US20250089807A1 - Flavor inhaler or aerosol generation device, and operation method and program for same - Google Patents

Flavor inhaler or aerosol generation device, and operation method and program for same Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20250089807A1
US20250089807A1 US18/967,916 US202418967916A US2025089807A1 US 20250089807 A1 US20250089807 A1 US 20250089807A1 US 202418967916 A US202418967916 A US 202418967916A US 2025089807 A1 US2025089807 A1 US 2025089807A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
remaining
power supply
heater
controller
battery
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
US18/967,916
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Tatsunari AOYAMA
Toru NAGAHAMA
Junji Minato
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Japan Tobacco Inc
Original Assignee
Japan Tobacco Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Japan Tobacco Inc filed Critical Japan Tobacco Inc
Assigned to JAPAN TOBACCO INC. reassignment JAPAN TOBACCO INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: AOYAMA, Tatsunari, MINATO, JUNJI, NAGAHAMA, TORU
Publication of US20250089807A1 publication Critical patent/US20250089807A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—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
    • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A24F40/57—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
    • A24F40/90—Arrangements or methods specially adapted for charging batteries thereof

Definitions

  • the present application relates to a flavor inhaler or an aerosol generation device (hereinafter, a “flavor inhaler or the like”).
  • a flavor inhaler is a device used for inhaling flavor
  • the flavor inhalers include a heating-type flavor inhaler (which generates flavor by applying heat) and a non-heating-type flavor inhaler (which generates flavor by performing ultrasonic atomization, for example).
  • the flavor inhalers include, specifically, an electronic cigarette, a heated tobacco product, and conventional tobacco.
  • an “aerosol generation device” is a device used for inhaling generated aerosol
  • the aerosol generation devices include a heating-type aerosol generation device (which generates aerosol by applying heat) and a non-heating-type aerosol generation device (which generates aerosol by performing ultrasonic atomization, for example).
  • the aerosol generation devices include, specifically, an electronic cigarette, a heated tobacco product, and a medical nebulizer.
  • the flavor inhalers are aerosol generation devices, and at least some of the aerosol generation devices are flavor inhalers.
  • a heating-type aerosol generation device or the like which does not perform any combustion process for example, an electronic cigarette, may be referred to as a RRP (Reduced-Risk Product).
  • flavor or the like which comprises a power supply such as a battery or the like and generates flavor and/or aerosol (hereinafter, “flavor or the like”) by applying heat generated by using electric power from the power supply
  • control for checking a remaining quantity of power in the power supply before performing heating and restricting heating if the remaining quantity of power in the power supply is insufficient is performed (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1). Further, control for removing such a restriction with respect to heating, in response to charging of the power supply, is performed.
  • a device that is a flavor inhaler or an aerosol generation device, and the device comprises: a heater configured to heat a flavor source and/or an aerosol source; a power supply for supplying electric power to the heater; and a controller configured to restrict heating performed by the heater, if a remaining quantity in the power supply is insufficient, and the controller is further configured to remove, if the heating performed by the heater is restricted, the restriction based on a predetermined condition having been satisfied after a start of charging of the power supply.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view which shows an external appearance of an aerosol generation device according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is an explanatory drawing which is used for explaining insertion of a tobacco stick into the aerosol generation device in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram which shows an example of a schematic circuit configuration in the aerosol generation device in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 4 is an explanatory drawing which is used for explaining an example of a temperature profile that may be realized in a single session.
  • FIG. 5 is an explanatory drawing which is used for explaining dropping of a power supply voltage along progress of plural sessions.
  • FIG. 6 is an explanatory drawing which is used for explaining an example of setting of different thresholds for plural temperature ranges.
  • FIG. 7 is a flow chart which shows an example of a schematic flow of a process performed by an aerosol generation device according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 8 is a flow chart which shows an example of a flow of a prechecking process according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 9 is a flow chart which shows an example of a flow of a start-of-session checking process according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is a flow chart which shows an example of a flow of a voltage measuring process according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view which shows an external appearance of a flavor inhaler or the like 10 according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is an explanatory drawing which is used for explaining insertion of a tobacco stick into the flavor inhaler or the like 10 shown in in FIG. 1 .
  • the flavor inhaler or the like 10 comprises a main body 101 , a front panel 102 , a display window 103 , and a slider 104 .
  • the main body 101 is a housing which supports, in the inside thereof, one or plural circuit boards of the flavor inhaler or the like 10 .
  • the main body 101 has an approximately rectangular-parallelepiped shape that is roundish and extends in an upward direction and a downward direction in the figure.
  • the size of the main body 101 may be a size that allows a user to grasp the main body 101 by a hand of the user, for example.
  • the front panel 102 is a flexible panel member which covers the front face of the main body 101 .
  • the front panel 102 may be detachable from the main body 101 .
  • the front panel 102 also functions as an input unit for accepting a user input.
  • a user input may be detected as a result that a center part of the front panel 102 is pushed by a user and a button (which is not shown in the figure) positioned between the main body 101 and the front panel 102 is pushed accordingly.
  • the display window 103 is a belt-shaped window which is positioned in an approximately center part on the front panel 102 and extends in a longitudinal direction.
  • the display window 103 makes the light emitted from one or plural LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) arranged between the main body 101 and the front panel 102 be transmitted through it.
  • the slider 104 is a cover member which is arranged in such a manner that it can slide in a direction 104 a on a top surface of the main body 101 .
  • an opening 106 on the top surface of the main body 101 is exposed when the slider 104 is slid toward a user's side in the figure (i.e., when the slider 104 is opened).
  • the user inserts a tobacco stick 15 into a tubular insertion hole 107 in a direction 106 a, through the opening 106 which is exposed by opening the slider 104 . That is, the insertion hole 107 has a role as an accepting unit for accepting the tobacco stick 15 .
  • a cross section perpendicular to a direction of an axis of the insertion hole 107 may have a circular, elliptical, or polygonal shape, for example; and the cross section area becomes smaller as the position of the cross section approaches closer to the bottom surface.
  • an outer surface of the tobacco stick 15 inserted into the insertion hole 107 is pressed by an inner surface of the insertion hole 107 , and, accordingly, falling of the tobacco stick 15 is prevented by frictional force, and transfer efficiency with respect to heat transfer to the tobacco stick 15 from a heater 130 , which will be explained later, is improved.
  • a user pulls the tobacco stick 15 out of the insertion hole 107 and closes the slider 104 .
  • the tobacco stick 15 is a tobacco article which holds, in the inside of cylindrical rolled paper, a filling material.
  • the filling material of the tobacco stick 15 may be a mixture of an aerosol forming base substance and shredded tobacco, for example.
  • a base substance including any kind of aerosol source, such as glycerin, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, or a mixture thereof, for example, may be used as the aerosol forming base substance.
  • the shredded tobacco is a so-called flavor source.
  • the material of the shredded tobacco may be laminae or stems.
  • a flavor source which is not originated from tobacco may be used instead of the shredded tobacco. That is, the tobacco stick 15 corresponds to a base substance comprising a flavor source or the like.
  • a base substance comprising either one of a flavor source and an aerosol source may be used.
  • the tobacco stick 15 comprises a flavor source or the like, wherein the quantity thereof is that allowing M times of actions for inhaling the flavor source or the like.
  • M may be any integer equal to or greater than 2.
  • M may be a number in a range of approximately 10-20 that is close to the number of times of inhalation actions performed for a single conventional cigarette.
  • the flavor inhaler or the like 10 is not limited to that explained above, and may be possible to accept an article (for example, a capsule, a cartridge, or a reservoir) which has a shape other than a stick shape.
  • the flavor source or the like included in the article may be solid or liquid.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram which shows an example of a schematic circuit configuration in the flavor inhaler or the like 10 .
