US20240324696A1 - Aerosol generation device and information display device - Google Patents

Aerosol generation device and information display device Download PDF

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Publication number
US20240324696A1
US20240324696A1 US18/743,346 US202418743346A US2024324696A1 US 20240324696 A1 US20240324696 A1 US 20240324696A1 US 202418743346 A US202418743346 A US 202418743346A US 2024324696 A1 US2024324696 A1 US 2024324696A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
unit
display
capsule
heating
replacement
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Pending
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US18/743,346
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English (en)
Inventor
Yusuke Fujino
Hiroaki SEMA
Akito KIRISEKO
Satoru Taniyama
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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: TANIYAMA, SATORU, FUJINO, YUSUKE, KIRISEKO, Akito, SEMA, Hiroaki
Publication of US20240324696A1 publication Critical patent/US20240324696A1/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
    • A24F40/60—Devices with integrated user interfaces
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to an aerosol generation device and an information display device.
  • an integral control unit When a button depressed by a user is a control target button, an integral control unit reads an initial remaining cancellation time out of a storage unit, and notifies a GUI display switching unit of the result of the depression of the control target button and the initial remaining cancellation time, and starts the timer of a counting unit.
  • the GUI display switching unit switches the display of a “processing execution” button notified from the integral control unit to the display of a “cancellation” button, and displays the remaining cancelable time.
  • the integral control unit Upon confirming the depression of the “cancellation” button within a predetermined time, the integral control unit notifies the GUI display switching unit to return the display of the “cancellation” button to the display of the original “processing execution” button.
  • a user is asked to press an operation unit down continuously for predetermined time, for example, for the purpose of resuming the use of a device, after doing a predetermined task on the device.
  • an aerosol generation device comprises: a heating unit that receives supply of power and heats an aerosol source; a display unit for displaying information regarding the aerosol generation device; an operation unit on which a pressing operation is performed by a user; and a control unit that performs control to display, on the display unit, a first display element representing that the pressing operation of pressing the operation unit down continuously for predetermined time needs to be performed after replacement of the aerosol source, and, when the pressing operation of pressing the operation unit down continuously is performed by the user, performs control to display the first display element on the display unit while changing the first display element in accordance with time for which the pressing operation continues.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of appearance of an aerosol generation device taken as the subject of a first embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining how aerosol sources, etc. taken as the subject of the first embodiment are attached to a device body.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an internal structure of the aerosol generation device taken as the subject of the first embodiment.
  • FIGS. 4 A and 4 B are diagrams for explaining a normal mode and a high mode, wherein FIG. 4 A is a diagram for explaining an example of the timing of heating in the normal mode, and FIG. 4 B is a diagram for explaining an example of the timing of heating in the high mode.
  • FIGS. 5 A to 5 C are diagrams illustrating a capsule replacement screen according to the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating display control of a display of the aerosol generation device according to the first embodiment when making a notification to the effect that the replacement of a capsule is needed.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating display control of the display of the aerosol generation device according to the first embodiment after completion of the replacement of the capsule.
  • FIGS. 8 A to 8 C are diagrams illustrating a cartridge replacement screen according to a second embodiment.
  • An aerosol generation device taken as the subject of a first embodiment is a kind of electronic cigarette.
  • a substance that is generated by the aerosol generation device will be referred to as “aerosol”.
  • An aerosol is a mixture of airborne tiny particles of a liquid or a solid with air or another kind of gas.
  • the aerosol generation device taken as the subject of the first embodiment is capable of generating an aerosol without any combustion.
  • the user's act of inhaling the aerosol generated by the aerosol generation device will be simply referred to as “inhalation” or “puff”.
  • the aerosol generation device is assumed to be a device to which both a liquid aerosol source and a solid aerosol source are attachable.
  • a container that contains a liquid aerosol source will be referred to as “cartridge”, and a container that contains a solid aerosol source will be referred to as “capsule”.
  • Both the cartridge and the capsule are consumables. Therefore, each of the cartridge and the capsule has its own estimated life for replacement. The estimated life for replacement varies depending on the difference between heating modes to be described later.
  • the aerosol generation device taken as the subject of the first embodiment includes a heater configured to generate an aerosol by heating a liquid aerosol source and a heater configured to generate an aerosol by heating a solid aerosol source.
  • the liquid aerosol source is an example of a first aerosol source.
  • the solid aerosol source is an example of a second aerosol source.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of appearance of an aerosol generation device 10 taken as the subject of the first embodiment.
  • the appearance example illustrated in FIG. 1 can be obtained by observing the front of the aerosol generation device 10 obliquely from above.
  • the aerosol generation device 10 taken as the subject of the first embodiment has a size that is small enough for the user to hold it with one hand.
  • the aerosol generation device 10 has a width of approximately 32 mm, a height of approximately 60 mm, and a depth of approximately 23 mm.
  • the size described here is just an example. The width, height, and depth differ depending also on the design of the aerosol generation device 10 .
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the aerosol generation device 10 that is in a state in which a capsule holder 12 is attached to a device body 11 .
  • the capsule holder 12 can be detachably attached to the device body 11 .
  • a display 11 A and an operation button 11 B are disposed on the top surface of the device body 11 .
  • a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display is used as the display 11 A.
  • the operation button 11 B is used for, for example, turning power ON or OFF, confirming the remaining amount of the solid aerosol source, confirming the remaining amount of the battery, and for other operations.
  • the display 11 A is an example of a display unit.
