WO2022209527A1

WO2022209527A1 - Aerosol generation apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2022209527A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/008581
Authority: WO
Inventors: 啓司丸橋
Original assignee: 日本たばこ産業株式会社
Priority date: 2021-04-01
Filing date: 2022-03-01
Publication date: 2022-10-06
Also published as: EP4316288A1; JPWO2022209527A1

Abstract

An aerosol aspirator (1) is provided with a power supply unit (10), a detachable cartridge (40) in which an aerosol source (71) is stored, and a color classification sensor (24). In the cartridge (40), a coloring unit (49) is formed. The power supply unit (10) is provided with a power supply (61), and an MCU 63 which can control the electric discharge from the power supply (61) to a first heater (45). The MCU 63 can execute aerosol source information acquisition processing for acquiring information about the aerosol source (71) stored in the cartridge (40) on the basis of information about the color that is colored by the coloring unit (49) and is classified by the color classification sensor (24).

Description

aerosol generator

The present invention relates to an aerosol generator.

Patent Document 1 discloses an aerosol delivery system (aerosol generator) that generates an aerosol by vaporizing and/or atomizing an aerosol source by heating. In the aerosol delivery system of Patent Document 1, the generated aerosol flows through the second aerosol generation device (accommodation chamber) in which the aerosol-generating element (flavor source) is accommodated, whereby the flavor component contained in the flavor source becomes an aerosol. The user can inhale the aerosol containing the flavor component.

Patent Document 1 also discloses that both the aerosol precursor composition of the reservoir substrate and the aerosol-generating element of the second aerosol-generating device may contain menthol.

Users of aerosol generators have different tastes and flavors, just like smokers of cigarettes. For example, users of aerosol generators include those who prefer menthol flavor and those who prefer regular flavor without menthol flavor. In order to accommodate users with different tastes, the aerosol generator can select multiple types of aerosol sources and/or flavor sources, and can generate aerosols to which multiple types of flavors are added. is desirable. Furthermore, in order to provide the user with the optimal flavor and taste, depending on the aerosol source and/or flavor source selected, separate modes for controlling the discharge to the load that heats the aerosol source and/or flavor source may be provided. preferably set.

Therefore, in Patent Document 2, a detector is provided that can identify a specific smoking article from identification information printed on the smoking article, and an electric heating protocol is established based on the specific smoking article identified by the detector. A heated smoking system is disclosed.

Further, in Patent Document 3, a cigarette sensor is provided that can detect the type of cigarette based on the number of protrusions protruding from the joint of the cigarette, and a temperature profile corresponding to the type of cigarette detected by the cigarette sensor. and controlling the battery power supplied to the heater according to the selected temperature profile.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-150031 Japanese special table 2012-513750 Japanese special table 2020-526208

However, the electrically heated smoking system of Patent Document 2 requires a step of printing identification information on the smoking article, and the aerosol generating device of Patent Document 3 uses different numbers of projections for different types of cigarettes at the joints of the cigarettes. A process of forming a As described above, the electrically heated smoking system of Patent Document 2 and the aerosol generator of Patent Document 3 require a step of attaching identification information to smoking articles and cigarettes, which increases the number of man-hours during manufacturing. There was a problem of getting lost.

The present invention provides an aerosol generator that can acquire information about the aerosol source, does not require a step of attaching identification information to the aerosol source storage unit, and can reduce man-hours during manufacturing.

The present invention
a detachable aerosol source storage unit storing an aerosol source;
a heater that heats the aerosol source to vaporize and/or atomize;
a power supply unit having a power supply electrically connected to the heater and a controller capable of controlling discharge from the power supply to the heater;
An aerosol generator comprising
A colored portion is formed in the aerosol source storage unit,
The aerosol generating device further comprises a color identification sensor capable of identifying the color of the colored portion,
The controller is
It is possible to execute an aerosol source information acquisition process of acquiring information on the aerosol source stored in the aerosol source storage unit based on information on the color of the colored portion identified by the color identification sensor.

According to the present invention, it is possible to acquire information on the aerosol source stored in the aerosol source storage unit, and the step of attaching identification information to the aerosol source storage unit is unnecessary, thereby reducing man-hours during manufacturing.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing the schematic configuration of an aerosol inhaler; FIG. Figure 2 is another perspective view of the aerosol inhaler of Figure 1; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the aerosol inhaler of Figure 1; 2 is a perspective view of a power supply unit in the aerosol inhaler of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of area A in FIG. 3, showing the vicinity of a color identification sensor in the aerosol inhaler of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the hardware configuration of the aerosol inhaler of FIG. 1; 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of the power supply unit shown in FIG. 6; FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart (part 1: power-on control) showing the operation of the aerosol inhaler of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart (part 2: cartridge identification processing) showing the operation of the aerosol inhaler of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart (No. 3: standby control) showing the operation of the aerosol inhaler of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart (part 4: discharge control and aerosol generation control) showing the operation of the aerosol inhaler of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart (No. 5: remaining amount update processing and power off control) showing the operation of the aerosol inhaler of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of control in the menthol mode (No. 1: when both the aerosol source and the flavor source contain menthol); FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram (part 2: when only the aerosol source contains menthol) showing a specific control example in the menthol mode;

The aerosol inhaler 1, which is one embodiment of the aerosol generating device of the present invention, will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14. FIG. It should be noted that the drawings are viewed in the direction of the reference numerals.

(Overview of aerosol inhaler)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the aerosol inhaler 1 generates an aerosol without combustion, adds a flavoring component to the generated aerosol, and enables a user to inhale the aerosol containing the flavoring component. It is a tool for As an example, the aerosol inhaler 1 has a bar shape.

The aerosol inhaler 1 includes a power supply unit 10, a cartridge cover 20 housing a cartridge 40 storing an aerosol source 71, and a capsule holder 30 housing a capsule 50 having a storage chamber 53 housing a flavor source 52. , provided. The power supply unit 10, the cartridge cover 20, and the capsule holder 30 are provided in this order from one longitudinal end of the aerosol inhaler 1 to the other longitudinal end. The power supply unit 10 has a substantially cylindrical shape centered on the center line L extending in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol inhaler 1 . The cartridge cover 20 and the capsule holder 30 have a substantially annular shape centered on the center line L extending in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol inhaler 1 . The outer peripheral surface of the power supply unit 10 and the outer peripheral surface of the cartridge cover 20 have a substantially circular ring shape with substantially the same diameter, and the capsule holder 30 has a substantially circular ring shape with a slightly smaller diameter than the power supply unit 10 and the cartridge cover 20. ing.

Hereinafter, in this specification and the like, the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped aerosol inhaler 1 is defined as the first direction X in order to simplify and clarify the description. In the first direction X, the side on which the power supply unit 10 of the aerosol inhaler 1 is arranged is defined as the bottom side, and the side on which the capsule holder 30 of the aerosol inhaler 1 is arranged is defined as the top side for convenience. In the drawing, the bottom side of the aerosol inhaler 1 in the first direction X is indicated by D and the top side of the aerosol inhaler 1 in the first direction by U.

The cartridge cover 20 has a hollow, substantially annular shape with both end faces on the bottom side and the top side opened. The bottom end of the cartridge cover 20 is connected to the top end of the power supply unit 10 . The cartridge cover 20 is detachable from the power supply unit 10 .

The capsule holder 30 has a hollow, substantially annular shape with both end faces on the bottom side and the top side opened. The capsule holder 30 is connected at its bottom end to the top end of the cartridge cover 20 . The capsule holder 30 is made of metal such as aluminum, for example. The capsule holder 30 is detachable from the cartridge cover 20 .

The cartridge 40 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is housed inside the cartridge cover 20 . The cartridge 40 can be accommodated inside the cartridge cover 20 with the capsule holder 30 removed from the cartridge cover 20 and can be taken out from the inside of the cartridge cover 20 . Therefore, the aerosol inhaler 1 can be used by replacing the cartridge 40 .

The capsule 50 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a hollow, substantially annular shape such that the top-side end in the first direction X is exposed in the first direction X from the top-side end of the capsule holder 30 . It is housed in the hollow portion of the capsule holder 30 . The capsule 50 is detachable from the capsule holder 30 . Therefore, the aerosol inhaler 1 can be used by replacing the capsule 50 .

(Power supply unit)
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the power supply unit 10 includes a power supply unit case 11 having a hollow, substantially annular shape centered on a center line L extending in the first direction X. As shown in FIGS. The power supply unit case 11 is made of, for example, metal such as stainless steel. The power supply unit case 11 has a top surface 11a that is an end surface on the top side of the power supply unit case 11 in the first direction X, a bottom surface 11b that is an end surface on the bottom side of the power supply unit case 11 in the first direction X, and a top surface 11a. and a side surface 11c extending in the first direction X in a substantially annular shape centered on the center line L from the bottom surface 11b.

A discharge terminal 12 is provided on the top surface 11 a of the power supply unit case 11 . The discharge terminal 12 is provided so as to protrude from the top surface 11 a of the power supply unit case 11 toward the top side in the first direction X. As shown in FIG.

An air supply unit 13 for supplying air to a heating chamber 43 of the cartridge 40, which will be described later, is provided on the top surface 11a near the discharge terminal 12. As shown in FIG. The air supply portion 13 is provided so as to protrude from the top surface 11 a of the power supply unit case 11 toward the top portion side in the first direction X. As shown in FIG.

A charging terminal 14 that can be electrically connected to an external power supply (not shown) is provided on the side surface 11c of the power supply unit case 11 . In this embodiment, the charging terminal 14 is provided on the side surface 11c near the bottom surface 11b, and is a receptacle to which a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal, a microUSB terminal, or the like can be connected, for example.

It should be noted that the charging terminal 14 may be a power receiving unit capable of contactlessly receiving power transmitted from an external power source. In such a case, charging terminal 14 (power receiving unit) may be composed of a power receiving coil. The wireless power transfer (WPT) method may be an electromagnetic induction type, a magnetic resonance type, or a combination of the electromagnetic induction type and the magnetic resonance type. Also, the charging terminal 14 may be a power receiving unit capable of contactlessly receiving power transmitted from an external power supply. As another example, the charging terminal 14 may have both a receptacle to which a USB terminal, a microUSB terminal, or the like can be connected, and the power receiving section described above.

On the side surface 11c of the power supply unit case 11, an operation section 15 that can be operated by the user is provided. The operating portion 15 is provided on the side surface 11c near the top surface 11a. In the present embodiment, the operating portion 15 is provided at a position about 180 degrees away from the charging terminal 14 with the center line L as the center when viewed from the first direction X. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the operation unit 15 is a circular push-button switch when the side surface 11c of the power supply unit case 11 is viewed from the outside. Note that the operation unit 15 may have a shape other than a circular shape, and may be composed of a switch other than a push button type, a touch panel, or the like.

The power supply unit case 11 is provided with a notification section 16 that notifies various information. The notification unit 16 is composed of a light emitting element 161 and a vibration element 162 (see FIG. 6). In this embodiment, the light emitting element 161 is provided inside the power supply unit case 11 of the operation section 15 . The periphery of the circular operating portion 15 is translucent when viewed from the outside of the side surface 11 c of the power supply unit case 11 and is configured to be illuminated by the light emitting element 161 . In this embodiment, the light emitting element 161 can emit red, green, blue, white, and purple light.

The power supply unit case 11 is provided with an air intake port (not shown) that takes in outside air. The air intake port may be provided around the charging terminal 14 or may be provided around the operation unit 15, and may be provided in the power supply unit case 11 at a position away from the charging terminal 14 and the operation unit 15. may have been The air intake port may be provided in the cartridge cover 20 . The air intake port may be provided at two or more of the locations described above.

A power supply 61, an intake sensor 62, an MCU 63 (MCU: Micro Controller Unit), and a charging IC 64 (IC: Integrated Circuit) are accommodated in the hollow portion of the hollow, substantially annular power supply unit case 11. there is Inside the power supply unit case 11, furthermore, an LDO regulator 65 (LDO: Low Drop Out), a DC/DC converter 66, a first temperature detection element 67 including a voltage sensor 671 and a current sensor 672, a voltage sensor 681 and a second temperature sensing element 68 including a current sensor 682 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

The power supply 61 is a chargeable/dischargeable power storage device such as a secondary battery or an electric double layer capacitor, preferably a lithium ion secondary battery. The electrolyte of the power source 61 may be composed of one or a combination of a gel electrolyte, an electrolytic solution, a solid electrolyte, and an ionic liquid.

The intake sensor 62 is provided in the vicinity of the operation section 15. The intake sensor 62 is a pressure sensor that detects a puff (suction) action. The intake sensor 62 is configured to output a change in the internal pressure (internal pressure) of the power supply unit 10 caused by the user's suction through the mouthpiece 58 of the capsule 50, which will be described later. The intake sensor 62 outputs an output value (e.g., a voltage value or current value). The intake sensor 62 may output an analog value, or may output a digital value converted from an analog value.

The intake sensor 62 may incorporate a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the environment in which the power supply unit 10 is placed (outside air temperature) in order to compensate for the detected pressure. The intake sensor 62 may be composed of a condenser microphone, a flow rate sensor, or the like instead of a pressure sensor.

The MCU 63 is an electronic component that performs various controls for the aerosol inhaler 1. The MCU 63 is specifically composed mainly of a processor, and a memory 63a composed of a storage medium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) necessary for the operation of the processor and a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing various information. (See FIG. 6). A processor in this specification is, specifically, an electric circuit in which circuit elements such as semiconductor elements are combined.

The MCU 63 determines that an aerosol generation request has been made when a puff operation is performed and the output value of the intake sensor 62 exceeds the threshold. Determine that it is finished. Thus, the output value of the intake sensor 62 is used as a signal indicating the aerosol generation request. Therefore, the intake sensor 62 constitutes a sensor that outputs an aerosol generation request. Alternatively, instead of the MCU 63 , the intake sensor 62 may make the above determination, and the MCU 63 may receive a digital value corresponding to the determination result from the intake sensor 62 . As a specific example, the intake sensor 62 outputs a high level signal when it is determined that the aerosol generation request has been made, and the intake sensor 62 outputs a low level signal when it is determined that the aerosol generation request has ended. may be output. Also, the threshold at which the MCU 63 or the intake sensor 62 determines that the aerosol generation request has been made may differ from the threshold at which the MCU 63 or the intake sensor 62 determines that the aerosol generation request has ended.

Note that the MCU 63 may detect the aerosol generation request based on the operation of the operation unit 15 instead of the intake sensor 62 . For example, when the user performs a predetermined operation on the operation unit 15 to start inhaling aerosol, the operation unit 15 may output a signal indicating an aerosol generation request to the MCU 63 . In this case, the operation unit 15 constitutes a sensor that outputs an aerosol generation request.

The charging IC 64 is provided near the charging terminal 14 . The charging IC 64 controls charging of the power source 61 by controlling the power input from the charging terminal 14 and charged to the power source 61 . In addition, charge IC64 may be arrange|positioned in the vicinity of MCU63.

(cartridge)
As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge 40 includes a substantially cylindrical cartridge case 41 whose longitudinal direction is the axial direction. The cartridge case 41 is made of colorless and transparent resin such as polycarbonate. A storage chamber 42 for storing the aerosol source 71 and a heating chamber 43 for heating the aerosol source 71 are formed inside the cartridge case 41 . The heating chamber 43 includes a wick 44 that transports the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 to the heating chamber 43 and holds it in the heating chamber 43, and heats the aerosol source 71 held in the wick 44 to vaporize and/or Or the first heater 45 for atomization is accommodated. The cartridge 40 further includes a first aerosol flow path 46 that aerosolizes and transports the aerosol source 71 heated by the first heater 45 to be vaporized and/or atomized from the heating chamber 43 toward the capsule 50 .

The storage chamber 42 and the heating chamber 43 are formed adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40 . The heating chamber 43 is formed at one longitudinal end of the cartridge 40 , and the storage chamber 42 is adjacent to the heating chamber 43 in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40 and extends to the other longitudinal end of the cartridge 40 . is formed in

The storage chamber 42 has a hollow, substantially annular shape whose axial direction is the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40, and stores the aerosol source 71 in the annular portion. The storage chamber 42 may contain a porous body such as a resin web or cotton, and the porous body may be impregnated with the aerosol source 71 . The storage chamber 42 may store only the aerosol source 71 without storing the resin web or the cotton-like porous body. Aerosol source 71 includes liquids such as glycerin and/or propylene glycol.

The aerosol source 71 may contain menthol 80. In this embodiment, a regular type cartridge 40 in which an aerosol source 71 not containing menthol 80 is stored in a storage chamber 42 and a menthol type cartridge 40 in which an aerosol source 71 containing menthol 80 is stored in a storage chamber 42 are divided into aerosol It is provided to the user by the manufacturer of the suction device 1 or the like. FIG. 3 shows an example in which a menthol-type cartridge 40 in which an aerosol source 71 containing menthol 80 is stored in a storage chamber 42 is attached. In addition, in FIG. 3, the menthol 80 is shown in the form of particles for the sake of clarity of explanation, but in this embodiment, the menthol 80 is dissolved in a liquid such as glycerin and/or propylene glycol. Moreover, the menthol 80 shown in FIG. Note that does not necessarily match the real thing.

