JPWO2020084773A1 - Control units, aerosol generators, heater control methods and programs - Google Patents

Abstract

The control unit includes a control unit that controls a heater that heats the aerosol source. The control unit controls the temperature of the heater toward the first target temperature during the first period, and the temperature of the heater toward the second target temperature lower than the first target temperature during the second period after the first period. Is configured to control the temperature of the heater toward a third target temperature lower than the second target temperature during the third period after the second period.

Description

The present invention relates to a control unit, an aerosol generator, a method and a program for controlling a heater.

There are known non-combustion aerosol generators that deliver to the user the aerosol produced by atomizing the aerosol source with a heater instead of the conventional combustion cigarette (Patent Documents 1 and 2). Non-combustion aerosol generators heat smoking articles containing aerosol sources at high temperatures, which can result in high power consumption. Therefore, the non-combustion type aerosol generator may be equipped with a large-capacity battery, and as a result, the entire apparatus can be increased in size and weight.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-11301 International Publication No. 2018/019786

The first feature is a control unit, which includes a control unit that controls a heater that heats an aerosol source, and the control unit controls the temperature of the heater toward a first target temperature during the first period. , The temperature of the heater is controlled toward the second target temperature lower than the first target temperature during the second period after the first period, and from the second target temperature during the third period after the second period. The gist is that it is configured to control the temperature of the heater toward a lower third target temperature.

The second feature is the control unit in the first feature, in which the difference between the first target temperature and the second target temperature is larger than the difference between the second target temperature and the third target temperature. The point is that.

The third feature is the control unit in the first feature or the second feature, and the gist is that the second period is longer than the first period and the third period.

The fourth feature is the control unit in any of the first to third features, wherein the control unit of the first period is based on the speed of temperature rise of the heater in the first period. The gist is that the length can be changed.

The fifth feature is the control unit in the fourth feature, and the control unit changes the first period shorter as the period from the start of heating of the heater to reaching a predetermined temperature is shorter. The gist is that it is composed.

The sixth feature is the control unit in the fourth feature or the fifth feature, and the gist is that the variable range of the first period has a predetermined upper limit value.

The seventh feature is the control unit in any of the first to sixth features, and the control unit supplies power to the heater from the end of the first period to the beginning of the second period. It has a first off period for stopping the operation, and the gist is that the first off period is set to 20 seconds or shorter.

The eighth feature is the control unit in any of the first to seventh features, and the control unit supplies power to the heater from the end of the second period to the beginning of the third period. It has a second off period for stopping the operation, and the gist is that the second off period is set to 20 seconds or shorter.

The ninth feature is the control unit in any of the first to eighth features, wherein the control unit maintains the temperature of the heater at the first target temperature during the first period. The gist is that it is configured to notify that the suctionable period has started during the period.

The tenth feature is the control unit in the ninth feature, and the gist is that the control unit is configured to notify that the suctionable period has started in the latter half of the first period. ..

The eleventh feature is a control unit in any one of the first to tenth features, and the control unit is configured to stop supplying power to the heater after the third period. The gist is that.

The twelfth feature is the control unit in any one of the first to eleventh features, in which the control unit stops the power supply to the heater after the third period, and is determined from the stop. The gist is that it is configured to notify that the suctionable period has expired after the elapse of the period.

The thirteenth feature is an aerosol generator, which includes a control unit in any one of the first to twelfth features and the heater.

The fourteenth feature is the aerosol generator according to the thirteenth feature, which is characterized in that the heater has a tubular shape capable of heating the outer periphery of a columnar smoking article.

The fifteenth feature is a method of controlling a heater for heating an aerosol source, the first step of controlling the temperature of the heater toward the first target temperature during the first period, and the first step after the first period. A second step of controlling the temperature of the heater toward a second target temperature lower than the first target temperature during the two periods, and a second step lower than the second target temperature during the third period after the second period. The gist is to have a third step of controlling the temperature of the heater toward the target temperature.

The sixteenth feature is gist of a program that causes an aerosol generator to perform the method of the fifteenth feature.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a flavor aspirator according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flavor aspirator in which a smoking article is inserted. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the flavor aspirator shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the smoking article shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the flavor aspirator. FIG. 6 is a schematic enlarged view of the region 5R of FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram simply showing the positional relationship between the base material portion of the smoking article and the heater and the inner cylinder member of the aerosol generator. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a heating profile of the heater. FIG. 9 shows the heating profile of the heater and the delivery profile of the aerosol produced.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described. In the description of the drawings below, the same or similar parts are designated by the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the ratio of each dimension may differ from the actual one.

Therefore, the specific dimensions should be determined in consideration of the following explanation. In addition, it goes without saying that there may be parts in which the relations and ratios of the dimensions of the drawings are different from each other.

[Summary of disclosure]
Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 disclose a heating profile of a heater for heating a smoking article to produce an aerosol. However, there is still room for study on a heating profile that suppresses power consumption while achieving the desired aerosol production.

According to one aspect, the control unit includes a control unit that controls a heater that heats the aerosol source, and the control unit controls the temperature of the heater toward a first target temperature during the first period. The temperature of the heater is controlled toward the second target temperature lower than the first target temperature during the second period after one period, and is lower than the second target temperature during the third period after the second period. It is configured to control the temperature of the heater toward the third target temperature.

In this embodiment, the heating rate of the heater can be increased by setting the first target temperature high in the first period. By increasing the heating rate of the heater, it is possible to shorten the period from the start of supplying electric power to the heater until the suction of the aerosol becomes possible.