  • the operation button 11 B is an example of an operation unit.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining how the aerosol sources, etc. taken as the subject of the first embodiment are attached to the device body 11 .
  • An opening that is not illustrated is provided in the top of the device body 11 .
  • the opening mentioned here constitutes an end portion of a non-illustrated tubular body provided inside the device body 11 .
  • a cartridge 20 is inserted into the opening of the device body 11 , followed by attachment of the capsule holder 12 thereto.
  • the user rotates the capsule holder 12 in relation to the opening by, for example, 120°.
  • the capsule holder 12 attached to the device body 11 functions as a stopper that prevents the cartridge 20 inserted in the device body 11 from slipping out.
  • the capsule holder 12 also has an opening. This opening constitutes an end portion of a non-illustrated tubular body provided inside the capsule holder 12 .
  • a capsule 30 is attached to this opening. The capsule 30 is attachable by being pushed into the opening of the capsule holder 12 and is detachable by being pulled out of the opening of the capsule holder 12 .
  • the cartridge 20 is attached via the opening provided in the top surface of the device body 11 in the present embodiment, a structure for attachment from below the bottom surface of the device body 11 may be adopted.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the internal structure of the aerosol generation device 10 taken as the subject of the first embodiment. It should be noted that, however, the internal structure mentioned here includes the cartridge 20 (see FIG. 2 ) and the capsule 30 (see FIG. 2 ) that are attached to the device body 11 .
  • FIG. 3 The illustration of the internal structure in FIG. 3 is intended to explain parts that are provided inside the device body 11 and explain a positional relationship among them. For this reason, the appearance of the parts, etc. illustrated in FIG. 3 , does not necessarily agree with that of the external view described above.
  • the aerosol generation device 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a power supply unit 111 L, a sensor unit 112 L, a notification unit 113 L, a storage unit 114 L, a communication unit 115 L, a control unit 116 L, a liquid guiding unit 122 L, a liquid reservoir unit 123 L, a heating unit 121 L- 1 , a heating unit 121 L- 2 , a holding unit 140 L, and a heat insulating unit 144 L.
  • An airflow path 180 L is formed inside the device body 11 .
  • the airflow path 180 L serves as a passage through which an aerosol generated from a liquid aerosol source stored in the liquid reservoir unit 123 L is conveyed to a capsule-type container 130 L filled with a solid aerosol source.
  • the liquid reservoir unit 123 L corresponds to the cartridge 20 described earlier.
  • the capsule-type container 130 L corresponds to the capsule 30 described earlier.
  • inhalation is done by the user, with the capsule-type container 130 L attached to the holding unit 140 L.
  • the holding unit 140 L corresponds to the capsule holder 12 (see FIG. 2 ) described earlier and to the tubular body of the device body 11 to which the capsule holder 12 is attached.
  • the power supply unit 111 L is a device that stores power.
  • the power supply unit 111 L supplies power to components that make up the device body 11 .
  • a rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery is used as the power supply unit 111 L.
  • the power supply unit 111 L is a rechargeable battery
  • charging can be performed repeatedly from an external power supply connected via a cable such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable.
  • a cable such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable.
  • the power supply unit 111 L can be charged in a state of not being in contact with an external device that is on the power-transmitter side.
  • the power supply unit 111 L When the power supply unit 111 L is detachable from the device body 11 , the power supply unit 111 L having been used up can be replaced with a new power supply unit 111 L.
  • the sensor unit 112 L is a device that detects information regarding each component of the device body 11 .
  • the sensor unit 112 L outputs the detected information to the control unit 116 L.
  • Examples of the sensor unit 112 L provided in the device body 11 are a pressure sensor such as a condenser microphone, a flow sensor, and a temperature sensor.
  • the sensor unit 112 L of this type is used for, for example, detecting inhalation by the user.
  • the sensor unit 112 L provided in the device body 11 is, for example, an input device configured to receive user operations on buttons, switches, and the like.
  • the buttons mentioned here include the operation button 11 B (see FIG. 1 ) described earlier.
  • the sensor unit 112 L of this type is used for, for example, receiving user operations.
  • the sensor unit 112 L provided in the device body 11 is a voltmeter configured to measure a voltage between two terminals of a battery.
  • the battery mentioned here is an example of the power supply unit 111 L.
  • the voltmeter is used for calculating the remaining amount of the battery and the charging amount thereof.
  • the notification unit 113 L is a device configured to notify the user of information.
  • the notification unit 113 L provided in the device body 11 is, for example, a light-emitting device such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode).
  • the emission of the light-emitting device is controlled in a pattern that is in accordance with the content of the information to be notified.
  • the emission of the light-emitting device is controlled such that the pattern for a case where the user is notified of the need for charging the power supply unit 111 L, the pattern for a case where the user is notified that the power supply unit 111 L is now being charged, and the pattern for notification of abnormality occurrence are different from one another.
  • “Different emission pattern” is a concept that encompasses a color difference, a timing difference between ON and OFF, a difference in the degree of brightness during ON, and the like.
  • notification unit 113 L provided in the device body 11 include a display device configured to display an image, a sound output device configured to output sound, and a vibration device configured to vibrate. These devices may each be used alone or in combination, and may be used together with or in place of the light-emitting device mentioned above.
  • An example of the display device mentioned here is the display 11 A (see FIG. 1 ).
  • the storage unit 114 L stores various kinds of information regarding the operation of the device body 11 .
