet portion 55 is a filter member through which the flavor source 52 cannot pass and the aerosol 72 can pass.
  • the outlet portion 55 is provided in the vicinity of a top portion of the capsule 50, but the outlet portion 55 may be provided at a position separated from the top portion of the capsule 50.
  • the accommodation chamber 53 is surrounded by the side wall 51, the inlet portion 54, and the outlet portion 55.
  • a suction port 58 through which the user performs a suction operation is formed on the other end side of the outlet portion 55 in the cylindrical axis direction, that is, on the top side of the outlet portion 55 in the cylindrical axis direction.
  • the capsule holder 30 includes a side wall 31 extending in the first direction X in a substantially annular shape, and has a hollow and substantially annular shape in which both end surfaces on the bottom side and the top side are opened.
  • the side wall 31 has a substantially annular shape slightly larger in diameter than the side wall 51 of the capsule 50.
  • the side wall 31 is formed of, for example, a metal such as aluminum.
  • the capsule holder 30 is connected to the end portion on the top side of the cartridge cover 20 at the end portion on the bottom side by screwing, locking, or the like, and is attachable to and detachable from the cartridge cover 20.
  • An inner peripheral surface 31a of the side wall 31 having a substantially annular shape has an annular shape centered on the center line L of the aerosol suction device 1, and has a diameter larger than that of the first aerosol flow path 46 of the cartridge 40 and smaller than that of the cartridge cover 20.
  • the capsule holder 30 is provided with a bottom wall 32 provided on an end portion of the side wall 31 on the bottom side.
  • the bottom wall 32 is formed of, for example, a resin.
  • the bottom wall 32 is fixed to the end portion of the side wall 31 on the bottom side, and closes a hollow portion surrounded by the inner peripheral surface of the side wall 31 by the end portion of the side wall 31 on the bottom side except for a communication hole 33 to be described later.
  • the bottom wall 32 is provided with the communication hole 33 penetrating in the first direction X.
  • the communication hole 33 is formed at a position overlapping the center line L when viewed from the first direction. In a state where the cartridge 40 is accommodated inside the cartridge cover 20 and the capsule holder 30 is mounted on the cartridge cover 20, the communication hole 33 is formed such that the first aerosol flow path 46 of the cartridge 40 is positioned inside the communication hole 33 when viewed from the top side in the first direction X.
  • a second heater 34 is provided on the side wall 31 of the capsule holder 30.
  • the second heater 34 has an annular shape along the side wall 31 having a substantially annular shape, and extends in the first direction X.
  • the second heater 34 heats the accommodation chamber 53 of the capsule 50 to heat the flavor source 52 accommodated in the accommodation chamber 53.
  • the second heater 34 may be any element which can heat the flavor source 52 by heating the accommodation chamber 53 of the capsule 50.
  • the second heater 34 may be a heating element such as a heating resistor, a ceramic heater, or an induction heating heater. As the second heater 34, a heater having a correlation between a temperature and an electrical resistance value is used.
  • the second heater 34 for example, a heater having a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) characteristic in which the electrical resistance value increases as the temperature increases is used.
  • a heater having a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) characteristic in which the electrical resistance value decreases as the temperature increases may be used.
  • the second heater 34 is electrically connected to the power supply 61 of the power supply unit 10 (see Figs. 6 and 7 ).
  • a discharge terminal 17 (see Fig. 6 ) of the power supply unit 10 and a connection terminal (not illustrated) of the capsule holder 30 come into contact with each other, whereby the second heater 34 of the capsule holder 30 is electrically connected to the power supply 61 of the power supply unit 10 via the discharge terminal 17 and the connection terminal of the capsule holder 30.
  • the aerosol suction device 1 implemented in this manner is used in a state where the cartridge cover 20, the capsule holder 30, the cartridge 40, and the capsule 50 are mounted on the power supply unit 10.
  • an aerosol flow path 90 is formed by at least the first aerosol flow path 46 provided in the cartridge 40 and the communication hole 33 provided in the bottom wall 32 of the capsule holder 30.
  • the aerosol flow path 90 connects the heating chamber 43 of the cartridge 40 and the accommodation chamber 53 of the capsule 50, and transports the aerosol 72 generated in the heating chamber 43 from the heating chamber 43 to the accommodation chamber 53.
  • the aerosol suction device 1 when the user performs a suction operation from the suction port 58 during use, the air flowing in from the air intake port (not illustrated) provided in the power supply unit case 11 is taken into the heating chamber 43 of the cartridge 40 from the air supply unit 13 provided on the top surface 11a of the power supply unit case 11 as indicated by the arrow B in Fig. 3 . Further, the first heater 45 generates heat, the aerosol source 71 held by the wick 44 is heated, and the aerosol source 71 heated by the first heater 45 is vaporized and/or atomized in the heating chamber 43.
  • the aerosol source 71 vaporized and/or atomized by the first heater 45 is aerosolized by using the air taken into the heating chamber 43 from the air supply unit 13 of the power supply unit case 11 as a dispersion medium.
  • the aerosol source 71 vaporized and/or atomized in the heating chamber 43 and the air taken into the heating chamber 43 from the air supply unit 13 of the power supply unit case 11 flow through the first aerosol flow path 46 from the first end portion 461 of the first aerosol flow path 46 communicating with the heating chamber 43 to the second end portion 462 of the first aerosol flow path 46 while being aerosolized.
  • the aerosol 72 generated in this manner is introduced from the second end portion 462 of the first aerosol flow path 46 through the communication hole 33 provided in the bottom wall 32 of the capsule holder 30 into the accommodation chamber 53 from the inlet portion 54 of the capsule 50.
  • the aerosol 72 introduced into the accommodation chamber 53 from the inlet portion 54 passes through the flavor source 52 accommodated in the accommodation chamber 53 when flowing through the accommodation chamber 53 from the inlet portion 54 to the outlet portion 55 in the first direction X of the aerosol suction device 1, whereby the flavor component is added from the flavor source 52.
  • a flow direction of the aerosol 72 in which the aerosol 72 flows from the inlet portion 54 to the outlet portion 55 is the cylindrical axis direction of the capsule 50 and is the first direction X of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • the second heater 34 provided in the capsule holder 30 generates heat to heat the accommodation chamber 53.
  • the flavor source 52 accommodated in the accommodation chamber 53 and the aerosol 72 flowing through the accommodation chamber 53 are heated.
  • the cartridge cover 20 includes a substantially-annular-shaped outer peripheral wall 21 extending in the first direction X, and a substantially-annular-shaped inner peripheral wall 22 which is at substantially the same center as the outer peripheral wall 21 inside a circular ring of the outer peripheral wall 21 and extends in the first direction X and faces the outer peripheral wall 21.
  • the outer peripheral wall 21 is formed of, for example, a metal such as stainless steel, and does not allow light to be transmitted.
  • the inner peripheral wall 22 is formed of, for example, a resin such as polycarbonate, is colorless and transparent, and allows light to be transmitted.
  • a space portion 23 is formed between the outer peripheral wall 21 and the inner peripheral wall 22.
  • the space portion 23 is provided with a color identification sensor 24 capable of identifying a color by which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored. Therefore, the cartridge 40 is accommodated in a space on an inner side of the inner peripheral wall 22 which is surrounded by the inner peripheral wall 22 of the cartridge cover 20, and the color identification sensor 24 is separated from the space in which the cartridge 40 is accommodated by the inner peripheral wall 22, and is provided in the space portion 23 formed on the outer side of the inner peripheral wall 22.
  • the color identification sensor 24 is provided at a position facing the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40.
  • the color identification sensor 24 is disposed at a position facing the outer surface of the cylindrical surface of the electrode portion 48 of the cartridge 40 on a radially outer side.
  • the color identification sensor 24 includes a light projecting unit 241 capable of projecting light to the inside of the cartridge cover 20 toward the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40, and a color sensor unit 242 which receives light reflected from the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 and quantifies a color component of the received light.
  • a light shielding member 25 which does not allow light to be transmitted is provided between the color identification sensor 24 and the inner peripheral wall 22 of the cartridge cover 20.
  • the light shielding member 25 may be, for example, a light shielding film which does not allow light to be transmitted, which is adhered to a surface of the inner peripheral wall 22 on a side facing the outer peripheral wall 21, or may be a light shielding membrane made of a material which does not allow light to be transmitted, which is formed on the surface of the inner peripheral wall 22 on the side facing the outer peripheral wall 21.
  • Light transmitting portions 25a which allow light to be transmitted are formed in the light shielding member 25.
  • the light transmitting portions 25a are, for example, through holes formed in the light shielding member 25.
  • the light transmitting portions 25a are formed between the light projecting unit 241 of the color identification sensor 24 and the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 and between the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 and the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40, respectively.
  • the light transmitting portions 25a may be formed in a position and size between the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 and both the light projecting unit 241 and the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24.
  • the light projecting unit 241 of the color identification sensor 24 projects white light to the inside of the cartridge cover 20 toward the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40.
  • the light projecting unit 241 may include, for example, a blue LED element and a yellow phosphor, and may generate white light by mixing blue light emitted from the blue LED element and yellow light emitted after being excited by the yellow phosphor by the blue light emitted from the blue LED element.
  • the light projecting unit 241 may include, for example, a near ultraviolet LED element, a red phosphor, a green phosphor, and a blue phosphor, and may generate white light by mixing red light emitted after being excited by the red phosphor, green light emitted after being excited by the green phosphor, and blue light emitted after being excited by the blue phosphor, by near ultraviolet light emitted from the near ultraviolet LED element.
  • the light projecting unit 241 may include, for example, a red LED element, a green LED element, and a blue LED element, and may generate white light by mixing red light emitted from the red LED element, green light emitted from the green LED element, and blue light emitted from the blue LED element.
  • the white light projected from the light projecting unit 241 passes through the light transmitting portions 25a of the light shielding member 25, with which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is irradiated.
  • the white light with which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is irradiated reflects light having a specific wavelength according to the color by which the colored portion 49 is colored.
  • the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 includes a light receiving unit which receives light reflected according to the color by which the colored portion 49 is colored and passing through the light transmitting portions 25a of the light shielding member 25, and an analog-to-digital converter which quantifies a color component of the light received by the light receiving unit.
  • the light receiving unit includes a photodiode for receiving a red component, a photodiode for receiving a green component, and a photodiode for receiving a blue component
  • the analog-to-digital converter respectively quantifies the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the light received by the light receiving unit into values of 0 to 255 based on respective light receiving amounts of the photodiode for receiving the red component, the photodiode for receiving the green component, and the photodiode for receiving the blue component.