  • the flavor inhaler or the like 10 comprises a controller 120 , a memory 121 , an input detector 122 , a state detector 123 , a suction detector 124 , a light emitter 125 , a vibration generator 126 , a communication interface (I/F) 127 , a connection I/F 128 , a heater 130 , a first switch 131 , a second switch 132 , a battery 140 , a boosting circuit 141 , a remaining quantity meter 142 , and a measuring circuit 150 .
  • I/F communication interface
  • the controller 120 may be a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a microcontroller, or the like.
  • the controller 120 controls functions of the flavor inhaler or the like 10 in general, by executing a computer program (this is also referred to as software or firmware) stored in the memory 121 .
  • the memory may be a semiconductor memory, for example.
  • the memory 121 stores one or plural computer programs and data (for example, plural kinds of thresholds for determinations) used in a temperature controlling function and a checking function that will be explained later.
  • the input detector 122 is a detection circuit for detecting a user input for manipulation of the flavor inhaler or the like 10 .
  • the input detector 122 detects pressing of the front panel 102 (pressing of a button) by a user, and outputs an input signal representing a detected state to the controller 120 .
  • the flavor inhaler or the like 10 may comprise, in place of (or in addition to) the front panel 102 , any kind of input device such as a button, a switch, or a touch sensitive plane, for example.
  • the state detector 123 is a detection circuit for detecting an open/close state of the slider 104 , wherein opening/closing of the slider is manipulation applied to the flavor inhaler or the like.
  • the state detector 123 may comprise a Hall IC which detects, by using a Hall element, change in a magnetic field due to opening/closing of the slider 104 .
  • the state detector 123 outputs a state detection signal that shows whether the slider 104 is being opened or closed, to the controller 120 .
  • the suction detector 124 is a detection circuit for detecting a suction action (a puff) applied to the tobacco stick 15 performed by a user.
  • the suction detector 124 may comprise a thermistor (which is not shown in the figure) arranged in a position close to the opening 106 .
  • the suction detector 124 may detect a suction action, based on change in a resistance value of the thermistor that occurs due to temperature change due to a suction action performed by a user.
  • the suction detector 124 may comprise a pressure sensor (which is not shown in the figure) arranged in a position on the bottom of the insertion hole 107 .
  • the suction detector 124 may detects a suction action, based on decrease in air pressure due to the flow of air caused by a suction action.
  • the suction detector 124 outputs a suction detection signal that shows whether or not a suction action is being performed, to the controller 120 .
  • the light emitter 125 comprises one or plural LEDs and a driver for driving the one or plural LEDs.
  • the light emitter 125 makes each LED emit light according to an instruction signal inputted from the controller 120 .
  • the vibration generator 126 comprises a vibrator (for example, an eccentric motor) and a driver for driving the vibrator.
  • the vibration generator 126 makes the vibrator vibrate according to an instruction signal inputted from the controller 120 .
  • the controller 120 may use, in an arbitrarily selected pattern, the light emitter 125 and/or the vibration generator 126 for notifying a user of a status (for example, a remaining quantity of power in the battery 120 that will be explained later) of the flavor inhaler or the like 10 .
  • the light emitter 125 and the vibration generator 126 may collectively be referred to as a notifier 160 .
  • the light emission patterns of the light emitter 120 may be distinguished based on factors such as light emission states of each LED (always-on light emission, blinking, no light emission), frequencies of blinking, the number of LEDs which emit light, colors of emitted light, and so on.
  • the vibration pattern of the vibration generator 126 may be distinguished based on factors such as vibration states of the vibrator (vibrating, not vibrating), the strength of vibration, the length of time of vibration, and so on.
  • the wireless I/F 127 is a communication interface for making the flavor inhaler or the like 10 possible to wirelessly communicate with the other device (for example, a PC (Personal computer) or a smart phone possessed by a user).
  • the wireless I/F 127 may be an interface which conforms to any wireless communication protocol, such as Bluetooth (a registered trademark), NFC (Near Field Communication), wireless LAN (Local Area Network), or the like, for example.
  • the connection I/F 128 is an interface which has a mechanism, such as a terminal, a coil, and so on, for connecting the flavor inhaler or the like 10 to the other device.
  • the connection I/F 128 may be a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, for example.
  • the connection I/F 128 may be used for charging the battery 140 from an external electric power supply (via a feeder line which is not shown in the figure, or in a wireless manner).
  • the heater 130 is a resistance heating part, i.e., a heater, for heating an aerosol source included in the aerosol forming base substance in the tobacco stick 15 to thereby generate aerosol.
  • a heater for heating an aerosol source included in the aerosol forming base substance in the tobacco stick 15 to thereby generate aerosol.
  • it is configured in such a manner that flavor is added to aerosol as a result that the generated aerosol passes through the flavor source included in the tobacco stick 15 .
  • a flavor source which generates flavor as a result that it is heated.
  • the resistance heating material of the heater 130 one or two or more of copper, nickel alloy, chromium alloy, stainless steel, and platinum-rhodium, for example, may be used.
  • the heater 130 is connected to a positive electrode of the battery 140 via the first switch 131 and the boosting circuit 141 , and the other end of the heater 130 is connected to a negative electrode of the battery 140 via the second switch 132 .
  • the first switch 131 is a switching element arranged on a feeder line between the heater 130 and the boosting circuit 141 .
  • the second switch 132 is a switching element arranged on a ground wire between the heating element 130 and the battery 140 .
  • Each of the first switch 131 and the second switch 132 may be an FET (Field Effect Transistor).
  • the controller 120 is able to turn on both the first switch 131 and the second switch 132 by outputting control signals that are pulse signals to the gates of the switches, to supply electric power that has a voltage amplified by the boosting circuit 141 , from the battery 140 to the heater 130 .
  • the battery 140 is an electric power supply for supplying electric power to the heater 130 and other components in the flavor inhaler or the like 10 .
  • feeder lines from the battery 140 to the components other than the heater 130 are omitted.
  • the battery 140 may be a lithium-ion battery, for example.
  • the battery 140 has a capacity that corresponds to a quantity of electric power required for completing N (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2) sessions (that is, an electric-power quantity that is sufficient for consuming flavor sources or the like included in N tobacco sticks 15 ).
  • N is an integer equal to or greater than 2
  • sessions that is, an electric-power quantity that is sufficient for consuming flavor sources or the like included in N tobacco sticks 15 .
  • the capacity of the battery 140 may be determined by taking a trade-off between the cost and the size into consideration, and N may be approximately 25, although this is a mere example.
  • the boosting circuit (a DC/DC converter) 141 is a voltage conversion circuit for amplifying the voltage of the battery 140 , for supplying electric power to the heater 130 .
  • the remaining quantity meter 142 is an IC chip for monitoring the remaining quantity of electric power and other statuses of the battery 140 .
  • the remaining quantity meter 142 derives the remaining quantity of electric power in the battery 140 by measuring, according to a Coulomb counting method, the quantity of current flown into the battery 140 when it is charged and the quantity of current flown out of the battery 140 when it is discharged, and adding the measured quantities of current.
  • the remaining quantity meter 142 may derive the remaining quantity of electric power in the battery 140 , according to a different algorithm such as a voltage measuring method, an impedance tracking method, or the like. Further, the remaining quantity meter 142 may be able to measure temperature of the battery 140 .
  • the controller 120 is connected to the remaining quantity meter 142 via an I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) communication line comprising a clock line and a data line, and operates as a master device of the I2C.
  • the controller 120 may be able to obtain, at arbitrarily selected timing, a value R C of the battery's remaining quantity and a value T BAT of the battery temperature that are periodically updated by the remaining quantity meter 142 which is a slave device.
  • the remaining quantity meter 142 may further be able to measure other statuses of the battery 140 , such as the state of charge (SOC: State Of Charge), the state of health (SOH: State Of Health), the relative state of charge (RSOC), and so on, and output values of the above statuses.
  • SOC State Of Charge
  • SOH State Of Health
  • RSOC relative state of charge
  • the measuring circuit 150 is a circuit for measuring a temperature index that correlates to the temperature of the heater 130 .
  • the temperature index in the present case may represent the temperature of the heater 130 as it stands, or an electric resistance value of the heater 130 .