By lowering the target temperature in the second period and the third period, the electric power consumed in the second period and the third period can be reduced. Thereby, the period during which the aerosol can be produced, that is, the period during which the aerosol can be sucked can be lengthened.

From the viewpoint of reducing the power consumption described above, it is preferable to control the heater at the third target temperature without passing from the first target temperature to the second target temperature. However, in that case, the period from the first target temperature to the third target temperature becomes longer. Since the heater is stopped during the period from the first target temperature to the third target temperature, if the user performs multiple puff operations within this period, the heater temperature may exceed the third temperature and fall below the third target temperature. There is sex. The inventor of the present application has found that once the temperature of the heater becomes too low, aerosols are not sufficiently produced, and it may be difficult to regenerate the aerosols.

In this embodiment, the period required for the transition between the first target temperatures and the third target temperature is passed by passing through the second target temperature between the first target temperature and the third target temperature before the transition from the first target temperature to the third target temperature. Can be shortened. Since the transition period in which the heater is stopped is shortened, it is possible to prevent the heater temperature from dropping too much due to a plurality of puff operations.

(Flavor aspirator)
Hereinafter, the flavor aspirator according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a flavor aspirator according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flavor aspirator in which a smoking article is inserted. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the flavor aspirator shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the smoking article shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the flavor aspirator.

The flavor aspirator 100 may be a non-combustible flavor aspirator for producing aerosols from smoking articles without burning. The flavor aspirator 100 may be a particularly portable device.

The flavor aspirator 100 includes a smoking article 110 containing an aerosol source and an aerosol generating device 120 that generates an aerosol from the smoking article 110.

The smoking article 110 is a replaceable cartridge that may contain an aerosol source and a flavor source and has a columnar shape extending along the longitudinal direction. The smoking article 110 may be configured to generate an aerosol and a flavor component by being heated while being inserted into the aerosol generator 120.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the smoking article 110 has a base material portion 11A including a filling material 111 and a first wrapping paper 112 for wrapping the filling material 111, and an end opposite to the base material portion 11A. It has a mouthpiece 11B that forms a portion. The base material portion 11A and the mouthpiece portion 11B are connected by a second wrapping paper 113 different from the first wrapping paper 112. However, the second wrapping paper 113 may be omitted, and the base material portion 11A and the mouthpiece portion 11B may be connected by using the first wrapping paper 112.

The mouthpiece 11B in FIG. 4 has a paper tube portion 114, a filter portion 115, and a hollow segment portion 116 arranged between the paper tube portion 114 and the filter portion 115. The hollow segment portion 116 is composed of, for example, a packing layer having one or a plurality of hollow channels and a plug wrapper covering the filling layer. Since the packed bed has a high fiber filling density, air and aerosols flow only through the hollow channels during suction, and hardly flow inside the packed bed. In the smoking article 110, when it is desired to reduce the decrease due to filtration of the aerosol component in the filter portion 115, shortening the length of the filter portion 115 and replacing it with the hollow segment portion 116 is effective for increasing the delivery amount of the aerosol. Is.

The mouthpiece 11B in FIG. 4 is composed of three segments, but in the present embodiment, the mouthpiece 11B may be composed of one or two segments, or may be composed of four or more segments. It may be configured. For example, the hollow segment portion 116 may be omitted, and the paper tube portion 114 and the filter portion 115 may be arranged adjacent to each other to form the mouthpiece portion 11B.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the length of the smoking article 110 in the longitudinal direction is preferably 40 to 90 mm, more preferably 50 to 75 mm, and even more preferably 50 to 60 mm. The circumference of the smoking article 110 is preferably 15 to 25 mm, more preferably 17 to 24 mm, and even more preferably 20 to 23 mm. Further, in the longitudinal direction of the smoking article 110, the length of the base material portion 11A is 20 mm, the length of the first wrapping paper 112 is 20 mm, the length of the hollow segment portion 116 is 8 mm, and the length of the filter portion 115 is 7 mm. However, the length of each of these individual segments can be appropriately changed according to manufacturing suitability, required quality, and the like.

In this embodiment, the filling 111 of the smoking article 110 may contain an aerosol source that is heated to a predetermined temperature to generate an aerosol. The type of aerosol source is not particularly limited, and extracts from various natural products and / or their constituents can be selected depending on the intended use. Aerosol sources include, for example, glycerin, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof. The content of the aerosol source in the packing 111 is not particularly limited, and is usually 5% by weight or more, preferably 10% by weight or more, from the viewpoint of sufficiently generating an aerosol and imparting a good flavor and taste. Yes, and usually 50% by weight or less, preferably 20% by weight or less.

The filling 111 of the smoking article 110 in this embodiment may contain tobacco chopped as a flavor source. The material for chopping tobacco is not particularly limited, and known materials such as lamina and middle bone can be used. The range of the content of the filling material 111 in the smoking article 110 is, for example, 200 to 400 mg and preferably 250 to 320 mg in the case of a circumference of 22 mm and a length of 20 mm. The water content of the packing 111 is, for example, 8 to 18% by weight, preferably 10 to 16% by weight. With such a water content, the occurrence of winding stains is suppressed, and the hoisting suitability of the base material portion 11A during production is improved. There are no particular restrictions on the size of the tobacco nicks used as the filler 111 and the method for preparing the nicks. For example, dried tobacco leaves may be chopped to a width of 0.8 to 1.2 mm. Further, dried tobacco leaves may be crushed to an average particle size of about 20 to 200 μm, homogenized, processed into a sheet, and chopped into a width of 0.8 to 1.2 mm. .. Further, the sheet processed product which has been gathered without being carved may be used as the filling material 111. Further, the filling material 111 may contain one kind or two or more kinds of fragrances. The type of the fragrance is not particularly limited, but menthol is preferable from the viewpoint of imparting a good taste.