  • the light receiving unit may include a plurality of photodiodes which are wavelength-divided in a visible region, and the analog-to-digital converter may respectively quantify the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the light received by the light receiving unit into values of 0 to 255 based on the light receiving amount of each photodiode.
  • the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is formed so as not to allow light to be transmitted, so that it is possible to increase a light amount of reflected light which is reflected according to the color by which the colored portion 49 is colored.
  • the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 the light reflected according to the color by which the colored portion 49 is colored can be received more by the light receiving unit, so that the color component of the light received by the light receiving unit can be accurately quantified, and the color by which the colored portion 49 is colored can be accurately identified.
  • the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored in any of red, green, and blue (in the present embodiment, the colored portion 49 of the regular type cartridge 40 in which the aerosol source 71 not containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42 is colored in red, and the colored portion 49 of the menthol type cartridge 40 in which the aerosol source 71 containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42 is colored in green), so that in the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24, the color by which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored can be easily identified based on the values of the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the light received by the light receiving unit, which are quantified by the analog-to-digital converter.
  • the color identification sensor 24 is provided in the cartridge cover 20, so that the color identification sensor 24 can be disposed in the vicinity of the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 without increasing the size of the aerosol suction device 1, and the color by which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored can be accurately identified.
  • the light shielding member 25 which does not allow light to be transmitted is provided between the color identification sensor 24 and the inner peripheral wall 22 of the cartridge cover 20, and the white light projected from the light projecting unit 241 passes through the light transmitting portions 25a of the light shielding member 25, with which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is irradiated, so that light other than the white light projected from the light projecting unit 241 can be prevented from being irradiated to the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40.
  • the light shielding member 25 which does not allow light to be transmitted is provided between the color identification sensor 24 and the inner peripheral wall 22 of the cartridge cover 20, and the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 receives the light reflected according to the color by which the colored portion 49 is colored and passing through the light transmitting portions 25a of the light shielding member 25, so that the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 can be prevented from receiving light other than the light reflected according to the color by which the colored portion 49 is colored.
  • the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 can accurately identify the color by which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored.
  • the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 may execute HSL conversion for converting respective values of the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the light received by the light receiving unit, which are quantified in the analog-to-digital converter, into three color components of hue, saturation, and lightness.
  • HSL conversion the hue is converted into a value of 0 degrees to 360 degrees
  • the saturation is converted into a value of 0 to 100
  • the lightness is converted into a value of 0 to 100 according to the values of 0 to 255 of the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the light received by the light receiving unit.
  • the color components of the light received by the light receiving unit can be accurately quantified with respect to variation of a received light lightness in the light receiving unit.
  • the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 may convert the respective values of the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the light received by the light receiving unit, which are quantified in the analog-to-digital converter, into color identification information of a known color sample book.
  • the color identification sensor 24 outputs, to the MCU 63 as information on the color by which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored, at least one of the following: the values of 0 to 255 of the respective red component, green component, and blue component of the light received by the light receiving unit, which are quantified in the analog-to-digital converter of the color sensor unit 242; the value of 0 degrees to 360 degrees of the hue, the value of 0 to 100 of the saturation, and the value of 0 to 100 of the lightness, which are HSL-converted; and the color identification information of the color sample book.
  • the power supply unit 10 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 6 .
  • the DC/DC converter 66 which is an example of a voltage converter capable of converting an output voltage of the power supply 61 and applying the converted voltage to the first heater 45, is connected between the first heater 45 and the power supply 61 in a state where the cartridge 40 is mounted on the power supply unit 10.
  • the MCU 63 is connected between the DC/DC converter 66 and the power supply 61.
  • the second heater 34 is connected to a connection node provided between the MCU 63 and the DC/DC converter 66 in the state where the cartridge 40 is mounted on the power supply unit 10.
  • the second heater 34 and a series circuit of the DC/DC converter 66 and the first heater 45 are connected in parallel with respect to the power supply 61.
  • the DC/DC converter 66 is a booster circuit which is controlled by the MCU 63 and can boost an input voltage (for example, the output voltage of the power supply 61), and is implemented to be able to apply the input voltage or a voltage obtained by boosting the input voltage to the first heater 45. Since electric power to be supplied to the first heater 45 can be adjusted by changing the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 by the DC/DC converter 66, an amount of the aerosol source 71 vaporized or atomized by the first heater 45 can be controlled.
  • the DC/DC converter 66 for example, a switching regulator which converts an input voltage into a desired output voltage by controlling an on/off time of a switching element while monitoring the output voltage can be used.
  • the input voltage can be directly output without boosting the input voltage by controlling the switching element.
  • the DC/DC converter 66 may be used, for example, to set the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 to V1 [V] to V5 [V] to be described later.
  • the MCU 63 is implemented to be able to acquire a temperature of the second heater 34, a temperature of the flavor source 52, or a temperature of the accommodation chamber 53 (that is, second temperature T2 to be described later) in order to control discharge to the second heater 34.
  • the MCU 63 is preferably implemented to acquire a temperature of the first heater 45.
  • the temperature of the first heater 45 can be used to prevent overheating of the first heater 45 and the aerosol source 71 and to highly control an amount of the aerosol source 71 vaporized or atomized by the first heater 45.
  • the voltage sensor 671 measures and outputs a voltage value to be applied to the first heater 45.
  • the current sensor 672 measures and outputs a current value flowing through the first heater 45.
  • the output of the voltage sensor 671 and the output of the current sensor 672 are input to the MCU 63.
  • the MCU 63 acquires a resistance value of the first heater 45 based on the output of the voltage sensor 671 and the output of the current sensor 672, and acquires the temperature of the first heater 45 based on the acquired resistance value of the first heater 45.
  • the current sensor 672 In a configuration in which a constant current flows through the first heater 45 when the resistance value of the first heater 45 is acquired, the current sensor 672 is not necessary for the first temperature detection element 67. Similarly, in a configuration in which a constant voltage is applied to the first heater 45 when the resistance value of the first heater 45 is acquired, the voltage sensor 671 is not necessary for the first temperature detection element 67.
  • the voltage sensor 681 measures and outputs a voltage value to be applied to the second heater 34.
  • the current sensor 682 measures and outputs a current value flowing through the second heater 34.
  • the output of the voltage sensor 681 and the output of the current sensor 682 are input to the MCU 63.
  • the MCU 63 acquires a resistance value of the second heater 34 based on the output of the voltage sensor 681 and the output of the current sensor 682, and acquires the temperature of the second heater 34 based on the acquired resistance value of the second heater 34.
  • the temperature of the second heater 34 does not strictly coincide with the temperature of the flavor source 52 heated by the second heater 34, but can be regarded as being substantially the same as the temperature of the flavor source 52.
  • the temperature of the second heater 34 does not strictly coincide with the temperature of the accommodation chamber 53 of the capsule 50 heated by the second heater 34, but can be regarded as being substantially the same as the temperature of the accommodation chamber 53 of the capsule 50. Therefore, the second temperature detection element 68 can also be used as a temperature detection element for detecting the temperature of the flavor source 52 or the temperature of the accommodation chamber 53 of the capsule 50.
  • the current sensor 682 is not necessary for the second temperature detection element 68.
  • the voltage sensor 681 is not necessary for the second temperature detection element 68.
  • the second temperature detection element 68 is provided in the capsule holder 30 and the cartridge 40, the temperature of the second heater 34, the temperature of the flavor source 52, or the temperature of the accommodation chamber 53 of the capsule 50 can be acquired based on the output of the second temperature detection element 68, but the second temperature detection element 68 is preferably provided in the power supply unit 10 having a lowest replacement frequency in the aerosol suction device 1. In this way, a manufacturing cost of the capsule holder 30 and the cartridge 40 can be reduced, and the capsule holder 30 and the cartridge 40 having a higher replacement frequency than the power supply unit 10 can be provided to the user at a low cost.
  • Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a specific example of the power supply unit 10 illustrated in Fig. 6 .
  • Fig. 7 illustrates a specific example of a configuration in which the second temperature detection element 68 does not have the current sensor 682 and the first temperature detection element 67 does not have the current sensor 672.
  • the power supply unit 10 includes: the power supply 61; the MCU 63; the LDO regulator 65; a parallel circuit C1 including a switch SW1 and a series circuit of a resistance element R1 and a switch SW2 which are connected in parallel to the switch SW1; a parallel circuit C2 including a switch SW3 and a series circuit of a resistance element R2 and a switch SW4 which are connected in parallel to the switch SW3; an operational amplifier OP1 and an analog-to-digital converter ADC1 constituting the voltage sensor 671; and an operational amplifier OP2 and an analog-to-digital converter ADC2 constituting the voltage sensor 681.
  • the resistance element described in the present description may be an element having a fixed electrical resistance value, for example, a resistor, a diode, or a transistor.
  • each of the resistance element R1 and the resistance element R2 is a resistor.
  • the switch described in the present description is a switching element such as a transistor which switches between blocking and conduction of a wiring path, and may be, for example, a bipolar transistor such as an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) or a field effect transistor such as a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET).
  • the switch described in the present description may be implemented by a relay.
  • each of the switches SW1 to SW4 is a transistor.
  • the LDO regulator 65 is connected to a main positive bus LU connected to a positive electrode of the power supply 61.
  • the MCU 63 is connected to the LDO regulator 65 and a main negative bus LD connected to a negative electrode of the power supply 61.
  • the MCU 63 is also connected to each of the switches SW1 to SW4, and executes switching control of these switches.
  • the LDO regulator 65 steps down a voltage from the power supply 61 and outputs the voltage.
  • An output voltage V0 of the LDO regulator 65 is also used as an operating voltage of each of the MCU 63, the DC/DC converter 66, the operational amplifier OP1, the operational amplifier OP2, and the notification unit 16.
  • the DC/DC converter 66 is connected to the main positive bus LU.
  • the first heater 45 is connected to the main negative bus LD.
  • the parallel circuit C1 is connected to the DC/DC converter 66 and the first heater 45.
  • the parallel circuit C2 is connected to the main positive bus LU.
  • the second heater 34 is connected to the parallel circuit C2 and the main negative bus LD.
  • a non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP1 is connected to a connection node between the parallel circuit C1 and the first heater 45.
  • An inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP1 is connected to each of an output terminal of the operational amplifier OP1 and the main negative bus LD via a resistance element.
  • a non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 is connected to a connection node between the parallel circuit C2 and the second heater 34.