  • the storage unit 114 L is made of, for example, a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash memory.
  • the information stored in the storage unit 114 L includes, for example, programs to be run by the control unit 116 L.
  • the programs include application programs, besides OS (Operating System) and firmware.
  • the information stored in the storage unit 114 L includes information needed for controlling each component by the control unit 116 L.
  • the information mentioned here includes information of each component detected by the sensor unit 112 L described above.
  • the information mentioned here includes information regarding the heating mode that is currently being executed, information regarding the remaining amount of the solid aerosol source, and information regarding the remaining amount of the battery and the charging amount thereof.
  • the information regarding the remaining amount of the solid aerosol source includes, besides the remaining amount itself, information for calculating the remaining amount, for example, the number of times of inhalation, the cumulative time of inhalation, and the like.
  • the communication unit 115 L is a communication interface used for transmitting information to, and receiving information from, another device.
  • the communication interface conforms to a wired or wireless communication standard.
  • Examples of the communication standard include wireless LAN (Local Area Network), wired LAN, mobile communication systems such as 4G and 5G, and the like. In the present embodiment, Wi-Fi® or Bluetooth® is used.
  • the communication unit 115 L is used for, for example, causing a smartphone, a tablet-type terminal, or the like to display information regarding the inhalation by the user.
  • the communication unit 115 L is used for, for example, receiving update data of the programs stored in the storage unit 114 L from a server.
  • the control unit 116 L functions as an arithmetic processor and a controller and controls the operation of each of the components that make up the device body 11 by running the programs.
  • Electronic circuitry such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a microprocessor is provided in the control unit 116 L.
  • a CPU Central Processing Unit
  • a microprocessor is provided in the control unit 116 L.
  • ROM Read Only Memory
  • RAM Random Access Memory
  • the control unit 116 L controls, for example, the supply of power from the power supply unit 111 L to each component, the charging of the power supply unit 111 L, the detection of information by the sensor unit 112 L, the notification of information by the notification unit 113 L, the storing and readout of information by the storage unit 114 L, and the transmission and reception of information by the communication unit 115 L.
  • control unit 116 L performs processing for receiving information through user operations, processing based on information outputted from each component, and the like.
  • the control unit 116 L performs control to, among others, display a screen on the display 11 A.
  • the liquid reservoir unit 123 L is a container in which a liquid aerosol source is stored.
  • a liquid such as, for example, polyhydric alcohol such as glycerin and propylene glycol, and water or the like, is used as the liquid aerosol source.
  • the liquid aerosol source may contain tobacco ingredients that give off flavor components by being heated or extracts derived from such tobacco ingredients.
  • the liquid aerosol source may contain nicotine components.
  • the liquid guiding unit 122 L is a part that guides the liquid aerosol source stored in the liquid reservoir unit 123 L from the liquid reservoir unit 123 L and holds it.
  • the liquid guiding unit 122 L has, for example, a twisted structure of a fiber material such as a glass fiber or a porous material such as a porous ceramic.
  • the part of this kind is also called “wick”.
  • Both ends of the liquid guiding unit 122 L are connected to the inside of the liquid reservoir unit 123 L. Therefore, the aerosol source stored in the liquid reservoir unit 123 L spreads throughout the liquid guiding unit 122 L by capillary action.
  • the heating unit 121 L- 1 is a part that generates an aerosol by applying heat to the aerosol source held by the liquid guiding unit 122 L and thus atomizing it.
  • the shape of the heating unit 121 L- 1 is not limited to a coil shape illustrated in FIG. 3 ; it may have any other shape such as a film shape or a blade shape.
  • the shape of the heating unit 121 L- 1 differs depending on the method of heating and the like.
  • the heating unit 121 L- 1 is made of any material such as metal or polyimide.
  • the heating unit 121 L- 1 is disposed in proximity to the liquid guiding unit 122 L.
  • the heating unit 121 L- 1 is a coil made of metal and wound around the outer circumferential surface of the liquid guiding unit 122 L.
  • the heating unit 121 L- 1 generates heat by receiving power supplied from the power supply unit 111 L, and heats the aerosol source held by the liquid guiding unit 122 L up to a vaporizing temperature.
  • the aerosol source the temperature of which has reached the vaporizing temperature is released into air from the liquid guiding unit 122 L in the form of gas but is atomized by being cooled by ambient air, thereby turning into an aerosol.
  • the supply of power to the heating unit 121 L- 1 configured to heat the liquid aerosol source is linked with the inhalation by the user. That is, power is supplied to the heating unit 121 L- 1 from the start of the inhalation by the user to the end of the inhalation and, upon the end of the inhalation by the user, the supply of the power to the heating unit 121 L- 1 is stopped.
  • the supply of power to the heating unit 121 L- 1 configured to heat the liquid aerosol source may be, for example, started when a particular button is pressed in a state in which no aerosol is generated and may be stopped when the/a particular button is pressed in a state in which an aerosol is generated.
  • the button for an aerosol generation start instruction and the button for an aerosol generation stop instruction may be physically the same button or may be different buttons.
  • the capsule-type container 130 L is a container filled with a solid aerosol source.
  • the solid aerosol source may contain a granular, sheet-shaped, or powdery processed material, etc. of shredded tobacco or tobacco ingredients configured to give off flavor components by being heated. That is, the solid aerosol source may contain a substance derived from tobacco.
  • the solid aerosol source may contain, for example, nicotine components.
  • the solid aerosol source may contain a non-tobacco-derived substance extracted from a plant other than tobacco (for example, mint, herb, or the like).
  • the solid aerosol source may contain a flavor component such as, for example, menthol.
  • the holding unit 140 L corresponds to, for example, the capsule holder 12 (see FIG. 2 ), and has an internal space 141 L into which the capsule-type container 130 L is attachable.
  • the holding unit 140 L has a tubular body with a bottom 143 L, and defines the pillar-shaped internal space 141 L.
  • a part of the capsule-type container 130 L is held by the holding unit 140 L, and the rest of it is exposed to the outside of the holding unit 140 L.
  • the portion, of the capsule-type container 130 L, exposed from the holding unit 140 L is used as a mouthpiece 124 L.
  • the mouthpiece 124 L is held in the mouth of the user who inhales the aerosol.
  • An entrance for air (i.e., air inlet hole) to the holding unit 140 L is provided in, for example, the bottom 143 L.
  • a hole through which air can flow in is formed in the bottom of the capsule-type container 130 L. Therefore, air having flowed in through the bottom 143 L passes through the inside of the capsule-type container 130 L to reach the mouthpiece 124 L. That is, the mouthpiece 124 L serves as an exit for the air (i.e., air outlet hole).
  • the bottom 143 L is in communication with an air outlet hole 182 L of the airflow path 180 L formed inside the device body 11 , incidentally.
  • the internal space 141 L of the holding unit 140 L is in communication with the airflow path 180 L through the air outlet hole 182 L.
  • the heating unit 121 L- 2 heats the solid aerosol source with which the capsule-type container 130 L is filled.
  • the heating unit 121 L- 2 is made of metal, polyimide, or the like.
  • the heating unit 121 L- 2 is provided at a position where it is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of a metal portion of the holding unit 140 L.
  • the heating unit 121 L- 2 generates heat by receiving power supplied from the power supply unit 111 L, and heats the outer circumferential surface of the capsule-type container 130 L that is in contact with the metal portion of the holding unit 140 L.
  • heat is applied first at the position near the outer circumferential surface of the capsule-type container 130 L, and the heated region thereafter spreads toward the center.
  • the aerosol source the temperature of which has reached the vaporizing temperature vaporizes. However, it is atomized by being cooled by ambient air, thereby turning into an aerosol.
  • the supply of power to the heating unit 121 L- 2 , and heating that results from the supply of the power, are controlled by the control unit 116 L.
  • the heat insulating unit 144 L is a member configured to prevent the propagation of heat from the heating unit 121 L- 2 to the other structural elements of the device body 11 .
  • the heat insulating unit 144 L covers at least the outer circumferential surface of the heating unit 121 L- 2 .
  • the heat insulating unit 144 L is made of, for example, a vacuum heat insulator or an aerogel heat insulator.
  • the vacuum heat insulator refers to a heat insulator whose heat conduction by gas is brought as close to zero as possible by wrapping glass wool, silica (silicon powder), or the like with a resin-made film and thus producing a high-vacuum state.
  • the airflow path 180 L is an air passage provided inside the device body 11 .
  • the airflow path 180 L has a tubular structure that includes an air inlet hole 181 L as its one end, which is the entrance for air into the airflow path 180 L, and the air outlet hole 182 L as its opposite end, which is the exit for the air out of the airflow path 180 L.
  • the liquid guiding unit 122 L is disposed on the airflow path 180 L at a position between its ends.
  • the liquid-derived aerosol generated due to heating by the heating unit 121 L- 1 is mixed with air that has flowed in through the air inlet hole 181 L.
  • the mixture of the liquid-derived aerosol and the air flows through the inside of the capsule-type container 130 L to be outputted from the mouthpiece 124 L into the oral cavity of the user.
  • This flow path is indicated by an arrow 190 L in FIG. 3 .
  • the concentration of the solid-derived aerosol rises when the heating control of the heating unit 121 L- 2 is combined therewith.
  • a heating mode without combination with the heating control of the heating unit 121 L- 2 is also available.
  • the liquid-derived aerosol heats the solid aerosol source in the process of flowing through the inside of the capsule-type container 130 L, thereby generating the solid-derived aerosol.
  • the amount of the solid-derived aerosol generated due to heating by the liquid-derived aerosol is smaller than in a case where the heating control of the heating unit 121 L- 2 is combined therewith.
  • the first one of these heating modes is a first mode, which uses only the heating unit 121 L- 1 configured to heat the aerosol source stored in the cartridge 20 (see FIG. 2 ). That is, this is a heating mode in which the cartridge 20 only is heated.
  • This heating mode will be hereinafter referred to as “normal mode”.
  • the heating unit 121 L- 2 configured to heat the solid aerosol source is always controlled to be OFF.
  • the second one of these heating modes is a second mode, which uses both the heating unit 121 L- 1 configured to heat the aerosol source stored in the cartridge 20 and the heating unit 121 L- 2 configured to heat the aerosol source with which the capsule 30 (see FIG. 2 ) is filled. That is, this is a heating mode in which both the cartridge 20 and the capsule 30 are heated.
  • This heating mode will be hereinafter referred to as “high mode”.
  • the heating of the cartridge 20 by the heating unit 121 L- 1 and the heating of the capsule 30 by the heating unit 121 L- 2 are performed alternately.
  • the switching between the heating modes is performed by, for example, holding the operation button 11 B (see FIG. 1 ) down for two seconds or longer.
