US20240057684A1 - Power supply unit for aerosol generating device - Google Patents

Power supply unit for aerosol generating device Download PDF

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Publication number
US20240057684A1
US20240057684A1 US18/502,051 US202318502051A US2024057684A1 US 20240057684 A1 US20240057684 A1 US 20240057684A1 US 202318502051 A US202318502051 A US 202318502051A US 2024057684 A1 US2024057684 A1 US 2024057684A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
terminal
power supply
input
switch
mcu
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Pending
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US18/502,051
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English (en)
Inventor
Tatsunari AOYAMA
Hiroshi Kawanago
Toru NAGAHAMA
Takashi Fujiki
Ryo Yoshida
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Japan Tobacco Inc
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Japan Tobacco Inc
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Assigned to JAPAN TOBACCO INC. reassignment JAPAN TOBACCO INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: AOYAMA, Tatsunari, FUJIKI, TAKASHI, KAWANAGO, HIROSHI, NAGAHAMA, TORU, YOSHIDA, RYO
Publication of US20240057684A1 publication Critical patent/US20240057684A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A24F40/53—Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A24F40/51—Arrangement of sensors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A24F40/57—Temperature control
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/65—Devices with integrated communication means, e.g. wireless communication means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/90—Arrangements or methods specially adapted for charging batteries thereof
    • A24F40/95—Arrangements or methods specially adapted for charging batteries thereof structurally associated with cases
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
    • A24F40/465—Shape or structure of electric heating means specially adapted for induction heating

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a power supply unit for an aerosol generating device.
  • JP2019-187428A describes an electronic inhalation device capable of returning variables and parameters changed by a user to a state of factory settings by a reset operation.
  • JP2020-518250A describes a necessity of pressing a reset button in an e-cigarette when an error state is flagged by a user via a user interface.
  • JP2020-527053A describes an aerosol generating device that performs a reset (initialization setting) operation by pressing a button for a long time.
  • JP2020-527945A discloses that, in an aerosol delivery device, the device is automatically reset when a control component or software running thereon is continuously unstable.
  • Japanese Patent No. 6770579 describes a reset of an electronic cigarette by a smartphone capable of communicating with the electronic cigarette.
  • JP2017-538408A describes permanently disabling an inhalation device until a reset procedure is carried out.
  • Japanese Patent No. 6752220 describes an apparatus for providing a maintenance service for a smoking device.
  • the apparatus is configured to perform a software reset of the smoking device.
  • An object of the present disclosure is to provide a power supply unit for an aerosol generating device, the power supply unit being capable of stably restarting a controller.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a power supply unit for an aerosol generating device includes: a power supply; a heater connector to which a heater configured to heat an aerosol source by consuming a power supplied from the power supply is connected; a controller configured to control a supply of a power from the power supply to the heater and including a power supply terminal configured to receive a power for operation; a switch configured to connect the power supply and the power supply terminal of the controller; and a restart circuit configured to control opening and closing of the switch, in which the restart circuit performs a first operation of opening the switch when a restart condition is satisfied, and performs a second operation of closing the switch after performing the first operation.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a non-combustion inhalation device
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the non-combustion inhalation device with a rod mounted thereon;
  • FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the non-combustion inhalation device
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the non-combustion inhalation device
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an internal unit of the non-combustion inhalation device
  • FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the internal unit in FIG. 5 ;
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the internal unit without a power supply and a chassis
  • FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the internal unit without the power supply and the chassis
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating operation modes of the inhalation device.
  • FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electric circuit of the internal unit
  • FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of the electric circuit of the internal unit
  • FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of the electric circuit of the internal unit
  • FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the electric circuit in a sleep mode
  • FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the electric circuit in an active mode
  • FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the electric circuit in a heating initial setting mode
  • FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the electric circuit when a heater is heated in a heating mode
  • FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the electric circuit when a temperature of the heater is detected in the heating mode
  • FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the electric circuit in a charge mode
  • FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the electric circuit when an MCU is reset (restarted).
  • FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of a charging IC
  • FIG. 21 is a circuit diagram of main parts of the electric circuit shown in FIG. 10 , showing main electronic components related to a reset operation;
  • FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along a section passing through a case thermistor of the inhalation device shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the inhalation system includes a non-combustion inhalation device 100 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the “inhalation device 100 ”) which is an embodiment of a power supply unit of the present disclosure, and a rod 500 to be heated by the inhalation device 100 .
  • a configuration in which the inhalation device 100 accommodates a heating unit in a non-detachable manner will be described as an example.
  • the heating unit may be detachably attached to the inhalation device 100 .
  • a component in which the rod 500 and the heating unit are integrated may be detachably attached to the inhalation device 100 .
  • the power supply unit for the aerosol generating device may have a configuration that does not include the heating unit as a component.
  • the term “non-detachable” refers to a configuration in which detachment cannot be performed as far as possible uses.
  • an induction heating coil provided in the inhalation device 100 and a susceptor built in the rod 500 may cooperate to constitute the heating unit.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of the inhalation device 100 .
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inhalation device 100 with the rod 500 mounted thereon.
  • FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the inhalation device 100 .
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the inhalation device 100 .
  • an orthogonal coordinate system of a three-dimensional space in which three directions orthogonal to each other are defined as a front-rear direction, a left-right direction, and an up-down direction is used for convenience.
  • a front side is denoted by Fr
  • a rear side is denoted by Rr
  • a right side is denoted by R
  • a left side is denoted by L
  • an upper side is denoted by U
  • a lower side is denoted by D.
  • the inhalation device 100 is configured to generate a flavor-containing aerosol by heating the elongated substantially cylindrical rod 500 (see FIG. 2 ) as an example of a flavor component-generating base material including a filler or the like containing an aerosol source and a flavor source.
  • the rod 500 includes a filler containing an aerosol source that is heated at a predetermined temperature to generate an aerosol.
  • a type of the aerosol source is not particularly limited, and an extract substance from various natural products and/or a constituent component thereof may be selected according to the use.
  • the aerosol source may be a solid, or may be a liquid, for example, a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerin or propylene glycol, or water.
  • the aerosol source may contain a flavor source such as a cigarette raw material that effuses a flavor component by heating, or an extract derived from the cigarette raw material.
  • a gas to which the flavor component is added is not limited to the aerosol, and for example, an invisible vapor may be generated.
  • the filler of the rod 500 may contain a cut tobacco as a flavor source.
  • a material of the cut tobacco is not particularly limited, and a known material such as lamina or backbone may be used.
  • the filler may contain one or two or more fragrances.
  • a type of the fragrance is not particularly limited, and menthol is preferred from a viewpoint of imparting a good smoking taste.
  • the flavor source may contain a plant other than tobacco (for example, mints, herbal medicines, or herbs). Depending on uses, the rod 500 may not include the flavor source.
  • the inhalation device 100 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped case 110 having a front surface, a rear surface, a left surface, a right surface, an upper surface, and a lower surface.
  • the case 110 includes a bottomed cylindrical case main body 112 in which the front surface, the rear surface, the upper surface, the lower surface, and the right surface are integrally formed, an outer panel 115 and an inner panel 118 that seal an opening portion 114 (see FIG. 4 ) of the case main body 112 and form the left surface, and a slider 119 .
  • the inner panel 118 is fixed to the case main body 112 with bolts 120 .
  • the outer panel 115 is fixed to the case main body 112 so as to cover an outer surface of the inner panel 118 , by using magnets 124 held by a chassis 150 (see FIG. 5 ) to be described later accommodated in the case main body 112 . Since the outer panel 115 is fixed by the magnets 124 , a user may replace the outer panel 115 as desired.
  • the inner panel 118 is provided with two through holes 126 through which the magnets 124 pass, respectively.
  • the inner panel 118 is further provided with a vertically long hole 127 and a circular round hole 128 between the two through holes 126 that are arranged vertically.
  • the long hole 127 is for transmitting light emitted from eight light emitting diodes (LEDs) L 1 to L 8 built in the case main body 112 .
  • a button-type operation switch OPS built in the case main body 112 passes through the round hole 128 . Accordingly, the user may detect the light emitted from the eight LEDs L 1 to L 8 through an LED window 116 of the outer panel 115 . In addition, the user may press down the operation switch OPS via a pressing unit 117 of the outer panel 115 .
  • an opening 132 into which the rod 500 may be inserted is provided on the upper surface of the case main body 112 .
  • the slider 119 is coupled to the case main body 112 in a manner as to be movable in a front-rear direction between a position (see FIG. 1 ) where the opening 132 is closed and a position (see FIG. 2 ) where the opening 132 is opened.
  • the operation switch OPS is used to perform various operations of the inhalation device 100 .
  • the user operates the operation switch OPS via the pressing unit 117 in a state where the rod 500 is inserted into the opening 132 and mounted thereon as shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the rod 500 is heated by a heating unit 170 (see FIG. 5 ) without being burned.
  • a heating unit 170 see FIG. 5
  • the user may inhale the flavor-containing aerosol by holding a mouthpiece 502 of the rod 500 protruding from the opening 132 and inhaling.
  • a charging terminal 134 that is electrically connected to an external power supply such as an outlet or a mobile battery and receives a supply of a power is provided at the lower surface of the case main body 112 .
  • the charging terminal 134 is a universal serial bus (USB) Type-C receptacle, but is not limited thereto.
  • the charging terminal 134 is hereinafter also referred to as a receptacle RCP.
  • the charging terminal 134 may include, for example, a power receiving coil, and may be configured to receive a power transmitted from the external power supply in a wireless manner.
  • a wireless power transfer method in this case may be an electromagnetic induction type, a magnetic resonance type, or a combination of the electromagnetic induction type and the magnetic resonance type.
  • the charging terminal 134 may be connected to various USB terminals or the like, and may include the above power receiving coil.
  • the configuration of the inhalation device 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is merely an example.
  • the inhalation device 100 may be configured in various forms such that the rod 500 is held and an action such as heating is applied to generate a gas to which a flavor component is added from the rod 500 , and the user may inhale the generated gas.
  • An internal unit 140 of the inhalation device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8 .
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the internal unit 140 of the inhalation device 100 .
  • FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the internal unit 140 in FIG. 5 .
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the internal unit 140 without a power supply BAT and the chassis 150 .
  • FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the internal unit 140 without the power supply BAT and the chassis 150 .
  • the internal unit 140 accommodated in an internal space of the case 110 includes the chassis 150 , the power supply BAT, a circuit unit 160 , the heating unit 170 , a notification unit 180 , and various sensors.
  • the chassis 150 includes a plate-shaped chassis main body 151 that is disposed substantially in a center of the internal space of the case 110 in the front-rear direction and extends in an up-down direction and the front-rear direction, a plate-shaped front-rear dividing wall 152 that is disposed substantially in the center of the internal space of the case 110 in the front-rear direction and extends in the up-down direction and a left-right direction, a plate-shaped up-down dividing wall 153 that extends forward from substantially a center of the front-rear dividing wall 152 in the up-down direction, a plate-shaped chassis upper wall 154 that extends rearward from upper edge portions of the front-rear dividing wall 152 and the chassis main body 151 , and a plate-shaped chassis lower wall 155 that extends rearward from lower edge portions of the front-rear dividing wall 152 and the chassis main body 151 .
  • a left surface of the chassis main body 151 is covered with the inner panel 118 and the outer panel 115
  • the internal space of the case 110 is defined by the chassis 150 such that a heating unit accommodation region 142 is defined in an upper front portion, a board accommodation region 144 is defined in a lower front portion, and a power supply accommodation space 146 is defined in the rear in the up-down direction.