In the present embodiment, the first and second wrapping papers 112 and 113 of the smoking article 110 can be made from a base paper having a basis weight of, for example, 20 to 65 gsm, preferably 25 to 45 gsm. The thickness of the wrapping papers 112 and 113 is not particularly limited, but is 10 to 100 μm, preferably 20 to 75 μm, and more preferably 30 to 50 μm from the viewpoint of rigidity, breathability, and ease of adjustment during papermaking. Is.

In the present embodiment, the wrapping papers 112 and 113 of the smoking article 110 may include a filler. The content of the filler can be 10% by weight or more and less than 60% by weight with respect to the total weight of the rolling papers 112 and 113, and is preferably 15 to 45% by weight. In the present embodiment, the filler is preferably 15 to 45% by weight with respect to a preferable range of basis weight (25 to 45 gsm). As the filler, for example, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, kaolin and the like can be used. The paper containing such a filler exhibits a preferable white-based bright color from the viewpoint of appearance used as a rolling paper for the smoking article 110, and can permanently maintain whiteness. By containing a large amount of such a filler, for example, the ISO whiteness of the wrapping paper can be increased to 83% or more. Further, from the practical viewpoint of using as a wrapping paper for the smoking article 110, the first and second wrapping papers 112 and 113 preferably have a tensile strength of 8 N / 15 mm or more. This tensile strength can be increased by reducing the content of the filler. Specifically, this tensile strength can be increased by reducing the content of the filler from the upper limit of the content of the filler shown in the range of each basis weight illustrated above.

Referring to FIG. 3, the aerosol generator 120 has an insertion hole 130 into which the smoking article 110 can be inserted. That is, the aerosol generator 120 has an inner tubular member 132 that constitutes the insertion hole 130. The inner tubular member 132 may be made of a heat conductive member such as aluminum or stainless steel (SUS).

Further, the aerosol generation device 120 may have a lid portion 140 that closes the insertion hole 130. The lid portion 140 may be configured to be slidable between a state in which the insertion hole 130 is closed (see FIG. 1) and a state in which the insertion hole 130 is exposed (see FIG. 2).

The aerosol generator 120 may have an air flow path 160 that communicates with the insertion hole 130. One end of the air flow path 160 is connected to the insertion hole 130, and the other end of the air flow path 160 communicates with the outside (outside air) of the aerosol generation device 120 at a place different from the insertion hole 130.

The aerosol generator 120 may have a lid 170 that covers the end of the air flow path 160 on the side communicating with the outside air. The lid 170 may cover the end of the air flow path 160 on the side communicating with the outside air, or the air flow path 160 may be exposed.

The lid 170 does not airtightly block the air flow path 160 even when it covers the air flow path 160. That is, even when the lid portion 170 covers the air flow path 160, the outside air can flow into the air flow path 160 through the vicinity of the lid portion 170.

With the smoking article 110 inserted into the flavor aspirator 100, the user holds one end of the smoking article 110, specifically, the mouthpiece 11B in FIG. 4, and performs a suction operation. The outside air flows into the air flow path 160 by the suction operation of the user. The air that has flowed into the air flow path 160 is guided into the user's oral cavity through the smoking article 110 in the insertion hole 130.

In the state where the lid portion 140 does not cover the insertion hole 130 and the smoking article 110 is not inserted, that is, the internal space of the inner cylinder member 132 and the air flow path 160 are exposed, the user brushes. The inside of the air flow path 160 of the inner cylinder member 132 can be cleaned by using a cleaning tool such as. This cleaning tool may be inserted into the air flow path 160 from the upper lid portion 140 side in FIG. 3, or may be inserted into the air flow path 160 from the lower lid portion 170 side.

The aerosol generator 120 may have a temperature sensor inside the air flow path 160 or on the outer surface of the wall portion constituting the air flow path 160. The temperature sensor may be, for example, a thermistor, a thermoelectric pair, or the like. When the user sucks the mouthpiece 11B of the smoking article 110, the internal temperature of the air flow path 160 or the air flow path 160 is configured by the influence of the air flowing in the air flow path 160 from the lid 170 side toward the heater 30 side. The temperature of the wall is reduced. The temperature sensor can detect the suction operation of the user by measuring this temperature drop.

The aerosol generator 120 includes a battery 10, a control unit 20, and a heater 30. The battery 10 stores the electric power used in the aerosol generator 120. The battery 10 may be a rechargeable secondary battery. The battery 10 may be, for example, a lithium ion battery.

The heater 30 may be provided around the inner tubular member 132. The space for accommodating the heater 30 and the space for accommodating the battery 10 may be separated from each other by the partition wall 180. As a result, it is possible to prevent the air heated by the heater 30 from flowing into the space accommodating the battery 10. Therefore, the temperature rise of the battery 10 can be suppressed.