  • An inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 is connected to each of an output terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 and the main negative bus LD via a resistance element.
  • the analog-to-digital converter ADC1 is connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP1.
  • the analog-to-digital converter ADC2 is connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP2.
  • the analog-to-digital converter ADC1 and the analog-to-digital converter ADC2 may be provided outside the MCU 63.
  • the MCU 63 is a functional block realized by the processor executing a program stored in the memory 63a, and includes a temperature detection unit, an electric power control unit, and a notification control unit.
  • the temperature detection unit acquires a first temperature T1, which is the temperature of the first heater 45, based on the output of the first temperature detection element 67.
  • the temperature detection unit acquires a second temperature T2, which is the temperature of the second heater 34, the temperature of the flavor source 52, or the temperature of the accommodation chamber 53, based on the output of the second temperature detection element 68.
  • the temperature detection unit acquires an output value of the analog-to-digital converter ADC1 (voltage value to be applied to the first heater 45) in a state where the switches SW1, SW3, and SW4 are controlled to a blocked state and the switch SW2 is controlled to a conductive state, and acquires the first temperature T1 based on the output value.
  • ADC1 analog-to-digital converter
  • a configuration may be provided in which the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP1 is connected to a terminal of the resistance element R1 on a DC/DC converter 66 side, and the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP1 is connected to a terminal of the resistance element R1 on a switch SW2 side.
  • the temperature detection unit can acquire an output value (voltage value to be applied to the resistance element R1) of the analog-to-digital converter ADC1 in the state where the switches SW1, SW3, and SW4 are controlled to the blocked state and the switch SW2 is controlled to the conductive state, and can acquire the first temperature T1 based on the output value.
  • the temperature detection unit acquires an output value of the analog-to-digital converter ADC2 (voltage value to be applied to the second heater 34) in a state where the switches SW1, SW2, and SW3 are controlled to a blocked state and the switch SW4 is controlled to a conductive state, and acquires the second temperature T2 based on the output value.
  • ADC2 analog-to-digital converter
  • a configuration may be provided in which the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 is connected to a terminal of the resistance element R2 on a main positive bus LU side, and the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 is connected to a terminal of the resistance element R2 on a switch SW4 side.
  • the temperature detection unit can acquire an output value (voltage value to be applied to the resistance element R2) of the analog-to-digital converter ADC2 in the state where the switches SW1, SW2, and SW3 are controlled to the blocked state and the switch SW4 is controlled to the conductive state, and can acquire the second temperature T2 based on the output value.
  • the notification control unit controls the notification unit 16 to notify the user of various kinds of information. For example, when it is detected that a replacement timing of the capsule 50 is reached, the notification control unit controls the notification unit 16 to execute a capsule replacement notification for prompting replacement of the capsule 50. In addition, when it is detected that a replacement timing of the cartridge 40 is reached, the notification control unit controls the notification unit 16 to execute a cartridge replacement notification for prompting replacement of the cartridge 40.
  • the notification control unit may control the notification unit 16 to execute a notification for prompting replacement or charging of the power supply 61, or may control the notification unit 16 to notify a control state (for example, a menthol mode or a regular mode to be described later) by the MCU 63 at a predetermined timing.
  • a control state for example, a menthol mode or a regular mode to be described later
  • the electric power control unit controls discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as discharge to the first heater 45) and discharge from the power supply 61 to the second heater 34 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as discharge to the second heater 34).
  • the electric power control unit can realize the discharge to the first heater 45 by setting the switches SW2, SW3, and SW4 to the blocked state (that is, OFF) and setting the switch SW1 to the conductive state (that is, ON).
  • the electric power control unit can realize the discharge to the second heater 34 by setting the switches SW1, SW2, and SW4 to the blocked state and setting the switch SW3 to the conductive state.
  • the electric power control unit causes the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 to be executed when an aerosol generation request from the user is detected based on an output of the intake sensor 62 (that is, when a suction operation is performed by the user).
  • an output of the intake sensor 62 that is, when a suction operation is performed by the user.
  • heating of the aerosol source 71 by the first heater 45 that is, generation of aerosol
  • heating of the flavor source 52 by the second heater 34 are executed.
  • the electric power control unit controls the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 such that an amount of the flavor component to be added from the flavor source 52 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a flavor component amount.
  • a flavor component amount W flavor to be described later converges to a predetermined target amount with respect to the aerosol (vaporized and/or atomized aerosol source 71) generated in response to the aerosol generation request.
  • the target amount is a value which is appropriately determined, and for example, a target range of the flavor component amount may be appropriately determined, and a median within the target range may be set as the target amount.
  • Weight for example, [mg]
  • the target amount may be used as a unit of the flavor component amount and the target amount.
  • the electric power control unit makes a mode of the discharge to the first heater 45 and a mode of the discharge to the second heater 34 different among the following cases: a case where the menthol is not contained in any of the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52; a case where the menthol is contained only in the aerosol source 71, of the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52; and a case where the menthol is contained in both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52, of the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52.
  • the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 can be appropriately controlled according to flavor types of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 and the flavor source 52 of the capsule 50 which are mounted on the aerosol suction device 1, and aerosol containing an appropriate amount of flavor component and menthol can be stably supplied to the user.
  • Specific examples of the mode of the discharge to the first heater 45 and the mode of the discharge to the second heater 34 in each of these cases will be described later with reference to Figs. 13 and 14 .
  • the MCU 63 is implemented to be able to determine (identify) whether each of the aerosol source 71 stored in the cartridge 40 and the flavor source 52 accommodated in the capsule 50 contains menthol.
  • the electric power control unit controls the discharge to the first heater 45 and the discharge to the second heater 34 based on a determination result (identification result). Determination of whether each of the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contains menthol may be realized using any method.
  • the MCU 63 may determine whether each of the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contains menthol based on an operation performed on the operation unit 15. In addition, for example, as described later, the MCU 63 may determine whether each of the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contains menthol, regardless of the operation of the operation unit 15 by the user.
  • the MCU 63 has a plurality of modes for causing the aerosol suction device 1 to operate by controlling the discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 and the discharge from the power supply 61 to the second heater 34.
  • the MCU 63 has, as the mode for causing the aerosol suction device 1 to operate, at least a regular mode to be described later, a menthol mode to be described later, and a sleep mode.
  • the sleep mode has less power consumption of the aerosol suction device 1 than that in the regular mode and the menthol mode, and can transition directly or indirectly to the regular mode and the menthol mode.
  • the MCU 63 may further have a power mode as the mode for causing the aerosol suction device 1 to operate.
  • the sleep mode has less power consumption of the aerosol suction device 1 than that in the power mode, and can transition directly to the power mode. Therefore, by causing the aerosol suction device 1 to transition to the sleep mode, the MCU 63 can reduce the power consumption of the aerosol suction device 1 while maintaining a state where returning to another mode is possible as necessary.
  • the aerosol generation control is not executed even when the user performs the suction operation.
  • the regular mode is a mode in which control of the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 is optimized when the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 mounted on the aerosol suction device 1 is a regular type (that is, when the aerosol source 71 does not contain the menthol).
  • the menthol mode is a mode in which the control of the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 is optimized when the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 mounted on the aerosol suction device 1 is a menthol type (that is, when the aerosol source 71 contains the menthol).
  • An error mode is a mode in which the discharge from the power supply 61 to the second heater 34 is prevented, and is, for example, a mode in which the discharge from the power supply 61 to the second heater 34 is controlled not to be executed.
  • the above-described menthol mode may be subdivided into a first menthol mode and a second menthol mode.
  • the first menthol mode is a mode optimized when the flavor types of both the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 and the flavor source 52 of the capsule 50 which are mounted on the aerosol suction device 1 are the menthol type (that is, when both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain the menthol).
  • the second menthol mode is a mode optimized when only the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40, of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 and the flavor source 52 of the capsule 50 which are mounted on the aerosol suction device 1, is the menthol type (that is, when only the aerosol source 71 of the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contains the menthol).
  • the MCU 63 sets a target temperature of the second heater 34 (hereinafter, also referred to as a target temperature T cap_target ) based on whether a current mode is the regular mode or the menthol mode and a residual flavor component amount W capsule (n puff -1) contained in the flavor source 52.
  • a target temperature T cap_target a target temperature of the second heater 34
  • the residual flavor component amount W capsule may be simply referred to as a residual amount of the flavor source 52.
  • the electric power control unit controls the discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 and the discharge from the power supply 61 to the second heater 34 such that the temperature of the second heater 34 based on the output of the second temperature detection element 68 (hereinafter, also referred to as a temperature T cap_sense ) converges to the set target temperature T cap_target .
  • the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 can be appropriately controlled according to the flavor types of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 and the flavor source 52 of the capsule 50 which are mounted on the aerosol suction device 1, and aerosol containing an appropriate amount of flavor component and menthol can be stably supplied to the user
  • a weight [mg] of the aerosol which is generated by heating by the first heater 45 and passes through the flavor source 52 (that is, the capsule 50) for one suction operation by the user is referred to as an aerosol weight W aerosol .
  • Electric power required to be supplied to the first heater 45 in order to generate aerosol of an amount corresponding to the aerosol weight W aerosol is referred to as atomization electric power P liquid .
  • a supply time of the atomization electric power P liquid to the first heater 45 is referred to as a supply time t sense .
  • a predetermined upper limit value t upper (for example, 2.4 [s]) is set for the supply time t sense , and the MCU 63 stops electric power supply to the first heater 45 regardless of the output value of the intake sensor 62 in a case where the supply time t sense reaches the upper limit value t upper (see steps S38 and S39 to be described later).
  • n puff a weight [mg] of the flavor component contained in the flavor source 52 when the suction operation is performed n puff times (here, n puff is a natural number of 0 or more) by the user after the capsule 50 is mounted on the aerosol suction device 1 is described as a residual flavor component amount W capsule (n puff ).
  • a weight [mg] of the flavor component added to the aerosol passing through the flavor source 52 (that is, inside the capsule 50) for one suction operation by the user is referred to as a flavor component amount W flavor .
  • a parameter related to the temperature of the flavor source 52 is referred to as a temperature parameter T capsule .
  • the temperature parameter T capsule is a parameter indicating the above-described second temperature T2, and is, for example, a parameter indicating the temperature of the second heater 34.
  • the flavor component amount W flavor depends on the residual flavor component amount W capsule , the temperature parameter T capsule , and the aerosol weight W aerosol . Therefore, the flavor component amount W flavor can be modeled by the following formula (1).