  • the heating unit 170 accommodated in the heating unit accommodation region 142 is constituted by a plurality of cylindrical members, and the cylindrical members are concentrically arranged to form a cylindrical body as a whole.
  • the heating unit 170 includes a rod accommodation portion 172 capable of accommodating a part of the rod 500 therein, and a heater HTR (see FIGS. 10 to 19 ) that heats the rod 500 from an outer periphery or a center. It is preferable that a surface of the rod accommodation portion 172 is heat-insulated against the heater HTR by forming the rod accommodation portion 172 with a heat insulating material or providing a heat insulating material inside the rod accommodation portion 172 .
  • the heater HTR may be an element capable of heating the rod 500 .
  • the heater HTR is, for example, a heating element.
  • the heating element include a heating resistor, a ceramic heater, and an induction heating heater.
  • the heater HTR for example, an element having a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) characteristic in which a resistance value increases with an increase in temperature is preferably used.
  • the heater HTR having a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) characteristic in which the resistance value decreases with the increase in temperature may be used.
  • the heating unit 170 has a function of defining a flow path of air supplied to the rod 500 and a function of heating the rod 500 .
  • the case 110 is formed with a vent (not shown) for allowing the air to flow in, and is configured to allow the air to flow into the heating unit 170 .
  • the power supply BAT accommodated in the power supply accommodation space 146 is a rechargeable secondary battery, an electric double layer capacitor, or the like, and is preferably a lithium ion secondary battery.
  • An electrolyte of the power supply BAT may be constituted by one or a combination of a gel electrolyte, an electrolytic solution, a solid electrolyte, and an ionic liquid.
  • the notification unit 180 performs a notification of various information such as a state of charge (SOC) indicating a state of charge of the power supply BAT, a preheating time at the time of inhalation, and an inhalation available period.
  • SOC state of charge
  • the notification unit 180 of the present embodiment includes the eight LEDs L 1 to L 8 and a vibration motor M.
  • the notification unit 180 may be constituted by light emitting elements such as the LEDs L 1 to L 8 , vibration elements such as the vibration motor M, or audio output elements.
  • the notification unit 180 may be a combination of two or more elements among the light emitting element, the vibration element, and the audio output element.
  • the various sensors include an intake sensor that detects a puff operation (an inhalation operation) of the user, a power supply temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the power supply BAT, a heater temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the heater HTR, a case temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the case 110 , a cover position sensor that detects a position of the slider 119 , a panel detection sensor that detects attachment and detachment of the outer panel 115 , and the like.
  • an intake sensor that detects a puff operation (an inhalation operation) of the user
  • a power supply temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the power supply BAT
  • a heater temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the heater HTR
  • a case temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the case 110
  • a cover position sensor that detects a position of the slider 119
  • a panel detection sensor that detects attachment and detachment of the outer panel 115 , and the like.
  • the intake sensor is mainly constituted by, for example, a thermistor T 2 disposed near the opening 132 .
  • the power supply temperature sensor is mainly constituted by, for example, a thermistor T 1 disposed near the power supply BAT.
  • the heater temperature sensor is mainly constituted by, for example, a thermistor T 3 disposed near the heater HTR.
  • the rod accommodation portion 172 is preferably heat-insulated from the heater HTR.
  • the thermistor T 3 is preferably in contact with or close to the heater HTR inside the rod accommodation portion 172 .
  • the heater HTR has the PTC characteristic or the NTC characteristic, the heater HTR itself may be used as the heater temperature sensor.
  • the case temperature sensor is mainly constituted by, for example, a thermistor T 4 disposed near the left surface of the case 110 .
  • the thermistor T 4 is preferably in contact with or close to the case 110 .
  • the cover position sensor is mainly constituted by a Hall IC 14 including a Hall element disposed near the slider 119 .
  • the panel detection sensor is mainly constituted by a Hall IC 13 including a Hall element disposed near an inner surface of the inner panel 118 .
  • the circuit unit 160 includes four circuit boards, a plurality of integrate circuits (ICs), and a plurality of elements.
  • the four circuit boards include a micro controller unit (MCU) mounting board 161 on which an MCU 1 and a charging IC 2 to be described later are mainly arranged, a receptacle mounting board 162 on which the charging terminal 134 is mainly disposed, an LED mounting board 163 on which a communication IC 15 to be described later, the operation switch OPS, and the LEDs L 1 to L 8 are arranged, and a Hall IC mounting board 164 on which the Hall IC 14 to be described later including the Hall element constituting the cover position sensor is disposed.
  • MCU micro controller unit
  • the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 are arranged parallel to each other in the board accommodation region 144 . Specifically, the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 are arranged such that each of the element arrangement surfaces thereof extend in the left-right direction and the up-down direction, and the MCU mounting board 161 is disposed in front of the receptacle mounting board 162 . Each of the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 is provided with an opening portion.
  • the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 are fastened to a board fixing portion 156 of the front-rear dividing wall 152 by a bolt 136 in a state where a cylindrical spacer 173 is interposed between peripheral edge portions of the opening portions. That is, the spacer 173 fixes positions of the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 inside the case 110 , and mechanically connects the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 . Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 from coming into contact with each other and from generating a short-circuit current therebetween.
  • surfaces of the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 directing forward are main surfaces 161 a and 162 a , respectively, and surfaces opposite to the main surfaces 161 a and 162 a are sub surfaces 161 b and 162 b , respectively, the sub surface 161 b of the MCU mounting board 161 and the main surface 162 a of the receptacle mounting board 162 face each other with a predetermined gap therebetween.
  • the main surface 161 a of the MCU mounting board 161 faces the front surface of the case 110
  • the sub surface 162 b of the receptacle mounting board 162 faces the front-rear dividing wall 152 of the chassis 150 .
  • Elements and ICs mounted on the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 will be described later.
  • the LED mounting board 163 is disposed on a left side surface of the chassis main body 151 and between the two magnets 124 arranged vertically.
  • An element arrangement surface of the LED mounting board 163 is disposed along the up-down direction and the front-rear direction.
  • the respective element arrangement surfaces of the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 are orthogonal to the element arrangement surface of the LED mounting board 163 .
  • the respective element arrangement surfaces of the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 and the element arrangement surface of the LED mounting board 163 are not limited to being orthogonal to each other, and preferably intersect with each other (non-parallel).
  • the vibration motor M constituting the notification unit 180 together with the LEDs L 1 to L 8 is fixed to a lower surface of the chassis lower wall 155 and is electrically connected to the MCU mounting board 161 .
  • the Hall IC mounting board 164 is disposed on an upper surface of the chassis upper wall 154 .
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating operation modes of the inhalation device 100 .
  • the operation modes of the inhalation device 100 include a charge mode, a sleep mode, an active mode, a heating initial setting mode, a heating mode, and a heating end mode.
  • the sleep mode is a mode for power saving by stopping a supply of a power mainly to electronic components required for heating control of the heater HTR.
  • the active mode is a mode in which most functions except the heating control of the heater HTR are enabled.
  • the operation mode is switched to the active mode.
  • the operation mode is switched to the sleep mode.
  • the heating initial setting mode is a mode for performing initial setting of control parameters and the like for starting the heating control of the heater HTR.
  • the heating mode is a mode for performing the heating control of the heater HTR (heating control for aerosol generation and heating control for temperature detection).
  • the inhalation device 100 starts the heating control of the heater HTR.
  • the heating end mode is a mode for executing an end process (a storage process of a heating history or the like) of the heating control of the heater HTR. While the inhalation device 100 is operating in the heating mode, when an energization time of the heater HTR or the number of times of inhalation by the user reaches an upper limit, or when the slider 119 is closed, the operation mode is switched to the heating end mode, and when the end process ends, the operation mode is switched to the active mode. When a USB connection is established while the inhalation device 100 is operating in the heating mode, the operation mode is switched to the heating end mode, and when the end process ends, the operation mode is switched to the charge mode. As shown in FIG.
  • the operation mode may be switched to the active mode before the operation mode is switched to the charge mode.
  • the operation mode may be switched in the order of the heating end mode, the active mode, and the charge mode.
  • the charge mode is a mode in which the power supply BAT is charged by a power supplied from the external power supply connected to the receptacle RCP.
  • the operation mode is switched to the charge mode. While the inhalation device 100 is operating in the charge mode, when the charging of the power supply BAT is completed or the connection between the receptacle RCP and the external power supply is released, the operation mode is switched to the sleep mode.
  • FIGS. 10 , 11 , and 12 are diagrams showing a schematic configuration of an electric circuit of the internal unit 140 .
  • FIG. 11 is the same as FIG. 10 except that a range 161 A (a range surrounded by a thick broken line) mounted on the MCU mounting board 161 and a range 163 A (a range surrounded by a thick solid line) mounted on the LED mounting board 163 are added in the electric circuit shown in FIG. 10 .
  • FIG. 12 is the same as FIG. 10 except that a range 162 A mounted on the receptacle mounting board 162 and a range 164 A mounted on the Hall IC mounting board 164 are added in the electric circuit shown in FIG. 10 .
  • An interconnect indicated by a thick solid line in FIG. 10 is an interconnect (an interconnect connected to the ground provided in the internal unit 140 ) having the same potential as a reference potential (a ground potential) of the internal unit 140 , and the interconnect is hereinafter referred to as a ground line.
  • each electronic component in which a plurality of circuit elements are chipped is indicated by a rectangle, and reference numerals of various terminals are shown inside the rectangle.
  • Power supply terminals VCC and power supply terminals VDD mounted on chips indicate power supply terminals on a high potential side, respectively.
  • Power supply terminals VSS and ground terminals GND mounted on the chips indicate power supply terminals on a low potential side (a reference potential side), respectively.
  • a difference between a potential of the power supply terminal on the high potential side and a potential of the power supply terminal on the low potential side is a power supply voltage.
  • the chipped electronic component performs various functions using the power supply voltage.
  • the MCU mounting board 161 (the range 161 A) is provided with, as main electronic components, the MCU 1 that performs overall control of the entire inhalation device 100 , the charging IC 2 that performs charging control of the power supply BAT, load switches (hereinafter, referred to as LSWs) 3 , 4 , and 5 each constituted by combining a capacitor, a resistor, a transistor, and the like, a read only memory (ROM) 6 , a switch driver 7 , a step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 (shown as the step-up/down DC-DC 8 in the drawing), an operational amplifier OP 2 , an operational amplifier OP 3 , flip-flops (hereinafter, referred to as FFs) 16 and 17 , connectors Cn(t 2 ) electrically connected to the thermistor T 2 constituting the intake sensor (the thermistor T 2 connected to the connectors is shown in the drawing), connectors Cn(t 3 ) electrically connected
  • the ground terminal GND of each of the charging IC 2 , LSW 3 , LSW 4 , and LSW 5 , the switch driver 7 , the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 , the FF 16 , and the FF 17 is connected to the ground line.
  • the power supply terminal VSS of the ROM 6 is connected to the ground line.
  • a negative power supply terminal of each of the operational amplifiers OP 2 and OP 3 is connected to the ground line.
  • the LED mounting board 163 (the range 163 A) is provided with the Hall IC 13 including the Hall element constituting the panel detection sensor, the LEDs L 1 to L 8 , the operation switch OPS, and the communication IC 15 as main electronic components.
  • the communication IC 15 is a communication module for communicating with an electronic device such as a smartphone.
  • Each of the power supply terminal VSS of the Hall IC 13 and the ground terminal GND of the communication IC 15 is connected to the ground line.