The wick 44 is a liquid retaining member that draws the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 from the storage chamber 42 into the heating chamber 43 using capillary action and retains the aerosol source 71 in the heating chamber 43 . The wick 44 is made of glass fiber, porous ceramic, or the like, for example. Note that the wick 44 may extend inside the storage chamber 42 .

The first heater 45 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 47 . In this embodiment, the first heater 45 is composed of a heating wire (coil) wound around the wick 44 at a predetermined pitch. Note that the first heater 45 may be any element that can heat the aerosol source 71 held by the wick 44 to vaporize and/or atomize it. The first heater 45 may be, for example, a heating element such as a heating resistor, a ceramic heater, or an induction heater. As the first heater 45, a heater having a correlation between temperature and electrical resistance is used. As the first heater 45, for example, a heater having a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) characteristic in which the electric resistance value increases as the temperature increases is used. Alternatively, for example, the first heater 45 may have NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) characteristics in which the electrical resistance value decreases as the temperature increases. Also, part of the first heater 45 may be provided outside the heating chamber 43 .

The first aerosol flow path 46 is formed in the hollow portion of the storage chamber 42 having a hollow, substantially annular shape, and extends in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40 . The first aerosol flow path 46 is formed by a wall portion 46 a extending in a substantially annular shape in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40 . A wall portion 46a of the first aerosol flow path 46 also serves as an inner peripheral side wall portion of the storage chamber 42 having a substantially annular shape. The first aerosol channel 46 is connected to the heating chamber 43 at a first end 461 in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40 , and is connected to the heating chamber 43 at a second end 462 in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40 at the other end of the cartridge case 41 . is open to

An electrode portion 48 provided with a connection terminal 47 is provided at one end of the cartridge case 41 in the longitudinal direction, that is, at the end of the cartridge case 41 on the side where the heating chamber 43 is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40 . mated. The electrode portion 48 has a bottomed cylindrical shape that is approximately the same center and approximately the same diameter as the cartridge case 41 . 40 end faces. The connection terminal 47 is provided on the surface of the bottom surface 48 a of the electrode portion 48 facing the outside of the cartridge 40 and is exposed on the outer surface of the cartridge 40 .

A colored portion 49 is formed in the cartridge 40 . In this embodiment, the colored portion 49 is formed on the electrode portion 48 of the cartridge 40 . In this embodiment, the colored portion 49 is formed by forming at least part of the electrode portion 48 with colored resin. In this embodiment, the colored portion 49 is formed on the entire bottomed cylindrical electrode portion 48 , and the outer surface of the cylindrical surface of the electrode portion 48 is the colored portion 49 . In this embodiment, the colored portion 49 forms part of the outer surface of the cartridge 40 and is visible from the outside of the cartridge 40 . The colored portion 49 is located inside the cartridge case 41 made of colorless and transparent resin, and is visible from the outside of the cartridge 40 through the cartridge case 41 made of colorless and transparent resin. may be Note that the colored portion 49 may be formed on the cartridge 40 and may be formed on a portion other than the electrode portion 48 . At this time, the colored portion 49 forms part of the outer surface of the cartridge 40 and is preferably visible from the outside of the cartridge 40 .

The colored portion 49 is colored differently for each flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 . The colored portion 49 may be colored in an arbitrary color that differs for each flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 . The colored portion 49 is preferably colored red, green, or blue for each flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 . In this embodiment, the colored portion 49 of the regular type cartridge 40 in which the aerosol source 71 not containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42 is colored red, and the aerosol source 71 containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42. The colored portion 49 of the stored menthol type cartridge 40 is colored green.

The colored portion 49 is formed so as not to transmit light.

The cartridge 40 is housed in the hollow portion of the hollow, substantially annular cartridge cover 20 so that the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 40 is aligned with the first direction X, which is the longitudinal direction of the aerosol inhaler 1 . Further, in the first direction X, the cartridge 40 has the heating chamber 43 on the bottom side of the aerosol inhaler 1 (that is, the power supply unit 10 side), and the storage chamber 42 on the top side of the aerosol inhaler 1 (that is, the capsule 50 side). , is accommodated in the hollow portion of the cartridge cover 20. As shown in FIG.

The first aerosol flow path 46 of the cartridge 40 is formed to extend in the first direction X along the center line L of the aerosol inhaler 1 when the cartridge 40 is housed inside the cartridge cover 20 .

The cartridge 40 is inserted into the hollow portion of the cartridge cover 20 so that the connection terminal 47 is kept in contact with the discharge terminal 12 provided on the top surface 11a of the power supply unit case 11 when the aerosol inhaler 1 is used. be accommodated. By contacting the discharge terminal 12 of the power supply unit 10 with the connection terminal 47 of the cartridge 40 , the power supply 61 of the power supply unit 10 is electrically connected to the first heater 45 of the cartridge 40 via the discharge terminal 12 and the connection terminal 47 . connected to

Furthermore, when the aerosol inhaler 1 is used, the cartridge 40 allows the air flowing in from an air intake port (not shown) provided in the power supply unit case 11 to flow into the power supply unit case as indicated by an arrow B in FIG. The air is housed in the hollow portion of the cartridge cover 20 so as to be taken into the heating chamber 43 from the air supply portion 13 provided on the top surface 11 a of the cartridge cover 20 . Although the arrow B is inclined with respect to the center line L in FIG. 3, it may be in the same direction as the center line L. In other words, the arrow B may be parallel to the centerline L.

When the aerosol inhaler 1 is used, the first heater 45 is supplied with electric power from the power supply 61 through the discharge terminal 12 provided on the power supply unit case 11 and the connection terminal 47 provided on the cartridge 40. heats the aerosol source 71 held in the wick 44 without combustion. Then, in the heating chamber 43, the aerosol source 71 heated by the first heater 45 is vaporized and/or atomized. At this time, when the cartridge 40 is a menthol type in which the aerosol source 71 containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42, the vaporized and/or atomized aerosol source 71 includes vaporized and/or atomized glycerin and/or or vaporized and/or atomized menthol 80 together with propylene glycol or the like.

Then, the aerosol source 71 vaporized and/or atomized in the heating chamber 43 aerosolizes the air taken into the heating chamber 43 from the air supply section 13 of the power supply unit case 11 as a dispersion medium. Further, the aerosol source 71 vaporized and/or atomized in the heating chamber 43 and the air taken into the heating chamber 43 from the air supply section 13 of the power supply unit case 11 are connected to the heating chamber 43 through a first aerosol flow path. It flows through the first aerosol channel 46 from the first end 461 of 46 to the second end 462 of the first aerosol channel 46 while being further aerosolized. The temperature of the aerosol source 71 vaporized and/or atomized in the heating chamber 43 decreases while flowing through the first aerosol flow path 46, promoting aerosolization. Thus, the heating chamber 43 and the first aerosol are generated by the aerosol source 71 vaporized and/or atomized in the heating chamber 43 and the air taken into the heating chamber 43 from the air supply section 13 of the power supply unit case 11. Aerosol 72 is generated in channel 46 . When the cartridge 40 is of the menthol type in which the aerosol source 71 containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42, the aerosol 72 in the heating chamber 43 and the first aerosol flow path 46 contains the aerosolized menthol 80 derived from the aerosol source 71. is also included.

(capsule)
The capsule 50 has a substantially cylindrical shape and includes a side wall 51 extending substantially annularly with both end faces open. The side walls 51 are made of, for example, resin such as plastic. Capsule 50 comprises a containment chamber 53 in which flavor source 52 is contained.

The flavor source 52 includes tobacco granules 521 formed by granulating tobacco raw materials. Flavor source 52 may contain menthol 80 in addition to tobacco granules 521 . In this embodiment, the regular type capsule 50 containing the flavor source 52 not containing the menthol 80 and the menthol type capsule 50 containing the flavor source 52 containing the menthol 80 are produced by the manufacturer of the aerosol inhaler 1 or the like. provided to the user. FIG. 3 shows an example in which a menthol-type capsule 50 containing a flavor source 52 containing menthol 80 is attached. The flavor source 52 of the menthol-type capsule 50 has menthol 80 adsorbed to tobacco granules 521 .

The flavor source 52 may contain shredded tobacco instead of the tobacco granules 521. Also, the flavor source 52 may contain plants other than tobacco (for example, mint, Chinese medicine, herbs, etc.) instead of the tobacco granules 521 . Also, the flavor source 52 may be added with other flavoring agents in addition to the menthol 80 .

The accommodation chamber 53 is formed in the internal space of the capsule 50 surrounded by the side walls 51 . The storage chamber 53 includes an inlet portion 54 provided at one end side of the capsule 50 extending in a substantially cylindrical shape in the cylindrical axial direction, and an outlet portion 55 provided at the other end side of the capsule 50 in the cylindrical axial direction. The inlet portion 54 is formed in the bottom portion of the capsule 50 and constitutes the bottom surface of the capsule 50 . The inlet portion 54 is a mesh-shaped partition through which the flavor source 52 cannot pass but the aerosol 72 can pass. The outlet part 55 is a filter member filled in the inner space of the capsule 50 surrounded by the side wall 51 at the top side end of the side wall 51 in the cylindrical axis direction of the capsule 50 . Outlet portion 55 is a filter member through which flavor source 52 is impermeable and aerosol 72 is permeable. Although the outlet 55 is provided near the top of the capsule 50 in this embodiment, the outlet 55 may be provided at a position spaced apart from the top of the capsule 50 . The containing chamber 53 is surrounded by side walls 51 , an inlet portion 54 and an outlet portion 55 .

In the capsule 50, on the other end side of the outlet portion 55 in the axial direction of the cylinder, that is, on the top side of the outlet portion 55 in the axial direction of the cylinder, a suction port 58 for the user to perform a suction operation is formed.

(capsule holder)
The capsule holder 30 has a substantially annular side wall 31 extending in the first direction X, and has a hollow substantially annular shape with both end faces on the bottom side and the top side opened. The side wall 31 has a substantially annular shape with a slightly larger diameter than the side wall 51 of the capsule 50 . The side walls 31 are made of metal such as aluminum, for example. The bottom side end of the capsule holder 30 is connected to the top side end of the cartridge cover 20 by screwing, engagement, or the like, so that the capsule holder 30 can be attached to and detached from the cartridge cover 20 . The inner peripheral surface 31a of the substantially annular side wall 31 has an annular shape centered on the center line L of the aerosol inhaler 1, has a larger diameter than the first aerosol flow path 46 of the cartridge 40, and has a cartridge cover. It has a smaller diameter than 20.

The capsule holder 30 has a bottom wall 32 provided at the end of the side wall 31 on the bottom side. The bottom wall 32 is made of resin, for example. The bottom wall 32 is fixed to the bottom side end of the side wall 31 and closes the hollow portion surrounded by the inner peripheral surface of the side wall 31 at the bottom side end of the side wall 31 except for a communication hole 33 which will be described later.

A communication hole 33 penetrating in the first direction X is provided in the bottom wall 32 . The communication hole 33 is formed at a position overlapping the center line L when viewed from the first direction. When the cartridge 40 is accommodated inside the cartridge cover 20 and the capsule holder 30 is attached to the cartridge cover 20, the communication hole 33 is the first An aerosol flow path 46 is formed so as to be positioned inside the communication hole 33 .

A second heater 34 is provided on the side wall 31 of the capsule holder 30 . The second heater 34 has an annular shape along the substantially annular side wall 31 and extends in the first direction X. As shown in FIG. The second heater 34 heats the storage chamber 53 of the capsule 50 to heat the flavor source 52 stored in the storage chamber 53 . The second heater 34 may be any element that can heat the flavor source 52 by heating the housing chamber 53 of the capsule 50 . The second heater 34 may be, for example, a heating element such as a heating resistor, a ceramic heater, or an induction heater. The second heater 34 has a correlation between temperature and electrical resistance. As the second heater 34, for example, a heater having a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) characteristic is used in which the electrical resistance value increases as the temperature increases. Alternatively, the second heater 34 may have, for example, NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) characteristics in which the electrical resistance value decreases as the temperature increases.

With the cartridge cover 20 attached to the power supply unit 10 and the capsule holder 30 attached to the cartridge cover 20, the second heater 34 is electrically connected to the power supply 61 of the power supply unit 10 (FIGS. 6 and 6). See Figure 7). Specifically, when the cartridge cover 20 is attached to the power supply unit 10 and the capsule holder 30 is attached to the cartridge cover 20, the discharge terminal 17 (see FIG. 6) of the power supply unit 10 and the capsule holder 30 , the second heater 34 of the capsule holder 30 is electrically connected to the power supply 61 of the power supply unit 10 via the discharge terminal 17 and the connection terminals of the capsule holder 30. be.

(Configuration when using an aerosol inhaler)
The aerosol inhaler 1 configured as described above is used with the cartridge cover 20, the capsule holder 30, the cartridge 40, and the capsule 50 attached to the power supply unit 10. FIG. In this state, the aerosol inhaler 1 has an aerosol channel 90 formed by at least the first aerosol channel 46 provided in the cartridge 40 and the communication hole 33 provided in the bottom wall 32 of the capsule holder 30. It is formed. The aerosol channel 90 connects the heating chamber 43 of the cartridge 40 and the storage chamber 53 of the capsule 50 and transports the aerosol 72 generated in the heating chamber 43 from the heating chamber 43 to the storage chamber 53 .

Then, when the aerosol inhaler 1 is in use, when the user performs a suction operation from the suction port 58, the air that has flowed in from the air intake port (not shown) provided in the power supply unit case 11 will flow into the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. , the air is taken into the heating chamber 43 of the cartridge 40 from the air supply portion 13 provided on the top surface 11a of the power supply unit case 11. As shown in FIG. Further, the first heater 45 generates heat, the aerosol source 71 held by the wick 44 is heated, and the aerosol source 71 heated by the first heater 45 is vaporized and/or atomized in the heating chamber 43 . Then, the aerosol source 71 vaporized and/or atomized by the first heater 45 aerosolizes the air taken into the heating chamber 43 from the air supply section 13 of the power supply unit case 11 as a dispersion medium. The aerosol source 71 vaporized and/or atomized in the heating chamber 43 and the air taken into the heating chamber 43 from the air supply section 13 of the power supply unit case 11 pass through the first aerosol flow path 46 communicating with the heating chamber 43 . It flows through the first aerosol channel 46 from the first end 461 to the second end 462 of the first aerosol channel 46 while being further aerosolized. The aerosol 72 generated in this manner passes from the second end 462 of the first aerosol channel 46 through the communication hole 33 provided in the bottom wall 32 of the capsule holder 30 and is received from the inlet 54 of the capsule 50 . introduced into chamber 53;

The aerosol 72 introduced into the storage chamber 53 from the entrance portion 54 mixes with the flavor stored in the storage chamber 53 when flowing through the storage chamber 53 from the entrance portion 54 to the outlet portion 55 in the first direction X of the aerosol inhaler 1 . Flavor components are added from the flavor source 52 by passing through the source 52 .

In this way, the aerosol 72 flows in the first direction X of the aerosol inhaler 1 from the inlet portion 54 to the outlet portion 55 in the storage chamber 53 . Therefore, in the present embodiment, the flow direction of the aerosol 72 flowing from the inlet portion 54 to the outlet portion 55 in the storage chamber 53 is the cylindrical axis direction of the capsule 50 and the first direction X of the aerosol inhaler 1. It has become.

Furthermore, when the aerosol inhaler 1 is used, the second heater 34 provided in the capsule holder 30 generates heat to heat the storage chamber 53 . Thereby, the flavor source 52 accommodated in the accommodation chamber 53 and the aerosol 72 flowing through the accommodation chamber 53 are heated.

(Cartridge cover and color identification sensor)
As shown in FIG. 5, the cartridge cover 20 has a substantially annular outer peripheral wall 21 extending in the first direction X, and the outer peripheral wall 21 and the outer peripheral wall 21 are substantially concentric within the annular ring of the outer peripheral wall 21 . and a substantially annular inner peripheral wall 22 extending in the first direction X facing the . The outer peripheral wall 21 is made of, for example, metal such as stainless steel, and does not transmit light. The inner peripheral wall 22 is made of, for example, a resin such as polycarbonate, and is colorless and transparent to transmit light.

A space 23 is formed between the outer peripheral wall 21 and the inner peripheral wall 22 . A color identification sensor 24 capable of identifying the color of the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is provided in the space 23 . Therefore, the cartridge 40 is accommodated in the space inside the inner peripheral wall 22 surrounded by the inner peripheral wall 22 of the cartridge cover 20, and the color identification sensor 24 is separated from the space in which the cartridge 40 is accommodated by the inner peripheral wall 22. , are provided in a space 23 formed outside the inner peripheral wall 22 . As a result, even when the color identification sensor 24 is fixed to the cartridge cover 20 using solder, adhesive, or the like, the color identification sensor 24 cannot be fixed when the user performs the suction operation when using the aerosol inhaler 1 . It is possible to prevent the user from sucking components such as solder and adhesive used in the assembly.