  • W flavor ⁇ ⁇ W capsule ⁇ T capsule ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ W aerosol
  • ⁇ in the above-mentioned formula (1) is a coefficient indicating a ratio of a flavor component added to the aerosol when the aerosol generated in one suction operation by the user passes through the flavor source 52, and is experimentally obtained.
  • ⁇ in the above-mentioned formula (1) is a coefficient obtained experimentally. In a period during which one suction operation is performed, the temperature parameter T capsule and the residual flavor component amount W capsule may vary, respectively, and such ⁇ is introduced here in order to handle these values as constant values.
  • the residual flavor component amount W capsule decreases every time the suction operation by the user is performed. Therefore, the residual flavor component amount W capsule is inversely proportional to the number of times the suction operation is performed (hereinafter, also referred to as the number of times of suction).
  • the residual flavor component amount W capsule is inversely proportional to the number of times the discharge to the first heater 45 is executed for generating the aerosol or a cumulative value of a period during which the discharge to the first heater 45 is executed.
  • the MCU 63 (electric power control unit) operates in the regular mode to control the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34.
  • the MCU 63 controls the discharge to the second heater 34 so as to increase the temperature of the flavor source 52 with a decrease in the residual flavor component amount W capsule (that is, an increase in the number of times of suction) (see Figs. 13 and 14 ).
  • the MCU 63 (electric power control unit) operates in the menthol mode different from the regular mode.
  • the MCU 63 controls the discharge to the second heater 34 so as to lower the temperature of the flavor source 52 with a decrease in the residual flavor component amount W capsule (that is, an increase in the number of times of suction) (see Figs. 13 and 14 ).
  • the MCU 63 controls the discharge to the second heater 34 so as to lower the temperature of the flavor source 52 with a decrease in the residual flavor component amount W capsule (that is, an increase in the number of times of suction) (see Figs. 13 and 14 ).
  • the MCU 63 may increase the aerosol weight W aerosol by increasing a voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 to increase the electric power to be supplied to the first heater 45 (see Fig. 13 ).
  • a decrease in the flavor component amount W flavor caused by lowering the temperature of the flavor source 52 in order to supply an appropriate amount of menthol to the user can be compensated by an increase in the aerosol weight W aerosol generated by heating by the first heater 45, so that a decrease in the flavor component amount W flavor to be supplied into a mouth of the user can be prevented, and the menthol and the flavor component can be stably supplied to the user
  • the operation of the aerosol suction device 1 described below is realized by, for example, the processor of the MCU 63 executing a program stored in advance in the memory 63a.
  • the MCU 63 executes power-on control to switch the mode for causing the aerosol suction device 1 to operate from the sleep mode to the power mode (step S2).
  • the MCU 63 waits in the sleep mode as the mode for causing the aerosol suction device 1 to operate until the power-on operation is performed on the operation unit 15 by the user (loop of NO in step S1). That is, when YES is determined in step S1, the MCU 63 switches the mode for causing the aerosol suction device 1 to operate from the sleep mode to the power mode.
  • the power-on operation is, for example, an operation in which the operation unit 15 is pressed three times continuously within a predetermined time (for example, 2 [seconds]).
  • the MCU 63 may execute preheating control in which the discharge from the power supply 61 to the second heater 34 is executed such that the temperature of the second heater 34 becomes a preheating temperature set in advance (hereinafter, also referred to as a preheating temperature T cap_pre ) in response to switching from the sleep mode to the power mode.
  • a preheating temperature T cap_pre a preheating temperature set in advance
  • the temperature of the second heater 34 can be increased immediately after switching to the power mode.
  • the target temperature T cap_target is initially set to a relatively high temperature of 80 [° C].
  • the second heater 34 can be brought close to the target temperature T cap_target in advance before the aerosol generation request is detected.
  • the aerosol to which the flavor is appropriately added can be stably supplied to the user immediately after the aerosol generation control is executed (for example, so-called suction start).
  • the MCU 63 starts a cartridge identification process of identifying the flavor types of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 and the flavor source 52 of the capsule 50 (step S3).
  • the MCU 63 first determines whether it is immediately after execution of the power-on control (step S101). For example, when the cartridge identification process has not been executed even once after the power-on control is executed, the MCU 63 determines that it is immediately after execution of the power-on control (YES in step S101), proceeds to step Sill, and executes an aerosol source information acquisition process to be described later. On the other hand, when the cartridge identification process has been executed one or more times after the power-on control is executed, the MCU 63 determines that it is not immediately after the execution of the power-on control (NO in step S101), and determines whether the cartridge 40 has been replaced (step S102).
  • the MCU 63 may detect the replacement of the cartridge 40 by any method in step S102.
  • the MCU 63 may detect the replacement of the cartridge 40 based on an electrical resistance value between the pair of discharge terminals 12 acquired using the voltage sensor 671 and the current sensor 672. It is clear that electrical resistance values between the discharge terminals 12 which can be acquired by the MCU 63 are different between, a state where the pair of discharge terminals 12 are conductive by connecting the first heater 45 between the pair of discharge terminals 12 and a state where the pair of discharge terminals 12 are insulated by air without connecting the first heater 45 between the pair of discharge terminals 12. Therefore, the MCU 63 can detect the replacement of the cartridge 40 based on the electrical resistance value between the discharge terminals 12.
  • the cartridge 40 it is determined that the cartridge 40 has been replaced when it is detected, based on the electrical resistance value between the discharge terminals 12, that a state where the connection terminal 47 of the cartridge 40 is not electrically connected to the discharge terminals 12 of the power supply unit 10 is transitioned to a state where the connection terminal 47 of the cartridge 40 is electrically connected to the discharge terminals 12 of the power supply unit 10.
  • step S102 When the cartridge 40 has been replaced (YES in step S102), since there is a possibility that the cartridge 40 has been changed and the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 has been changed, the MCU 63 proceeds to the above-described step Sill and executes the aerosol source information acquisition process to be described later.
  • Step S102 may be omitted. That is, when a negative result is determined in step S101 (NO in step S101), the MCU 63 may cause the process to proceed to step S103. By omitting step S102, the above-described function of detecting the replacement of the cartridge 40 becomes unnecessary, and thus a cost and a volume of the power supply unit 10 can be reduced.
  • step S47 When the cartridge replacement notification (step S47) has been executed in the residual amount updating process (YES in step S103), the cartridge 40 mounted on the aerosol suction device 1 has reached the end of its service life. Therefore, after the cartridge replacement notification (step S47) is executed, there is a possibility that the detection of the replacement of the cartridge 40 in step S102 is an erroneous detection even though the cartridge 40 has been replaced by the user. Therefore, the MCU 63 proceeds to the above-described step Sill, and executes the aerosol source information acquisition process to be described later.
  • the MCU 63 reads out the identification result of the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 in the previous cartridge identification process from the memory 63a.
  • the MCU 63 sets an identification result of the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 to be the same as the identification result of the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 in the previous cartridge identification process (step S104). Then, the identification result of the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 in the cartridge identification process is stored in the memory 63a (step S105), and the cartridge identification process is ended.
  • the aerosol source information acquisition process information on the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is acquired based on information on the color by which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored, the color being identified by the color identification sensor 24 provided in the cartridge cover 20.
  • the flavor type information of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is acquired by the aerosol source information acquisition process.
  • the MCU 63 first controls the color identification sensor 24 to project white light into the cartridge cover 20 from the light projecting unit 241 toward the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 (step S111).
  • the white light projected from the light projecting unit 241 passes through the light transmitting portions 25a of the light shielding member 25, with which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is irradiated.
  • the white light with which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is irradiated reflects light having a specific wavelength according to the color by which the colored portion 49 is colored.
  • the light receiving unit of the color sensor unit 242 receives light which is reflected from the colored portion 49 according to the color by which the colored portion 49 is colored and passes through the light transmitting portions 25a of the light shielding member 25.
  • the analog-to-digital converter of the color sensor unit 242 quantifies the color component of the light received by the light receiving unit.
  • the color identification sensor 24 outputs, to the MCU 63 as information on the color by which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored, at least one of the following: the values of 0 to 255 of the respective red component, green component, and blue component of the light received by the light receiving unit, which are quantified in the analog-to-digital converter of the color sensor unit 242; the value of 0 degrees to 360 degrees of the hue, the value of 0 to 100 of the saturation, and the value of 0 to 100 of the lightness, which are HSL-converted; and the color identification information of the color sample book.
  • the memory 63a of the MCU 63 stores a colored portion-aerosol source correspondence table in which the information on the color by which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored acquired from the color identification sensor 24 is associated with the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40.
  • the MCU 63 acquires information on the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 based on the information on the color by which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored acquired from the color identification sensor 24 (step S 112).
  • the colored portion 49 of the regular type cartridge 40 in which the aerosol source 71 not containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42 is colored red
  • the colored portion 49 of the menthol type cartridge 40 in which the aerosol source 71 containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42 is colored green.
  • a matter that the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is red is associated with a matter that the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is of a regular type which does not contain the menthol 80
  • a matter that the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is green is associated with a matter that the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is of a menthol type which contains the menthol 80.
  • the MCU 63 identifies that the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is of a regular type which does not contain the menthol 80 when the information indicating that the color by which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored acquired from the color identification sensor 24 is red.
  • the MCU 63 identifies that the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is of a menthol type which contains the menthol 80 when the information indicating that the color by which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored acquired from the color identification sensor 24 is green. In this way, the MCU 63 acquires the information on the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 based on the information on the color by which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored acquired from the color identification sensor 24.
  • the MCU 63 can execute the aerosol source information acquisition process of acquiring the information on the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 based on the information on the color by which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored, the color being identified by the color identification sensor 24 provided in the cartridge cover 20. Since the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 can be molded by a colored resin, the aerosol suction device 1 can acquire information on the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 without adding a process of attaching identification information such as a barcode, a two-dimensional code, and a protrusion to the cartridge 40 at the time of manufacturing the cartridge 40. As a result, the aerosol suction device 1 can acquire the information on the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40, and can reduce the number of processes in manufacturing without requiring the process of attaching the identification information to the cartridge 40.
  • the MCU 63 determines whether the information on the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 has been acquired in step S112 executed immediately before (step S113).
  • step S112 When the information on the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 can be acquired in step S112 executed immediately before (YES in step S113), the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is set as the acquired flavor type information (step S114). Then, the process proceeds to step S105, the identification result of the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 in the cartridge identification process is stored in the memory 63a, and the cartridge identification process is ended.