  • the communication IC 15 and the MCU 1 are configured to communicate with each other via a communication line LN.
  • One end of the operation switch OPS is connected to the ground line, and the other end of the operation switch OPS is connected to a terminal P 4 of the MCU 1 .
  • the receptacle mounting board 162 (the range 162 A) is provided with, as main electronic components, a power supply connector electrically connected to the power supply BAT (the power supply BAT connected to the power supply connector is shown in the drawing), a connector electrically connected to the thermistor T 1 constituting the power supply temperature sensor (the thermistor T 1 connected to this connector is shown in the drawing), a step-up DC-DC converter 9 (shown as the step-up DC-DC 9 in the drawing), a protection IC 10 , an overvoltage protection IC 11 , a remaining capacity meter IC 12 , the receptacle RCP, switches S 3 to S 6 each constituted by a MOSFET, an operational amplifier OP 1 , and a pair of (that is, positive electrode side and negative electrode side) heater connectors Cn electrically connected to the heater HTR.
  • a power supply connector electrically connected to the power supply BAT (the power supply BAT connected to the power supply connector is shown in the drawing)
  • Each of the two ground terminals GND of the receptacle RCP, the ground terminal GND of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 , the power supply terminal VSS of the protection IC 10 , the power supply terminal VSS of the remaining capacity meter IC 12 , the ground terminal GND of the overvoltage protection IC 11 , and a negative power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP 1 is connected to the ground line.
  • the Hall IC mounting board 164 (the range 164 A) is provided with the Hall IC 14 including the Hall element constituting the cover position sensor.
  • the power supply terminal VSS of the Hall IC 14 is connected to the ground line.
  • An output terminal OUT of the Hall IC 14 is connected to a terminal P 8 of the MCU 1 .
  • the MCU 1 detects the opening and closing of the slider 119 based on a signal input to the terminal P 8 .
  • a connector electrically connected to the vibration motor M is provided on the MCU mounting board 161 .
  • Two power supply input terminals VBUS of the receptacle RCP are each connected to an input terminal IN of the overvoltage protection IC 11 via a fuse Fs.
  • a USB plug is connected to the receptacle RCP, and a USB cable including the USB plug is connected to the external power supply, a USB voltage V USB is supplied to the two power supply input terminals VBUS of the receptacle RCP.
  • One end of a voltage dividing circuit Pa including a series circuit of two resistors is connected to the input terminal IN of the overvoltage protection IC 11 .
  • the other end of the voltage dividing circuit Pa is connected to the ground line.
  • a connection point of the two resistors constituting the voltage dividing circuit Pa is connected to a voltage detection terminal OVLo of the overvoltage protection IC 11 .
  • the overvoltage protection IC 11 In a state where a voltage input to the voltage detection terminal OVLo is less than a threshold, the overvoltage protection IC 11 outputs a voltage input to the input terminal IN from an output terminal OUT.
  • the overvoltage protection IC 11 stops the voltage output from the output terminal OUT (cuts off an electrical connection between the LSW 3 and the receptacle RCP) to protect the electronic components downstream of the overvoltage protection IC 11 .
  • the output terminal OUT of the overvoltage protection IC 11 is connected to an input terminal VIN of the LSW 3 and one end of the voltage dividing circuit Pc (a series circuit of two resistors) connected to the MCU 1 .
  • the other end of the voltage dividing circuit Pc is connected to the ground line.
  • a connection point of the two resistors constituting the voltage dividing circuit Pc is connected to a terminal P 17 of the MCU 1 .
  • One end of a voltage dividing circuit Pf including a series circuit of two resistors is connected to the input terminal VIN of the LSW 3 .
  • the other end of the voltage dividing circuit Pf is connected to the ground line.
  • a connection point of the two resistors constituting the voltage dividing circuit Pf is connected to a control terminal ON of the LSW 3 .
  • a collector terminal of a bipolar transistor S 2 is connected to the control terminal ON of the LSW 3 .
  • An emitter terminal of the bipolar transistor S 2 is connected to the ground line.
  • a base terminal of the bipolar transistor S 2 is connected to a terminal P 19 of the MCU 1 .
  • the LSW 3 When a signal input to the control terminal ON is at a high level, the LSW 3 outputs a voltage input to the input terminal VIN from an output terminal VOUT.
  • the output terminal VOUT of the LSW 3 is connected to an input terminal VBUS of the charging IC 2 .
  • the MCU 1 turns on the bipolar transistor S 2 while the USB connection is not established. Accordingly, the control terminal ON of the LSW 3 is connected to the ground line via the bipolar transistor S 2 , and thus a low-level signal is input to the control terminal ON of the LSW 3 .
  • the bipolar transistor S 2 connected to the LSW 3 is turned off by the MCU 1 when the USB connection is established.
  • the USB voltage V USB divided by the voltage dividing circuit Pf is input to the control terminal ON of the LSW 3 . Therefore, when the USB connection is established and the bipolar transistor S 2 is turned off, a high-level signal is input to the control terminal ON of the LSW 3 . Accordingly, the LSW 3 outputs the USB voltage V USB supplied from the USB cable from the output terminal VOUT. Even if the USB connection is established in a state where the bipolar transistor S 2 is not turned off, the control terminal ON of the LSW 3 is connected to the ground line via the bipolar transistor S 2 . Therefore, it should be noted that the low-level signal is continuously input to the control terminal ON of the LSW 3 unless the MCU 1 turns off the bipolar transistor S 2 .
  • a positive electrode terminal of the power supply BAT is connected to the power supply terminal VDD of the protection IC 10 , an input terminal VIN of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 , and a charging terminal bat of the charging IC 2 . Therefore, a power supply voltage V BAT of the power supply BAT is supplied to the protection IC 10 , the charging IC 2 , and the step-up DC-DC converter 9 .
  • a resistor Ra, a switch Sa constituted by a MOSFET, a switch Sb constituted by a MOSFET, and a resistor Rb are connected in series to a negative electrode terminal of the power supply BAT in this order.
  • a current detection terminal CS of the protection IC 10 is connected to a connection point of the resistor Ra and the switch Sa. Control terminals of the switch Sa and the switch Sb are connected to the protection IC 10 . Both ends of the resistor Rb are connected to the remaining capacity meter IC 12 .
  • the protection IC 10 acquires, based on a voltage input to the current detection terminal CS, a current value flowing through the resistor Ra during charging and discharging of the power supply BAT, and performs, when the current value is excessive (overcurrent), opening and closing control of the switch Sa and the switch Sb to stop the charging or the discharging of the power supply BAT, thereby protecting the power supply BAT. More specifically, when the protection IC 10 acquires an excessive current value at the time of charging the power supply BAT, the protection IC 10 turns off the switch Sb to stop the charging of the power supply BAT.
  • the protection IC 10 When the protection IC 10 acquires an excessive current value at the time of discharging the power supply BAT, the protection IC 10 turns off the switch Sa to stop the discharging of the power supply BAT.
  • the protection IC 10 performs the opening and closing control of the switch Sa and the switch Sb to stop the charging or the discharging of the power supply BAT, thereby protecting the power supply BAT. More specifically, when the protection IC 10 detects the overcharge of the power supply BAT, the protection IC 10 turns off the switch Sb to stop the charging of the power supply BAT.
  • the protection IC 10 detects an over-discharge of the power supply BAT, the protection IC 10 turns off the switch Sa to stop the discharging of the power supply BAT.
  • a resistor Rt 1 is connected to the connector connected to the thermistor T 1 disposed near the power supply BAT.
  • a series circuit of the resistor Rt 1 and the thermistor T 1 is connected to the ground line and a regulator terminal TREG of the remaining capacity meter IC 12 .
  • a connection point of the thermistor T 1 and the resistor Rt 1 is connected to a thermistor terminal THM of the remaining capacity meter IC 12 .
  • the thermistor T 1 may be a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor whose resistance value increases with an increase in temperature, or may be a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor whose resistance value decreases with the increase in temperature.
  • PTC positive temperature coefficient
  • NTC negative temperature coefficient
  • the remaining capacity meter IC 12 detects a current flowing through the resistor Rb, and derives, based on the detected current value, battery information such as a remaining capacity, a state of charge (SOC) indicating the charging state, and a state of health (SOH) indicating the health state of the power supply BAT.
  • the remaining capacity meter IC 12 supplies a voltage from a built-in regulator connected to the regulator terminal TREG to a voltage dividing circuit constituted by the thermistor T 1 and the resistor Rt 1 .
  • the remaining capacity meter IC 12 acquires a voltage divided by the voltage dividing circuit from the thermistor terminal THM, and acquires temperature information related to the temperature of the power supply BAT based on this voltage.
  • the remaining capacity meter IC 12 is connected to the MCU 1 via the communication line LN for serial communication, and is configured to communicate with the MCU 1 .
  • the remaining capacity meter IC 12 transmits the derived battery information and the acquired temperature information of the power supply BAT to the MCU 1 in response to a request from the MCU 1 .
  • a plurality of signal lines such as a data line for data transmission and a clock line for synchronization are required. It should be noted that only one signal line is shown in FIGS. 10 to 19 for simplification.
  • the remaining capacity meter IC 12 includes a notification terminal 12 a .
  • the notification terminal 12 a is connected to a terminal P 6 of the MCU 1 and a cathode of a diode D 2 to be described later.
  • the remaining capacity meter IC 12 detects an abnormality such as an excessive temperature of the power supply BAT, the remaining capacity meter IC 12 outputs a low-level signal from the notification terminal 12 a to notify the MCU 1 of occurrence of the abnormality.
  • the low-level signal is also input to a CLR( ⁇ ) terminal of the FF 17 via the diode D 2 .
  • One end of a reactor Lc is connected to a switching terminal SW of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 .
  • the other end of the reactor Lc is connected to the input terminal VIN of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 .
  • the step-up DC-DC converter 9 performs on/off control of a built-in transistor connected to the switching terminal SW to step up the input voltage, and outputs the stepped-up voltage from an output terminal VOUT.
  • the input terminal VIN of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 constitutes a power supply terminal on a high potential side of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 .
  • the step-up DC-DC converter 9 performs a step-up operation when a signal input to an enable terminal EN is at a high level.
  • the signal input to the enable terminal EN of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 may be controlled to a low level by the MCU 1 .
  • the MCU 1 may not control the signal input to the enable terminal EN of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 to make a potential of the enable terminal EN unstable.
  • a source terminal of the switch S 4 constituted by a P-channel MOSFET is connected to the output terminal VOUT of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 .
  • a gate terminal of the switch S 4 is connected to a terminal P 15 of the MCU 1 .
  • One end of a resistor Rs is connected to a drain terminal of the switch S 4 .
  • the other end of the resistor Rs is connected to the heater connector Cn on the positive electrode side connected to one end of the heater HTR.
  • a voltage dividing circuit Pb including two resistors is connected to a connection point of the switch S 4 and the resistor Rs.
  • a connection point of the two resistors constituting the voltage dividing circuit Pb is connected to a terminal P 18 of the MCU 1 .
  • the connection point of the switch S 4 and the resistor Rs is further connected to a positive power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP 1 .
  • a connection line between the output terminal VOUT of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 and the source terminal of the switch S 4 is connected to a source terminal of the switch S 3 constituted by a P-channel MOSFET.
  • a gate terminal of the switch S 3 is connected to a terminal P 16 of the MCU 1 .
  • a drain terminal of the switch S 3 is connected to a connection line between the resistor Rs and the heater connector Cn on the positive electrode side.