The color identification sensor 24 is provided at a position facing the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 when the cartridge cover 20 is attached to the power supply unit 10 and the cartridge 40 is attached inside the cartridge cover 20 . In this embodiment, when the cartridge cover 20 is attached to the power supply unit 10 and the cartridge 40 is attached inside the cartridge cover 20 , the color identification sensor 24 detects the external surface of the cylindrical surface of the electrode portion 48 of the cartridge 40 . are arranged at positions facing each other on the outside in the radial direction.

The color identification sensor 24 receives light reflected from a light projecting portion 241 capable of projecting light into the interior of the cartridge cover 20 toward the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40, and the light reflected from the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40. and a color sensor unit 242 that quantifies the color components of light.

A light blocking member 25 that does not transmit light is provided between the color identification sensor 24 and the inner peripheral wall 22 of the cartridge cover 20 in the space 23 . The light shielding member 25 may be, for example, a light shielding film adhered to the surface of the inner peripheral wall 22 facing the outer peripheral wall 21 , or a surface of the inner peripheral wall 22 facing the outer peripheral wall 21 . A light-shielding film made of a material that does not transmit light and is formed as a film may also be used.

The light shielding member 25 is formed with a light transmitting portion 25a that transmits light. The light transmitting portion 25a is, for example, a through hole formed in the light shielding member 25. As shown in FIG. When the cartridge cover 20 is attached to the power supply unit 10 and the cartridge 40 is attached inside the cartridge cover 20, the light transmitting portion 25a is configured to transmit light to the light emitting portion 241 of the color identification sensor 24 and the coloring portion 49 of the cartridge 40. and between the color sensor portion 242 of the color identification sensor 24 and the coloring portion 49 of the cartridge 40, respectively. The light transmitting portion 25a is a light transmitting portion 241 and a color sensor portion 242 of the color identification sensor 24 when the cartridge cover 20 is attached to the power supply unit 10 and the cartridge 40 is attached inside the cartridge cover 20. It may be formed at a position and size between both and the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 .

The light projecting section 241 of the color identification sensor 24 projects white light inside the cartridge cover 20 toward the coloring section 49 of the cartridge 40 . The light projecting unit 241 has, for example, a blue LED element and a yellow phosphor, and the yellow phosphor is excited by the blue light emitted from the blue LED element and the blue light emitted from the blue LED element to emit light. White light may be produced by mixing with yellow light. The light projecting unit 241 includes, for example, a near-ultraviolet LED element, a red phosphor, a green phosphor, and a blue phosphor, and the red phosphor is excited by the near-ultraviolet light emitted from the near-ultraviolet LED element. White light is generated by mixing the emitted red light, the green light emitted when excited by the green phosphor, and the blue light emitted when excited by the blue phosphor. may The light projecting unit 241 has, for example, a red LED element, a green LED element, and a blue LED element, and emits red light emitted from the red LED element, green light emitted from the green LED element, and light emitted from the blue LED element. White light may be generated by mixing the blue light that is applied.

The white light projected from the light projecting portion 241 passes through the light transmitting portion 25 a of the light shielding member 25 and irradiates the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 . The white light irradiated to the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 reflects light of a specific wavelength according to the color of the colored portion 49 .

The color sensor portion 242 of the color identification sensor 24 receives the light reflected by the colored portion 49 in accordance with the color and passes through the light transmitting portion 25a of the light shielding member 25, and the light receiving portion receives the light. and an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the color components of the light.

For example, in the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24, the light receiving unit has a photodiode that receives the red component, a photodiode that receives the green component, and a photodiode that receives the blue component, and the analog-to-digital converter is , the amount of light received by each of the photodiode that receives the red component, the photodiode that receives the green component, and the photodiode that receives the blue component, the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the light received by the light receiving unit are set to 0, respectively. It quantifies to a value of ~255.

Further, for example, in the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24, the light receiving unit has a plurality of photodiodes that are wavelength-divided within the visible region, and the analog-to-digital converter converts the amount of light received by each photodiode into The red component, the green component, and the blue component of the light received by the light receiving section may each be quantified into values from 0 to 255.

At this time, since the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is formed so as not to transmit light, it is possible to increase the amount of reflected light reflected according to the color of the colored portion 49 . As a result, in the color sensor portion 242 of the color identification sensor 24, the light receiving portion can receive more light reflected according to the color of the colored portion 49, so that the color components of the light received by the light receiving portion can be quantified with high accuracy, and the color of the colored portion 49 can be identified with high accuracy.

The colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is colored red, green, or blue (in this embodiment, the colored portion 49 of the regular type cartridge 40 in which the aerosol source 71 not containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42). 49 is colored red, and the colored portion 49 of the menthol type cartridge 40 in which the aerosol source 71 containing menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42 is colored green). In the sensor unit 242, the color of the coloring unit 49 of the cartridge 40 is identified from the values of the red, green, and blue components of the light received by the light receiving unit, which are digitized by the analog-to-digital converter. becomes easier.

Further, since the color identification sensor 24 is provided on the cartridge cover 20, the color identification sensor 24 can be arranged in the vicinity of the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 without increasing the size of the aerosol inhaler 1. The color applied to the colored portion 49 can be identified.

A light blocking member 25 that does not transmit light is provided between the color identification sensor 24 and the inner peripheral wall 22 of the cartridge cover 20 . Since the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is irradiated through the light transmitting portion 25a, it is possible to prevent the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 from being irradiated with light other than the white light projected from the light projecting portion 241 . Further, a light blocking member 25 that does not transmit light is provided between the color identification sensor 24 and the inner peripheral wall 22 of the cartridge cover 20, and the color sensor portion 242 of the color identification sensor 24 is colored in the colored portion 49. Since the light is reflected according to the color of the light and received through the light transmitting portion 25a of the light shielding member 25, the color sensor portion 242 of the color identification sensor 24 reflects the light according to the color of the colored portion 49. Reception of light other than light can be suppressed. Accordingly, the color of the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 can be accurately identified in the color sensor portion 242 of the color identification sensor 24 .

The color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 determines the hue and saturation from the values of the red, green and blue components of the light received by the light receiving unit which are digitized by the analog-to-digital converter. ) and Lightness. In the HSL conversion, the hue (Hue) is a value of 0 to 360 degrees and the saturation (Saturation) is set to A value from 0 to 100 is converted to a value from 0 to 100 for the brightness. Thereby, the color components of the light received by the light receiving section can be quantified with high accuracy with respect to the variation in the light receiving luminance in the light receiving section.

Further, the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 uses the values of the red, green, and blue components of the light received by the light-receiving unit, which are digitized by the analog-to-digital converter, to determine the color of a known color sample book. You may convert into identification information.

The color identification sensor 24 has values of 0 to 255 for each of the red, green, and blue components of the light received by the light-receiving unit digitized by the analog-to-digital converter of the color sensor unit 242, and HSL-converted hue (Hue ) of 0 to 360 degrees, Saturation of 0 to 100, and Brightness of 0 to 100, and color identification information of the color sample book, at least one of It is output to the MCU 63 as information about the color of the coloring portion 49 of the cartridge 40 .

(details of power supply unit)
Next, details of the power supply unit 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, in the power supply unit 10, a DC/DC converter 66, which is an example of a voltage converter capable of converting the output voltage of the power supply 61 and applying it to the first heater 45, is installed in the power supply unit 10. It is connected between the first heater 45 and the power source 61 in the attached state. MCU 63 is connected between DC/DC converter 66 and power supply 61 . The second heater 34 is connected to a connection node provided between the MCU 63 and the DC/DC converter 66 when the cartridge 40 is attached to the power supply unit 10 . Thus, in the power supply unit 10 , the series circuit of the DC/DC converter 66 and the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 are connected in parallel to the power supply 61 when the cartridge 40 is attached.

The DC/DC converter 66 is a booster circuit controlled by the MCU 63 and capable of boosting an input voltage (for example, the output voltage of the power supply 61), and is configured to apply the input voltage or a voltage obtained by boosting the input voltage to the first heater 45. It is Since the power supplied to the first heater 45 can be adjusted by changing the voltage applied to the first heater 45 by the DC/DC converter 66, the amount of the aerosol source 71 vaporized or atomized by the first heater 45 can be controlled. As the DC/DC converter 66, for example, a switching regulator can be used that converts an input voltage into a desired output voltage by controlling the on/off time of a switching element while monitoring the output voltage. When a switching regulator is used as the DC/DC converter 66, by controlling the switching element, the input voltage can be directly output without being boosted. The DC/DC converter 66 may be used, for example, to set the voltage applied to the first heater 45 to V1 to V5 [V], which will be described later.

The MCU 63 is configured to acquire the temperature of the second heater 34, the temperature of the flavor source 52, or the temperature of the storage chamber 53 (that is, a second temperature T2 described later) in order to control discharge to the second heater 34. be. Also, the MCU 63 is preferably configured to acquire the temperature of the first heater 45 . The temperature of the first heater 45 can be used to suppress overheating of the first heater 45 and/or the aerosol source 71 and to highly control the amount of the aerosol source 71 vaporized or atomized by the first heater 45 .

The voltage sensor 671 measures and outputs the voltage value applied to the first heater 45 . The current sensor 672 measures and outputs the current value flowing through the first heater 45 . The output of the voltage sensor 671 and the output of the current sensor 672 are input to the MCU 63 respectively. The MCU 63 acquires the resistance value of the first heater 45 based on the output of the voltage sensor 671 and the output of the current sensor 672, and acquires the temperature of the first heater 45 based on the acquired resistance value of the first heater 45. .

If a constant current is passed through the first heater 45 when obtaining the resistance value of the first heater 45, the current sensor 672 in the first temperature detection element 67 is unnecessary. Similarly, if a constant voltage is applied to the first heater 45 when obtaining the resistance value of the first heater 45 , the voltage sensor 671 is not required in the first temperature detection element 67 .

The voltage sensor 681 measures and outputs the voltage value applied to the second heater 34 . The current sensor 682 measures and outputs the current value flowing through the second heater 34 . The output of the voltage sensor 681 and the output of the current sensor 682 are input to the MCU 63 respectively. The MCU 63 acquires the resistance value of the second heater 34 based on the output of the voltage sensor 681 and the output of the current sensor 682, and acquires the temperature of the second heater 34 based on the acquired resistance value of the second heater 34. .

Here, although the temperature of the second heater 34 does not strictly match the temperature of the flavor source 52 heated by the second heater 34, it can be regarded as substantially the same as the temperature of the flavor source 52. Also, although the temperature of the second heater 34 does not strictly match the temperature of the storage chamber 53 of the capsule 50 heated by the second heater 34, it can be regarded as substantially the same as the temperature of the storage chamber 53 of the capsule 50. can be done. Therefore, the second temperature detection element 68 can also be used as a temperature detection element for detecting the temperature of the flavor source 52 or the temperature of the storage chamber 53 of the capsule 50 .

If a constant current is passed through the second heater 34 when obtaining the resistance value of the second heater 34, the current sensor 682 in the second temperature detection element 68 is unnecessary. Similarly, if a constant voltage is applied to the second heater 34 when obtaining the resistance value of the second heater 34 , the voltage sensor 681 is not required in the second temperature detection element 68 .

Even if the second temperature detection element 68 is provided in the capsule holder 30 or the cartridge 40, the temperature of the second heater 34, the temperature of the flavor source 52, or the storage chamber 53 of the capsule 50 is determined based on the output of the second temperature detection element 68. However, it is preferable that the second temperature detection element 68 be provided in the power supply unit 10 that is replaced most frequently in the aerosol inhaler 1 . By doing so, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the capsule holder 30 and the cartridge 40 and provide the user with the capsule holder 30 and the cartridge 40, which are replaced more frequently than the power supply unit 10, at a low cost.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of the power supply unit 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows a specific example of a configuration that does not have the current sensor 682 as the second temperature detection element 68 and does not have the current sensor 672 as the first temperature detection element 67 .

As shown in FIG. 7, the power supply unit 10 includes a power supply 61, an MCU 63, an LDO regulator 65, a switch SW1, and a series circuit of a resistance element R1 connected in parallel to the switch SW1 and a switch SW2. A parallel circuit C2 consisting of a parallel circuit C1, a switch SW3, a resistor element R2 connected in parallel to the switch SW3, and a series circuit of the switch SW4, an operational amplifier OP1 and an analog-to-digital converter ADC1 that constitute the voltage sensor 671. , and an operational amplifier OP2 and an analog-to-digital converter ADC2 that constitute the voltage sensor 681 .

The resistive element described in this specification may be any element that has a fixed electrical resistance value, such as a resistor, diode, or transistor. In the example of FIG. 7, the resistive element R1 and the resistive element R2 are resistors.

The switch described in this specification is a switching element such as a transistor that switches between disconnection and conduction of a wiring path. It may be a field effect transistor such as a film semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET: Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor). Also, the switches described in this specification may be configured by relays. In the example of FIG. 7, each of the switches SW1 to SW4 is a transistor.

The LDO regulator 65 is connected to the main positive bus LU connected to the positive terminal of the power supply 61 . The MCU 63 is connected to the LDO regulator 65 and the main negative bus LD connected to the negative pole of the power supply 61 . The MCU 63 is also connected to each of the switches SW1 to SW4 and performs opening/closing control thereof. The LDO regulator 65 steps down the voltage from the power supply 61 and outputs it. The output voltage V0 of the LDO regulator 65 is also used as the operating voltage of each of the MCU 63, the DC/DC converter 66, the operational amplifier OP1, the operational amplifier OP2, and the notification unit 16.

The DC/DC converter 66 is connected to the main positive bus LU. The first heater 45 is connected to the main negative bus LD. A parallel circuit C1 is connected to the DC/DC converter 66 and the first heater 45 .

The parallel circuit C2 is connected to the main positive bus LU. The second heater 34 is connected to the parallel circuit C2 and the main negative bus LD.

The non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP1 is connected to the connection node between the parallel circuit C1 and the first heater 45. The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP1 is connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP1 and the main negative bus LD through a resistance element.

A non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 is connected to a connection node between the parallel circuit C2 and the second heater 34. The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 is connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 and the main negative bus LD through a resistance element.

The analog-to-digital converter ADC1 is connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP1. The analog-to-digital converter ADC2 is connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP2. The analog-to-digital converter ADC1 and the analog-to-digital converter ADC2 may be provided outside the MCU 63 .

(MCU)
Next, functions of the MCU 63 will be described. The MCU 63 includes a temperature detection section, a power control section, and a notification control section as functional blocks implemented by the processor executing a program stored in the memory 63a.

The temperature detection unit acquires the first temperature T1, which is the temperature of the first heater 45, based on the output of the first temperature detection element 67. In addition, the temperature detection section obtains a second temperature T2, which is the temperature of the second heater 34, the temperature of the flavor source 52, or the temperature of the storage chamber 53, based on the output of the second temperature detection element 68.

In the case of the circuit example shown in FIG. 7, the temperature detection unit controls the switch SW1, the switch SW3, and the switch SW4 to be in an interrupted state, and controls the switch SW2 to be in a conducting state. (the voltage value applied to the first heater 45) is acquired, and the first temperature T1 is acquired based on this output value.

The non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP1 may be connected to the terminal of the resistance element R1 on the DC/DC converter 66 side, and the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP1 may be connected to the terminal of the resistance element R1 on the switch SW2 side. . In this case, the temperature detection unit controls the switch SW1, the switch SW3, and the switch SW4 to be in a disconnected state, and controls the switch SW2 to be in a conductive state. voltage value applied to the resistance element R1) can be obtained, and the first temperature T1 can be obtained based on this output value.

Further, in the case of the circuit example shown in FIG. 7, the temperature detection unit controls the switch SW1, the switch SW2, and the switch SW3 to be in a disconnected state, and controls the switch SW4 to be in a conducting state. The output value of the device ADC2 (the voltage value applied to the second heater 34) is obtained, and the second temperature T2 is obtained based on this output value.

The non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 may be connected to the terminal of the resistive element R2 on the main positive bus LU side, and the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 may be connected to the terminal of the resistive element R2 on the switch SW4 side. In this case, the temperature detection unit controls the switch SW1, the switch SW2, and the switch SW3 to be in a disconnected state, and controls the switch SW4 to be in a conductive state. voltage value applied to the resistance element R2) can be obtained, and the second temperature T2 can be obtained based on this output value.

The notification control unit controls the notification unit 16 to notify the user of various types of information. For example, when the notification control unit detects that it is time to replace the capsule 50 , the notification control unit controls the notification unit 16 to issue a capsule replacement notification that prompts replacement of the capsule 50 . When the notification control unit detects that it is time to replace the cartridge 40 , the notification control unit controls the notification unit 16 to issue a cartridge replacement notification that prompts replacement of the cartridge 40 . Further, when the notification control unit detects that the power supply 61 has become low, the notification control unit controls the notification unit 16 so as to issue a notification prompting replacement or charging of the power supply 61, or changes the control state by the MCU 63 at a predetermined timing. (For example, menthol mode or regular mode, which will be described later) may be controlled to notify the notification unit 16 .