  • step S115 the identification result of the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 is set as the regular type (step S115). Then, the process proceeds to step S105, the identification result of the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 in the cartridge identification process is stored in the memory 63a, and the cartridge identification process is ended.
  • the MCU 63 executes the cartridge identification process after the power-on operation is performed on the operation unit 15 by the user, and executes the aerosol source information acquisition process in response to a transition from the state where the connection terminal 47 of the cartridge 40 is not electrically connected to the discharge terminals 12 of the power supply unit 10 to the state where the connection terminal 47 of the cartridge 40 is electrically connected to the discharge terminals 12 of the power supply unit 10.
  • the aerosol source information acquisition process can be executed when there is a high probability that the cartridge 40 mounted on the aerosol suction device 1 has been replaced, that is, when the state where the connection terminal 47 of the cartridge 40 is not electrically connected to the discharge terminals 12 of the power supply unit 10 is transitioned to the state where the connection terminal 47 of the cartridge 40 is electrically connected to the discharge terminals 12 of the power supply unit 10.
  • the number of times the aerosol source information acquisition process is executed can be reduced, and the power consumption of the power supply 61 consumed by the aerosol source information acquisition process can be saved.
  • the cartridge identification process including the aerosol source information acquisition process is executed after the power-on operation is performed on the operation unit 15 by the user, that is, after the mode for causing the aerosol suction device 1 to operate is switched from the sleep mode to the power mode. Therefore, the power consumption of the power supply 61 in the sleep mode can be further reduced because the aerosol source information acquisition process is not executed in the sleep mode. As a result, the power consumption of the power supply 61 can be further saved.
  • the aerosol suction device 1 can transmit, to the outside, the identification result of the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the memory 63a by the cartridge identification process, that is, information on whether the menthol is contained in the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40.
  • the aerosol suction device 1 may be implemented such that the charge terminal 14 is a receptacle of a terminal capable of transmitting and receiving data such as a USB terminal or a micro USB terminal, and when a terminal such as a USB terminal or a micro USB terminal is connected to the charge terminal 14, the information on whether the menthol is included in the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is transmitted to an external information terminal such as a smartphone or a computer through a cable having a terminal such as a USB terminal or a micro USB terminal.
  • the aerosol suction device 1 may be implemented such that a wireless communication chip capable of establishing wireless communication with the outside is accommodated in the hollow portion of the power supply unit case 11, and the information on whether the menthol is contained in the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is transmitted from the wireless communication chip to an external information terminal such as a smartphone or a computer by wireless communication.
  • a wireless communication chip capable of establishing wireless communication with the outside is accommodated in the hollow portion of the power supply unit case 11, and the information on whether the menthol is contained in the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is transmitted from the wireless communication chip to an external information terminal such as a smartphone or a computer by wireless communication.
  • the information on whether the menthol is contained in the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 can be confirmed by the external information terminal such as a smartphone or a computer, and thus the aerosol suction device 1 can be operated in cooperation with the external information terminal such as a smartphone or a computer.
  • the memory 63a of the aerosol suction device 1 can accumulate and store an identification result of an aerosol source identification process executed in the past, and may be implemented to be able to transmit the information on whether the menthol is contained in the aerosol source 71 to the outside for each of the cartridges 40 mounted on the aerosol suction device 1 in the past.
  • a history of the cartridges 40 mounted on the aerosol suction device 1 in the past can be transmitted to the outside, so that information such as the fragrance inhaling taste preferred by the user of the aerosol suction device 1 can be collected in the external information terminal such as a smartphone or a computer.
  • the history of the cartridges 40 mounted on the aerosol suction device 1 in the past can be collected in a server of a customer service center or the like, so that a customer service of the aerosol suction device 1 can be improved by utilizing history information of the cartridges 40 mounted on the aerosol suction device 1 in the past.
  • the MCU 63 determines whether the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is the menthol type based on the identification result of the cartridge identification process (step S4).
  • the MCU 63 determines a positive result in step S4 (YES in step S4), and cause the process to proceed to step S5.
  • the MCU 63 switches the mode for causing the aerosol suction device 1 to operate from the power mode to the menthol mode (step S5), and executes a menthol mode process.
  • the MCU 63 determines a negative result in step S4 (NO in step S4), and cause the process to proceed to step S6. Subsequently, the MCU 63 switches the mode for causing the aerosol suction device 1 to operate from the power mode to the regular mode (step S6), and executes a regular mode process.
  • the MCU 63 first notifies the user that the mode is the menthol mode by the notification unit 16 (step S7).
  • the MCU 63 causes the light-emitting element 161 to emit green light and causes the vibration element 162 to vibrate, thereby notifying that the mode is the menthol mode.
  • the MCU 63 sets the target temperature T cap_target of the second heater 34 and the atomization electric power (hereinafter, also referred to as the atomization electric power P liquid ) to be supplied to the first heater 45 based on the residual flavor component amount W capsule (n puff -1) contained in the flavor source 52 (step S8), and proceeds to step S21.
  • the residual flavor component amount W capsule (n puff -1) becomes the W initial when the suction operation has not been performed even once after a new capsule 50 is mounted, and becomes the residual flavor component amount W capsule (n puff ) calculated by the residual amount updating process (described later) immediately before when the suction operation has been performed once or more.
  • a specific setting example of the target temperature T cap_target or the like in the menthol mode will be described later with reference to Figs. 13 and 14 .
  • the MCU 63 first notifies the user that the mode is the regular mode by the notification unit 16 (step S9).
  • the MCU 63 causes the light-emitting element 161 to emit white light and causes the vibration element 162 to vibrate, thereby notifying that the mode is the regular mode.
  • the MCU 63 determines, based on the residual flavor component amount W capsule (n puff -1) contained in the flavor source 52, the target temperature T cap_target of the second heater 34 and the aerosol weight W aerosol necessary for achieving the target flavor component amount W flavor (step S10).
  • the MCU 63 calculates the aerosol weight W aerosol based on the following formula (2) obtained by modifying the above-mentioned formula (1), and determines the calculated aerosol weight W aerosol .
  • W aerosol W flavor ⁇ ⁇ W capsule n puff ⁇ 1 ⁇ T capsule ⁇ ⁇
  • ⁇ and ⁇ in the above-mentioned formula (2) are the same as ⁇ and ⁇ in the above-mentioned formula (1), and are experimentally obtained.
  • the target flavor component amount W flavor is set in advance by the manufacturer of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • the residual flavor component amount W capsule (n puff -1) in the above-mentioned formula (2) becomes the W initial when the suction operation has not been performed even once after a new capsule 50 is mounted, and becomes the residual flavor component amount W capsule (n puff ) calculated by the residual amount updating process immediately before when the suction operation has been performed once or more.
  • the MCU 63 sets the atomization electric power P liquid to be supplied to the first heater 45 based on the aerosol weight W aerosol determined in step S10 (step S11).
  • the MCU 63 calculates the atomization electric power P liquid based on, for example, the following formula (3), and sets the calculated atomization electric power P liquid .
  • P liquid W aerosol ⁇ ⁇ t
  • ⁇ in the above-mentioned formula (3) is a coefficient experimentally obtained similarly to ⁇ and ⁇ .
  • the aerosol weight W aerosol in the above-mentioned formula (3) is the aerosol weight W aerosol determined in step S10.
  • t in the above-mentioned formula (3) is a supply time t sense during which the atomization electric power P liquid is expected to be supplied, and can be set to an upper limit value t upper , for example.
  • the MCU 63 determines whether the atomization electric power P liquid determined in step S11 is equal to or less than a predetermined upper limit electric power which can be discharged from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 at that time (step S12).
  • the MCU 63 proceeds to the above-described step S21.
  • the MCU 63 increases the target temperature T cap_target only by a predetermined amount (step S13), and returns to step S10.
  • the MCU 63 can make the determination in step S12 to be YES, which is initially determined to be NO, and can proceed to step S21 illustrated in Fig. 9 .
  • the MCU 63 acquires a current temperature of the second heater 34 (hereinafter, also referred to as the temperature T cap_sense ) based on the output of the second temperature detection element 68 (step S21).
  • the temperature T cap_sense which is the temperature of the second heater 34, is an example of the above-described temperature parameter T capsule .
  • the temperature of the second heater 34 is used as the temperature parameter T capsule is described, but the temperature of the flavor source 52 or the accommodation chamber 53 may be used instead of the temperature of the second heater 34.
  • the MCU 63 controls the discharge from the power supply 61 to the second heater 34 such that the temperature T cap_sense is converged to the target temperature T cap_target based on the target temperature T cap_target set in the menthol mode process or the regular mode process and the acquired temperature T cap_sense (step S22).
  • the MCU 63 executes, for example, proportional-integral-differential (PID) control such that the temperature T cap_sense is converged to the target temperature T cap_target .
  • PID proportional-integral-differential
  • the control to converge the temperature T cap_sense to the target temperature T cap_target ON/OFF control for turning on/off electric power supply to the second heater 34, proportional (P) control, proportional-integral (PI) control, or the like may be used instead of the PID control.
  • P proportional
  • PI proportional-integral
  • the target temperature T cap_target may have hysteresis.
  • the MCU 63 determines whether there is an aerosol generation request (step S23). When there is no aerosol generation request (NO in step S23), the MCU 63 determines whether a predetermined period has elapsed in a state where there is no aerosol generation request (step S24). When the predetermined period has not elapsed in the state where there is no aerosol generation request (NO in step S24), the MCU 63 returns to step S21.
  • step S24 When the predetermined period has elapsed in the state where there is no aerosol generation request (YES in step S24), the MCU 63 stops the discharge to the second heater 34 (step S25), switches the mode for causing the aerosol suction device 1 to operate to the sleep mode (step S26), and proceeds to step S51 to be described later.
  • the MCU 63 executes the aerosol generation control.
  • the MCU 63 temporarily stops the heating of the flavor source 52 by the second heater 34 (that is, the discharge to the second heater 34), and acquires the temperature T cap_sense based on the output of the second temperature detection element 68 (step S30).
  • the MCU 63 may not stop the heating of the flavor source 52 by the second heater 34 (that is, the discharge to the second heater 34) when executing step S11.
  • the MCU 63 determines whether the acquired temperature T cap_sense is higher than the set target temperature T cap_target - ⁇ (here, ⁇ ⁇ 0) (step S31). This ⁇ can be determined to any value by the manufacturer of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • the MCU 63 sets a current atomization electric power P liquid - ⁇ (here, ⁇ > 0) as a new atomization electric power P liquid (step S32), and proceeds to step S35.