  • a circuit including the switch S 3 and a circuit including the switch S 4 and the resistor Rs are connected in parallel between the output terminal VOUT of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 and the positive electrode side of the heater connector Cn.
  • the circuit including the switch S 3 does not include a resistor, and thus is a circuit having a resistance lower than that of the circuit including the switch S 4 and the resistor Rs.
  • a non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 1 is connected to the connection line between the resistor Rs and the heater connector Cn on the positive electrode side.
  • An inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 1 is connected to the heater connector Cn on the negative electrode side connected to the other end of the heater HTR, and a drain terminal of the switch S 6 constituted by an N-channel MOSFET.
  • a source terminal of the switch S 6 is connected to the ground line.
  • a gate terminal of the switch S 6 is connected to a terminal P 14 of the MCU 1 , an anode of a diode D 4 , and the enable terminal EN of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 .
  • a cathode of the diode D 4 is connected to a Q terminal of the FF 17 .
  • One end of a resistor R 4 is connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier OP 1 .
  • the other end of the resistor R 4 is connected to a terminal P 9 of the MCU 1 and a drain terminal of the switch S 5 constituted by an N-channel MOSFET.
  • a source terminal of the switch S 5 is connected to the ground line.
  • a gate terminal of the switch S 5 is connected to the connection line between the resistor Rs and the heater connector Cn on the positive electrode side.
  • the input terminal VBUS of the charging IC 2 is connected to an anode of each of the LEDs L 1 to L 8 .
  • Cathodes of the LEDs L 1 to L 8 are connected to control terminals PD 1 to PD 8 of the MCU 1 via resistors for current limitation, respectively. That is, the LEDs L 1 to L 8 are connected in parallel to the input terminal VBUS.
  • the LEDs L 1 to L 8 are configured to operate by the USB voltage V USB supplied from the USB cable connected to the receptacle RCP and a voltage supplied from the power supply BAT via the charging IC 2 , respectively.
  • the MCU 1 includes a built-in transistor (a switching element) connected to each of the control terminals PD 1 to PD 8 and the ground terminal GND.
  • the MCU 1 turns on the transistor connected to the control terminal PD 1 to energize the LED L 1 to turn on the LED L 1 , and turns off the transistor connected to the control terminal PD 1 to turn off the LED L 1 .
  • a luminance and a light emission pattern of the LED L 1 may be dynamically controlled.
  • the LEDs L 2 to L 8 are controlled to be turned on by the MCU 1 .
  • the charging IC 2 has a charging function of charging the power supply BAT based on the USB voltage V USB input to the input terminal VBUS.
  • the charging IC 2 acquires a charging current or a charging voltage of the power supply BAT from a terminal or an interconnect (not shown), and performs the charging control of the power supply BAT (control of a supply of a power from the charging terminal bat to the power supply BAT) based on the charging current or the charging voltage.
  • the charging IC 2 may acquire the temperature information of the power supply BAT transmitted from the remaining capacity meter IC 12 to the MCU 1 from the MCU 1 through the serial communication using the communication line LN and use the temperature information for the charging control.
  • the charging IC 2 further has a V BAT power path function and an OTG function.
  • the V BAT power path function is a function of outputting, from an output terminal SYS, a system power supply voltage Vcc 0 that is substantially equal to the power supply voltage V BAT input to the charging terminal bat.
  • the OTG function is a function of outputting, from the input terminal VBUS, a system power supply voltage Vcc 4 obtained by stepping up the power supply voltage V BAT input to the charging terminal bat.
  • the MCU 1 controls on and off of the OTG function of the charging IC 2 through the serial communication using the communication line LN.
  • the power supply voltage V BAT input to the charging terminal bat may be output as it is from the input terminal VBUS.
  • the power supply voltage V BAT and the system power supply voltage Vcc 4 are substantially equal to each other.
  • the output terminal SYS of the charging IC 2 is connected to an input terminal VIN of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 .
  • One end of a reactor La is connected to a switching terminal SW of the charging IC 2 .
  • the other end of the reactor La is connected to the output terminal SYS of the charging IC 2 .
  • a charge enable terminal CE( ⁇ ) of the charging IC 2 is connected to a terminal P 22 of the MCU 1 via a resistor.
  • a collector terminal of a bipolar transistor S 1 is connected to the charge enable terminal CE( ⁇ ) of the charging IC 2 .
  • An emitter terminal of the bipolar transistor S 1 is connected to an output terminal VOUT of the LSW 4 to be described later.
  • a base terminal of the bipolar transistor S 1 is connected to the Q terminal of the FF 17 . Further, one end of a resistor Rc is connected to the charge enable terminal CE( ⁇ ) of the charging IC 2 . The other end of the resistor Rc is connected to the output terminal VOUT of the LSW 4 .
  • a resistor is connected to the input terminal VIN and an enable terminal EN of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 .
  • Vcc 0 the system power supply voltage
  • SYS of the charging IC 2 the input terminal VIN of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8
  • a signal input to the enable terminal EN of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 is at a high level, and the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 starts a step-up operation or a step-down operation.
  • the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 steps up or steps down the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 input to the input terminal VIN to generate a system power supply voltage Vcc 1 , and outputs the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 from an output terminal VOUT.
  • the output terminal VOUT of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 is connected to a feedback terminal FB of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 , an input terminal VIN of the LSW 4 , an input terminal VIN of the switch driver 7 , and the power supply terminal VCC and a D terminal of the FF 16 .
  • An interconnect to which the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 output from the output terminal VOUT of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 is supplied is referred to as a power supply line PL 1 .
  • the LSW 4 When a signal input to a control terminal ON is at a high level, the LSW 4 outputs, from the output terminal VOUT, the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 input to the input terminal VIN.
  • the control terminal ON of the LSW 4 and the power supply line PL 1 are connected via a resistor. Therefore, by supplying the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 to the power supply line PL 1 , a high-level signal is input to the control terminal ON of the LSW 4 .
  • a voltage output from LSW 4 is the same as the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 if an interconnect resistance or the like is ignored. However, the voltage output from the output terminal VOUT of LSW 4 is hereinafter referred to as a system power supply voltage Vcc 2 in order to distinguish from the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 .
  • the output terminal VOUT of the LSW 4 is connected to the power supply terminal VDD of the MCU 1 , an input terminal VIN of the LSW 5 , the power supply terminal VDD of the remaining capacity meter IC 12 , the power supply terminal VCC of the ROM 6 , the emitter terminal of the bipolar transistor S 1 , the resistor Rc, and the power supply terminal VCC of the FF 17 .
  • An interconnect to which the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 output from the output terminal VOUT of the LSW 4 is supplied is referred to as a power supply line PL 2 .
  • the LSW 5 When a signal input to a control terminal ON is at a high level, the LSW 5 outputs, from an output terminal VOUT, the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 input to the input terminal VIN.
  • the control terminal ON of the LSW 5 is connected to a terminal P 23 of the MCU 1 .
  • a voltage output from LSW 5 is the same as the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 if an interconnect resistance or the like is ignored.
  • the voltage output from the output terminal VOUT of LSW 5 is hereinafter referred to as a system power supply voltage Vcc 3 in order to distinguish from the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 .
  • An interconnect to which the system power supply voltage Vcc 3 output from the output terminal VOUT of the LSW 5 is supplied is referred to as a power supply line PL 3 .
  • a series circuit of the thermistor T 2 and a resistor Rt 2 is connected to the power supply line PL 3 , and the resistor Rt 2 is connected to the ground line.
  • the thermistor T 2 and the resistor Rt 2 constitute a voltage dividing circuit, and a connection point thereof is connected to a terminal P 21 of the MCU 1 .
  • the MCU 1 detects temperature variation (resistance value variation) of the thermistor T 2 based on a voltage input to the terminal P 21 , and determines the presence or absence of a puff operation based on a temperature variation amount.
  • a series circuit of the thermistor T 3 and a resistor Rt 3 is connected to the power supply line PL 3 , and the resistor Rt 3 is connected to the ground line.
  • the thermistor T 3 and the resistor Rt 3 constitute a voltage dividing circuit, and a connection point thereof is connected to a terminal P 13 of the MCU 1 and an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 2 .
  • the MCU 1 detects a temperature of the thermistor T 3 (corresponding to the temperature of the heater HTR) based on a voltage input to the terminal P 13 .
  • a series circuit of the thermistor T 4 and a resistor Rt 4 is connected to the power supply line PL 3 , and the resistor Rt 4 is connected to the ground line.
  • the thermistor T 4 and the resistor Rt 4 constitute a voltage dividing circuit, and a connection point thereof is connected to a terminal P 12 of the MCU 1 and an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 3 .
  • the MCU 1 detects a temperature of the thermistor T 4 (corresponding to the temperature of the case 110 ) based on a voltage input to the terminal P 12 .
  • a source terminal of a switch S 7 constituted by a MOSFET is connected to the power supply line PL 2 .
  • a gate terminal of the switch S 7 is connected to a terminal P 20 of the MCU 1 .
  • a drain terminal of the switch S 7 is connected to one of a pair of connectors to which the vibration motor M is connected. The other of the pair of connectors is connected to the ground line.
  • the MCU 1 may control opening and closing of the switch S 7 by operating a potential of the terminal P 20 to vibrate the vibration motor M in a specific pattern.
  • a dedicated driver IC may be used instead of the switch S 7 .
  • a positive power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP 2 and a voltage dividing circuit Pd (a series circuit of two resistors) connected to a non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 2 are connected to the power supply line PL 2 .
  • a connection point of the two resistors constituting the voltage dividing circuit Pd is connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 2 .
  • the operational amplifier OP 2 outputs a signal corresponding to the temperature of the heater HTR (a signal corresponding to a resistance value of the thermistor T 3 ).
  • an output voltage of the operational amplifier OP 2 decreases as the temperature of the heater HTR (the temperature of the thermistor T 3 ) increases.
  • a value of the output voltage of the operational amplifier OP 2 is substantially equal to a value of the ground potential when a voltage value (a divided voltage value obtained by the thermistor T 3 and the resistor Rt 3 ) input to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 2 is higher than a voltage value (a divided voltage value obtained by the voltage dividing circuit Pd) input to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 2 . That is, when the temperature of the heater HTR (the temperature of the thermistor T 3 ) is high, the output voltage of the operational amplifier OP 2 is at a low level.
  • an output of the voltage dividing circuit constituted by the thermistor T 3 and the resistor Rt 3 may be connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 2
  • an output of the voltage dividing circuit Pd may be connected to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 2 .
  • a positive power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP 3 and a voltage dividing circuit Pe (a series circuit of two resistors) connected to a non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 3 are connected to the power supply line PL 2 .
  • a connection point of the two resistors constituting the voltage dividing circuit Pe is connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 3 .
  • the operational amplifier OP 3 outputs a signal corresponding to the temperature of the case 110 (a signal corresponding to a resistance value of the thermistor T 4 ).
  • a thermistor having the NTC characteristic is used as the thermistor T 4 , an output voltage of the operational amplifier OP 3 decreases as the temperature of the case 110 increases.
  • a value of the output voltage of the operational amplifier OP 3 is substantially equal to the value of the ground potential when a voltage value (a divided voltage value obtained by the thermistor T 4 and the resistor Rt 4 ) input to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 3 is higher than a voltage value (a divided voltage value obtained by the voltage dividing circuit Pe) input to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 3 . That is, when the temperature of the thermistor T 4 is high, the output voltage of the operational amplifier OP 3 is at a low level.