The power control unit controls discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 (hereinafter also simply referred to as discharge to the first heater 45) and discharge from the power supply 61 to the second heater 34 (hereinafter simply referred to as the second heater 34). For example, when the power supply unit 10 has the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 7, the power control section puts the switch SW2, the switch SW3, and the switch SW4 in the cutoff state (that is, off), and the switch SW1 in the conductive state ( That is, by turning it on, discharge to the first heater 45 can be realized. Further, when the power supply unit 10 has the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 7, the power control section puts the switches SW1, SW2, and SW4 in the cut-off state, and puts the switch SW3 in the conductive state. Discharge to the second heater 34 can be realized.

When the power control unit detects an aerosol generation request from the user based on the output of the intake sensor 62 (that is, when the user performs an inhalation operation), it causes the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 to discharge. . As a result, the heating of the aerosol source 71 by the first heater 45 (that is, the generation of the aerosol) and the heating of the flavor source 52 by the second heater 34 are performed according to the aerosol generation request. At this time, the power control unit controls the amount of flavor component added from the flavor source 52 (hereinafter simply referred to as flavor For example, the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 is controlled so that the flavor component amount W _flavor described later converges to a predetermined target amount. This target amount is a value determined as appropriate. For example, a target range for the amount of flavor component may be determined as appropriate, and the median value within this target range may be determined as the target amount. As a result, by converging the flavor component amount to the target amount, the flavor component amount can be converged to a target range with a certain width. Weight (for example, [mg]) may be used as the unit of the amount of flavor component and the target amount.

For example, the power control unit can be set when neither the aerosol source 71 nor the flavor source 52 contains menthol, or when only the aerosol source 71 of the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contains menthol. and the case where both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 of the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol. be different. Thereby, according to the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 attached to the aerosol inhaler 1 and the flavor source 52 of the capsule 50, the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 can be controlled appropriately. To stably supply a user with an aerosol containing an appropriate amount of flavor component and menthol. Concrete examples of the discharge mode to the first heater 45 and the discharge mode to the second heater 34 in each of these cases will be described later with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 and the like.

Also, appropriate discharge to the first heater 45 and discharge to the second heater 34 according to the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 attached to the aerosol inhaler 1 and the flavor source 52 of the capsule 50 are realized. Therefore, the MCU 63 is configured to be able to determine (identify) whether or not each of the aerosol source 71 stored in the cartridge 40 and the flavor source 52 accommodated in the capsule 50 contains menthol. The power control unit controls discharge to the first heater 45 and discharge to the second heater 34 based on this determination result (identification result). It should be noted that any method may be used to determine whether or not each of the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contains menthol. For example, as will be described later, the MCU 63 may determine whether the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 each contain menthol based on the operation performed on the operation unit 15 . Further, for example, as will be described later, the MCU 63 may determine whether or not each of the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contains menthol, regardless of the operation of the operation unit 15 by the user.

The MCU 63 has a plurality of modes for operating the aerosol inhaler 1 by controlling discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 and discharge from the power supply 61 to the second heater 34 . The MCU 63 has at least a regular mode described later, a menthol mode described later, and a sleep mode as modes for operating the aerosol inhaler 1 . In the sleep mode, the power consumption of the aerosol inhaler 1 is less than in the regular mode and the menthol mode, and the transition to the regular mode and the menthol mode can be made directly or indirectly. Additionally, the MCU 63 may further have a power mode as a mode for operating the aerosol inhaler 1 . In such a case, in the sleep mode, the power consumption of the aerosol inhaler 1 is less than in the power mode, and direct transition to the power mode is possible. Therefore, by causing the aerosol inhaler 1 to transition to the sleep mode, the MCU 63 can reduce the power consumption of the aerosol inhaler 1 while maintaining a state in which it is possible to return to another mode as necessary. In this embodiment, when the aerosol inhaler 1 operates in the sleep mode, the aerosol generation control is not executed even if the user performs an inhalation operation.

In the regular mode, the first heater 45 and the second The control of the discharge to the heater 34 is optimized. In the menthol mode, the first heater 45 and the second The control of the discharge to the heater 34 is optimized. The error mode is a mode that suppresses discharge from the power supply 61 to the second heater 34 , for example, a mode that controls discharge from the power supply 61 to the second heater 34 .

The above menthol mode may be subdivided into a first menthol mode and a second menthol mode. For example, the first menthol mode is when the flavor types of both the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 and the flavor source 52 of the capsule 50 attached to the aerosol inhaler 1 are menthol types (that is, the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 Both contain menthol). In the second menthol mode, of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 attached to the aerosol inhaler 1 and the flavor source 52 of the capsule 50, only the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 has a menthol flavor type (that is, the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52, only the aerosol source 71 contains menthol).

The _MCU ₆₃ determines the target temperature of the second heater 34 ( hereinafter also referred to as target temperature _{Tcap_target} ) is set. In the following description, the flavor component remaining amount W _capsule may simply be described as the remaining amount of the flavor source 52 .

The power control unit controls the temperature of the second heater 34 based on the output of the second temperature detection element 68 (hereinafter also referred to as temperature T _{cap_sense} ) to converge to the set target temperature T _{cap_target} from the power supply 61 . It controls discharge to the first heater 45 and discharge from the power source 61 to the second heater 34 .

Thereby, according to the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 attached to the aerosol inhaler 1 and the flavor source 52 of the capsule 50, the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 is appropriately controlled, To stably supply an aerosol containing a sufficient amount of flavor components and menthol to a user.

Specific examples of controlling the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 in each of these cases will be described later with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 and the like.

(Various parameters used for aerosol generation)
Before describing specific discharge control to the first heater 45 and the like by the MCU 63, here, various parameters used for discharge control to the first heater 45 and the like by the MCU 63 will be described.

The weight [mg] of the aerosol generated by heating by the first heater 45 and passing through the flavor source 52 (that is, inside the capsule 50) for one inhalation by the user is described as the aerosol weight W _aerosol . The power required to be supplied to the first heater 45 to generate the aerosol for the weight of the aerosol W _aerosol is referred to as atomization power P _liquid . Also, the supply time of the atomization power P _liquid to the first heater 45 is described as supply time t _sense . From the viewpoint of suppressing overheating of the first heater 45, etc., the supply time t _sense is provided with a predetermined upper limit value t _upper (for example, 2.4 [s]), and the MCU 63 sets the supply time t _sense to When the upper limit value _{t_upper} is reached, power supply to the first heater 45 is stopped regardless of the output value of the intake sensor 62 (see steps S38 and S39 described later).

Also, the weight of the flavor component contained in the flavor source 52 when the user performs the inhalation operation n _puff times (where n _puff is a natural number equal to or greater than 0) after the capsule 50 is attached to the aerosol inhaler 1 [mg] is described as the remaining flavor component W _capsule (n _puff ). Note that the weight [mg] of the flavor component contained in the flavor source 52 of the new capsule 50 (capsule 50 that has not been sucked even once since being attached), that is, the remaining amount of flavor component W _capsule (n _puff = 0) is also described as W _initial .

Also, the weight [mg] of the flavor component added to the aerosol passing through the flavor source 52 (that is, inside the capsule 50) for one inhalation action by the user is described as the flavor component amount W _flavor . A parameter related to the temperature of the flavor source 52 is described as a temperature parameter T _capsule . The temperature parameter T _capsule is a parameter that indicates the second temperature T2 described above, and is a parameter that indicates the temperature of the second heater 34, for example.

It has been experimentally found that the flavor component amount W _flavor depends on the residual flavor component W _capsule , the temperature parameter T _capsule and the aerosol weight W _aerosol . Therefore, the flavor component amount W _flavor can be modeled by the following equation (1).

W _flavor = β x (W _capsule x T _capsule ) x γ x W _aerosol (1)

β in the above formula (1) is a coefficient that indicates the ratio of how much flavor component is added to the aerosol when the aerosol generated for one inhalation action by the user passes through the flavor source 52. , which is determined experimentally. Also, γ in the above equation (1) is a coefficient obtained experimentally. Although the temperature parameter T _capsule and the remaining flavor component W _capsule may fluctuate during the period during which one suction operation is performed, γ is introduced here in order to treat them as constant values. there is

The flavor component remaining amount W _capsule decreases each time the user performs an inhalation operation. For this reason, the flavor component remaining amount W _capsule is inversely proportional to the number of times the suction operation has been performed (hereinafter, also referred to as the number of times of suction). Further, in the aerosol _inhaler 1, discharge to the first heater 45 is performed each time an inhalation operation is performed. It can also be said that it is inversely proportional to the number of times the first heater 45 is discharged or the cumulative value of the period during which the discharge to the first heater 45 is performed.

As can be seen from the above formula (1), assuming that the aerosol weight W _aerosol generated for one inhalation action by the user is controlled to be substantially constant, in order to stabilize the flavor component amount W _flavor , it is necessary to increase the temperature parameter T _capsule (ie, the temperature of the flavor source 52) as the remaining amount of flavor component W _capsule decreases (ie, the number of draws increases).

Therefore, when the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 among the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 and the flavor source 52 of the capsule 50 attached to the aerosol inhaler 1 is the regular type, the MCU 63 (power control unit) When the aerosol source 71 does not contain menthol, it operates in regular mode to control discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 . When operating in the regular mode, the MCU 63 controls discharge to the second heater 34 in order to increase the temperature of the flavor source 52 as the flavor component remaining amount W _capsule decreases (that is, the number of suctions increases). (See FIGS. 13 and 14).

On the other hand, the MCU 63 (power control unit) determines that the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 among the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 and the flavor source 52 of the capsule 50 attached to the aerosol inhaler 1 is menthol type. (ie, the aerosol source 71 contains menthol), it operates in a menthol mode different from the regular mode. When the MCU 63 operates in the menthol mode, from the viewpoint of supplying an appropriate amount of menthol to the user, the MCU 63 lowers the temperature of the flavor source 52 as the remaining amount of flavor component W _capsule decreases (that is, the number of inhalations increases). , discharge to the second heater 34 (see FIGS. 13 and 14). This makes it possible to supply the user with an appropriate amount of menthol, as will be described later.

By the way, if the temperature of the flavor source 52 is also lowered as the flavor component remaining amount W _capsule decreases, the flavor component amount W _flavor will decrease. Therefore, when the temperature of the flavor source 52 is lowered as the residual flavor component W _capsule decreases, the MCU 63 increases the voltage applied to the first heater 45 to increase the power supplied to the first heater 45. The aerosol weight W _aerosol may be increased by increasing the weight of the aerosol (see Figure 13). As a result, the decrease in the amount of flavor component W _flavor caused by lowering the temperature of the flavor source 52 in order to supply an appropriate amount of menthol to the user is reduced by the weight of the aerosol W _aerosol generated by heating by the first heater 45. Since it is possible to compensate for the increase, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the amount W _flavor of the flavor component supplied to the user's mouth and to stably supply the menthol and the flavor component to the user.

(Action of aerosol inhaler)
Next, an example of the operation of the aerosol inhaler 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 12. FIG. The operation of the aerosol inhaler 1 described below is realized, for example, by the processor of the MCU 63 executing a program pre-stored in the memory 63a.

<Power ON control>
As shown in FIG. 8, when the operation unit 15 is turned on by the user (step S1: YES), the MCU 63 executes power-on control to switch the mode of operating the aerosol inhaler 1 from the sleep mode to the power mode. mode (step S2). On the other hand, the MCU 63 waits while the mode for operating the aerosol inhaler 1 remains in the sleep mode until the operation unit 15 is turned on by the user (step S1: NO loop). That is, when YES is determined in step S1, the MCU 63 switches the mode for operating the aerosol inhaler 1 from the sleep mode to the power mode. The power-on operation is, for example, an operation in which the operation unit 15 is pressed three times consecutively within a predetermined time (for example, 2 [seconds]).

When the sleep mode is switched to the power mode, the MCU 63 controls the second heater 34 from the power supply 61 so that the temperature of the second heater 34 reaches a preset preheating temperature (hereinafter also referred to as preheating temperature T _{cap_pre} ). Preheating control for discharging to 34 may be performed. As a result, the temperature of the second heater 34 can be increased immediately after switching to the power mode. For example, when the MCU 63 performs aerosol generation control in menthol mode, the target temperature T _{cap_target} is initially set to a high 80[°C]. Therefore, it takes a certain amount of time to reach the target temperature T _{cap_target} , but by performing preheating control, it is possible to bring the second heater 34 closer to the target temperature T _{cap_target} in advance before detecting the aerosol generation request. can. As a result, even if the set target temperature T _{cap_target} is high, it is possible to stably supply the user with an appropriately flavored aerosol immediately after execution of the aerosol generation control (for example, the start of inhalation). becomes possible.

When the mode for operating the aerosol inhaler 1 transitions from the sleep mode to the power mode, the MCU 63 starts cartridge identification processing for identifying the flavor types of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 and the flavor source 52 of the capsule 50 (step S3). .

<Cartridge Identification Processing>
As shown in FIG. 9, in the cartridge identification process, the MCU 63 first determines whether or not the power-on control has just been executed (step S101). For example, if the cartridge identification process has not been executed even once after the execution of the power-on control, the MCU 63 determines that the power-on control has just been executed (step S101: YES), and proceeds to step S111, which will be described later. Execute aerosol source information acquisition processing. On the other hand, if the cartridge identification process has been executed one or more times after executing the power-on control, the MCU 63 determines that it is not immediately after the execution of the power-on control (step S101: NO), and determines whether the cartridge 40 has been replaced. It is determined whether or not (step S102).

Note that the MCU 63 may detect replacement of the cartridge 40 by any method in step S102.

For example, the MCU 63 may detect replacement of the cartridge 40 based on the electrical resistance value between the pair of discharge terminals 12 obtained using the voltage sensor 671 and current sensor 672 . The first heater 45 is connected between the pair of discharge terminals 12 and the pair of discharge terminals 12 are electrically connected. It is clear that the electric resistance value between the discharge terminals 12 that the MCU 63 can acquire differs between the state of being insulated by . Therefore, the MCU 63 can detect replacement of the cartridge 40 based on the electrical resistance value between the discharge terminals 12 .

In this embodiment, based on the electrical resistance value between the discharge terminals 12, the state where the connection terminal 47 of the cartridge 40 is not electrically connected to the discharge terminal 12 of the power supply unit 10 is changed to the discharge terminal 12 of the power supply unit 10. When it is detected that the connection terminal 47 of the cartridge 40 is electrically connected, it is determined that the cartridge 40 has been replaced.

If the cartridge 40 has been replaced (step S102: YES), there is a possibility that the cartridge 40 has been changed and the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 has been changed. Execute aerosol source information acquisition processing.

If the cartridge 40 has not been replaced (step S102: NO), it is determined whether or not a cartridge replacement notification (step S47) has been issued in the remaining amount update process (step S103). Note that step S102 may be omitted. That is, when negative determination is made in step S101 (step S101: NO), the MCU 63 may advance the process to step S103. By omitting step S102, the function of detecting replacement of the cartridge 40 described above becomes unnecessary, so the cost and volume of the power supply unit 10 can be reduced.

In the remaining amount update process, if the cartridge replacement notification (step S47) has been executed (step S103: YES), the cartridge 40 attached to the aerosol inhaler 1 has reached the end of its life. Therefore, even though the cartridge 40 has been replaced by the user after the cartridge replacement notification (step S47) is executed, there is a possibility that the detection of replacement of the cartridge 40 in step S102 is an erroneous detection. Therefore, the MCU 63 proceeds to the above-described step S111 and executes the aerosol source information acquisition process, which will be described later.

In the remaining amount update process, which will be described later, if the cartridge replacement notification (step S47) has not been executed (step S103: NO), the cartridge 40 has not been replaced since the previous cartridge identification process was executed, and the cartridge 40 has been replaced. It is considered that the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 has not been changed from the identification result in the previous cartridge identification process. Therefore, the MCU 63 reads the flavor type identification result of the aerosol source 71 in the previous cartridge identification process from the memory 63a. The MCU 63 sets the flavor type identification result of the aerosol source 71 to be the same as the flavor type identification result of the aerosol source 71 in the previous cartridge identification process (step S104). Then, the identification result of the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 in the cartridge identification process is saved in the memory 63a (step S105), and the cartridge identification process ends.

≪Aerosol source information acquisition processing≫
In the aerosol source information acquisition process, the aerosol stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is determined based on the information about the color of the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 identified by the color identification sensor 24 provided on the cartridge cover 20. Obtain information about the source 71 . In this embodiment, the flavor type information of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is acquired by the aerosol source information acquisition process.

In the aerosol source information acquisition process, the MCU 63 first controls the color identification sensor 24 to project white light from the light projecting section 241 toward the coloring section 49 of the cartridge 40 into the inside of the cartridge cover 20 ( step S111). The white light projected from the light projecting portion 241 passes through the light transmitting portion 25 a of the light shielding member 25 and irradiates the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 . The white light irradiated to the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 reflects light of a specific wavelength according to the color of the colored portion 49 . The light receiving portion of the color sensor portion 242 receives the light reflected from the colored portion 49 according to the color of the colored portion 49 and passed through the light transmitting portion 25 a of the light shielding member 25 . Then, the analog-to-digital converter of the color sensor section 242 digitizes the color components of the light received by the light receiving section.