The heater 30 preferably has a tubular shape capable of heating the outer circumference of the columnar smoking article 110. The heater 30 may be, for example, a film heater. The film heater may have a pair of film-like substrates and a resistance heating element sandwiched between the pair of substrates. The film-like substrate is preferably made of a material having excellent heat resistance and electrical insulation, and is typically made of polyimide. The resistance heating element is preferably made of one or more metal materials such as copper, nickel alloys, chromium alloys, stainless steels, platinum rhodium and the like, and can be formed of, for example, a stainless steel substrate. Further, the resistance heating element may be copper-plated at the connection portion and its lead portion in order to connect to the power supply by a flexible printed circuit (FPC).

FIG. 6 is a schematic enlarged view of the region 5R of FIG. 3, which is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the heater 30 and its periphery. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the heater 30 is the film heater described above, and is wound around the outer circumference of the inner cylinder member 132 capable of accepting the smoking article 110. That is, the heater 30 is wound in a cylindrical shape surrounding the inner tubular member 132. As a result, the heater 30 surrounds the outer circumference of the smoking article 110 and can heat the smoking article 110 from the outside.

Preferably, the heat shrink tube 136 may be provided on the outside of the heater 30. In other words, the heater 30 is preferably provided in the heat shrink tube 136. The heat-shrinkable tube 136 is a tube 136 that shrinks in the radial direction by heat, and may be composed of, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer. The heater 30 is pressed against the inner cylinder member 132 by the contraction action of the heat shrink tube 136. As a result, the adhesion between the heater 30 and the inner cylinder member 132 is enhanced, so that the heat conductivity from the heater 30 to the smoking article 110 via the inner cylinder member 132 is enhanced.

The aerosol generator 120 may have a tubular insulation 138 outside the heater 30 in the radial direction, preferably outside the heat shrink tube 136. The heat insulating material 138 preferably surrounds the outer periphery of the heater 30. The heat insulating material 138 can play a role of preventing the outer surface of the housing of the aerosol generator 120 from reaching an excessively high temperature by blocking the heat of the heater 30. The heat insulating material 138 can be made of, for example, an airgel such as silica airgel, carbon airgel, or alumina airgel. The airgel as the heat insulating material 138 may typically be a silica airgel having high heat insulating performance and relatively low manufacturing cost. However, the heat insulating material 138 may be a fiber-based heat insulating material such as glass wool or rock wool, or may be a foam-based heat insulating material of urethane foam or phenol foam. Alternatively, the heat insulating material 138 may be a vacuum heat insulating material.

The heat insulating material 138 may be provided between the inner tubular member 132 facing the smoking article 110 and the outer tubular member 134 on the outer side of the heat insulating material 138. The outer tubular member 134 may be made of a heat conductive member such as aluminum or stainless steel (SUS). The heat insulating material 138 is preferably provided in a closed space.

FIG. 7 simplifies the positional relationship in the axial direction between the base material portion 11A of the smoking article 110 and the heater 30 and the inner cylinder member 132 of the aerosol generator 120 in the flavor aspirator 100 of the present embodiment. It is a figure shown in. The axis here means the central axis of the insertion hole 130 in the aerosol generator 120, and when the smoking article 110 is inserted into the insertion hole 130, the axis and the central axis of the smoking article 110 partially overlap each other. (See also FIG. 3).

The axial length D0 of the heater 30 can be made smaller than the axial length L0 of the base material portion 11A of the smoking article 110 (D0 <L0). Further, the ratio of length D0 to length L0 (D0 / L0) is 0.70 to 0.90, preferably 0.75 to 0.85, typically 0.80. good. Therefore, when the length L0 of the base material portion 11A is 20 mm, the length D0 of the heater 30 is 14 to 18 mm, preferably 15 to 17 mm, and typically 16 mm.

The upstream end of the base material portion 11A may protrude to the upstream side of the upstream end of the heater 30 with a length D1. The upstream and downstream referred to here correspond to the upstream and downstream of the air flow passing through the air flow path 160 by the suction operation of the user, respectively (see also FIG. 3). Since the protruding portion of the base material portion 11A from the heater 30 does not have the heater 30 on the outer side in the radial direction, the internal temperature thereof can be somewhat lower than that of the other parts of the base material portion 11A. As a result, the aerosol generation at the upstream end of the base material portion 11A and its vicinity can be suppressed, so that the aerosol generated there can be prevented from condensing in the air flow path 160 or flowing back through the air flow path 160. Aerosols generated in other parts of the base material portion 11A can condense at and near the upstream end of the base material portion 11A.

The ratio (D1 / L0) of the protrusion length D1 to the total length L0 of the base material portion 11A is 0.25 to 0.40, preferably 0.30 to 0.35, and is typically 0. It can be .325. Therefore, when the total length L0 of the base material portion 11A is 20 mm, the protrusion length D1 is 5 to 8 mm, preferably 6 to 7 mm, and typically 6.5 mm.

The downstream end of the heater 30 may protrude to the downstream side of the downstream end of the base material portion 11A with a length D2. As a result, the downstream end of the base material portion 11A and its vicinity can be sufficiently heated, so that it is possible to prevent the amount of aerosol produced there and the occurrence of aerosol condensation from occurring. The ratio (D2 / L0) of the protrusion length D2 of the heater 30 to the length L0 of the base material portion 11A is 0.075 to 0.175, preferably 0.1 to 0.15, and is typically 0.15. May be 0.125. Therefore, when the length L0 of the base material portion 11A is 20 mm, the protruding length D2 of the heater 30 is 1.5 to 3.5 mm, preferably 2 to 3 mm, and typically 2.5 mm. It may be there.

