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
• • 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
  • A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
• • 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
  • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
  • A24F40/53—Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
• • 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
  • A24F40/85—Maintenance, e.g. cleaning

Definitions

• an inhalation device employs an aerosol source for generating an aerosol, and a substrate including a flavor source or the like for imparting a flavor component to the generated aerosol, to generate an aerosol to which the flavor component has been imparted.
• the user can enjoy the flavor by inhaling the aerosol to which the flavor component has been imparted, generated by the inhalation device.
• the action by which the user inhales the aerosol is also referred to below as "puffing" or a "puffing action”.
• PTL 1 describes technology in which light is emitted, a phosphorescence characteristic of reflected light is detected, and operation of an inhalation device is controlled on the basis of the detection result.
• Temperature control when the substrate is heated may contribute to a better flavor, as disclosed in PTL 1 above.
• cleaning the inhalation device also contributes to a better flavor.
• PTL 1 makes no mention at all of cleaning the inhalation device.
• the present disclosure takes account of the abovementioned problem, and one objective of the present disclosure lies in providing a mechanism capable of further improving the quality of the user experience.
• the control unit may start heating by the heating unit when the detection value obtained by means of the second state detection unit satisfies the first condition.
• the control unit may start heating by the heating unit when the detection value detected by the second state detection unit satisfies the first condition within a predetermined time after the control unit has performed control to switch the mode of the second state detection unit from the stop mode to the operating mode.
• control unit may control the mode of either one of the first state detection unit and the second state detection unit to the operating mode and control the mode of the other to the stop mode.
• control unit may perform control to stop heating by the heating unit.
• the control unit may implement substitution control multiple times to switch the modes of the first state detection unit and the second state detection unit so that the modes of the first state detection unit and the second state detection unit are substituted, may determine whether or not the first condition is satisfied each time substitution control is performed, and may control heating by the heating unit based on multiple determination results.
• the control unit may implement the substitution control when a detection result satisfying the first condition has been obtained by either of the first state detection unit and the second state detection unit, or when a predetermined time has elapsed after control was performed to switch the mode of the second state detection unit from the stop mode to the operating mode.
• the control unit may control the start of heating by the heating unit only when detection values satisfying the first condition have been obtained a predetermined consecutive number of times by means of the first state detection unit and the second state detection unit.
• the control unit may prohibit heating by the heating unit when detection values satisfying the first condition are not obtained a predetermined consecutive number of times by means of the first state detection unit and the second state detection unit.
• the aerosol-generating system may further comprise a substrate accommodated in the accommodating portion.
• a different aspect of the present disclosure for solving the problem above provides an information processing method implemented by means of a computer, the information processing method comprising performing control so that, when a detection detected by a first state detection unit for detecting a state of an internal space of an accommodating portion having the internal space and an opening enabling the internal space to communicate with the outside satisfies a first condition, a mode of the first state detection unit is switched from an operating mode in which the state of the internal space is detected to a stop mode in which detection of the state of the internal space is stopped, and so that a mode of the second state detection unit for detecting the state of the internal space is switched from the stop mode to the operating mode.
• elements having substantially identical functional configurations may also be distinguished by using the same reference sign followed by a different letter of the alphabet.
• a plurality of elements having a substantially identical functional configuration are distinguished as a "light sensor unit 170A” and a "light sensor unit 170B".
• the same code is assigned.
• the light sensor unit 170A and the light sensor unit 170B these are simply referred to as the "light sensor unit(s) 170".
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating schematically an internal configuration example of an inhalation device.
• an inhalation device 100 according to the present configuration example comprises a power source unit 111, a sensor unit 112, a notification unit 113, a memory unit 114, a communication unit 115, a control unit 116, heating units 121, an accommodating portion 140, and a heat insulating portion 144.
• the sensor unit 112 acquires various types of information relating to the inhalation device 100.
• the sensor unit 112 is configured by a pressure sensor such as a condenser microphone, a flow rate sensor or a temperature sensor, etc., and acquires values associated with inhalation by a user.
• the sensor unit 112 is configured by an input device, such as a button or switch, for accepting input of information from the user.
• the notification unit 113 notifies the user of information.