  • an output of the voltage dividing circuit constituted by the thermistor T 4 and the resistor Rt 4 may be connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 3
  • an output of the voltage dividing circuit Pe may be connected to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 3 .
  • a resistor R 1 is connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier OP 2 .
  • a cathode of a diode D 1 is connected to the resistor R 1 .
  • An anode of the diode D 1 is connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier OP 3 , a D terminal of the FF 17 , and the CLR( ⁇ ) terminal of the FF 17 .
  • a resistor R 2 connected to the power supply line PL 1 is connected to a connection line between the resistor R 1 and the diode D 1 .
  • a CLR( ⁇ ) terminal of the FF 16 is connected to the connection line.
  • One end of a resistor R 3 is connected to a connection line between the D terminal of the FF 17 and a connection point of the anode of the diode D 1 and the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP 3 .
  • the other end of the resistor R 3 is connected to the power supply line PL 2 .
  • an anode of the diode D 2 connected to the notification terminal 12 a of the remaining capacity meter IC 12 , an anode of a diode D 3 , and the CLR( ⁇ ) terminal of the FF 17 are connected to the connection line.
  • a cathode of the diode D 3 is connected to a terminal P 5 of the MCU 1 .
  • the FF 16 When the temperature of the heater HTR is excessive, the signal output from the operational amplifier OP 2 is small, and a signal input to the CLR( ⁇ ) terminal is at a low level, the FF 16 inputs a high-level signal from a Q( ⁇ ) terminal to a terminal P 11 of the MCU 1 .
  • the high-level system power supply voltage Vcc 1 is supplied from the power supply line PL 1 to the D terminal of the FF 16 . Therefore, in the FF 16 , a low-level signal is continuously output from the Q( ⁇ ) terminal unless the signal input to the CLR( ⁇ ) terminal operating with a negative logic is at a low level.
  • a signal input to the CLR( ⁇ ) terminal of the FF 17 is at a low level when the temperature of the heater HTR is excessive, when the temperature of the case 110 is excessive, or when the low-level signal indicating the abnormality detection is output from the notification terminal 12 a of the remaining capacity meter IC 12 .
  • the FF 17 outputs a low-level signal from the Q terminal when the signal input to the CLR( ⁇ ) terminal is at a low level.
  • the low-level signal is input to a terminal P 10 of the MCU 1 , the gate terminal of the switch S 6 , the enable terminal EN of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 , and the base terminal of the bipolar transistor S 1 connected to the charging IC 2 .
  • the switch S 6 When the low-level signal is input to the gate terminal of the switch S 6 , a gate-source voltage of the N-channel MOSFET constituting the switch S 6 is less than a threshold voltage, and thus the switch S 6 is turned off.
  • the enable terminal EN of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 When the low-level signal is input to the enable terminal EN of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 , the enable terminal EN of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 has a positive logic, and thus the step-up operation is stopped.
  • the bipolar transistor S 1 When the low-level signal is input to the base terminal of the bipolar transistor S 1 , the bipolar transistor S 1 is turned on (an amplified current is output from the collector terminal).
  • the bipolar transistor S 1 When the bipolar transistor S 1 is turned on, the high-level system power supply voltage Vcc 2 is input to the CE( ⁇ ) terminal of the charging IC 2 via the bipolar transistor S 1 . Since the CE( ⁇ ) terminal of the charging IC 2 has a negative logic, the charging of the power supply BAT is stopped. As a result, the heating of the heater HTR and the charging of the power supply BAT are stopped.
  • the MCU 1 Even if the MCU 1 outputs a low-level enable signal from the terminal P 22 to the charge enable terminal CE( ⁇ ) of the charging IC 2 , when the bipolar transistor S 1 is turned on, the amplified current is input from the collector terminal to the terminal P 22 of the MCU 1 and the charge enable terminal CE( ⁇ ) of the charging IC 2 . Accordingly, it should be noted that a high-level signal is input to the charge enable terminal CE( ⁇ ) of the charging IC 2 .
  • the high-level system power supply voltage Vcc 2 is supplied from the power supply line PL 2 to the D terminal of the FF 17 . Therefore, in the FF 17 , a high-level signal is continuously output from the Q terminal unless a signal input to the CLR( ⁇ ) terminal operating with a negative logic is at a low level.
  • a low-level signal is output from the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP 3 , a low-level signal is input to the CLR( ⁇ ) terminal of the FF 17 regardless of a level of a signal output from the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP 2 .
  • the power supply line PL 2 is further branched from the MCU mounting board 161 toward the LED mounting board 163 and the Hall IC mounting board 164 .
  • the power supply terminal VDD of the Hall IC 13 , the power supply terminal VCC of the communication IC 15 , and the power supply terminal VDD of the Hall IC 14 are connected to the branched power supply line PL 2 .
  • An output terminal OUT of the Hall IC 13 is connected to a terminal P 3 of the MCU 1 and a terminal SW 2 of the switch driver 7 .
  • a low-level signal is output from the output terminal OUT of the Hall IC 13 .
  • the MCU 1 determines whether the outer panel 115 is attached based on a signal input to the terminal P 3 .
  • the LED mounting board 163 is provided with a series circuit (a series circuit of a resistor and a capacitor) connected to the operation switch OPS.
  • the series circuit is connected to the power supply line PL 2 .
  • a connection point of the resistor and the capacitor in the series circuit is connected to the terminal P 4 of the MCU 1 , the operation switch OPS, and a terminal SW 1 of the switch driver 7 .
  • the operation switch OPS In a state where the operation switch OPS is not pressed, the operation switch OPS is not conductive, and signals respectively input to the terminal P 4 of the MCU 1 and the terminal SW 1 of the switch driver 7 are at a high level due to the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 .
  • the signals respectively input to the terminal P 4 of the MCU 1 and the terminal SW 1 of the switch driver 7 are at a low level due to the connection to the ground line.
  • the MCU 1 detects an operation of the operation switch OPS based on the signal input to the terminal P 4 .
  • the switch driver 7 is provided with a reset input terminal RSTB.
  • the reset input terminal RSTB is connected to the control terminal ON of the LSW 4 .
  • the switch driver 7 stops an output operation of the LSW 4 by outputting a low-level signal from the reset input terminal RSTB. That is, when the operation switch OPS, which is originally pressed down via the pressing unit 117 of the outer panel 115 , is directly pressed down by the user in a state where the outer panel 115 is removed, the levels of the signals input to the terminal SW 1 and the terminal SW 2 of the switch driver 7 are both at a low level.
  • FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the electric circuit in the sleep mode.
  • FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the electric circuit in the active mode.
  • FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the electric circuit in the heating initial setting mode.
  • FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the electric circuit when the heater HTR is heated in the heating mode.
  • FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the electric circuit when the temperature of the heater HTR is detected in the heating mode.
  • FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the electric circuit in the charge mode.
  • FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the electric circuit in the sleep mode.
  • FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the electric circuit in the active mode.
  • FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the electric circuit in the heating initial setting mode.
  • FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the electric circuit when the heater HTR is heated in the heating mode.
  • FIG. 17 is a
  • FIGS. 13 to 19 are diagram illustrating the operation of the electric circuit when the MCU 1 is reset (restarted).
  • the terminals surrounded by broken ellipses indicate terminals to which the power supply voltage V BAT , the USB voltage V USB , the system power supply voltage, and the like are input or output, respectively.
  • the power supply voltage V BAT is input to the power supply terminal VDD of the protection IC 10 , the input terminal VIN of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 , and the charging terminal bat of the charging IC 2 .
  • the MCU 1 enables the V BAT power path function of the charging IC 2 and disables the OTG function and the charging function.
  • the V BAT power path function of the charging IC 2 is enabled. Since a signal for enabling the OTG function is not output from the MCU 1 to the charging IC 2 via the communication line LN, the OTG function is disabled. Therefore, the charging IC 2 generates the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 based on the power supply voltage V BAT input to the charging terminal bat, and outputs the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 from the output terminal SYS.
  • the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 output from the output terminal SYS is input to the input terminal VIN and the enable terminal EN of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 .
  • the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 is enabled when the high-level system power supply voltage Vcc 0 is input to the enable terminal EN which has a positive logic, generates the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 based on the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 , and outputs the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 from the output terminal VOUT.
  • the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 output from the output terminal VOUT of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 is supplied to the input terminal VIN of the LSW 4 , the control terminal ON of the LSW 4 , the input terminal VIN of the switch driver 7 , and the power supply terminal VCC and the D terminal of the FF 16 .
  • the LSW 4 When the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 is input to the control terminal ON, the LSW 4 outputs the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 input to the input terminal VIN as the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 from the output terminal VOUT.
  • the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 output from the LSW 4 is input to the power supply terminal VDD of the MCU 1 , the input terminal VIN of the LSW 5 , the power supply terminal VDD of the Hall IC 13 , the power supply terminal VCC of the communication IC 15 , and the power supply terminal VDD of the Hall IC 14 .
  • the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 is supplied to the power supply terminal VDD of the remaining capacity meter IC 12 , the power supply terminal VCC of the ROM 6 , the resistor Rc and the bipolar transistor S 1 connected to the charge enable terminal CE( ⁇ ) of the charging IC 2 , the power supply terminal VCC of the FF 17 , the positive power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP 3 , the voltage dividing circuit Pe, the positive power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP 2 , and the voltage dividing circuit Pd.
  • the bipolar transistor S 1 connected to the charging IC 2 is turned off unless a low-level signal is output from the Q terminal of the FF 17 .
  • the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 generated by the LSW 4 is also input to the charge enable terminal CE( ⁇ ) of the charging IC 2 . Since the charge enable terminal CE( ⁇ ) of the charging IC 2 has a negative logic, the charging function of the charging IC 2 is turned off in this state.
  • the MCU 1 When the MCU 1 detects that a signal input to the terminal P 8 is at a high level and the slider 119 is opened from a sleep mode state in FIG. 13 , the MCU 1 inputs a high-level signal to the control terminal ON of the LSW 5 from the terminal P 23 . Accordingly, the LSW 5 outputs the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 input to the input terminal VIN as the system power supply voltage Vcc 3 from the output terminal VOUT.
  • the system power supply voltage Vcc 3 output from the output terminal VOUT of the LSW 5 is supplied to the thermistor T 2 , the thermistor T 3 , and the thermistor T 4 .
  • the MCU 1 detects that the slider 119 is opened, the MCU 1 enables the OTG function of the charging IC 2 via the communication line LN. Accordingly, the charging IC 2 outputs, from the input terminal VBUS, the system power supply voltage Vcc 4 obtained by stepping up the power supply voltage V BAT input from the charging terminal bat. The system power supply voltage Vcc 4 output from the input terminal VBUS is supplied to the LEDs L 1 to L 8 .
  • FIG. 15 ⁇ Heating Initial Setting Mode
  • the MCU 1 When a signal input to the terminal P 4 is at a low level (the operation switch OPS is pressed) from a state in FIG. 14 , the MCU 1 performs various settings required for heating, and then inputs a high-level enable signal from the terminal P 14 to the enable terminal EN of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 . Accordingly, the step-up DC-DC converter 9 outputs a drive voltage V bst obtained by stepping up the power supply voltage V BAT from the output terminal VOUT. The drive voltage V bst is supplied to the switch S 3 and the switch S 4 . In this state, the switch S 3 and the switch S 4 are turned off. In addition, the switch S 6 is turned on by the high-level enable signal output from the terminal P 14 .