  • the MCU 63 determines whether the temperature T cap_sense is lower than the target temperature T cap_target - ⁇ (step S33).
  • the MCU 63 sets the current atomization electric power P liquid + ⁇ as a new atomization electric power P liquid (step S34), and proceeds to step S35.
  • the MCU 63 changes the target temperature T cap_target from 80 [°C] to 60 [°C] at a predetermined timing.
  • the temperature T cap_sense for example, 80 [°C]
  • the MCU 63 makes a NO determination in step S32, and executes the process of step S34 to further reduce the atomization electric power P liquid .
  • an amount of the aerosol source 71 generated by heating by the first heater 45 and supplied to the flavor source 52 can be reduced by reducing the atomization electric power P liquid . Therefore, an excessive amount of menthol can be prevented from being supplied into the mouth of the user and an appropriate amount of menthol can be stably supplied to the user.
  • the MCU 63 notifies the user of the current mode (step S35). For example, in the case of the menthol mode (that is, in the case where the menthol mode process is executed), in step S35, the MCU 63 notifies the user that the mode is the menthol mode by causing the light-emitting element 161 to emit green light, for example.
  • the MCU 63 in the case of the regular mode (that is, in the case where the regular mode process is executed), in step S35, the MCU 63 notifies the user that the mode is the regular mode by causing the light-emitting element 161 to emit white light, for example.
  • the MCU 63 controls the DC/DC converter 66 such that the atomization electric power P liquid set in step S33 or step S34 is supplied to the first heater 45 (step S36). Specifically, the MCU 63 controls the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 by the DC/DC converter 66 such that the atomization electric power P liquid is supplied to the first heater 45. As a result, the atomization electric power P liquid is supplied to the first heater 45, the aerosol source 71 is heated by the first heater 45, and the vaporized and/or atomized aerosol source 71 is generated.
  • the MCU 63 determines whether the aerosol generation request is ended (step S37).
  • the MCU 63 determines whether an elapsed time from a start of the supply of the atomization electric power P liquid , that is, the supply time t sense has reached the upper limit value t upper (step S38).
  • the MCU 63 returns to step S36. In this case, the supply of the atomization electric power P liquid to the first heater 45, that is, the generation of the vaporized and/or atomized aerosol source 71 is continued.
  • step S37 when the aerosol generation request is ended (YES in step S37), and when the supply time t sense reaches the upper limit value t upper (YES in step S38), the MCU 63 stops the supply of the atomization electric power P liquid to the first heater 45 (that is, the discharge to the first heater 45) (step S39), and ends the aerosol generation control.
  • the MCU 63 controls the discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 and the discharge from the power supply 61 to the second heater 34 in the menthol mode or the regular mode.
  • the MCU 63 executes the residual amount updating process of calculating the residual flavor component amount contained in the flavor source 52.
  • the MCU 63 first acquires a supply time t sense during which the atomization electric power P liquid is supplied (step S41). Next, the MCU 63 adds "1" to n puff which is a count value of a puff number counter (step S42).
  • the MCU 63 updates the residual flavor component amount W capsule (n puff ) contained in the flavor source 52 based on the acquired supply time t sense , the atomization electric power P liquid supplied to the first heater 45 according to the aerosol generation request, and the target temperature T cap_target set when the aerosol generation request is detected (step S43). For example, the MCU 63 calculates the residual flavor component amount W capsule (n puff ) based on the following formula (4), and stores the calculated residual flavor component amount W capsule (n puff ) in the memory 63a, thereby updating the residual flavor component amount W capsule (n puff ). [Math.
  • ⁇ in the above-mentioned formula (4) is the same as ⁇ in the above-mentioned formula (3), and is experimentally obtained.
  • ⁇ and ⁇ in the above-mentioned formula (4) are the same as ⁇ and ⁇ in the above-mentioned formula (1), and are experimentally obtained.
  • ⁇ in the above-mentioned formula (4) is the same as ⁇ used in step S32, and is set in advance by the manufacturer of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • the MCU 63 determines whether the updated residual flavor component amount W capsule (n puff ) is less than a predetermined residual amount threshold value which is a condition for executing the capsule replacement notification (step S44).
  • a predetermined residual amount threshold value which is a condition for executing the capsule replacement notification
  • step S45 determines whether the number of times of replacement of the capsule 50 after replacement of the cartridge 40 is the predetermined number of times. For example, in the present embodiment, five capsules 50 are combined with one cartridge 40 and provided to the user. In this case, in step S25, the MCU 63 determines whether the number of times of replacement of the capsule 50 after replacement of the cartridge 40 is five times.
  • the MCU 63 executes capsule replacement notification (step S46).
  • the MCU 63 executes the capsule replacement notification by causing the light-emitting element 161 to blink in green when the aerosol suction device 1 is caused to operate in the menthol mode and to blink in white when the aerosol suction device 1 is caused to operate in the regular mode.
  • the MCU 63 executes the cartridge replacement notification (step S47).
  • the MCU 63 executes the cartridge replacement notification by causing the light-emitting element 161 to blink in blue.
  • the MCU 63 executes a counter reset control of resetting the count value of the puff number counter to 1, and initializes the setting of the target temperature T cap_target (step S48).
  • the MCU 63 sets the target temperature T cap_target to, for example, -273 [°C] which is absolute zero. As a result, substantially, the discharge to the second heater 34 can be stopped, and the heating of the flavor source 52 by the second heater 34 can be stopped, regardless of the temperature of the second heater 34 at that time.
  • the MCU 63 determines whether a power-off operation is performed on the operation unit 15 by the user (step S51).
  • the power-off operation is an operation of maintaining a state where the operation unit 15 is pressed for a predetermined time (for example, 3 [seconds]) or more.
  • the MCU 63 returns to step S3.
  • the MCU 63 executes the power-off control, switches the mode for causing the aerosol suction device 1 to operate to the sleep mode (step S52), and ends a series of processes.
  • the MCU 63 controls the discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 based on a result of the cartridge identification process including the aerosol source information acquisition process.
  • the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 can be appropriately controlled according to a type of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 mounted on the aerosol suction device 1, and an appropriate amount of flavor component and aerosol can be stably supplied to the user
  • the MCU 63 can control the discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 in a plurality of modes, selects one mode from the plurality of modes based on the result of the cartridge identification process including the aerosol source information acquisition process, and controls the discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 in the selected mode.
  • the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 can be appropriately controlled according to the type of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 mounted on the aerosol suction device 1 by simple control, and an appropriate amount of flavor component and aerosol can be stably supplied to the user
  • the discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 can be controlled in a plurality of modes including at least the regular mode and the menthol mode, and in the aerosol source information acquisition process, when the information indicating that menthol is contained in the aerosol source 71 is acquired, the discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 is controlled in the menthol mode, and in the aerosol source information acquisition process, when the information indicating that menthol is not contained in the aerosol source 71 is acquired, the discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 is controlled in the regular mode.
  • the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 can be appropriately controlled according to when the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 mounted on the aerosol suction device 1 contains the menthol and when the aerosol source 71 does not contain the menthol, and aerosol containing an appropriate amount of flavor component and menthol can be stably supplied to the user
  • the discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 is controlled in the regular mode.
  • the MCU 63 it is possible to reliably prevent the MCU 63 from controlling the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 in the menthol mode.
  • the aerosol suction device 1 is capable of executing the calibration of the color identification sensor 24 after factory shipment.
  • the calibration of the color identification sensor 24 described below is realized by, for example, the processor of the MCU 63 executing a program of a calibration process stored in advance in the memory 63a.
  • the MCU 63 first causes the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 to receive inspection light having a numerical value of a predetermined color component.
  • a light-emitting device which can emit the inspection light and can be accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 may be accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 instead of the cartridge 40, and the inspection light may be light having a numerical value of a predetermined color component such as red, green, or blue emitted from the light-emitting device accommodated in the cartridge cover 20.
  • the inspection light may separately emit a plurality of types of light having numerical values of different color components such as red, green, and blue, and the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 may receive each light.
  • an inspection device which can be accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 may be accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 instead of the cartridge 40, and in a state where the inspection device is accommodated in the cartridge cover 20, a region facing the light projecting unit 241 and the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 may be colored in a color having a numerical value of a predetermined color component, the white light projected from the light projecting unit 241 may be reflected by the region colored in the color having the numerical value of the predetermined color component in the inspection device, and the light reflected from the region may be received by the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24.
  • the inspection light may be the light obtained by reflecting the white light projected from the light projecting unit 241 in the region colored in the color having the numerical value of the predetermined color component in the inspection device.
  • at least the region facing the light projecting unit 241 and the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 may include a plurality of inspection devices colored with the colors having numerical values of different color components such as red, green, and blue, and light reflected from each of the inspection devices colored in the colors having numerical values of different color components may be received by the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24.
  • the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 quantifies the color component of the received inspection light. For example, the color sensor unit 242 quantifies the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the inspection light received by the light receiving unit into values of 0 to 255, respectively. Then, the color identification sensor 24 outputs, to the MCU 63, the values of 0 to 255 for each of the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the inspection light received by the light receiving unit.
  • the memory 63a of the MCU 63 stores information on a numerical value of a predetermined color component of the inspection light. For example, the memory 63a of the MCU 63 stores the values of 0 to 255 for each of the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the inspection light.
  • the MCU 63 then calibrates the numerical values of the color components of the light quantified by the color sensor unit 242 based on the numerical values of the predetermined color components of the inspection light stored in the memory 63a and the numerical values of the color components of the inspection light quantified by the color sensor unit 242. For example, the MCU 63 calibrates the values of 0 to 255 for each of the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the inspection light received by the light receiving unit of the color identification sensor 24, which are quantified by the color sensor unit 242, so as to match the values of 0 to 255 for each of the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the inspection light stored in the memory 63a.
  • the MCU 63 can execute the calibration process in which the color sensor unit 242 is caused to receive the inspection light having the numerical value of the predetermined color component, and the numerical value of the color component of the inspection light quantified by the color sensor unit 242 is calibrated based on the numerical value of the predetermined color component of the inspection light stored in the memory 63a and the numerical value of the color component of the inspection light quantified by the color sensor unit 242.
  • the aerosol suction device 1 can execute the calibration of the color identification sensor 24 even after factory shipment, and therefore, even when the aerosol suction device 1 is used for a long period of time, the color by which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored can be identified by the color identification sensor 24 without deterioration in accuracy.