The axial positions of the upstream end of the inner tubular member 132 and the upstream end of the base material portion 11A may be substantially the same. On the other hand, the downstream end of the inner tubular member 132 may protrude to the downstream side of the downstream end of the base material portion 11A with a length D3, like the downstream end of the heater 30. As a result, in addition to the downstream end of the base material portion 11A and its vicinity, the upstream end of the paper tube portion 114 and its vicinity can be heated, so that the aerosol generated from the base material portion 11A is generated at the upstream end of the paper tube portion 114 and its vicinity. It is possible to prevent excessive cooling and condensation in the vicinity. The ratio (D3 / D2) of the protrusion length D3 of the inner cylinder member 132 to the protrusion length D2 of the heater 30 is 2.6 to 3.4, preferably 2.8 to 3.2, and more preferably 2.8 to 3.2. May be 3.0. Therefore, when the protrusion length D2 of the heater 30 is 2.5 mm, the protrusion length D3 of the inner cylinder member 132 is 6.5 to 8.5 mm, preferably 7.0 to 8.0 mm, which is typical. It may be 7.5 mm.

Referring to FIG. 5, the control unit 20 may include a control board, a CPU, a memory, and the like. The CPU and memory constitute a control unit 22 that controls a heater 30 that heats an aerosol source. Further, the control unit 20 has a notification unit 40 for notifying the user of various information. The notification unit 40 may be, for example, a light emitting element such as an LED, a vibrating element, or a combination thereof.

When the control unit 22 detects the user's activation request, the control unit 22 starts supplying electric power from the battery 10 to the heater 30. The user's activation request is made by, for example, the operation of a push button or a slide switch by the user, or the suction operation of the user. In the present embodiment, the user's activation request is made by pressing the push button 150. More specifically, the user's activation request is made by pressing the push button 150 with the lid 140 open. Alternatively, the user's activation request may be made by detecting the user's suction operation. The suction operation of the user can be detected by, for example, the temperature sensor as described above.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a heating profile of the heater. In the present embodiment, the heating profile is a graph showing the time change of the control target temperature of the heater 30. The temperature control of the heater 30 can be realized by, for example, a known feedback control. Specifically, the control unit 22 can supply the electric power from the battery 22 to the heater 30 in the form of a pulse by pulse width modulation (PWM) or pulse frequency modulation (PFM). In this case, the control unit 22 can control the temperature of the heater 30 by adjusting the duty ratio of the power pulse.

In the feedback control, the control unit 22 measures or estimates the temperature of the heater 30, and the power supplied to the heater 30 based on the difference between the measured or estimated temperature of the heater 30 and the target temperature, for example, the above-mentioned. The duty ratio may be controlled. The feedback control may be, for example, PID control. The temperature of the heater 30 can be quantified by, for example, measuring or estimating the electric resistance value of the heat generating resistor constituting the heater 30. This is because the electric resistance value of the heat generating resistor changes according to the temperature. The electrical resistance value of the heating resistor can be estimated, for example, by measuring the amount of voltage drop in the heating resistor. The amount of voltage drop in the heating resistor can be measured by a voltage sensor that measures the potential difference applied to the heating resistor. In another example, the temperature of the heater 30 can be measured by a temperature sensor installed near the heater 30.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the power supply to the heater 30 is controlled so that the actual temperature of the heater 30 approaches the target temperature of the heating profile. However, the heating profile may include a portion where the target temperature changes abruptly, and in such a portion, the deviation of the actual temperature of the heater 30 from the target temperature may temporarily increase. In the heating profile illustrated in FIG. 8, the portion where the deviation of the actual temperature of the heater 30 from the target temperature becomes large is shown by a broken line.

In the example of FIG. 8, when the power supply from the battery 10 to the heater 30 is started in response to the user's activation request, the control unit 22 first reaches the first target temperature TA1 during the first period P1. The temperature of the heater 30 is controlled. That is, the control unit 22 heats the heater 30 from the initial temperature toward the first target temperature TA1. In the first period P1, when the heater 30 reaches the first target temperature TA1, the control unit 22 controls the temperature of the heater 30 to maintain the first target temperature TA1.

The first target temperature TA1 is preferably 225 to 240 ° C., typically 230 ° C. By setting the first target temperature TA1 relatively high in the first period P1, the heating rate of the heater 30 can be increased. By increasing the rate of temperature rise of the heater 30, it is possible to shorten the period from the start of supplying electric power to the heater 30 until the suction of the aerosol becomes possible.

The control unit 22 may be configured to notify the user that the suctionable period has started within the period during which the temperature of the heater 30 is maintained at the first target temperature TA1 during the first period P1. .. Notification that the suctionable period has started can be performed by controlling the notification unit 40. For example, control for changing the light emitting color of a light emitting element such as an LED, changing the light emitting pattern, or driving the vibrating element. , Or a combination of these.

In the example of FIG. 8, the notification that the suctionable period has started is performed at the timing T2. More specifically, the notification that the suctionable period has started is from the timing T2 in which a predetermined period P1b has elapsed since the temperature of the heater 30 reached the first target temperature, and the start of power supply to the heater 30. It may be performed at the earlier of the timing when the predetermined period has elapsed. The predetermined period P1b is preferably 20 to 26 seconds, typically 23 seconds. Preferably, the control unit 22 may be configured to notify that the suctionable period has started in the latter half of the first period P1. The latter half of the first period P1 means a period after the middle of the first period P1.