The color identification sensor 24 has values of 0 to 255 for each of the red, green, and blue components of the light received by the light-receiving unit digitized by the analog-to-digital converter of the color sensor unit 242, and the HSL-converted hue ( Hue) value of 0 to 360 degrees, Saturation value of 0 to 100, Brightness value of 0 to 100, and at least one of the color identification information of the color sample book , to the MCU 63 as information about the color of the coloring portion 49 of the cartridge 40 .

In the memory 63a of the MCU 63, information about the color of the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 obtained from the color identification sensor 24 and the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 are linked. A coloring portion-aerosol source correspondence table is stored.

The MCU 63 refers to the colored portion-aerosol source correspondence table stored in the memory 63a, and based on the information about the color of the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 acquired from the color identification sensor 24, the storage chamber of the cartridge 40 Information on the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in 42 is obtained (step S112).

In this embodiment, the colored portion 49 of the regular type cartridge 40 in which the aerosol source 71 not containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42 is colored red, and the aerosol source 71 containing the menthol 80 is stored in the storage chamber 42. The colored portion 49 of the stored menthol type cartridge 40 is colored green. The colored portion-aerosol source correspondence table stored in the memory 63a indicates that the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is red, and that the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 does not contain menthol 80. It is associated with being a regular type, with the fact that the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is green, and that the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is of the menthol type including the menthol 80 . is attached. Then, the MCU 63 refers to the colored portion-aerosol source correspondence table stored in the memory 63a, and obtains information from the color identification sensor 24 indicating that the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is red. At some point, the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is identified as the regular type that does not contain the menthol 80 . The MCU 63 also refers to the colored portion-aerosol source correspondence table stored in the memory 63a, and obtains information from the color identification sensor 24 indicating that the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 is green. At some point, the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is identified as being of the menthol type containing the menthol 80 . In this way, the MCU 63 acquires flavor type information of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 based on the information about the color of the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 acquired from the color identification sensor 24. get.

In this way, the MCU 63 detects the aerosol stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 based on the information about the color of the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 identified by the color identification sensor 24 provided on the cartridge cover 20 . An aerosol source information acquisition process can be performed to acquire information about the source 71 . Since the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 can be molded with colored resin, the aerosol inhaler 1 adds a step of attaching identification information such as a bar code, a two-dimensional code, or a projection to the cartridge 40 when manufacturing the cartridge 40. Information about the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 can be obtained without the need to do so. As a result, the aerosol inhaler 1 can acquire information about the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40, and the step of attaching identification information to the cartridge 40 is unnecessary, thereby reducing man-hours during manufacturing.

Next, the MCU 63 determines whether information on the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 has been acquired in step S112 executed immediately before (step S113).

If information on the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 has been acquired in step S112 executed immediately before (step S113: YES), the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is The flavor type is set to the acquired flavor type information (step S114). Then, in step S105, the identification result of the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 in the cartridge identification process is stored in the memory 63a, and the cartridge identification process ends.

If the flavor type information of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 could not be obtained in step S112 executed immediately before (step S113: NO), the flavor type identification result of the aerosol source 71 is The type is set (step S115). Then, in step S105, the identification result of the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 in the cartridge identification process is stored in the memory 63a, and the cartridge identification process ends.

As described above, the MCU 63 executes the cartridge identification process after the operation unit 15 is turned on by the user, and the connection terminal 47 of the cartridge 40 is not electrically connected to the discharge terminal 12 of the power supply unit 10 . Then, when the connection terminal 47 of the cartridge 40 is electrically connected to the discharge terminal 12 of the power supply unit 10, the aerosol source information acquisition process is executed.

Therefore, the state in which the connection terminal 47 of the cartridge 40 is not electrically connected to the discharge terminal 12 of the power supply unit 10 changes to the state in which the connection terminal 47 of the cartridge 40 is electrically connected to the discharge terminal 12 of the power supply unit 10. When there is a high probability that the cartridge 40 attached to the aerosol inhaler 1 has been replaced, the aerosol source information acquisition process can be executed. As a result, the number of times the aerosol source information acquisition process is executed can be reduced, and the power consumption of the power supply 61 consumed by the aerosol source information acquisition process can be saved.

Further, in the present embodiment, after the operation unit 15 is turned on by the user, that is, after the mode for operating the aerosol inhaler 1 is switched from the sleep mode to the power mode, the cartridge identification including the aerosol source information acquisition process is performed. Execute the process. Therefore, since the aerosol source information acquisition process is not executed in the sleep mode, power consumption of the power supply 61 in the sleep mode can be further reduced. Thereby, the power consumption of the power supply 61 can be further saved.

The aerosol inhaler 1 receives the identification result of the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the memory 63a by the cartridge identification processing, that is, information on whether or not the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 contains menthol. can be sent to the outside.

For example, in the aerosol inhaler 1, the charging terminal 14 is a receptacle of a terminal capable of transmitting and receiving data such as a USB terminal and a microUSB terminal. Information on whether or not menthol is contained in the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is transmitted to an external information terminal such as a smartphone or a computer via a cable having a terminal such as a terminal and a microUSB terminal. can be

Further, for example, in the aerosol inhaler 1, a wireless communication chip capable of wireless communication with the outside is accommodated in the hollow portion of the power supply unit case 11, and the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 contains menthol. The wireless communication chip may transmit information about whether or not the wireless communication is available to an external information terminal such as a smart phone or a computer by wireless communication.

As a result, information regarding whether or not the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 contains menthol can be confirmed by an external information terminal such as a smartphone or a computer. It is possible to operate in cooperation with an external information terminal such as a computer.

In addition, the memory 63a of the aerosol inhaler 1 can accumulate and store the identification results of the aerosol source identification processing executed in the past. Information regarding whether or not menthol is contained in may be transmitted to the outside.

As a result, the history of the cartridge 40 attached to the aerosol inhaler 1 in the past can be transmitted to the outside, so that the information such as the flavor and taste preferred by the user of the aerosol inhaler 1 can be transmitted to the external information such as a smartphone or a computer. can be collected on your device. Further, when the user brings the aerosol inhaler 1 to a store for repair or the like, it is possible to collect the history of the cartridges 40 attached to the aerosol inhaler 1 in the past in the customer service center server or the like. Therefore, the customer service of the aerosol inhaler 1 can be improved by utilizing the history information of the cartridges 40 attached to the aerosol inhaler 1 in the past.

<Standby control>
As shown in FIG. 10, when the cartridge identification process ends, the MCU 63 determines whether the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is menthol type based on the identification result of the cartridge identification process. is determined (step S4). In the cartridge identification process, if the flavor type identification result of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is set to the menthol type, the MCU 63 determines affirmatively in step S4 (step S4: YES), The process proceeds to step S5. Subsequently, the MCU 63 switches the mode for operating the aerosol inhaler 1 from the power mode to the menthol mode (step S5), and executes menthol mode processing. On the other hand, when the identification result of the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 is not set to the menthol type in the cartridge identification process, the MCU 63 performs the storage chamber of the cartridge 40 in the cartridge identification process. If the identification result of the flavor type of the aerosol source 71 stored in 42 is set to the regular type, a negative determination is made in step S4 (step S4: NO), and the process proceeds to step S6. Subsequently, the MCU 63 switches the mode for operating the aerosol inhaler 1 from the power mode to the regular mode (step S6), and executes regular mode processing.

≪Menthol mode treatment≫
In the menthol mode process, the MCU 63 first notifies the user of the menthol mode through the notification unit 16 (step S7). At this time, the MCU 63 notifies the menthol mode by causing the light emitting element 161 to emit green light and vibrating the vibrating element 162, for example.

Next, the MCU ₆₃ _{determines the target temperature T cap_target} _of the second heater 34 and the atomization power supplied to the first heater 45 ( hereinafter also referred to as atomization power P _liquid ) is set (step S8), and the process proceeds to step S21. Here, the flavor component remaining amount W _capsule (n _puff -1) is W initial if the suction operation has not been performed even once after the new capsule 50 has been attached, and is W _initial if the suction operation has been performed one or more times. The flavor component remaining amount W _capsule (n _puff ) calculated by the immediately preceding remaining amount updating process (described later) is obtained. A specific setting example of the target temperature T _{cap_target} and the like in the menthol mode will be described later with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 and the like.

≪Regular mode processing≫
In the regular mode process, the MCU 63 first notifies the user of the regular mode through the notification unit 16 (step S9). At this time, the MCU 63 notifies the regular mode by, for example, causing the light emitting element 161 to emit white light and vibrating the vibrating element 162 .

Next, the MCU 63 achieves the target temperature T _{cap_target} of the second heater 34 and the target flavor component amount W _flavor based on the flavor component remaining amount W _capsule (n _puff −1) contained in the flavor source 52 . Determine the aerosol weight _{W_aerosol} required for (step S10). In step S10, the MCU 63 calculates the aerosol weight W _aerosol from, for example, the following formula (2) obtained by modifying the above formula (1), and determines the calculated aerosol weight W _aerosol .

β and γ in the above formula (2) are the same as β and γ in the above formula (1) and are determined experimentally. In addition, in the above formula (2), the target flavor component amount W _flavor is set in advance by the manufacturer of the aerosol inhaler 1 . The remaining amount of flavor component W _capsule (n _puff -1) in the above equation (2) becomes W _initial if no suction operation has been performed after the new capsule 50 has been attached, and the suction operation has been performed once. If the above processes have been performed, the flavor component remaining amount W _capsule (n _puff ) calculated by the last remaining amount updating process is obtained.

Next, the MCU 63 sets the atomization power P _liquid to be supplied to the first heater 45 based on the aerosol weight W _aerosol determined in step S10 (step S11). In step S11, the MCU 63 calculates the atomization power P _liquid from, for example, the following equation (3), and sets the calculated atomization power P _liquid .

α in the above equation (3) is a coefficient obtained experimentally, like β and γ. Also, the aerosol weight W _aerosol in the above formula (3) is the aerosol weight W _aerosol determined in step S10. Further, t in the above equation (3) is the supply time t _sense for which the atomization power P _liquid is expected to be supplied, and can be the upper limit value t _upper , for example.

Next, the MCU 63 determines whether or not the atomization power P _liquid determined in step S11 is equal to or less than a predetermined upper limit power that can be discharged from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 at that time (step S12). If the atomization power P _liquid is equal to or less than the upper limit power (step S12: YES), the MCU 63 proceeds to step S21 described above. On the other hand, if the atomization power P _liquid exceeds the upper limit power (step S12: NO), the MCU 63 increases the target temperature T _{cap_target} by a predetermined amount (step S13), and returns to step S10.

That is, as can be seen from the above equation (1), by increasing the target temperature T _{cap_target} (that is, T _capsule ), the aerosol weight W _aerosol required to achieve the target flavor component amount W _flavor is correspondingly reduced. As a result, the atomization power P _liquid determined in step S11 can be reduced. By repeating steps S10 to S13, the MCU 63 can make the determination of step S12, which was initially determined as NO, eventually become YES, and can shift to step S21 shown in FIG.

<Discharge control>
As shown in FIG. 11, the MCU 63 then acquires the current temperature of the second heater 34 (hereinafter also referred to as temperature T _{cap_sense} ) based on the output of the second temperature detection element 68 (step S21). . The temperature T _{cap_sense} , which is the temperature of the second heater 34, is an example of the aforementioned temperature parameter T _capsule . Here, an example in which the temperature of the second heater 34 is used as the temperature parameter T _capsule will be described. good.

Next, based on the target temperature T _{cap_target} set in the menthol mode process or the regular mode process and the acquired temperature T _{cap_sense} , the MCU 63 controls the temperature T cap_sense from the power supply 61 so that the temperature T _{cap_sense} converges to the target temperature T _{cap_target} . The discharge to the 2 heater 34 is controlled (step S22). At this time, the MCU 63 performs PID (Proportional-Integral-Differential) control, for example, so that the temperature T _{cap_sense} converges to the target temperature T _{cap_target} .

As the control for converging the temperature T _{cap_sense} to the target temperature T _{cap_target} , instead of PID control, ON/OFF control for turning on/off the power supply to the second heater 34, P (proportional) control, or PI (proportional control) -Integral) control or the like may be used. Also, the target temperature T _{cap_target} may have hysteresis.

Next, the MCU 63 determines whether or not there is an aerosol generation request (step S23). If there is no aerosol generation request (step S23: NO), the MCU 63 determines whether or not a predetermined period has passed without an aerosol generation request (step S24). If the predetermined period has not elapsed without an aerosol generation request (step S24: NO), the MCU 63 returns to step S21.

When a predetermined period of time elapses without an aerosol generation request (step S24: YES), the MCU 63 stops discharging to the second heater 34 (step S25), and switches the operating mode of the aerosol inhaler 1 to the sleep mode. (Step S26), and proceeds to step S51, which will be described later.

<Aerosol generation control>
On the other hand, if there is an aerosol generation request (step S23: YES), the MCU 63 executes aerosol generation control. First, the MCU 63 temporarily stops heating the flavor source 52 by the second heater 34 (that is, discharging to the second heater 34), and acquires the temperature T _{cap_sense} based on the output of the second temperature detection element 68 ( step S30). Note that the MCU 63 does not have to stop heating the flavor source 52 by the second heater 34 (that is, discharge to the second heater 34) when executing step S11.

Next, the MCU 63 determines whether or not the acquired temperature T _{cap_sense} is higher than the set target temperature T _{cap_target} −δ (where δ≧0) (step S31). This δ can be arbitrarily determined by the manufacturer of the aerosol inhaler 1 . If the temperature T _{cap_sense} is higher than the target temperature T _{cap_target} −δ (step S31: YES), the MCU 63 sets the current atomization power P _liquid −Δ (where Δ>0) as the new atomization power P _liquid . (Step S32), and proceeds to step S35.

On the other hand, if the temperature T _{cap_sense} is not higher than the target temperature T _{cap_target} −δ (step S31: NO), the MCU 63 determines whether the temperature T _{cap_sense} is lower than the target temperature T _{cap_target} −δ (step S33). . If the temperature T _{cap_sense} is lower than the target temperature T _{cap_target} −δ (step S33: YES), the MCU 63 sets the current atomization power P _liquid +Δ as a new atomization power P _liquid (step S34), and step S35. proceed to

On the other hand, if the temperature T _{cap_sense} is not lower than the target temperature T _{cap_target} - δ (step S33: NO), the MCU 63 maintains the current atomization power P _liquid because the temperature T _{cap_sense} = target temperature T _{cap_target} - δ. Then, the process proceeds to step S35.

_Details _will be described later with reference to FIG. Change to [°C]. Immediately after the target temperature T _{cap_target} is changed, the temperature T _{cap_sense} (for example, 80 [° C.]), which is the temperature of the second heater 34 at that time, is changed to the target temperature T _{cap_target} (that is, 60 [° C.]) after the change. ) may have been exceeded. In such a case, the MCU 63 makes a NO determination in step S32 and performs the process of step S34 to reduce the atomization power P _liquid . As a result, even if the actual temperature of the flavor source 52, the second heater 34, etc. is higher than 60 [° C.] immediately after the target temperature T _{cap_target} is changed from 80 [° C.] to 60 [° C.]. However, the atomization power P _liquid can be reduced to reduce the amount of the aerosol source 71 generated by heating by the first heater 45 and supplied to the flavor source 52 . Therefore, excessive supply of menthol into the user's mouth can be suppressed, and an appropriate amount of menthol can be stably supplied to the user.

Next, the MCU 63 notifies the user of the current mode (step S35). For example, in the case of the menthol mode (that is, when the menthol mode process is executed), the MCU 63 notifies the user of the menthol mode by, for example, causing the light emitting element 161 to emit green light in step S35. On the other hand, in the case of the regular mode (that is, when the regular mode process is executed), the MCU 63 notifies the user of the regular mode by, for example, causing the light emitting element 161 to emit white light in step S35.

Next, the MCU 63 controls the DC/DC converter 66 so that the atomization power P _liquid set in step S33 or step S34 is supplied to the first heater 45 (step S36). Specifically, the MCU 63 controls the voltage applied to the first heater 45 by the DC/DC converter 66 so that the atomization power P _liquid is supplied to the first heater 45 . Thereby, the atomization power P _liquid is supplied to the first heater 45, the aerosol source 71 is heated by the first heater 45, and the aerosol source 71 that is vaporized and/or atomized is generated.

Next, the MCU 63 determines whether or not the aerosol generation request has ended (step S37). If the aerosol generation request has not ended (step S37: NO), the MCU 63 determines whether the elapsed time from the start of the supply of the atomization power P _liquid , that is, the supply time t _sense has reached the upper limit value t _upper . is determined (step S38). If the supply time t _sense has not reached the upper limit value t _upper (step S38: NO), the MCU 63 returns to step S36. In this case, the supply of atomization power P _liquid to the first heater 45, that is, the generation of the vaporized and/or atomized aerosol source 71 continues.

On the other hand, when the aerosol generation request has ended (step S37: YES) and when the supply time t _sense reaches the upper limit value t _upper (step S38: YES), the MCU 63 supplies the atomization power to the first heater 45. The supply of P _liquid (that is, the discharge to the first heater 45) is stopped (step S39), and the aerosol generation control ends.