  • the heating mode is switched to the normal mode if the operation button 11 B is held down for two seconds or longer during the high mode.
  • the heating mode is switched to the high mode if the operation button 11 B is held down for two seconds or longer during the normal mode.
  • the heating of the cartridge 20 by the heating unit 121 L- 1 takes precedence over the heating of the capsule 30 by the heating unit 121 L- 2 .
  • the heating by the heating unit 121 L- 2 is stopped by the control. Moreover, if an event of starting the heating of the cartridge 20 occurs during the heating of the capsule 30 by the heating unit 121 L- 2 , the heating by the heating unit 121 L- 2 is stopped by the control.
  • control for avoiding concurrent execution of the heating by the heating unit 121 L- 1 and the heating by the heating unit 121 L- 2 is performed so as not to exceed the upper limit of an output current of the battery used as the power supply unit 111 L.
  • the period of the heating by the heating unit 121 L- 1 and the period of the heating by the heating unit 121 L- 2 are separated from each other.
  • FIGS. 4 A and 4 B are diagrams for explaining the normal mode and the high mode, wherein FIG. 4 A is a diagram for explaining an example of the timing of heating in the normal mode, and FIG. 4 B is a diagram for explaining an example of the timing of heating in the high mode.
  • FIG. 4 A illustrates the timing of the heating of the cartridge 20 in the normal mode.
  • (A 2 ) in FIG. 4 A illustrates the timing of the heating of the capsule 30 in the normal mode.
  • the horizontal axis in (A 1 ) and (A 2 ) in FIG. 4 A represents time, and the vertical axis represents whether heat is applied or not.
  • Power is supplied to the corresponding heating unit during a period in which heat is applied. Power is not supplied to the corresponding heating unit during a period in which heat is not applied.
  • the heating control in the normal mode is initiated by releasing a locked state.
  • the locked state is a state in which the control by the control unit 116 L is stopped. For this reason, no aerosol is generated even when the user holding the mouthpiece 124 L (see FIG. 3 ) in the mouth does inhalation.
  • the locked state is released when, for example, the operation button 11 B (see FIG. 1 ) is pressed down three times successively within two seconds. All of the number of times of press-down operation, the button that is operated, and the time taken for the operation are just examples.
  • the cartridge 20 is heated for one second when inhalation for one second is detected, and the cartridge 20 is heated for two seconds when inhalation for two seconds is detected.
  • control unit 116 L upon a lapse of preset time since the last detection of inhalation, the control unit 116 L goes into a locked state.
  • the preset time is six minutes (i.e., 360 seconds). This time is just an example. The lapse of six minutes since the last inhalation connotes that there is a high probability of cessation of the inhalation of an aerosol by the user.
  • a transition to a locked state is executed for the purpose of reducing power consumed in the device body 11 (see FIG. 2 ).
  • a transition to the locked state is executed also when the user gives an instruction for the transition to the locked state.
  • a manual transition to the locked state by the user is executed when, for example, before the lapse of six minutes since the last inhalation, the operation button 11 B (see FIG. 1 ) is pressed down three times successively within two seconds. All of the number of times of press-down operation, the button that is operated, and the time taken for the operation are just examples.
  • FIG. 4 B illustrates the timing of the heating of the cartridge 20 in the high mode.
  • (B 2 ) in FIG. 4 B illustrates the timing of the heating of the capsule 30 in the high mode.
  • the horizontal axis in (B 1 ) and (B 2 ) in FIG. 4 B represents time, and the vertical axis represents whether heat is applied or not.
  • Power is supplied to the corresponding heating unit during a period in which heat is applied. Power is not supplied to the corresponding heating unit during a period in which heat is not applied.
  • the heating control in the high mode is initiated by releasing the locked state or by switching from the normal mode to the high mode.
  • the heating of the capsule 30 starts. Basically, this heating continues until inhalation is detected, and the heating of the capsule 30 is stopped while the inhalation is detected.
  • the initial temperature of the capsule 30 is, for example, the temperature of an environment in which the aerosol generation device 10 is used, for example, a room temperature.
  • the sensor unit 112 L configured to detect inhalation is up and running although the heating of the capsule 30 is stopped. Therefore, upon detection of inhalation by the user in the sleep state, as illustrated in (B 1 ) in FIG. 4 B , the heating of the cartridge 20 is executed. Upon completion of the heating of the cartridge 20 , as illustrated in (B 2 ) in FIG. 4 B , the heating of the capsule 30 starts.
  • the user is not notified of the transition to the sleep state; however, the user may be notified of it.
  • a transition to the locked state described earlier occurs upon a lapse of five minutes and thirty seconds in the sleep state.
  • FIGS. 5 A to 5 C are diagrams for explaining a capsule replacement screen 200 displayed on the display 11 A in the first embodiment.
  • the capsule replacement screen 200 is a screen that represents an operation needed regarding the replacement of the capsule 30 , and is displayed when a remaining amount of the solid aerosol source inside the capsule 30 has run out.
  • the capsule replacement screen 200 is displayed while blinking for no longer than, for example, 40 seconds until the operation button 11 B (see FIG. 1 ) is pressed down.
  • a capsule replacement icon 201 is an icon representing that the capsule 30 should be replaced.
  • the long-press icon 202 is an icon representing that an operation of holding the operation button 11 B down, that is, an operation of keeping it pressed down for a predetermined time, should be performed.
  • the operation of holding the operation button 11 B down is performed for the purpose of giving an instruction for use preparation processing after the replacement of the capsule 30 .