  • the negative electrode-side terminal of the heater HTR is connected to the ground line, and the heater HTR may be heated by turning on the switch S 3 .
  • the mode shifts to the heating mode.
  • FIG. 16 ⁇ Heater Heating in Heating Mode
  • the MCU 1 starts switching control of the switch S 3 connected to the terminal P 16 and switching control of the switch S 4 connected to the terminal P 15 .
  • the switching control may be automatically started when the above heating initial setting mode is completed, or may be started by further pressing the operation switch OPS.
  • the MCU 1 performs the heating control of heating the heater HTR to generate an aerosol by turning on the switch S 3 and turning off the switch S 4 to supply the drive voltage V bst to the heater HTR as shown in FIG. 16 , and performs temperature detection control of detecting the temperature of the heater HTR by turning off the switch S 3 and turning on the switch S 4 as shown in FIG. 17 .
  • the drive voltage V bst is also supplied to the gate of the switch S 5 , and the switch S 5 is turned on.
  • the drive voltage V bst passing through the switch S 3 is also input to the positive power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP 1 via the resistor Rs.
  • a resistance value of the resistor Rs is negligibly small as compared with an internal resistance value of the operational amplifier OP 1 . Therefore, during the heating control, a voltage input to the positive power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP 1 is substantially equal to the drive voltage V bst .
  • a resistance value of the resistor R 4 is larger than an on-resistance value of the switch S 5 .
  • the operational amplifier OP 1 operates also during the heating control, but the switch S 5 is turned on during the heating control.
  • an output voltage of the operational amplifier OP 1 is divided by a voltage dividing circuit constituted by the resistor R 4 and the switch S 5 and is input to the terminal P 9 of the MCU 1 . Since the resistance value of the resistor R 4 is larger than the on-resistance value of the switch S 5 , a voltage input to the terminal P 9 of the MCU 1 is sufficiently small. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a large voltage from being input from the operational amplifier OP 1 to the MCU 1 .
  • FIG. 17 ⁇ Heater Temperature Detection in Heating Mode
  • the drive voltage V bst is input to the positive power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP 1 and is input to the voltage dividing circuit Pb.
  • a voltage divided by the voltage dividing circuit Pb is input to the terminal P 18 of the MCU 1 .
  • the MCU 1 Based on the voltage input to the terminal P 18 , the MCU 1 acquires a reference voltage V temp applied to a series circuit of the resistor Rs and the heater HTR during the temperature detection control.
  • the drive voltage V bst (the reference voltage V temp ) is supplied to the series circuit of the resistor Rs and the heater HTR. Then, a voltage V heat obtained by dividing the drive voltage V bst (the reference voltage V temp ) by the resistor Rs and the heater HTR is input to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP 1 . Since the resistance value of the resistor Rs is sufficiently larger than a resistance value of the heater HTR, the voltage V heat is sufficiently lower than the drive voltage V bst .
  • the low voltage V heat is also supplied to the gate terminal of the switch S 5 , so that the switch S 5 is turned off.
  • the operational amplifier OP 1 amplifies a difference between a voltage input to the inverting input terminal and the voltage V heat input to the non-inverting input terminal and outputs the amplified difference.
  • An output signal of the operational amplifier OP 1 is input to the terminal P 9 of the MCU 1 .
  • the MCU 1 acquires the temperature of the heater HTR based on the signal input to the terminal P 9 , the reference voltage V temp acquired based on the input voltage of the terminal P 18 , and the known electric resistance value of the resistor Rs.
  • the MCU 1 performs the heating control of the heater HTR (for example, control such that the temperature of the heater HTR is a target temperature) based on the acquired temperature of the heater HTR.
  • the MCU 1 may acquire the temperature of the heater HTR even during a period in which the switch S 3 and the switch S 4 are turned off (a period in which the heater HTR is not energized). Specifically, the MCU 1 acquires the temperature of the heater HTR based on a voltage input to the terminal P 13 (an output voltage of the voltage dividing circuit constituted by the thermistor T 3 and the resistor Rt 3 ).
  • the MCU 1 may also acquire the temperature of the case 110 at any timing. Specifically, the MCU 1 acquires the temperature of the case 110 based on a voltage input to the terminal P 12 (an output voltage of the voltage dividing circuit constituted by the thermistor T 4 and the resistor Rt 4 ).
  • FIG. 18 illustrates a case where the USB connection is established in the sleep mode state.
  • the USB voltage V USB is input to the input terminal VIN of the LSW 3 via the overvoltage protection IC 11 .
  • the USB voltage V USB is also supplied to the voltage dividing circuit Pf connected to the input terminal VIN of the LSW 3 . Since the bipolar transistor S 2 is turned on immediately after the USB connection is established, a signal input to the control terminal ON of the LSW 3 remains at a low level.
  • the USB voltage V USB is also supplied to the voltage dividing circuit Pc connected to the terminal P 17 of the MCU 1 , and a voltage divided by the voltage dividing circuit Pc is input to the terminal P 17 . Based on the voltage input to the terminal P 17 , the MCU 1 detects that the USB connection is established.
  • the MCU 1 When the MCU 1 detects that the USB connection is established, the MCU 1 turns off the bipolar transistor S 2 connected to the terminal P 19 .
  • the USB voltage V USB divided by the voltage dividing circuit Pf is input to the control terminal ON of the LSW 3 . Accordingly, a high-level signal is input to the control terminal ON of the LSW 3 , and the LSW 3 outputs the USB voltage V USB from the output terminal VOUT.
  • the USB voltage V USB output from the LSW 3 is input to the input terminal VBUS of the charging IC 2 .
  • the USB voltage V USB output from the LSW 3 is directly supplied to the LEDs L 1 to L 8 as the system power supply voltage Vcc 4 .
  • the MCU 1 When the MCU 1 detects that the USB connection is established, the MCU 1 further outputs a low-level enable signal from the terminal P 22 to the charge enable terminal CE( ⁇ ) of the charging IC 2 . Accordingly, the charging IC 2 enables the charging function for the power supply BAT and starts the charging of the power supply BAT by using the USB voltage V USB input to the input terminal VBUS.
  • the MCU 1 in response to the establishment of the USB connection being detected, turns off the bipolar transistor S 2 connected to the terminal P 19 , outputs a low-level enable signal from the terminal P 22 to the charge enable terminal CE( ⁇ ) of the charging IC 2 , and turns off the OTG function of the charging IC 2 by the serial communication using the communication line LN. Accordingly, the system power supply voltage Vcc 4 supplied to the LEDs L 1 to L 8 is switched from a voltage (a voltage based on the power supply voltage V BAT ) generated by the OTG function of the charging IC 2 to the USB voltage V USB output from the LSW 3 .
  • the LEDs L 1 to L 8 do not operate unless built-in transistors are turned on by the MCU 1 . Therefore, an unstable voltage in a transition period from on to off of the OTG function is prevented from being supplied to the LEDs L 1 to L 8 .
  • a supply state of the system power supply voltage in the charge mode is the same as that in the sleep mode.
  • the supply state of the system power supply voltage in the charge mode is preferably the same as that in the active mode shown in FIG. 14 . That is, in the charge mode, it is preferable that the system power supply voltage Vcc 3 is supplied to the thermistors T 2 to T 4 for temperature management to be described later.
  • both the terminals SW 1 and SW 2 of the switch driver 7 are at a low level. Accordingly, the switch driver 7 outputs a low-level signal from the reset input terminal RSTB.
  • the low-level signal output from the reset input terminal RSTB is input to the control terminal ON of the LSW 4 . Accordingly, the LSW 4 stops the output of the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 from the output terminal VOUT. Since the output of the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 is stopped, the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 is not input to the power supply terminal VDD of the MCU 1 , and thus the MCU 1 is stopped.
  • the switch driver 7 returns the signal that is output from the reset input terminal RSTB to a high level when a time during which the low-level signal is output from the reset input terminal RSTB reaches a predetermined time or when the signal input to either the terminal SW 1 or the terminal SW 2 is at a high level. Accordingly, it is returned to a state where the control terminal ON of the LSW 4 is at a high level and the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 is supplied to each unit.
  • the above thermistor T 1 is also referred to as the power supply thermistor T 1
  • the above thermistor T 2 is also referred to as the puff thermistor T 2
  • the above thermistor T 3 is also referred to as the heater thermistor T 3
  • the above thermistor T 4 is also referred to as the case thermistor T 4 .
  • FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of the charging IC 2 .
  • the charging IC 2 includes a processor 21 , a gate driver 22 , and switches Q 1 to Q 4 each constituted by an N-channel MOSFET.
  • a source terminal of the switch Q 1 is connected to the input terminal VBUS.
  • a drain terminal of the switch Q 1 is connected to a drain terminal of the switch Q 2 .
  • a source terminal of the switch Q 2 is connected to the switching terminal SW.
  • a drain terminal of the switch Q 3 is connected to a connection node between the switch Q 2 and the switching terminal SW.
  • a source terminal of the switch Q 3 is connected to the ground terminal GND.
  • a drain terminal of the switch Q 4 is connected to the output terminal SYS.
  • a source terminal of the switch Q 4 is connected to the charging terminal bat.
  • the gate driver 22 is connected to a gate terminal of the switch Q 2 and a gate terminal of the switch Q 3 , and performs on/off control of the switches Q 2 and Q 3 based on a command from the processor 21 .
  • the processor 21 is connected to the gate driver 22 , a gate terminal of the switch Q 1 , a gate terminal of the switch Q 4 , and the charge enable terminal CE( ⁇ )
  • the processor 21 performs the on/off control of the switches Q 2 and Q 3 via the gate driver 22 and on/off control of the switches Q 1 and Q 4 .
  • the charging IC 2 has a V USB power path function and a V USB & V BAT power path function in addition to the above-described charging function, V BAT power path function, and OTG function.
  • V USB power path function and a V USB & V BAT power path function in addition to the above-described charging function, V BAT power path function, and OTG function.
  • contents of control inside the charging IC 2 when these functions are enabled will be described. Specific numerical values of the above various voltages are preferably values shown below.
  • the processor 21 performs the on/off control of the switch Q 2 and the switch Q 4 while controlling the switch Q 1 to be turned on and the switch Q 3 to be turned off.
  • the on/off control of the switch Q 4 is performed to adjust a charging current of the power supply BAT.
  • the processor 21 performs the on/off control of the switch Q 2 such that a voltage of the output terminal SYS is equal to a voltage suitable for charging the power supply BAT. Accordingly, the USB voltage V USB input to the input terminal VBUS is stepped down and output from the output terminal SYS.
  • the voltage output from the output terminal SYS is input to the input terminal VIN of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 as the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 , and is output from the charging terminal bat of the charging IC 2 . Accordingly, the power supply BAT is charged by using a voltage obtained by stepping down the USB voltage V USB .
  • the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 finally is the same value as the full charge voltage of the power supply BAT. Therefore, the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 steps down the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 of 4.2 V input to the input terminal VIN to generate and output the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 of 3.3 V.
  • a potential of the input terminal VBUS is higher than a potential of the output terminal SYS, and thus a power from the power supply BAT is not output from the input terminal VBUS.
  • the V USB power path function is enabled, for example, when the power supply BAT cannot be used due to an over-discharge or the like.
  • the processor 21 turns on the switch Q 1 , turns on the switch Q 2 , turns off the switch Q 3 , and turns off the switch Q 4 . Accordingly, the USB voltage V USB input to the input terminal VBUS is directly output from the switching terminal SW without being stepped down.
  • the voltage output from the switching terminal SW is input to the input terminal VIN of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 as the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 .