In this way, the MCU 63 controls the discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 and the discharge from the power supply 61 to the second heater 34 in menthol mode or regular mode when executing aerosol generation control.

<Remaining amount update process>
As shown in FIG. 12 , when the aerosol generation control ends, the MCU 63 executes remaining amount update processing for calculating the remaining amount of the flavor component contained in the flavor source 52 .

In the remaining amount update process, the MCU 63 first acquires the supply time t _sense during which the atomization power P _liquid is supplied (step S41). Next, the MCU 63 adds "1" to n _puff , which is the count value of the puff number counter (step S42).

Then, the MCU 63 stores the acquired supply time t _sense , the atomization power P _liquid supplied to the first heater 45 in response to the aerosol generation request, and the target temperature T _{cap_target} set when the aerosol generation request was detected. , the remaining amount of flavor component W _capsule (n _puff ) contained in the flavor source 52 is updated (step S43). For example, the MCU 63 calculates the residual flavor component W _capsule (n _puff ) from the following equation (4), and stores the calculated residual flavor component W _capsule (n _puff ) in the memory 63a. Update the quantity W _capsule (n _puff ).

α in the above formula (4) is the same as α in the above formula (3) and is obtained experimentally. β and γ in the above formula (4) are the same as β and γ in the above formula (1) and are determined experimentally. δ in the above equation (4) is the same as δ used in step S32 and is set in advance by the manufacturer of the aerosol inhaler 1 .

Next, the MCU 63 determines whether or not the updated flavor component remaining amount W _capsule (n _puff ) is less than a predetermined remaining amount threshold, which is a condition for notifying capsule replacement (step S44). If the remaining amount of flavor ingredient W _capsule (n _puff ) after updating is equal to or greater than the remaining amount threshold (step S44: NO), the flavor ingredient contained in the flavor source 52 (that is, in the capsule 50) still remains sufficiently. Therefore, the MCU 63 directly proceeds to step S51.

On the other hand, if the updated flavor component remaining amount W _capsule (n _puff ) is less than the remaining amount threshold (step S44: YES), it is considered that the flavor ingredient contained in the flavor source 52 is almost gone. It is determined whether or not the number of exchanges of the capsule 50 after the exchange of 40 is a predetermined number (step S45). For example, in this embodiment, one cartridge 40 is provided to the user in a form in which five capsules 50 are combined. In this case, in step S25, the MCU 63 determines whether or not the capsule 50 has been replaced five times after the cartridge 40 has been replaced.

If the number of exchanges of the capsules 50 after the cartridge 40 is exchanged is not the predetermined number (five times in this embodiment) (step S45: NO), the remaining amount of the aerosol source 71 in the cartridge 40 is equal to the remaining amount of the unused flavor source 52. The MCU 63 presumes that the amount is equal to or greater than the amount required to reduce the amount to the threshold value or less, and the cartridge 40 is still usable, and notifies the capsule replacement (step S46). In this embodiment, the MCU 63 blinks the light-emitting element 161 in green when the aerosol inhaler 1 is operating in the menthol mode, and in white when the aerosol inhaler 1 is operating in the regular mode. , to notify capsule exchange.

On the other hand, if the capsule 50 has been replaced a predetermined number of times (five times in the present embodiment) after the cartridge 40 has been replaced (step S45: YES), the remaining amount of the aerosol source 71 in the cartridge 40 is equal to the unused flavor source 52 The MCU 63 assumes that the remaining amount of the cartridge 40 is less than the amount required to reduce the remaining amount to the threshold value or less, and determines that the cartridge 40 has reached the end of its life, and notifies the cartridge replacement (step S47). In this embodiment, the MCU 63 notifies the replacement of the cartridge by blinking the light emitting element 161 in blue.

Next, the MCU 63 executes counter reset control to reset the count value of the puff number counter to 1, and initializes the setting of the target temperature T _{cap_target} (step S48). In initializing the setting of the target temperature T _{cap_target} , the MCU 63 sets the target temperature T _{cap_target} to −273 [° C.], which is absolute zero, for example. Thereby, substantially, regardless of the temperature of the second heater 34 at that time, the discharge to the second heater 34 is stopped, and the heating of the flavor source 52 by the second heater 34 can be stopped.

<Power off control>
Next, the MCU 63 determines whether or not the operation unit 15 has been turned off by the user (step S51). In this embodiment, the power off operation is an operation of keeping the operation unit 15 pressed for a predetermined time (for example, 3 [seconds]) or more. When it is determined that the operation unit 15 has not been turned off by the user (step S51: NO), the MCU 63 returns to step S3. On the other hand, when the operation unit 15 is turned off by the user (step S51: YES), the MCU 63 executes power off control to switch the mode of operating the aerosol inhaler 1 to the sleep mode (step S52). ), ending the series of processes.

Thus, the MCU 63 controls discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 based on the result of the cartridge identification process including the aerosol source information acquisition process. Thereby, according to the type of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 attached to the aerosol inhaler 1, the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 is appropriately controlled, and an appropriate amount of flavor component and aerosol is produced. It can be stably supplied to users.

More specifically, the MCU 63 can control discharge from the power source 61 to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 in a plurality of modes, and based on the result of the cartridge identification process including the aerosol source information acquisition process, a plurality of , and discharge from the power source 61 to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 is controlled in the selected mode. As a result, with simple control, the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 can be appropriately controlled according to the type of the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 attached to the aerosol inhaler 1, and an appropriate amount of discharge can be achieved. Flavor components and aerosols can be stably supplied to users.

In this embodiment, the discharge from the power source 61 to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 can be controlled in a plurality of modes including at least the regular mode and the menthol mode. If information indicating that menthol is contained in is acquired, the discharge from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 is controlled in the menthol mode, and in the aerosol source information acquisition process, the aerosol source 71 contains menthol. When the information indicating that it is not included is acquired, the discharge from the power source 61 to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 is controlled in the regular mode. Therefore, the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 is appropriately controlled depending on whether the aerosol source 71 of the cartridge 40 attached to the aerosol inhaler 1 contains menthol or does not contain menthol. , an aerosol containing an appropriate amount of flavor component and menthol can be stably supplied to the user.

Further, in the present embodiment, in the aerosol source information acquisition process, if information regarding whether or not the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 contains menthol cannot be acquired, the power source 61 is switched to the first mode in the regular mode. It controls discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 . Therefore, when the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 does not contain menthol, it is possible to reliably prevent the MCU 63 from controlling discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 in the menthol mode. . As a result, it is possible to prevent the generation of unintended flavor and taste due to the heating of the aerosol source 71 not containing menthol in the menthol mode, and at least the flavor and taste derived from the flavor source can be stably supplied to the user.

(Calibration processing)
Next, calibration of the color identification sensor 24 in the aerosol inhaler 1 will be described.

The aerosol inhaler 1 is capable of calibrating the color identification sensor 24 after shipment from the factory. The calibration of the color identification sensor 24, which will be described below, is realized, for example, by the processor of the MCU 63 executing a calibration processing program pre-stored in the memory 63a.

In the calibration process, the MCU 63 first causes the color sensor section 242 of the color identification sensor 24 to receive inspection light having a predetermined color component numerical value.

For example, a light emitting device capable of emitting inspection light and housed in the cartridge cover 20 is housed in the cartridge cover 20 instead of the cartridge 40, and the light emitting device housed in the cartridge cover 20 emits inspection light. Light having predetermined numerical values of color components such as red, green, and blue may also be used. Alternatively, the inspection light may emit a plurality of lights having different numerical values of color components such as red, green, and blue, and cause the color sensor section 242 of the color identification sensor 24 to receive each light.

Further, for example, an inspection device that can be accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 is accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 in place of the cartridge 40, and the inspection device, in the state accommodated in the cartridge cover 20, is at least the light projection part 241 of the color identification sensor 24. and the area facing the color sensor unit 242 is colored with a color having a predetermined numerical value of the color component, and the white light projected from the light projecting unit 241 is used as a color having a predetermined numerical value of the color component in the inspection apparatus. Alternatively, the light may be reflected by a colored area, and the color sensor section 242 of the color identification sensor 24 may receive the light reflected from the area. That is, the inspection light may be white light projected from the light projecting unit 241 and reflected by a region colored with a predetermined color component numerical value in the inspection apparatus. In addition, at least the area facing the light projection unit 241 and the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 has a plurality of inspection devices colored with colors having different numerical values of color components such as red, green, and blue, The color sensor section 242 of the color identification sensor 24 may receive the light reflected from each of the inspection devices colored with different color component numerical values.

Upon receiving the inspection light, the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 quantifies the color components of the received inspection light. For example, the color sensor unit 242 converts the red, green, and blue components of the inspection light received by the light receiving unit into numerical values of 0 to 255, respectively. Then, the color identification sensor 24 outputs to the MCU 63 values of 0 to 255 for each of the red, green, and blue components of the inspection light received by the light receiving section.

The memory 63a of the MCU 63 stores information on numerical values of predetermined color components of the inspection light. For example, the memory 63a of the MCU 63 stores values of 0 to 255 for each of the red, green, and blue components of the inspection light.

Next, the MCU 63 uses the color sensor unit 242 based on the numerical values of the predetermined color components of the inspection light stored in the memory 63a and the numerical values of the color components of the inspection light digitized by the color sensor unit 242. Calibrate the numerical values of the color components of the digitized light. For example, the MCU 63 is digitized by the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 so as to match the values of 0 to 255 for each of the red, green, and blue components of the inspection light stored in the memory 63a. The red component, green component, and blue component of the inspection light received by the light receiving unit are each calibrated to a value of 0 to 255.

In this way, the MCU 63 causes the color sensor unit 242 to receive the inspection light having the numerical value of the predetermined color component, and the color sensor unit 242 detects the numerical value of the predetermined color component of the inspection light stored in the memory 63a. A calibration process for calibrating the numerical values of the color components of the inspection light digitized by the color sensor unit 242 can be executed based on the converted numerical values of the color components of the inspection light.

As a result, even after the aerosol inhaler 1 is shipped from the factory, the color identification sensor 24 can be calibrated. Therefore, even if the aerosol inhaler 1 is used for a long period of time, the color identification sensor 24 will reduce the accuracy. The color applied to the colored portion 49 of the cartridge 40 can be identified without having to do so.

In the calibration process, the MCU 63 may cause the color sensor unit 242 to digitize the calibrated light color component values, or the color sensor unit 242 may digitize the light color components. may be corrected by the MCU 63 so as to become the calibrated numerical values of the color components of the light.

(Modified example of calibration processing)
Next, a modified example of calibration of the color identification sensor 24 in the aerosol inhaler 1 will be described.

The cartridge cover 20 may be provided with an openable and closable shutter capable of preventing light from entering the cartridge cover 20 from outside. For example, when the shutter is closed, light outside the cartridge cover 20 can be prevented from entering the cartridge cover 20 .

Further, the cartridge cover 20 may be provided with a shutter open/close sensor capable of detecting that the aforementioned shutter is closed. For example, the shutter open/close sensor has a Hall element or the like, and outputs a signal indicating that the shutter is closed to the MCU 63 when the shutter is closed.

The MCU 63 can detect whether or not the cartridge 40 is housed in the cartridge cover 20 by any method. Note that the MCU 63 may detect whether or not the cartridge 40 is accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 by any method.

For example, the MCU 63 may detect whether the cartridge 40 is accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 based on the electrical resistance value between the pair of discharge terminals 12 obtained using the voltage sensor 671 and current sensor 672. . A state in which the cartridge 40 is housed in the cartridge cover 20 and the first heater 45 is connected between the pair of discharge terminals 12 so that the pair of discharge terminals 12 are conductive, and a state in which the cartridge 40 is not housed in the cartridge cover 20. , and the state in which the first heater 45 is not connected between the pair of discharge terminals 12 and the pair of discharge terminals 12 are insulated by air. is. Therefore, the MCU 63 can detect whether or not the cartridge 40 is accommodated in the cartridge cover 20 based on the electrical resistance value between the discharge terminals 12 by any method.

For example, the MCU 63 determines that the obtained electric resistance value between the discharge terminals 12 is the electric resistance value when the pair of discharge terminals 12 are insulated by the air, and the shutter opening/closing sensor indicates that the shutter is closed. When the signal indicating that the cartridge is present is input, it is determined that the cartridge 40 is not housed in the cartridge cover 20 and that light from the outside of the cartridge cover 20 does not enter the inside of the cartridge cover 20 . , the light projecting portion 241 of the color identification sensor 24 projects inspection light.

For example, the inspection light is white light projected from the light projecting section 241 . Note that the inspection light may be light having a color component different from the white light, which is projected from the light projecting section 241 .

For example, the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 21 of the cartridge cover 20 facing the inside of the ring is colored black or white. Therefore, in the inspection light projected from the light projecting portion 241, the light of a specific wavelength is not absorbed by the outer peripheral wall 21 of the cartridge cover 20, and the color sensor portion 242 of the color identification sensor 24 does not 241 receives the inspection light having the color components as it was projected.

When the color sensor unit 242 of the color identification sensor 24 receives the inspection light having the color components as projected from the light projecting unit 241, it quantifies the color components of the received inspection light. For example, the color sensor unit 242 converts the red, green, and blue components of the inspection light received by the light receiving unit into numerical values of 0 to 255, respectively. Then, the color identification sensor 24 outputs to the MCU 63 values of 0 to 255 for each of the red, green, and blue components of the inspection light received by the light receiving section.

The memory 63a of the MCU 63 stores information about the numerical values of the predetermined color components of the inspection light projected from the light projecting section 241. For example, the memory 63a of the MCU 63 stores values of 0 to 255 for each of the red, green, and blue components of the inspection light.

In this way, the MCU 63 detects the light projecting portion of the color identification sensor 24 in a state where the cartridge 40 is not housed in the cartridge cover 20 and no light from the outside of the cartridge cover 20 enters the inside of the cartridge cover 20 . Inspection light having a predetermined color component numerical value is emitted from 241, and the predetermined color component numerical value of the inspection light stored in the memory 63a and the color component numerical value of the inspection light digitized by the color sensor unit 242 are obtained. , a calibration process for calibrating the numerical values of the color components of the inspection light digitized by the color sensor unit 242 can be executed.

(Specific control example in menthol mode)
Next, a specific example of control in the menthol mode described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, including a comparison with an example of control in the regular mode.

In the aerosol inhaler 1, if at least one of the aerosol source 71 stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 and the flavor source 52 stored in the capsule 50 contains menthol 80, the user inhales menthol. An aerosol 72 containing 80 can be delivered to the user. At this time, the aerosol inhaler 1 is connected to the first heater 45, which is the heater for heating the aerosol source 71 stored in the cartridge 40, and the second heater 34, which is the heater for heating the capsule 50 (that is, the flavor source 52). It is preferable to appropriately control the discharge of the battery to stably supply an appropriate amount of menthol to the user. Below, the control of the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 was optimized when both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contained menthol 80 and when only the aerosol source 71 contained menthol. A specific example of control in the menthol mode will be described.

<When both the aerosol source and the flavor source contain menthol>
First, a specific example of control in the menthol mode when both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80 will be described with reference to FIG. 13, including a comparison with an example of control in the regular mode.

Here, after the new capsule 50 is attached to the aerosol inhaler 1, until the residual amount of the flavor component in the capsule 50 becomes less than the residual amount threshold (that is, the residual amount of the flavor component in the capsule 50 is almost It is assumed that the suction operation is performed a predetermined number of times (until it is exhausted). It is also assumed that a sufficient amount of the aerosol source 71 is stored in the storage chamber 42 of the cartridge 40 while the predetermined number of suction operations are being performed.

In each of (a), (b), and (c) of FIG. 13 , the horizontal axis indicates the remaining amount of flavoring ingredient [mg] (that is, the remaining amount of flavoring ingredient W _capsule ) contained in the flavor source 52 in the capsule 50. ing. The vertical axis in (a) of FIG. 13 indicates the target temperature (that is, the target temperature T _{cap_target} ) [°C] of the second heater 34 that heats the capsule 50 (that is, the flavor source 52). The vertical axis in (b) of FIG. 13 indicates the voltage [V] applied to the first heater 45 that heats the aerosol source 71 stored in the cartridge 40 .

Also, the vertical axis on the left side in (c) of FIG. 13 indicates the amount of menthol [mg/puff] supplied into the user's mouth by one suction operation. The vertical axis on the right side of FIG. 13(c) indicates the amount of flavor component [mg/puff] supplied into the user's mouth by one suction operation. The amount of menthol supplied into the user's mouth by one suction operation is hereinafter also referred to as a unit supply amount of menthol. Further, the amount of flavor component supplied into the user's mouth by one sucking operation is hereinafter also referred to as a unit supply amount of flavor component.