• the notification unit 113 is configured by a light-emitting device which emits light, a display device which displays images, a sound output device which outputs sound, or a vibration device which vibrates, etc., for example.
• the memory unit 114 stores various types of information for the operation of the inhalation device 100.
• the memory unit 114 is configured by a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash memory, for example.
• the heat insulating portion 144 prevents heat transfer from the heating unit 121 to other components.
• the heat insulating portion 144 is configured from a vacuum heat insulating material or an aerogel heat insulating material, or the like.
• the inhalation device 100 is, of course, not limited to the configuration described above, and may adopt various configurations, such as those illustrated below by way of example.
• the accommodating portion 140 may comprise an opening/closing mechanism such as a hinge for opening/closing part of a casing that forms the internal space 141. By opening/closing the casing, the accommodating portion 140 may then receive and grip the stick-type substrate 150 which has been inserted into the internal space 141.
• the heating units 121 may be provided on the part of the accommodating portion 140 gripping the stick-type substrate 150, and may heat the stick-type substrate 150 while pressing same.
• Fig. 2 is an overall oblique view of the inhalation device 100 according to the embodiment.
• Fig. 3 is an overall oblique view of the inhalation device 100 according to the embodiment, with the stick-type substrate 150 held therein.
• the top housing 11A has an opening which is not depicted, and the cover 12 is joined to the top housing 11A to close this opening.
• the cover 12 comprises an opening 142 enabling insertion of the stick-type substrate 150.
• the cover portion 14 is configured to open/close the opening 142 in the cover 12.
• the switch 13 is used to switch the operation of the inhalation device 100 on and off.
• the user operates the switch 13 whereby power is supplied from the power source unit 111 to the heating unit 121, and the stick-type substrate 150 can be heated without being burned.
• the stick-type substrate 150 is heated, an aerosol is generated from the aerosol source contained in the stick-type substrate 150, and the flavor of the flavor source is taken in by the aerosol.
• the user draws on the part of the stick-type substrate 150 protruding from the inhalation device 100 (the part depicted in fig. 3 , i.e., the mouthpiece portion 152), and the user can thereby inhale the aerosol containing the flavor.
• the ventilation port 15 is a ventilation port for introducing air into the internal space 141.
• the air taken inside the inhalation device 100 from the ventilation port 15 is introduced into the internal space 141 from the bottom portion 143 of the accommodating portion 140, for example.
• the cap 16 is detachable from the bottom housing 11B.
• the ventilation port 15 is formed between the bottom housing 11B and the cap 16 by attaching the cap 16 to the bottom housing 11B.
• the cap 16 may have a through-hole or a cutout, etc. which is not depicted, for example.
• the stick lower portion accommodating portion 140A is a bottomed cylindrical body constituting the bottom portion 143-side portion of the accommodating portion 140.
• the stick lower portion accommodating portion 140A accommodates the bottom portion 143-side portion of the stick-type substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 141 from the opening 142.
• the heating unit 121 is arranged so as to cover the outer circumference of the stick lower portion accommodating portion 140A. Meanwhile, the heating unit 121 is not arranged on the outer circumference of the guide portion 140B.
• the guide portion 140B may be formed by a material having lower thermal conductivity than the material constituting the stick lower portion accommodating portion 140A.
• the light sensor unit 170 is therefore capable of detecting light without being affected by heating of the stick-type substrate 150.
• the inner wall of the guide portion 140B may be black.
• the guide portion 140B having a black inner wall makes it possible to suppress reflection of the light emitted by the light sensor unit 170.
• the stick-type substrate 150 may be formed with a color which reflects light relatively easily, such as white, then it is possible to create a large difference in reflected light intensity when the stick-type substrate 150 is inserted and when it is not inserted.
• Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a detailed configuration close to the light sensor unit 170 of the inhalation device 100 according to the embodiment. As shown in fig. 5 , the inhalation device 100 further comprises a light transmitting filter 173 and a reinforcing plate 174.
• the light transmitting filter 173 is a filter for transmitting the light emitted by the light sensor unit 170.
• the light transmitting filter 173 is an infrared transmitting filter when the light sensor unit 170 is an infrared proximity sensor, for example.