  • the use preparation processing for the capsule 30 includes, for example, processing of resetting the number of times of puff that was counted regarding the before-replacement capsule 30 .
  • the arrow icon 203 is an icon representing an order that the operation button 11 B should be held down after the replacement of the capsule 30 .
  • the capsule replacement icon 201 is an example of a second display element.
  • the long-press icon 202 is an example of a first display element.
  • the long-press icon 202 illustrated in FIGS. 5 A to 5 C changes in accordance with the time for which the long press continues. Specifically, the long-press icon 202 includes a character string representing remaining time for which the operation button 11 B should be held down.
  • the long-press icon 202 includes a character string “PUSH” and a character string “2 SEC”.
  • the capsule replacement screen 200 represents that the remaining time for which the operation button 11 B should be held down is two seconds.
  • the capsule replacement screen 200 Viewing the capsule replacement screen 200 , the user keeps the operation button 11 B pressed down, and, upon a lapse of one second, as illustrated in FIG. 5 B , the character string “2 SEC” of the long-press icon 202 changes into a character string “1 SEC”. Therefore, it follows that the capsule replacement screen 200 represents that the remaining time for which the operation button 11 B should be held down is one second.
  • the user further keeps the operation button 11 B pressed down, and, upon a lapse of another one second, as illustrated in FIG. 5 C , the character string “1 SEC” of the long-press icon 202 changes into a character string “0 SEC”. Therefore, it follows that the capsule replacement screen 200 represents that the remaining time for which the operation button 11 B should be held down is zero second, meaning that the originally-notified time for which the operation button 11 B should be held down has elapsed.
  • the length of the time for which the long-press icon 202 should be held down is two seconds
  • the time interval of switching of the character string in the long-press icon 202 is one second
  • the number of times of the switching of the long-press icon 202 is twice; therefore, these time and number of times will be used also in the description below.
  • the time and the number of times may be any time having been determined in advance and any number of times having been determined in advance.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts for explaining display control of the display 11 A of the aerosol generation device 10 according to the first embodiment.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 The processing illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is implemented through running programs.
  • the programs mentioned here are stored in the storage unit 114 L (see FIG. 3 ) and are run by the control unit 116 L (see FIG. 3 ).
  • FIG. 6 illustrates display control of the display 11 A of the aerosol generation device 10 when a notification to the effect that the replacement of the capsule 30 is needed is made.
  • the control unit 116 L acquires the remaining amount of the capsule 30 (step 301 ).
  • the remaining amount of the capsule 30 a value calculated on the basis of the number of times of inhalation, the cumulative time of inhalation, and the like is stored in the storage unit 114 L; therefore, the control unit 116 L acquires this value.
  • control unit 116 L determines whether the content of the capsule 30 is left or not (step 302 ).
  • control unit 116 L obtains an affirmative result in step 302 .
  • control unit 116 L obtains a negative result in step 302 .
  • the control unit 116 L repeats the processing in step 301 and the determination in step 302 while affirmative results are obtained in step 302 .
  • control unit 116 L sets the capsule replacement icon 201 representing that the capsule 30 should be replaced on screen data prepared in the RAM (step 303 ).
  • control unit 116 L sets the capsule replacement icon 201 including a character string “CHANGE” and a mark of the capsule 30 .
  • control unit 116 L sets the arrow icon 203 on the screen data prepared in the RAM (step 304 ).
  • control unit 116 L sets the long-press icon 202 representing that the remaining time for which the long press should be performed is two seconds on the screen data prepared in the RAM (step 305 ).
  • control unit 116 L sets the long-press icon 202 including a character string “PUSH” and a character string “2 SEC”.
  • the control unit 116 L causes the display 11 A to display the capsule replacement screen 200 obtained by setting the capsule replacement icon 201 , the arrow icon 203 , and the long-press icon 202 on the screen data in steps 303 to 305 (step 306 ).
  • the control unit 116 L outputs data of the capsule replacement screen 200 to the notification unit 113 L, and the notification unit 113 L outputs this data to the display 11 A; by this means, the capsule replacement screen 200 is displayed on the display 11 A.
  • the capsule replacement screen 200 When the capsule replacement screen 200 is displayed on the display 11 A in this way, the user recognizes that the replacement of the capsule 30 is needed, and does a task of the replacement of the capsule 30 .
  • the capsule replacement icon 201 the arrow icon 203 , and the long-press icon 202 are set in this order in the description above, the order of setting these icons may be changed.
  • the capsule replacement icon 201 , the arrow icon 203 , and the long-press icon 202 are set as display elements distinct from one another in the description above, they do not necessarily have to be set as display elements distinct from one another.
  • the capsule replacement icon 201 , the arrow icon 203 , and the long-press icon 202 may be set as a single integrated display element.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates display control of the display 11 A of the aerosol generation device 10 after completion of the replacement of the capsule 30 .
  • control unit 116 L determines whether or not an operation of pressing the operation button 11 B (see FIG. 1 ) down is detected (step 321 ).
  • control unit 116 L obtains an affirmative result in step 321 when the sensor unit 112 L (see FIG. 3 ) detects an operation of pressing the operation button 11 B down.
  • control unit 116 L obtains a negative result in step 321 when the sensor unit 112 L does not detect an operation of pressing the operation button 11 B down.
  • the control unit 116 L repeats the determination in step 321 while negative results are obtained in step 321 .
  • control unit 116 L Upon obtaining the affirmative result in step 321 , the control unit 116 L starts a timer (step 322 ).
  • control unit 116 L determines whether or not the operation button 11 B is released (step 323 ).
  • control unit 116 L obtains an affirmative result in step 323 when the sensor unit 112 L detects an operation of releasing the operation of pressing the operation button 11 B down.
  • control unit 116 L obtains a negative result in step 323 when the sensor unit 112 L does not detect an operation of releasing the operation of pressing the operation button 11 B down.
  • control unit 116 L Upon obtaining the affirmative result in step 323 , the control unit 116 L stops the timer (step 324 ). Then, the control unit 116 L returns the process to step 321 .
  • control unit 116 L determines whether or not one second has elapsed according to the timer (step 325 ).
  • control unit 116 L obtains an affirmative result in step 325 when a lapse of one second since the start of the timer in step 322 is detected.
  • control unit 116 L obtains a negative result in step 325 when a lapse of one second since the start of the timer in step 322 is not detected.
  • control unit 116 L Upon obtaining the negative result in step 325 , the control unit 116 L returns the process to step 323 .
  • control unit 116 L sets the long-press icon 202 representing that the remaining time for which the long press should be performed is one second on the screen data prepared in the RAM (step 326 ).
  • control unit 116 L sets the long-press icon 202 including a character string “PUSH” and a character string “1 SEC”. It is assumed that, at this time, the capsule replacement icon 201 and the arrow icon 203 that were set in steps 303 and 304 of FIG. 6 remain set on the screen data prepared in the RAM.
  • control unit 116 L causes the display 11 A to display the capsule replacement screen 200 changed by setting the long-press icon 202 on the screen data in step 326 (step 327 ).
  • control unit 116 L outputs data of the capsule replacement screen 200 to the notification unit 113 L, and the notification unit 113 L outputs this data to the display 11 A; by this means, the capsule replacement screen 200 is displayed on the display 11 A.
  • control unit 116 L determines whether or not the operation of pressing the operation button 11 B down is released (step 328 ).
  • control unit 116 L obtains an affirmative result in step 328 when the sensor unit 112 L detects an operation of releasing the operation of pressing the operation button 11 B down.
  • control unit 116 L obtains a negative result in step 328 when the sensor unit 112 L does not detect an operation of releasing the operation of pressing the operation button 11 B down.
  • step 328 Upon obtaining the affirmative result in step 328 , the control unit 116 L stops the timer (step 329 ).
  • control unit 116 L sets the long-press icon 202 representing that the remaining time for which the long press should be performed is two seconds on the screen data prepared in the RAM (step 330 ). That is, the long-press icon 202 is returned to its default state.
  • control unit 116 L sets the long-press icon 202 including a character string “PUSH” and a character string “2 SEC”. It is assumed that, at this time, the capsule replacement icon 201 and the arrow icon 203 that were set in steps 303 and 304 of FIG. 6 remain set on the screen data prepared in the RAM.
  • control unit 116 L causes the display 11 A to display the capsule replacement screen 200 returned to its default state by setting the long-press icon 202 on the screen data in step 330 (step 331 ).
  • control unit 116 L outputs data of the capsule replacement screen 200 to the notification unit 113 L, and the notification unit 113 L outputs this data to the display 11 A; by this means, the capsule replacement screen 200 is displayed on the display 11 A.
  • control unit 116 L returns the process to step 321 .
  • control unit 116 L determines whether or not two seconds have elapsed according to the timer (step 332 ).
  • control unit 116 L obtains an affirmative result in step 332 when a lapse of another one second since the detection of the lapse of one second according to the timer in step 325 is detected.
  • control unit 116 L obtains a negative result in step 332 when a lapse of another one second since the detection of the lapse of one second according to the timer in step 325 is not detected.
  • control unit 116 L Upon obtaining the negative result in step 332 , the control unit 116 L returns the process to step 328 .
  • control unit 116 L Upon obtaining the affirmative result in step 332 , the control unit 116 L sets the long-press icon 202 representing that the remaining time for which the long press should be performed is zero second on the screen data prepared in the RAM (step 333 ).
  • control unit 116 L sets the long-press icon 202 including a character string “PUSH” and a character string “0 SEC”. It is assumed that, at this time, the capsule replacement icon 201 and the arrow icon 203 that were set in steps 303 and 304 of FIG. 6 remain set on the screen data prepared in the RAM.
  • control unit 116 L causes the display 11 A to display the capsule replacement screen 200 changed by setting the long-press icon 202 on the screen data in step 333 (step 334 ).
  • control unit 116 L outputs data of the capsule replacement screen 200 to the notification unit 113 L, and the notification unit 113 L outputs this data to the display 11 A; by this means, the capsule replacement screen 200 is displayed on the display 11 A.
  • the capsule replacement screen 200 When the capsule replacement screen 200 is displayed on the display 11 A in this way, the user recognizes that the time for which the long press should be continued has ended because, on the capsule replacement screen 200 , the long-press icon 202 represents that the remaining time for which the long press should be performed is zero second.
  • control unit 116 L performs use preparation processing for the capsule 30 (step 335 ). For example, the control unit 116 L performs processing of resetting the number of times of puff that was counted regarding the before-replacement capsule 30 .
  • the control unit 116 L may delete the capsule replacement screen 200 from the display 11 A upon completion of the use preparation processing for the capsule 30 .