In FIG. 13, the first period Tm1 is a fixed period immediately after the capsule 50 is replaced. Specifically, the first period Tm1 is the period from when the remaining amount of flavoring component in the capsule 50 is W _initial to when it reaches W _th1 preset by the manufacturer of the aerosol inhaler 1 . Here, W _th1 is set to a value smaller than W _initial and larger than W _th2 , which is the above-described residual capacity threshold, which is a condition for notifying capsule replacement. For example, W _th1 can be the remaining amount of the flavor component when about 10 suction operations have been performed since the new capsule 50 was attached. In FIG. 13, the second period _Tm2 is the period after the first period _Tm1 . be.

When both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80, the MCU 63 controls discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 in menthol mode, as described above. Specifically, in the menthol mode in this case, as indicated by the thick solid line in FIG. .

The target temperature (80[°C]) of the second heater 34 in the first period Tm1 in this case is an example of the first target temperature in the present invention. For example, the target temperature of the second heater 34 (that is, the first target temperature) in the first period Tm1 in this case is higher than the melting point of menthol (eg, 42 to 45 [° C.]) and the boiling point of menthol (eg, 212 to 45° C.). 216[°C]). In this case, the target temperature (that is, the first target temperature) of the second heater 34 in the first period Tm1 may be 90[° C.] or less. Thereby, in the present embodiment, the temperature of the second heater 34 (that is, the flavor source 52) is controlled to converge to 80[° C.], which is an example of the first target temperature, during the first period Tm1. Therefore, during the first period Tm1, the menthol 80 adsorbed to the flavor source 52 is heated to an appropriate temperature by the second heater 34, thereby suppressing rapid detachment of the menthol 80 from the flavor source 52. It is possible to stably supply an appropriate amount of menthol to users.

Then, in the menthol mode in which both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80, in the subsequent second period Tm2, the MCU 63 sets the target temperature of the second heater 34 to 60 [° C.], which is lower than the target temperature in The target temperature (60[° C.]) of the second heater 34 in the second period Tm2 in this case is an example of the second target temperature in the present invention. For example, the target temperature (that is, the second target temperature) of the second heater 34 in the second period Tm2 in this case is also higher than the melting point of menthol and lower than the boiling point of menthol. Further, the target temperature of the second heater 34 (that is, the second target temperature) in the second period Tm2 in this case may also be 90[° C.] or less. Thereby, in the present embodiment, the temperature of the second heater 34 (that is, the flavor source 52) is controlled to converge to 60[° C.], which is an example of the second target temperature, during the second period Tm2. Therefore, even in the second period Tm2, the menthol 80 adsorbed to the flavor source 52 is heated to an appropriate temperature by the second heater 34, so that desorption of the menthol 80 from the flavor source 52 progresses rapidly. It is possible to suppress and stably supply an appropriate amount of menthol to the user.

Thus, in the menthol mode in which both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain the menthol 80, when the second period Tm2 comes, the temperature of the second heater 34 (that is, the flavor source 52) is reduced to the immediately preceding first temperature. The temperature is controlled to converge to a temperature lower than the period Tm1. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the temperature of the second heater 34 (that is, the flavor source 52) is 60 [° C.] during the second period Tm2, which is lower than 80 [° C.] during the immediately preceding first period Tm1. controlled to converge.

In addition, in the menthol mode in which both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80, as indicated by the thick solid line in FIG. The voltage applied to is V1 [V]. This V1 [V] is an example of the first voltage in the present invention, and is a voltage preset by the manufacturer of the aerosol inhaler 1 . As a result, in the first period Tm1 in this case, power corresponding to the applied voltage V1 [V] is supplied from the power supply 61 to the first heater 45, and the amount of vaporized and/or atomized aerosol source corresponding to the power is supplied. 71 is produced by the first heater 45 .

Then, in the menthol mode in which both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80, the MCU 63 changes the voltage applied to the first heater 45 to V2 [V] during the subsequent second period Tm2. do. This V2 [V] is an example of the second voltage in the present invention, and is a voltage higher than V1 [V] as shown in FIG. 13(b). V2 [V] is preset by the manufacturer of the aerosol inhaler 1 . Note that the MCU 63 can apply voltages such as V1 [V] and V2 [V] to the first heater 45 by controlling the DC/DC converter 66, for example.

Thus, in the menthol mode in which both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80, the applied voltage (here, V2 [V]) to the first heater 45 during the second period Tm2 is the first The voltage is higher than the voltage applied to the first heater 45 (here, V1 [V]) during the period Tm1.

Therefore, in the menthol mode in which both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80, during the second period Tm2, the power supplied to the first heater 45 increases more than the previous first period Tm1. do. Along with this, the amount of the vaporized and/or atomized aerosol source 71 generated by the first heater 45 also increases from the previous first period Tm1.

An example of a unit supply amount of menthol when both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80 and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage applied to the first heater 45 in the menthol mode described above. is shown in the unit supplied menthol amount 131a in FIG. 13(c).

Also, both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80, and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage applied to the first heater 45 in the above menthol mode. An example of the amount is shown in the unit supplied flavor component amount 131b in FIG. 13(c).

For comparison with the unit supply amount of menthol 131a and the unit supply amount of flavor component 131b, assume that the MCU 63 supplies the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 even though both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80. An example in which the discharge to (that is, the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage applied to the first heater 45) is controlled in the regular mode will be described.

In the regular mode, the MCU 63 sets the target temperature of the second heater 34 in the first period Tm1 and the second period Tm2 to, for example, 30[° C.], The temperature is increased in stages such as 60[°C], 70[°C], and 85[°C]. The target temperature and the timing of changing the target temperature are set in advance by the manufacturer of the aerosol inhaler 1 . As another example, the timing of changing the target temperature of the second heater 34 in the regular mode is determined from the remaining flavor component [mg] contained in the flavor source 52 in the capsule 50 (that is, the remaining flavor component W _capsule ). may be determined.

Here, the maximum value of the target temperature of the second heater 34 in the first period Tm1 of the regular mode (here, 70 [° C.]) is the target temperature of the second heater 34 in the first period Tm1 of the menthol mode (here, 80 [° C.]). [°C]). In addition, the minimum value of the target temperature of the second heater 34 in the second period Tm2 of the regular mode (here, 70 [° C.]) is the target temperature of the second heater 34 in the second period Tm2 of the menthol mode (here, 60 [° C.]). °C]).

In the regular mode, the MCU 63 sets the voltage applied to the first heater 45 during the first period Tm1 and the second period Tm2 to a constant V3 [V], as indicated by the thick dashed line in FIG. ]. This V3 [V] is higher than V1 [V] and lower than V2 [V], and is preset by the manufacturer of the aerosol inhaler 1 . Note that the MCU 63 can apply a voltage such as V3 [V] to the first heater 45 by controlling the DC/DC converter 66, for example.

An example of a unit supply amount of menthol when both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80 and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage applied to the first heater 45 in the regular mode. is shown in the unit supplied menthol amount 132a in FIG. 13(c).

In addition, when both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80, and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage applied to the first heater 45 in the above regular mode, the unit supplied flavor component An example of the amount is shown in unit supply flavor component amount 132b in FIG. 13(c).

That is, even when both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80, the discharge to the first heater 45 and the second heater 34 (that is, the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the When the applied voltage) is controlled, the target temperature of the second heater 34 during the first period Tm1 is lower than when these are controlled by the menthol mode. temperature decreases.

Therefore, when both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80, when the discharge to the first heater 45 and the like is controlled in the regular mode, the flavor source 52 ( Specifically, it takes longer for the tobacco granules 521) and the menthol 80 to reach an adsorption equilibrium state. During this time, most of the menthol 80 derived from the aerosol source 71 is adsorbed on the flavor source 52, and less menthol 80 can pass through the flavor source 52.

From the above, when both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80, when the discharge to the first heater 45 and the like is controlled in the regular mode, the unit supply amount of menthol 131a is greater than when controlled in the menthol mode. And as shown in the unit supply menthol amount 132a, the unit supply menthol amount that can be supplied to the user during the first period Tm1 decreases. Therefore, if this is done, there is a possibility that a sufficient amount of menthol cannot be supplied to the user during the first period Tm1.

On the other hand, in the menthol mode in which both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80, the MCU 63 causes the flavor source 52 (more specifically, the tobacco granules 521) and the menthol 80 to reach an adsorption equilibrium state. In the first period Tm1 assumed to be the previous period, the temperature of the second heater 34 (that is, the flavor source 52) is increased to about 80[°C]. As a result, the MCU 63 can prompt the flavor source 52 (specifically, the tobacco granules 521) and the menthol 80 in the capsule 50 to quickly reach an adsorption equilibrium state in the first period Tm1. of the menthol 80 originating from the aerosol source 71 and supplied to the user's mouth without being adsorbed on the flavor source 52 can be ensured. Furthermore, in the first period Tm1, the MCU 63 detaches from the flavor source 52 (specifically, the tobacco granules 521) and is supplied into the user's mouth by heating the second heater 34 (that is, the flavor source 52) to a high temperature. Menthol 80 from flavor source 52 may also be increased. Therefore, as shown in the unit supply amount of menthol 131a, a sufficient amount of menthol can be supplied to the user from the time when the flavor component contained in the flavor source 52 is sufficient (when the product is new).

In FIG. 13(c), the unit supply amount of menthol 133a is set so that the second heater 34 does not heat the flavor source 52 when both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80. An example of the amount of menthol supplied per unit is shown. In this case, the temperature of the second heater 34 (that is, the flavor source 52) during the first period Tm1 becomes room temperature (see RT in (c) of FIG. 13). Therefore, even in this case, as shown in the unit supplied menthol amount 133a, the temperature of the flavor source 52 during the first period Tm1 is higher than in the case where the discharge to the first heater 45 or the like is controlled in the menthol mode. Due to the low level, a sufficient amount of menthol cannot be supplied to the user during the first period Tm1.

By the way, in order to supply a sufficient amount of menthol to the user during the first period Tm1, the target temperature of the second heater 34 during the first period Tm1 is set high in the menthol mode. However, if the flavor source 52, which has reached a high temperature after the first period Tm1, continues to be heated at a higher temperature even during the second period Tm2, a large amount of menthol is supplied to the user, which may lead to deterioration of the flavor and taste.

Therefore, as described above, in the menthol mode, the target temperature of the second heater 34 in the second period Tm2 is set lower than the target temperature of the second heater 34 in the first period Tm1. This prevents the flavor source 52, which has reached a high temperature after Tm1, from continuing to be heated at a high temperature even in the second period Tm2. As a result, as shown in the unit supply amount of menthol 131a, the flavor is By lowering the temperature of the source 52, the amount of menthol 80 that can be adsorbed by the flavor source 52 (more specifically, the tobacco granules 521) can be increased, and an increase in the amount of menthol supplied per unit can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to supply an appropriate amount of menthol to the user during the second period Tm2.

In addition, in the menthol mode, the target temperature of the second heater 34 during the second period Tm2 is set low in order to prevent a large amount of menthol from being supplied to the user during the second period Tm2. However, when the target temperature of the second heater 34 is set low in this way, although an increase in the unit amount of menthol supplied during the second period Tm2 can be suppressed, the unit amount of flavor component supplied during the second period Tm2 also decreases, which is sufficient for the user. It is conceivable that it will not be possible to provide a good sucking response.

Therefore, in the menthol mode in which both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80, the MCU 63 sets the voltage applied to the first heater 45 during the first period Tm1 to V1 [V], Assume that the voltage applied to the first heater 45 in the second period Tm2 is V2 [V] higher than V1 [V]. As a result, the voltage applied to the first heater 45 can be changed to a higher V2 [V] in accordance with the second period Tm2, in which the target temperature of the second heater 34 is changed to a lower 60 [° C.]. Therefore, in the second period Tm2, the amount of the aerosol source 71 generated by heating by the first heater 45 and supplied to the flavor source 52 can be increased. It is possible to suppress the decrease in the unit amount of flavor component supplied in the second period Tm2.

<Specific control example when only the aerosol source contains menthol>
Next, a specific example of control by the MCU 63 when only the aerosol source 71 contains menthol 80 will be described with reference to FIG. In the menthol mode in which only the aerosol source 71 contains menthol 80, only the voltage applied to the first heater 45 during the first period Tm1 and the second period Tm2 is such that both the aerosol source 71 and the flavor source 52 contain menthol 80. It is different from menthol mode when it contains . 13 will be mainly described below, and the description of the same portions as those of FIG. 13 will be omitted as appropriate.

In the menthol mode in which only the aerosol source 71 contains menthol 80, the MCU 63 reduces the voltage applied to the first heater 45 during the first period Tm1 to V4, as indicated by the thick solid line in FIG. Let it be [V]. This V4 [V] is a voltage higher than V3 [V] as shown in FIG. 14(b) and is a voltage preset by the manufacturer of the aerosol inhaler 1. As a result, in the first period Tm1 in this case, power corresponding to the applied voltage V3 [V] is supplied from the power source 61 to the first heater 45, and the amount of vaporized and/or atomized aerosol source corresponding to the power is supplied. 71 is produced by the first heater 45 .

Then, in the menthol mode in which only the aerosol source 71 contains menthol 80, the MCU 63 sets the voltage applied to the first heater 45 to V5 [V] during the subsequent second period Tm2. This V5 [V] is a voltage higher than V3 [V] and lower than V4 [V], as shown in FIG. 14(b). V5 [V] is preset by the manufacturer of the aerosol inhaler 1 . Note that the MCU 63 can apply a voltage such as V4 [V] or V5 [V] to the first heater 45 by controlling the DC/DC converter 66, for example.

An example of the unit supply amount of menthol when only the aerosol source 71 contains menthol 80 and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage applied to the first heater 45 in the above menthol mode is shown in FIG. (c) in the unit supply amount of menthol 141a.

An example of the unit amount of flavor component supplied when only the aerosol source 71 contains menthol 80 and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage applied to the first heater 45 in the above menthol mode is shown in FIG. It is shown in the unit supply flavor component amount 141b in (c) of 14.

In addition, when only the aerosol source 71 contains menthol 80 and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage applied to the first heater 45 in the regular mode, an example of the unit supply amount of menthol is The amount of menthol supplied per unit 142a in FIG. 14(c) is shown.

An example of the unit supply amount of flavor component when only the aerosol source 71 contains menthol 80 and the MCU 63 controls the target temperature of the second heater 34 and the voltage applied to the first heater 45 in the regular mode is shown in FIG. The amount of flavor component to be supplied per unit 142b in (c) of 14 is shown.

An example of the unit supply amount of menthol when only the aerosol source 71 contains the menthol 80 and the heating of the flavor source 52 by the second heater 34 is not performed is the unit supply menthol in (c) of FIG. Quantity 143a is shown.

An example of the unit supply flavor component amount when only the aerosol source 71 contains menthol 80 and the second heater 34 does not heat the flavor source 52 is the unit supply flavor component amount in FIG. is shown in quantity 143b.

That is, when only the aerosol source 71 contains menthol 80, that is, in the menthol mode when the flavor source 52 does not contain menthol 80, the MCU 63 reduces the voltage applied to the first heater 45 during the first period Tm1 to V4 [V], and the voltage applied to the first heater 45 in the subsequent second period Tm2 is V5 [V], which is lower than V4 [V]. As a result, during the first period Tm1, which is assumed to be the time before the flavor source 52 (more specifically, the tobacco granules 521) and the menthol 80 reach an adsorption equilibrium state in the capsule 50, the first heater 45 is set to a high V4 [ V] (ie, more power to first heater 45) can be applied to increase the amount of aerosol source 71 generated by heating by first heater 45 and delivered to flavor source 52.

Therefore, before the flavor source 52 and the menthol 80 reach an adsorption equilibrium state, of the menthol 80 derived from the aerosol source 71, the amount of the menthol 80 supplied to the user's mouth without being adsorbed to the flavor source 52 is increased. In addition, the flavor source 52 and the menthol 80 in the capsule 50 can be promoted to quickly reach an adsorption equilibrium state. Therefore, an appropriate and sufficient amount of menthol can be stably supplied to the user from the time when the flavor component contained in the flavor source 52 is sufficient (for example, the start of smoking).

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. It is obvious that a person skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications or modifications within the scope described in the claims, and these also belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Understood. Moreover, each component in the above embodiments may be combined arbitrarily without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, in the aerosol inhaler 1, the power supply unit 10 is provided with a first heater 45 that heats and vaporizes and/or atomizes the aerosol source, and the aerosol source is stored instead of the cartridge 40 and the capsule 50. A removable aerosol source storage unit may be provided. The aerosol source storage unit may be, for example, a detachable refill in which the aerosol source is stored and the flavor source such as tobacco leaves is stored. In this case, the colored portion 49 is formed in an aerosol source storage unit such as a refill.

Also, for example, the colored portion 49 may be colored in any color, not limited to red, green, and blue.

Also, for example, the overall shape of the aerosol inhaler 1 is not limited to the shape in which the power supply unit 10, the cartridge 40, and the capsule 50 are arranged in a line as shown in FIG. The aerosol inhaler 1 only needs to be configured such that the cartridge 40 and the capsule 50 can be replaced with respect to the power supply unit 10, and any shape such as a substantially box-like shape can be adopted.

Also, for example, in the present embodiment, the capsule holder 30 is provided with the second heater 34, but the second heater 34 may not be provided.