• the light transmitting filter 173 may be colored.
• a colored light transmitting filter 173 makes it possible to conceal the light sensor unit 170 from the outside.
• a hole 140Bb is provided in an inner wall 140Ba of the guide portion 140B, and the light sensor unit 170 is embedded in this hole 140Bb.
• the light transmitting filter 173 is arranged so as to close off this hole 140Bb, and forms the inner wall 140Ba of the guide portion 140B. This configuration enables the inner wall 140Ba of the guide portion 140B to be made smoother. Furthermore, the light transmitting filter 173 is capable of maintaining airtightness so that side stream smoke, etc. flowing in from outside the stick does not touch the light sensor unit 170.
• a clearance 175 constitutes a gap provided between the stick-type substrate 150 accommodated in the accommodating portion 140, and the inner wall 140Ba of the guide portion 140B.
• the clearance 175 may be provided so that a distance between the stick-type substrate 150 and the inner wall 140Ba of the guide portion 140B is 1-2 mm.
• the reinforcing plate 174 is a plate-like member having a predetermined rigidity.
• the reinforcing plate 174 is arranged so as to cover a rear side of the circuit board 172 having the light sensor unit 170 disposed on a front side thereof, and reinforces the light sensor unit 170 and the circuit board 172.
• Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram in which the accommodating portion 140 of the inhalation device 100 according to the embodiment is seen from the opening 142 side (i.e., from the top).
• the inhalation device 100 may comprise two light sensor units 170 (170A and 170B).
• the light sensor unit 170A and the light sensor unit 170B are examples of a first detection unit, a first state detection unit, and a second state detection unit.
• the light sensor unit 170A and the light sensor unit 170B are arranged at an interval, with a distance therebetween being L D .
• a direction 171A in which light is emitted by the light sensor unit 170A (this will also be referred to below as an emission direction 171A) and a direction 171B in which light is emitted by the light sensor unit 170B (this will also be referred to below as an emission direction 171B) form an angle ⁇ on a plane orthogonal to the vertical direction.
• Determinations relating to an article inserted into the accommodating portion 140 can be made more accurately by virtue of the fact that the inhalation device 100 comprises a plurality of light sensor units 170 which are also provided at a suitable distance L D and a suitable angle ⁇ . Determination processing employing the light sensor unit 170 will be described in detail later.
• the light-emitting unit 176 emits light into the internal space 141.
• the light emitting unit 176 is configured by a light-emitting element such as an LD (laser diode) or an LED (light-emitting diode).
• the light-emitting unit 176 is an infrared LD which emits infrared radiation in this embodiment.
• the light-receiving unit 177 detects reflected light from the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 176.
• the infrared radiation emitted by the light-emitting unit 176 may be a VCSEL (vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser). Operation of the light-emitting unit 176 will be described in detail with reference to fig. 8 .
• the detection control unit 179 may calculate, based on the detection value, the distance to the detected object which reflected the light emitted from the light sensor unit 170, i.e., the distance between the detected object and the light sensor unit 170. More specifically, the distance calculated by the detection control unit 179 becomes shorter as the detection value becomes greater, i.e., as the intensity of the reflected light increases. On the other hand, the distance calculated by the detection control unit 179 becomes longer as the detection value becomes smaller, i.e., as the intensity of the reflected light decreases.
• the interrupt notification may be a notification indicating that some kind of article has been inserted into or withdrawn from the accommodating portion 140.
• reception of the interrupt notification triggers the control unit 116 to implement predetermined processing.
• the predetermined processing may include determining whether or not a stick determination condition (to be described later) has been satisfied, and heating control based on a determination result, etc.
• the detection control unit 179 may update an insertion status managed by (i.e., stored in) the detection memory unit 178, at the same time as sending the interrupt notification.
• the insertion status indicates a state of insertion or non-insertion of an article in the accommodating portion 140.
• the detection control unit 179 may update the insertion status to "article inserted” at the same time as sending a detection interrupt notification.
• the detection control unit 179 may update the insertion status to "article not inserted” at the same time as sending a detection-deactivation interrupt notification.
• the detection control unit 179 may send an interrupt notification without distinguishing between a detection interrupt notification and a detection-deactivation interrupt notification. Reception of the interrupt notification may then trigger the control unit 116 to read out the insertion status stored in the detection memory unit 178.
• detection values may fluctuate up and down due to the effects of external interference, noise of the power source supplied to the light sensor unit 170, variations in the shape of the inserted article, variations in the distance between the inserted article and the light-emitting unit 176 and light-receiving unit 177 caused by contact between the user and the inserted article or the user placing the inserted article in their mouth, temperature drift of detection values of the detection control unit 179 caused by changes in ambient temperature, or variations in the rolled diameter of the stick-type substrate 150 (inserted article) caused by puffs during smoking, etc.
• the detection control unit 179 may perform calibration. Specifically, the detection control unit 179 may adjust a relationship between the intensity of reflected light detected by means of the light-receiving unit 177 and the calculated detection value, so that the same detection value is calculated under predetermined conditions. By performing calibration, it is possible to exclude deviations in detection values caused by temperature or vibration, etc. and to exclude effects such as deterioration over time of the light-emitting unit 176 or the light-receiving unit 177.
• fig. 8 shows an example in which pulsed light is emitted three times by the light-emitting unit 176, but there is no particular limitation as to the number of times of pulsed light emission. Furthermore, when pulsed light is emitted multiple times by the light-emitting unit 176, the detection control unit 179 may perform processing by using detection results received multiple times by the light-receiving unit 177, or may perform processing by using some of the detection results received multiple times by the light-receiving unit 177.
• control unit 116 causes the detection memory unit 178 to store the various set values which are used for control by the detection control unit 179. Furthermore, the control unit 116 receives various types of information such as interrupt notifications from the detection control unit 179, and reads out the information stored in the detection control unit 178.
• the control unit 116 may control the light sensor unit 170 to a power-off mode for stopping electrical supply to the light sensor unit 170. If control is performed in this way when the detection memory unit 170 is configured by a volatile storage medium, the control unit 116 causes the detection memory unit 178 to once again store the various set values from before initialization when the mode of the light sensor unit 170 is switched from the power-off mode to the operating mode. Furthermore, in the sleep mode, the control unit 116 may perform control to maintain electrical supply to the detection memory unit 178 provided in the light sensor unit 170.
• the control unit 116 may perform control to maintain electrical supply only to a portion of the memory of the detection memory unit 178 provided in the light sensor unit 170.
• the sleep mode and the power-off mode may also be referred to as the stop mode, as a general term for a mode in which detection is stopped.
• the insertion status managed by the light sensor unit 170 when the light sensor unit 170 returns to the operating mode from the sleep mode need not continue the insertion status from before switching to the sleep mode, and may always be managed as "article not inserted".
• an exception to the condition for sending an interrupt notification may be provided for when the light sensor unit 170 returns to the operating mode from the sleep mode. For example, a detection interrupt notification is sent when a detection value exceeding the insertion threshold is detected for the first time after a detection value falling below the withdrawal threshold was calculated by means of the detection control unit 179, as described above.
• the control unit 116 may set the mode of the other as the stop mode. This configuration makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of crosstalk.
• Crosstalk is a phenomenon by which light emitted from one of the light sensor unit 170A and the light sensor unit 170B is erroneously detected by the other.
• Adhered material such as soiling or a foreign object may remain in the internal space 141.
• contents may spill out from the tip end of the stick-type substrate 150 after heating, and may remain in the internal space 141 as adhered material. While adhered material remains, it is difficult to suitably heat the stick-type substrate 150, and as a result it is difficult for a good flavor to be provided to the user.
• the accommodating portion 140 is therefore preferably cleaned periodically. The adhered material is removed by means of cleaning, whereby it is possible to suitably heat the stick-type substrate 150, and as a result it is possible for a good flavor to be provided to the user.
• An example of a cleaning article used for cleaning the accommodating portion 140 will be described with reference to fig. 10 .
• Fig. 10 shows an example of a configuration of a cleaning article 190 according to the embodiment.
• the cleaning article 190 comprises a shaft portion 191 and a cleaning portion 192.