The control unit 22 shifts to the second period P2, which will be described later, at the timing T3 when the predetermined period P1c has elapsed from the timing T2 informing that the suctionable period has started. The predetermined period P1c is preferably 5 to 15 seconds, typically 10 seconds. This increases the possibility that the user will perform the first suction operation during the first period P1. In this case, the user can be made to perform the first suction operation while the heater temperature is maintained near the first target temperature TA1 which is the maximum temperature of the heating profile.

The first period P1 varies depending on the heating state of the heater 30 and the smoking article 110, the ambient temperature, and the like, but may typically be in the range of 35 to 55 seconds. However, it is preferable that the control unit 22 is configured so that the length of the first period P1 can be changed based on the speed of temperature rise of the heater 30 in the first period P1. More specifically, the initial temperature rising period P1a of the first period P1 may be configured to be changeable based on the speed of temperature rise of the heater 30. Specifically, it is preferable that the control unit 22 is configured to shorten the length of the first period P1 as the period from when the heater 30 starts heating to when it reaches a predetermined temperature is shorter.

In the present embodiment, the first period P1 ends when a predetermined period (P1b + P1c) elapses after the temperature of the heater 30 reaches the first target temperature TA1. That is, if the temperature of the heater 30 rises rapidly, the period P1a from the time T0 when power is started to be supplied to the heater 30 until the temperature of the heater 30 reaches the first target temperature TA1 becomes short. The predetermined period (P1b + P1c) is preferably 25 to 41 seconds, typically 33 seconds.

As described above, when the temperature of the heater 30 rises rapidly, the power consumption used in the preheating period can be suppressed by shortening the preheating period.

It is preferable that the variable range of the first period P1, more specifically, the variable range of the period (P1a + P1b) until the notification of the start of the suctionable period has a predetermined upper limit value. For example, the upper limit of the period (P1a + P1b) from the start T0 of the power supply to the notification T2 of the start of the suctionable period is preferably 40 to 60 seconds, and typically may be 50 seconds. Thereby, when the temperature of the heater 30 does not reach the first target temperature TA1, it is possible to prevent the control unit 22 from continuing the preheating without shifting to the second period P2.

Next, the control unit 22 controls the temperature of the heater 30 toward the second target temperature TA2, which is lower than the first target temperature TA1, during the second period P2 after the first period P1. That is, the control unit 22 controls the heater 30 so as to lower the temperature of the heater 30 from the first target temperature TA1 and maintain the temperature at the second target temperature TA2.

The second target temperature TA2 is preferably in the range of 190 to 210 ° C, typically 200 ° C. The second period P2 is preferably in the range of 105-160 seconds, typically 130 seconds. The second period P2 is preferably longer than the first period P1 and the third period P3 described later. Since the second period is a period in which the temperature is maintained higher than the third period P3, the aerosol can be stably supplied. As a result, the period during which the aerosol can be stably supplied can be relatively long. By lowering the target temperature in the second period P2, the power consumed in the second period P2 can be reduced.

The control unit 22 may have a first off period in which the power supply to the heater 30 is stopped from the end of the first period P1 to the initial stage of the second period P2. By providing the first off period, the temperature drop from the first target temperature TA1 to the second target temperature TA2 can be achieved in the shortest time. The control unit 22 can continue the temperature measurement of the heater 30 even during the first off period. In this case, the control unit 22 can be configured to restart the power supply to the heater 30 when the temperature of the heater 30 drops to the vicinity of the second target temperature TA2.

The first off period is preferably a time interval such that a general user does not perform the suction operation twice or more. If the user performs the suction operation twice or more during the off period, the temperature of the heater 30 may drop sharply and may be significantly lower than the second target temperature TA2. In this case, the amount of aerosol generated from the smoking article 110 may decrease. Assuming that the time interval of the normal suction operation by a general user is about 20 seconds, the first off period is preferably in the range of, for example, 15 to 20 seconds. The first target temperature TA1 and the second target temperature TA2 are set so that the temperature drop from the first target temperature TA1 to the second target temperature TA2 due to natural cooling during the first off period is performed within the above time range. Can be done. Alternatively, the control unit 22 may be configured to measure the passage of time in the first off period and forcibly restart the power supply to the heater 30 when the first off period reaches a predetermined upper limit value. .. In this case, the upper limit of the first off period is preferably 15 to 20 seconds.

Next, the control unit 22 controls the temperature of the heater 30 toward the third target temperature TA3, which is lower than the second target temperature TA2, during the third period P3 after the second period P2. That is, the control unit 22 controls the heater 30 so that the temperature of the heater 30 is further lowered from the second target temperature TA1 and maintained at the third target temperature TA3. The third target temperature TA3 is preferably in the range of 175 to 190 ° C, typically 185 ° C. The third period P3 is preferably in the range of 30-90 seconds, typically 60 seconds. By further lowering the target temperature in the third period P3, the power consumed in the third period P3 can be further reduced.

The temperature difference (ΔT12) between the first target temperature TA1 and the second target temperature TA2 is preferably larger than the temperature difference (ΔT23) between the second target temperature TA2 and the third target temperature TA3. Since the power consumption of the heater 30 is larger in the second period P2 than in the third period P3, the temperature difference (ΔT23) at the time of transition from the second period P2 to the third period P3 is larger than the temperature difference (ΔT23) from the first period P1 to the second period. Increasing the temperature difference (ΔT12) at the time of transition to the period P2 leads to a reduction in power consumption throughout the entire period. Therefore, ΔT12 / ΔT23 is preferably larger than 1. On the other hand, if ΔT12 is made excessively large with respect to ΔT23, the target temperature TA2 of the second period P2 intended for stable supply of aerosol becomes relatively low, so that the aerosol generation in the second period P2 may become unstable. There is. Therefore, it is preferable that ΔT12 / ΔT23 has a predetermined upper limit value. The upper limit of ΔT12 / ΔT23 may be, for example, 2.5. ΔT12 / ΔT23 is preferably 1.0 to 2.5, and typically may be 2.0.