  • the electric resistance value of a resistance heating material has a characteristic such that it monotonously increases as temperature increases (i.e., it correlates to temperature), for example; and, accordingly, the electric resistance value of the heater 130 may be used as a temperature index.
  • the temperature of the heater 130 may be measured by using a thermistor (which is not shown in the figure) arranged in a position close to the heater 130 .
  • the controller 120 is able to measure the output voltage V BAT of the battery 140 (hereinafter, this is also simply referred to as a power supply voltage), in addition that the controller 120 is able to obtain various status values including the remaining-quantity value R C and the temperature value T BAT of the battery 140 from the remaining quantity meter 142 .
  • the controller 120 may output short control pulses to the first switch 131 and the second switch 132 , to apply a voltage pulse from the battery 140 to the heater 130 , and perform analog-digital conversion of the voltage level of the voltage pulse to thereby obtain the value V BAT representing the power supply voltage.
  • the controller 130 is configured to obtain the voltage value V BAT via the boosting circuit 141 .
  • the controller 120 may perform, plural times consecutively at predetermined intervals, measurement of the power supply voltage, and obtain an average value of the measured results as the voltage value V BAT , for reducing or removing effect of noise.
  • the controller 120 controls supplying of electric power from the battery 140 to the heater 130 , for realizing a desired temperature profile for providing a user with good experience throughout a whole session.
  • a session refers to a set of time periods during that temperature control for consuming a flavor source or the like included in a single article (in the present case, one tobacco stick 15 accepted in the insertion hole 107 ) is performed.
  • the session may be referred to as a heating period.
  • a user is allowed to perform at most M suction actions during a single session.
  • the temperature control performed by the controller 120 may typically be feedback control (for example, PID control), wherein the temperature index measured by the measuring circuit 150 is defined as a controlled variable and the duty ratio of supplying of electric power is defined as a manipulated variable.
  • PID control feedback control
  • the controller 120 outputs, to each of the first switch 131 and the second switch 132 , a control pulse that has been modulated according to the duty ratio derived through the PID control. Then, a voltage pulse is applied from the battery 140 to the heater 130 with a corresponding duty ratio. Through repetition of the control cycle such as that explained above, the temperature of the heater 130 becomes closer to a target value of the PID control.
  • FIG. 4 is an explanatory drawing which is used for explaining an example of a temperature profile that may be realized in a single session.
  • a horizontal axis in the figure represents time elapsed since a start of supplying of electric power to the heater 130 , and a vertical axis represents temperature of the heater 130 .
  • a thick polygonal line represents a temperature profile 40 that is shown as an example.
  • the temperature profile 40 comprises a preheating period (T 0 -T 2 ) in the first part, and a suction allowable period (T 2 -T 8 ) following the preheating period.
  • T 0 -T 2 preheating period
  • T 8 suction allowable period
  • the length of the whole suction allowable period may be approximately 5 minutes.
  • the preheating period comprises a temperature increasing section (T 0 -T 1 ) for rapidly increasing the temperature of the heater 130 from environmental temperature H 0 to first temperature H 1 , and a maintaining section (T 1 -T 2 ) for maintaining the temperature of the heater 130 at the first temperature H 1 .
  • the suction allowable period comprises a maintaining section (T 2 -T 3 ) for maintaining the temperature of the heater 130 at the first temperature H 1 , a temperature lowering section (T 3 -T 4 ) for lowering the temperature of the heater 130 to second temperature H 2 , and a maintaining section (T 4 -T 5 ) for maintaining the temperature of the heater 130 at the second temperature H 2 .
  • a maintaining section T 2 -T 3
  • T 3 -T 4 for lowering the temperature of the heater 130 to second temperature H 2
  • T 4 -T 5 for maintaining the temperature of the heater 130 at the second temperature H 2 .
  • the suction allowable period further comprises a temperature increasing section (T 5 -T 6 ) for gradually increasing the temperature of the heater 130 from the second temperature H 2 to third temperature H 3 , a maintaining section (T 6 -T 7 ) for maintaining the temperature of the heater 130 at the third temperature H 3 , and a temperature lowering section (T 7 -T 8 ) for lowering the temperature of the heater 130 to the environmental temperature H 0 .
  • the first temperature H 1 may be 295 degrees Celsius
  • the second temperature H 2 may be 230 degrees Celsius
  • the third temperature H 3 may be 260 degrees Celsius.
  • the quantity of current outputted from the battery 140 increases notably. If the quantity of current outputted from the battery 140 increases, the quantity of voltage drop relating to internal resistance of the battery 140 increases in response thereto, and, also, the power supply voltage significantly drops temporarily. Further, there is a risk that the device performs defective operation, if a minimum value of the power supply voltage (hereinafter, the minimum voltage) becomes that lower than an operable voltage of the circuit in the flavor inhaler or the like 10 during a session.
  • the minimum voltage a minimum value of the power supply voltage
  • FIG. 5 is an explanatory drawing which is used for explaining dropping of a power supply voltage relating to progress of plural sessions.
  • a horizontal axis in the figure represents progress of time through plural sessions, wherein intervals between sessions are omitted.
  • a vertical axis in the figure represents a power supply voltage (V).
  • a voltage value V init,n represents a power supply voltage of the battery 140 at the beginning of an n-th session, and a voltage value V min,n represents a smallest voltage of the battery 140 during the n-th session.
  • a solid line part 50 in a graph in the figure represents chronological change in the power supply voltage in the n-th session, wherein the power supply voltage temporarily drops from the V init,n at the beginning of the session to V init,n and thereafter recovers to V init,n+1 in a latter half of the session. If self-discharge during intervals between sessions is ignored, the power supply voltage at the beginning of a next, i.e., (n+1)th, session will be V init,n+1 .
  • a horizontal line 55 in the figure represents an operable voltage of the circuit in the flavor inhaler or the like 10 .
  • the flavor inhaler or the like 10 is able to complete the n-th session.
  • the smallest voltage V min,n+1 in the (n+1)th session is lower than the operable voltage 55 . Accordingly, if the (n+1)th session is started with the power supply voltage V init,n+1 shown in the figure, the flavor inhaler or the like 10 will perform defective operation in the middle of the (n+1)th session, and the session will be stopped in the middle thereof. Stopping of a session in the middle thereof such as that explained above disadvantages a user, specifically, it damages an inhalation experience of the user, and, in addition, causes the remaining flavor source of the like included in the tobacco stick 15 which is being heated be wasted.
  • the controller 120 obtains a voltage value V BAT in response to detection of a user input such as a predetermined manipulation applied to the flavor inhaler or the like 10 , for example, long pressing of a button or the like, that represents a request for starting of heating, and determines that a session is not to be started (i.e., performs control for limiting heating operation in such a manner that the heater 130 does not start heating) if the obtained voltage value V BAT is lower than a voltage threshold V th .
  • a user input such as a predetermined manipulation applied to the flavor inhaler or the like 10 , for example, long pressing of a button or the like
  • the voltage value V BAT is obtained by measuring a voltage level of a voltage pulse applied from the battery 140 to the heater 130 .
  • the above-explained application of a pulse to the heater 130 that is not for the purpose of heating should be performed at a minimum required frequency, since it consumes electric power and may raise the temperature unnecessarily.
  • the power supply voltage at the time of a start of a session has a characteristic that it decreases as the battery's remaining quantity decreases.
  • the controller 120 compares the battery's remaining quantity with a remaining-quantity threshold, before comparing the power supply voltage with the voltage threshold.
  • the controller 120 obtains, from the remaining quantity meter 142 , a remaining-quantity value R C representing a remaining quantity of electric power in the battery 140 , in response to detection of a predetermined manipulation that is applied to the flavor inhaler or the like 10 and represents a request for starting of heating, and determines that a session is not to be started (i.e., performs control for limiting heating operation in such a manner that the heater 130 does not start heating) if the remaining-quantity value R C is lower than a predetermined remaining-quantity threshold R th0 .
  • the controller 120 can determine insufficiency of the remaining quantity before comparing the voltage value V BAT with the voltage threshold V th , it becomes possible to avoid waste of electric power and unnecessary raising of temperature due to measuring of the voltage.
  • the controller 120 further compares the voltage value V BAT with the voltage threshold V th explained above, and, if the voltage value V BAT is larger than the voltage threshold V th , determines that a session is to be started (i.e., makes the heater 130 start heating).