• the shaft portion 191 is a member formed in a long shape.
• the shaft portion 191 is formed by rolling a paper sheet.
• the cleaning article 190 is formed to be narrower than the stick-type substrate 150.
• the diameter LC of the cleaning article 190 (more specifically, the diameter of the cleaning portion 192 constituting the thickest part) is formed to be shorter than the diameter LS of the stick-type substrate 150 (more specifically, the diameter of the narrowest part).
• the diameter LC of the cleaning article 190 may be no greater than half of the diameter LS of the stick-type substrate 150, and may preferably be no greater than one quarter thereof. This configuration ensures a large gap between the cleaning article 190 and the inner wall 140Ba of the guide portion 140B when the cleaning article 190 is inserted into the accommodating portion 140. As a result, the cleaning portion 192 can be freely moved in the internal space 141 and cleaning efficiency can be improved.
• the insertion threshold is therefore preferably set at a value having a margin (i.e., a value on the low side).
• the insertion threshold is an example of a first threshold.
• the control unit 116 may determine whether the stick determination condition is satisfied by performing substitution control for switching the modes of the light sensor unit 170A and the light sensor unit 170B multiple times, so that the modes of the light sensor unit 170A and the light sensor unit 170B are substituted.
• the substitution control for example, the control unit 116 performs control to switch the light sensor unit 170A which is in the operating mode to the stop mode, and to switch the light sensor unit 170B which is in the stop mode to the operating mode.
• the substitution control may be performed each time a detection interrupt notification is received from the light sensor unit 170. Furthermore, the substitution control may be performed when a detection interrupt notification is not received within a predetermined time from the light sensor unit 170.
• the stick determination condition when substitution control is performed multiple times may be that detection interrupt notifications are received from both light sensor units 170 a predetermined consecutive number of times, for example. If the condition is based on a detection interrupt notification being received once each from the light sensor unit 170A and the light sensor unit 170B, it is also conceivable that when the user moves the cleaning article 190 in the accommodating portion 140, both light sensor units 170 will send a detection interrupt notification according to the timing of detection. It is therefore possible to more reliably prevent the cleaning article 190 from being erroneously determined as the stick-type substrate 150 by basing the condition on a detection interrupt notification being received from both light sensor units 170 multiple times consecutively.
• the stick determination condition may be determined by the control unit 116 reading out detection values from the light sensor units 170 each time substitution control is performed after a detection interrupt notification has been received once. For example, the control unit 116 may determine that the stick determination condition has been satisfied when a detection interrupt notification is received once, after which substitution control is performed, and the detection values from the light sensor units 170 read out after the substitution control are equal to or greater than the insertion threshold a predetermined consecutive number of times.
• the stick determination condition may also include a condition relating to the number of times of detection performed by the light sensor 170, instead of time.
• the stick determination condition may include a detection value equal to or greater than the insertion threshold being obtained by the light sensor unit 170 from detection within a predetermined number of times from substitution control being performed.
• the stick determination condition may also include a detection value equal to or greater than the insertion threshold being detected by detection by the light sensor units 170 performed immediately after substitution control was performed.
• the control unit 116 further determines whether or not the inserted stick-type substrate 150 has been withdrawn, based on the detection values detected by means of the light sensor units 170. As an example, after the stick determination condition has been satisfied, the control unit 116 determines that the stick-type substrate 150 has been withdrawn when a stick withdrawal determination condition (also referred to as a second condition) has been satisfied.
• the stick withdrawal determination condition may be, for example, that a detection-deactivation interrupt notification has been received from either one of the light sensor unit 170A and the light sensor unit 170B. That is to say, it can be said that the stick withdrawal determination condition in this case is also that a detection value equal to or less than the withdrawal threshold is obtained by either one of the light sensor unit 170A and the light sensor unit 170B.
• the stick withdrawal determination condition includes a condition relating to the interrupt notification, an exception to the condition for sending an interrupt notification may be provided for when the sensor units 170 return to the operating mode from the sleep mode. Furthermore, when substitution control is performed multiple times, the stick withdrawal determination condition may be determined by the control unit 116 reading out detection values from the light sensor units 170 each time substitution control is performed after a detection-deactivation interrupt notification has been received once.