The control unit 22 may have a second off period in which the power supply to the heater 30 is stopped from the end of the second period P2 to the initial stage of the third period P3. By providing the second off period, the temperature drop from the second target temperature TA2 to the third target temperature TA3 can be achieved in the shortest time. The control unit 22 can continue the temperature measurement of the heater 30 even during the second off period. In this case, the control unit 22 can be configured to restart the power supply to the heater 30 when the temperature of the heater 30 drops to the vicinity of the third target temperature TA3. Similar to the first off period, the second off period is preferably a time interval such that a general user does not perform the suction operation twice or more, for example, in the range of 15 to 20 seconds. It is preferable to have. The second target temperature TA2 and the third target temperature TA3 are set so that the temperature drop from the second target temperature TA2 to the third target temperature TA3 due to natural cooling during the second off period is performed within the above time range. Can be done. Alternatively, the control unit 22 may be configured to measure the passage of time in the second off period and forcibly restart the power supply to the heater 30 when the second off period reaches a predetermined upper limit value. ..

As described above, the temperature difference (ΔT12) between the first target temperature TA1 and the second target temperature TA2 is larger than the temperature difference (ΔT23) between the second target temperature TA2 and the third target temperature TA3 from the viewpoint of power consumption reduction. However, this relationship is also preferable from the viewpoint of making the first off period and the second off period as close to each other as possible. According to Newton's law of cooling, the rate of temperature decrease during natural cooling is higher in the high temperature zone than in the low temperature zone. Therefore, in order to make the first off period and the second off period as close as possible, the first off period belongs to the high temperature zone. It is necessary to make the temperature difference (ΔT12) between the first target temperature TA1 and the second target temperature TA2 relatively large. Suppose that the temperature difference (ΔT12) between the first target temperature TA1 and the second target temperature TA2 is equal to the temperature difference (ΔT23) between the second target temperature TA2 and the third target temperature TA3, or the former temperature difference (ΔT12). ) Is smaller than the latter temperature difference (ΔT23), the first off period is always shorter than the second off period, so that it is theoretically impossible to make the two off periods the same.

Further, the ratio of the difference between the first target temperature TA1 and the second target temperature TA2 to the difference between the second target temperature TA2 and the third target temperature TA3 is preferably less than 2.5. This is because the difference between the first target temperature TA1 and the second target temperature TA2 is not made too large so that the aerosol can be stably generated in the middle of the puffable period.

From the viewpoint of reducing power consumption, it may be preferable to control the heater 30 at the third target temperature TA3 without passing through the first target temperature TA1 to the second target temperature TA2. However, in that case, the period from the first target temperature TA1 to the third target temperature TA3 (second off period) becomes relatively long. Since the power supply to the heater 30 is stopped during the period from the first target temperature TA1 to the third target temperature TA3, if the user performs a suction operation a plurality of times within this period, the temperature of the heater 30 becomes the third. There is a risk that the temperature will drop significantly. Before shifting from the first target temperature TA1 to the third target temperature TA3, the second target temperature TA2 between the first target temperature TA1 and the third target temperature TA2 is passed, so that the other target temperature can be changed from one target temperature to another. The time required for the transition to the target temperature can be shortened. As a result, the continuous time during the off period when the power supply to the heater 30 is stopped is relatively short, so that the temperature of the smoking article is excessively lowered by the multiple suction operations, and as a result, aerosol production becomes unstable. It can be prevented from becoming.

The control unit 22 stops the power supply to the heater 30 at the same time as the end of the third period P3. Next, the control unit 22 notifies the end of the suctionable period at the timing T7 after the elapse of a predetermined period after the power supply to the heater 30 is stopped (timing T6). That is, even after the power supply to the heater 30 is stopped, the user is encouraged to suck the aerosol until a predetermined period of time elapses, and the residual heat of the heater 30 and the smoking article 110 allows the user to taste the aerosol. be able to. The end of the suctionable period can be notified by the notification unit 40, for example, control of changing the light emitting color of a light emitting element such as an LED, changing the light emitting pattern, driving the vibrating element, or the like. It can be done by a combination of these.

After the heater 30 has passed the first period P1, the second period P2, and the third period P3 of the heating profile, the heat of the heater 30 is sufficiently transferred to the inside of the smoking article 110. Therefore, in the period from the end of the third period P3 to the end of the suctionable period, that is, in the fourth period P4 in FIG. 8, a certain amount of aerosol can be generated only by the residual heat of the heater 30 and the smoking article 110. .. However, in the fourth period P4, as in the first off period and the second off period, aerosol production tends to be unstable, so the time interval may be such that the user does not perform the suction operation twice or more. preferable. Therefore, the fourth period P4 is preferably 5 to 15 seconds, typically 10 seconds.

Further, the control unit 22 can notify the user that the end of the suctionable period is approaching at the timing T5 which is earlier than the timing T7 for notifying the end of the suctionable period by a predetermined period Pe. Such notification can be performed, for example, 20 to 40 seconds before the end of the suctionable period. Such notification can be performed by the notification unit 40, for example, by controlling the light emitting color of a light emitting element such as an LED, changing the light emitting pattern, driving the vibrating element, or a combination thereof. be able to.