  • the long-press icon 202 representing that an operation of holding the operation button 11 B down should be performed after doing a task of the replacement of the capsule 30 is displayed, and, when an operation of holding the operation button 11 B down is performed by the user, the long-press icon 202 is displayed while being changed in accordance with the time for which the long-press operation continues. This enables the user to recognize the remaining time for which the operation button 11 B should be held down when the user performs the operation of holding the operation button 11 B down.
  • the sensor unit 112 L provided in the device body 11 includes a liquid amount sensor that detects the remaining amount of the liquid aerosol source inside the cartridge 20 .
  • a sensor that detects a liquid amount optically such as, for example, a sensor that detects a liquid-surface position based on reflected light coming from a liquid surface, may be preferably used.
  • the storage unit 114 L provided in the device body 11 stores information regarding the remaining amount of the liquid aerosol source inside the cartridge 20 , too, as the information detected by the sensor unit 112 L.
  • FIGS. 8 A to 8 C are diagrams for explaining a cartridge replacement screen 400 displayed on the display 11 A in a second embodiment.
  • the cartridge replacement screen 400 is a screen that represents an operation needed regarding the replacement of the cartridge 20 , and is displayed when the liquid aerosol source inside the cartridge 20 has run out.
  • the cartridge replacement screen 400 is displayed while blinking for no longer than, for example, 40 seconds until the operation button 11 B (see FIG. 1 ) is pressed down.
  • the cartridge replacement icon 401 is an icon representing that the cartridge 20 should be replaced.
  • the long-press icon 402 is an icon representing that an operation of holding the operation button 11 B down, that is, an operation of keeping it pressed down for a predetermined time, should be performed. The operation of holding the operation button 11 B down is performed for the purpose of giving an instruction for use preparation processing after the replacement of the cartridge 20 .
  • the arrow icon 403 is an icon representing an order that the operation button 11 B should be held down after the replacement of the cartridge 20 .
  • the cartridge replacement icon 401 is an example of a second display element.
  • the long-press icon 402 is an example of a first display element.
  • the long-press icon 402 illustrated in FIGS. 8 A to 8 C changes in accordance with the time for which the long press continues. Specifically, the long-press icon 402 includes a character string representing remaining time for which the operation button 11 B should be held down.
  • the long-press icon 402 includes a character string “PUSH” and a character string “2 SEC”.
  • the cartridge replacement screen 400 represents that the remaining time for which the operation button 11 B should be held down is two seconds.
  • the user keeps the operation button 11 B pressed down, and, upon a lapse of one second, as illustrated in FIG. 8 B , the character string “2 SEC” of the long-press icon 402 changes into a character string “1 SEC”. Therefore, it follows that the cartridge replacement screen 400 represents that the remaining time for which the operation button 11 B should be held down is one second.
  • the user further keeps the operation button 11 B pressed down, and, upon a lapse of another one second, as illustrated in FIG. 8 C, the character string “1 SEC” of the long-press icon 402 changes into a character string “0 SEC”. Therefore, it follows that the cartridge replacement screen 400 represents that the remaining time for which the operation button 11 B should be held down is zero second, meaning that the originally-notified time for which the operation button 11 B should be held down has elapsed.
  • the length of the time for which the long-press icon 402 should be held down is two seconds
  • the time interval of switching of the character string in the long-press icon 402 is one second
  • the number of times of the switching of the long-press icon 402 is twice; therefore, these time and number of times will be used also in the description below.
  • the time and the number of times may be any time having been determined in advance and any number of times having been determined in advance.
  • Display control of the display 11 A of the aerosol generation device 10 in the second embodiment is the same as that of FIGS. 6 and 7 except that processing regarding the capsule 30 in the flowchart therein is replaced with processing regarding the cartridge 20 .
  • the long-press icon 402 representing that an operation of holding the operation button 11 B down should be performed after doing a task of the replacement of the cartridge 20 is displayed, and, when an operation of holding the operation button 11 B down is performed by the user, the long-press icon 402 is displayed while being changed in accordance with the time for which the long-press operation continues. This enables the user to recognize the remaining time for which the operation button 11 B should be held down when the user performs the operation of holding the operation button 11 B down.
  • an aerosol is generated by heating a liquid aerosol source by using the heating unit 121 L- 1 ; however, the aerosol may be generated by vibrating the liquid aerosol source by using a vibrator.
  • the heating unit 121 L- 1 may be configured as a susceptor made of a conductive material such as metal, and an aerosol may be generated by induction heating of the susceptor by using an electromagnetic induction source.
  • the aerosol generation device 10 (see FIG. 1 ) is an electronic cigarette has been described in the foregoing embodiments, it may be a medical inhaler such as a nebulizer.
  • the aerosol generation device 10 is a nebulizer
  • the liquid aerosol source and/or the solid aerosol source may contain medicine to be inhaled by a patient.
  • the present disclosure can be applied to any kind of device as long as the device includes an operation button that can be pressed down by a user and a display capable of displaying information regarding the device.
  • the present disclosure can be applied to a device that displays, on a display, a need to do a predetermined task so as to obviate a predetermined cause when the predetermined cause has occurred.
  • the predetermined cause may be that the remaining amount of a consumable used in the device reaches a threshold or less.
  • the predetermined task may be the replacement of the consumable.
  • the capsule 30 according to the first embodiment and the cartridge 20 according to the second embodiment are examples of the consumable.
  • the predetermined cause may be a breakdown of a component of the device.
  • the predetermined task may be the replacement of the component.
  • the device is an example an information display device.

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