• control unit 116 may determine whether the stick determination condition and the stick withdrawal determination condition have been satisfied by reading out the insertion status stored in the detection memory unit 178, following reception of an interrupt notification sent without distinguishing between a detection interrupt notification and a detection-deactivation interrupt notification. For example, when an interrupt notification is sent from the light sensor unit 170 and the insertion status is read as "article not inserted", the control unit 116 may determine that the stick withdrawal determination condition has been satisfied.
• control unit 116 performs control so that the light sensor unit 170A is in the operating mode and the light sensor unit 170B is in the stop mode, and then stands by for article insertion.
• the control unit 116 then interrupts the operating mode of the light sensor unit 170A and switches it to the stop mode.
• the control unit 116 also interrupts the stop mode of the light sensor unit 170B and switches it to the operating mode.
• the light sensor unit 170 operating during standby for insertion of an article and the light sensor unit 170 operating during standby for withdrawal of the stick-type substrate 150 will always be the same light sensor unit 170.
• the light sensor unit 170A is always in the operating mode during standby for insertion of an article.
• the light sensor unit 170B is always in the operating mode during standby for withdrawal of the stick-type substrate 150.
• the control unit 116 may control operation of the heating unit 121 on the basis of a detection value obtained by the light sensor unit 170A or the light sensor unit 170B. For example, the control unit 116 may control operation of the heating unit 121 on the basis of the result of determining whether or not the inserted article is the stick-type substrate 150. More specifically, the control unit 116 varies the operation of the heating unit 121 when the inserted article is the stick-type substrate 150 and when this is not the case. This configuration makes it possible to further improve usability.
• the control unit 116 may start heating by the heating unit 121 when it has been determined that the inserted article is the stick-type substrate 150.
• This determination result may be achieved according to whether or not the stick determination condition, including the first condition, has been satisfied, for example.
• the heating afforded by the heating unit 121 which is started in accordance with the inserted article determination result will also be referred to here as automatic heating.
• the control unit 116 does not cause automatic heating by the heating unit 121 when it is determined that the inserted article is not the stick-type substrate 150. That is to say, the control unit 116 may perform automatic heating only when the stick-type substrate 150 is inserted. This configuration makes it possible to improve usability because automatic heating is performed simply by insertion of the stick-type substrate 150 into the accommodating portion 140, even if no separate user operation is performed to instruct the start of heating, such as pressing of a button.
• control unit 116 may stop heating by the heating unit 121 based on the result of determining whether or not the inserted stick-type substrate 150 has been withdrawn. For example, during heating by the heating unit 121, the control unit 116 controls the mode of either one of the light sensor unit 170A and the light sensor unit 170B to the operating mode, and controls the mode of the other to the stop mode. If the detection value detected by means of the light sensor unit 170A or the light sensor unit 170B satisfies the stick withdrawal determination condition during heating by the heating unit 121, the control unit 116 then performs control to stop heating by the heating unit 121. Higher accuracy in determining withdrawal of the stick-type substrate 150 by the control unit 116 makes it possible to better prevent automatic heating from being stopped at a timing contrary to the user's expectation.
• the control unit 116 first of all determines whether or not a detection interrupt notification from the light sensor unit 170A (first light sensor) has been received (S104). Until a detection interrupt notification is received from the light sensor unit 170A, the control unit 116 continues to control the light sensor units 170 so that the mode of the light sensor unit 170A is the operating mode and so that the mode of the light sensor unit 170B (second light sensor) is the stop mode (S104/NO).
• the control unit 116 performs substitution control with respect to the modes of the light sensor units 170 (S108). That is to say, the control unit 116 performs control to switch the mode of the light sensor unit 170A to the stop mode, and to switch the mode of the light sensor unit 170B to the operating mode.
• the control unit 116 determines whether or not a detection interrupt notification from the light sensor unit 170B has been received within a predetermined time (S112). If the control unit 116 has received a detection interrupt notification from the light sensor unit 170B within the predetermined time (S112/YES), the control unit determines that the inserted article is the stick-type substrate 150 and the processing advances to S116. On the other hand, if the control unit 116 has not received a detection interrupt notification from the light sensor unit 170B within the predetermined time (S112/NO), the control unit 116 determines that the inserted article is not the stick-type substrate 150 and the processing advances to S136.