In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 22 stops the power supply to the heater 30 at the end of the third period P3. In addition to this, when the number of suction operations by the user exceeds a predetermined number, the control unit 22 may stop the power supply to the heater 30 even within the second period P2 or the third period P3. .. The puff operation by the user can be detected by, for example, the temperature sensor described above.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a heating profile of the heater and a delivery profile of the aerosol. The aerosol delivery profile is a graph showing the time variation of the major aerosol components delivered into the user's oral cavity when the user uses the flavor aspirator 100 according to predetermined suction conditions. The "main aerosol component" referred to here is a substance that produces a visible aerosol when heated to a certain temperature or higher, and specifically, it is an aerosol source contained in the filler 111 of the smoking article 110. be.

The delivery profile of the major aerosol component may depend primarily on the heating profile of the heater 30. Specifically, the delivery profile of the major aerosol component may basically be a profile corresponding to the temperature profile inside the smoking article 110. Since the temperature profile inside the smoking article 110 follows the heating profile of the heater 30, in general, the shape tends to be delayed in time from the heating profile.

Therefore, by setting the first target temperature TA1 in the first period P1 to the highest temperature throughout the heating profile, the delivery profile of the major aerosol components is more likely to form a steep ascending curve in the initial Q1. Further, by maintaining the temperature of the heater 30 at the second target temperature TA2 in most of the second period P2 after the first period P1, the delivery profile of the main aerosol component is stable in the medium-term Q2 with little fluctuation for each suction. It becomes easy to form a period SP. Further, by controlling the temperature of the heater 30 toward the third target temperature TA3, which is lower than the second target temperature TA2, during the third period P3 after the second period P2, the delivery profile of the main aerosol component is the final Q3. It becomes easy to form a descending curve in. In particular, by reducing the temperature difference T23 between the second target temperature TA2 and the third target temperature TA3, the delivery profile of the main aerosol component is more likely to form a gentler downward curve in the final Q3. As described above, by controlling the heating of the heater 30 according to the heating profile illustrated in FIG. 8, the delivery profile of the main aerosol component has a maximum point in the medium-term Q2, and it becomes easy to form a convex curve as a whole. , It becomes easy to form a steep ascending curve in the initial Q1, and it becomes easy to form a gentle descending curve in the final Q3.

As mentioned above, the delivery profile of the major aerosol components may depend primarily on the heating profile of the heater 30. However, the delivery profile of the main aerosol component is the shape of the heater 30, the presence and shape of the insulation 138, the size of the smoking article 110, the degree of contact between the heater 30 and the smoking article 110, and the heated portion of the heater 30 with respect to the smoking article 110. It should be noted that the delivery profile in FIG. 9 is exemplary as it can vary depending on factors such as the location of the.

(Program and storage medium)
The control unit 22 can execute the control flow for realizing the heating profile and / or the aerosol profile described above. That is, the present invention may also include a program that causes the flavor aspirator 100 and / or the aerosol generator 120 to execute the above method, and a storage medium in which the program is stored. Such a storage medium may be a non-transient storage medium.

[Other Embodiments]
Although the present invention has been described by embodiments described above, the statements and drawings that form part of this disclosure should not be understood to limit the invention. Various alternative embodiments, examples and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Claims (16)

Equipped with a control unit that controls the heater that heats the aerosol source
The control unit controls the temperature of the heater toward the first target temperature during the first period, and toward the second target temperature lower than the first target temperature during the second period after the first period. A control unit configured to control the temperature of the heater and control the temperature of the heater toward a third target temperature lower than the second target temperature during the third period after the second period. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the difference between the first target temperature and the second target temperature is larger than the difference between the second target temperature and the third target temperature. The control unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second period is longer than the first period and the third period. The control according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit is configured so that the length of the first period can be changed based on the speed of temperature rise of the heater in the first period. unit. The control unit according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to shorten the first period as the period from the start of heating of the heater to reaching a predetermined temperature is shorter. The control unit according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the variable range of the first period has a predetermined upper limit value. The control unit has a first off period in which the power supply to the heater is stopped from the end of the first period to the beginning of the two periods.
The control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first off period is set to 20 seconds or shorter. The control unit has a second off period in which the power supply to the heater is stopped from the end of the second period to the beginning of the three periods.
The control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second off period is set to 20 seconds or shorter. The control unit is configured to notify that the suctionable period has started during the first period during which the temperature of the heater is maintained at the first target temperature. The control unit according to any one of 1 to 8. The control unit according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is configured to notify that the suctionable period has started in the latter half of the first period. The control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the control unit is configured to stop supplying electric power to the heater after the third period. The control unit is configured to stop the power supply to the heater after the third period and notify that the suctionable period has expired after a predetermined period has elapsed from the stop. The control unit according to any one item. The control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12, and the control unit.
An aerosol generator comprising the heater. The aerosol generator according to claim 13, wherein the heater has a tubular shape capable of heating the outer periphery of a columnar smoking article. A method of controlling the heater that heats the aerosol source.
The first step of controlling the temperature of the heater toward the first target temperature during the first period, and
A second step of controlling the temperature of the heater toward a second target temperature lower than the first target temperature during the second period after the first period.
A method comprising a third step of controlling the temperature of the heater towards a third target temperature lower than the second target temperature during the third period after the second period. A program that causes an aerosol generator to perform the method according to claim 15.

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