  • the MCU 63 may execute numerical processing of the color sensor unit 242 to obtain the calibrated numerical value of the color component of the light, and the MCU 63 may correct the numerical value of the color component of the light quantified by the color sensor unit 242 so as to be the calibrated numerical value of the color component of the light.
  • the aerosol suction device 1 is capable of executing the calibration of the color identification sensor 24 after factory shipment.
  • the calibration of the color identification sensor 24 described below is realized by, for example, the processor of the MCU 63 executing a program of a calibration process stored in advance in the memory 63a.
  • the cartridge cover 20 may be provided with an openable and closable shutter which can prevent light outside the cartridge cover 20 from entering the inside of the cartridge cover 20. For example, when the shutter is in a closed state, the light outside the cartridge cover 20 can be prevented from entering the inside of the cartridge cover 20.
  • the cartridge cover 20 may be provided with a shutter opening/closing sensor capable of detecting that the above-described shutter is in the closed state.
  • the shutter opening/closing sensor has a hall element or the like, and outputs a signal indicating that the shutter is in the closed state to the MCU 63 when the above-described shutter is in the closed state.
  • the MCU 63 may detect whether the cartridge 40 is accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 by any method.
  • the MCU 63 may detect whether the cartridge 40 is accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 by any method.
  • the MCU 63 may detect whether the cartridge 40 is accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 based on the electrical resistance value between the pair of discharge terminals 12 acquired using the voltage sensor 671 and the current sensor 672. It is clear that electrical resistance values between the discharge terminals 12 which can be acquired by the MCU 63 are different between, a state where the cartridge 40 is accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 and the pair of discharge terminals 12 are conductive by connecting the first heater 45 between the pair of discharge terminals 12 and a state where the cartridge 40 is not accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 and the pair of discharge terminals 12 are insulated by air without connecting the first heater 45 between the pair of discharge terminals 12. Therefore, the MCU 63 can detect whether the cartridge 40 is accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 by any method based on the electrical resistance value between the discharge terminals 12.
  • the MCU 63 determines a state where the cartridge 40 is not accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 and the light outside the cartridge cover 20 does not enter the inside of the cartridge cover 20, and causes the inspection light to be projected from the light projecting unit 241 of the color identification sensor 24.
  • the inspection light is white light projected from the light projecting unit 241.
  • the inspection light may be light having a color component different from the white light, which is projected from the light projecting unit 241.
  • an inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 21 of the cartridge cover 20 facing the inside of the circular ring is colored in black or white. Therefore, regarding the inspection light projected from the light projecting unit 241, light having a specific wavelength is not absorbed by the outer peripheral wall 21 of the cartridge cover 20, and the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 receives the inspection light remaining having the color component in a state of being projected from the light projecting unit 241.
  • the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 quantifies the color component of the received inspection light when receiving the inspection light remaining having the color component in the state of being projected from the light projecting unit 241. For example, the color sensor unit 242 quantifies the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the inspection light received by the light receiving unit into values of 0 to 255, respectively. Then, the color identification sensor 24 outputs, to the MCU 63, the values of 0 to 255 for each of the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the inspection light received by the light receiving unit.
  • the memory 63a of the MCU 63 stores the information on the numerical value of the predetermined color component of the inspection light projected from the light projecting unit 241. For example, the memory 63a of the MCU 63 stores the values of 0 to 255 for each of the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the inspection light.
  • the MCU 63 then calibrates the numerical values of the color components of the light quantified by the color sensor unit 242 based on the numerical values of the predetermined color components of the inspection light stored in the memory 63a and the numerical values of the color components of the inspection light quantified by the color sensor unit 242. For example, the MCU 63 calibrates the values of 0 to 255 for each of the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the inspection light received by the light receiving unit of the color identification sensor 24, which are quantified by the color sensor unit 242, so as to match the values of 0 to 255 for each of the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the inspection light stored in the memory 63a.
  • the MCU 63 can execute the calibration process in which the inspection light having the numerical value of the predetermined color component is caused to be projected from the light projecting unit 241 of the color identification sensor 24 in the state where the cartridge 40 is not accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 and the light outside the cartridge cover 20 does not enter the inside of the cartridge cover 20, and the numerical value of the color component of the inspection light quantified by the color sensor unit 242 is calibrated based on the numerical value of the predetermined color component of the inspection light stored in the memory 63a and the numerical value of the color component of the inspection light quantified by the color sensor unit 242.
  • the aerosol suction device 1 can execute the calibration of the color identification sensor 24 even after factory shipment, and therefore, even when the aerosol suction device 1 is used for a long period of time, the color by which the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored can be identified by the color identification sensor 24 without deterioration in accuracy.
  • the MCU 63 may execute numerical processing of the color sensor unit 242 to obtain the calibrated numerical value of the color component of the light, and the MCU 63 may correct the numerical value of the color component of the light quantified by the color sensor unit 242 so as to be the calibrated numerical value of the color component of the light.
  • the aerosol suction device 1 can supply the aerosol 72 containing the menthol 80 to the user by the suction operation of the user.
  • the aerosol suction device 1 appropriately controls the discharge to the first heater 45 which is a heater which heats the aerosol source 71 stored in the cartridge 40 and the second heater 34 which is a heater which heats the capsule 50 (that is, the flavor source 52), and stably supplies an appropriate amount of menthol to the user.
  • a horizontal axis indicates the residual flavor component amount [mg] (that is, the residual flavor component amount W capsule ) contained in the flavor source 52 in the capsule 50.
  • a vertical axis in (a) of Fig. 13 indicates the target temperature (that is, the target temperature T cap_target ) [° C] of the second heater 34, which is a heater which heats the capsule 50 (that is, the flavor source 52).
  • a vertical axis in (b) of Fig. 13 indicates the voltage [V] to be applied to the first heater 45, which is a heater which heats the aerosol source 71 stored in the cartridge 40.
  • a vertical axis on a left side in (c) of Fig. 13 indicates a menthol amount [mg/puff] to be supplied into the mouth of the user by one suction operation.
  • a vertical axis on a right side in (c) of Fig. 13 indicates the flavor component amount [mg/puff] to be supplied into the mouth of the user by one suction operation.
  • the menthol amount to be supplied into the mouth of the user by one suction operation is also referred to as a unit supply menthol amount.
  • the flavor component amount to be supplied into the mouth of the user by one suction operation is hereinafter also referred to as a unit supply flavor component amount.
  • a first period Tm1 is a certain period immediately after the capsule 50 is replaced.
  • the first period Tm1 is a period from when the residual flavor component amount in the capsule 50 is W initial to when the residual flavor component amount becomes W th1 set in advance by the manufacturer of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • W th1 is a value smaller than W initial and larger than W th2 , W th2 being the above-described residual amount threshold value as the condition for executing the capsule replacement notification.
  • W th1 can be a residual flavor component amount when the suction operation is performed about 10 times after a new capsule 50 is mounted.
  • a second period Tm2 is a period after the first period Tm1, and specifically, is a period from when the residual flavor component amount in the capsule 50 becomes W th1 to when the residual flavor component amount becomes W th2 .
  • the MCU 63 controls the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 according to the menthol mode. Specifically, in the menthol mode in this case, as indicated by a thick solid line in (a) of Fig. 13 , the MCU 63 sets the target temperature of the second heater 34 during the first period Tm1 to 80 [° C].
  • the target temperature (80 [°C]) of the second heater 34 during the first period Tm1 in this case is an example of a first target temperature according to the present invention.
  • the target temperature of the second heater 34 during the first period Tm1 (that is, the first target temperature) in this case is a temperature higher than the melting point (for example, 42 [°C] to 45 [°C]) of the menthol and lower than the boiling point (for example, 212 [°C] to 216 [°C]) of the menthol.
  • the target temperature of the second heater 34 during the first period Tm1 may be a temperature equal to or lower than 90 [°C].
  • the temperature of the second heater 34 (that is, the flavor source 52) is controlled to converge to 80 [°C], which is an example of the first target temperature. Therefore, the menthol 80 adsorbed by the flavor source 52 is heated to an appropriate temperature by the second heater 34 during the first period Tm1, so that rapid progress of desorption of the menthol 80 from the flavor source 52 can be prevented, and an appropriate amount of menthol can be stably supplied to the user.
  • the MCU 63 sets the target temperature of the second heater 34 to 60 [°C], which is lower than the target temperature in the immediately preceding first period Tm1.
  • the target temperature (60 [°C]) of the second heater 34 during the second period Tm2 in this case is an example of a second target temperature according to the present invention.
  • the target temperature of the second heater 34 during the second period Tm2 (that is, the second target temperature) in this case is also a temperature higher than the melting point of the menthol and lower than the boiling point of the menthol.
  • the target temperature of the second heater 34 during the second period Tm2 may also be a temperature equal to or lower than 90 [°C].
  • the temperature of the second heater 34 that is, the flavor source 52
  • the menthol 80 adsorbed by the flavor source 52 is heated to an appropriate temperature by the second heater 34 also during the second period Tm2, so that rapid progress of desorption of the menthol 80 from the flavor source 52 can be prevented, and an appropriate amount of menthol can be stably supplied to the user
  • the temperature of the second heater 34 (that is, the flavor source 52) is controlled to converge to a temperature lower than that in the immediately preceding first period Tm1.
  • the temperature of the second heater 34 (that is, the flavor source 52) is controlled to converge to 60 [°C], which is lower than 80 [°C] in the immediately preceding first period Tm1.
  • V1 [V] is an example of a first voltage according to the present invention, and is a voltage set in advance by the manufacturer of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • electric power corresponding to the voltage V1 [V] to be applied is supplied from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45, and the aerosol source 71 vaporized and/or atomized in an amount corresponding to the electric power is generated by the first heater 45.
  • V2 [V] is an example of a second voltage according to the present invention, and is a voltage higher than V1 [V] as illustrated in (b) of Fig. 13 .
  • V2 [V] is set in advance by the manufacturer of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • the MCU 63 can apply a voltage such as V1 [V] and V2 [V] to the first heater 45 by controlling the DC/DC converter 66.
  • the voltage (here, V2 [V]) to be applied to the first heater 45 during the second period Tm2 is higher than the voltage (here, V1 [V]) to be applied to the first heater 45 during the first period Tm1.
  • the electric power to be supplied to the first heater 45 increases as compared to that in the immediately preceding first period Tm1. Accordingly, the amount of the vaporized and/or atomized aerosol source 71 generated by the first heater 45 also increases as compared to that in the immediately preceding first period Tm1.