Further, for example, in the present embodiment, the light shielding member 25 that does not transmit light is provided between the color identification sensor 24 and the inner peripheral wall 22 of the cartridge cover 20. However, the light shielding member 25 is not provided. It doesn't have to be.

Also, for example, the capsule 50 may be configured to be replaceable with respect to the power supply unit 10, and may be detachable from the power supply unit 10.

At least the following matters are described in this specification. Components in parentheses are shown as an example corresponding to the above-described embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this.

(1) a detachable aerosol source storage unit (cartridge 40) storing an aerosol source (aerosol source 71);
a heater (first heater 45) that heats the aerosol source to vaporize and/or atomize;
a power supply unit (power supply unit 10) having a power supply (power supply 61) electrically connected to the heater and a controller (MCU 63) capable of controlling discharge from the power supply to the heater;
An aerosol generator (aerosol inhaler 1) comprising
A colored portion (colored portion 49) is formed in the aerosol source storage unit,
The aerosol generating device further comprises a color identification sensor (color identification sensor 24) capable of identifying the color of the colored portion,
The controller is
an aerosol source information acquisition process for acquiring information on the aerosol source stored in the aerosol source storage unit based on information on the color of the colored portion identified by the color identification sensor; Aerosol generator.

According to (1), the controller can execute the aerosol source information acquisition process based on the information about the color of the colored portion identified by the color identification sensor. Information on the aerosol source stored in the aerosol source storage unit can be obtained without the need to add identification information such as barcodes, two-dimensional codes, or projections to the aerosol source storage unit during manufacturing. As a result, the aerosol generator can acquire information about the aerosol source stored in the aerosol source storage unit, and the step of attaching identification information to the aerosol source storage unit is unnecessary, thereby reducing man-hours during manufacturing.

(2) The aerosol generator according to (1),
The aerosol source storage unit,
a storage chamber (storage chamber 42) for storing the aerosol source;
a heating chamber (heating chamber 43) provided with the heater;
a detachable cartridge (cartridge 40) having an electrode portion (electrode portion 48) provided with a connection terminal (connection terminal 47) electrically connected to the heater,
The power supply of the power supply unit is electrically connected to the heater via the connection terminal,
The aerosol generating device, wherein the coloring section is formed in the cartridge.

According to (2), the aerosol generating device does not need to add identification information such as a bar code, a two-dimensional code, or a protrusion to the cartridge when manufacturing the cartridge, and the aerosol stored in the storage chamber of the cartridge Information about the source can be obtained. As a result, the aerosol generator can acquire information about the aerosol source stored in the storage chamber of the cartridge, and the process of attaching identification information to the cartridge is unnecessary, thereby reducing man-hours during manufacturing.

(3) The aerosol generator according to (2),
The aerosol generating device, wherein the colored portion is formed on the electrode portion of the cartridge.

According to (3), since the colored portion is formed in the electrode portion of the cartridge, it is possible to acquire information about the aerosol source stored in the storage chamber of the cartridge by manufacturing the electrode portion of the cartridge in a predetermined color. Become. As a result, the man-hours for manufacturing the aerosol generating device can be further reduced.

(4) The aerosol generator according to (2) or (3),
The controller is
An aerosol generating device that controls discharge from the power supply to the heater based on the result of the aerosol source information acquisition process.

According to (4), the controller controls discharge from the power supply to the heater based on the result of the aerosol source information acquisition process. By properly controlling discharge to the heater, it is possible to stably supply an appropriate amount of flavor component or aerosol to the user.

(5) The aerosol generator according to (4),
The controller is
discharge from the power supply to the heater can be controlled in a plurality of modes;
The aerosol generating device, which selects one mode from the plurality of modes based on the result of the aerosol source information acquisition process, and controls discharge from the power supply to the heater in the selected mode.

According to (5), the controller selects one mode from a plurality of modes based on the result of the aerosol source information acquisition process, and controls the discharge from the power supply to the heater in the selected mode. Therefore, discharge to the heater can be appropriately controlled according to the type of aerosol source of the cartridge attached to the aerosol generator, and an appropriate amount of flavor component and aerosol can be stably supplied to the user.

(6) The aerosol generator according to (4),
The controller is
Discharge from the power supply to the heater can be controlled in multiple modes including at least a regular mode and a menthol mode,
In the aerosol source information acquisition process, if information indicating that the aerosol source contains menthol is acquired, controlling discharge from the power supply to the heater in the menthol mode,
The aerosol generating device, wherein in the aerosol source information acquisition process, when information indicating that the aerosol source does not contain menthol is acquired, the discharge from the power supply to the heater is controlled in the regular mode.

According to (6), in the aerosol source information acquisition process, if information indicating that the aerosol source contains menthol is acquired, the controller controls discharge from the power source to the heater in the menthol mode, and the aerosol source information In the acquisition process, if information indicating that the aerosol source does not contain menthol is acquired, discharge from the power supply to the heater is controlled in regular mode, so that the aerosol source of the cartridge attached to the aerosol generation device is menthol. Depending on whether or not menthol is included, the discharge to the heater can be appropriately controlled to stably supply the user with an aerosol containing an appropriate amount of flavor component and menthol.

(7) The aerosol generator according to (6),
The controller is
In the aerosol source information acquisition process, if the information regarding whether or not the aerosol source stored in the storage chamber of the cartridge contains menthol cannot be acquired, discharge from the power source to the heater is performed in the regular mode. Controlled aerosol generator.

According to (7), in the aerosol source information acquisition process, if the controller fails to acquire information on whether or not the aerosol source stored in the storage chamber of the cartridge contains menthol, the controller switches from the power source to the heater in the regular mode. Therefore, if the aerosol source stored in the storage chamber of the cartridge does not contain menthol, it is possible to reliably prevent the discharge to the heater from being controlled in the menthol mode. As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of unintended flavor and taste due to the menthol-free aerosol source being heated in the menthol mode, and at least the flavor and taste derived from the flavor source can be stably supplied to the user.

(8) The aerosol generator according to any one of (2) to (7),
The power supply unit further comprises a connector (discharge terminal 12) electrically connected to the power supply,
the connection terminal of the cartridge is detachably electrically connected to the connector;
The controller is
Transitioning from a state in which the connection terminal of the cartridge is not electrically connected to the connector of the power supply unit to a state in which the connection terminal of the cartridge is electrically connected to the connector of the power supply unit. an aerosol generating device that executes the aerosol source information acquisition process using the above as a trigger.

According to (8), the controller transitions from a state in which the connection terminals of the cartridge are not electrically connected to the connector of the power supply unit to a state in which the connection terminals of the cartridge are electrically connected to the connector of the power supply unit. That is, the aerosol source information acquisition process can be executed when there is a high probability that the cartridge attached to the aerosol generating device has been replaced. As a result, the number of times the aerosol source information acquisition process is executed can be reduced, and the power consumed by the aerosol source information acquisition process can be saved.

(9) The aerosol generator according to (8),
The aerosol generating device further comprises a user-operable operation unit (operation unit 15),
The controller is
After the operation unit is operated by the user, the connection terminal of the cartridge is connected to the connector of the power supply unit from a state in which the connection terminal of the cartridge is not electrically connected to the connector of the power supply unit. An aerosol generating device that executes the aerosol source information acquisition process with transition to an electrically connected state as a trigger.

According to (9), the controller executes the aerosol source information acquisition process after the user operates the operation unit, so the power consumption of the power supply can be further saved.

(10) The aerosol generator according to any one of (2) to (9),
The aerosol generating device, wherein the colored portion is formed so as not to transmit light.

According to (10), since the colored portion is formed so as not to transmit light, it is possible to increase the amount of reflected light reflected according to the color of the colored portion. Thereby, in the color identification sensor, it is possible to accurately identify the color of the colored portion.

(11) The aerosol generator according to any one of (2) to (10),
The aerosol generating device, wherein the colored portion is colored red, green, or blue.

According to (11), the colored portion is colored red, green, or blue, so that the color identification sensor can easily identify the color of the colored portion.

(12) The aerosol generator according to any one of (2) to (11),
further comprising a storage medium (memory 63a) capable of storing information on whether or not the aerosol source stored in the storage chamber of the cartridge contains menthol, which is acquired by the aerosol source information acquisition process;
An aerosol generating device capable of externally transmitting information regarding whether or not menthol is contained in the aerosol source stored in the storage chamber of the cartridge stored in the storage medium.

According to (12), information on whether or not the aerosol source stored in the storage chamber of the cartridge contains menthol can be checked on an external information terminal such as a smartphone or computer, so that the aerosol generation device can be used with a smartphone. It is possible to operate in cooperation with an external information terminal such as a computer. In addition, since it is possible to collect the history of cartridges installed in the aerosol generation device in the past in an external information terminal such as a server, the history information of the cartridges installed in the aerosol generation device in the past can be used to Improve customer service for aerosol generators.

(13) The aerosol generator according to any one of (2) to (12),
The aerosol generator further comprises a cartridge cover (cartridge cover 20) in which the cartridge is accommodated,
The aerosol generating device, wherein the color identification sensor is provided on the cartridge cover.

According to (13), since the color identification sensor is provided on the cartridge cover, the color identification sensor can be arranged in the vicinity of the colored portion of the cartridge without increasing the size of the aerosol generating device. You can identify the colors colored in.

(14) The aerosol generator according to any one of (2) to (13),
The color identification sensor is
A light projecting section (light projecting section 241) capable of projecting light toward the colored section, and a color sensor section (color sensor) that receives the light reflected from the colored section and quantifies the color components of the received light. section 242) and
The controller is
causing the color sensor unit to receive inspection light having a numerical value of a predetermined color component;
The color component of the light quantified by the color sensor unit based on the numerical value of the predetermined color component of the inspection light and the numerical value of the color component of the inspection light quantified by the color sensor unit. An aerosol generating device capable of performing a calibration process for calibrating a numerical value.

According to (14), the controller causes the color sensor unit to receive inspection light having a predetermined numerical value of a color component, Since the calibration process can be executed based on the numerical values of the color components of the aerosol generator, the color identification sensor can be calibrated even after the aerosol generator is shipped from the factory, and the aerosol generator can be used for a long period of time. Even if it is used, it is possible to identify the color applied to the colored portion without lowering accuracy by the color identification sensor.

(15) The aerosol generator according to any one of (2) to (12),
The aerosol generator further comprises a cartridge cover (cartridge cover 20) in which the cartridge is accommodated,
The color identification sensor is
provided inside the cartridge cover,
A light projecting section (light projecting section 241) capable of projecting light toward the colored section, and a color sensor section (color sensor) that receives the light reflected from the colored section and quantifies the color components of the received light. section 242) and
The controller is
In a state in which the cartridge is not housed in the cartridge cover and light outside the cartridge cover does not enter the interior of the cartridge cover, inspection light having a numerical value of a predetermined color component is emitted from the light projecting unit. let it shine,
The color component of the light quantified by the color sensor unit based on the numerical value of the predetermined color component of the inspection light and the numerical value of the color component of the inspection light quantified by the color sensor unit. An aerosol generating device capable of performing a calibration process for calibrating a numerical value.

According to (15), the controller emits a numerical value of a predetermined color component from the light projecting section in a state where the cartridge cover does not contain the cartridge and no light from the outside of the cartridge cover enters the inside of the cartridge cover. and the calibration process can be executed based on the numerical value of the predetermined color component of the inspection light and the numerical value of the color component of the inspection light quantified by the color sensor unit. , the aerosol generator can be calibrated for the color identification sensor even after it is shipped from the factory. can distinguish different colors.

This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-063177) filed on April 1, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

1 Aerosol inhaler (aerosol generator)
10 power supply unit 12 discharge terminal (connector)
15 Operation unit 20 Cartridge cover 24 Color identification sensor 241 Light projection unit 242 Color sensor unit 40 Cartridge (aerosol source storage unit)
42 storage chamber 43 heating chamber 45 first heater (heater)
47 Connection terminal 48 Electrode part 49 Colored part 61 Power supply 63 MCU (controller)
63a memory (storage medium)
71 aerosol source

Claims

a detachable aerosol source storage unit storing an aerosol source;
a heater that heats the aerosol source to vaporize and/or atomize;
a power supply unit having a power supply electrically connected to the heater and a controller capable of controlling discharge from the power supply to the heater;
An aerosol generator comprising
A colored portion is formed in the aerosol source storage unit,
The aerosol generating device further comprises a color identification sensor capable of identifying the color of the colored portion,
The controller is
an aerosol source information acquisition process for acquiring information on the aerosol source stored in the aerosol source storage unit based on information on the color of the colored portion identified by the color identification sensor; Aerosol generator.
The aerosol generating device of claim 1,
The aerosol source storage unit,
a storage chamber for storing the aerosol source;
a heating chamber provided with the heater;
a detachable cartridge having an electrode portion provided with a connection terminal electrically connected to the heater,
The power supply of the power supply unit is electrically connected to the heater via the connection terminal,
The aerosol generating device, wherein the coloring section is formed in the cartridge.
An aerosol generator according to claim 2,
The aerosol generating device, wherein the colored portion is formed on the electrode portion of the cartridge.
The aerosol generator according to claim 2 or 3,
The controller is
An aerosol generating device that controls discharge from the power supply to the heater based on the result of the aerosol source information acquisition process.
5. The aerosol generating device of claim 4,
The controller is
discharge from the power supply to the heater can be controlled in a plurality of modes;
The aerosol generating device, which selects one mode from the plurality of modes based on the result of the aerosol source information acquisition process, and controls discharge from the power supply to the heater in the selected mode.
5. The aerosol generating device of claim 4,
The controller is
Discharge from the power supply to the heater can be controlled in multiple modes including at least a regular mode and a menthol mode,
In the aerosol source information acquisition process, if information indicating that the aerosol source contains menthol is acquired, controlling discharge from the power supply to the heater in the menthol mode,
The aerosol generating device, wherein in the aerosol source information acquisition process, when information indicating that the aerosol source does not contain menthol is acquired, the discharge from the power supply to the heater is controlled in the regular mode.
An aerosol generator according to claim 6,
The controller is
In the aerosol source information acquisition process, if the information regarding whether or not the aerosol source stored in the storage chamber of the cartridge contains menthol cannot be acquired, discharge from the power source to the heater is performed in the regular mode. Controlled aerosol generator.
The aerosol generator according to any one of claims 2 to 7,
The power supply unit further comprises a connector electrically connected to the power supply,
the connection terminal of the cartridge is detachably electrically connected to the connector;
The controller is
Transitioning from a state in which the connection terminal of the cartridge is not electrically connected to the connector of the power supply unit to a state in which the connection terminal of the cartridge is electrically connected to the connector of the power supply unit. an aerosol generating device that executes the aerosol source information acquisition process using the above as a trigger.
An aerosol generator according to claim 8,
The aerosol generator further comprises a user-operable operation unit,
The controller is
After the operation unit is operated by the user, the connection terminal of the cartridge is connected to the connector of the power supply unit from a state in which the connection terminal of the cartridge is not electrically connected to the connector of the power supply unit. An aerosol generating device that executes the aerosol source information acquisition process with transition to an electrically connected state as a trigger.
The aerosol generator according to any one of claims 2 to 9,
The aerosol generating device, wherein the colored portion is formed so as not to transmit light.
The aerosol generator according to any one of claims 2 to 10,
The aerosol generating device, wherein the colored portion is colored red, green, or blue.
The aerosol generator according to any one of claims 2 to 11,
further comprising a storage medium capable of storing information on whether or not the aerosol source stored in the storage chamber of the cartridge contains menthol, which is acquired by the aerosol source information acquisition process;
An aerosol generating device capable of externally transmitting information regarding whether or not menthol is contained in the aerosol source stored in the storage chamber of the cartridge stored in the storage medium.
The aerosol generator according to any one of claims 2 to 12,
The aerosol generator further comprises a cartridge cover housing the cartridge,
The aerosol generating device, wherein the color identification sensor is provided on the cartridge cover.
The aerosol generator according to any one of claims 2 to 13,
The color identification sensor is
a light projecting section capable of projecting light toward the colored section; and a color sensor section that receives the light reflected from the colored section and quantifies color components of the received light,
The controller is
causing the color sensor unit to receive inspection light having a numerical value of a predetermined color component;
The color component of the light quantified by the color sensor unit based on the numerical value of the predetermined color component of the inspection light and the numerical value of the color component of the inspection light quantified by the color sensor unit. An aerosol generating device capable of performing a calibration process for calibrating a numerical value.
The aerosol generator according to any one of claims 2 to 12,
The aerosol generator further comprises a cartridge cover housing the cartridge,
The color identification sensor is
provided inside the cartridge cover,
a light projecting section capable of projecting light toward the colored section; and a color sensor section that receives the light reflected from the colored section and quantifies color components of the received light,
The controller is
In a state in which the cartridge is not housed in the cartridge cover and light outside the cartridge cover does not enter the interior of the cartridge cover, inspection light having a numerical value of a predetermined color component is emitted from the light projecting unit. let it shine,
The color component of the light quantified by the color sensor unit based on the numerical value of the predetermined color component of the inspection light and the numerical value of the color component of the inspection light quantified by the color sensor unit. An aerosol generating device capable of performing a calibration process for calibrating a numerical value.