  • the controller 120 By performing double-checking based on the remaining-quantity value and the voltage value as explained above, the probability of occurrence of an error in determinations due to a factor such as an error in a remaining-quantity measuring algorithm, temporary disturbance, individual differences between devices, or the like, is lowered, and stopping of a session in the middle thereof is prevented certainly.
  • start-of-session checking that is performed in response to a predetermined manipulation that is applied to the flavor inhaler or the like 10 and represents a request for starting of heating.
  • start-of-session checking the above-explained checking function, that is performed in response to a predetermined manipulation that is applied to the flavor inhaler or the like 10 and represents a request for starting of heating.
  • start-of-session checking only is installed in the flavor inhaler or the like 10
  • a user has to perform a manipulation for requesting a start of heating to know whether a sufficient quantity of electric power remains in the battery 140 .
  • user is not allowed to perform such a manipulation in a place where inhaling of aerosol is not allowed.
  • start-of-session checking is to perform a manipulation that has no relation with starting of heating
  • a user has to perform, when starting a session, two manipulations, i.e., one for invoking the start-of-session checking and the other for starting heating, for avoiding stopping of the session in the middle thereof.
  • the flavor inhaler or the like 10 is equipped with, in addition to the above-explained start-of-session checking that is triggered by a predetermined manipulation that is applied to the flavor inhaler or the like 10 and represents a request for starting of heating, a function for checking the remaining quantity of power in the battery 140 , wherein the function is that triggered by a different predetermined manipulation applied to the flavor inhaler or the like 10 .
  • the above different checking function is referred to as “prechecking.”
  • the predetermined manipulation applied to the flavor inhaler or the like 10 for invoking the start-of-session checking is referred to as a first predetermined manipulation
  • the predetermined manipulation applied to the flavor inhaler or the like 10 for invoking the prechecking is referred to as a second predetermined manipulation.
  • the first predetermined manipulation corresponds to a manipulation for requesting starting of heating, and may be long pressing of a button (the front panel 102 ).
  • the second predetermined manipulation may be any manipulation different from long pressing of the button, such as a manipulation for opening the slider 104 , short-pressing of the button, pounding of the button, or the like, for example.
  • the controller 120 obtains the remaining-quantity value R C from the remaining quantity meter 142 in response to the second predetermined manipulation, and, based on the obtained remaining-quantity value R C , determines whether a quantity of electric power that is sufficient for consuming the flavor source or the like included in one tobacco stick 15 remains in the battery 140 . The determination is made by comparing the remaining-quantity value R C with the above-explained remaining-quantity threshold R th0 . If the remaining-quantity value R C is greater than the remaining-quantity threshold R th0 , the controller 120 may determine that a sufficient quantity of electric power remains in the battery 140 , and a single session can be completed without stopping the session in the middle thereof. On the other hand, if the remaining-quantity value R C is smaller than the remaining-quantity threshold R th0 , the controller 120 may determine that the quantity remained is insufficient.
  • the controller 120 may determine whether the remaining quantity of electric power in the battery 140 is approximately a quantity that is sufficient for completing a single session at most, in addition to the above-explained determination with respect to insufficiency of the remaining quantity. The above determination is made by comparing the remaining-quantity value R C with a further remaining-quantity threshold R th1 , in addition to comparison with the remaining-quantity threshold R th0 (R th1 >R th0 ). If the remaining-quantity value R C is greater than the remaining-quantity threshold R th1 , the controller 120 may determine that a quantity of electric power that is sufficient for consuming flavor sources or the like included in two or more tobacco sticks 15 remains in the battery 140 .
  • a user may be notified of, in various forms, check results of the above-explained prechecking and start-of-session checking.
  • the controller 120 may instruct the notifier 160 to provide, in respective forms, information with respect to the following five kinds of check results.
  • the notifier 160 notifies a user of insufficiency of the remaining quantity.
  • the above notification with respect to insufficiency of the remaining quantity may be realized by emitting light having a warning color (for example, red) from an LED or blinking the LED, or generating, by a vibrator, vibration that is relatively strong or lasts for a relatively long time, for example, for making a user surely recognize necessity of charging.
  • the notifier 160 notifies a user that the number of tobacco sticks 15 that can be used hereafter without charging is one.
  • notification modes for example, light emission patterns or a vibration patterns
  • the above notification is distinguished from the above-explained notification and notification with respect to Two or More Sticks Left that will be explained later.
  • the notifier 160 may notify a user of the quantity of electric power remaining in the battery 140 (the battery's remaining quantity).
  • the battery's remaining quantity may be reported in the form such as a battery level that is determined as a discrete value, a relative charging rate, the number of tobacco sticks which can be used hereafter without charging, or the like.
  • the battery level or the number of tobacco sticks left may be represented by the number of LEDs which are turned on to emit light, the number of times of blinking of an LED, or the number of times of vibration of the vibrator.
  • the notifier 160 notifies a user of insufficiency of the remaining quantity.
  • the above notification with respect to insufficiency of the remaining quantity may be performed in a mode that is the same as (or different from) that of the notification with respect to insufficiency of the remaining quantity in the prechecking.
  • the notifier 160 notifies a user of starting of heating.
  • the notification with respect to starting of heating may be performed by emitting light having a non-warning color (for example, white) from an LED or blinking the LED, or generating, by the vibrator, vibration that is relatively weak or lasts for a relatively short time.
  • the controller 120 makes the battery 140 start supplying of electric power to the heater 130 .
  • the controller 120 may makes the notifier 160 perform further notification (for example, advance announcements with respect to an end of the preheating period and an end of the suction allowable period) at some points in time in the sessions that progress as explained by using FIG. 4 .
  • the mode of notification is not limited to the above example.
  • the above explained notification may be realized by using, instead of light emission or vibration (or in addition thereto), sound outputted from a speaker or a message transmitted to an external device.
  • the values of the voltage threshold V th , the remaining-quantity threshold R th0 (the first remaining-quantity threshold), and the second remaining-quantity threshold R th1 explained above are determined in advance and stored in the memory 121 .
  • the voltage threshold V th may be determined by adding, to the minimum operable voltage 55 that ensures normal operation of the circuit in the flavor inhaler or the like 10 , a margin for absorbing a quantity of voltage drop during a heating period (for example a difference between V init,n and V min,n ) and voltage variation.
  • the remaining-quantity threshold R th0 may be determined by converting the value of the voltage threshold V th to a remaining-quantity value, by using a characteristic graph representing relationship between the remaining quantity of the battery 140 (mAh) and the output voltage (at the time of a start of a session) (V).
  • the remaining-quantity threshold R th1 may be determined by adding, to the remaining-quantity threshold R th0 , the quantity of electric power that is consumed when one tobacco stick 12 is used (i.e., when a single session is completed).
  • the battery's remaining quantity that corresponds to the voltage threshold determined based on the operable voltage of the circuit, is greater than the quantity of electric power consumed for a single session. Accordingly, in this explanation, an example in which the voltage threshold V th and the remaining-quantity threshold R th0 are determined based on the operable voltage of the circuit has been explained; however, the voltage threshold V th and the remaining-quantity threshold R th0 are not limited to those in the above example, and they may be determined based on the electric power consumed for completing a single session.
  • the inventors has been recognized that the “battery's remaining quantity-output voltage” characteristic may become different depending on battery temperature. Typically, if the battery's remaining quantities are the same with one another, there is a tendency that the output voltage decreases as the battery temperature decreases. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, it is supposed that the memory 121 stores, in relation to each of the remaining-quantity thresholds R th0 and R th1 , different set values associated with two or more temperature ranges, respectively.
  • FIG. 6 is an explanatory drawing which is used for explaining an example of setting of different thresholds for plural temperature ranges.