  • An example of the unit supply menthol amount in a case where both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain the menthol 80 and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 according to the above-mentioned menthol mode refers to a unit supply menthol amount 131a in (c) of Fig. 13 .
  • an example of the unit supply flavor component amount in the case where both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain the menthol 80 and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 according to the above-mentioned menthol mode refers to a unit supply flavor component amount 131b in (c) of Fig. 13 .
  • the MCU 63 gradually increases the target temperature of the second heater 34 during the first period Tm1 and the second period Tm2 to, for example, 30 [°C], 60 [°C], 70 [°C], and 85 [°C].
  • These target temperatures and a timing to change the target temperature are set in advance by the manufacturer of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • the timing to change the target temperature of the second heater 34 in the regular mode may be determined based on the residual flavor component amount [mg] (that is, the residual flavor component amount W capsule ) contained in the flavor source 52 in the capsule 50.
  • a maximum value (here, 70 [°C]) of the target temperature of the second heater 34 during the first period Tm1 in the regular mode is a temperature lower than the target temperature (here, 80 [°C]) of the second heater 34 during the first period Tm1 in the menthol mode.
  • a minimum value (here, 70 [°C]) of the target temperature of the second heater 34 during the second period Tm2 in the regular mode is a temperature higher than the target temperature (here, 60 [°C]) of the second heater 34 during the second period Tm2 in the menthol mode.
  • the MCU 63 maintains the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 during the first period Tm1 and the second period Tm2 at a constant V3 [V].
  • V3 [V] is a voltage higher than V1 [V] and lower than V2 [V], and is a voltage set in advance by the manufacturer of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • the MCU 63 can apply a voltage such as V3 [V] to the first heater 45 by controlling the DC/DC converter 66.
  • An example of the unit supply menthol amount in a case where both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain the menthol 80 and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 according to the above-mentioned regular mode refers to a unit supply menthol amount 132a in (c) of Fig. 13 .
  • an example of the unit supply flavor component amount in the case where both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain the menthol 80 and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 according to the above-mentioned regular mode refers to a unit supply flavor component amount 132b in (c) of Fig. 13 .
  • the temperature of the flavor source 52 during the first period Tm1 becomes lower because the target temperature of the second heater 34 during the first period Tm1 is lower than that when the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 is controlled according to the menthol mode.
  • the MCU 63 sets the temperature of the second heater 34 (that is, the flavor source 52) to a temperature in the vicinity of the relatively high temperature of 80 [°C] in the first period Tm1 assumed to be a period before the flavor source 52 (specifically, the tobacco granules 521) and the menthol 80 reach the adsorption equilibrium state.
  • the MCU 63 can prompt the flavor source 52 (specifically, the tobacco granules 521) and the menthol 80 to reach the adsorption equilibrium state in the capsule 50 at an early stage, prevent the menthol 80 derived from the aerosol source 71 from being adsorbed to the flavor source 52, and ensure an amount of menthol 80, of the menthol 80 derived from the aerosol source 71, to be supplied into the mouth of the user without being adsorbed to the flavor source 52.
  • the flavor source 52 specifically, the tobacco granules 521
  • the menthol 80 to reach the adsorption equilibrium state in the capsule 50 at an early stage, prevent the menthol 80 derived from the aerosol source 71 from being adsorbed to the flavor source 52, and ensure an amount of menthol 80, of the menthol 80 derived from the aerosol source 71, to be supplied into the mouth of the user without being adsorbed to the flavor source 52.
  • the MCU 63 can also increase the menthol 80 derived from the flavor source 52, which is desorbed from the flavor source 52 (specifically, the tobacco granules 521) and is supplied into the mouth of the user by setting the second heater 34 (that is, the flavor source 52) to a high temperature. Therefore, as indicated by the unit supply menthol amount 131a, a sufficient amount of menthol can be supplied to the user from a period during which the flavor component contained in the flavor source 52 is sufficiently present (at the time of a new product).
  • a unit supply menthol amount 133a indicates an example of the unit supply menthol amount in the case where both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain the menthol 80 and heating of the flavor source 52 by the second heater 34 is not executed.
  • the temperature of the second heater 34 that is, the flavor source 52
  • Tm1 room temperature
  • the temperature of the flavor source 52 during the first period Tm1 is lower than when the discharge to the first heater 45 and the like is controlled according to the menthol mode, so that a sufficient amount of menthol cannot be supplied to the user during the first period Tm1.
  • the target temperature of the second heater 34 in the first period Tm1 is set high in the menthol mode.
  • the flavor source 52 which has reached a high temperature after the first period Tm1 is further continuously heated at a high temperature also during the second period Tm2
  • the flavor source 52 which has reached a high temperature after the first period Tm1, is prevented from being continuously heated at a high temperature also during the second period Tm2.
  • the unit supply menthol amount 131a As a result, as indicated by the unit supply menthol amount 131a, during the second period Tm2 assumed to be a period after the flavor source 52 (specifically, the tobacco granules 521) and the menthol 80 reach the adsorption equilibrium state, by lowering the temperature of the flavor source 52, an amount of menthol 80 which can be adsorbed to the flavor source 52 (specifically, the tobacco granules 521) can be increased, and an increase in the unit supply menthol amount can be prevented. Therefore, an appropriate amount of menthol can be supplied to the user during the second period Tm2.
  • the target temperature of the second heater 34 during the second period Tm2 is set to be low in the menthol mode.
  • the target temperature of the second heater 34 is set to be low as described above, the increase in the unit supply menthol amount during the second period Tm2 can be prevented, but it is considered that the unit supply flavor component amount during the second period Tm2 is also reduced, and sufficient smoking sense cannot be provided to the user
  • the MCU 63 sets the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 during the first period Tm1 as V1 [V], and sets the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 during the subsequent second period Tm2 as V2 [V], which is higher than V1 [V].
  • the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 can be changed to the relatively high voltage of V2 [V], in accordance with the target temperature of the second heater 34 being changed to the relatively low temperature of 60 [° C].
  • the amount of the aerosol source 71 generated by heating by the first heater 45 and supplied to the flavor source 52 can be increased, and as indicated by the unit supply flavor component amount 131b, a decrease in the unit supply flavor component amount during the second period Tm2 can be prevented.
  • V4 [V] is a voltage higher than V3 [V] as illustrated in (b) of Fig. 14 , and is a voltage set in advance by the manufacturer of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • V5 [V] is a voltage higher than V3 [V] and lower than V4 [V].
  • V5 [V] is set in advance by the manufacturer of the aerosol suction device 1.
  • the MCU 63 can apply a voltage such as V4 [V] and V5 [V] to the first heater 45 by controlling the DC/DC converter 66.
  • An example of the unit supply menthol amount in a case where only the aerosol source 71 contains the menthol 80 and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 according to the above-mentioned menthol mode refers to a unit supply menthol amount 141a in (c) of Fig. 14 .
  • An example of the unit supply flavor component amount in the case where only the aerosol source 71 contains the menthol 80 and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 according to the above-mentioned menthol mode refers to a unit supply flavor component amount 141b in (c) of Fig. 14 .
  • an example of the unit supply menthol amount in a case where only the aerosol source 71 contains the menthol 80 and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 according to the above-mentioned regular mode refers to a unit supply menthol amount 142a in (c) of Fig. 14 .
  • An example of the unit supply flavor component amount in the case where only the aerosol source 71 contains the menthol 80 and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 according to the above-mentioned regular mode refers to a unit supply flavor component amount 142b in (c) of Fig. 14 .
  • an example of the unit supply menthol amount in the case where only the aerosol source 71 contains the menthol 80 and heating of the flavor source 52 by the second heater 34 is not executed refers to a unit supply menthol amount 143a in (c) of Fig. 14 .
  • An example of the unit supply flavor component amount in the case where only the aerosol source 71 contains the menthol 80 and heating of the flavor source 52 by the second heater 34 is not executed refers to a unit supply flavor component amount 143b in (c) of Fig. 14 .
  • the MCU 63 sets the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 during the first period Tm1 as V4 [V], and sets the voltage to be applied to the first heater 45 during the subsequent second period Tm2 as V5 [V], which is lower than V4 [V].
  • the relatively high V4 [V] is applied to the first heater 45 (that is, a large electric power is supplied to the first heater 45), and the amount of the aerosol source 71 generated by heating by the first heater 45 and supplied to the flavor source 52 can be increased.
  • the amount of menthol 80, of the menthol 80 derived from the aerosol source 71, to be supplied into the mouth of the user without being adsorbed to the flavor source 52 can be increased, and the flavor source 52 and the menthol 80 are promoted to reach the adsorption equilibrium state in an early stage in the capsule 50. Therefore, it is possible to stably supply an appropriate and sufficient amount of menthol to the user from a period (for example, so-called suction start) during which the flavor component contained in the flavor source 52 is sufficiently present.
  • the first heater 45 which heats the aerosol source to vaporize and/or atomize the aerosol source may be provided in the power supply unit 10, and an attachable and detachable aerosol source storage unit in which the aerosol source is stored may be provided instead of the cartridge 40 and the capsule 50.
  • the aerosol source storage unit may be, for example, an attachable and detachable refill in which an aerosol source is stored and a flavor source such as tobacco leaves is accommodated.
  • the colored portion 49 is formed in the aerosol source storage unit such as a refill.
  • the colored portion 49 may be colored in any color, not limited to red, green, and blue.
  • an overall shape of the aerosol suction device 1 is not limited to the shape in which the power supply unit 10, the cartridge 40, and the capsule 50 are arranged in a line as illustrated in Fig. 1 .
  • the aerosol suction device 1 may be implemented such that the cartridge 40 and the capsule 50 can be replaced with respect to the power supply unit 10, and any shape such as a substantially box shape can be adopted.
  • the capsule holder 30 is provided with the second heater 34, but the second heater 34 may not be provided.
  • the light shielding member 25 which does not allow light to be transmitted is provided between the color identification sensor 24 and the inner peripheral wall 22 of the cartridge cover 20, but the light shielding member 25 may not be provided.
  • the capsule 50 may be implemented to be replaceable with respect to the power supply unit 10, and may be attachable to and detachable from the power supply unit 10.

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  • Disinfection, Sterilisation Or Deodorisation Of Air (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
EP22779752.9A 2021-04-01 2022-03-01 Aerosolerzeugungsvorrichtung Pending EP4316288A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2021063177 2021-04-01
PCT/JP2022/008581 WO2022209527A1 (ja) 2021-04-01 2022-03-01 エアロゾル生成装置

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4316288A1 true EP4316288A1 (de) 2024-02-07

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