TWI742269B - Aerosol generating device, control method and computer program product - Google Patents

Abstract

In the present embodiment, the aerosol generating device includes a load and a control unit. The load heats the aerosol-generating article including the aerosol substrate holding or carrying at least one of the aerosol source and the flavor source, using the power supplied from the power source. The control unit controls electric power supplied from the power supply to the load by dividing it into a plurality of phases for executing different control modes.

Description

Mist generating device and control method and computer program product

The invention relates to a mist generating device, a control method and a program.

An electric heating element such as an electric heater (heater) is used to heat the mist-generating article to generate aerosol. The mist-generating device is widely used.

The mist generating device is equipped with an electric heating element, and a control unit that controls the electric heating element itself or the power supplied to the electric heating element. The mist generating device can be equipped with mist generating articles such as tobacco sticks or pods containing tobacco formed into sheets or particles. Then, an electric heating element is used to heat the mist generating article to generate mist.

For the heating method of mist generating articles, there are, for example, the following three heating methods.

The first heating method is to insert a rod-shaped electric heating body into the mist generating article, and use the electric heating body inserted into the mist generating article to heat the mist generating article. The control technology for heating by this first heating method is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 6046231, Japanese Patent No. 6225008, Japanese Patent No. 6062457, and the like.

The second heating method is to arrange a ring-shaped electric heater coaxial with the mist-generating article on the outer periphery of the mist-generating article, and use the electric heater to heat the mist-generating article from the outer peripheral side of the mist-generating article.

The third heating method is to insert a metal sheet (also called a susceptor) that generates heat by generating an eddy current inside by penetrating its own magnetic field into the mist-generating article in advance. Then install the mist-generating article into a mist-generating device equipped with a coil, and make an alternating current flow to the coil to generate a magnetic field. The phenomenon of induction heating (IH: Induction Heating) is used to generate mist in the mist-generating device. The metal sheet inside the article is heated.

For the mist generating device, for example, from the viewpoint of the convenience of the mist generating device, it is preferable to make the time from the start of heating until the user can breathe the mist short. In addition, from the viewpoint of the quality of the mist generating device, it is desirable to stabilize the amount of mist generated from the time the user can inhale the mist to the end of heating, and to stabilize the taste of the mist given to the user.

The present invention was completed in consideration of the above-mentioned matters, and its purpose is to provide a mist generating device and a control and program that can appropriately heat mist generating articles, thereby stabilizing the amount of mist generated.

The mist generating device of the first example is equipped with a load and a control unit. The load uses electric power supplied from the power source to heat the mist generating article containing the mist base material, and the mist base material holds or holds at least one of the mist source and the fragrance source. The control unit divides the power supplied from the power supply to the load into a plurality of stages to execute different control modes for control.

The control method of the second example is a control method for controlling the power supplied from the power supply to the load for heating the mist generating article containing the mist substrate, wherein the mist substrate maintains or holds the mist source and the fragrance source At least one of them. The control method includes: starting the supply of power from the power source to the load; and dividing the power supplied from the power source to the load into a plurality of stages for executing different control modes for control.

The mist generating device of the third example is equipped with a load and a control unit. The load uses electric power supplied from the power source to heat the mist generating article containing the mist base material, and the mist base material holds or holds at least one of the mist source and the fragrance source. The control unit controls the power supplied from the power source to the load. The control unit divides the feedback control into multiple stages with different target temperatures for execution. In each of the multiple stages, at least one of the gain of the feedback control and the upper limit of the power supplied from the power supply to the load is different.

The control method of the fourth example is a control method for controlling the power supplied from the power supply to the load for heating the mist generating article containing the mist substrate, wherein the mist substrate maintains or holds the mist source and the fragrance source At least one of them. The control method includes: starting the supply of power from the power source to the load; and performing feedback control on the power supplied from the power source to the load. The feedback control system is divided into multiple stages with different target temperatures to execute. In each of the plural stages, at least one of the gain of the feedback control and the upper limit of the power is different.

The mist generating device of the fifth example is equipped with a load and a control unit. The load uses electric power supplied from the power source to heat the mist generating article containing the mist base material, and the mist base material holds or holds at least one of the mist source and the fragrance source. The feedback control system is divided into multiple stages to execute. In each of the multiple stages, the gain of feedback control is not the same.

The control method of the sixth example is a control method for controlling the power supplied from the power supply to the load for heating the mist generating article containing the mist substrate, wherein the mist substrate maintains or holds the mist source and the fragrance source At least one of them. The control method includes: starting the supply of power from the power source to the load; and performing feedback control on the power supplied from the power source to the load. The feedback control system is divided into multiple stages to execute. In each of the multiple stages, the gain of feedback control is not the same.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the heating of the mist-generating article can be appropriately adjusted, and the amount of mist generated can be stabilized.

1: Fog generating device

2: Attachment part

3: load

4: power supply

5: Timer

6: Temperature measurement department

7: Power measurement department

8: Control Department

9: Fog producing items

9a: Fog substrate

10: Preparation Department

11: Differential part

12: Gain section

13: Limit change department

14: Limiter

15: Comparison Department

16: Initial setting section

17: Gain change section

18: Decreasing part

19: Switching part

20: Overshoot detection department

21: Insulation Control Department

22: Limiter width control section

23: Ammeter

24: Voltmeter

25: switch

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the basic structure of the mist generating device of the embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a graph showing an example of changes in the power supplied to the load and the temperature of the load by the control of the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a control block diagram showing an example of control executed by the control unit of the mist generating device of the embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit in Embodiment 1A.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the preparation stage of the control unit in the embodiment 1A.

Figure 6 is a graph showing an example of the state of the temperature variation of the load between the preparation phase and the use phase.

Figure 7 is a graph showing an example of the duty cycle control in the first sub-stage.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the preparation stage of the control unit in the embodiment 1B.

Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the current flowing from the power supply to the load and the voltage applied by the power supply to the load.

Figure 10 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the full charge voltage, the discharge end voltage, the current corresponding to the full charge voltage, and the current corresponding to the discharge end voltage in the first sub-stage of the preparation phase.

Figure 11 shows the temperature change of the load in the preparation phase when the duty cycle is constant and the voltage of the power supply at the beginning of the first sub-phase is full-charged voltage, and the load temperature change at the beginning of the first sub-phase The graph of the comparison example of the temperature change of the load in the preparation phase when the voltage of the power supply is close to the end-of-discharge voltage.

Figure 12 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the full-charge voltage and the discharge end voltage realized by PWM control, and the relationship between the current corresponding to the full-charge voltage and the current corresponding to the discharge end voltage.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the preparation stage of the control unit in the embodiment 1C.

Fig. 14 is a chart showing an example of control executed by the control unit in Embodiment 1D.

Fig. 15 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit in Embodiment 1D.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the preparation stage of the control unit in the embodiment 1D.

Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the preparation stage of the control unit in the embodiment 1E.

Fig. 18 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit in Embodiment 2A.

Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit in the embodiment 2A.

Fig. 20 is a control block diagram showing a modification example of the limiter width of the limiter changing section in the embodiment 2B.

Fig. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 2B.

Figure 22 is a graph showing an example of the change in the limiter width used in the limiter and the temperature rise state of the load.

Fig. 23 is a graph showing an example of the change of the limiter width in Example 2C.

Fig. 24 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit in Embodiment 2D.

Fig. 25 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit in the embodiment 2D.

Fig. 26 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit in the embodiment 2E.

Fig. 27 is a graph showing an example of comparison between the end temperature of the use phase in the second embodiment and the target temperature in the conventional mist generating device.

Fig. 28 is a graph showing an example of comparison between the difference between the end temperature of the use phase and the measured temperature value in the second embodiment and the difference between the target temperature and the measured temperature value in the conventional mist generating device.

Figure 29 is a table showing the comparison between the preparation phase and the use phase performed by the control unit in the third embodiment.

Fig. 30 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit in Embodiment 4A.

Fig. 31 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit in the embodiment 4A.

Fig. 32 is a graph showing an example of the occurrence state of the temperature overshoot of the load 3.

Fig. 33 is a diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit in Embodiment 4B.

Fig. 34 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit in the embodiment 4B.

Fig. 35 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit in Embodiment 4C.

Fig. 36 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit in the embodiment 4C.

Fig. 37 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit in Embodiment 4D.

Fig. 38 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing of the overshoot detection unit in the embodiment 4D.

Fig. 39 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit in Embodiment 4E.

Fig. 40 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the preparation stage of the control unit in the embodiment 4E.

Fig. 41 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit in the embodiment 4E.

Fig. 42 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit in Embodiment 5A.

Fig. 43 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit in the embodiment 5A.

Fig. 44 is a graph showing an example of the change of the temperature of the load 3 and the limit width.

Fig. 45 is a diagram showing an example of a limiter changing portion in Example 5B.

Fig. 46 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit in the embodiment 5B.

Fig. 47 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit in Embodiment 5C.

Fig. 48 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit in the embodiment 5C.

Fig. 49 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit in Embodiment 5D.

Fig. 50 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit in the embodiment 5D.

Figure 51 is a graph showing an example of changes in load temperature and limiter width in Example 5E.

Fig. 52 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit in the embodiment 5E.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, functions and constituent elements that are substantially or substantially the same are marked with the same symbols, and descriptions are made only when necessary.

The mist generating device of the present embodiment is described by taking, for example, the case of a mist generating device for mist generating articles (solid heating) as an example. However, the mist generating device of this embodiment may also be a mist generating device of other types or purposes, such as a nebulizer for medical use.

The mist generating device of this embodiment adopts the above-mentioned first heating method, that is, the method of heating the mist generating article from the inside by the electric heating body inserted into the mist generating article to generate the mist as an example. Be explained. However, the mist generating device of the present embodiment may also adopt the second heating method described above in which the mist generating article is heated from the outside using a ring-shaped electric heater arranged on the outer periphery of the mist generating article, or by induction heating. Phenomenon The above-mentioned third heating method and other heating methods such as heating the mist generating article from the inside.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the basic structure of the mist generating device 1 of this embodiment.

The mist generating device 1 includes an attachment part 2, a load 3, a power source 4, a timer 5, a temperature measurement part 6, a power source measurement part 7, and a control part 8.

The attachment part 2 supports the mist generating article 9 in a removable manner.

The mist generating article 9 includes a mist substrate 9a that holds or supports at least one of, for example, a mist source or a fragrance source. The mist generating article 9 may be, for example, a smoking article, and may be formed into an easy-to-use shape such as a stick shape.

The mist source may be a liquid or solid containing polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin or propylene glycol. In addition to containing polyols, the mist source may also contain components such as nicotine.

The mist substrate 9a is, for example, a solid substance added or holding a mist source, and may be, for example, a tobacco sheet.

The mist substrate 9a may be, for example, a substrate that can emit volatile compounds capable of generating mist, so that it can function as a mist source or a fragrance source. Volatile compounds are released when the mist substrate 9a is heated. In this embodiment, the mist base 9a is a part of the mist generating article 9.

The load 3 is, for example, an electric heating element, receives power supply from the power source 4 to generate heat, and heats the mist generating article 9 attached to the attachment portion 2.

The power source 4 is, for example, a battery, or a battery pack, a field-effect transistor for charging (FET: Field Emission Transistor), a FET for discharging, a protection IC (Integrated Circuit), a monitoring device, etc., and a battery pack that supplies power to the load 3 . The power source 4 is a rechargeable secondary battery, and may be, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery. The power source 4 may be included in the mist generating device 1 or may be a structure independent of the mist generating device 1.

The timer 5 outputs a timer value t indicating the elapsed time after the start of the supply of power to the load 3 in the non-operating state to the control unit 8.

Here, the so-called non-operation state may be, for example, a state where the power supply 4 is OFF, or a state where the power supply 4 is in an ON state but is not waiting to supply power to the load 3. The non-action state may be a standby state.

The timer value may indicate the time counted from the start of mist generation, the time counted from the start of heating the load 3, or the time counted from the start of control by the control unit 8 of the mist generating device 1.

The temperature measurement unit 6 measures, for example, the temperature (heater temperature) of the load 3 and outputs the temperature measurement value to the control unit 8. A heater with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC: Positive Temperature Coefficient) characteristic whose resistance value changes with temperature can be used in load 3. In this case, the temperature measuring unit 6 can measure the resistance value of the load 3, and derive the temperature (heater temperature) of the load 3 from the measured resistance value.

The power supply measuring unit 7 measures, for example, the value related to the remaining power of the power supply 4, the voltage value output by the power supply 4, or the current flowing from the power supply 4 or the current charged into the power supply 4, and the power supply state value indicating the state of the power supply 4. The power state value is output to the control unit 8.

Here, the value related to the remaining amount of the power source 4 can be, for example, the output voltage of the power source 4. Alternatively, the state of charge (SOC: State Of Charge) of the power source 4 may be used. The state of charge can be measured by, for example, the open circuit voltage (SOC-OCV: Open Circuit Voltage) method, or the current accumulation method (Coulomb counting method) that accumulates the charging current and discharging current of the power supply 4, from the use of sensors. Calculate the voltage or current.

The control unit 8 controls the electric power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 based on, for example, the timer value input from the timer 5 and the temperature measurement value input from the temperature measurement unit 6. The control unit 8 may also perform control using the power supply state value input from the power supply measurement unit 7. The control unit 8 may include, for example, a computer, a controller, or a processor, and a memory, and the computer, the controller, or the processor executes a program stored in the memory for control.

Fig. 2 is a graph showing an example of changes in the electric power supplied to the load 3 and the temperature of the load 3 under the control of this embodiment. In FIG. 2, the horizontal axis represents the time value t, that is, time, and the vertical axis represents the power supplied to the load 3 and the temperature of the load 3.

The control unit 8 mainly switches control during the preparation phase (phase) and the use phase.

For example, in the preparation stage, the state in which the load 3 cannot generate a predetermined amount of mist from the mist generating article 9 is the preparation state. The preparation state may be, for example, a state from the start of the heating of the load 3 by receiving the user's input until the user is allowed to use the mist generating device 1 to puff the mist. In other words, the user is not allowed to use the mist generating device 1 to inhale mist in the ready state.

The predetermined amount is equivalent to, for example, the amount of mist generated when the user is allowed to inhale the mist.

More specifically, the predetermined amount may be, for example, an amount that can deliver an effective amount of mist into the mouth of the user. The so-called effective amount herein may be an amount capable of providing the user with an inhalation taste derived from a mist source or a fragrance source contained in the mist generating article. The amount may also be, for example, the amount of mist that is generated by the load 3 and can be delivered into the mouth of the user. The fixed amount may be, for example, the amount of mist generated when the temperature of the load 3 is higher than the boiling point of the mist source. The predetermined amount may be, for example, the amount of mist generated from the mist generating article 9 when the power supplied to the load 3 is more than the power that should be supplied to the load 3 to generate mist from the mist generating article 9. The load 3 may be such that the mist will not be generated from the mist generating article 9 in the preparation state, that is, the predetermined amount may be zero.

The control unit 8 can use front control (F/F control) to control the power supplied from the power supply 4 to the load 3 when the power is started to be supplied to the load 3 in the non-operating state, or when the load 3 is in the ready state.

The control unit 8 can perform feedback control (F/B control) when the load 3 changes from a ready state to a use state, or perform both feedback control and pre-control.

For example, in the use stage, the state in which a predetermined amount or more of mist is generated from the mist generating article 9 with the load 3 can be the use state. The use state may be, for example, a state from after allowing the user to inhale the mist to ending the generation of the mist.

The specific content of the control performed by the control unit 8 will be described in detail in the first to fifth embodiments described later.

The dotted line L ₁ represents the state where the power supplied to the load 3 changes in accordance with the timing value t. For example, the control unit 8 can control the power supply from the power source 4 by pulse width modulation (PWM: Pulse Width Modulation) control or pulse frequency modulation (PFM: Pulse Frequency Modulation) control for a switch not shown in Figure 1. Power to load 3. Alternatively, the control unit 8 may use a DC/DC converter not shown in FIG. 1 to step up or step down the output voltage of the power source 4 to control the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3. In the preparation stage when the load 3 is in the ready state, a large power is first supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3, and then the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 is reduced. When changing from the preparation phase to the use phase where the load 3 is in use, the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 gradually increases as the timer value t increases. Then, when, for example, the temperature of the load 3 reaches the end temperature of the use phase, or the timer value t increases above the threshold indicating the end of the use phase, the end condition of the use state of the load 3 is satisfied, and the power supply to the load 3 is stopped.

The solid line L ₂ represents the changing state of the temperature of the load 3 as the timer value t increases. During the period when large power is supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the preparation phase, the temperature of the load 3 rises rapidly. After the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 is reduced in the preparation phase, the temperature of the load 3 remains unchanged or slightly increases. When shifting to the use stage, the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 gradually increases with the passage of time, and the temperature of the load 3 gradually rises. The control unit 8 performs feedback control based on the temperature measurement value input from the temperature measurement unit 6 so that the temperature of the load 3 at the end of the use period becomes the end temperature of the use period.

The end temperature of the use phase is set to the temperature of the load 3 that will eventually converge or reach in the feedback control. The feedback control in this embodiment is to control the power supply to the load 3 so that the difference between the end temperature of the use period and the measured temperature value will be zero at the end of the use period.

Fig. 3 is a control block diagram showing an example of control executed by the control unit 8 of the mist generating device 1 in this embodiment.

The control unit 8 includes a preparation unit 10, a difference unit 11, a gain unit 12, a limit change (adjustment) unit 13, a limit unit 14, and a comparison unit 15. The specific configuration of these constituent elements of the control unit 8 will be described later.

The control executed by the control unit 8 mainly has the first to fifth characteristics. By controlling the power supplied from the power supply 4 to the load 3 by the control unit 8, the time in the preparation phase can be shortened, and the amount of mist generated during the use phase can be stabilized.

The control unit 8 has the first feature of executing the pre-authorized control in the preparation phase.

The control unit 8 has a second feature of expanding the limiter width of the limiter unit 14 in the feedback control in the use phase.

The control unit 8 has a third feature of adopting different control modes in the preparation phase and the use phase.

The control unit 8 has a fourth feature of suppressing a decrease in the temperature of the load 3 when shifting from the preparation phase to the use phase.

The control unit 8 has a fifth feature of recovering the temperature drop when the user inhales the mist during the use phase.

The mist generating device 1 of the present embodiment uses, for example, a load 3 to heat the mist generating article 9 to generate mist from the mist generating article 9. The control unit 8 controls the supply of electric power to the load 3 so that the mist generated during the heating of the load 3 does not greatly fluctuate.

In order to realize the stable generation of mist in a control mode or a control stage, the control parameters such as the target temperature must be changed with the passage of time, etc., and it may be difficult to achieve stable control.

In response to this point, the control unit 8 in this embodiment uses different control modes for the heating of the load 3. Specifically, it uses pre-control and feedback control to achieve stable fog generation. .

The first to fifth features described above will be specifically described using the following first to fifth embodiments.

From the present embodiment to the first to fifth embodiments, pre-control and feedback control can be cited as examples of different control modes. The pre-control may be, for example, control that does not determine the operation amount of the operation object based on the control amount of the control object. In other words, the forward control may be, for example, a control that does not use the control amount of the control object as a feedback component. For another example, the front-end control can be based only on a preset algorithm or variable, or only based on the aforementioned algorithm or variable, and a combination of some physical quantities obtained before outputting control instructions related to the manipulated variable to the operating object. , To determine the control of the operation volume of the operation object. The feedback control may be, for example, a control that determines the operation amount of the control object based on the control amount of the control object. In other words, the feedback control can be, for example, a control that uses the control amount of the control object as the feedback component. For another example, feedback control can be a control that determines the operation amount of the operation object based on a combination of preset algorithms or variables, plus some physical quantities obtained during control execution.

In the following first to third embodiments, the term "overheating" refers to a state in which the temperature of the controlled object is only slightly higher than the temperature to be controlled (for example, the end temperature of the use phase or the target temperature). That is, it should be noted that it does not necessarily mean that the controlled object is in an extremely high temperature state.

(First Embodiment)

The first embodiment will explain the pre-grant control in the preparation phase.

The control unit 8 in the first embodiment is when the power supply is started to the load 3 in the non-operating state, or when the load 3 is in a ready state in which a predetermined amount or more of mist cannot be generated from the mist generating article. The front control is used to control the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3. In this way, the pre-control is used to increase the temperature of the load 3 in the ready state, thereby accelerating the temperature rise of the load 3 before reaching the use state.

The control unit 8 performs forward control so that the power required to change the load 3 from the non-operating state or the ready state to the use state is supplied to the load 3. In this way, the use of pre-control to increase the temperature of the load 3 until the use state can shorten the time required for the load 3 to reach the use state.

Here, the pre-control performed by the control unit 8 in order to shorten the time for the load 3 to reach the use state will be described in detail. For example, when the control unit 8 executes feedback control to change the load 3 in the non-operating state or the ready state to the use state, the control amount will affect the determination of the operation amount, so it is easy to change the load 3 to the use state The time required becomes longer. In particular, in the state where the load 3 is used from the early stage of the preparation phase by feedback control, when the gain (transfer function) is small, the heating rate of the load 3 will slow down, and when the gain is large, Load 3 will be difficult to converge to the use state. In addition, in the state where the target temperature of the load 3 is gradually increased with time by using feedback control in the preparation phase, if the measured temperature of the load 3 exceeds the target temperature, the temperature rise may stagnate. In view of this, if the control unit 8 executes the pre-control in the preparation phase, there will be no worries as described above when the feedback control is used in the preparation phase, so the time required for the load 3 to change to the use state can be shortened. For this reason, it can be said that the front control is more suitable than the feedback control for the control executed by the control unit 8 to bring the load 3 in the non-operating state or the ready state into the use state.

The control unit 8 may execute the pre-control in a manner that suppresses the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 after supplying the necessary electric power to the load 3. In this case, the suppression of the electric power can, for example, suppress the electric power supplied to the load 3 to electric power capable of maintaining the temperature of the load 3. In this way, after the necessary electric power is supplied to the load 3, the electric power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 is suppressed, thereby suppressing the mist generating device 1 and the mist generating article 9 from becoming overheated. If the mist generating device 1 becomes overheated, the life of the power source 4, the control unit 8, the load 3, the circuit electrically connected from the load 3 to the power source 4, etc., of the mist generating device 1 may be shortened. In addition, if the mist-generating article 9 becomes an overheated state, the smell of the mist generated from the mist-generating article 9 may change.

The control unit 8 may use feedback control to control the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 after supplying the necessary electric power to the load 3. In this way, the feedback control is executed after the necessary power is supplied to the load 3, and the feedback control with good control stability can be used to improve the control accuracy after the necessary power is supplied to the load 3, and the generation of fog can be stabilized.

The forward control performed by the control unit 8 can be divided into a first sub-stage and a second sub-stage, and the values of the variables used in the forward control are different in the first sub-stage and the second sub-stage. In this case, the value of the variable is different, which may include different controlled variables, different constants, and different thresholds. In this way, the pre-control is divided into the first sub-stage and the second sub-stage, and the values of different variables are used, which can improve the control accuracy compared with the case of using one control stage. In addition, the functions or algorithms used for the forward control in the first sub-phase and the second sub-phase can also be different. The first sub-stage and the second sub-stage will be described in detail later using Figs. 4 to 8.

The first sub-phase is executed before the second sub-phase, for example.

The power (W) or power (W˙h) supplied to the load 3 in the first sub-phase may be greater than the power (W) or power (W˙h) supplied to the load 3 in the second sub-phase. As a result, the temperature increase rate of the load 3 in the second sub-phase is slowed down or the temperature increase of the load 3 is stopped, so that the temperature of the load 3 after the pre-control is completed can be stabilized.

The time of the first sub-phase may be longer than the time of the second sub-phase. In this way, the time of the first sub-phase which predominantly changes the state (temperature) of the load 3 is made longer than that of the second sub-phase, and the total time for performing the pre-control on the whole can be shortened. In other words, the mist generating device 1 can generate mist having a desired taste from the mist generating article 9 more quickly.

At the end of the second sub-phase, the control unit 8 can execute the pre-control in such a way that the load 3 becomes in use. As a result, the forward control can be used to stably bring the temperature of the load 3 to the temperature required in the use state until the end of the second sub-phase. Moreover, the power discharged by the power supply 4 before the end of the second sub-phase is smaller than when the load 3 is in use, so in addition to improving the power consumption of the power supply 4, the degradation of the power supply 4 can also be suppressed.

The control unit 8 can perform the pre-control in the second sub-stage by turning the load 3 into a use state capable of generating fog, and then supplying the power or electricity required to maintain the use state of the load 3. In this way, in the second sub-phase, the power or power required to maintain the use state is supplied to the load 3, which can avoid the situation of supplying too low power or power in the second sub-phase. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the situation where the load 3 becomes non-use, and the mist generating device 1 cannot generate the mist with the desired smell from the mist generating article 9 during the use phase, and suppress the reduction of the power consumption of the power source 4.

The control unit 8 may execute the pre-control in such a way that the load 3 becomes the use state before changing from the first sub-stage to the second sub-stage. In this way, the load 3 can be brought into use at an early stage at the time of the first sub-phase, and the temperature of the load 3 can be adjusted in the second sub-phase to maintain the use state, and the control stability can be increased.

In the second sub-stage, the control unit 8 may perform the pre-control by supplying the power or the amount of electricity required to maintain the use state to the load 3 in the use state. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the load 3 from being turned into a non-use state by supplying too low electric power or electric quantity in the second sub-stage, and the load 3 can be stably in the use state. And, the temperature variation of the load 3 at the end of the second sub-phase can be suppressed.

The second sub-stage can be set to be shorter than the first sub-stage, for example, and longer than the unit time of (achievable) control achieved by the control unit 8. Thereby, the second sub-phase can be executed in an appropriate time, and the temperature of the load 3 can be stabilized.

The control unit 8 can change the value of the variable used in the pre-control of the load 3 according to the time when the pre-control of the load 3 is executed or the initial state belonging to the previous state. In this case, the initial state includes, for example, the initial temperature. The change of the value of the variable includes the change of the controlled variable, the change of the constant, and the change of the threshold. In this way, changing the value of the variable used in the pre-control according to the initial state can suppress the occurrence of external factors such as product errors, initial conditions, and ambient temperature during the execution and/or at the end of the pre-control. Variations in the temperature of load 3.

The control unit 8 can change the value of the variable so as to be able to supply to the load 3 the power or the amount of electricity required to bring the load 3 in the initial state to the use state. Thereby, it is possible to suppress variation in the temperature of the load 3 that may occur due to external factors such as product errors, initial conditions, and ambient temperature when the feedback control is completed and the load 3 is in use.

The control unit 8 can obtain the value associated with the remaining power of the power source 4, and change the value of the variable used in the front control according to the value associated with the remaining power during or before the execution of the front control. Thereby, the temperature variation of the load 3 that may occur due to the difference in the remaining power of the power source 4 can be suppressed.

The control unit 8 can increase at least one of the duty ratio, voltage, and on-time of the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 as the value associated with the remaining power is smaller. For example, in the case of using a DC/DC converter, there may be cases where the pulse wave is not applied to the load 3 due to the smoothing effect of the smoothing capacitor provided on the output side of the DC/DC converter. The value associated with the electric quantity controls the time (on time) of supplying electric power to the load 3. Thereby, the temperature variation of the load 3 due to the difference in the remaining power of the power source 4 can be suppressed.

The control unit 8 can change the value of the variable in such a way that the first electric power is substantially the same as the second electric power, which is supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 based on the value associated with the first remaining power acquired from the power source 4, The second power is supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 based on a value associated with the second remaining power that is obtained from the power source 4 and is different from the value associated with the first remaining power. Thereby, PWM control can be performed to supply a certain amount of power to the load 3 regardless of the remaining power of the power source 4, and the temperature variation of the load 3 due to the difference in the remaining power of the power source 4 can be suppressed.

The control unit 8 can obtain the value associated with the remaining power of the power supply 4, and change the value of the variable used in the front control according to the state of the load 3 during or before the execution of the front control and the value associated with the remaining power . In this way, it is possible to suppress the temperature of the load 3 that may occur due to the difference in the remaining power of the power supply 4, product errors, initial conditions, ambient temperature and other external factors, etc. during and/or at the end of the pre-control control. The uneven changes.

The control unit 8 can reduce at least one of the duty ratio, voltage, and on-time of the power supplied from the power supply 4 to the load 3 as the load 3 is closer to the use state where the fog can be generated according to the state of the load 3. It is smaller, and the larger the value associated with the remaining power, the more at least one of the duty ratio, voltage, and on-time of the power decreases. In this case, at least one of the duty ratio, voltage, and on-time of the power obtained from the state of the load 3, such as the initial temperature, can be corrected based on the remaining power of the power source 4, thereby suppressing possible product errors, External factors such as initial conditions, ambient temperature, etc., as well as variations in the temperature of the load 3 during the execution and/or end of the pre-control control due to the difference in the remaining power of the power supply 4.

The control unit 8 can change the duty ratio, voltage, and on-time in such a way that the first electric power is substantially the same as the second electric power. The first electric power is obtained from the power source 4 based on the value associated with the first remaining power When supplied to the load 3, the second power is supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 based on a value associated with the second remaining power that is obtained from the power source 4 and is different from the value associated with the first remaining power. In this case, the first power and the second power may be different according to the state of the load 3. In this way, PWM control can be executed such that the same power is supplied to the load 3 in both the first remaining power and the second remaining power, which can suppress external factors such as product errors, initial conditions, and ambient temperature. , It is also possible that the temperature of the load 3 varies during the execution and/or at the end of the preceding control due to the difference in the remaining power of the power supply 4.

The control unit 8 can change the value of the variable used in the front control according to the resistance value of the load 3 or the deterioration state of the load 3 during or before the execution of the front control. In this case, the control unit 8 can obtain the degradation state based on, for example, the number of times of use of the load 3 or the cumulative value of the use time. Thereby, even when the load 3 gradually deteriorates as the number of uses of the mist generating device 1 increases, and the resistance value at room temperature or the like changes, the temperature of the load 3 can be stabilized. Furthermore, even when the load 3 with the aforementioned positive temperature coefficient characteristic (PTC characteristic) is used, the load 3 is deteriorated and its characteristic changes, so that the temperature of the load 3 can be stabilized.

The various controls performed by the control unit 8 described above can be realized by the control unit 8 executing programs.

Regarding the first embodiment as described above, the following examples 1A to 1E are further used to describe specific control examples.

<Example 1A>

Fig. 4 is a control block diagram showing an example of control executed by the control unit 8 in Embodiment 1A.

The preparation unit 10 of the control unit 8 obtains the timer value t output by the timer 5 in the preparation phase, and obtains the load command value corresponding to the timer value t. According to the calculated load command value, the switch 25 provided on the circuit that electrically connects the load 3 and the power source 4 as shown in FIG. 9 to be described later performs the switching operation, and the control unit 8 performs the switching operation according to the duty command value. The power supplied to the load 3 is controlled.

In Embodiment 1A, the heating state for the load 3 is switched based on the duty command value, more specifically the duty ratio indicated by the duty command value. However, if a DC/DC converter is installed on the circuit that electrically connects the load 3 and the power source 4 instead of the switch 25, the load 3 can be based on, for example, the current supplied to the load 3 or the voltage applied to the load 3 or The command value of the current or voltage switches the heating state, and the value instructing the switching of the heating state of the load 3 can be changed appropriately.

The preparation phase includes the first sub-phase and the second sub-phase. The first sub-phase and the second sub-phase can be distinguished according to the duty command value, more specifically the duty cycle represented by the duty command value. The first sub-stage and the second sub-stage can also be distinguished according to the current supplied to the load 3 or the voltage applied to the load 3 or the command value of the current or voltage.

_{The time Δt 1} of the first sub-phase is the time from the start of power supply to the non-operating load 3 to time t ₁ .

_{The time Δt 2} of the second sub-phase is the time from time t ₁ to the end time t ₂ of the preparation phase.

_{The time Δt 1} of the first sub-phase is longer than the time Δt _{2 of the} second sub-phase.

_{The duty ratio D 1} in the first sub-phase is higher than the duty ratio D ₂ in the second sub-phase. In Embodiment 1A, the higher the duty ratio, the more the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 increases. Therefore, the power system supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the first sub-phase is greater than the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the second sub-phase.

In the first sub-stage, the control unit 8 controls the power supplied to the load 3 according to the duty indication value indicating the high duty ratio until the temperature of the load 3 (mist generating article 9) reaches the mist generation temperature, thereby However, the mist can be generated from the mist generating article 9 at an early stage after the power supply (power supply) from the power source 4 to the load 3 is started.

In the second sub-stage, the control unit 8 suppresses the temperature fluctuation of the load 3 until it enters the use stage, and in order to keep the temperature of the load 3 (mist generating article 9) above the mist generation temperature, it is shown to be higher than the first The duty command value of the duty cycle with the lower duty cycle of the sub-phase controls the power supplied to the load 3. Even if the temperature at the end of the first sub-phase has some fluctuations, the control unit 8 uses the control of the second sub-phase to suppress and absorb the fluctuations. Therefore, the smell of the mist generated from the mist generating article 9 during the use phase will be stable.

As mentioned above, in the preparation phase, the first sub-phase is used to supply large power to the load 3, so that the temperature of the load 3 rises quickly, and then the second sub-phase is used to supply a smaller heat preservation power to the load 3. The amount of mist produced and the smell of mist in the use stage after the preparation stage are stable.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the preparation stage of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 1A.

In step S501, the preparation unit 10 determines whether a request for fog generation is received. If the request to generate fog is not received (the judgment result of step S501 is "No"), the preparation unit 10 repeats step S501. As a first example, the preparation unit 10 can determine whether a request for mist generation is received in step S501 based on whether the user has made an input to start the heating of the load 3. More specifically, when the user makes an input to start the heating of the load 3, the preparation unit 10 can determine that a request to generate mist has been received. Conversely, if the user has not made an input to start the heating of the load 3, the preparation unit 10 can determine that it has not received the request to generate mist. As a second example, the mist generating device 1 may have a sensor for detecting the user's suction (not shown in the first figure), and the user's suction detected by the sensor is used as the load 3 The input of the start of heating. As a third example, the mist generating device 1 may have at least one of the user interfaces such as buttons, switches, and touchpads not shown in the figure, and the user's operations on these are regarded as the required load. Input of 3 heating start.

If a request for mist generation is received, the preparation unit 10 starts the timer 5 in step S502.

In step S503, the input of the timer value t from the timer 5 to the preparation unit 10 is started.

In step S504, the preparation unit 10, based on _{the load command value representing the duty ratio D 1} in the first sub-stage, causes the load 3 and the power source 4 to be electrically connected as shown in Figure 9 to be described later. The switch 25 performs a switching operation to control the power supplied to the load 3.

In step S505, the preparation unit 10 determines whether the timer value t has reached the end time t _{1 of the} first sub-phase or not. If the timer value t has not reached the end time t ₁ or more of the first sub-phase (the judgment result of step S505 is "No"), the preparation unit 10 repeats step S505.

If the timer value t reaches the end time t ₁ or more of the first sub-phase (the judgment result of step S505 is "Yes"), then in step S506, the preparation unit 10 calculates the value according to the duty ratio D _{2 indicated in the second sub-phase.} The duty command value controls the power supplied to the load 3.

In step S507, the preparation unit 10 determines whether the timer value t has reached the end time t _{2 of the} second sub-phase or not. If the timer value t has not reached the end time t _{2 of the} second sub-phase or more (the judgment result of step S507 is "NO"), the preparation unit 10 repeats step S507. If the timer value t reaches the end time t _{2 of the} second sub-phase or more (the judgment result of step S507 is "YES"), the preparation unit 10 ends the preparation phase and enters the use phase.

In the embodiment 1A described above, the control unit 8 uses the pre-control to control the heating of the load 3 in the preparation phase, so it can speed up the load after the start of the power supply from the power source 4 to the load 3 after receiving the request to generate mist. 3's heating rate.

In Example 1A, the pre-control is used in the preparation stage to raise the temperature of the load 3 to a temperature at which the mist is generated for human inhalation, so the time from when the mist is required to be inhaled by the user can be shortened. time.

In Example 1A, the power supplied to the load 3 is temporarily increased in the first sub-phase of the preparation phase, and then the power supplied to the load 3 is decreased in the second sub-phase of the preparation phase, so that the load 3 can be prevented from becoming Overheated state.

Here, the reason why the control unit 8 uses the pre-control to control the heating of the load 3 in the preparation phase can speed up the heating rate of the load 3 after the generation of mist is required and the power supply from the power source 4 to the load 3 is started. The reason for the time from when the generation of mist is required to when the user can inhale the mist, and the reason why the load 3 can be prevented from becoming overheated will be explained in detail. For example, if the control unit 8 uses feedback control to control the heating of the load 3 in the preparation phase, the control amount will affect the determination of the operation amount, and it is easy to slow down the heating rate of the load 3. In addition, for the same reason, the time from when the mist generation is required to when the user can inhale the mist tends to become longer. In particular, from the early stage of the preparation phase, the load 3 is brought to a temperature at which mist can be generated. If the gain is small, the temperature of the load 3 will slow down, and if the gain is large, the temperature of the load 3 will be difficult to converge to At the temperature of mist generation, load 3 is prone to overheating. In addition, when the target temperature of the load 3 is gradually increased over time, when the measured temperature of the load 3 exceeds the target temperature, the temperature rise may stagnate. On the other hand, if the control unit 8 uses the pre-control to control the heating of the load 3 in the preparation phase, there will be no such concerns. Therefore, it is possible to speed up the process after the power supply from the power source 4 to the load 3 is required to generate mist. The heating rate of load 3. In addition, the time from when the mist generation is required to when the user can inhale the mist can be shortened. In addition, the load 3 can be suppressed from becoming overheated, and the time required for the load 3 to enter the use state can be shortened. Therefore, it can be said that for the control of the heating of the load 3 in the preparation stage, the forward control is more suitable than the feedback control.

<Example 1B>

Embodiment 1B will describe the control of changing the power supplied to the load 3 in the first sub-stage based on the temperature measurement value indicating the temperature of the load 3.

Fig. 6 is a graph showing an example of the state of the temperature variation of the load 3 between the preparation phase and the use phase. Fig. 6 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the timer value t and the temperature of the load 3, and the relationship between the timer value t and the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3. The horizontal axis represents the timing value t, and the vertical axis represents the temperature of the load 3 or the duty ratio of the power supplied to the load 3.

Even at the end of the preparation phase, when changing from the preparation phase to the use phase or just after changing to the use phase, the temperature of the display load 3 may change drastically from the end of the preparation phase.

In this way, when the temperature at the end of the preparation phase is not stable at or near the mist generation temperature, the temperature of the load 3 may fluctuate drastically, and at least the temperature of the initial load 3 during the use phase may not meet the mist generation temperature.

At the end of the preparation phase, the main reasons that the temperature of the load 3 will fluctuate are assumed to be, for example, the following three reasons.

The first cause is the deviation of the initial state of the load 3, for example, the deviation of the temperature of the load 3 when the temperature rise of the load 3 starts.

The second reason may be the deviation of the output voltage of the power supply 4 caused by the decrease of the remaining power of the power supply 4 or the deterioration of the power supply 4.

The third reason is the product error of the mist generating article 9 or the mist generating device 1.

The first and second reasons can be at least mitigated by the following controls in the first sub-stage.

The third reason can be at least mitigated by the insulation control in the second sub-phase.

Fig. 7 is a graph showing an example of the control of _{the duty ratio D 1 in the first sub-stage.} This figure 7 shows the relationship between the timer value t and the temperature of the load 3, and the relationship between the timer value t and the duty cycle. The horizontal axis represents the timing value t, and the vertical axis represents the temperature of the load 3 or the duty ratio of the power supplied to the load 3.

_{If the duty ratio D 1} in the first sub-phase is constant, and the duty ratio D ₂ in the second sub-phase is constant, if the temperature of the load 3 at the beginning of the first sub-phase is low or high, then The temperature of the load 3 at the end of the second sub-phase will also be low or high temperature, and it is assumed that the temperature of the load 3 will fluctuate unevenly at the end of the preparation phase.

_{In response to this point, the control unit 8 in Embodiment 1B changes the duty ratio D 1} in the first sub-stage based on the temperature measurement value at the beginning of the first sub-stage, thereby suppressing the temperature at the beginning of the first sub-stage. Variation in the temperature of load 3 at the end of the preparation phase due to deviation.

More specifically, when the temperature measurement value at the start of the first sub-phase is low, the control unit 8 increases the duty ratio D ₁ in the first sub-phase. Conversely, when the temperature measurement value at the start of the first sub-phase is high, the control unit 8 reduces the duty ratio D ₁ in the first sub-phase.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the preparation stage of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 1B.

Steps S801 to S803 are the same as steps S501 to S503 in Fig. 5 described above.

In step S804, the temperature measurement value T _{start at the start of the} first sub-phase is input from the temperature measurement unit 6 to the preparation unit 10 as an initial state.

In step S805, the preparation unit 10 based on the temperature measurement value T _start is determined in a first sub-stage duty cycle D ₁ (T _start), then a first sub-stage representing the duty ratio D ₁ (T _start) The duty command value causes the switch 25 provided on the circuit that electrically connects the load 3 and the power source 4 as shown in FIG. 9 to be described later to perform switching operations to control the power supplied to the load 3.

The subsequent steps S806 to S808 are the same as the steps S505 to S507 in FIG. 5 described above.

In the embodiment 1B described above, the variation in the temperature of the load 3 at the end of the preparation phase can be suppressed based on the deviation of the temperature of the load 3 at the beginning of the first sub-phase, and the mist can be made in the use phase after the preparation phase. The amount of production and the smell of the mist are stable.

Furthermore, in Embodiment 1B, the control unit 8 changes the duty command value of the first sub-stage based on the temperature measurement value T _{start at the start} of the first sub-stage, but it may also change the first sub-stage duty command value based on the temperature measurement value T _start . The duty command value of the two sub-stages, or the duty command value of the first sub-stage and the duty command value of the second sub-stage are changed _{according to the temperature measurement value T start.}

<Example 1C>

Embodiment 1C will describe the control of changing the power of the first sub-stage according to the state of charge (SOC) of the power source 4, using the state of charge (SOC) of the power source 4 as an example of the value associated with the remaining power of the power source 4, or even if it is The change in the state of charge of the power supply 4 also keeps the voltage applied to the load 3 under a certain PWM control.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the current flowing from the power source 4 to the load 3 and the voltage applied to the load 3 by the power source 4. The ammeter 23 outputs the current A flowing from the power source 4 to the load 3, and the voltmeter 24 outputs the voltage V applied from the power source 4 to the load 3. The control unit 8 not shown in FIG. 9 obtains the value output by the ammeter 23 and the value output by the voltmeter 24. The ammeter 23 and the voltmeter 24 may be those provided with shunt resistors with known resistance values inside, or Hall elements may also be used. It is advantageous from the viewpoint of weight or volume to use the shunt resistor inside, and it is more advantageous from the viewpoint of less influence on the measurement system or the measurement object to use the Hall element. In addition, the ammeter 23 and the voltmeter 24 may output the measured value in the form of a digital value, or may output it in the form of an analog value. In the case where the ammeter 23 and the voltmeter 24 output the analog value, the control unit 8 can convert the analog value into a digital value using an A/D converter.

The power source 4 and the load 3 are electrically connected by a circuit, and the control unit 8 controls the switching (switching action) of the switch 25 provided on the circuit, and controls the power supply from the power source 4 to the load 3. As an example, the switch 25 may be composed of at least one of a switch, a contactor, and a transistor. In addition, the circuit may include a DC/DC converter instead of the switch 25 or a DC/DC converter in addition to the switch 25. In this case, the control unit 8 can control the supply of electric power from the power source 4 to the load 3 by controlling the DC/DC converter.

In Figure 9, although the voltmeter 24 is placed closer to the load 3 side than the switch 25, if the SOC-OCV method is used to obtain the state of charge of the power source 4, it can also be placed closer to the power source 4 side than the switch 25 Set up another voltmeter at the place. The other voltmeter can output the open end voltage (OCV) of the power source 4.

Fig. 10 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the output voltage and the output current according to the remaining power of the power supply 4 in the first sub-stage of the preparation phase. FIG. 10, the horizontal axis represents the count value t, but omitted the second sub-phase ₁ after time t, the vertical axis represents the voltage or current output from the power supply 4. In addition, in Figure 10, the dashed line indicates the voltage and current when the remaining power of the power supply 4 is 100%, and the solid line indicates that the remaining power of the power supply 4 is 0% or close to 0%, and therefore the discharge end voltage or close to the discharge end voltage is output. The voltage and current in the case of the value of the voltage. Furthermore, in Figure 10, V _full-charged and V _EOD represent the full-charge voltage and the discharge end voltage of the power supply 4, respectively.

In Figure 10, the duty cycle D ₁ of the first sub-stage is 100%. For simplicity, suppose that the resistance of the circuit that electrically connects the load 3 and the power source 4 is a very small value that can be ignored, and suppose that in addition to the load 3, the power source 4 has no objects to supply power at the same time. The output voltage of 4 is divided by the resistance value R of the load 3 to obtain the output current corresponding to the remaining power of the power supply 4.

When the output voltage of the power supply 4 is the fully charged voltage, the output current I _full-charged can be obtained by using the simplified model as described above and the full-charge voltage/resistance of the load 3 (V _full-charged /R).

When the output voltage of the power supply 4 is the end-of-discharge voltage, the output current I _EOD can be obtained by using the simplified model as described above, the end-of-discharge voltage/resistance of the load 3 (V _EOD /R).

In the first sub-stage of the preparation phase, the output voltage of the power supply 4 is the fully charged voltage V _{full-charged and} the output current V _full-charged /R is higher than the output voltage of the power supply 4 when the end-of-discharge voltage V _EOD is output. The current V _EOD /R is large.

Figure 11 shows the temperature change of the load 3 in the preparation phase when the power supply 4 is fully charged at the beginning of the first sub-phase when the duty ratio is constant, and the temperature change at the beginning of the first sub-phase A graph showing an example of comparison of the temperature change of the load 3 in the preparation phase when the voltage of the power source 4 is close to the discharge end voltage. In Figure 11, the horizontal axis represents the timer value t, and the vertical axis represents the temperature or the duty ratio of the power supplied to the load 3. As described above, when the voltage of the power source 4 is close to the discharge end voltage, the current supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 and the applied voltage are smaller than the case where the voltage of the power source 4 is a full-charge voltage. Therefore, the temperature change of the load 3 in the preparation phase when the voltage of the power source 4 is close to the discharge end voltage is greater than the temperature change of the load 3 in the preparation phase when the voltage of the power source 4 is a full-charge voltage.

In the case where the voltage of the power source 4 is a full-charge voltage, the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the first sub-stage can be expressed as the following equation.

W=(V _full-charged ˙D) ² /R

On the other hand, when the voltage of the power source 4 is close to the discharge end voltage, the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the first sub-stage can be expressed as the following equation.

W=(V _EOD ˙D) ² /R

In the two equations, D represents the duty ratio of the power supplied to the load 3.

Calculate the difference between these two formulas. The power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the first sub-stage when the power source 4 is at a fully charged voltage, and the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the first sub-stage when the power source 4 is close to the discharge end voltage The difference can be expressed as the following formula.

△W={(V _full-charged ．D) ² -(V _EOD ˙D) ² }/R

For example, when the full-charge voltage V _full-charged is 4.2V, the discharge end voltage is 3.2V, the resistance value R of load 3 is 1.0Ω, and the duty cycle D is 100%, the power difference ΔW is 7.4W.

Therefore, even if the conditions related to the heat transfer between the load 3 and the mist generating article 9 (such as contact area, etc.), the initial temperature of the load 3, and the heat capacity of the mist generating article 9 are the same, the temperature of the load 3 at the end of the preparation phase It will also vary depending on the remaining power of the power supply 4.

Therefore, in Embodiment 1C, the control unit 8 changes the electric power in the first sub-phase, that is, the duty ratio, in accordance with the output voltage of the power supply 4 to suppress the variation in the temperature of the load 3 at the end of the preparation phase.

In addition, in Embodiment 1C, in order to eliminate the influence of the output voltage of the power supply 4, the control unit 8 may also perform PWM control that controls the voltage applied to the load 3 to be constant. In PWM control, the pulse-shaped voltage waveform is changed so that the area of the effective voltage waveform is the same. Here, the effective voltage can be calculated by multiplying the applied voltage by the duty ratio. In addition, as another example, the root mean square (RMS: Root Mean Square) method can also be used to obtain the effective voltage.

Figure 12 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the output voltage and the output current of the power supply 4 when PWM control is performed based on the remaining power of the power supply 4. FIG 12, the horizontal axis represents the count value t, but omitted the second sub-phase ₁ after time t, the vertical axis represents the voltage or current output from the power supply 4.

In the preparation phase, the control unit 8 controls so that the area of the pulse-shaped voltage waveform _{corresponding to the fully charged voltage V full-charged is} the same as the area of the voltage waveform _{corresponding to the discharge end voltage V EOD.}

The following equation (1) represents the duty ratio D _full-charged corresponding to the full-charge voltage V _full-charged , and the full-charge voltage V _full-charged , the end _{-of-discharge voltage V EOD} , and the _{end-of-discharge voltage V EOD} . The relationship between the duty cycle D _EOD.

In this Equation (1), which correspond to the duty ratio D _EOD discharge termination voltage V _EOD of 100%, the voltage corresponding to the full V _full-charged the duty ratio D _full-charged will be 76%.

As described above, the control unit 8 controls the duty ratio according to the output voltage of the power supply 4 in the first sub-phase included in the preparation phase, thereby suppressing the variation in the temperature of the load 3 at the end of the preparation phase.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the preparation stage of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 1C.

Steps S1301 to S1303 are the same as steps S501 to S503 in Fig. 5 described above.

In step S1304, the power source measuring unit 7 measures the output voltage (battery voltage) V _Batt of the power source 4.

In step S1305, the preparation unit 10 obtains the duty ratio D ₁ =(V _EOD ˙D _EOD )/V _Batt .

In step S1306, the duty command preparing unit 10 according to the duty ratio value D ₁ of the Fig. 9 will be described later in FIG. 3 provided with the load on the power source 4 is electrically connected to the switching circuit 25 performs switching operation , And control the power supplied to the load 3.

The subsequent steps S1307 to S1309 are the same as the steps S505 to S507 in Fig. 5 described above.

_{In Embodiment 1C described above, the duty ratio D 1} of the first sub-phase included in the preparation phase is changed according to the output voltage of the power supply 4 as an example of the value associated with the remaining power of the power supply 4, so that it is possible to Suppressing the uneven variation of the load temperature at the end of the preparation phase can stabilize the amount of mist generated and the smell of the mist in the use phase after the preparation phase.

Embodiment 1C illustrates a mode in which the output voltage of the power supply 4 is used as an example of the value associated with the remaining power of the power supply 4. _{However, the duty ratio D 1} of the first sub-phase included in the preparation phase can also be changed according to the state of charge (SOC) of the power supply 4 which is another example of the value associated with the remaining power of the power supply 4.

In the case of using the state of charge of the power source 4 as the value associated with the remaining power of the power source 4, as is known in the art, the state of charge when the voltage of the power source 4 is at the fully charged voltage is defined as 100%. On the other hand, the state of charge in the case where the voltage of the power source 4 is the end-of-discharge voltage is defined as 0%. Moreover, the state of charge can be continuously changed from 100% to 0% corresponding to the remaining power of the power source 4. Examples of the full charge voltage and discharge end voltage in the case of using a lithium ion secondary battery in the power source 4 are 4.2V and 3.2V, respectively, but the full charge voltage and discharge end voltage of the power source 4 are not limited to these values. As described above, the control unit 8 can obtain the state of charge of the power source 4 by using, for example, the SOC-OCV method or the current integration method (Coulomb minutes).

<Example 1D>

In order to more accurately control the temperature of the load 3 at the end of the preparation phase, it is preferable to perform control based on a plurality of initial conditions, such as the temperature of the load 3 and the value associated with the remaining power of the power source 4.

In Embodiment 1D, the duty ratio D _EOD (T _HTR ) corresponding to the end-of-discharge voltage V _EOD is obtained based on the measured temperature value T _HTR , and then based on the end-of-discharge voltage V _EOD and the duty ratio D _EOD (T _HTR ) , The battery voltage V _Batt to obtain the duty ratio D _{1 of} the first sub-stage, and then use the duty ratio D _{1 to} execute the setting on the circuit that electrically connects the load 3 and the power source 4 as shown in Figure 9 The switch 25 is controlled before the switching action.

Fig. 14 is a chart showing an example of control executed by the control unit 8 in the embodiment 1D. In Figure 14, the horizontal axis represents the timer value t, and the vertical axis represents the temperature or the duty ratio of the power supplied to the load 3.

The graph on the left side of Fig. 14 schematically shows the relationship between the duty cycle and the temperature change of the load 3. In the graph on the left side of FIG. 14, only the duty ratio D ₁ of the first sub-stage among the duty ratio D ₁ of the first sub-stage and the duty ratio D ₂ of the second sub-stage is changed. _{When the high duty ratio of the duty ratio D 1} is indicated by a thick solid line, the temperature of the load 3 changes like the solid line in the graph on the left and upper side of Fig. 14, for example. On the other hand, when _{the low duty ratio of the duty ratio D 1} is indicated by a thin solid line, the temperature of the load 3 changes like the dotted line in the graph on the left and upper side of Fig. 14, for example. As shown in the graph on the left side of Fig. 14, corresponding to the duty ratio D ₁ of the first sub-stage, the temperature change of the load 3 (that is, the temperature of the load 3 at each timing value t) is not the same.

In other words, even if the initial conditions such as the temperature of the load 3 and the value associated with the remaining power of the power source 4 are different, the preparatory phase can be controlled at a higher level by _{adjusting the duty cycle D 1 of the first sub-phase.} The temperature of load 3 at the end.

Therefore, as shown in the graph on the right side of Fig. 14 in the control unit 8 in Embodiment 1D, the higher the temperature (initial temperature) of the load 3 at the beginning of the first sub-stage, the higher the duty ratio of the first sub-stage The _{smaller the D 1 is} , the lower the temperature of the load 3 at the beginning of the first sub-phase is, and the larger the _{duty ratio D 1 of the first sub-phase is controlled.}

In addition, the control unit 8 in Embodiment 1D can also be changed according to the value associated with the remaining power of the power supply 4 (for example, the output voltage of the power supply 4) in addition to the temperature of the load 3 at the beginning of the first sub-phase. Duty cycle D ₁ . In this case, as shown in the graph on the right side of Figure 14, even if the initial conditions such as the temperature of the load 3 and the value associated with the remaining power of the power supply 4 are different, the preparation phase can be controlled at a higher level. The temperature of load 3 at time can be made close to a specific value.

Fig. 15 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit 8 in Embodiment 1D.

In Example 1D, the control unit 8 includes an initial setting unit 16 and a preparation unit 10.

The initial setting unit 16 maintains the relationship between the temperature of the load 3 and the duty ratio _DEOD corresponding to the end-of-discharge voltage V _EOD.

_{The initial setting unit 16 receives the temperature measurement value T HTR} at the start of the first sub-phase from the temperature measurement unit 6, and obtains the percentage corresponding to the discharge end voltage V _EOD based on the relationship between the temperature and the duty cycle and the temperature measurement value T _HTR The empty ratio D _EOD (T _HTR ).

In addition, the initial setting unit 16 _{inputs the voltage V Batt} from the power supply measuring unit 7 to obtain the duty ratio D ₁ =V _EOD ˙D _EOD (T _HTR )/V _Batt , and will indicate the duty of the duty ratio D ₁ The command value is output to the preparation unit 10.

5 the count value from the timer t ready to input unit 10, unit 10 determines ready timer value t is or in the second sub-phase, accounted for the first sub-phase in a first sub-phase in accordance with the duty ratio D ₁ of a control duty command value is supplied to the load 3 of the electric power in the second sub-stage is controlled according to the duty ratio D ₂ supplied to the duty command value to the load 3 of the electric power.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the preparation stage of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 1D.

Steps S1601 to S1603 are the same as steps S501 to S503 in Fig. 5 described above.

In step S1604, the temperature measurement value T _{start at the start of the} first sub-phase is input from the temperature measurement unit 6 to the initial setting unit 16.

_{In step S1605, the output voltage V Batt of the} power supply 4 from the power supply measuring unit 7 is input to the initial setting unit 16.

In step S1606, the initial setting unit 16 obtains the duty ratio D _EOD (T _start ) corresponding to the discharge end voltage V _EOD based on the relationship between the temperature and the duty ratio and the temperature measurement value T _start input in step S1604, and then According to the voltage V _Batt and the duty ratio D _EOD (T _start ), the duty ratio D ₁ =V _EOD ˙D _EOD (T _start )/V _{Batt is obtained} .

In step S1607, the preparation unit 10 causes the switch 25 provided on the circuit electrically connecting the load 3 and the power source 4 as shown in FIG. 9 to perform switching operations _{according to the duty ratio D 1, and control the supply to the load 3} electricity.

The subsequent steps S1608 to S1610 are the same as steps S505 to S507 in FIG. 5 described above.

_{As described above, the control unit 8 in the embodiment 1D changes the duty ratio D 1 of the} first sub-stage according to the initial temperature of the load 3 and the value associated with the remaining power of the power source 4. More specifically, the initial setting unit 16 obtains the duty ratio D _EOD (T _start ) corresponding to the discharge end voltage V _EOD based on the relationship between the temperature and the duty ratio and the temperature measurement value T _start, and then calculates the duty ratio D EOD (T start) according to the discharge end The voltage V _EOD , the duty ratio D _EOD (T _start ), and the voltage V _Batt are used to obtain the duty ratio D ₁ corresponding to the first sub-stage. Therefore, even if the control variable of the control target is not used as the feedback component but is used for the prior control of the operation variable determination, the temperature of the load 3 at the end of the preparation phase can be controlled with higher accuracy.

<Example 1E>

The embodiment 1E will explain the change of the pre-authorized control according to the deterioration of the load 3 in the preparation phase.

As the cumulative number of uses of load 3 N _sum increases, load 3 will deteriorate due to damage or oxidation. The load 3 deteriorates, and the resistance value R _{HTR of the} load 3 tends to increase. That is, there is a correlation between _{the cumulative use count N sum} representing the deterioration state of the load 3 and the resistance value R _{HTR of the load 3.}

Therefore, in Embodiment 1E, even when the resistance value R _HTR of the load 3 increases due to deterioration, the load 3 is supplied with electric power in a manner that stabilizes the temperature of the load 3. Hereinafter, a method of supplying electric power to the load 3 in such a way that the temperature of the load 3 is stabilized regardless of the deterioration state of the load 3 will be described in detail.

_Denote the current flowing to load 3 as I HTR, the voltage applied to load 3 as V _HTR , the power supplied to load 3 as P _HTR , the resistance of the load as R _HTR , and the output of power source 4 If the voltage is expressed as V and the duty ratio of the power supplied to the load 3 is expressed as D, the following equations (2) and (3) can be obtained. Among them, please note that V _HTR represents the actual value of the voltage.

Here, the power when the load 3 is new (not degraded) is expressed as P _{HTR_new} , the resistance when the load 3 is new is expressed as R _{HTR_new} , and the duty when the load 3 is new The ratio is expressed as D _new .

And, the power in the case where the load 3 is old (degraded) is represented as P _{HTR_used} , the resistance when the load 3 is old is represented as R _{HTR_used} , and the duty ratio in the case where the load 3 is old Denoted as D _used .

_{The electric power P HTR_new} when the load 3 is new is preferably equal to _{the electric power P HTR_used} when the load 3 is old.

Therefore, the following equation (4) can be obtained.

In the foregoing case where the correlation between the cumulative number of uses N _sum representing the deterioration state of the load 3 and the resistance value R _HTR of the load 3 is linear or can be approximated linearly, the equation (4) can be rewritten as the following equation ( 5).

_{Therefore, in the aforementioned case where the correlation between the cumulative use count N sum} representing the degraded state of the load 3 and the resistance value R _HTR of the load 3 is linear or can be approximated linearly, the control unit 8 only needs to obtain the cumulative use count N of the load 3 _{sum , the duty ratio D used} corresponding to the degraded load 3 can be obtained from the equation (5).

On the other hand, in the aforementioned _{case where the correlation between the cumulative number of uses N sum} representing the deterioration state of the load 3 and the resistance value R _HTR of the load 3 is non-linear, if it is expressed as a function _{of the cumulative number of uses N sum of the load 3} For the resistance value R _HTR of the load 3, the equation (4) can be rewritten as the following equation (6).

Therefore, in the aforementioned case where the correlation between the cumulative number of uses N _sum representing the deterioration state of the load 3 and the resistance value R _HTR of the load 3 is non-linear, the control unit 8 only needs to obtain the cumulative number of uses N _{sum of the load 3.} using this equation (6), based on the accumulated number of uses N _sum is 0. (load 3 new of the case) of the load resistance R & lt (0) 3, the cumulative number of uses for the N _sum times the load resistance R (3 of N _sum ), the duty ratio D _{new when the load 3 is new, and the duty ratio D used} corresponding to the degraded load 3 is obtained.

Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the preparation stage of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 1E.

Steps S1701 to S1703 are the same as steps S501 to S503 in Fig. 5 described above.

In step S1704, the resistance value R _{HTR_used} when the load 3 has deteriorated is input to the preparation unit 10 from the power supply measuring unit 7.

In step S1705, the preparation unit 10 indicates that _{the correlation between the cumulative number of uses N sum} representing the deterioration state of the load 3 and the resistance value R _HTR of the load 3 is linear or can be approximated linearly, according to the acquired cumulative number of loads 3 _{The duty ratio D used} corresponding to the degraded load 3 is obtained by using the number of times N _sum and the equation (5). On the other hand, in _{the case where the correlation between the cumulative use count N sum} representing the deterioration state of the load 3 and the resistance value R _HTR of the load 3 is non-linear, the preparation unit 10 uses equation (6) to determine the value of the load 3 the cumulative frequency of use N _sum, the cumulative number of uses N _sum is 0. (load 3 new of the case) of the load resistance R & lt (0) 3, the cumulative number of uses for the N _sum times the load resistance R 3 of (N _sum) , The duty ratio D _{new when the load 3 is new, and the duty ratio D used} corresponding to the degraded load 3 is obtained.

In step S1706, in the first sub-stage, the preparation unit 10 makes the switch 25 provided on the circuit that electrically connects the load 3 and the power source 4 as shown in FIG. 9 _{according to the duty command value indicating the duty ratio D used} The switching operation is performed to control the power supplied to the load 3.

The subsequent steps S1707 to S1709 are the same as steps S505 to S507 in FIG. 5 described above.

In the embodiment 1E described above, even if the _{load 3 is deteriorated due to the increase in the cumulative number of uses N sum of the} load 3, etc., it is possible to supply power to the load 3 in a manner that stabilizes the temperature of the load 3.

In this embodiment, the cumulative use count N _sum of the load 3 is used as the physical quantity indicating the deterioration state of the load 3. However, for example, the cumulative operating time of the load 3, the cumulative power consumption of the load 3, the cumulative amount of mist generation of the load 3, the resistance value of the load 3 at a predetermined temperature such as room temperature, etc., may be used instead of the cumulative use count N _sum .

(Second Embodiment)

The second embodiment will describe the control of changing at least one of the gain of the gain part 12 and the limiter width (range) used in the limiter part 14 in the feedback control executed in the use phase.

In the mist generating device 1 that heats the mist generating article 9, in order to keep the mist generated from the mist generating article 9 continuously stable, the temperature of the load 3 or the mist generating article 9 must be gradually increased to make the The mist generating position of the mist generating article 9 slowly changes from a position close to the load 3 to a position far away from the load 3. This is because if the heat transfer from the load 3 to the mist generating article 9 is taken into consideration, when the heating of the mist generating article 9 starts, the position closer to the load 3 in the mist generating article 9 will generate mist sooner. reason. That is, in the case where the mist source near the load 3 in the mist generating article 9 is atomized and no longer generates mist, in order to continue to generate the mist from the mist generating article 9, the distance from the load 3 must be increased. A mist source at a far distance atomizes. In other words, it is necessary to move the mist generating position from a position closer to the load 3 in the mist generating article 9 to a distance in the mist generating article 9 for which the mist source has not yet been fully atomized due to the low heat conduction efficiency conducted from the load 3 Load 3 is farther away.

As mentioned above, the position of the mist-generating article 9 farther from the load 3 is inferior from the viewpoint of heat conduction from the load 3 compared to the position of the mist-generating article 9 close to the load 3. Therefore, if you want to generate mist in the mist-generating article 9 at a position farther from the load 3, compared to the case where the mist-generating article 9 generates mist at a position closer to the load 3, the load 3 must be used more. The heat is transferred to the mist generating article 9. In other words, if you want to generate mist in the mist generating article 9 at a position farther from the load 3, the temperature of the load 3 must be higher than that in the mist generating article 9 near the load 3 .

In the second embodiment, the mist generating position in the mist generating article 9 is gradually changed from a position closer to the load 3 to a position farther from the load 3, and the amount of mist generated from the mist generating article 9 is maintained. The control required for stabilization is explained.

For example, in the case of the first heating method in which a load 3 is used to heat the mist generating article 9 from the inside, the center of the mist generating article 9 is the position closer to the load 3 in the mist generating article 9, and the outer periphery of the mist generating article 9 The part is the position far away from the load 3 in the mist generating article 9.

For example, in the case of the second heating method that uses the load 3 to heat the mist generating article 9 from the outside, the outer periphery of the mist generating article 9 is the position closer to the load 3 in the mist generating article 9, and the center of the mist generating article 9 The part is the position far away from the load 3 in the mist generating article 9.

For example, in the case of the third heating method that uses the load 3 to heat the mist generating article 9 by induction heating (IH), the position of the mist generating article 9 that is in contact with or close to the heat receiver is the mist generating article 9 mid-range load 3 The closer position, the position of the mist generating article 9 that is not in contact with the heat receiver or the position far away is the position of the mist generating article 9 farther from the load 3.

However, if the temperature of the load 3 or the mist generating article 9 is gradually increased by gradually increasing the target temperature of the feedback control, the current temperature increase will stop when the temperature measurement value temporarily exceeds the target temperature. , And give the user who smokes the mist a strange feeling.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, at least one of the gain of the gain part 12 and the limit width of the limiter 14 in the use phase is gradually expanded so that the temperature of the load 3 or the mist generating article 9 is not changed. The stagnant rises smoothly, so that the fog is produced steadily. The so-called expansion of the gain of the gain section 12 can refer to adjusting the correlation between the output value of the gain section 12 and the input value so that the absolute value ratio of the output value relative to the input value of the gain section 12 after the gain has been increased The absolute value of the output value relative to the input value input to the gain section 12 before the gain increase is larger. The expansion of the limiter width of the limiter unit 14 can mean that the maximum value of the absolute value of the output value output by the limiter unit 14 is increased.

Comparing the control performed by the control unit 8 in the second embodiment with the control performed by the existing mist generating device, the control performed by the control unit 8 in the second embodiment is characterized in that it does not perform feedback The target temperature used in the control first rises, then falls, and then rises again. Instead, the control is performed to keep the temperature at the end of the use phase at a certain level. That is, in the second embodiment, the temperature of the load 3 is lower than the end temperature of the use period used in the feedback control during most of the use phase, so the load 3 or the mist generating article 9 is set during the entire use phase. The temperature rises smoothly without stagnation, so that the mist is generated steadily.

The control performed by the control unit 8 in the second embodiment is characterized in that it is not a control in a form in which the limiter width of the limiter unit 14 is reduced based on the timer value t. The control performed by the control unit 8 in the second embodiment is characterized in that it is not a control that keeps the limiter width of the limiter unit 14 constant and raises the target temperature based on the timer value t. In other words, in the control performed by the control unit 8 in the second embodiment, the limiter width is not reduced as the use phase progresses, but is continuously expanded or gradually expanded.

The control unit 8 in the second embodiment can obtain the temperature of the load 3 and the progress of the use stage when, for example, the temperature of the load 3 reaches a value that can cause the mist generating article 9 to generate mist of a predetermined amount or more during the use stage. The feedback control is performed to make the temperature of the load 3 converge to a predetermined temperature. In the feedback control, the more progress is made, the higher the gain in the feedback control or the upper limit of the power supplied from the power supply 4 to the load 3 The value increases. As a result, the temperature of the load 3 can be gradually increased without stagnation and steadily. That is, the amount of mist generated from the mist generating article 9 can be stabilized throughout the use period.

Here, the control unit 8 can use PID (Proportional Integral Differential, proportional integral derivative) control to change any element of proportional (P) control, integral (I) control, and derivative (D) control to perform feedback control. Increase in gain. The control unit 8 can increase the gain of one of the proportional control, the integral control, and the derivative control, or can increase the gain of a plurality of them. In addition, the control unit 8 may perform both an increase in the gain and an increase in the upper limit value of the power supplied to the load 3.

The control unit 8 may not lower the temperature of the load 3 after the start of the use phase, and increase the gain or the upper limit value as the progress progresses. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the amount of mist generation.

The gain relative to the progress range of the progress degree or the increase in the upper limit value can be set to be constant. Thereby, the stability of feedback control can be improved.

The control unit 8 can change the gain or the increase rate of the upper limit value with respect to the progress width of the progress degree. Thereby, an appropriate amount of mist can be generated corresponding to the progress.

The control unit 8 can increase the increase rate as the progress progresses. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the amount of mist generation. In addition, the time during which the load 3 is at a high temperature can be shortened, the load 3 and the mist generating device 1 can be prevented from becoming overheated, and the durability of the load 3 and the mist generating device 1 can be improved. Furthermore, since the time for the load 3 to be high temperature is short, the heat insulation structure of the mist generating device 1 can be simplified. Especially when the mist generating device 1 adopts the above-mentioned second heating method, a simplified heat insulation structure can be realized.

The control unit 8 may decrease the increase rate as the progress progresses. Thereby, the time during which the load 3 is at a high temperature can be increased, and the reduction in the amount of mist generation can be suppressed. Since the time during which the load 3 is at a high temperature can be increased, the amount of mist generated from one mist generating article 9 can be increased. In addition, since the period during which the gain or the upper limit is increased is long, the temperature drop (for example, a sharp drop in temperature) caused by the user's inhalation of mist can be quickly recovered, and the temperature of the load 3 can be compensated. That is, the amount of mist generated from the mist generating article 9 can be stabilized throughout the use period.

The control unit 8 can determine the gain or the upper limit value corresponding to the progress degree according to the first relationship (correlation) in which the gain or the upper limit value increases as the progress degree progresses, and can be determined according to the time series of the progress degree. Change the first relationship. Thereby, the gain or the expansion degree of the upper limit can be changed according to the degree of progress, and appropriate power can be supplied to the load 3 in accordance with the actual degree of progress, and the amount of mist generation can be stabilized.

The control unit 8 can change the first relationship so that the gain or the upper limit value increases as the degree progresses. In this case, since the gain or the upper limit value does not decrease, the decrease in the amount of mist generation can be suppressed.

The control unit 8 can change the first relationship to increase the gain of the progress range corresponding to the progress degree or the increase in the upper limit value when the progress degree is behind the predetermined progress degree, and the progress degree can be the temperature of the load 3. . This makes it possible to increase the temperature of the load 3 more easily when the temperature of the load 3 rises slowly, so that the reduction in the amount of mist generation can be suppressed.

The control unit 8 can change the first relationship to make the gain of the progress range corresponding to the progress degree or the increase in the upper limit value smaller when the progress degree is ahead of the predetermined progress degree, and the progress degree can be the temperature of the load 3. . With this, when the temperature of the load 3 rises faster, the temperature of the load 3 is less likely to rise, so it is possible to suppress an increase in the amount of mist generation.

The control unit 8 can change the first relationship to make the gain of the progress range corresponding to the progress degree or the increase in the upper limit value smaller when the progress degree lags behind the predetermined progress degree, and the progress degree may also include mist suction. At least one of the number of times, the amount of mist suction, and the amount of mist generated. For example, in the case where the suction of the mist is less than the predetermined degree of progress, it may be considered that the mist source near the load 3 has not been exhausted. In such a case, the increase in the gain or the upper limit value can be reduced to effectively use the mist source in the mist generating article 9.

The control unit 8 can change the first relationship to increase the gain of the progress range corresponding to the progress degree or the increase in the upper limit value when the progress degree is ahead of the predetermined progress degree, and the progress degree can include the number of mist pumping times. , At least one of the amount of mist suction and the amount of mist generated. For example, in the case where the suction of the mist is higher than the predetermined degree of progress, it can be imagined that the mist generating position in the mist generating article 9 is changed to a position farther from the load 3. In such a case as well, the increase in the gain or the upper limit value can be increased to actively generate mist from a mist generation position far from the load 3.

The control unit 8 can temporarily change the first relationship or change a part of the first relationship. In this case, the increase in the gain or the upper limit value is temporarily changed, and then the original increase is restored, so that the stability of the control can be improved.

The control unit 8 can change all parts after the latest progress degree acquired by the control unit 8 in the first relationship. In this case, since the increase in the gain or the upper limit value is changed as a whole, the possibility of having to change it again can be reduced.

In addition, the control unit 8 may change the entire first relationship including the progress degree before the latest progress degree.

The control unit 8 can change the first relationship after the latest progress obtained by the control unit 8 among the first relations, and make the progress and gain or gain at the end of the use phase before and after the change of the first relationship The relationship between the upper limit value is the same. In this case, since the gain or the upper limit value at the end of the use phase is not changed, a large change in the amount of power given to the load 3 can be suppressed, and the stability of control can be improved.

The predetermined temperature may be the temperature of the load 3 necessary for generating the mist from the mist source or mist base 9a at the position farthest from the load 3 contained in the mist generating article 9 to be mounted. In this way, mist can be effectively generated from the mist-generating article 9.

The control unit 8 may end the use phase when the temperature of the load 3 reaches a predetermined temperature. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the mist generating article 9 from becoming an overheated state.

The control unit 8 may end the use phase when the temperature of the load 3 reaches a predetermined temperature, or when the degree of progress reaches a predetermined threshold. Thereby, the feedback control can be ended more safely and surely.

The control unit 8 may end the use phase when the temperature of the load 3 reaches a predetermined temperature and the progress degree reaches a predetermined threshold. Thereby, the termination condition is tightened within an appropriate range, and more mist can be generated from the mist generating article 9.

The control unit 8 may increase the gain or the upper limit value during the use phase so that the time during which the temperature of the load 3 is lower than the predetermined temperature is longer than the time during which the temperature of the load 3 is above the predetermined temperature. In this case, the time during which the temperature of the load 3 is not near the predetermined temperature is longer than the time during which the temperature of the load 3 is near the predetermined temperature, so that the amount of mist generation can be suppressed from increasing.

The degree of progress may be the elapsed time of the use phase, the number of mist pumping times, the mist pumping amount, the mist generation amount, or the temperature of the load 3 according to the control of the control unit 8.

The control unit 8 in the second embodiment uses, for example, the temperature of the load 3 to be adjusted so that a predetermined amount or more of mist can be generated from the mist source or mist base 9a in the position closest to the load 3 and contained in the mist generating article 9 A temperature gradually approaches the second temperature generated by the mist source or mist substrate 9a at the position farthest from the load 3 and contained in the mist generating article 9 for a predetermined amount of mist, which enables the gain in feedback control Or the upper limit of the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 is increased. Thereby, the control unit 8 can efficiently generate mist in the whole of the mist-generating article 9 from a position close to the load 3 to a position far away by feedback control.

The control unit 8 in the second embodiment can, for example, obtain the temperature of the load 3 and the progress of the use stage when the temperature of the load 3 is higher than the value at which a predetermined amount of mist can be generated from the mist generating article 9 The power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 is determined based on the difference between the temperature of the load 3 and the predetermined temperature, and the rate of change of the amount of power supplied with the progress of the use phase is greater than that with the progress of the use phase. Perform feedback control in a way that the rate of change of the given temperature is greater. The rate of change can include 0, that is, the state of no change. Thereby, the temperature of the load 3 can be increased slowly, without stagnation, and steadily.

The control unit 8 in the second embodiment can, for example, obtain the temperature of the load 3 and the use stage when the temperature of the load 3 is higher than the value at which a predetermined amount of mist can be generated from the mist generating article 9 The degree of progress is determined by the difference between the temperature of the load 3 and the predetermined temperature to determine the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3, and the value obtained by subtracting the temperature of the load 3 from the predetermined temperature will decrease as the use phase progresses , The amount of power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 will increase with the progress of the use phase to perform feedback control. Thereby, the temperature of the load 3 can be increased slowly, without stagnation, and steadily.

The various controls performed by the above-mentioned control unit 8 can be realized by the control unit 8 executing programs.

Regarding the second embodiment as described above, the following examples 2A to 2F are further used to describe specific control examples.

<Example 2A>

Fig. 18 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit 8 in Embodiment 2A.

The limiter changing unit 13 of the control unit 8 holds the first input parameter including at least one of the time value t and the temperature measurement value of the load 3 and the suction line shape in association with the limiter width of the limiter unit 14. relation. The timing value t, the temperature measurement value of the load 3, and the suction line are the values indicating the progress of the use stage. Other physical quantities or variables that tend to increase with the progress of the use stage can also be used instead of the Equivalent.

In Example 2A, the case where the timer value t, the temperature measurement value, and the suction line shape are used as input parameters is used as an example for description, but the timer value t, the temperature measurement value, and a part of the suction line shape may also be used as an example. Used as an input parameter.

The correlation between the input parameters and the limit width can be managed by a table, or can be managed by a data structure such as a list structure, or a function related to the input parameters and the limit width can be used. The same applies to the following relationships.

The control unit 8 inputs the timer value t from the timer 5 and the temperature measurement value indicating the temperature of the load 3 from the temperature measurement unit 6 during the use phase.

The control unit 8 detects, for example, the output value of a sensor that detects a physical quantity that changes with the user's suction by a flow sensor, a flow sensor, a pressure sensor, etc., included in the mist generating device 1 The user's puffs, and a puffing line shape representing the puffing state, such as the number of puffs or puffs of the user in time series, is generated.

The control unit 8 includes a limiter changing unit 13, a difference unit 11, a gain unit 12, and a limiter unit 14.

The limiter changing unit 13 determines the limiter width used in the limiter unit 14 based on input parameters, and gradually expands the limiter width as the use stage progresses.

In Example 2A, the limit change part 13 may not narrow the limit width, for example. In other words, the limiter changing unit 13 can only expand the limiter width when changing the limiter width. Hereinafter, the same applies to Examples 2B to 2F of the second embodiment, and it is not necessary to narrow the limiter width used in the limiter changing section 13.

More specifically, the limiter changing unit 13 can change the limiter width of the limiter unit 14 by expanding the width between the limiter maximum value and the limiter minimum value as the timer value t increases.

The difference unit 11 obtains the difference between the temperature measurement value measured by the temperature measurement unit 6 and the end temperature of the use phase. In Example 2A, the end temperature of the use phase is a fixed value, which is set to a value that the temperature of the load 3 should reach at the end of the use phase by feedback control, for example.

The gain unit 12 obtains a duty ratio that makes the difference 0 or smaller based on the difference between the measured temperature value and the end temperature of the use phase. In other words, the gain section 12 maintains the correlation between the difference between the temperature measurement value and the end temperature of the use phase and the duty ratio, and outputs the duty ratio corresponding to the difference between the input temperature measurement value and the end temperature of the use phase to the limiter. 14.

The limiter 14 is controlled so that the duty ratio obtained by the gain unit 12 is included in the limiter width. Specifically, the limiter unit 14 sets the duty ratio to the maximum value of the limiter width when the duty ratio obtained by the gain unit 12 exceeds the maximum value of the limiter width obtained by the limiter changing unit 13 When the calculated duty ratio is lower than the minimum value of the limiter width obtained by the limiter changing unit 13, the duty ratio is limited to the minimum value of the limiter width. The limiter 14 outputs the duty operation value indicating the duty ratio included in the limiter width as the result of the limiter processing to the comparison unit 15 shown in FIG. 3, for example. The duty operation value is the value finally obtained by the feedback control of the control unit 8.

Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 2A.

In step S1901, the control unit 8 inputs the timer value t from the timer 5.

In step S1902, the control unit 8 determines whether the timer value t has reached the time t _thre that indicates the end of the use phase or not.

If the timer value t reaches the time t _thre or more (when the judgment result of step S1902 is affirmative), the control unit 8 stops the power supply to the load 3 and ends the use phase.

If the timer value t has not reached the time t _thre or more (the judgment result of step S1902 is negative), in step S1903, the difference unit 11 of the control unit 8 obtains the end temperature of the load 3 and the input from the temperature measurement unit 6 The difference between the measured temperature values △T _HTR .

In step S1904, the limiter changing unit 13 of the control unit 8 determines the increase in the limiter width used in the limiter unit 14 based on at least one of the timer value t, the temperature measurement value, and the suction line shape, and changes the limiter width.

In step S1905, the gain section 12 of the control section 8 obtains the duty ratio (load operation value) D _{cmd based on the difference ΔT HTR} . If the correlation between the input value and the output value in the gain section 12 is expressed as a function K, the processing of the gain section 12 can be expressed as D _cmd =K(ΔT _HTR ). In particular, if the correlation between the input value and the output value in the gain section 12 is linear, and the slope of the correlation (that is, the gain coefficient) is expressed as K, the processing of the gain section 12 can be expressed as D _cmd =K× △T _HTR .

In step S1906, the limiter unit 14 of the control unit 8 performs _{limiter processing in which the duty ratio D cmd} obtained by the gain unit 12 falls within the limiter width of the limiter unit 14, and obtains the percentage of the limiter after the limiter processing. Space ratio D _cmdd .

In step S1907, the control unit 8 _{controls the power supplied to the load 3 according to the duty command value indicating the duty ratio D cmdd} , and then the process returns to step S1901. The duty ratio D _cmdd can be used for the switch 25 provided between the power source 4 and the load 3, and the duty ratio D _cmdd can also be used for the DC/DC converter provided between the power source 4 and the load 3.

In the above processing, the order of step S1904 and step S1905 can be interchanged.

In the control performed by the control unit 8 in the embodiment 2A described above, a change is made to gradually expand the limiter width used in the limiter unit 14 as the use stage progresses. The duty ratio D _cmdd controls the temperature of load 3. Thereby, the temperature of the load 3 or the mist generating article 9 can be increased smoothly without stagnation, and the mist can be stably generated.

<Example 2B>

Example 2B will explain that in the progress of the time series of the use phase, based on the judgment of whether the heat capacity of the mist generating article 9 is greater than expected, the limit changer 13 determines the increase in the limit width, and changes the limit width. control.

In Example 2B, the heat capacity of the mist-generating article 9 can be rigorously obtained from the mass and specific heat of the mist-generating article 9. As another example, the heat capacity of the mist generating article 9 is related to the composition or structure of the mist substrate 9a, the fragrance source, and the mist source that the mist generating article 9 has. The more the remaining quantity, the higher the value of the physical quantity. That is, heating the mist generating article 9 with the load 3 consumes at least a part of the mist base 9a and the fragrance source or mist source. Therefore, the heat capacity of the mist generating article 9 tends to decrease as the use phase progresses. In other words, the heat capacity of the mist generating article 9 means the amount of mist that the mist generating article 9 can generate, the remaining amount of mist that the user of the mist generating device 1 can inhale, the remaining number of puffs, or the mist generating device 1 can generate mist. The amount of heating of item 9. Please note that even if the amount of mist that can be generated by the mist generating article 9, the remaining amount of the mist source that can be inhaled by the user of the mist generating device 1, or the remaining number of puffs becomes 0, the heat capacity of the mist generating article 9 is not Will not become 0.

The control unit 8 and/or the limit change unit 13 in Embodiment 2B can determine whether the heat capacity of the mist generating article 9 in the time series progress of the use phase is larger than expected according to the temperature measurement value or the suction line shape. As an example, the control unit 8 and/or the limit change unit 13 in Embodiment 2B can compare the temperature of the load 3 or the mist generating article 9 in the use phase, and the user's suction of the mist generating device 1 in the use phase. The ideal time series data related to the number of puffs or the cumulative value of puffs are memorized in advance. Then, by comparing the ideal time series data with the temperature measurement value or the suction line shape, it is judged whether the heat capacity of the mist generating article 9 is larger than expected during the time series process of the use phase.

Specifically, the control unit 8 and/or the limit change unit 13 may determine that the heat capacity of the mist generating article 9 is larger than expected when the temperature measurement value is smaller than the ideal time series data. On the other hand, the control unit 8 and/or the limit change unit 13 may determine that the heat capacity of the mist generating article 9 is smaller than expected when the temperature measurement value is larger than the ideal time series data.

In other words, in a state where the heat capacity of the mist generating article 9 is large, it is estimated that the measured temperature value will be low. On the contrary, in a state where the heat capacity of the mist generating article 9 is not large (that is, small), it is estimated that the temperature measurement value will be high.

When the temperature measurement value is indicated as low, the limit changing unit 13 expands the increase in the limit width.

When the temperature measurement value is indicated as high, the limit changing unit 13 reduces the increase in the limit width.

On the other hand, the control unit 8 and/or the limit change unit 13 may determine that the heat capacity of the mist generating article 9 is larger than expected when the suction line shape is delayed from the ideal time series data. In such a situation, it can be known from the situation that the suction line is delayed, that the user performs the suction system of the mist generating device 1 less than expected. Therefore, please note that in this case, it is not necessary to expand the rising range of the limiter width to increase or maintain the amount of mist generated from the mist generating article 9.

In addition, the control unit 8 and/or the limit change unit 13 may determine that the heat capacity of the mist generating article 9 is smaller than expected when the suction line shape is ahead of the ideal time series data. In such a situation, it can be known from the situation that the suction line is advanced, that the user has more suction for the mist generating device 1 than expected. Therefore, please note that in this case, it is necessary to actively expand the rising range of the limiter width to increase or maintain the amount of mist generated from the mist generating article 9.

The limit changing unit 13 reduces the increase in the limit width when the suction line is delayed.

The limit changing unit 13 expands the increase in the limit width when the suction line is advanced.

However, as explained above, no matter which one of the temperature measurement value and the suction line shape is used as the degree of progress of the use stage, in Example 2B, the limit change unit 13 does not limit the amplitude as the use stage progresses. The width is reduced.

Fig. 20 is a diagram showing a modification example of the limiter width of the limiter changing section 13 in the embodiment 2B. The dotted line rising to the right in Figure 20 indicates the increase in the limiter width before the change.

In the first modification example of the limiter width shown as a dotted line in Figure 20, the limiter changing unit 13 temporarily expands or reduces the increase of the limiter width according to the input parameters, and then increases the increase of the limiter width Return to the state before the change shown by the dotted line extending to the upper right in Figure 20. Please note that in the area of the limit width indicated by the dotted line in the first modification example using the limit width, the limit change unit 13 does not output the increase in the limit width before the change indicated by the dotted line.

In the second modification example of the limiter width indicated by the solid line in Fig. 20, the limiter changing unit 13 expands or reduces the ascending range of the limiter width according to the input parameters, and then maintains the limiter in accordance with the ascending range Change of width. In other words, in this second modification example, the entire intercept of the function including the limiter width and input parameters is changed.

In the third modification example of the limiter width indicated by a one-dot chain line in Figure 20, the limiter changing unit 13 expands or reduces the increase of the limiter width according to the input parameters, and then becomes the end of the use phase. Change the ascending range of the limiter width in the way that the limiter width is expected at the time.

Fig. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing in the use phase performed by the control unit 8 in the embodiment 2B. Fig. 21 illustrates the case where the increase in the limiter width is determined based on the suction profile or the temperature measurement value, and the limiter width is changed according to the determined increase.

Steps S2101 to S2102 are the same as steps S1901 to S1902 in FIG. 19 described above.

If it is determined in step S2102 that the timer value t has not reached the time t _thre or more (the determination result is negative), in step S2103, for example, the suction line shape or the temperature measurement value is input to the limiter changing unit 13.

In step S2104, the limiter changing unit 13 determines whether the input suction profile or the temperature measurement value is within an expected range (within a predetermined range). The input suction line shape or temperature measurement value is within the expected range, which means that there is no discrepancy or only a few discrepancies between the aforementioned ideal time series data and the input suction line shape or temperature measurement value.

If the input suction profile or temperature measurement value is within the expected range (the judgment result of step S2104 is affirmative), the process proceeds to step S2106.

If the input suction profile or temperature measurement value is not within the expected range (the judgment result of step S2104 is negative), then in step S2105, the limit changing unit 13 changes the increase range of the limit width, and the process proceeds to step S2106 .

Steps S2106 to S2110 are the same as steps S1903 to S1907 in FIG. 19 described above.

The function and effect of Example 2B described above will be described.

The suction pace of the mist made by the user using the mist generating device 1 is different, and there are unavoidable product errors between the mist generating device 1 and/or the mist generating article 9. In Example 2B, in order to eliminate or absorb such errors and product errors caused by the user's mist suction rhythm, the increase in the limiter width used in the limiter 14 was changed according to the progress of the use stage. . Thereby, the control related to mist generation can be stabilized.

<Example 2C>

For example, by suppressing the time during which the load 3 becomes high temperature, it is possible to suppress the mist generating article 9 from becoming overheated.

On the other hand, by increasing the time for the load 3 to become high temperature, the generation of mist in the mist generating article 9 at a position far from the load 3 can be promoted.

Therefore, Example 2C will describe an example in which the temperature of the load 3 is controlled by expanding or reducing the amplitude of the limiter width in order to suppress the overheating of the mist generating article 9 or to promote the generation of mist.

In order to stably generate mist throughout the use phase, it is necessary to generate mist from a position farther from the load 3 in the mist generating article 9 with the passage of time from the start of mist generation.

As mentioned above, in order for the position of the mist generating article 9 far from the load 3 to reach a temperature suitable for mist generation, the load 3 must be heated to a temperature higher than the temperature when mist generation starts.

Although the control unit 8 performs control to make the temperature of the load 3 reach the end temperature of the use period at the end of the use period, the shorter the time for maintaining the temperature at the end of the use period, the more the load 3 can be prevented from becoming overheated.

On the other hand, in order to generate a sufficient amount of mist even at a position far away from the load 3, it may be better to keep the load 3 at a high temperature for a longer time.

Fig. 22 is a graph showing an example of the change in the limiter width used in the limiter 14 and the temperature rise state of the load 3. In Figure 22, the horizontal axis represents the timing value t, and the vertical axis represents the temperature or limiter width.

The line L _28A indicates that the smaller the timing value (time) t, the smaller the rising range of the limit width, and the larger the timing value t, the greater the rising range of the limit width. The temperature change corresponding to this line L _{28A is the line L 28B} . This line L _28B shows that the temperature of load 3 has just started to rise slowly, and it only becomes larger near the end of the use phase. The limit changing unit 13 changes the increase in the limit width in accordance with the line L _28A and the line L _28B , so that the overheating state of the load 3 can be suppressed.

On the other hand, the line L _28C indicates that the smaller the timing value (time) t, the greater the increase in the limit width, and the larger the timing value t, the smaller the increase in the limit width. The temperature change corresponding to this line L _{28C is the line L 28D} . This line L _28D shows that the temperature of the load 3 has just started to rise quickly, and the time that the temperature of the load 3 is maintained near the end temperature of the use phase becomes longer. The limit changing unit 13 changes the increase in the limit width in accordance with the line L _28C and the line L _28D , and can sufficiently generate mist from a position far from the load 3 in the mist generating article 9.

Fig. 23 is a graph showing an example of the variation of the limiter width in Example 2C.

The limiter changing unit 13 changes the limiter width based on the timing value t in principle, and then determines the increase in the limiter width when changing the limiter width based on at least one of the suction profile and the measured temperature value.

The line L _29A shows the state after the increase in the limiter width is enlarged, and the line L _29B shows the state after the increase in the limiter width is reduced.

In Example 2C described above, the increase in the limiter width is changed according to the degree of progress, so that overheating of the load 3 can be suppressed.

In addition, in Example 2C, the mist can be effectively generated at a position far from the load 3 in the mist generating article 9.

<Example 2D>

Embodiments 2A to 2C described above are examples of changing the limiter width by the limiter changing section 13 and the limiter section 14.

In contrast, Embodiment 2D illustrates an example in which the gain of the gain unit 12 is changed based on input parameters including at least one of the timer value t, the temperature of the load 3, and the suction line shape.

Fig. 24 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit 8 in Embodiment 2D.

The gain changing unit 17 included in the control unit 8 in Embodiment 2D changes the gain used in the gain unit 12 based on input parameters including at least one of the timer value t, the temperature measurement value, and the suction line shape. The change of the gain includes, for example, the change of the control characteristic, the change of the gain function, and the change of the value included in the gain function. The gain function has, for example, a second relationship in which the difference between the end temperature of the use phase and the measured temperature value is correlated with the duty ratio corresponding to the difference.

The gain used in the gain section 12 is changed by the gain change section 17 in accordance with the input parameters, and the duty ratio obtained from the difference input from the difference section 11 can be changed.

Fig. 25 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 2D.

Steps S2501 to S2503 are the same as steps S1901 to S1903 in Fig. 19 described above.

In step S2504, the gain changing unit 17 of the control unit 8 changes the gain of the gain unit 12 in accordance with the input parameter.

Steps S2505 to S2507 are the same as steps S1905 to S1907 in Fig. 19 described above.

In Embodiment 2D described above, the limiting width of the limiting section 14 is not changed, but the gain of the gain section 12 is changed, whereby the control related to mist generation can be stabilized.

<Example 2E>

Example 2E will describe the control that takes the temperature measurement value above the predetermined temperature as the end condition of the use phase, and when the temperature measurement value is above the predetermined temperature, the use phase ends. Here, for example, the predetermined temperature can be set to a temperature higher than the end temperature of the use phase of the load 3. The predetermined temperature may be, for example, the temperature of the load 3 necessary for generating the mist from the mist source or mist substrate 9a at the position farthest from the load 3 contained in the mist generating article 9 as described above.

Fig. 26 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 2E.

Steps S2601 to S2607 are the same as steps S1901 to S1907 in Fig. 19 described above.

If it is determined in step S2602 that the timer value t reaches the time t _thre or more (when the determination result of step S2602 is affirmative), then in step S2608, the control unit 8 determines whether the temperature measurement value has reached the predetermined temperature or more.

If it is determined that the temperature measurement value has reached the predetermined temperature or higher (when the determination result of step S2608 is affirmative), the control unit 8 stops the power supply to the load 3 and ends the use phase.

If it is determined that the temperature measurement value has not exceeded the predetermined temperature (when the determination result of step S2608 is negative), the control unit 8 repeats step S2608.

In Example 2E described above, the use phase is ended when the temperature measurement value reaches a predetermined temperature or higher.

In particular, in Example 2E, the condition that the timer value t is longer _{than the time t thre} and the temperature measurement value is higher than the predetermined temperature is used as the end condition of the use phase.

In this way, the termination conditions are tightened, and it is possible to prevent the mist generating article 9 from becoming overheated and at the same time to generate more mist from the mist generating article 9.

The end condition of the use phase can also be as described in the above-mentioned embodiments 2A to 2C, using the condition that the timer value t is greater than or _{equal to the time t thre.}

The end condition of the use phase may also be a condition _{that any one of the timer value t is equal to or greater than the time t thre} and the temperature measurement value is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature can be used. Thereby, the use phase can be safely and surely ended to prevent the mist generating article 9 from becoming overheated.

<Example 2F>

Embodiment 2F will explain the characteristics of the control performed by the control unit 8 in the use phase of the second embodiment.

Fig. 27 is a graph showing an example of comparison between the end temperature of the use phase in the second embodiment and the target temperature in the conventional mist generating device. In Fig. 27, the horizontal axis represents the timer value t, and the vertical axis represents temperature or electric power. Electricity can be represented by, for example, a duty cycle.

For example, the conventional mist generating device is as shown by the line L _33A , and performs control in which the target temperature of the load 3 and/or the mist generating article 9 rises with the passage of time.

In contrast, the control system executed by the control unit 8 in the second embodiment is shown by the line L _33B , and has a feature that the temperature at the end of the use phase remains constant and does not change. In the second embodiment, the increase in the power supplied to the load 3 is gradually _{increased as shown by the line L 33C.}

In other words, the control executed by the control unit 8 in the second embodiment is such that the rate of change of the power supplied to the load 3 as the use phase progresses is higher than the rate of change of the end temperature of the use phase as the use phase progresses. Big.

Fig. 28 is a graph showing an example of comparison between the difference between the end of use temperature and the measured temperature in the second embodiment and the difference between the target temperature and the measured temperature in the conventional mist generating device. In Fig. 28, the horizontal axis represents the timing value t, and the vertical axis represents the difference or electric power.

For example, the conventional mist generating device controls the temperature of the load 3 in real time such that the value obtained by subtracting the temperature measurement value from the target temperature becomes smaller _{as shown by the line L 34A.}

In contrast, the control executed by the control unit 8 in the second embodiment is as shown by the line L _34B , and the value obtained by subtracting the temperature measurement value from the end temperature of the use phase will increase with the increase of the timer value t, that is, The characteristic of decreasing with the passage of time.

As described above, in the control performed by the control unit 8 in the second embodiment, as the use phase progresses, the value obtained by subtracting the temperature measurement value from the end temperature of the use phase decreases. If proceeding, the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 will increase.

(Third Embodiment)

The third embodiment will explain that the mist generating device 1 performs different controls in a plurality of stages, and the plurality of stages include the first stage executed first and the second stage executed after the first stage.

The mist generating device 1 of the third embodiment is provided with, for example, a load 3 for heating the mist generating article 9 using the power supplied from the power source 4; The control unit 8 of the electric power supplied to the load 3. By making the control modes different in the multiple stages related to the heating of the mist generating article 9, the control mode suitable for the characteristics of the stage can be used, and the temperature of the load 3 can be controlled at a higher level and the mist heated by the load 3 can be controlled. The temperature of the item 9 is generated. Therefore, even if it is a mist generating article 9 having a complicated structure, the generated mist can be controlled at a high level.

The control unit 8 may, for example, as explained in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, execute the first front-end control in the first stage, and execute at least one of the second front-end control and feedback control in the second stage. control. In this way, it is possible to change the control performed by the control unit 8 from the front control to the feedback control, and at the same time realize the high-speed temperature rise of the load 3 and the mist generating article 9 using the front control, and the use of the feedback control. The stability of the mist produces these two opposite effects.

The number of control modes used in the second stage may be more than the number of control modes used in the first stage. Thereby, after changing from the first stage to the second stage, multiple control modes can be used to achieve stable fog generation.

The execution time of the first stage can be set to be shorter than the execution time of the second stage where the heating rate of load 3 is slower than that of the first stage. Thereby, the faster the temperature rise of the load 3 and the mist generating article 9 is, the shorter the execution time is, and the mist can be generated early.

The execution time of the first stage can be set to be shorter than the temperature of the load or the average temperature of the load, which is higher than the execution time of the second stage. Thereby, the lower the temperature of the load 3 and the mist-generating article 9 or the lower the average temperature of the load 3 and the mist-generating article 9 is, the shorter the execution time is, and the mist can be generated early.

The power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the first stage can be less than the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the second stage when the heating rate of the load 3 is slower than in the first stage. Thereby, the faster the heating temperature of the load 3 and the mist generating article 9 is, the less power they consume, and the utilization efficiency of the power source 4 for mist generation can be improved.

The power supplied from the power supply 4 to the load 3 in the first stage may be less than the power supplied from the power supply 4 to the load 3 in the second stage when the temperature of the load 3 or the average temperature of the load 3 is higher than in the first stage. Thereby, the lower the temperature of the load 3 and the mist-generating article 9 or the lower the average temperature of the load 3 and the mist-generating article 9 is, the lower the power consumption is, and the utilization efficiency of the power source 4 for mist generation can be improved.

The power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the first stage can be more than the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the second stage when the temperature rise of the load 3 is lower than that in the first stage. In this way, the power consumed in the first stage is more than the power consumed in the second stage, the mist can be quickly generated in the first stage, and a better amount of mist can be stably generated in the second stage, and The power consumed in the second stage can be suppressed.

The power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the first stage may be more than the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the second stage when the temperature of the load 3 or the average temperature of the load is higher than the first stage. In this way, the power consumed in the first stage is more than the power consumed in the second stage, the mist can be quickly generated in the first stage, and a better amount of mist can be stably generated in the second stage, and The power consumed in the second stage can be suppressed.

The heating rate of load 3 in the second stage can be slower than the heating rate of load 3 in the first stage, and if it is established, the number of conditions for ending the second stage can be set to be higher than the condition for ending the first stage if it is established The number is more. Thereby, the generation of mist can be stably ended.

The heating rate of the load 3 in the second stage can be slower than the heating rate of the load 3 in the first stage, and the number of end conditions that need to be established for the end of the second stage can be set to be greater than that for the end of the first stage. There are many end conditions that need to be established. In this way, the end of the second stage can be judged more carefully, so that the time for the second stage to be executed can be fully ensured, and more mist can be generated from the mist generating article 9.

The temperature or average temperature of the load 3 in the second stage can be higher than the temperature or average temperature of the load 3 in the first stage. The number of conditions for the end of the phase is large. Thereby, the generation of mist can be stably ended.

The temperature or average temperature of the load 3 in the second stage may be higher than the temperature or average temperature of the load 3 in the first stage, and the number of end conditions that need to be established for the end of the second stage can be set to be higher than that of the first stage. The number of end conditions that need to be established at the end of the phase is large. In this way, the end of the second stage can be judged more carefully, so that the time for the second stage to be executed can be fully ensured, and more mist can be generated from the mist generating article 9.

The plurality of stages may include the first stage and the second stage in which the heating rate of the load 3 is lower than that of the first stage. 4 The number of variables used in the control related to the power supplied to the load 3 can be set to be greater than that obtained by the control unit 8 before the execution of the second stage or before the load 3 heats up in the second stage, and is related to the supply from the power source 4 to the load. The number of variables used in power-related control of 3 is large. As a result, the higher the temperature increase rate, the more environment settings at the beginning of the stage, and the higher the temperature of the load 3 and the mist generating article 9 can be made more stable and high-speed.

A plurality of stages may include the stage with the slowest heating rate of the load 3, and the control unit 8 may perform the slowest stage before the load 3 rises before the slowest stage. The variables used in the control related to the power supplied by the power supply 4 to the load 3 may not be executed based on the variables obtained before the slowest stage is executed or before the load 3 heats up in the slowest stage. Power supply 4 controls the power supplied to load 3. In this way, it is possible to omit the acquisition of the variables for the stage with the slowest heating rate, so the stage with the slowest heating rate can be executed without delay. Moreover, the control of the stage with the slowest heating rate can be simplified.

The plurality of stages may include the first stage and the second stage where the temperature or average temperature of the load 3 is higher than the first stage, and the control unit 8 obtains it before the execution of the first stage or before the load 3 heats up in the first stage. The number of variables used in the control related to the power supplied from the power supply 4 to the load 3 in the first stage can be set to be greater than that obtained by the control unit 8 before the execution of the second stage or before the load 3 heats up in the second stage. In the second stage, the number of variables used in the control related to the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 is larger. Thereby, the lower the temperature or the average temperature of the load 3, the more environment settings are set at the beginning, and the temperature of the load 3 and the mist generating article 9 can be increased more stably and at a high speed.

The plurality of stages may include the stage where the temperature of the load 3 or the average temperature is the highest, and the control unit 8 may not obtain the power supply from the power source 4 before the execution of the highest stage or before the load rises in the highest stage. The variables used in the control related to the power to the load 3 are not executed based on the variables obtained before the execution of the highest stage or before the load 3 heats up in the highest stage and are supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the highest stage. Power-related control. In this way, it is possible to omit the acquisition of the variables for the stage with the highest temperature or average temperature, so that the stage with the highest temperature or average temperature can be executed without delay. Moreover, the control of the stage with the highest temperature or average temperature can be simplified.

The heating rate of the load 3 in the second stage may be slower than the heating rate of the load 3 in the first stage, and the number of variables and/or algorithms used in the second stage of control is changed during the control execution of the second stage. It is possible to change the number of variables and/or algorithms used in the control of the first stage more than in the control execution of the first stage. Thereby, the slower the temperature increase rate of the load 3 is, the more the number of changes in the stage increases, the temperature of the load 3 and the mist generating article 9 can be controlled at a higher level, and the mist can be stably generated.

Here, the change of the variable used in the control includes, for example, replacing a variable with another variable, and changing the value stored in the variable, etc.

Algorithm changes include, for example, replacing a certain algorithm with another algorithm, changing the functions, processing, and variables used in the algorithm, local changes in functions, and local changes in processing.

The control unit 8 may be designed to not change the variables and/or algorithms used in the control of the fastest stage during the execution of the control of the stage where the temperature increase rate of the load 3 is the fastest among the plurality of stages. In this way, it is possible to omit the acquisition of variables for the stage with the fastest heating rate. Moreover, the control of the stage with the fastest heating rate can be simplified.

The temperature or average temperature of the load 3 in the second stage may be higher than the temperature or average temperature of the load 3 in the first stage, and the variables and/or calculations used in the second stage of control are changed during the control execution of the second stage The number of methods may be greater than the number of times the variables and/or algorithms used in the first stage of control are changed during the execution of the first stage of control. Thereby, the higher the temperature or the average temperature of the load 3, the more the number of changes in the stage, the higher the temperature of the load 3 and the mist generating article 9 can be controlled, and the mist can be stably generated.

The control unit 8 may be designed so that the variables and/or algorithms used in the control of the lowest stage are not changed during the control execution of the stage with the lowest temperature or average temperature of the load 3 among the plurality of stages. In this way, it is possible to omit the acquisition of variables for the stage where the temperature or the average temperature is the lowest, so that the stage where the temperature or the average temperature is the lowest can be executed without delay. Moreover, the control of the stage with the lowest temperature or average temperature can be simplified.

The heating rate of the load 3 in the second stage can be slower than the heating rate of the load 3 in the first stage, and the control unit 8 can detect the suction of the mist generated from the mist generating article 9 and make it correspond in the second stage The increase in the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 for the detected puff is greater than the increase in the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in response to the detected puff in the first stage. Thereby, the slower the heating rate of the load 3 is, the more the temperature can be restored with a larger increase relative to the temperature drop that occurs with the suction, and the amount of mist generated and the load caused by the suction can be suppressed. The temperature of 3 is reduced.

The temperature or average temperature of the load 3 in the second stage may be higher than the temperature or average temperature of the load 3 in the first stage. The increase in the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 corresponding to the detected puff in the second stage is greater than the increase in the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the first stage corresponding to the detected puff Big. In this way, the higher the temperature or average temperature of the load 3 is, the more the temperature can be restored with a larger increase relative to the temperature drop that occurs with the suction, and the amount of mist generated by the suction can be suppressed. And the temperature drop of load 3.

The control unit 8 can obtain the degree of progress based on different variables in each of a plurality of stages. In this way, by changing the variables corresponding to the progress in each stage, the progress of the stage can be understood more appropriately.

The control unit 8 can obtain the progress of the stage in which the temperature increase rate of the load 3 is the fastest among the plurality of stages based on time. In this way, it is possible to use time to judge the progress of the stage with the fastest heating rate, and it is possible to prevent the load 3 from becoming overheated.

The control unit 8 can obtain the degree of progress of the stage where the temperature of the load 3 or the lowest average temperature of the plurality of stages is based on time. In this way, it is possible to prevent the load 3 from becoming overheated by judging the progress of the stage where the temperature or the average temperature is the lowest by using time.

The control unit 8 can detect the suction of the mist generated from the mist-generating article 9 and obtain the progress of the stage with the slowest heating rate of the load 3 among the plurality of stages based on the temperature or the suction of the load 3. In this way, the degree of progress is judged based on the temperature or suction of the load 3, and the degree of progress of the stage can be judged based on the actual performance related to the mist generation of the mist-generating article 9, so that more mist can be generated from the mist-generating article 9.

The control unit 8 can detect the suction of the mist generated from the mist-generating article 9 and obtain the progress of the stage with the highest temperature or the highest average temperature of the load 3 among the plurality of stages based on the temperature or the suction of the load 3. In this way, in the stage where the temperature or average temperature is the highest, the progress is judged based on the temperature or suction of the load 3, and the progress of the stage can be judged based on the actual performance related to the mist generation of the mist generating article 9, so that more mist can be obtained. Produce 9 from the mist producing article.

The control unit 8 can divide the feedback control into a plurality of stages with different target temperatures and execute them, and in each of the plurality of stages, the gain in the feedback control and the upper limit value of the power supplied from the power supply 4 to the load 3 are set. At least one of them is different. By making the control modes different in a plurality of stages related to heating, the control mode suitable for the stage can be used to control the temperature of the load 3 and the mist generating article 9 heated by the load 3 at a higher level. Therefore, even the mist generating article 9 having a complicated structure can control the mist generated at a high level.

In the third embodiment, the use stage can be further divided into a plurality of stages, and the plurality of stages can include the first stage and the second stage.

In this case, the target temperature in the first stage may be lower than the target temperature in the second stage, and at least one of the gain and the upper limit used by the control unit 8 in the first stage is higher than that used by the control unit 8 in the second stage. At least one of the gain and the upper limit value is large. In this way, at least one of the gain and the upper limit value of the stage with the lower target temperature can be made larger. In addition, in the first stage, the feedback control is used to replace the previous control, which can control the heating rate of the load 3 at a high level according to the target temperature.

The temperature change range of the load 3 in the first stage may be larger than the temperature change range of the load 3 in the second stage, and at least one of the gain and the upper limit used by the control unit 8 in the first stage is more controlled At least one of the gain and the upper limit value used by the section 8 in the second stage is large. In this way, at least one of the gain and the upper limit value of the stage in which the temperature of the load 3 has a larger variation range can be made larger. In addition, in the first stage, the feedback control is used to replace the pre-control, which can control the heating rate of the load 3 at a high level according to the target temperature.

The target temperature of the second stage may be higher than the target temperature of the first stage, and the change range of at least one of the gain and the upper limit used by the control unit 8 in the first stage is greater than the gain used by the control unit 8 in the second stage At least one of and the upper limit value has a small change range. In this way, the change range of at least one of the gain and the upper limit value in a stage with a higher target temperature can be made larger. In addition, in the first stage, the feedback control is used to replace the previous control, which can control the heating rate of the load 3 in a high degree according to the target temperature.

The temperature change range of the load 3 in the second stage may be smaller than the temperature change range of the load 3 in the first stage, and the change range of at least one of the gain and the upper limit used by the control unit 8 in the first stage This is smaller than the change range of at least one of the gain and the upper limit value used by the control unit 8 in the second stage. Thereby, the change range of at least one of the gain and the upper limit value in the stage where the change range of the temperature of the load 3 is smaller is larger. In addition, in the first stage, the feedback control is used to replace the pre-control, which can control the heating rate of the load 3 at a high level according to the target temperature.

The control unit 8 may be configured to be able to change at least one of the target temperature, the gain, and the upper limit value of the electric power in the second stage according to the progress of the first stage. In this way, the value of the variable in the subsequent stage can be changed according to the progress of the previous stage. Therefore, it can smoothly transition from the previous stage to the latter stage.

The control unit 8 can be divided into a plurality of stages to perform feedback control, and each of the plurality of stages makes the gain in the feedback control different. In this way, feedback control can be used to perform appropriate control at each stage.

The various controls that can be performed by the control unit 8 described above can be realized by the control unit 8 executing programs.

Fig. 29 is a table showing the comparison between the preparation stage and the use stage executed by the control unit 8 in the third embodiment. As described above, the preparation stage is, for example, a stage corresponding to the load 3 being in a preparation state in which a predetermined amount or more of mist cannot be generated from the mist generating article 9. The use stage is, for example, a stage corresponding to the use state of the load 3 in which a predetermined amount or more of mist can be generated from the mist generating article 9. Therefore, in order to generate mist from the mist-generating article 9, the control unit 8 must change the execution stage in the order from the preparation stage to the use stage.

As explained in the first embodiment, the control mode adopted in the preparation phase is pre-control. The termination condition of the preparation phase is, for example, that a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the preparation phase.

In the preparation stage, the load 3 in the preparation state is changed to the use state, so that the mist is generated from the mist generating article 9 as soon as possible. Therefore, the execution time of the preparation phase is shorter than the execution time of the use phase.

The preparation phase is set to change the load 3 in the preparation state to the use state. The preparation phase does not require the generation of fog. The power consumption per unit time in the preparation phase is more than the power consumption per unit time in the use phase. . On the other hand, because the preparation phase is preferably executed for a short period of time, the total power consumption during the entire preparation phase is less than the total power consumption during the entire use phase.

The pre-control adopted in the preparation phase is difficult to reflect the state of the control object in the control execution in its control. Therefore, in the preparation phase, the environment setting for changing the control characteristics can be performed according to the temperature measurement value at the beginning of the preparation phase or the charging rate of the power source 4 as described above. With this environment setting, the state of the load 3 and/or the mist generating article 9 at the end of the preparation phase can be made the same.

The preparation phase can be performed before the execution of the phase to change the control variable (control parameter) or control function from a predetermined value or function, or not.

The preparation phase is set in order to change the load 3 in the preparation state to the use state. In this preparation phase, mist generation is not required, and suction by the user of the mist generating device 1 is not assumed in the preparation phase. Therefore, the recovery of the temperature drop caused by the user's suction is not performed in the preparation phase.

As far as its purpose is concerned, the preparation phase is best executed in a short period of time. Therefore, the input parameter to be controlled before the preparation phase is executed uses the timer value t, that is, the action time. The use of input parameters will increase the action time with the passage of time, so that the preparation phase can be carried out, and the action time can be shortened as much as possible.

The change of the temperature measurement value in the preparation phase (temperature linearity) is to change the load 3 from the preparation state to the standby state in a relatively straightforward manner in a short period of time as much as possible.

In contrast, as explained in the second embodiment, the control mode adopted in the use phase is feedback control, and pre-control can be partially adopted.

One of the purposes of the use phase is to make more mist be generated from the mist-generating article 9, so whether the conditions for the end of the use phase must be designed more carefully. Therefore, in the end conditions of the use phase, for example, the elapse of a predetermined time, the arrival of a predetermined temperature, or the elapse of a predetermined time and the arrival of a predetermined temperature are used together.

The use stage is set in order to generate more mist from the mist generating article 9. Therefore, the execution time of the use phase is longer than the execution time of the preparation phase.

Load 3 is already in use during the use phase. Therefore, during the use phase, it is not necessary to increase the temperature of the load 3 significantly compared with the preparation phase. Therefore, the power used in the use phase will be less than the power used in the preparation phase, and the power consumption in the use phase will be lower than that in the preparation phase. The power consumption is small. On the other hand, more mist must be generated from the mist generating article 9 during the use phase, so the total power consumption of the entire use phase will be more than the total power consumption of the entire preparation phase. In the use phase, feedback control is mainly performed, so the environment setting at the beginning of the use phase can be omitted, or the temperature measurement value at the end of the preparation phase can be used as the ambient temperature.

In the use phase, the temperature of the load 3 and/or the temperature of the mist generating article 9 can be controlled at a high level by changing the control variables such as the change of the gain.

In the use phase, since the mist generated from the mist generating article 9 must be stabilized, it is necessary to perform the recovery of the temperature drop caused by the suction.

In the case of performing the pre-control in the use phase, the input parameter of the pre-control in the use phase can be, for example, any one of the timer value t, the temperature measurement value, and the suction line shape, or any combination of the three. Since more mist must be generated from the mist-generating article 9 during the use phase, the temperature of the load 3 and the temperature of the mist-generating article 9 must be controlled at a higher level. Therefore, please note that the temperature measurement value or the suction line that only increases when the stage is in progress can be used as the input parameter of the pre-control.

During the use phase, the temperature of the load 3 is controlled in such a way that the mist generating position in the mist generating article 9 changes with the passage of time. Therefore, the temperature change of the load 3 in the use phase increases in a curve.

In the third embodiment described above, the pre-control is executed in the preparation phase, and the feedback control is executed in the use phase to generate mist. Therefore, compared with the case where only the feedback control is used, for example, the user who sucks the mist can be used. The increased convenience of the power supply can increase the power efficiency and stably generate fog.

(Fourth Embodiment)

The fourth embodiment will describe the control of controlling the power supplied to the load 3 by using the larger of the operation value obtained by the feedback control in the use phase and the predetermined value. With this control, it is possible to suppress the temperature drop of the load 3 that occurs when, for example, the change from the preparation phase to the use phase occurs.

The control unit 8 in the fourth embodiment determines the electric power to be supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 based on, for example, a comparison between the operation value obtained by feedback control and a predetermined value. For example, the established value may be the minimum guaranteed value. Thereby, compared with the case where the minimum guaranteed value is not provided, the temperature of the load 3 and the temperature of the mist generating article 9 can be suppressed from dropping sharply.

The control unit 8 can determine the electric power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 based on the larger of the operation value and the predetermined value. Thereby, the electric power to be supplied to the load 3 is controlled based on a value smaller than the predetermined value, and the temperature of the load 3 and the temperature of the mist generating article 9 can be suppressed from dropping sharply.

The control unit 8 can be divided into a plurality of stages to perform the control of the power supplied from the power supply 4 to the load 3. The plurality of stages may include the first stage and the second stage performed after the first stage, and the second stage is used in the second stage. The predetermined value can be determined based on the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the first stage. In this way, the predetermined value to be used in the second stage is determined based on the value related to the electric power used in the first stage, and the temperature drop of the load 3 and the mist generating article 9 when changing from the first stage to the second stage can be suppressed.

The predetermined value used in the second stage can be determined based on the value related to the power finally determined in the first stage. In this way, the predetermined value to be used in the second stage is determined based on the value related to the power finally determined in the first stage, which can effectively suppress the load 3 and the mist generating article 9 when changing from the first stage to the second stage The temperature decreases.

The control unit 8 can perform feedback control for gradually increasing the temperature of the load 3, and the predetermined value can be changed as the temperature of the load 3 increases. In this case, the minimum guaranteed value is changed as the stage progresses, so an appropriate minimum guaranteed value corresponding to the progress of the stage can be used. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a sudden drop in the temperature of the load 3 even if it is performed in stages.

The control unit 8 can perform feedback control for gradually increasing the operating value, and the predetermined value can be changed as the temperature of the load 3 increases. Thereby, even if the temperature of the load 3 rises in stages, it is possible to suppress a sudden drop in the temperature of the load 3 by using an appropriate predetermined value corresponding to the increase in the temperature of the load 3.

The control unit 8 can gradually increase the gain in the feedback control. In this way, the operating value can be increased with the progress of the stage. Therefore, the temperature of the load 3 and/or the mist generating article 9 can be increased with the progress of the stage. Therefore, as described in the second embodiment, mist can be stably generated from the mist generating article 9 throughout the use stage.

The control unit 8 can gradually increase the upper limit of the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 in the feedback control. In this way, the operating value can be increased with the progress of the stage. Therefore, the temperature of the load 3 and/or the mist generating article 9 can be increased with the progress of the stage. Therefore, as described in the second embodiment, mist can be stably generated from the mist generating article 9 throughout the use stage.

The established value can be gradually reduced. In this case, the minimum guaranteed value can be reduced as the stage progresses. In particular, when the minimum guaranteed value is set in order to suppress the temperature drop of the load 3 that occurs when changing from the preparation stage to the use stage, the necessity of setting the minimum guaranteed value will decrease as the stage progresses. Therefore, the influence of the minimum guaranteed value on the control as the stage progresses can be reduced.

The control unit 8 can change the predetermined value to 0 during the execution of the feedback control. In this case, the influence of the minimum guaranteed value, which becomes unnecessary with the progress of the stage, on the control can be suppressed as described above.

Here, changing the default value to 0 includes temporarily changing the default value to 0.

The control unit 8 can reduce the predetermined value when it detects that the temperature of the load 3 changes by an overshoot that exceeds the threshold value every predetermined time. In this way, when an overshoot of the temperature of the load 3 is detected, the minimum guaranteed value is reduced, thereby reducing the influence of the minimum guaranteed value on the operation value obtained by the feedback control being executed by the control unit 8. Therefore, the overshoot can be eliminated early.

When the overshoot is released, the control unit 8 can return the predetermined value to the value before the overshoot was detected. Thereby, the minimum guaranteed value is restored according to the release of the overshoot, and the sudden drop in the temperature of the load 3 and the mist generating article 9 after the release of the overshoot can be suppressed.

The predetermined value can be determined to be more than the value required for the insulation of load 3. Thereby, the minimum guaranteed value is determined so that the temperature of the load 3 does not decrease, and the decrease in the temperature of the load 3 and the mist generating article 9 can be suppressed.

The control unit 8 can determine or correct a predetermined value based on the temperature of the load 3. In this way, the minimum guaranteed value is determined or corrected according to the temperature of the load 3. Therefore, compared with the case where the minimum guaranteed value is not determined or corrected, the minimum guaranteed value will be a value that reflects the state of the load 3. Therefore, the temperature drop of the load 3 can be suppressed.

The control unit 8 can determine or correct the predetermined value in a manner that does not increase the absolute value of the difference between the temperature of the load 3 and the predetermined temperature. In this way, the minimum guaranteed value is determined or corrected in a way that does not allow the difference between the predetermined temperature and the temperature of the load 3 to expand. Therefore, compared with the case where the minimum guaranteed value is not determined or modified, the minimum guaranteed value will reflect the progress of the use phase value. Therefore, the temperature drop of the load 3 can be suppressed.

The control unit 8 can obtain the temperature of the load 3, and perform feedback control on the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 based on the difference between the temperature of the load 3 and the predetermined temperature, and then correct the feedback control to suppress the temperature drop of the load 3 The calculated operation value. Thereby, the manipulated value is corrected to a value reflecting the temperature of the load 3 as the control value of the feedback control executed by the control unit 8. therefore. Even in the case where the feedback control obtains a small operating value, the sudden drop in temperature of the load 3 can be effectively suppressed.

The various controls performed by the above-mentioned control unit 8 can be realized by the control unit 8 executing programs.

<Example 4A>

Fig. 30 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit 8 in Embodiment 4A.

The comparison unit 15 included in the control unit 8 in the embodiment 4A compares the operation value obtained by the feedback control with a predetermined value during the use phase, and outputs a larger value.

The predetermined value is, for example, a minimum guaranteed value of a duty command value indicating a duty ratio related to the electric power supplied to the load 3. The predetermined value is, for example, a value related to the power in the preparation phase, and the duty cycle at the end of the preparation phase can be used.

More specifically, the comparison unit 15 will be described. The comparison unit 15 is in the use phase and inputs the duty operation value from the limiter unit 14 and inputs the minimum guaranteed value. The comparison unit 15 compares the duty operation value with the minimum guaranteed value, and finds a larger value as the duty command value. The control unit 8 controls the power supplied to the load 3 based on the duty command value. The duty command value can be used for the switch 25 provided between the power source 4 and the load 3, and can also be used for the DC/DC converter provided between the power source 4 and the load 3.

Fig. 31 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 4A.

Steps S3101 to S3106 are the same as steps S1901 to S1906 in Fig. 19 described above.

In step S3107, the comparison unit 15 of the control unit 8 determines whether the duty ratio D _cmdd indicated by the duty operation value input from the limiter unit 14 is greater than or equal to the minimum guaranteed value.

If the duty ratio D _cmdd is greater than the minimum guaranteed value (the judgment result of step S3107 is affirmative), in step S3108, the control unit 8 controls the power supplied to the load 3 _{according to the duty command value indicating the duty ratio D cmdd,} Then the process returns to step S3101.

If the duty ratio D _cmdd is not greater than the minimum guaranteed value (the judgment result of step S3107 is negative), in step S3109, the control unit 8 controls the power supplied to the load 3 according to the minimum guaranteed value, and the process returns to step S3101.

The function and effect of Example 4A described above will be described.

For example, the mist generating device 1 which heats the mist generating article 9 to generate mist, controls the power supplied to the load 3 in such a way that the mist generated by heating does not fluctuate greatly in order to prevent the user from feeling strange. As mentioned above, the control of the power supplied to the load 3 is preferably divided into a plurality of stages such as the preparation stage and the use stage. As explained in the first embodiment and the second embodiment as an example, the control unit 8 performs the use phase after the preparation phase, so that the mist generating device 1 can generate mist at an early stage and then stably generate mist at the same time.

In addition, in the control of changing from a certain stage to another, it is better to suppress the sudden temperature change of the load 3 when the stage is changed. In particular, if the control adopted in the stages before and after the transition is different, the more different the transition from one stage to another will be the transition period of the control. Therefore, it can be said that the control is common when multiple stages are changed. The temperature of the load 3 is easy to change.

In Example 4A, when the stage changes, the control parameters used in the stage before the change are used as the minimum guaranteed value. Compared with the case where the minimum guaranteed value is not used, the load 3 and fog generation during the stage change can be suppressed. The temperature of Item 9 changes drastically.

<Example 4B>

Embodiment 4B will explain that even if an overshoot occurs in the temperature of the load 3, that is, when the temperature rises sharply, the control can appropriately suppress the overshoot.

Fig. 32 is a graph showing an example of the occurrence state of the temperature overshoot of the load 3. In Figure 32, the minimum guaranteed value is kept constant.

The temperature of the load 3 gradually rises as time elapses, that is, as time elapses, that is, as the timer value t, which is an example of the index indicating the progress of the stage in the use stage, increases.

The limiting width gradually increases as the timing value t increases.

The gain unit 12 obtains the duty ratio based on the difference between the measured temperature value and the end temperature of the use phase.

The limiter unit 14 finds the duty ratio within the range of the limiter width based on the duty ratio obtained by the gain unit 12, and finds the duty ratio representing the duty ratio within the range of the limiter width Operation value. Since the limiter width is gradually expanded, the duty ratio indicated by the duty operation value may also increase in stages.

When the temperature overshoot of the load 3 occurs during the use phase, the control unit 8 reduces the duty command value in order to suppress the overshoot. For example, when the temperature of the load 3 instantaneously exceeds the end temperature of the use phase in the feedback control, the control unit 8 lowers the duty ratio as the operating value and lowers the temperature of the load 3 as the control value. However, because the duty cycle indicated by the duty command value may not be a value lower than the minimum guaranteed value, there is a possibility that the temperature recovery of the load 3 may be insufficient.

Therefore, in Embodiment 4B, the minimum guaranteed value is gradually reduced according to the input parameters of at least one of the timing value t, the temperature of the load 3, and the suction line shape corresponding to the progress of the use phase, and even in the load 3 The temperature overshoot can also appropriately restore the temperature of the load 3. The minimum guaranteed value is set in order to suppress the sudden temperature changes of the load 3 and the mist generating article 9 that may occur during the change from the preparation stage to the use stage. That is, once the control unit 8 executes the use phase, the necessity of setting the minimum guaranteed value decreases. Therefore, even if the minimum guaranteed value is gradually reduced in accordance with the progress of the use phase, the control unit 8 can highly control the temperature of the load 3 and the mist generating article 9.

Fig. 33 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit 8 in the embodiment 4B.

The decrement section 18 provided in the control section 8 in the embodiment 4B is based on the progress of the use stage represented by the input parameter including at least one of the timer value t, the temperature measurement value, and the suction line shape, such as preparation The minimum guaranteed value of the duty cycle at the end of the phase gradually decreases. The timer value t, the temperature measurement value, and the suction line shape are used by the decreasing section 18 as a parameter indicating the progress of the use stage, and can be used with the limit change section 13 and/or the gain change section 17 to indicate the use stage The parameters of the degree of progress are the same or different.

The comparing unit 15 compares the duty ratio D _cmdd that has been limited by the limiting unit 14 with the minimum guaranteed value that is gradually reduced by the decreasing unit 18, and obtains a larger value as the duty command value from the comparison result.

Fig. 34 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 4B.

Steps S3401 to S3406 are the same as steps S1901 to S1906 in Fig. 19 described above.

In step S3407, the control unit 8 obtains input parameters.

In step S3408, the decreasing unit 18 of the control unit 8 obtains the minimum guaranteed value after decreasing it based on, for example, the input parameter. For example, in the case where the input parameter is the timing value t, the larger the timing value t is, it is judged that the use phase progresses more and the minimum guaranteed value becomes smaller. The decreasing part 18 may also decrease the minimum guaranteed value according to at least one of the time value t, the temperature measurement value, and the suction line shape, not based on the time value t.

In step S3409, the comparison unit 15 of the control unit 8 determines _{whether or not the duty ratio D cmdd} subjected to the limiter processing is greater than or equal to the minimum guaranteed value after the gradual decrease.

If the duty ratio D _cmdd is more than the minimum guaranteed value after the gradual decrease (the judgment result of step S3409 is affirmative), in step S3410, the control unit 8 controls the supply to the load 3 _{according to the duty command value indicating the duty ratio D cmdd} Then, the process returns to step S3401.

If the duty ratio D _cmdd is not greater than the reduced minimum guaranteed value (the judgment result of step S3409 is negative), in step S3411, the control unit 8 controls the power supplied to the load 3 according to the reduced minimum guaranteed value, and then The process returns to step S3401.

In the above-described embodiment 4B, the progress of the use phase is judged based on the input parameters including at least one of the timer value t, the temperature of the load 3, and the suction line shape. The progress of the use phase is minimized as it progresses. The guaranteed value slowly decreases. Thereby, the power supplied to the load 3 can be sufficiently suppressed when an overshoot occurs in the load 3, and the overshoot can be quickly and appropriately released.

<Example 4C>

Example 4C is a modification of Example 4B described above. In Embodiment 4C, the control is performed to use the duty operation value as the duty command value when it has been performed in the use phase. In other words, the control in Embodiment 4C invalidates the minimum guaranteed value or makes the minimum guaranteed value 0 based on the input parameters, or cancels the processing of the comparison unit 15 based on the minimum guaranteed value.

Fig. 35 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit 8 in the embodiment 4C.

The switching unit 19 included in the control unit 8 in Embodiment 4C sets the minimum guaranteed value when the input parameter including at least one of the timer value t, the temperature measurement value, and the suction line shape indicates a predetermined degree of progress. Switch to 0 or disable it.

When the switching unit 19 sets the minimum guaranteed value to 0, the comparison unit 15 uses the duty operation value input from the limiter 14 as the duty command value.

The control unit 8 controls the power supplied to the load 3 based on the duty command value corresponding to the duty operation value.

Fig. 36 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 4C. Although Fig. 36 illustrates the case where the timer value t is used as an input parameter to determine the progress of the use phase, the progress of the use phase can also be judged by using a temperature measurement value or a suction line.

Steps S3601 to S3606 are the same as steps S1901 to S1906 in Fig. 19 described above.

In step S3607, the switching unit 19 of the control unit 8 determines, for example, whether the timer value t has not reached the predetermined time t _thre2 .

If the timer value t has not reached the predetermined time t _thre2 (the judgment result of step S3607 is affirmative), then in step S3608, the comparison unit 15 of the control unit 8 judges whether the duty ratio D _cmdd after the limiter processing is at the minimum guaranteed value above.

If the switching unit 19 determines that the timer value t has _{reached the predetermined time t thre2} or more (the determination result of step S3607 is negative) or the comparison unit 15 determines that the duty ratio D _cmdd is greater than the minimum guaranteed value (determination result of step S3608 If it is affirmative), in step S3609, the control unit 8 _{controls the power supplied to the load 3 according to the duty command value indicating the duty ratio D cmdd} , and then the process returns to step S3601.

If the comparison unit 15 determines that the duty ratio D _cmdd is not greater than the minimum guaranteed value (the result of step S3608 is negative), then in step S3610, the control unit 8 controls the power supplied to the load 3 based on the minimum guaranteed value, and then The process returns to step S3601.

In the above-described embodiment 4C, it is determined whether the progress of the use phase exceeds the predetermined value according to the input parameters, and if the progress of the use phase exceeds the predetermined value, the control is switched to not using the minimum guaranteed value. Thereby, when the temperature behavior of the load 3 undergoes a temperature overshoot or the like, the temperature behavior of the load 3 may surge, and the feedback control can output a large amount of operation, and the power supplied to the load 3 can be controlled at a high level. Therefore, the burst of the temperature behavior of the load 3 can be released or converged quickly and appropriately.

<Example 4D>

Example 4D is a modification of Example 4C described above. In Embodiment 4D, the control unit 8 invalidates the minimum guaranteed value or makes the minimum guaranteed value 0 when it detects a temperature overshoot, or cancels the processing of the comparison unit 15 based on the minimum guaranteed value.

Fig. 37 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit 8 in the embodiment 4D.

The overshoot detection unit 20 provided in the control unit in Embodiment 4D detects the overshoot of temperature, for example, invalidates or reduces the minimum guaranteed value, and then releases the overshoot of temperature. Then validate or increase the minimum guaranteed value.

Fig. 38 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing of the overshoot detection unit 20 in the embodiment 4D.

In step S3801, the overshoot detection unit 20 detects an overshoot of temperature, and determines whether an overshoot is detected.

If the overshoot is not detected (the judgment result of step S3801 is negative), the process repeats step S3801.

If an overshoot is detected (the judgment result of step S3801 is affirmative), then in step S3802, the overshoot detection unit 20 invalidates or reduces the minimum guaranteed value.

In step S3803, the overshoot detection unit 20 determines whether the overshoot has been released.

If the overshoot has not been released (the judgment result of step S3803 is negative), the process repeats step S3803.

If the overshoot has been released, in step S3804, the overshoot detection unit 20 restores the minimum guaranteed value.

In the embodiment 4D described above, when the temperature overshoot is detected, the minimum guaranteed value is invalidated or reduced, and the temperature overshoot can be released quickly and appropriately.

<Example 4E>

In Embodiment 4E, the control unit 8 obtains the minimum guaranteed value of the duty ratio required to keep the load 3 warm based on the input parameter indicating the progress of the use stage, and then uses the duty operation value obtained by the gain unit 12 The larger value of the minimum guaranteed value is used as the duty command value, and the power supplied to the load 3 is controlled according to the duty command value.

Although Embodiment 4E exemplifies the case where the temperature measurement value is used as the input parameter indicating the progress of the use stage, the timing value t and the suction line shape may also be used as the input parameters.

Fig. 39 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit 8 in the embodiment 4E.

The heat preservation control unit 21 included in the control unit 8 in the embodiment 4D obtains the minimum guaranteed value of the duty ratio required to keep the load 3 warm based on, for example, the measured temperature value, and calculates the minimum guaranteed value required for heat preservation Output to the comparison unit 15. For example, the temperature measurement value can be obtained by analysis or experiment, and becomes the minimum guaranteed value of the duty ratio required to keep the load 3 warm corresponding to the temperature measurement value. Then, the heat preservation control unit 21 can use, for example, a model formula or table related to the correlation between the measured temperature value and the minimum guaranteed value derived from the analysis result or the experimental result. The heat preservation control unit 21 may also use the correlation between other input parameters and the minimum guaranteed value, such as the timing value t or the suction line shape, which indicates the progress of the use stage.

As described above, taking the duty ratio required to keep the temperature of the load 3 as the minimum guaranteed value, the second sub-phase included in the aforementioned preparation phase can be combined into the use phase. In this way, the second sub-phase can be omitted from the preparation phase. Therefore, in Embodiment 4E, the period of the preparation phase can be shortened, and the load 3 can be kept warm according to the minimum guaranteed value, so that the temperature drop of the load 3 can be suppressed.

Fig. 40 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the preparation stage of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 4E.

Steps S4001 to S4005 in Fig. 40 are the same as steps S501 to S505 in Fig. 5 described above.

Please note that the processing in FIG. 40 omits steps S4006 and S4007 corresponding to steps S506 and S507 in FIG. 5.

Fig. 41 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 4E.

In step S4101, the heat retention control unit 21 of the control unit 8 inputs the _{temperature measurement value T HTR from the temperature measurement unit 6.}

In step S4102, the heat preservation control unit 21 obtains _{the duty ratio required to keep heat at the temperature indicated by the temperature measurement value T HTR} , and outputs _{the minimum guaranteed value D lim} (T _HTR ) representing the duty ratio required for heat preservation To the comparison section 15. As an example, when the thermal insulation control unit 21 has the aforementioned correlation between the input parameter and the minimum guaranteed value in the form of a model formula, D _lim ( _THTR ) is a function. As an example, when the heat preservation control unit 21 has the aforementioned correlation between the input parameter and the minimum guaranteed value in the form of a table, D _lim ( _THTR ) is a query on the table.

The subsequent steps S4103 to S4111 are the same as steps S3101 to S3109 in Fig. 31 described above. In addition, after step S4110 and step S4111, the process can return to step S4103 or step S4101.

In the above-described embodiment 4E, the heat preservation of the load 3 can be ensured, and temperature changes such as overshoot can be appropriately eliminated. In addition, in Embodiment 4E, the second sub-stage can be omitted from the preparation stage, and the preparation stage can be shortened.

(Fifth Embodiment)

In electronic cigarettes or heated cigarettes, feedback control of the temperature of the load 3 is performed. It is best to quickly restore the temperature drop to compensate for the load even if the temperature of the load 3 decreases due to the user's smoking. The temperature of 3 is expected to not impair the amount and taste of the mist generated from the mist generating article 9.

However, for example, when the operation amount obtained by the feedback control is small, there is a possibility that sufficient power cannot be supplied to the load 3 whose temperature is lowered, and it may take a while for the temperature of the load 3 to recover.

Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, when the user's suction is detected, the operation amount obtained by the feedback control is temporarily increased, so that the temperature of the load 3 that decreases with the suction is quickly restored . More specifically, the control unit 8 in the fifth embodiment performs the limitation of the limiter 14 used in the feedback control when, for example, the temperature drop caused by the suction of mist occurs during the use phase. The width of the width is controlled by the expansion before the temperature is lowered. Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, the temperature drop of the load 3 during suction can be quickly recovered, and the temperature of the load 3 can be compensated. Therefore, even if the user sucks, it is possible to suppress the amount and taste of the mist generated from the mist-generating article 9 from being impaired.

The control unit 8 in the fifth embodiment can detect that the temperature of the load 3 has dropped (drop) while the feedback control is in progress, and can change the feedback control used in the feedback control so that the power supplied from the power supply 4 to the load 3 increases. The value of the variable. Thereby, compared with the case where the value of the variable used in the feedback control is not changed, the temperature of the load 3 can be quickly restored. Here, the change of the variable used in the control includes, for example, changing a certain variable to another variable and changing the value stored in the variable.

The control unit 8 may increase at least one of the gain used in the feedback control and the upper limit value of the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 when the temperature drop is detected. Thereby, compared with the case where both the gain and the upper limit of the power are not increased, the temperature of the load 3 can be quickly restored.

The control unit 8 can increase the target temperature used in the feedback control when the temperature drop is detected. As a result, compared with the case where the target temperature is not increased, the temperature of the load 3 can be quickly restored.

The control unit 8 can perform feedback control so that the temperature of the load 3 gradually increases to eliminate the temperature drop, and can change the variable to a value different from the value before the change based on the detection of the temperature drop. With this, it is possible to supply more power to the load 3 than before the temperature drop detection, for example. As explained in the second embodiment, in order to stabilize the amount of mist generated from the mist generating article 9, it is necessary to make the temperature of the load 3 and the temperature of the mist generating article 9 heated by the load 3 change with time. Increase. Therefore, by supplying more power to the load 3 than before the temperature drop is detected, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the amount of mist generation before and after the temperature drop occurs.

The control unit 8 can perform feedback control so that the power supplied from the power supply 4 to the load 3 gradually increases to eliminate the temperature drop, and can change the variable to a value different from the value before the change based on the detection of the temperature drop . With this, it is possible to supply more power to the load 3 than before the temperature drop is detected, for example. As described above, by supplying more power to the load 3 than before the temperature drop is detected, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the amount of mist generation before and after the temperature drop occurs.

The control unit 8 may gradually increase at least one of the gain used in the feedback control and the upper limit value of the power supplied from the power supply 4 to the load 3 as the feedback control progresses, and when a temperature drop is detected, Increase at least one of the gain and the upper limit by more than the amount of increase corresponding to the execution of the feedback control, and when the temperature drop is eliminated, change at least one of the gain and the upper limit to correspond to the temperature drop The detection is different from the value before the increase. With this, it is possible to supply more power to the load 3 than before the temperature drop is detected, for example. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the amount of mist generated before and after the temperature drop occurs.

The control unit 8 may change to not reduce at least one of the gain and the upper limit when the temperature drop is detected or the temperature drop has been eliminated. Thereby, the temperature stagnation of the load 3 can be suppressed. Therefore, it is difficult for the amount of mist generation to decrease with the passage of time.

The control unit 8 may change to increase at least one of the gain and the upper limit when the temperature drop is detected or the temperature drop has been eliminated. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the amount of mist generated.

The control unit 8 can increase at least one of the gain and the upper limit value by the amount corresponding to the execution of the feedback control after the temperature drop has been eliminated. Thereby, after the temperature drop is eliminated, the temperature of the load 3 can be increased by the same control as before the temperature drop detection, so that the mist can be stably generated without being affected by the suction. Therefore, the user of the mist generating device 1 does not feel strange in the amount and smell of mist generated from the mist generating article 9 during the entire use phase. Therefore, the quality of the mist generating device 1 can be improved.

After the temperature drop has been eliminated, the control unit 8 can change at least one of the gain and the upper limit value to be in accordance with the temperature drop by supplying power from the power source 4 to the load 3 that is larger than before the temperature drop is detected. The detection and increase the value different from the previous value. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the amount of mist generation.

The control unit 8 can reduce the amount of change of the variable as the feedback control proceeds. As a result, the function of enabling the feedback control to output a larger operating value as the stage progresses is brought into play, and the influence on the control caused by the change of the variable whose importance is lowered can be suppressed.

The control unit 8 can set the amount of change of the variable to 0 when the feedback control has been performed at a predetermined degree of progress or more and the temperature drop is detected. In this way, after the stage has progressed to a certain level, the variable will not be changed even if the temperature drops. In addition, after the stage has progressed to a certain level, the temperature drop that has occurred is immediately eliminated by the feedback control that can output a larger amount of operation. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the amount of mist generated.

The control unit 8 may decrease the increase amount of at least one of the gain and the upper limit value as the feedback control is performed. As a result, the function of enabling the feedback control to output a larger operating value with the progress of the stage is started. When the importance of changing at least one of the gain and the upper limit value is reduced, the gain and the upper limit value can be suppressed. The impact on the control caused by the change of at least one of the values.

The control unit 8 can make the change amount of at least one of the gain and the upper limit value to zero when the feedback control has performed a predetermined degree of progress or more, and when the temperature drop is detected. By this, the feedback control can start to function normally with the progress of the stage so that the feedback control can output a larger operating value, and it is possible to suppress the situation where the change of at least one of the gain and the upper limit value becomes unnecessary. Change at least one of gain and upper limit.

The control unit 8 can perform the feedback control to keep the temperature of the load 3 constant, and the temperature drop has been eliminated, and the changed variable can be changed to the value before the change based on the detection of the temperature drop. Thereby, the temperature drop can be quickly eliminated, and the control state can be restored to the state before the temperature drop detection.

The control unit 8 detects that the temperature of the load 3 has decreased by more than the first threshold, or the power supplied from the power supply 4 to the load 3 has increased by the second threshold or more, as a temperature drop, and the first threshold may be It can be distinguished whether it is the decrease in the temperature of the load 3 when the mist generated from the mist-generating article 9 is sucked, or the decrease in the temperature of the load 3 when the mist is not sucked, and the second threshold can be distinguished between The increase in the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 when the mist generated from the mist generating article 9 is sucked is also the increase in the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 when the mist is not sucked. Thereby, it is possible to quickly suppress the decrease in the amount of mist generated when the temperature drop is caused by the suction of the mist.

The control unit 8 can detect a decrease in the temperature of the load 3 while the feedback control is in progress, and can invalidate the upper limit of the power supplied from the power source 4 to the load 3 used in the feedback control. Thereby, the power supplied to the load 3 can be increased based on the temperature drop detection, and the decrease in the amount of mist generated by the temperature drop can be quickly suppressed.

The various controls that can be performed by the control unit 8 described above can be realized by the control unit 8 executing programs.

<Example 5A>

Fig. 42 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit 8 in Embodiment 5A.

The limiter changing unit 13 of the control unit 8 controls the increase in the limiter width based on the input parameter and adopts pre-control.

When the user inhales the mist, the air flow generated in the mist generating device 1 will pass through the vicinity of the load 3, so the temperature of the load 3 will temporarily decrease. The limit changing unit 13 in the embodiment 5A detects the suction of mist and temporarily expands the rising range of the limit width to quickly restore the temperature of the load 3 reduced by the suction.

Fig. 43 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 5A.

Steps S4301 to S4303 are the same as steps S1901 to S1903 in FIG. 19 described above.

In step S4304, the control unit 8 determines whether suction is detected. The detection of this suction is based on the output of a sensor that detects the physical quantity that changes with the user's suction, for example, based on the flow sensor, flow sensor, pressure sensor, etc. of the mist generating device 1 Value to be tested.

If a puff is not detected (the judgment result of step S4304 is negative), the process proceeds to step S4306.

If puffing is detected (the judgment result of step S4304 is affirmative), in step S4305, the limiter changing unit 13 increases the amplitude of the limiter width used in the limiter unit 14 with respect to the input line shape. , Change the correlation for changing the limiter width, and then proceed to step S4306.

Steps S4306 to S4309 are the same as steps S1904 to S1907 in FIG. 19 described above.

In Embodiment 5A described above, when a suction is detected, the increase in the limiter width used in the limiter 14 is enlarged, and the duty operation value obtained by the feedback control can be increased. The temperature drop of load 3 caused by suction quickly recovers. Therefore, even if the user sucks, the amount and taste of mist generated from the mist-generating article 9 can be suppressed from being impaired.

<Example 5B>

Embodiment 5B will describe the control to make the rising range of the limiter width when the puff is detected larger than the rising range of the limiter when the puff is not detected.

Fig. 44 is a graph showing an example of the change of the temperature of the load 3 and the limit width in Example 5B. In Fig. 44, the horizontal axis represents the chronograph value t, and the vertical axis represents the temperature or the limit width.

After detecting the suction, the limit changing unit 13 of the control unit 8 controls the increase in the limit width so that the temperature of the load 3 rises higher than before the detection of the suction.

When the limit changing unit 13 does not detect a puff, as shown by the line L _50A , the limit width increases as the timer value t increases (that is, as time elapses).

When the limit changer 13 detects the suction, after the temperature of the load 3 is restored, as shown by the line L _50B , the limit change section 13 changes the limit width to be larger than the change of the line L _50A .

As shown by the line L _50C , the limit changing unit 13 may change the limit width after the temperature recovery is completed to be smaller than the limit width when the temperature drop due to suction is being eliminated. In this case, the limiter changing unit 13 can make the limiter width after the temperature recovery is completed larger than the limiter width before the suction is detected. In addition, the limiter changing unit 13 may return the limiter width to the state before the suction is detected after the temperature recovery is completed.

As an example, when the control unit 8 uses the temperature of the load 3 to evaluate the progress of the use phase, if the temperature drops due to suction, the progress of the use phase will stagnate. After the temperature of load 3 is restored, if the _{limiter width is changed as shown in the line L 50A} , as mentioned above, because the line L _50A is the rising range of the undetected puff, it is used in comparison with the undetected puff. The progress of the stage will lag behind. Therefore, when the limit changing unit 13 detects a puff, after the temperature of the load 3 is restored, as shown by the line L _50B , the limit change section 13 changes the limit width to be larger than the change in the line L _50A . In this way, the lag in the progress of the use phase caused by the suction can be recovered.

In addition, the limiter changing unit 13 changes the limiter width to a larger change than that in the case of undetected _{puffing as shown by the line L 50B every time a puff is detected, so that the mist generator 1 can be ignored.} What kind of linear suction is used by the user to make the progress of the use phase the same. Therefore, the smell of the mist generated from the mist generating article 9 can be stabilized regardless of the suction line shape, and the quality of the mist generating device can be improved.

Fig. 45 is a diagram showing an example of the limit changing portion 13 in the embodiment 5B.

The limit changing unit 13 in the embodiment 5B determines the increase in the limit width based on input parameters including at least one of the timing value t and the suction line shape.

The limit changing unit 13 detects that there is suction from, for example, a decrease in the temperature of the load 3 or the shape of the suction line, and expands the limit width. The greater the increase in the limit width (the degree of expansion) is, the more the temperature recovery of the load 3 can be promoted. That is, as shown in Fig. 45, in the case where the rising range of the limiter width is slightly expanded and the case where the increase in the limit width is greatly expanded, the degree of temperature recovery of the load 3 will correspond to the area A ₅₁ that belongs to the difference between the two. There are different. Therefore, the greater the degree of decrease in the temperature of the load 3, or the higher the necessity of recovering the temperature of the load 3, the increase in the limiter width of the undetected puff indicated by the dotted line rising to the right , And the area specified by the expanded ascent represented by the dotted line can be larger.

Fig. 46 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 5B.

Steps S4601 to S4603 are the same as steps S4301 to S4303 in FIG. 43 described above.

In step S4604, the limiter change unit 13 of the control unit 8 determines whether the third relationship (hereinafter referred to as the "clip width change correlation") that associates the input parameter with the limiter width has been changed. Here, the change of the clip width can be expressed by correlation data or correlation function.

If the correlation for changing the limiter width has not been completely changed (the determination result of step S4604 is negative), the process proceeds to step S4607.

If the correlation for changing the limiter width has been changed (the determination result of step S4604 is affirmative), then in step S4605, the limiter changing unit 13 determines whether the temperature drop of the load 3 has recovered (for example, after the temperature drop of the load 3 The set time has passed).

If the temperature drop of the load 3 has not yet recovered (the judgment result of step S4605 is negative), the process proceeds to step S4607.

If the temperature drop of the load 3 has recovered (the judgment result of step S4605 is affirmative), then in step S4606, the limiter changing unit 13 returns the correlation for the limiter width change to the state before puffing is detected, and then the process goes to Step S4607.

Steps S4607 to S4612 are the same as steps S4304 to S4309 in FIG. 43 described above.

In Embodiment 5B described above, the limiter width can be expanded when suction is detected, and the temperature of the load 3 can be increased after suction to be higher than the temperature before the temperature of the load 3 is lowered by suction. Thereby, it is possible to compensate for the lag in heating after the temperature of the load 3 is restored, and to make the heating of the load 3 appropriate.

In addition, in Example 5B, after the temperature drop is restored, the correlation for changing the limiter width is returned to the state before the temperature drop, so that stable mist generation can be achieved.

<Example 5C>

In Embodiment 5C, the control unit 8 is in the use phase, when the limiter width is expanded to a certain extent, the influence of the control before changing the limiter width is reduced, and the feedback control is used to more stably control the load 3 temperature.

Fig. 47 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit 8 in Embodiment 5C.

The control unit 8 detects the output value of the sensor that detects the physical quantity that changes with the user's suction by the flow sensor, the flow sensor, the pressure sensor, etc., which the mist generating device 1 has. The person’s suction.

The limiter changing unit 13 gradually expands the limiter width according to the input parameters in the use stage through the pre-authorized control. When the limit changer 13 detects that there is a suction, it expands the range of increase in the limit width, and restores the temperature of the load 3.

The limiter width control unit 22 included in the control unit 8 suppresses the expansion of the limiter width when suction is detected when the limiter width is large to a certain extent.

More specifically, the limiter width control unit 22 has a fourth relationship (hereinafter referred to as a compensation relationship) in which, for example, the limiter width is associated with a compensation coefficient corresponding to the limiter width. The compensation coefficient indicates the degree of temperature recovery by expanding the limiter width when suction is detected. In the compensation relationship, for example, the limit width and the compensation coefficient are inversely related. That is, the compensation relationship is, for example, the smaller the clipping width, the larger the compensation coefficient, and the larger the clipping width, the smaller the compensation coefficient. Therefore, the smaller the compensation coefficient, the more suppress the increase in the limiter width to be changed when a puff is detected. As a result, the larger the compensation coefficient, the more sensitive the expansion of the limiter width is for the detection of suction, and the smaller the compensation coefficient, the more the expansion of the limiter width is restricted for the detection of suction.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 47, in the fourth relationship, if the clip width becomes larger than a certain threshold value, the corresponding compensation coefficient can be set to zero. As an example, as shown in Fig. 47, in the fourth relationship, the compensation coefficient can be set to an upper limit.

In Example 5C, with the expansion of the limiter width, the effect of recovering from the decrease in temperature caused by the expansion of the limiter width when a puff is detected is reduced, and the feedback control by feedback when a puff is detected is increased. The effect of recovery from temperature reduction. More specifically, if the limiter width is enlarged, the duty ratio itself output from the gain section 12 becomes more likely to become the duty operation value. As an example, the duty cycle output from the gain unit 12 is related to the difference between the end temperature of the use phase and the measured temperature value. As long as it is not affected by the limiter unit 14, the temperature drop can be effectively eliminated by feedback control. Therefore, stable control can be performed.

Fig. 48 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 5C. In Fig. 48, although it is determined whether or not to change the limiter width when a puff is detected based on whether the timer value t is lower than the threshold value t _thre3 , for example, it may be based on the timer value t instead of the timer value t. At least one of the value t, the temperature measurement value, and the suction line shape is used to determine whether to change the limiter width when suction is detected

Steps S4801 to S4803 are the same as steps S4301 to S4303 in FIG. 43 described above.

In step S4804, the limiter width control unit 22 determines whether the timer value t is lower than the threshold value t _thre3 indicating the progress of the use phase.

If the timer value t is not lower than the threshold value t _thre3 (the judgment result of step S4804 is negative), the limiter width control unit 22 does not change the correlation for the limiter width change, and the process proceeds to step S4807.

When the timer value t is lower than the threshold value t _thre3 , in step S4805, the limit changer 13 determines whether a puff is detected.

If a puff is not detected (the judgment result of step S4805 is negative), the process proceeds to step S4807.

If puffing is detected, in step S4806, the limiter changing unit 13 changes the correlation for changing the limiter width used in the limiter changing unit 13 based on the timer value t, and the process proceeds to step S4807.

Steps S4807 to 84810 are the same as steps S4306 to S4309 in Fig. 43 described above.

The function and effect of Example 5C described above will be described.

When it is performed in the use phase, the limiter width is enlarged, and the restriction on the size of the duty operation value obtained by the limiter unit 14 is relaxed. In this way, when the limiter width used in the limiter portion 14 is sufficiently expanded, feedback control can more easily function effectively, and even if the limiter width does not expand with suction, it is possible to use feedback control to make suction. When the temperature of load 3 decreases, it recovers. In such a case, if the limiter width is enlarged, it may complicate the control during the use phase.

In Example 5C, in order to reduce the temperature of the load 3 that occurs during suction and recover, the extent of the expansion of the limiter width as the suction is gradually reduced, and the feedback control that can output a large amount of operation is used The stability of the temperature of load 3 can be ensured.

<Example 5D>

Embodiment 5D will explain the control of reducing and recovering the temperature of the load 3 when the suction is detected by changing the gain of the gain unit 12. Here, the change of the gain includes, for example, the change of the gain function, the change of the value included in the gain function, and the like.

Fig. 49 is a control block diagram showing an example of control performed by the control unit 8 in the embodiment 5D.

The gain changing unit 17 included in the control unit 8 in the embodiment 5D changes the gain used in the gain unit 12 when a puff is detected, for example. More specifically, when a puff is detected, the gain changing section 17 changes the gain section based on the difference input from the differential section 11 to obtain a larger duty cycle than when no puff is detected. The gain of 12, more specifically, increases the gain of the gain section 12.

Thereby, the temperature of the load 3 during suction can be reduced and recovered.

Fig. 50 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 5D.

Steps S5001 to S5004 are the same as steps S4301 to S4304 in FIG. 43 described above.

If no suction is detected in step S5004 (the judgment result is negative), the process proceeds to step S5006.

If puffing is detected in step S5004 (the judgment result is affirmative), then in step S5005, the gain changing unit 17 changes the correlation for gain change indicating the correlation between the gain and the input parameter, and the process proceeds to step S5006.

In step S5006, the gain changing unit 17 changes the gain of the gain unit 12 in accordance with the input parameter.

Steps S5007 to S5009 are the same as steps S4307 to S4309 in FIG. 43 described above.

In the above-described embodiment 5D, changing the gain of the gain section 12 when a puffing occurs, the temperature of the load 3 can be reduced and recovered as soon as possible.

In addition, the control unit 8 may change the end temperature of the use phase instead of changing the limiter width used in the limiter unit 14 in order to increase the duty cycle value obtained by the lending feedback control when detecting the presence of suction. The step end temperature is used in conjunction with the rise width or gain of the gain section 12 or the rise width or gain for changing the limiter width. If the end temperature of the use phase is increased, the difference output by the differential unit 11 will increase, so the duty ratio output by the gain unit 12 will increase, and as a result, the duty operation value output by the feedback control can increase.

<Example 5E>

Embodiment 5E will describe the control of expanding the limiter width when suction is detected, and then after the temperature of the load 3 caused by the suction is reduced and restored, the limiter width is returned to the value before the suction is detected.

Figure 51 is a graph showing an example of changes in the temperature of the load 3 and the limit width in Example 5E. In this graph, the horizontal axis represents the timing value t, and the vertical axis represents the temperature of the load 3 and the limit width.

As mentioned above, the temperature of the load 3 will decrease during pumping. The limit changing unit 13 of the control unit 8 expands the limit width when it detects suction, and the control unit 8 restores the temperature of the reduced load 3 by this.

The limit changing unit 13 detects that the temperature of the load 3 has returned by, for example, returning the temperature of the load 3 to the state before the detection of suction, or a predetermined time has elapsed since the detection of suction. Next, the limiter changing unit 13 returns the limiter width to the value before the detection of puffing.

Such control of Embodiment 5E is also applicable when the temperature of the load 3 is maintained constant.

Fig. 52 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the use phase of the control unit 8 in the embodiment 5E.

Steps S5201 to S5205 are the same as steps S4601 to S4605 of FIG. 46 described above.

If it is determined in step S5204 that the limiter width change correlation has not been completely changed (the determination result is negative), the process proceeds to step S5207.

If it is determined in step S5205 that the temperature drop of load 3 has not yet recovered (the determination result is negative), the process proceeds to step S5207.

If it is determined in step S5205 that the temperature drop of the load 3 has recovered (the determination result is affirmative), then in step S5206, the limiter changing unit 13 restores the limiter width, and the process proceeds to step S5207.

In step S5207, the control unit 8 determines whether suction is detected.

If a puff has not been detected (the judgment result of step S5207 is negative), the process proceeds to step S5209.

If puffing is detected (the judgment result of step S5207 is affirmative), in step S5208, the limiter changing unit 13 widens the limiter width used in the limiter unit 14, and then proceeds to step S5209.

Steps S5209 to S5212 are the same as steps S4600 to S4612 in FIG. 46 described above.

In the embodiment 5E described above, the temperature of the load 3 can be restored quickly and appropriately when the suction is detected, and the limiter width used in the limiter 14 can be returned to the detection after the temperature of the load 3 has returned. To the value before the puff. Therefore, the temperature of the load 3 can be stabilized.

The above-mentioned embodiments can be combined freely. The above-mentioned embodiments are used for illustration, and are not used to limit the scope of the invention. The above-mentioned embodiment can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The above-mentioned embodiments and their modifications are included in the invention described in the scope of patent application and their equivalents as long as they are included in the scope and spirit of the invention.

1‧‧‧Mist generating device

2‧‧‧Attaching part

3‧‧‧Load

4‧‧‧Power

5‧‧‧Timer

6‧‧‧Temperature measurement department

7‧‧‧Power Measurement Department

8‧‧‧Control Department

9‧‧‧Fog producing items

9a‧‧‧Mist base material

Claims (37)

A mist generating device is provided with: a load, which uses electric power supplied from a power source to heat a mist generating article containing a mist substrate, the mist substrate holding or holding at least one of the mist source and the fragrance source One; and the control unit, which divides the power supplied from the power supply to the load into multiple stages to execute different control modes for control; the different control modes include at least pre-control and feedback control; The multiple stages include at least a preparation stage and a use stage; the aforementioned control unit executes the aforementioned pre-transfer control in the aforementioned preparation stage, and the aforementioned feedback control in the aforementioned use stage. According to the mist generating device described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the control unit executes the first pre-authorization control in the first stage of the plurality of stages; In the second stage executed after the stage, regarding the second front-end control and feedback control, the aforementioned control unit executes at least the aforementioned feedback control. The mist generating device described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the number of control modes used in the second stage executed after the first stage in the aforementioned plural stages is greater than that in the aforementioned plural stages The number of control modes used in the aforementioned first stage is large. The mist generating device described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein: The heating rate of the load in the second stage is slower than the heating rate of the load in the first stage, and the execution time of the first stage is shorter than the execution time of the second stage. The mist generating device described in claim 1, wherein the temperature or average temperature of the load in the second stage is higher than the temperature or average temperature of the load in the first stage, and the first stage The execution time of is shorter than the execution time of the aforementioned second stage. According to the mist generating device described in claim 1, wherein the heating rate of the load in the second stage is slower than the heating rate of the load in the first stage. The amount of power supplied to the load from the power source is less than the amount of power supplied to the load from the power source in the second stage. According to the mist generating device described in claim 1, wherein the temperature or average temperature of the load in the second stage is higher than the temperature or average temperature of the load in the first stage. The amount of power supplied from the power source to the load in the phase is less than the amount of power supplied from the power source to the load in the second phase. The mist generating device described in the first item of the scope of patent application, wherein the heating rate of the load in the second stage is slower than the heating rate of the load in the first stage, The power supplied from the power source to the load in the first stage is greater than the power supplied from the power source to the load in the second stage. According to the mist generating device described in claim 1, wherein the temperature or average temperature of the load in the second stage is higher than the temperature or average temperature of the load in the first stage. The power supplied from the power source to the load in the phase is greater than the power supplied from the power source to the load in the second phase. According to the mist generating device described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of stages include the first stage and the second stage, and the heating rate of the load in the second stage is higher than that in the first stage The heating rate of the load is slow. The aforementioned first stage ends after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the aforementioned second stage ends after a predetermined time has elapsed and the load reaches a predetermined temperature. According to the mist generating device described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of stages include the first stage and the second stage, and the temperature or average temperature of the load in the second stage is higher than that in the first stage If the temperature or average temperature of the aforementioned load is high, the aforementioned first stage ends after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the aforementioned second stage ends after a predetermined time has elapsed and the load reaches a predetermined temperature. The mist generating device described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein: The plurality of stages include the first stage and the second stage. The heating rate of the load in the second stage is slower than the heating rate of the load in the first stage, and the control unit is in the first stage. Before executing or before heating up the load in the first stage, obtain the variables used in the control of the electric power supplied from the power supply to the load in the first stage, and the control unit is in the second stage. Before the execution or the heating of the load in the second stage, the variables used in the control related to the power supplied from the power supply to the load in the second stage are acquired, and in the first stage acquired by the control unit The number of the aforementioned variables is greater than the number of the aforementioned variables in the aforementioned second stage. According to the mist generating device described in claim 12, wherein the plurality of stages include the stage in which the heating rate of the load is the slowest, and the control unit is directed to supplying the power from the power source to the power source in the slowest stage. The variable used in the aforementioned power-related control of the load is that the aforementioned variable in the aforementioned slowest stage is not obtained before the execution of the aforementioned slowest stage or the aforementioned load of the aforementioned slowest stage heats up, or, the aforementioned The control unit is based on the variables acquired before the execution of the slowest stage or before the load rises in the slowest stage, and does not execute in the slowest stage according to the acquired variables. The control related to the power supplied from the power supply to the load. According to the mist generating device described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of stages include the first stage and the second stage, and the temperature or average temperature of the load in the second stage is higher than that in the first stage If the temperature or average temperature of the load is high, the control unit obtains the information supplied from the power source to the load in the first stage before the execution of the first stage or before the temperature rise of the load in the first stage For the variables used in the power-related control, the control unit obtains the information supplied from the power source to the load in the second stage before the execution of the second stage or before the load rises in the second stage. For the variables used in the aforementioned power-related control, the number of the aforementioned variables in the aforementioned first stage acquired by the aforementioned control unit is greater than the number of the aforementioned variables in the aforementioned second stage. According to the mist generating device described in claim 14, wherein the plurality of stages include the stage where the temperature or average temperature of the load is the highest, and the control unit is aimed at supplying power from the power supply to the power supply in the highest stage. For the variables used in the aforementioned power-related control of the load, the aforementioned variables in the aforementioned highest stage are not acquired before the execution of the aforementioned highest stage or before the aforementioned load rises in the aforementioned highest stage, or the aforementioned control unit is aimed at Changes made before the execution of the aforementioned highest stage or before the aforementioned load rises in the aforementioned highest stage According to the obtained variables, the control related to the electric power supplied from the power supply to the load in the highest stage is not executed based on the obtained variables. According to the mist generating device described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of stages include the first stage and the second stage, and the heating rate of the load in the second stage is higher than that of the load in the first stage The temperature rise rate is slow. During the control execution of the second stage, the variables and/or calculations used in the control of the second stage will be changed. For the variables and/or calculation changes used in the control, the number of times the variables and/or calculations are changed in the second stage is greater than the number of times the variables and/or calculations are changed in the first stage. For the mist generating device described in item 16 of the scope of patent application, in the control execution of the stage where the load temperature rises the fastest among the plurality of stages, the control unit does not perform the control at the stage that is the fastest. The variables and/or calculations used in the control are changed. According to the mist generating device described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of stages include the first stage and the second stage, and the temperature or average temperature of the load in the second stage is higher than that of the first stage The temperature or average temperature of the load is high. During the control execution of the second stage, the variables and/or calculations used in the control of the second stage will be changed. The aforementioned first For the variable and/or calculation changes used in the control of the stage, the number of times the variables and/or calculations are changed in the second stage is more than the number of times the variables and/or calculations are changed in the first stage. The mist generating device described in item 18 of the scope of patent application, wherein the control of the stage where the temperature of the load or the average temperature of the plurality of stages of the control unit is executed is the lowest, and the control at the lowest stage is not performed The variables and/or calculations used in the above-mentioned lowest stage are changed during the control execution. According to the mist generating device described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of stages include the first stage and the second stage, and the heating rate of the load in the second stage is higher than that of the load in the first stage The temperature rise rate is slow, the control unit detects the suction of the mist generated from the mist generating article, and the increase in the power supplied from the power supply to the load based on the suction detected in the second stage is The increase in the power supplied from the power supply to the load based on the suction detected in the first stage is greater. According to the mist generating device described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of stages include the first stage and the second stage, and the temperature or average temperature of the load in the second stage is higher than that of the first stage If the temperature or average temperature of the load is high, the aforementioned control unit detects the suction of the mist generated from the aforementioned mist-generating article, based on the aforementioned suction detected in the aforementioned second stage The increase in the power supplied from the power supply to the load is greater than the increase in the power supplied from the power supply to the load based on the suction detected in the first stage. According to the mist generating device described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the control unit calculates the progress degree based on different variables in each of the plural stages. According to the mist generating device described in item 22 of the scope of patent application, the control unit obtains the progress of the stage with the fastest heating rate of the load among the plurality of stages based on time. According to the mist generating device described in item 22 of the scope of patent application, the control unit obtains the progress of the stage where the temperature of the load or the average temperature of the plurality of stages is the lowest based on time. The mist generating device described in claim 22, wherein the control unit detects the suction of the mist generated from the mist generating article, and calculates the plurality of stages based on the temperature of the load or the suction The progress of the stage where the heating speed of the aforementioned load is the slowest. The mist generating device described in claim 22, wherein the control unit detects the suction of the mist generated from the mist generating article, and calculates the plurality of stages based on the temperature of the load or the suction The progress of the stage where the temperature of the aforementioned load or the average temperature is the highest. A control method for controlling the power supplied from the power source to the load for heating a mist generating article containing a mist substrate, wherein the mist substrate maintains or holds at least the mist source and the fragrance source One of them; the control method includes: starting the supply of the aforementioned power from the aforementioned power source to the aforementioned load; and the aforementioned power supplied from the aforementioned power source to the aforementioned load is divided into a plurality of stages for performing different control modes for control; The aforementioned different control modes include at least pre-control and feedback control; the aforementioned multiple stages include at least the preparation phase and the use phase; the aforementioned pre-control control is performed in the aforementioned preparation phase, and the aforementioned feedback control is performed in the aforementioned use phase . A mist generating device is provided with: a load, which uses electric power supplied from a power source to heat a mist generating article containing a mist base material, the mist base material holding or holding at least a mist source and a fragrance source One of them; and a control unit that controls the aforementioned power supplied from the aforementioned power source to the aforementioned load; the aforementioned control unit divides the feedback control into a plurality of stages with different target temperatures for execution; in each of the aforementioned plural stages At least one of the gain of the feedback control and the upper limit of the power supplied from the power supply to the load is not the same. The plurality of stages include at least a preparation stage and a use stage; the control unit is in the foregoing In the preparation phase, the pre-authorized control is executed, Perform the aforementioned feedback control in the aforementioned use phase. The mist generating device described in item 28 of the scope of patent application, wherein the plurality of stages include the first stage and the second stage, the target temperature of the first stage is lower than the target temperature of the second stage, the aforementioned At least one of the gain and the upper limit used by the control unit in the first stage is greater than at least one of the gain and the upper limit used by the control unit in the second stage . The mist generating device described in item 28 of the scope of patent application, wherein the plurality of stages include the first stage and the second stage, and the variation range of the temperature of the load in the first stage is greater than that of the second stage. The temperature of the load changes more widely. At least one of the gain and the upper limit used by the control unit in the first stage is greater than the gain and the upper limit used by the control unit in the second stage. At least one of the aforementioned upper limit values is large. The mist generating device described in item 28 of the scope of patent application, wherein the plurality of stages include the first stage and the second stage, and the target temperature of the second stage is higher than the target temperature of the first stage. The variation range of at least one of the gain and the upper limit used by the control unit in the first stage is greater than that of the gain and the upper limit used by the control unit in the second stage. At least one of them has a smaller degree of change. The mist generating device described in item 28 of the scope of patent application, wherein the plurality of stages include a first stage and a second stage, and the temperature of the load in the second stage varies more than that of the first stage. The variation range of the temperature of the load is smaller. The variation range of at least one of the gain and the upper limit used by the control unit in the first stage is greater than that used by the control unit in the second stage. At least one of the aforementioned gain and the aforementioned upper limit has a smaller variation range. For example, the mist generating device described in any one of items 28 to 32 of the scope of patent application, wherein the aforementioned plural stages include the first stage and the second stage, and the aforementioned control unit is constituted as follows: The progress of the stage changes at least one of the target temperature of the second stage, the gain, and the upper limit of the electric power. A control method for controlling the power supplied from a power source to a load for heating a mist generating article containing a mist substrate, wherein the mist substrate maintains or holds at least one of the mist source and the fragrance source One; the control method includes: starting the supply of the aforementioned power from the aforementioned power source to the aforementioned load; and performing feedback control on the aforementioned power supplied from the aforementioned power source to the aforementioned load; The aforementioned feedback control is divided into a plurality of stages with different target temperatures for execution; in each of the aforementioned plural stages, at least one of the aforementioned gain of the feedback control and the aforementioned upper limit of power is not the same; Each phase includes at least a preparation phase and a use phase; the preceding control is executed in the aforementioned preparation phase, and the aforementioned feedback control is executed in the aforementioned use phase. A mist generating device is provided with: a load, which uses electric power supplied from a power source to heat a mist generating article containing a mist substrate, the mist substrate holding or holding at least one of the mist source and the fragrance source One; and a control unit that controls the power supplied from the power supply to the load; the control unit is divided into multiple stages to perform feedback control. In each of the multiple stages, the gain of the feedback control is combined Not the same; the aforementioned plural stages include at least a preparation stage and a use stage; the aforementioned control unit executes the preceding control in the aforementioned preparation stage, and the aforementioned feedback control in the aforementioned use stage. A control method for controlling the power supplied from a power source to a load for heating a mist generating article containing a mist substrate, wherein the mist substrate maintains or holds at least one of the mist source and the fragrance source One; the control method includes: Start the supply of the aforementioned power from the aforementioned power source to the aforementioned load; and perform feedback control on the aforementioned power supplied from the aforementioned power source to the aforementioned load; the aforementioned feedback control is divided into a plurality of stages and executed in each of the aforementioned plural stages In the phases, the gains of the aforementioned feedback control are not the same; the aforementioned plural stages include at least a preparation phase and a use phase; the preceding control is executed in the preparation phase, and the aforementioned feedback control is executed in the aforementioned use phase. A computer program product that enables a computer to implement the control method described in item 27, 34, or 36 of the scope of patent application.

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