  • the battery temperature T BAT is categorized into three temperature ranges, specifically, less than 10 degrees Celsius (category C 1 ), equal to or higher than 10 degrees Celsius to less than 20 degrees Celsius (category C 2 ), and equal to or higher than 20 degrees Celsius (category C 3 ).
  • the remaining-quantity threshold R th1 is set to R th1_low if the battery temperature T BAT is that in the category C 1 , R th1_mid if the battery temperature T BAT is that in the category C 2 , and R th1_high if the battery temperature T BAT is that in the category C 3 .
  • the remaining-quantity threshold R th0 is set to R th0_low if the battery temperature T BAT is that in the category C 1 , R th0_mid if the battery temperature T BAT is that in the category C 2 , and R th0_high if the battery temperature T BAT is that in the category C 3 .
  • the voltage threshold V th is set to a common value, irrespective of the categories of the battery temperature.
  • the voltage threshold V th may also be set differently according to each of the categories of the battery temperature.
  • a user first invokes the prechecking function by performing the second predetermined manipulation in the indoor place.
  • the notifier 160 notifies the user of the result of the determination. The user goes to the outdoors for enjoying the last one stick, and instructs, by performing the first predetermined manipulation, the flavor inhaler or the like 10 to start heating. At that time, due to change in the environmental temperature, the battery temperature T BAT decreases to temperature lower than 15 degrees Celsius.
  • the controller 120 determines that the remaining quantity is insufficient, and does not make the heater 130 start heating. Accordingly, stopping of a session in the middle thereof is prevented, and occurrence of the situation that the half-heated tobaccos tick 15 is wasted is avoided.
  • the controller may store, in the memory, a flag that shows result of a determination, which was performed in the prechecking or the start-of-session checking, with respect to insufficiency of the remaining quantity (hereinafter, an insufficient-remaining-quantity flag). Specifically, if the controller 120 has determined in each time of checking that a sufficient quantity of electric power does not remain in the battery 140 (Remaining quantity value R C ⁇ Remaining-quantity threshold R th0 ), the controller 120 rewrites the value of the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag to a value representing insufficiency of the remaining quantity (for example, “1”).
  • the value of the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag being a value representing the remaining quantity being insufficient means the flavor inhaler or the like 10 being in the state that remaining quantity is insufficient, and it corresponds to that heating by the heater 130 is being restricted.
  • the controller 120 restores the value of the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag to an original value (for example, “0”) (that represents that the remaining quantity is not insufficient) if the controller 120 has determined that a predetermined condition(s) has been satisfied.
  • the value of the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag being a value representing the remaining quantity being not insufficient means the flavor inhaler or the like 10 being in the state that remaining quantity is insufficient, and it corresponds to that restriction on heating by the heater 130 is being removed.
  • the controller 120 refers to the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag in response to the second predetermined manipulation that requests it to perform the prechecking, and, if the value thereof shows the remaining quantity being insufficient, determines, without performing a determination based on the remaining-quantity value R C , that the battery's remaining quantity is insufficient; this is because the battery 140 has not yet charged sufficiently since it was determined once that the remaining quantity is insufficient.
  • the controller 120 refers to the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag in response to the first predetermined manipulation that requests it to start heating, and, if the value thereof shows that the remaining quantity being insufficient, determines, without performing a determination based on the remaining-quantity value R C and the voltage value V BAT , that the battery's remaining quantity is insufficient; this is because the battery 140 has not yet charged sufficiently since it was determined once that the remaining quantity is insufficient.
  • the controller 120 restricts heating in such a manner that starting of heating by the heater 130 in response to the first predetermined manipulation is prevented.
  • An example of the predetermined condition for removing restriction on heating is a condition that the remaining quantity in the battery 140 has increased by a quantity equal to or greater than a predetermined quantity ⁇ R C , compared with a reference that is a remaining-quantity value R C_latest that is a remaining-quantity value R C measured before a start of charging of the battery 140 .
  • the controller 120 is able to store, in the memory 121 and as a remaining-quantity value R C_latest , a remaining-quantity value R C that is measured when the prechecking or the start-of-session checking, that is performed before a start of charging of the battery 140 , is performed.
  • the predetermined quantity ⁇ R C may be a quantity that is sufficient for use to perform a determination relating to the remaining quantity in the battery 140 . Accordingly, the predetermined quantity ⁇ R C may be a quantity that is sufficient for completing, at least a single time, the start-of-session checking process or the prechecking process that will be explained later. A predetermined quantity ⁇ R C such as that explained above may be obtained experimentally in advance and stored in the memory 121 in advance.
  • the predetermined quantity ⁇ R C may be a quantity that is sufficient for consuming at least one tobacco stick 15 . Accordingly, the predetermined quantity ⁇ R C may be determined as Remaining-quantity threshold R th0 -Remaining-quantity value R C_latest , or a difference between the remaining-quantity threshold R th1 and the remaining-quantity value R th0 , i.e., R th1 -R th0 . Further, the quantity that is sufficient for consuming at least one tobaccos stick 15 may be determined based on the battery temperature T BAT .
  • the predetermined quantity ⁇ R C may be determined as R th0_low -R C_latest or R th1_low -R th0_low if the battery temperature T BAT belongs to the category C 1 , R th0_mid -R C_latest or R th1_mid -R th0_mid if the battery temperature T BAT belongs to the category C 2 , and R th0_high -R C_latest or R th1_high -R th0_high if the battery temperature T BAT belongs to the category C 3 .
  • the flavor inhaler or the like 10 may be configured in such a manner that a user is allowed to set the predetermined quantity ⁇ R C .
  • the flavor inhaler or the like 10 may be configured in such a manner that a user is allowed to input the predetermined quantity ⁇ R C via the front panel 102 (the input unit) or the wireless I/F 127 .
  • the flavor inhaler or the like 10 may be configured to determine the predetermined quantity ⁇ R C , based on the number ⁇ N of tobacco sticks 15 that is inputted by a user via the front panel 102 (the input unit) or the wireless I/F 127 and represents the number of tobacco sticks 15 that can be consumed.
  • the controller 120 may be configured to determine the predetermined quantity ⁇ R C as (R th1 -R th0 ) ⁇ N.
  • the controller 120 may be configured to determine the predetermined quantity ⁇ R C , based on history of use of the flavor inhaler or the like 10 by a user.
  • the controller 120 may be configured in such a manner that it stores, as use history in the memory 121 , an average, minimum, or maximum number ⁇ N statistical of tobacco sticks 15 (hereinafter, “average-or-the-like number”) that were consumed by a user after charging of the battery 140 , and determines the predetermined quantity ⁇ R C as (R th1 -R th0 ) ⁇ N statistical , or determines it by performing machine learning, to allow consuming of the average-or-the-like number ⁇ N statistical of tobacco sticks 15 .
  • the flavor inhaler or the like 10 can be configured to be able to rewrite the predetermined quantity ⁇ R C .
  • a different example of the predetermined condition for removing restriction on heating is a condition that the battery 140 has been fully charged.
  • the method for judging whether the battery 140 has been fully charged can be selected arbitrarily. In the following description, non-limiting examples will be explained.
  • the controller 120 may determine that the battery 140 has been fully charged, when the remaining-quantity value R C measured during charging has become that equal to or greater than a predetermined value. In a different configuration, the controller 120 may determine that the battery 140 has been fully charged, when the state of charge or the relative state of charge of the battery 140 measured during charging has become that equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Further, in a different configuration, the controller 120 may determine that the battery 140 has been fully charged, when the current flowing through the battery 140 during charging has become that equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, or when the voltage value V BAT in the battery 140 during charging has become that equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
  • the flavor inhaler or the like 10 stores, in the memory 121 in advance, the above thresholds relating to degrees of deterioration of the battery 140 , and the controller 120 determines the above threshold based on the degree of deterioration of the battery 140 measured during charging. Further, it may be configured in such a manner that the flavor inhaler or the like 10 stores, in the memory 121 in advance, the above thresholds relating to the temperature T BAT of the battery 140 , and the controller 120 determines the above threshold based on the temperature T BAT of the battery 140 measured during charging.