  • the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 steps down the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 of 5 V input to the input terminal VIN to generate and output the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 of 3.3 V.
  • the processor 21 may perform the on/off control of the switch Q 2 while controlling the switch Q 1 to be turned on, the switch Q 3 to be turned off, and the switch Q 4 to be turned on.
  • the step-down from the USB voltage V USB of 5.0 V to the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 of 3.3 V may be performed by the charging IC 2 and the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 in a shared manner. Therefore, concentration of a load and heat generation on the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 may be prevented.
  • the V USB & V BAT power path function is enabled, for example, when the charging of the power supply BAT is completed and the USB connection is continued.
  • the processor 21 performs the on/off control of the switch Q 2 while controlling the switch Q 1 to be turned on, the switch Q 3 to be turned off, and the switch Q 4 to be turned on.
  • the processor 21 controls the switch Q 2 such that the voltage of the output terminal SYS is equal to a voltage of the power supply BAT (the power supply voltage V BAT ). Accordingly, the USB voltage V USB input to the input terminal VBUS is stepped down and output from the output terminal SYS.
  • the voltage output from the output terminal SYS after stepping down the USB voltage V USB input to the input terminal VBUS and a voltage output from the output terminal SYS from the power supply BAT via the charging terminal bat have the same value. Therefore, a power including the voltage obtained by stepping down the USB voltage V USB and a power including the power supply voltage V BAT output from the output terminal SYS are combined and supplied to the input terminal VIN of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 .
  • the V USB & V BAT power path function is enabled, in the charging IC 2 , the potential of the input terminal VBUS is higher than the potential of the output terminal SYS, and thus the power from the power supply BAT is not output from the input terminal VBUS.
  • the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 determines which of the step-up and the step-down is to be performed depending on a magnitude of the power supply voltage V BAT .
  • the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 steps down the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 input to the input terminal VIN to generate and output the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 of 3.3 V.
  • the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 steps up the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 input to the input terminal VIN to generate and output the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 of 3.3 V.
  • the V BAT power path function is enabled in a mode (for example, the sleep mode) other than the charge mode.
  • the processor 21 controls the switch Q 1 and the switch Q 3 to be turned off. Accordingly, the power supply voltage V BAT input to the charging terminal bat is directly output from the output terminal SYS, and is input to the input terminal VIN of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 as the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 .
  • a power transmission path between the input terminal VBUS and the switching terminal SW of the charging IC 2 is blocked by a parasitic diode of the switch Q 1 . Therefore, the power supply voltage V BAT output from the output terminal SYS is not output from the input terminal VBUS.
  • the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 determines which of the step-up and the step-down is to be performed depending on the magnitude of the power supply voltage V BAT .
  • the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 steps down the power supply voltage V BAT to generate and output the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 of 3.3 V.
  • the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 steps up the power supply voltage V BAT to generate and output the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 of 3.3 V.
  • the OTG function is enabled simultaneously with the V BAT power path function, for example, enabled in the active mode.
  • the processor 21 performs the on/off control of the switch Q 3 while controlling the switch Q 1 to be turned on. Accordingly, the power supply voltage V BAT input to the charging terminal bat is directly output from the output terminal SYS, and is input to the input terminal VIN of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 as the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 .
  • the power supply voltage V BAT output from the output terminal SYS is input to the switching terminal SW of the charging IC 2 .
  • the processor 21 controls the switch Q 3 such that the power supply voltage V BAT input to the switching terminal SW is equal to the system power supply voltage Vcc 4 . Accordingly, the power supply voltage V BAT input to the switching terminal SW is stepped up and output from the input terminal VBUS. The voltage output from the input terminal VBUS is input to the LEDs L 1 to L 8 as the system power supply voltage Vcc 4 .
  • the charging IC 2 has both a function as a step-down converter that steps down the USB voltage V USB and a function as a step-up converter that steps up the power supply voltage V BAT .
  • the voltage input from the charging IC 2 to the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 varies in various ways according to an enabled function of the charging IC 2 .
  • the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 selectively performs the step-up and the step-down, so that the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 (a power including the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 ) may be kept constant.
  • the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 When a voltage of the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 input to the input terminal VIN of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 is equal to 3.3 V which is a voltage of the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 , the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 outputs the system power supply voltage Vcc 0 as the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 from the output terminal VOUT without performing the step-up and the step-down.
  • the inhalation device 100 may acquire the temperature of the power supply BAT (hereinafter, referred to as a power supply temperature T BAT ) based on a resistance value (an output value) of the power supply thermistor T 1 , the temperature of the heater HTR (hereinafter, referred to as a heater temperature T HTR ) based on a resistance value (an output value) of the heater thermistor T 3 , and the temperature of the case 110 (hereinafter, referred to as a case temperature T CASE ) based on a resistance value (an output value) of the case thermistor T 4 .
  • the inhalation device 100 When at least one of the power supply temperature T BAT , the heater temperature T HTR , and the case temperature T CASE is far different from a value under a recommended environment in which the inhalation device 100 is used, the inhalation device 100 performs protection control for prohibiting the charging of the power supply BAT and discharging from the power supply BAT to the heater HTR (hereinafter, also referred to as charging and discharging) to improve safety.
  • the protection control is performed by the MCU 1 and the FF 17 .
  • the protection control for prohibiting the charging and discharging refers to controlling the electronic components so as to disable the charging and discharging.
  • a low-level signal is input to the enable terminal EN of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 (or a potential of the enable terminal EN is made to be unstable) to stop the step-up operation, and a low-level signal is input to the gate terminal of the switch S 6 (or a potential of the gate terminal is made to be unstable) to cut off a connection between the heater connector Cn( ⁇ ) on the negative electrode side and the ground.
  • the protection control may be control for prohibiting the charging alone or control for prohibiting the discharging alone from a viewpoint of improving the safety.
  • the protection control performed by the inhalation device 100 includes manual return protection control that can be ended when the MCU 1 is reset by a user operation, automatic return protection control that can be automatically ended by improving a temperature environment without requiring the reset of the MCU 1 , and non-return protection control that cannot be ended.
  • the operation modes of the inhalation device 100 include an error mode and a permanent error mode in addition to those shown in FIG. 9 . In the present description, when “all the operation modes of the inhalation device” are described, this means all the operation modes (all the operation modes shown in FIG. 9 ) except the error mode and the permanent error mode.
  • the inhalation device 100 shifts to the error mode, and the shift to another operation mode is disabled.
  • the error mode a state of a power supply voltage (a supply state of a system power supply voltage) in an immediately preceding operation mode is maintained. That is, in the error mode, the functions (for example, the acquisition of the temperature information) that are executable in the immediately preceding operation mode except for the charging and discharging may be executed.
  • the error mode when the MCU 1 is reset, the manual return protection control is ended.
  • the automatic return protection control is ended.
  • the manual return protection control or the automatic return protection control is ended, the limitation for the operation mode is released, and the operation mode shifts to the sleep mode. Thereafter, the operation mode may be changed by a user operation or the like.
  • the inhalation device 100 shifts to the permanent error mode.
  • the permanent error mode all the functions of the inhalation device 100 are disabled, and the inhalation device 100 is required to be repaired or discarded.
  • the MCU 1 outputs a low-level signal from the terminal P 14 to stop the step-up operation of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 and cut off the connection between the heater connector Cn( ⁇ ) on the negative electrode side and the ground, and outputs a high-level signal from the terminal P 22 to stop the charging operation of the charging IC 2 , thereby performing the protection control.
  • a low-level signal from the terminal P 14 to stop the step-up operation of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 and cut off the connection between the heater connector Cn( ⁇ ) on the negative electrode side and the ground, and outputs a high-level signal from the terminal P 22 to stop the charging operation of the charging IC 2 , thereby performing the protection control.
  • the FF 17 outputs a low-level signal from the Q terminal to stop the step-up operation of the step-up DC-DC converter 9 , cut off the connection between the heater connector Cn( ⁇ ) on the negative electrode side and the ground, and stop the charging operation of the charging IC 2 by turning on the bipolar transistor S 1 , thereby performing the protection control without using the MCU 1 .
  • the FF 17 When a signal input to a CLR( ⁇ ) terminal is switched from a high level to a low level, the FF 17 outputs a low-level signal from the Q terminal.
  • the low-level signal is also input to the P 10 terminal of the MCU 1 . While the low-level signal is input to the terminal P 10 , the MCU 1 does not switch a signal input to a CLK terminal (not shown) of the FF 17 from a low level to a high level. In other words, while the low-level signal is input to the terminal P 10 , a CLK signal of the FF 17 does not rise. In a state where the MCU 1 is frozen, for example, the signal input to the CLK terminal (not shown) of the FF 17 remains at the low level.
  • the MCU 1 regardless of whether the MCU 1 is in a normal operation state or a frozen state, even if the signal input to the CLR( ⁇ ) terminal of the FF 17 is switched from the low level to the high level after the low-level signal is output from the Q terminal of the FF 17 , the low-level signal is continuously output from the Q terminal of the FF 17 .
  • the MCU 1 is reset as shown in FIG. 19 , the FF 17 is restarted (the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 is supplied again).
  • the system power supply voltage Vcc 3 is not supplied to the heater thermistor T 3 and the case thermistor T 4 , and both an output of the operational amplifier OP 2 and an output of the operational amplifier OP 3 are at a high level. Accordingly, a high-level signal is input to the D terminal and the CLR( ⁇ ) terminal of the FF 17 .
  • the MCU 1 raises the CLK signal of the FF 17 . Accordingly, an output of the Q terminal of the FF 17 may be returned to a high level. By returning the output of the Q terminal of the FF 17 to the high level, the protection control performed by the FF 17 is ended.
  • the signal output from the Q terminal of the FF 17 is also input to the terminal P 10 of the MCU 1 . Therefore, based on the low-level signal input to the terminal P 10 , the MCU 1 may detect that the FF 17 performs the protection control. When the MCU 1 detects that the FF 17 performs the protection control, the MCU 1 preferably causes the notification unit 180 to perform a reset request notification of the MCU 1 , and shifts to the error mode.
  • the MCU 1 When the operation mode is shifted to the error mode by performing the manual return protection control, or when the MCU 1 does not normally operate (when it is frozen) due to some reasons, the MCU 1 is required to be reset (restarted).
  • FIG. 21 is a circuit diagram of main parts of the electric circuit shown in FIG. 10 , showing main electronic components related to a reset operation of the MCU 1 .
  • FIG. 21 additionally shows motor connectors Cn(m) and a resistor R 7 which are not denoted in FIG. 10 .
  • the vibration motor M is connected to the motor connectors Cn(m).
  • the motor connectors Cn(m) are connected in parallel to the power supply terminal VDD of the MCU 1 via the switch S 7 . Therefore, when a supply of the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 to the power supply terminal VDD of the MCU 1 is stopped, a supply of an operating voltage to the vibration motor M is also stopped.
  • the resistor R 7 has one end connected to a node connecting the control terminal ON of the LSW 4 and the reset input terminal RSTB of the switch driver 7 , and the other end connected to the input terminal VIN of the switch driver 7 .
  • the MCU 1 is reset by stopping the supply of the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 serving as an operating voltage of the MCU 1 to the power supply terminal VDD of the MCU 1 and then restarting the supply.
  • the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 is output from the output terminal VOUT of the LSW 4 in a state where the LSW 4 is closed (a state where an electrical connection between the input terminal VIN and the output terminal VOUT is closed).