• the control unit 116 determines whether or not heating by the heating unit 121 is being implemented (S116). If heating is being implemented by the heating unit 121 (S116/YES), the control unit 116 advances the processing to S124. If heating is not being implemented by the heating unit 121 (S116/NO), the control unit 116 starts automatic heating by the heating unit 121 (S120).
• the control unit 116 determines whether or not heating by the heating unit 121 is being implemented (S128). If heating is not being implemented by the heating unit 121 (S128/NO), the control unit 116 advances the processing to S136. If heating is being implemented by the heating unit 121 (S128/YES), the control unit 116 stops heating by the heating unit 121 (S132). The control unit 116 then performs substitution control with respect to the modes of the light sensor units 170 and terminates the processing (S136). That is to say, the control unit 116 performs control to switch the mode of the light sensor unit 170A to the operating mode, and to switch the mode of the light sensor unit 170B to the stop mode.
• Inserted article determination processing based on multiple substitution control operations which is executed by the inhalation device 100 according to the embodiment, will be described next with the aid of fig. 14 .
• This determination processing may be applied in place of S104-S112 in the automatic heating control flow described with the aid of fig. 13 .
• the processing advances to S136 in fig. 13 after S216 in fig. 14 .
• the processing advances to S116 in fig. 13 after S224 in fig. 14 .
• Fig. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a determination processing flow for an inserted article based on multiple substitution control operations, which is executed by the inhalation device 100 according to the embodiment.
• the control unit 116 first of all determines whether or not a detection interrupt notification from the light sensor unit 170A has been received (S204). Until a detection interrupt notification is received from the light sensor unit 170A, the control unit 116 continues to control the light sensor units 170 so that the mode of the light sensor unit 170A is the operating mode and so that the mode of the light sensor unit 170B is the stop mode (S204/NO).
• the control unit 116 determines whether detection interrupt notifications have been received a predetermined consecutive number of times (S220). If detection interrupt notifications have not been received a predetermined consecutive number of times (S220/NO), the control unit 116 repeats the processing of S208-S212. If detection interrupt notifications have been received a predetermined consecutive number of times (S220/YES), the control unit 116 determines that the inserted article is the stick-type substrate 150 and terminates the processing (S224).
• the control unit 116 is an example of a second detection unit of this embodiment, which detects information relating to the state of the inhalation device 100.
• a user instruction relating to operation of the inhalation device 100 is an example of information relating to the state of the inhalation device 100 detected by the sensor unit 112.
• the sensor unit 112 is capable of detecting instructions to start and stop heating by the heating unit 121, for example. Furthermore, the sensor unit 112 is capable of detecting an instruction to start prohibiting the use of various functions and an instruction to cancel the prohibition. Furthermore, the sensor unit 112 is capable of detecting an instruction to shift to a state in which heating by the heating unit 121 is prohibited or an instruction to cancel the state in which heating is prohibited.
• the start or termination of switching of a heating profile by means of the control unit 116 is another example of information relating to the state of the inhalation device 100 detected by the sensor unit 112.
• the heating profile indicates a time-series transition of heating performed by the heating unit 121.
• the heating unit 121 performs heating in accordance with the heating profile.
• the heating profile may be switched by a user operation of a button included in the sensor unit 112, or may be switched on the basis of the communication unit 115 receiving settings information from a communication terminal such as a smartphone used by the user.
• the control unit 116 controls switching of the modes of the light sensor units 170 in accordance with detection results obtained by means of the sensor unit 112.
• the control unit 116 controls mode switching for each of the plurality of light sensor units 170.
• the control unit 116 controls the light sensor unit 170 so that the mode of the light sensor unit 170 is the operating mode. It should be noted that when the light sensor unit 170 was in the operating mode before the first operation was detected, the operating mode may be maintained. Here, when there are multiple light sensor units 170, the control unit 116 may control the plurality of light sensor units 170 so that the mode of only one of the plurality of light sensor units 170 is the operating mode.
• the control unit 116 decides that automatic heating should not be controlled until a second operation corresponding to the detected first operation is detected.
• the period of time until the second operation corresponding to the detected first operation is detected will be referred to as the second operation standby period.
• the control unit 116 decides that automatic heating control should not be performed until disconnection of charging from the power source unit 111 is detected.
• the control unit 116 performs control so that the state of the inhalation device 100 during the second operation standby period is an automatic heating prohibition state in which automatic heating control is not performed.
• This configuration makes it possible to improve safety or convenience for the user because it prevents automatic heating of the stick-type substrate 150 at a timing when inhalation by the user is not expected. Moreover, if heating by the heating unit 121 is being performed when the first operation is detected by means of the sensor unit 112, the control unit 116 controls the heating unit 121 to stop heating.
• the control unit 116 continues the automatic heating prohibition state until it is determined that the stick-type substrate 150 has been withdrawn. That is to say, the control unit 116 decides that automatic heating control should not be performed until it is determined that the stick-type substrate 150 has been withdrawn. This makes it possible to prevent the stick-type substrate 150 which was inserted into the accommodating portion 140 before the first operation was detected from being suddenly heated after the second operation has been detected, contrary to the user's expectation.
• the control unit 116 may reset the automatic heating control flow when the first operation has been detected, or when it has been determined that the inserted article is the stick-type substrate 150 during the second operation standby period or that the stick-type substrate 150 has been withdrawn. That is to say, the control unit 116 may reset the automatic heating control flow when the first operation has been detected, or when an interrupt notification has been received during the second operation standby period. Resetting the automatic heating control flow comprises terminating the automatic heating control flow being processed, and restarting the automatic heating control flow. Moreover, if heating by the heating unit 121 is being performed when the automatic heating control flow is terminated, the control unit 116 performs controls to stop heating.
• Resetting the automatic heating control flow makes it possible to prevent heating contrary to the user's expectation when it was determined before the first operation is detected that the inserted article is the stick-type substrate 150, or when it was determined during the automatic heating prohibition state that the inserted article is the stick-type substrate 150.
• Fig. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control processing flow for automatic heating in accordance with a detection result of the sensor unit 112, which is executed by the inhalation device 100 according to the embodiment.
• the control unit 116 first of all determines whether the first operation has been detected or whether an interrupt notification was received during the second operation standby period (S404). The control unit 116 continues to cause detection by the sensor unit 112 and the light sensor unit 170 until the first operation is detected or until an interrupt notification is received during the second operation standby period (S404/NO). Meanwhile, if the first operation is detected or an interrupt notification is received during the second operation standby period (S404/YES), the control unit 116 terminates the automatic heating control flow in progress (S412). The control unit 116 then determines whether heating by the heating unit 121 is in progress (S416).
• the control unit 116 advances the processing to S424. If heating is being implemented by the heating unit 121 (S416/YES), the heating unit 121 stops heating (S420). The control unit 116 then controls the light sensor unit 170B so that the mode of the light sensor unit 170B is the stop mode (S424). Furthermore, the control unit 116 controls the light sensor unit 170A so that the mode of the light sensor unit 170A is the operating mode (S428). The control unit 116 then restarts the automatic heating control flow (S432).
• the internal space 141 may equally be detected by means of a capacitive sensor instead of the light sensor units 170.
• the computer may be an application-specific integrated circuit such as ASIC, a general-purpose processor which executes functions by reading software programs, or a computer on a server used for cloud computing, etc.
• ASIC application-specific integrated circuit
• the series of processes performed by each device described in the present description may be processed in a distributed manner by multiple computers.
• processing described using flowcharts and sequence diagrams in the present description need not necessarily be implemented in the order depicted. Some processing steps may be implemented in parallel. Furthermore, additional processing steps may be employed and some processing steps may be omitted.

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• 2022
  • 2022-12-16 CN CN202280102478.8A patent/CN120322169A/zh active Pending
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  • 2022-12-16 EP EP22968528.4A patent/EP4627950A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-12-16 KR KR1020257018965A patent/KR20250094731A/ko active Pending

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