  • the battery 140 may temporarily become a state in which it is not determined that the battery 140 has been fully charged when charging of the battery 140 is continued after the battery 140 becomes a state in which it is determined that the battery 140 has been fully charged, due to that minor discharging and charging are repeated.
  • the controller 120 may be configured in such a manner that, after it is determined once that the battery 140 has been fully charged, such a determination is maintained until charging is terminated.
  • the controller 120 may be configured in such a manner that it determines the type of an external device connected to the flavor inhaler or the like for charging the battery 140 , and determines the predetermined time ⁇ t based on the determined external-device type. For example, the controller 120 is able to determine the external-device type based on the time change rate of the value of current flowing through the battery 140 during charging, and determine the predetermined time ⁇ t in such a manner that an external device relating to a larger time change rate is associated with a shorter predetermined time ⁇ t.
  • the flavor inhaler or the like 10 may be configured to store, in the memory 121 in advance, the predetermined time ⁇ t corresponding to each external-device type. Further, the flavor inhaler or the like 10 can be configured to be able to rewrite the predetermined time ⁇ t.
  • the controller 120 may estimate the battery temperature from at least one of the date and the time of day at a point in time when checking is performed, and use a remaining-quantity threshold corresponding to the estimated temperature in the prechecking or the start-of-session checking, for judging whether a predetermined condition for removing restriction on heating has been satisfied.
  • the memory 121 may store a value that should be used in a warm season and a value that should be used in a cool season.
  • the controller 120 may read, from the memory 121 and according to whether the date when checking is performed belongs to the warm season or the cool season, different remaining-quantity thresholds R th0 and R th1 , a different predetermined quantity ⁇ R C , and different thresholds used for judging whether the battery 140 has been fully charged, and use them.
  • the memory 121 may store, in advance, a value that should be used in the daytime and a value that should be used in the nighttime.
  • the controller 120 may read, from the memory 121 and according to whether the time of day when checking is performed belongs to the daytime or the nighttime, different remaining-quantity thresholds R th0 and R th1 , a different predetermined quantity ⁇ R C , and different thresholds used for judging whether the battery 140 has been fully charged, and use them.
  • the controller 120 may estimate the battery temperature based on an output value from a thermistor arranged in a position close to the battery 140 , and use a remaining-quantity threshold corresponding to the estimated temperature in the prechecking or the start-of-session checking, for judging whether a predetermined condition for removing restriction on heating has been satisfied.
  • the controller 120 may perform, at arbitrarily selected timing, checking for confirming whether abnormality with respect to each of various statues, other than the remaining quantity and the voltage of the battery 140 , in the device has occurred. For example, one or more checking processes relating to the following checking items may be performed.
  • a processing step is abbreviated as S (step).
  • the abnormality detection may be performed periodically in a part of a regular control routine in the controller 120 , or in a part of the prechecking or the start-of-session checking.
  • a detection circuit separate from the controller 120 may detects an abnormality, and inform the controller 120 of the detected abnormality (for example, by using an interrupt signal).
  • FIG. 7 is a flow chart which shows an example of a schematic flow of a process performed by the flavor inhaler or the like 10 according to the present embodiment.
  • the controller 120 continuously monitors, in a standby state, a user input and the state of charging of the battery 140 (S 101 , S 103 , S 113 ).
  • a user input may be detected by the input detector 122 , the state detector 123 , or the suction detector 124 .
  • the process proceeds to S 105 .
  • the process proceeds to S 107 .
  • the controller 120 checks the remaining quantity of electric power in the battery 140 by performing the prechecking process, and makes the notifier 160 perform notification corresponding to a result of checking.
  • a more tangible flow of the prechecking process performed herein will be further explained later.
  • the controller 120 performs the start-of-session checking process to determine whether the battery 140 is in a state wherein a session can be started.
  • start-of-session checking process A more tangible flow of the start-of-session checking process performed herein will be further explained later.
  • the controller 120 In the start-of-session checking process, if it is determined that a quantity of electric power that is sufficient for consuming a flavor source or the like included in an article does not remain in the battery 140 (S 109 -Yes), the controller 120 returns to the standby state without starting a session.
  • the controller 120 makes the heater 130 start heating, and performs temperature control for a single session for realizing a temperature profile 40 such as that explained with reference to FIG. 4 , in S 111 .
  • the heater 130 receives supply of electric power from the battery 140 , and heats a tobacco stick 15 including a flavor source or the like to generate aerosol.
  • a suction allowable period following a preheating period a user is allowed to perform plural number of times of suction actions to inhale aerosol.
  • a user may connect the flavor inhaler or the like 10 to an external electric power supply via the connection I/F 128 for charging the battery 140 .
  • the controller 120 updates in S 115 the value of the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag to “0” that means false based on a determination that a predetermined condition has been satisfied (S 114 -Yes). In this regard, in S 115 , if the value of the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag has already been set to “0,” the controller 120 does not need to perform any operation.
  • it may be configured in such a manner that a step for judging whether the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag is “0” (that is not shown in the figure) is added and performed just before S 113 or S 114 , and the process proceeds to S 113 or S 114 if it is determined that the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag is not “0,” and the process returns to S 101 otherwise.
  • the process performed by the flavor inhaler or the like 10 may comprise, in a part right after detecting of a start of charging of the battery 140 (S 113 -Yes), a step for activating a timer for measuring time elapsed since charging of the battery 140 is started (that is not shown in the figure).
  • the step for judging whether a predetermined condition has been satisfied may comprise a step for obtaining, from the remaining quantity meter 142 , a temperature value T BAT that represents the temperature of the battery 140 .
  • the step for judging whether a predetermined condition has been satisfied may comprise a step for estimating the battery temperature as explained above, or reading the stored battery temperature from the memory 121 as explained above.
  • the step for judging whether a predetermined condition has been satisfied (S 114 ) may comprise a step for obtaining, from the remaining quantity meter 142 , the state of charge or the relative state of charge or the degree of deterioration of the battery 140 .
  • FIG. 8 is a flow chart which shows an example of a flow of a prechecking process that may be performed in S 105 in FIG. 7 .
  • the controller 120 determines whether the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag shows “1” that means true. If the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag shows “1,” the process proceeds to S 145 . On the other hand, if the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag shows “0,” the process proceeds to S 123 .
  • the controller 120 obtains, from the remaining quantity meter 142 , a remaining-quantity value R C that represents the remaining quantity of electric power in the battery 142 .
  • the prechecking process may include, in a part before or just before S 123 , a step for storing, in the memory 121 , the remaining-quantity value R C obtained in S 123 as a remaining-quantity value R C_latest used in a determination with respect to a predetermined condition for removing a restriction on heating.
  • a previously stored remaining-quantity value R C_latest may be updated by using a newly obtained remaining-quantity value R C_latest .
  • the controller 120 obtains, from the remaining quantity meter 142 , temperature T BAT that represents the temperature of the battery 140 .
  • the controller 120 obtains, from the memory 121 , remaining-quantity thresholds R th0 and R th1 that have been associated with a temperature range to which the temperature T BAT belongs. For example, the controller obtains one of R th0_low , R th0_mid , and R th0_high , and one of R th1_low , R th1_mid , and R th1_high shown in FIG. 6 .
  • the controller 120 compares the remaining-quantity value R C with the remaining-quantity threshold R th0 . In this step, if R th0 ⁇ R C (S 129 -No), the controller 120 further compares, in S 131 , the remaining-quantity value R C with the remaining-quantity threshold R th1 .
  • the controller 120 determines, in S 133 , that a quantity of electric power that is sufficient for sucking two or more tobacco sticks 15 remains in the battery 140 . In such a case, in S 135 , the controller 120 makes the notifier 160 notify a user of a battery's remaining quantity. For example, the notifier 160 makes a number of LEDs emit light, wherein the number in this case is that corresponds to the battery level or the number of tobacco sticks that can be consumed hereafter.