  • the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 is not output from the output terminal VOUT of the LSW 4 in a state where the LSW 4 is opened (a state where the electrical connection between the input terminal VIN and the output terminal VOUT is cut off).
  • Opening and closing control of the LSW 4 is performed by the switch driver 7 .
  • the switch driver 7 performs the opening and closing control of the LSW 4 , so that the MCU 1 may be reset.
  • the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 is input to the input terminal VIN of each of the LSW 4 and the switch driver 7 . Therefore, in a state where the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 is generated in the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 , the LSW 4 and the switch driver 7 operate simultaneously.
  • the switch driver 7 includes, for example, a built-in switch provided between the reset input terminal RSTB and the ground terminal GND, and in a state where the switch is closed, a potential of the reset input terminal RSTB is at a ground level (a low level).
  • the input terminal VIN and the reset input terminal RSTB of the switch driver 7 are connected in parallel via the resistor R 7 .
  • the potential of the reset input terminal RSTB is at a high level in a state where the built-in switch built in the switch driver 7 is opened.
  • the control terminal ON for controlling the opening and closing of the LSW 4 is connected to the output terminal VOUT of the step-up/down DC-DC converter 8 via the resistor R 7 , and is connected to the reset input terminal RSTB of the switch driver 7 . Therefore, in the state where the built-in switch built in the switch driver 7 is opened, a high-level voltage based on the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 is input to the control terminal ON of the LSW 4 .
  • the switch driver 7 controls the potential of the reset input terminal RSTB to perform the opening and closing control of the LSW 4 .
  • the switch driver 7 controls the potential of the reset input terminal RSTB based on a voltage input to the terminal SW 1 and a voltage input to the terminal SW 2 .
  • the voltage input to the terminal SW 1 is at a low level (a ground level) in a state where the operation switch OPS is pressed, and is at a high level in a state where the operation switch OPS is not pressed.
  • the voltage input to the terminal SW 2 is at a low level in a state where the outer panel 115 is removed from the inner panel 118 , and is at a high level in a state where the outer panel 115 is attached to the inner panel 118 .
  • the switch driver 7 starts a reset process for resetting the MCU 1 .
  • a state where both the panel condition and the switch operation condition are satisfied is defined as a state where a restart condition is satisfied.
  • a state where the pressing of the operation switch OPS is continued after the panel condition and the switch operation condition are both satisfied is defined as a state where the restart condition is continued to be satisfied.
  • the reset process refers to a process of waiting for a predetermined delay time td equal to or longer than 0 second, then closing the built-in switch built in the switch driver 7 to control the LSW 4 to be in an open state, and thereafter opening the built-in switch to return the LSW 4 to a closed state when a time during which the switch is closed reaches a predetermined time.
  • the switch driver 7 After starting the reset process, the switch driver 7 opens the built-in switch at a time point when the time during which the built-in switch is closed reaches the predetermined time regardless of whether the restart condition is satisfied, and ends the reset process. In other words, the switch driver 7 opens the built-in switch and returns the LSW 4 to the closed state even if the restart condition is kept satisfied with the panel condition being kept satisfied and the operation switch OPS being kept to be pressed until the time during which the switch built in the switch driver 7 is closed reaches the predetermined time.
  • the above reset operation time is preferably set to a value different from a pressing duration time of the operation switch OPS (hereinafter, referred to as a heating start operation time) required for transitioning from the active mode to the heating setting mode (for making an instruction to start the heating of the rod 500 by the heater HTR).
  • a heating start operation time a pressing duration time of the operation switch OPS
  • the MCU 1 may be reset under an explicit intention of the user.
  • the reset operation time is more preferably set to a value longer than the heating start operation time. In this way, the MCU 1 may be reset under a more explicit intention of the user.
  • the heating start operation time is 1 second
  • the reset operation time is 5 seconds.
  • the MCU 1 preferably controls the notification unit 180 (the vibration motor M and the LEDs L 1 to L 8 ) to cause the notification unit 180 to perform a notification to the user.
  • the LEDs L 1 to L 8 may be turned on in a predetermined pattern, the vibration motor M may be vibrated, or a combination thereof may be used.
  • the user may recognize that the MCU 1 is reset by continuing the current operation.
  • the MCU 1 may perform the notification or a notification different from the notification while waiting for the reset operation time to elapse.
  • the MCU 1 When the delay time td is set to a value larger than 0, the MCU 1 preferably completes, before the above delay time td elapses, the above notification performed by the notification unit 180 associated with the start of the reset process. In this way, the user may recognize that the reset of the MCU 1 is to be started in a short time based on the completion of the notification.
  • the above notification performed by the notification unit 180 may be continued until the above delay time td elapses. Even in this case, the vibration motor M is operated at the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 , and thus the notification is completed at the same time as the supply of the system power supply voltage Vcc 2 to the MCU 1 is stopped, so that it is possible to recognize that the reset of MCU 1 is started.
  • an output voltage of the operational amplifier OP 2 is at a low level.
  • the low-level voltage is input to the CLR( ⁇ ) terminal of the FF 16 .
  • the FF 16 sets an output of the Q terminal to a low level when a signal input to the CLR( ⁇ ) terminal is at a low level.
  • the Q( ⁇ ) terminal of the FF 16 is a terminal that outputs a voltage obtained by inverting the output of the Q terminal of the FF 16 . Therefore, the FF 16 outputs a high-level signal from the Q( ⁇ ) terminal when the signal input to the CLR( ⁇ ) terminal is at the low level.
  • the signal input to the CLR( ⁇ ) terminal of the FF 16 is at a high level. Therefore, in the normal state, the FF 16 outputs, from the Q( ⁇ ) terminal, a low-level voltage obtained by inverting a high-level voltage (the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 ) input to the D terminal.
  • the MCU 1 is frozen due to noise.
  • the user removes the outer panel 115 from the inner panel 118 and continues to press the operation switch OPS to reset the MCU 1 .
  • the system power supply voltage Vcc 1 is kept supplied to the power supply terminal VCC of the FF 16 . Therefore, before and after the reset of the MCU 1 , the FF 16 is continued to hold information indicating that the temperature of the heater HTR is excessive (the high-level output of the Q( ⁇ ) terminal).
  • the restarted MCU 1 detects that the temperature of the heater HTR is excessive, performs the protection control, and transitions the operation mode to the permanent error mode. That is, the protection control performed here is the non-return protection control. As described above, even when the overheating of the heater HTR occurs as a result of the MCU 1 being frozen, it is possible to return the MCU 1 to the normal operation by resetting, and transition the operation mode to the permanent error mode. Accordingly, the inhalation device 100 may be disabled, and the safety may be improved.
  • the switch driver 7 opens and closes the LSW 4 to reset the MCU 1 when both the switch operation condition which is a condition related to the operation of the operation switch OPS and the panel condition which is a condition different from the operation of the operation switch OPS are satisfied.
  • a technique of resetting a controller when a single condition is satisfied is well known.
  • the MCU 1 is reset when a plurality of conditions are satisfied. Therefore, the MCU 1 is prevented from being reset due to an erroneous operation or some impact, and the MCU 1 may be reset only when necessary.
  • the MCU 1 In the inhalation device 100 , in the state where the outer panel 115 is attached to the inner panel 118 , the MCU 1 is not reset even if the operation switch OPS is continuously pressed. Only in the state where the outer panel 115 is removed from the inner panel 118 , the MCU 1 is reset by continuously pressing the operation switch OPS. As described above, the functions that may be realized by the same operation member are switched according to whether the outer panel 115 is attached, so that it is possible to reduce the number of operation members, improve the operability, and reduce a cost.
  • the MCU 1 When the MCU 1 detects that the outer panel 115 is removed from the inner panel 118 , the MCU 1 preferably causes the notification unit 180 to perform a notification. In this way, in order to reset the MCU 1 , it is necessary to further operate the operation switch OPS while the notification that the panel condition is satisfied is performed. Therefore, the MCU 1 may be reset under the explicit intention of the user.
  • the MCU 1 When the MCU 1 detects that the outer panel 115 is removed from the inner panel 118 , the MCU 1 preferably disables the discharging from the power supply BAT to the heater HTR. In a state where the outer panel 115 is not attached, heat generated in the heating unit 170 is easily transmitted to the user, and thus the safety may be improved in this way.
  • FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along a section passing through the case thermistor T 4 of the inhalation device 100 shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the heating unit 170 includes the cylindrical rod accommodation portion 172 having a heat insulating function, a cylindrical heater support member 174 disposed inside the rod accommodation portion 172 , and the cylindrical heater HTR supported by an inner circumferential surface of the heater support member 174 .
  • the heater HTR has a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the up-down direction.
  • the heater HTR includes flat portions H 1 and H 2 that are arranged to face each other while being spaced apart in the front-rear direction and extend in the up-down direction, a curved portion H 3 that connects a right end of the flat portion H 1 and a right end of the flat portion H 2 , and a curved portion H 4 that connects a left end of the flat portion H 1 and a left end of the flat portion H 2 .
  • the substantially elliptical shape may be formed by using curved portions, instead of the flat portions H 1 and H 2 , having a curvature different from that of the curved portion H 3 and the curved portion H 4 .
  • a part of the rod 500 is accommodated in a space 170 A surrounded by the elliptical heater HTR.
  • An outer shape of the rod 500 is circular, and a diameter of the rod 500 is larger than a distance between the flat portion H 1 and the flat portion H 2 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the rod 500 inserted into the space 170 A is in a state of being crushed in the front-rear direction by the flat portion H 1 and the flat portion H 2 .
  • the heating unit 170 as shown in FIG. 21 , a contact area between the rod 500 and the heater HTR may be increased, and the rod 500 may be efficiently heated.
  • the MCU 1 may be reset regardless of whether the rod 500 is inserted into the space 170 A.
  • the MCU 1 may be reset simply by removing the outer panel 115 and pressing the operation switch OPS while inserting the rod 500 without performing an operation such as removing the rod 500 from the opening 132 and closing the slider 119 .
  • the MCU 1 After the MCU 1 returns to the active mode by resetting, the user presses the operation switch OPS for the heating start operation time after attaching the outer panel 115 . Accordingly, the aerosol generation that has not been performed is to be performed.
  • the MCU 1 since the MCU 1 may be reset without inserting and removing the rod 500 , in other words, without opening and closing the slider 119 , it is possible to reduce a burden on the user and improve the usability.
  • the controller may be restarted by an opening and closing control of the switch by the restart circuit, and thus even if a freeze occurs in the controller, it is possible to stably cancel the freeze and return to a normal operation.
  • the restart condition is less likely to be satisfied due to an erroneous operation or some impact. Therefore, a situation in which the controller is erroneously restarted may be prevented, and the controller may be restarted only by a clear operation performed by the user.
  • a power supply of the notification unit and a power supply of the controller are common. Accordingly, when the controller is restarted, the notification unit stops operating, and thus the user may easily recognize that the controller is being restarted.
  • the notification is completed when the controller is restarted, and thus the user may easily recognize that the restart is being performed.
  • a high-level voltage may be input to the control terminal of the switch by the power supply. Therefore, when the restart circuit is not functioning, the supply of the power to the controller is less likely to be cut off.
  • a low-level signal is input to the control terminal of the switch only when the restart circuit functions. Therefore, it is possible to limit a situation in which the supply of the power to the controller is cut off.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
US18/502,051 2021-05-10 2023-11-05 Power supply unit for aerosol generating device Pending US20240057684A1 (en)

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CN117279532A (zh) 2023-12-22
WO2022239414A1 (ja) 2022-11-17

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