  • the controller 120 determines, in S 137 , that a quantity of electric power that is sufficient for sucking a single tobacco stick 15 only remains in the battery 140 . In such a case, in S 139 , the controller 120 makes the notifier 160 notify a user that only one more tobacco stick 15 can be sucked.
  • the notifier 160 makes an LED(s) emit light according to a preset characteristic light emission pattern, or makes a vibrator vibrate according to a characteristic vibration pattern.
  • the controller 120 determines, in S 141 , that a quantity of electric power that is sufficient for consuming a flavor source or the like included in one tobacco stick 15 does not remain in the battery 140 . In such a case, in S 143 , the controller 120 updates the value of the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag to “1.” Next, in S 145 , the controller 120 makes the notifier 160 notify a user hat the quantity of electric power remaining in the battery 140 is insufficient. For example, the notifier 160 makes an LED(s) emit light having a warning color for urging a user to perform recharging, or makes a vibrator vibrate according to a characteristic vibration pattern.
  • a different example of the prechecking process may comprise, in place of or in addition to comparison between the remaining-quantity value R C and the remaining-quantity threshold R th0 (S 129 ), a step of determining that a sufficient quantity of electric power does not remain in the battery 140 , based on comparison between a voltage threshold V th and a voltage value V BAT that is obtained by performing a voltage measuring process and represents an output voltage of the battery 140 (refer to the start-of-session checking process that will be explained later).
  • FIG. 9 is a flow chart which shows an example of a flow of a start-of-session checking process that may be performed in S 107 in FIG. 7 .
  • the controller 120 determines whether the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag shows “1.” If the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag shows “1,” the process proceeds to S 175 . On the other hand, if the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag shows “0,” the process proceeds to S 153 .
  • the controller 120 obtains, from the remaining quantity meter 142 , a remaining-quantity value R C that represents the remaining quantity of electric power in the battery 142 .
  • the start-of-session checking process may include, in a part after or right after S 153 , a step for storing, in the memory 121 , the remaining-quantity value R C obtained in S 153 as a remaining-quantity value R C_latest used in a determination with respect to a predetermined condition for removing a restriction on heating.
  • a previously stored remaining-quantity value R C_latest may be updated by using a newly obtained remaining-quantity value R C_latest .
  • the controller 120 obtains, from the remaining quantity meter 142 , temperature T BAT that represents the temperature of the battery 140 .
  • the controller 120 obtains, from the memory 121 , a remaining-quantity thresholds R th0 that has been associated with a temperature range to which the temperature T BAT belongs. For example, the controller obtains one of R th0_low , R th0_mid , and R th0_high shown in FIG. 6 .
  • the controller 120 compares the remaining-quantity value R C with the remaining-quantity threshold R th0 .
  • the process proceeds to S 161 if R th0 ⁇ R C (S 159 -No), and the process proceeds to S 171 if R C ⁇ R th0 (S 159 -Yes).
  • the controller 120 obtains a voltage threshold V th from the memory 121 .
  • the controller 120 obtains a voltage value V BAT that represents an output voltage of the battery 140 , by performing a voltage measuring process. A more tangible flow of the voltage measuring process performed herein will be further explained later.
  • the controller 120 compares the voltage value V BAT with the voltage threshold V th . In this step, the process proceeds to S 167 if V th ⁇ V BAT (S 165 -No), and the process proceeds to S 171 if V BAT ⁇ V th (S 165 -Yes).
  • the controller 120 determines that a session can be started, since a quantity of electric power that is sufficient to continue the session, without stopping the session in the middle thereof, remains in the battery 140 . In such a case, the controller 120 makes the heater 130 start heating and performs temperature control of the single session, in S 111 in FIG. 7 .
  • the controller 120 determines that a sufficient quantity of electric power does not remain in the battery 140 .
  • the controller 120 updates the value of the insufficient-remaining-quantity flag to “1.”
  • the controller 120 makes the notifier 160 notify a user that the quantity of electric power remaining in the battery 140 is insufficient. In such a case, the controller 120 returns to the standby state at the beginning of FIG. 7 without making the heater 130 start heating.
  • the start-of-session checking process it may be possible to omit one of the step for comparing the remaining-quantity value R C with the remaining-quantity threshold R th0 (S 159 ) and the step for comparing the voltage value V BAT with the voltage threshold V th (S 165 ), when determining that a sufficient quantity of electric power does not remain in the battery 140 .
  • FIG. 10 is a flow chart which shows an example of a flow of a voltage measuring process that may be performed in S 163 in FIG. 9 .
  • the controller 120 makes the battery 140 start outputting of voltage pulses to the heater 130 , by turning on the first switch 131 and the second switch 132 .
  • the controller 120 measures an output voltage of the battery 140 , by converting the level of the voltage inputted via the boosting circuit 141 by performing digital-analog conversion.
  • the above measurement is performed plural times at constant time intervals.
  • the controller 120 makes the battery 140 terminate outputting of voltage pulses to the heater 130 , by turning off the first switch 131 and the second switch 132 .
  • the controller 120 calculates, as a voltage value V BAT that is to be compared with a voltage threshold, an average value of the output voltages measured in S 183 .
  • FIGS. 1 - 10 various embodiments and variations of the present disclosure have been explained with reference to FIGS. 1 - 10 .
  • a flavor inhaler or the like which receives, by its heater, supply of electric power from an electric power supply to heat an article including a flavor source or the like to thereby generate flavor or the like
  • the technique of the present disclosure if it is determined, in response to a user input for requesting a start of heating, that a quantity of electric power that is sufficient to consume a flavor source or the like included in a single article does not remain in an electric power supply, heating is not started, i.e., restricted, and, instead thereof, information representing insufficiency of the remaining quantity is reported to a user.
  • checking with respect to whether the sufficient quantity of electric power remains in the electric power supply is performed in response to a user input that is different from the user input for requesting a start of heating, and a result of the checking is reported to a user. Accordingly, by simply performing a manipulation for requesting a start of heating, a user can start inhalation of aerosol without a risk of stopping of a session in the middle thereof, and know a check result with respect to the remaining quantity of electric power regardless of a place where the user stays. Further, if the remaining quantity of electric power is insufficient when heating is being restricted, the restriction is not removed, so that unnecessary repetition of the process for restricting heating is prevented.
  • the invention is not limited by the above-explained embodiments, and can be modified/changed in various ways within the scope of the gist of the invention.
  • a device that is a flavor inhaler or an aerosol generation device comprising:
  • controller is further configured to perform, in response to a first predetermined manipulation applied to the device to start heating performed by the heater, a first determination with respect to whether the remaining quantity in the power supply is insufficient.
  • controller is further configured to perform, in response to a second predetermined manipulation that is different from the first predetermined manipulation and is applied to the device, a second determination with respect to whether the remaining quantity in the power supply is insufficient.
  • the predetermined condition is a condition that the remaining quantity in the power supply has increased by a predetermined quantity or more with reference to the remaining quantity in the power supply that was measured before a start of charging of the power supply.
  • the predetermined quantity is a quantity that is sufficient to perform a determination with respect to whether the remaining quantity in the power supply is insufficient.
  • controller is further configured to determine, based on temperature of the power supply, the quantity that is sufficient for consuming the at least one base material.
  • controller is further configured to determine, based on history of use of the device by a user, the predetermined quantity.
  • the device as recited in Characteristics 6, configured in such a manner that the predetermined quantity is rewritable.
  • the predetermined condition is a condition that the power supply has been fully charged.
  • the predetermined condition is a condition that a predetermined time or more has elapsed since a start of charging of the power supply.
  • controller is further configured to:
  • the device as recited in Characteristics 14, configured in such a manner that the predetermined time is rewritable.
  • a method performed by a controller in a device the device being a flavor inhaler or an aerosol generation device, and comprising a heater configured to heat a flavor source and/or an aerosol source, and a power supply for supplying electric power to the heater, wherein the method comprises steps of:

Landscapes

  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Tobacco Products (AREA)
  • Seasonings (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
US18/967,916 2022-06-08 2024-12-04 Flavor inhaler or aerosol generation device, and operation method and program for same Pending US20250089807A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/JP2022/023042 WO2023238267A1 (ja) 2022-06-08 2022-06-08 香味吸引器具又はエアロゾル生成装置、その動作方法及びそのプログラム

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/JP2022/023042 Continuation WO2023238267A1 (ja) 2022-06-08 2022-06-08 香味吸引器具又はエアロゾル生成装置、その動作方法及びそのプログラム

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20250089807A1 true US20250089807A1 (en) 2025-03-20

Family

ID=89117732

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US18/967,916 Pending US20250089807A1 (en) 2022-06-08 2024-12-04 Flavor inhaler or aerosol generation device, and operation method and program for same

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20250089807A1 (https=)
EP (1) EP4537689A4 (https=)
JP (1) JP7828446B2 (https=)
KR (1) KR20250024803A (https=)
CN (1) CN119317372A (https=)
TW (1) TW202348151A (https=)
WO (1) WO2023238267A1 (https=)

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
MY168388A (en) * 2012-01-03 2018-10-31 Philip Morris Products Sa Power supply system for portable aerosol-generating device
EP3737444A4 (en) 2018-01-08 2021-10-13 Pneuma Respiratory, Inc. TREATMENT OF LUNG CANCER WITH AN ELECTRONIC BREATHED DROPLET DISPENSER
JP7136913B2 (ja) 2018-10-26 2022-09-13 日本たばこ産業株式会社 電子装置並びに電子装置を動作させる方法及びプログラム
EP3871528A4 (en) * 2018-10-26 2022-06-29 Japan Tobacco Inc. Flavor generation system, power supply control method, program, and power supply unit
JP7357919B2 (ja) 2018-11-15 2023-10-10 元旦ビューティ工業株式会社 軒先構造、及びその施工法
GB201909380D0 (en) * 2019-06-28 2019-08-14 Nicoventures Holdings Ltd Apparatus for an aerosol generating device
JP6905126B2 (ja) 2020-02-21 2021-07-21 日本たばこ産業株式会社 エアロゾル吸引器、エアロゾル吸引器の電源制御方法、及びエアロゾル吸引器の電源制御プログラム
WO2022050812A1 (en) * 2020-09-07 2022-03-10 Kt&G Corporation Aerosol generating device and method for controlling power mode thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP4537689A1 (en) 2025-04-16
CN119317372A (zh) 2025-01-14
JPWO2023238267A1 (https=) 2023-12-14
TW202348151A (zh) 2023-12-16
WO2023238267A1 (ja) 2023-12-14
EP4537689A4 (en) 2026-04-01
JP7828446B2 (ja) 2026-03-11
KR20250024803A (ko) 2025-02-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2022230322A1 (ja) エアロゾル生成装置、制御方法及びコンピュータプログラム
JP7551853B2 (ja) 吸引成分生成装置
US20250228300A1 (en) Electronic vapor provision system
KR102183438B1 (ko) 흡입 성분 발생 장치, 제어 회로, 및 흡입 성분 발생 장치의 제어 방법
JP6609687B1 (ja) エアロゾル吸引器用の電源ユニット、その制御方法及び制御プログラム
TWI717951B (zh) 霧氣吸嚐器用的電源單元、霧氣吸嚐器之電源的狀態的診斷方法及霧氣吸嚐器之電源的狀態的診斷程式
US20170119052A1 (en) Application specific integrated circuit (asic) for an aerosol delivery device
JP6919088B1 (ja) エアロゾル生成装置並びにこれを動作させる方法及びプログラム
US11705744B2 (en) Battery unit, flavor inhaler, method for controlling battery unit, and program for detecting degradation of a chargeable and dischargeable power supply of a battery unit of a vaporizor
CN111466620A (zh) 电子吸烟装置
EA039737B1 (ru) Генерирующее вдыхаемый компонент устройство, схема управления, а также способ управления и программа управления генерирующим вдыхаемый компонент устройством
CN110353318B (zh) 一种电子烟及其控制方法
US20250089807A1 (en) Flavor inhaler or aerosol generation device, and operation method and program for same
CN108649643A (zh) 充电装置、加热式非燃烧系统、充电方法及充电控制系统和计算机可读存储介质
JP7602642B2 (ja) エアロゾル生成装置の電源ユニット
JP6630866B1 (ja) 吸引成分生成装置、制御回路、吸引成分生成装置の制御方法および制御プログラム
JP7569453B2 (ja) エアロゾル生成装置の電源ユニット
JP6545880B1 (ja) 吸引成分生成装置、制御回路、吸引成分生成装置の制御方法および制御プログラム
KR20250114063A (ko) 향미 흡입기 또는 에어로졸-생성 장치, 및 이의 동작 방법 및 프로그램

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: JAPAN TOBACCO INC., JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:AOYAMA, TATSUNARI;NAGAHAMA, TORU;MINATO, JUNJI;REEL/FRAME:069480/0960

Effective date: 20241021

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION