Power supply unit for aerosol-generating device, control method, and control program

Abstract

An inhalation device (100) that is one example of a power supply unit for an aerosol-generating device, the inhalation device (100) comprising a power supply part (111) and a control part (116). The power supply part (111) is configured to be capable of supplying electric power to a heating part for heating an aerosol source and to be capable of being charged by electric power received from an external power supply (PS). The control part (116) is configured to acquire the temperature of the power supply part (111) and to be capable of controlling charging of the power supply part (111) on the basis of the temperature of the power supply part (111). In cases where the temperature of the power supply part (111) is included within a first temperature zone that is less than a threshold value temperature, the control part (116) changes the current value of a charging current, with which the power supply part (111) is charged, within a prescribed range and in accordance with the temperature of the power supply part (111). In cases where the temperature of the power supply part (111) is included within a second temperature zone that is equal to or greater than the threshold value temperature, the control part (116) lowers the current value of the charging current below a lower-limit value for the aforementioned range.

Description

Power supply unit, control method, and control program for aerosol generation device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power supply unit, a control method, and a control program for an aerosol generating device.

[0002] Conventionally, there have been known aerosol generating devices that generate aerosols containing, for example, flavor components and allow a user to inhale the generated aerosol. Typically, such aerosol generating devices generate aerosol by supplying power from a power source such as a rechargeable battery to a heating unit (also referred to as a “heating element”), which is an electric resistance or induction heater, and heating an aerosol source with the heating unit.

[0003] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that monitors the ambient temperature adjacent to a charging device including a rechargeable power source, determines a charging current depending on the ambient temperature in order to charge the rechargeable power source of the charging device, and charges the rechargeable power source of the charging device with the determined charging current.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 listed below discloses a technology in which a first control unit of a power supply unit having a power supply electrically connected to a load that atomizes an aerosol source or heats a flavor source, and a second control unit of a charging unit capable of charging the power supply, control the charging rate of the power supply.

[0005] Japan Special Table No. 2017-518733 Japanese Patent No. 6934114

[0006] However, the above-described conventional technology has room for improvement in terms of realizing higher quality charging control.

[0007] The present disclosure provides a power supply unit, a control method, and a control program for an aerosol generation device that enable higher quality charging control.

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure is a power supply unit of an aerosol generating device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source, comprising: a power supply that is capable of supplying power to a heating unit that heats the aerosol source and is configured to be chargeable using power received from an external power supply; and a control unit that is capable of acquiring the temperature of the power supply and is configured to control the charging of the power supply based on the acquired temperature of the power supply, wherein the control unit changes the current value of a charging current that charges the power supply within a predetermined range depending on the temperature of the power supply when the temperature of the power supply is within a first temperature range that is a temperature range below a predetermined threshold temperature; and reduces the current value of the charging current to a value even smaller than the lower limit of the predetermined range when the temperature of the power supply is within a second temperature range that is a temperature range equal to or greater than the threshold temperature.

[0009] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a control method performed by a computer that controls a power supply unit of an aerosol generating device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source, wherein the power supply unit is capable of supplying power to a heating section that heats the aerosol source and includes a power supply that is configured to be rechargeable using power received from an external power source, the computer is configured to acquire the temperature of the power supply and to control the charging of the power supply based on the acquired temperature of the power supply, and the computer performs the following processing: when the temperature of the power supply is included in a first temperature range that is a temperature range below a predetermined threshold temperature, the computer changes the current value of a charging current that charges the power supply within a predetermined range depending on the temperature of the power supply, and when the temperature of the power supply is included in a second temperature range that is a temperature range equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, the computer reduces the current value of the charging current to a value even smaller than the lower limit of the predetermined range.

[0010] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a control program that causes a computer that controls a power supply unit of an aerosol generating device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source to perform a predetermined process, wherein the power supply unit is capable of supplying power to a heating section that heats the aerosol source and includes a power supply that is configured to be rechargeable using power received from an external power source, and the computer is configured to acquire the temperature of the power supply and to control charging of the power supply based on the acquired temperature of the power supply, and causes the computer to perform the following processes: when the temperature of the power supply is within a first temperature range that is a temperature range below a predetermined threshold temperature, change the current value of a charging current that charges the power supply within a predetermined range depending on the temperature of the power supply; and when the temperature of the power supply is within a second temperature range that is a temperature range equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, make the current value of the charging current even smaller than the lower limit of the predetermined range.

[0011] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a power supply unit, a control method, and a control program for an aerosol generation device that enable higher quality charging control.

[0012] FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a first configuration example of a suction device. FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing a second configuration example of a suction device. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a portion related to charging of a power supply unit 111 in a suction device 100. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of charge control in the suction device 100. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of charge control in the suction device 100. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by the MCU 104. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by the charging IC 103.

[0013] An embodiment of a power supply unit, a control method, and a control program for an aerosol generating device according to the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is an example in which the aerosol generating device according to the present disclosure is applied to an inhalation device. The drawings should be viewed in the direction indicated by the reference numerals. In the following description, identical or similar elements will be designated by identical or similar reference numerals, and their description may be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0014] [1. Configuration Example of Inhalation Device] An inhalation device, which is an example of an aerosol generating device according to the present disclosure, is a device that generates a substance to be inhaled by a user. In the following description, the substance generated by the inhalation device is described as an aerosol. Alternatively, the substance generated by the inhalation device may be a gas.

[0015] <1-1. First Configuration Example of Inhalation Device> Fig. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating a first configuration example of an inhalation device. As shown in Fig. 1A, an inhalation device 100A of this configuration example includes a power supply unit 110, a cartridge 120, and a flavor imparting cartridge 130. The power supply unit 110 includes a power supply section 111A, a sensor section 112A, a notification section 113A, a memory section 114A, a communication section 115A, and a control section 116A. The cartridge 120 includes a heating section 121A, a liquid guiding section 122, and a liquid storage section 123. The flavor imparting cartridge 130 includes a flavor source 131 and a mouthpiece 124. An air flow path 180 is formed in the cartridge 120 and the flavor imparting cartridge 130.

[0016] The power supply unit 111A stores electric power. The power supply unit 111A supplies electric power to each component of the suction device 100A under the control of the control unit 116A. The power supply unit 111A is configured to be rechargeable with electric power received from an external power source. The power supply unit 111A may be configured, for example, by a rechargeable battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery.

[0017] The sensor unit 112A acquires various types of information related to the suction device 100A. The sensor unit 112A is configured with, for example, a pressure sensor such as a condenser microphone, a flow rate sensor, or a temperature sensor, and acquires values ​​associated with the suction by the user.

[0018] As one example, the sensor unit 112A may include a pressure sensor (also referred to as a "puff sensor") capable of detecting a change in the pressure (hereinafter also referred to as "internal pressure") inside the inhalation device 100A caused by the user's inhalation. As another example, the sensor unit 112A may include a flow rate sensor capable of detecting the flow rate (hereinafter also simply referred to as "flow rate") caused by the user's inhalation. As another example, the sensor unit 112A may include a temperature sensor (also referred to as a "puff thermistor") capable of detecting the temperature of the heating unit 121A or the area around the heating unit 121A. Furthermore, the sensor unit 112A may include a temperature sensor (e.g., the battery temperature sensor 101 in FIG. 2) capable of detecting the temperature of the power supply unit 111A or the area around the power supply unit 111A.

[0019] Furthermore, the sensor unit 112A may be configured to include an input device that accepts information input from a user, such as an operation button or a switch. As an example, the sensor unit 112A may include an operation button as an input device that accepts a request to start charging, which will be described later.

[0020] The notification unit 113A notifies the user of information. The notification unit 113A may be configured, for example, by a light emitting device that emits light, a display device that displays an image, a sound output device that outputs sound, or a vibration device that vibrates.

[0021] The storage unit 114A stores various types of information (for example, programs and data) for the operation of the suction device 100 A. The storage unit 114A can be configured, for example, by a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash memory.

[0022] The communication unit 115A is a communication interface capable of performing communication in accordance with any wired or wireless communication standard, such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy (registered trademark)), NFC (Near Field Communication), or LPWA (Low Power Wide Area).

[0023] The control unit 116A functions as an arithmetic processing unit and a control unit, and controls the overall operation of the suction device 100A in accordance with various programs stored in the memory unit 114A, etc. For example, the control unit 116A controls the power supply (electrical power supply) from the power supply unit 111A to each component (e.g., the heating unit 121A described below) and the charging of the power supply unit 111A using power received from the external power supply PS. The control unit 116A is realized by an electronic circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microprocessor. As an example, the control unit 116A can be realized by the MCU 104 (Micro Controller Unit) described below, etc.

[0024] The liquid reservoir 123 stores an aerosol source. The aerosol source is atomized to generate an aerosol. The aerosol source is a liquid, such as a polyhydric alcohol, such as glycerin or propylene glycol, or water. The aerosol source may contain a tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor component. When the inhalation device 100A is a medical inhaler, such as a nebulizer, the aerosol source may contain a drug.

[0025] The liquid guide portion 122 guides and holds the aerosol source, which is a liquid stored in the liquid storage portion 123, from the liquid storage portion 123. The liquid guide portion 122 is, for example, a wick formed by twisting a fiber material such as glass fiber or a porous material such as porous ceramic. In this case, the aerosol source stored in the liquid storage portion 123 is guided by the capillary effect of the wick.

[0026] The heating unit 121A generates an aerosol by, for example, heating the aerosol source to atomize the aerosol source. The heating unit 121A is configured in any shape, such as a coil, film, or blade, and is made of any material, such as metal or polyimide. In the example shown in FIG. 1A , the heating unit 121A is configured as a coil wound with a heating resistor, such as nichrome or stainless steel, and is wound around the liquid guiding unit 122. When the heating unit 121A generates heat, the aerosol source held in the liquid guiding unit 122 is heated and atomized, generating an aerosol. The heating unit 121A generates heat when power is supplied from the power supply unit 111A.

[0027] As one example, power supply to heating unit 121A may be performed when sensor unit 112A detects that the user has started inhaling and / or that predetermined information has been input. Then, power supply to heating unit 121A may be stopped when sensor unit 112A detects that the user has stopped inhaling and / or that predetermined information has been input.

[0028] The heating unit 121A may be configured to generate aerosol by vibration or induction heating. When the aerosol is generated by vibration, the suction device 100A includes a vibration unit as the heating unit 121A. The vibration unit is configured, for example, by a plate-shaped member including piezoelectric ceramics that functions as an ultrasonic vibrator. When the vibration unit vibrates, the aerosol source guided to the surface of the vibration unit by the liquid guide unit 122 is atomized by ultrasonic waves generated by the vibration of the vibration unit, thereby generating the aerosol.

[0029] Furthermore, when aerosol generation is performed by induction heating, the suction device 100A includes a susceptor and an electromagnetic induction source as the heating unit 121A. The susceptor is made of a conductive material such as metal and generates heat through electromagnetic induction. The susceptor is disposed adjacent to the liquid guide unit 122. As an example, the susceptor is made of a metal conductor and is wound around the liquid guide unit 122. The electromagnetic induction source heats the susceptor through electromagnetic induction. The electromagnetic induction source is made of, for example, a coiled conductor and generates a magnetic field when an alternating current is supplied from the power supply unit 111A. When the magnetic field is generated, an eddy current is generated in the susceptor, generating Joule heat. The aerosol source held in the liquid guide unit 122 is heated and atomized by this Joule heat, generating the aerosol.

[0030] The flavor source 131 is a component for imparting flavor components to the aerosol. The flavor source 131 includes tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor components. For example, the flavor source 131 may be a tobacco-derived product, such as a processed product obtained by molding shredded tobacco or tobacco raw materials into granules, sheets, or powder. The flavor source 131 may also include a non-tobacco-derived product made from plants other than tobacco (e.g., mint and herbs). For example, the flavor source 131 may include a flavor component such as menthol. The flavor source 131 may also be a stick-shaped member. When the inhalation device 100A is a medical inhaler, the flavor source 131 may include a medication for inhalation by the patient. Note that the flavor source 131 is not limited to a solid, but may also be a liquid containing flavor components such as polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin and propylene glycol, and water. The flavor source 131 may also be disposed inside a container such as a capsule.

[0031] The air flow path 180 is a path for air inhaled by the user. The air flow path 180 has a tubular structure with an air inlet 181, which is an entrance for air into the air flow path 180, and an air outlet 182, which is an exit for air from the air flow path 180, at both ends. A liquid guide section 122 is disposed on the upstream side (closer to the air inlet 181) of the air flow path 180, and a flavor source 131 is disposed on the downstream side (closer to the air outlet 182). Air flowing in through the air inlet 181 as the user inhales is mixed with the aerosol generated by the heating section 121A and, as shown by arrow 190, is transported through the flavor source 131 to the air outlet 182. When the mixed fluid of the aerosol and air passes through the flavor source 131, flavor components contained in the flavor source 131 are imparted to the aerosol.

[0032] Mouthpiece 124 is a member that is held in the mouth by the user when inhaling. Air outlet holes 182 are arranged in mouthpiece 124. By holding mouthpiece 124 in the mouth and inhaling, the user can take in the mixed fluid of the aerosol and air into the oral cavity.

[0033] The above describes an example of the configuration of the suction device 100A. Of course, the configuration of the suction device 100A is not limited to the above, and various configurations such as those exemplified below may be used.

[0034] As an example, the inhalation device 100A may not include the flavoring cartridge 130. In that case, the cartridge 120 is provided with the mouthpiece 124.

[0035] As another example, the inhalation device 100A may further include a flavor source heating unit (not shown) that heats the flavor source 131. The flavor source heating unit may be, for example, in the form of a film and arranged to cover the outer periphery of the flavor source 131. The flavor source heating unit generates heat when power is supplied from the power supply unit 111A, thereby heating the flavor source 131 from the outer periphery. The flavor source heating unit may be, for example, in the form of a blade that pierces the flavor source 131 and heats the flavor source 131 from the inside. The flavor source heating unit may also be configured to heat the flavor source 131 by vibration or induction heating. By providing such a flavor source heating unit, the temperature of the flavor source 131 can be increased compared to when a flavor source heating unit is not provided, thereby enabling an increase in the amount of flavor components imparted to the aerosol.

[0036] As another example, the inhalation device 100A may include multiple types of aerosol sources. Multiple types of aerosols generated from the multiple types of aerosol sources may be mixed in the air flow path 180 and undergo a chemical reaction to generate additional types of aerosols.

[0037] Furthermore, the means for atomizing the aerosol source is not limited to heating by the heating unit 121 A. For example, the means for atomizing the aerosol source may be vibration atomization or induction heating.

[0038] 1B is a schematic diagram showing a second configuration example of the suction device. As shown in FIG. 1B, the suction device 100B of this configuration example includes a power supply unit 111B, a sensor unit 112B, a notification unit 113B, a memory unit 114B, a communication unit 115B, a control unit 116B, a heating unit 121B, a storage unit 140, and a heat insulating unit 144.

[0039] Each of the power supply unit 111B, the sensor unit 112B, the notification unit 113B, the storage unit 114B, the communication unit 115B, and the control unit 116B is substantially the same as the corresponding component included in the suction device 100A described above. In the case of the suction device 100B shown in FIG. 1B, the suction device 100B itself can also be considered a power supply unit.

[0040] The storage unit 140 has an internal space 141 and holds the stick-shaped substrate 150 while accommodating a portion of the stick-shaped substrate 150 in the internal space 141. The storage unit 140 has an opening 142 that connects the internal space 141 to the outside and accommodates the stick-shaped substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 141 through the opening 142. For example, the storage unit 140 is a cylindrical body with the opening 142 and a bottom 143 as its bottom surface, and defines a columnar internal space 141. An air flow path that supplies air to the internal space 141 is connected to the storage unit 140. An air inlet, which is an air inlet to the air flow path, is arranged, for example, on a side surface of the suction device 100. An air outlet, which is an air outlet from the air flow path to the internal space 141, is arranged, for example, on the bottom 143.

[0041] The stick-shaped substrate 150 includes a substrate portion 151 and a mouthpiece portion 152. The substrate portion 151 includes an aerosol source. The aerosol source includes a tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor component. When the inhalation device 100B is a medical inhaler such as a nebulizer, the aerosol source may include a medicament. The aerosol source may be, for example, a liquid such as a polyhydric alcohol, such as glycerin or propylene glycol, or water, containing a tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor component, or a solid containing a tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor component. When the stick-shaped substrate 150 is held in the storage portion 140, at least a portion of the substrate portion 151 is housed in the internal space 141, and at least a portion of the mouthpiece portion 152 protrudes from the opening 142. When a user holds the mouthpiece portion 152 protruding from the opening 142 in their mouth and inhales, air flows into the internal space 141 via an air flow path (not shown) and reaches the user's mouth along with the aerosol generated from the substrate portion 151.

[0042] 1B, the heating unit 121B is configured as a film heater with conductive tracks made of heating resistors whose electrical resistance value correlates with temperature, and is arranged to cover the outer periphery of the housing unit 140. When the heating unit 121B generates heat, the substrate unit 151 of the stick-shaped substrate 150 is heated from the outer periphery, generating an aerosol. Note that the heating resistor of the heating unit 121B can be the same as the heating resistor of the heating unit 121A described above.

[0043] The heat insulating section 144 prevents heat transfer from the heating section 121B to other components. For example, the heat insulating section 144 is made of a vacuum heat insulating material, an aerogel heat insulating material, or the like.

[0044] The above is a description of an example of the configuration of the suction device 100B. Of course, the configuration of the suction device 100B is not limited to the above, and various configurations such as those exemplified below may be used.

[0045] As one example, the heating unit 121B may be configured in a blade shape and disposed so as to protrude from the bottom 143 of the storage unit 140 into the internal space 141. In this case, the blade-shaped heating unit 121B is inserted into the substrate 151 of the stick-shaped substrate 150 and heats the substrate 151 of the stick-shaped substrate 150 from the inside. As another example, the heating unit 121B may be disposed so as to cover the bottom 143 of the storage unit 140. Furthermore, the heating unit 121B may be configured as a combination of two or more of a first heating unit covering the outer periphery of the storage unit 140, a blade-shaped second heating unit, and a third heating unit covering the bottom 143 of the storage unit 140.

[0046] As another example, the accommodation unit 140 may include an opening / closing mechanism such as a hinge that opens and closes a portion of the outer shell that forms the internal space 141. The accommodation unit 140 may then open and close the outer shell to accommodate the stick-shaped substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 141 while clamping it. In this case, the heating unit 121B may be provided at the clamping location in the accommodation unit 140 and heat the stick-shaped substrate 150 while pressing it.

[0047] Furthermore, the means for atomizing the aerosol source is not limited to heating by the heating unit 121B. For example, the means for atomizing the aerosol source may be induction heating. In that case, the suction device 100B has at least an electromagnetic induction source such as a coil that generates a magnetic field, instead of the heating unit 121B. A susceptor that generates heat by induction heating may be provided in the suction device 100B, or may be included in the stick-shaped substrate 150.

[0048] Furthermore, the suction device 100B may further include the heating unit 121A, the liquid guide unit 122, the liquid storage unit 123, and the air flow path 180 according to the first configuration example, and the air flow path 180 may supply air to the internal space 141. In this case, the mixed fluid of the aerosol and air generated by the heating unit 121A flows into the internal space 141 and is further mixed with the aerosol generated by the heating unit 121B, and reaches the oral cavity of the user.

[0049] In the following description, the suction device 100A and the suction device 100B will be referred to as the "suction device 100" without distinction. Similarly, the power supply unit 111A etc. will be referred to as the "power supply unit 111," the sensor unit 112A etc. will be referred to as the "sensor unit 112," the notification unit 113A etc. will be referred to as the "notification unit 113," the memory unit 114A etc. will be referred to as the "memory unit 114," the communication unit 115A etc. will be referred to as the "communication unit 115," the control unit 116A etc. will be referred to as the "control unit 116," and the heating unit 121A etc. will be referred to as the "heating unit 121."

[0050] 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a portion related to charging of power supply unit 111 in suction device 100. In Fig. 2, thick solid lines represent electrical wiring, and solid arrows represent control signals or detection signals.

[0051] 2, the suction device 100 is configured to further include, in addition to the power supply unit 111, a battery temperature sensor 101, a power receiving unit 102, a charging IC 103, and an MCU 104. The control unit 116 described above is configured, for example, by the charging IC 103 and MCU 104 shown in FIG.

[0052] The power supply unit 111 is realized by, for example, a rechargeable battery or the like, and is configured to be rechargeable by power received from an external power supply PS. Here, the external power supply PS is a device configured to be able to output a predetermined power. Furthermore, the predetermined power is power that the suction device 100 can receive in terms of hardware, and can be, for example, DC power having a predetermined voltage (e.g., 5 to 20 V). The external power supply PS can be, for example, an AC adapter (AC: Alternating Current) configured to be able to output the predetermined power. Furthermore, the external power supply PS is not limited to an AC adapter, and can also be, for example, a mobile charger (also called a mobile battery), a PC (Personal Computer), a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like.

[0053] The power supply unit 111 is configured to be able to supply the stored power to each component of the suction device 100, such as the charging IC 103, the MCU 104, and the heating unit 121 (not shown in FIG. 2 ). Note that, although an example in which power is directly supplied from the power supply unit 111 to the MCU 104 is illustrated in FIG. 2 , this is not limiting. For example, power may be supplied from the power supply unit 111 to the MCU 104 via the charging IC 103.

[0054] The battery temperature sensor 101 is a sensor configured to output a detection signal indicating a parameter related to the temperature of the power supply unit 111. As an example, in this embodiment, the battery temperature sensor 101 is a thermistor arranged near the rechargeable battery that constitutes the power supply unit 111 (e.g., so as to be in contact with the rechargeable battery). The battery temperature sensor 101 outputs a detection signal indicating the electrical resistance value of its own resistor to the MCU 104 as a detection signal indicating a parameter related to the temperature of the power supply unit 111. This allows the MCU 104 to obtain the temperature of the power supply unit 111 (hereinafter also referred to as "battery temperature") based on the detection signal received from the battery temperature sensor 101. Alternatively, the battery temperature sensor 101 may output a detection signal directly indicating the battery temperature.

[0055] The power receiving unit 102 is configured to be able to receive power output from an external power source PS. As an example, the power receiving unit 102 may be a receptacle that is compatible with various standards, such as USB Type-C (registered trademark), microUSB, or Lightning (registered trademark), and that includes a power supply terminal (e.g., a VBUS terminal) that receives power output from the external power source PS. The power receiving unit 102 may also be a power receiving coil or the like that is configured to be able to contactlessly receive power transmitted from the external power source PS. In this case, the method of contactless power transfer (WPT: Wireless Power Transfer) may be electromagnetic induction type, magnetic resonance type, or a combination of electromagnetic induction type and magnetic resonance type.

[0056] The charging IC 103 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) electrically arranged between the power receiving unit 102 and the power supply unit 111, and configured to be able to control the charging of the power supply unit 111 using power received from the external power supply PS via the power receiving unit 102, and is an example of a first control unit in the present disclosure.

[0057] As an example, when a user requests to start charging, the charging IC 103 starts charging the power supply unit 111 with power received from the external power supply PS. Here, the request to start charging may be, for example, the establishment of an electrical connection between the suction device 100 and the external power supply PS. Furthermore, the request to start charging may be a predetermined operation performed after the electrical connection between the suction device 100 and the external power supply PS has been established. One example of this operation may be pressing a predetermined operation button provided on the suction device 100. Furthermore, this operation is not limited to a direct operation on the suction device 100, and may be, for example, an operation on another device, such as a smartphone, that can communicate with the suction device 100.

[0058] When charging the power supply unit 111, the charging IC 103 controls, for example, the current value of a charging current that charges the power supply unit 111 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "charging current").

[0059] More specifically, when the battery temperature falls within a predetermined first temperature range, the charging IC 103 changes the value of the charging current within a predetermined range in accordance with instructions from the MCU 104 (described later). Here, the first temperature range is a temperature range below a predetermined threshold temperature, or in other words, a temperature range on the lower side when the threshold temperature is used as a reference. As an example, in this embodiment, the threshold temperature is set to 45°C, and the temperature range below 45°C is defined as the first temperature range. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the battery temperature falls within the first temperature range, the charging IC 103 changes the value of the charging current within a range from 1500mA to 2600mA.

[0060] On the other hand, when the battery temperature falls within the predetermined second temperature range, the charging IC 103 sets the charging current value to a value smaller than the lower limit of the above range (hereinafter simply referred to as the "lower limit"; in this embodiment, 1500 mA) regardless of instructions from the MCU 104. Here, the second temperature range is a temperature range equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, in other words, a temperature range on the higher side when the threshold temperature is used as a reference. As described above, in this embodiment, the threshold temperature is 45°C, so the temperature range equal to or higher than 45°C is the second temperature range.

[0061] In this way, when the charging IC 103 detects that the battery temperature has reached the second temperature range, it has a protective function of voluntarily reducing the charging current significantly to prevent further rise in battery temperature, regardless of instructions from the MCU 104.

[0062] In addition, in the suction device 100, when the charging IC 103 is disposed near the power supply unit 111 (e.g., a rechargeable battery), it is considered that a correlation is established between the temperature of the charging IC 103 and the battery temperature. Therefore, in such a case, the charging IC 103 may detect its own temperature and determine the battery temperature based on its own temperature. As an example, the charging IC 103 may determine the battery temperature by assuming that its own temperature is equal to the battery temperature. As another example, the charging IC 103 may determine the temperature obtained by adding, subtracting, or multiplying its own temperature by a predetermined value as the battery temperature.

[0063] 2, the battery temperature sensor 101 may also output a detection signal indicating a parameter related to the temperature of the power supply unit 111 to the charging IC 103. In this way, the charging IC 103 can obtain the battery temperature based on the detection signal received from the battery temperature sensor 101. As another example, the MCU 104 may output information indicating the battery temperature to the charging IC 103, and the charging IC 103 may obtain the battery temperature based on that information.

[0064] The MCU 104 is a computer that is mainly composed of a processor that performs various calculations and that controls the entire suction device 100 in accordance with a pre-prepared program, and is an example of a second control unit in the present disclosure. The control targets controlled by the MCU 104 include the charging IC 103.

[0065] More specifically, for example, while the power supply unit 111 is being charged with power received from the external power source PS, the MCU 104 acquires the battery temperature at predetermined intervals (e.g., every 5 ms) based on the detection signal received from the battery temperature sensor 101. If the acquired battery temperature is within the first temperature range, the MCU 104 instructs the charging IC 103 to change the value of the charging current within a predetermined range (1500 mA to 2600 mA in this embodiment). At this time, the MCU 104 changes the value of the charging current so that the battery temperature does not exceed a threshold temperature (45°C in this embodiment). An example of charging control in this embodiment will be described in more detail below.

[0066] [2. Charging Control] <2-1. Example of Charging Control in Suction Device> Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of charging control in the suction device 100. As shown in Fig. 3, for example, when the battery temperature is included in the first temperature range, the MCU 104 changes the current value of the charging current in a stepwise manner within a range from 1500 [mA] to 2600 [mA] according to the battery temperature.

[0067] More specifically, when the battery temperature is below 40°C, the MCU 104 sets the charging current to 2600 mA, which is the upper limit of the range (hereinafter simply referred to as the "upper limit"). When the battery temperature is above 40°C and below 41°C (for example, 40°C) while the charging current is set to 2600 mA, the MCU 104 sets the charging current to 2400 mA (see the solid arrow marked with "a" in Figure 3).

[0068] Furthermore, when the charging current is set to 2400 mA and the battery temperature is between 41°C and 42°C (e.g., 41°C), the MCU 104 changes the charging current to 2200 mA (see the solid arrow marked b1 in Figure 3). On the other hand, when the charging current is set to 2400 mA and the battery temperature is below 40°C (e.g., 39°C), the MCU 104 changes the charging current to 2600 mA (see the dashed arrow marked b2 in Figure 3).

[0069] Furthermore, when the charging current is set to 2200 mA and the battery temperature is between 42°C and 43°C (e.g., 42°C), the MCU 104 changes the charging current to 2000 mA (see the solid arrow labeled c1 in FIG. 3). On the other hand, when the charging current is set to 2200 mA and the battery temperature is between 40°C and 41°C (e.g., 40°C), the MCU 104 changes the charging current to 2400 mA (see the dashed arrow labeled c2 in FIG. 3).

[0070] Furthermore, when the charging current is set to 2000 mA and the battery temperature is between 43°C and 44°C (e.g., 43°C), the MCU 104 changes the charging current to 1800 mA (see the solid arrow marked with symbol d1 in FIG. 3). On the other hand, when the charging current is set to 2000 mA and the battery temperature is between 41°C and 42°C (e.g., 41°C), the MCU 104 changes the charging current to 2200 mA (see the dashed arrow marked with symbol d2 in FIG. 3).

[0071] Furthermore, when the charging current is set to 1800 mA and the battery temperature is between 44°C and 45°C (e.g., 44°C), the MCU 104 reduces the charging current to the lower limit of 1500 mA (see the solid arrow labeled e1 in FIG. 3). On the other hand, when the charging current is set to 1800 mA and the battery temperature is between 42°C and 43°C (e.g., 42°C), the MCU 104 reduces the charging current to 2000 mA (see the dashed arrow labeled e2 in FIG. 3).

[0072] Then, when the battery temperature reaches 45°C or higher, in other words, when the battery temperature reaches the second temperature range, the charging IC 103 sets the current value of the charging current to 500 mA, which is even smaller than the lower limit of 1500 mA, regardless of the instructions of the MCU 104 (see the solid arrow marked with symbol f1 in Figure 3).

[0073] When the charging current value is set to 500 mA, the charging IC 103 may maintain the charging current at 500 mA until the current charging is completed, or may resume charging in accordance with instructions from the MCU 104 when the battery temperature drops below 45° C. (e.g., 44° C.) As an example, as shown by the dashed arrow with symbol g in Fig. 3, when the charging current value is set to 500 mA and the battery temperature drops below 45° C. (e.g., 44° C.), the charging IC 103 may resume charging in accordance with instructions from the MCU 104 and set the charging current value to, for example, 1500 mA.

[0074] Furthermore, when the charging current value is set to 1500 mA and the battery temperature is equal to or higher than 43°C and lower than 44°C (for example, 43°C), the MCU 104 sets the charging current value to 1800 mA (see the dashed arrow marked f2 in Figure 3).

[0075] In this way, in the suction device 100, when the battery temperature reaches a temperature range near the threshold temperature at which the protection function of the charging IC 103 is activated (a temperature range of 40 to 44°C in the example shown in Figure 3), charging control is performed such that the higher the battery temperature, the lower the charging current is reduced, and the lower the battery temperature, the higher the charging current is increased. This makes it possible to prevent the battery temperature from exceeding the threshold temperature as much as possible and to prevent the activation of the protection function of the charging IC 103, which would result in a significant reduction in the charging current. Therefore, it is possible to charge the power supply unit 111 with a relatively large charging current, allowing the power supply unit 111 to be charged efficiently.

[0076] Furthermore, if such charging control is ineffective and the battery temperature exceeds the threshold temperature, the protective function of the charging IC 103 is activated, greatly reducing the charging current, making it possible to more reliably suppress further increases in battery temperature.

[0077] As described above, the charging IC 103 and the MCU 104 (i.e., the control unit 116) can vary the value of the charging current within a predetermined range depending on the battery temperature when the battery temperature falls within a first temperature range below the threshold temperature. On the other hand, when the battery temperature falls within a second temperature range above the threshold temperature, the value of the charging current can be reduced below the lower limit of the predetermined range. This allows the charging current to be appropriately controlled depending on the battery temperature, making it possible to efficiently charge the power supply unit 111 while preventing it from becoming too hot. Therefore, higher-quality charging control can be achieved, which can shorten the charging time of the power supply unit 111 while ensuring safety.

[0078] More specifically, for example, when the battery temperature falls within the first temperature range, the MCU 104 instructs the charging IC 103 to change the value of the charging current within a predetermined range depending on the battery temperature. Then, when the battery temperature falls within the first temperature range, the charging IC 103 changes the value of the charging current in accordance with the instruction from the MCU 104. This allows the power supply unit 111 to be efficiently charged while preventing the power supply unit 111 from becoming too hot when the battery temperature falls within the first temperature range. Furthermore, when the battery temperature falls within the second temperature range, the charging IC 103 reduces the value of the charging current even further below the lower limit of the predetermined range, regardless of the instruction from the MCU 104. This allows the charging IC 103 to autonomously reduce the charging current without waiting for an instruction from the MCU 104, thereby quickly preventing the battery temperature from further increasing, even if the battery temperature exceeds the threshold temperature despite the appropriate control of the charging current depending on the battery temperature.

[0079] Furthermore, when the battery temperature is included in the first temperature range, the charging IC 103 and MCU 104 (i.e., the control unit 116) change the value of the charging current according to the battery temperature so that the battery temperature does not exceed a threshold temperature. This prevents the battery temperature from exceeding the threshold temperature and causing the charging current to be throttled, enabling efficient charging of the power supply unit 111.

[0080] Furthermore, when the battery temperature falls within the first temperature range, the charging IC 103 and the MCU 104 (i.e., the control unit 116) change the value of the charging current in stages according to the battery temperature, thereby enabling simpler and more appropriate control of the charging current according to the battery temperature.

[0081] Furthermore, for example, when the battery temperature is included in the first temperature range and the battery temperature reaches a predetermined first temperature (e.g., 41°C), the charging IC 103 and MCU 104 (i.e., control unit 116) set the charging current to a predetermined first current value (e.g., 2200 mA), and when the battery temperature reaches a second temperature lower than the first temperature while the charging current is set to the first current value, set the charging current to a second current value (e.g., 2400 mA) greater than the first current value. This makes it possible to change the charging current to the larger second current value in response to a drop in battery temperature when the charging current is set to the first current value, thereby enabling efficient charging of the power supply unit 111.

[0082] Furthermore, for example, when the charging current is set to the first current value as described above, if the battery temperature reaches a third temperature higher than the first temperature, the charging IC 103 and MCU 104 (i.e., control unit 116) change the charging current to the third current value lower than the first current value. This makes it possible to change the charging current to the smaller third current value in response to a rise in battery temperature when the charging current is set to the first current value, thereby reducing the load on the power supply unit 111 (i.e., heat generation) and preventing further increases in battery temperature.

[0083] As described above, in this embodiment, for example, if the battery temperature drops from 42° C. to 41° C. while the power supply unit 111 is charging, the charging current is increased from 2000 mA to 2200 mA. The charging current is changed from 2200 mA to another current value (e.g., 2000 mA or 2400 mA) when the power supply temperature reaches a temperature other than 41° C. (e.g., 40° C. or 42° C.).

[0084] In other words, in this embodiment, the battery temperature (e.g., 41°C) at which the charging current is set to one current value (e.g., 2200 mA) is different from the battery temperature (e.g., 40°C or 42°C) at which the charging current is changed from the one current value to another current value.

[0085] If the battery temperature that causes the charging current to be set to a certain current value were to be equal to the battery temperature that causes the charging current to be changed from that certain current value to another certain current value, then the charging current would be changed to that certain current value immediately after being set to that certain current value, and then immediately returned to the certain current value immediately after that change, which is known as "chattering." This could result in problems such as repeated increases and decreases in the charging current. Therefore, in this embodiment, the battery temperature that causes the charging current to be set to a certain current value and the battery temperature that causes the charging current to be changed from that certain current value to another certain current value are made different from each other, thereby preventing such problems from occurring.

[0086] Furthermore, when the heating unit 121 generates aerosol, power is supplied from the power supply unit 111 to the heating unit 121 (i.e., the power supply unit 111 is discharged). Therefore, it is expected that the battery temperature will be high immediately after the heating unit 121 generates aerosol. Furthermore, it is expected that, for example, due to hardware limitations of the inhalation device 100, a time lag will occur between the start of charging and the application of the above-described charging control (i.e., feedback control such as changing the charging current according to the battery temperature).

[0087] Therefore, during the period immediately after the start of charging until the above-described charging control is applied, a situation may occur in which a large charging current (e.g., the upper limit of 2600 mA) flows even though the battery temperature is high immediately after aerosol generation by the heating unit 121. If this situation occurs, the battery temperature may immediately reach the threshold temperature (e.g., 45°C), which may result in a reduction in the charging current and a longer charging time.

[0088] Therefore, when a request to start charging is made after the aerosol is generated, the charging IC 103 and MCU 104 (i.e., the control unit 116) may set the current value of the charging current to a predetermined current value that is smaller than the upper limit value of a predetermined range for a predetermined period of time.

[0089] More specifically, for example, if a request to start charging is made before 5 minutes have elapsed since the most recent aerosol was generated, the MCU 104 may instruct the charging IC 103 to set the current value of the charging current to 1500 mA, which is lower than the upper limit of 2600 mA, regardless of the battery temperature, during the period from the time the start request was made until 10 minutes have elapsed, as shown by the dotted line marked with the symbol h in Figure 3.

[0090] In this way, when a request to start charging is made after aerosol generation, the current value of the charging current is set to a current value smaller than the upper limit for a predetermined period of time, thereby preventing a large charging current from flowing when the power supply unit 111 is hot after aerosol generation and suppressing a further increase in battery temperature. Also, in this case, by setting the current value of the charging current for the predetermined period to the lower limit (1500 mA in this embodiment), it is possible to more reliably prevent a large charging current from flowing when the battery temperature is high.

[0091] If the battery temperature after the predetermined period of time is within the first temperature range, the charging IC 103 and the MCU 104 (i.e., the control unit 116) may change the value of the charging current within a predetermined range according to the battery temperature. This allows the charging current to be appropriately controlled according to the battery temperature after the predetermined period of time has passed, and makes it possible to efficiently charge the power supply unit 111 while preventing the power supply unit 111 from becoming too hot.

[0092] From a similar perspective, the charging IC 103 and MCU 104 (i.e., the control unit 116) may set the value of the charging current to a predetermined current value (e.g., the lower limit of 1500 mA) lower than the upper limit for a predetermined period (e.g., 10 minutes from the time the charging start request is made) if the battery temperature at the time the charging start request is made is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (e.g., 35°C) within the first temperature range. This prevents a large charging current from flowing when the power supply unit 111 is at a high temperature, thereby suppressing a further increase in battery temperature. The charging IC 103 and MCU 104 (i.e., the control unit 116) may then change the value of the charging current within a predetermined range depending on the battery temperature if the battery temperature after the predetermined period has elapsed is within the first temperature range.

[0093] In the example described above, the charging current is increased or decreased in response to the battery temperature in increments of 1°C, but this is not limiting. For example, the charging current may be increased or decreased in response to the battery temperature in increments of 0.5°C, or in increments of 2°C.

[0094] 2-2. Another Example of Charging Control in the Suction Device> Figure 4 is a diagram showing another example of charging control in the suction device 100. As shown by the solid arrows marked with the symbol i in Figure 4, the charging IC 103 and MCU 104 (i.e., the control unit 116) may linearly change the current value of the charging current within the above range in response to the battery temperature when the battery temperature falls within the first temperature range. This allows for more precise and appropriate control of the charging current in response to the battery temperature.

[0095] 3. Example of Charging-Related Processing Performed by the Control Unit Next, an example of charging-related processing performed by the control unit 116 will be described.

[0096] <Processing Performed by MCU> First, an example of processing performed by the MCU 104 of the control unit 116 will be described. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by the MCU 104. As shown in Fig. 5, the MCU 104 determines whether or not a charging start request has been made by the user (step S1). If it is determined that a charging start request has not been made (step S1: NO), the MCU 104 repeats the processing of step S1 until it determines that a charging start request has been made.

[0097] If it is determined that a request to start charging has been made (step S1: YES), the MCU 104 acquires the battery temperature based on the detection signal of the battery temperature sensor 101 (step S2), and determines whether the acquired battery temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (e.g., 35°C) (step S3). If it is determined that the battery temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature (step S3: NO), the MCU 104 proceeds to the process of step S7.

[0098] On the other hand, if the acquired battery temperature is determined to be equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature (step S3: YES), the MCU 104 instructs the charging IC 103 to charge the power supply unit 111 at a predetermined current value (e.g., 1500 mA) that is lower than the upper limit (step S4).The MCU 104 then determines whether a predetermined period (e.g., 10 minutes) has elapsed (step S5).If the MCU 104 determines that the predetermined period has not elapsed (step S5: NO), the MCU 104 repeats the process of step S5 until the predetermined period has elapsed.

[0099] If it is determined that the predetermined period has elapsed (step S5: YES), the MCU 104 acquires the battery temperature based on the detection signal of the battery temperature sensor 101 (step S6), and instructs the charging IC 103 to charge the power supply unit 111 with a charging current of a current value corresponding to the battery temperature as shown in Figures 3 and 4 (step S7).

[0100] Next, MCU 104 determines whether to terminate charging (step S8). For example, MCU 104 determines to terminate charging when a predetermined charging termination condition is met. One example of the charging termination condition is when power supply unit 111 is fully charged. Another example of the charging termination condition is when the electrical connection between suction device 100 and external power supply PS is released.

[0101] If it is determined that charging should be terminated (step S8: YES), the MCU 104 instructs the charging IC 103 to terminate charging of the power supply unit 111 (step S9), and terminates the series of processes shown in Fig. 5. On the other hand, if it is determined that charging should not be terminated (step S8: NO), the MCU 104 returns to the process of step S6 and repeats the above process.

[0102] <Processing Performed by Charging IC> Next, an example of processing performed by the charging IC 103 of the control unit 116 will be described. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by the charging IC 103. As shown in Fig. 6, the charging IC 103 determines whether the power supply unit 111 is being charged (step S21). If it is determined that the power supply unit 111 is not being charged (step S21: NO), the charging IC 103 repeats the processing of step S21 until charging of the power supply unit 111 is started.

[0103] When the power supply unit 111 is being charged (step S21: YES), the charging IC 103 acquires the battery temperature based on its own temperature (step S22). If the battery temperature sensor 101 is configured to also output a detection signal to the charging IC 103, the charging IC 103 may acquire the battery temperature based on the detection signal of the battery temperature sensor 101.

[0104] The charging IC 103 then determines whether the acquired battery temperature is below a threshold temperature (e.g., 45°C) (step S23). If it is determined that the battery temperature is below the threshold temperature (step S23: NO), that is, if it is determined that the battery temperature is within the first temperature range, the charging IC 103 charges the power supply unit 111 with a charging current of a current value in accordance with an instruction from the MCU 104 (step S24).

[0105] On the other hand, if it is determined that the battery temperature is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature (step S23: YES), that is, if it is determined that the battery temperature is within the second temperature range, the charging IC 103 charges the power supply unit 111 with a charging current that is even smaller than the lower limit value (for example, 500 mA) regardless of instructions from the MCU 104 (step S25).

[0106] Next, the charging IC 103 determines whether or not an instruction to end charging has been received from the MCU 104 (step S26). If it is determined that an instruction to end charging has been received (step S26: YES), the charging IC 103 ends charging of the power supply unit 111 (step S27) and ends the series of processes shown in Fig. 6. On the other hand, if it is determined that an instruction to end charging has not been received, the charging IC 103 returns to the process of step S22 and repeats the above process.

[0107] As described above, according to the suction device 100, the charging current can be appropriately controlled in accordance with the battery temperature through cooperation between the charging IC 103 and the MCU 104, and the power supply unit 111 can be efficiently charged while preventing the power supply unit 111 from becoming too hot. Therefore, it is possible to achieve higher quality charging control that can shorten the charging time of the power supply unit 111 while ensuring safety.

[0108] Note that the example described here is merely an example and is not limiting. For example, some of the processes shown in Fig. 5 may be executed by the charging IC 103, and similarly, some of the processes shown in Fig. 6 may be executed by the MCU 104.

[0109] Furthermore, the specific numerical values ​​described in the above-described embodiment are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment may be modified or improved as appropriate.

[0110] The control method described in the above-described embodiment can be realized by executing a pre-prepared program on a computer (processor). The program is stored in a computer-readable storage medium and executed by being read from the storage medium. The program may be provided in a form stored in a non-transitory storage medium such as a flash memory, or may be provided via a network such as the Internet. The computer that executes the program may be, for example, a computer included in the suction device 100 (e.g., a CPU included in the suction device 100), but is not limited thereto and may also be a computer included in another device that can communicate with the suction device 100 (e.g., a smartphone or a server).

[0111] Although the power supply unit, control method, and control program of the aerosol generating device according to the present disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these modifications and alterations naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the components of the above-described embodiments may be combined in any manner without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0112] This specification etc. describes at least the following items. In parentheses, components etc. corresponding to the above-mentioned embodiment are shown as examples, but the present invention is not limited to these.

[0113] (1) A power supply unit (inhalation device 100, 100A, 100B, power supply unit 110) of an aerosol generation device (inhalation device 100, 100A, 100B) that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source, comprising: a power supply (power supply unit 111, 111A, 111B) that is capable of supplying power to a heating unit (heating unit 121, 121A, 121B) that heats the aerosol source and is configured to be chargeable with power received from an external power supply (heating unit 121, 121A, 121B); and a control unit (control unit 116, 116A, 116B, charging IC 103, MCU 104) that is configured to acquire the temperature of the power supply and control charging of the power supply based on the temperature of the power supply, wherein the control unit changes a current value of a charging current that charges the power supply within a predetermined range depending on the temperature of the power supply when the temperature of the power supply is included in a first temperature range that is a temperature range below a predetermined threshold temperature, When the temperature of the power supply falls within a second temperature range that is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, the current value of the charging current is made smaller than a lower limit value of the predetermined range.

[0114] According to (1), when the temperature of the power source falls within a first temperature range, which is a temperature range below a predetermined threshold temperature, the value of the charging current for charging the power source can be changed within a predetermined range depending on the temperature of the power source. On the other hand, when the temperature of the power source falls within a second temperature range, which is a temperature range equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, the value of the charging current can be made even smaller than the lower limit of the predetermined range. This allows the charging current to be appropriately controlled depending on the temperature of the power source, making it possible to efficiently charge the power source while preventing the power source from becoming too hot. Therefore, higher quality charging control can be achieved, which can shorten the charging time of the power source while ensuring safety.

[0115] (2) The power supply unit according to (1), wherein, when the temperature of the power supply is included in the first temperature range, the control unit changes the current value of the charging current according to the temperature of the power supply so that the temperature of the power supply does not exceed the threshold temperature.

[0116] According to (2), it is possible to prevent the temperature of the power supply from exceeding the threshold temperature, which would otherwise cause the charging current to be throttled, and it is possible to charge the power supply efficiently.

[0117] (3) The power supply unit according to (1) or (2), wherein the control unit changes the current value of the charging current in a stepwise manner according to the temperature of the power supply when the temperature of the power supply is included in the first temperature range.

[0118] According to (3), the charging current can be controlled more simply and appropriately depending on the temperature of the power source.

[0119] (4) The power supply unit according to (1) or (2), wherein the control unit linearly changes a current value of the charging current in accordance with the temperature of the power supply when the temperature of the power supply is included in the first temperature range.

[0120] According to (4), the charging current can be controlled more precisely and appropriately according to the temperature of the power source.

[0121] (5) The power supply unit according to (3) or (4), wherein the control unit sets the current value of the charging current to a predetermined first current value when the temperature of the power supply is included in the first temperature range and the temperature of the power supply reaches a predetermined first temperature, and when the temperature of the power supply reaches a second temperature lower than the first temperature while the current value of the charging current is the first current value, sets the current value of the charging current to a second current value higher than the first current value.

[0122] According to (5), when the current value of the charging current is set to a first current value, in response to a decrease in the temperature of the power source, the charging current can be changed to a larger second current value, thereby enabling the power source to be charged efficiently.

[0123] (6) The power supply unit according to (5), wherein, when the current value of the charging current is the first current value and the temperature of the power supply reaches a third temperature higher than the first temperature, the control unit changes the current value of the charging current to a third current value lower than the first current value.

[0124] According to (6), when the temperature of the power supply rises while the current value of the charging current is the first current value, it is possible to change the charging current to a smaller third current value, thereby reducing the load on the power supply (i.e., heat generation) and suppressing further rise in the temperature of the power supply.

[0125] (7) The power supply unit according to (3), wherein the temperature of the power supply that is the condition for the charging current to be set to one current value and the temperature of the power supply that is the condition for the charging current to be changed from the one current value to another current value are different from each other.

[0126] If the power supply temperature that is the condition for the charging current to be set to one current value and the power supply temperature that is the condition for changing the charging current from that one current value to another current value were to be equal, so-called "chattering" would occur, such that the charging current would be changed to one current value immediately after being set to that current value, and then immediately returned to the one current value, resulting in an inconvenience such as an endless repetition of increases and decreases in the charging current. According to (7), the power supply temperature that is the condition for the charging current to be set to one current value and the power supply temperature that is the condition for changing the charging current from that one current value to another current value are different, so the occurrence of such inconvenience can be suppressed.

[0127] (8) The power supply unit according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the control unit, when a request to start charging is made after the aerosol is generated, sets the current value of the charging current to a predetermined current value that is smaller than the upper limit value of the predetermined range for a predetermined period of time.

[0128] Since power is supplied from the power source to the heating unit when the heating unit generates aerosol, it is assumed that the temperature of the power source will be high after the aerosol is generated. According to (8), when a request to start charging is made after the aerosol is generated, the current value of the charging current is set to a predetermined current value that is lower than the upper limit of a predetermined range for a predetermined period of time. This makes it possible to avoid a large charging current flowing when the power source is hot after the aerosol is generated, and to suppress further increases in the temperature of the power source.

[0129] (9) The power supply unit according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the control unit, when a request to start charging is made, detects a temperature of the power supply that is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature included in the first temperature range, sets the current value of the charging current to a predetermined current value that is smaller than an upper limit value of the predetermined range for a predetermined period of time.

[0130] According to (9), if the temperature of the power supply at the time of a request to start charging is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature included in the first temperature range, the current value of the charging current is set to a predetermined current value that is lower than the upper limit of the predetermined range for a predetermined period of time. This prevents a large charging current from flowing when the power supply is hot, and makes it possible to suppress further increases in the temperature of the power supply.

[0131] (10) The power supply unit according to (8) or (9), wherein the predetermined current value is the lower limit value.

[0132] According to (10), it is possible to more reliably prevent a large charging current from flowing when the power supply is at a high temperature.

[0133] (11) The power supply unit according to any one of (8) to (10), wherein the control unit, when the temperature of the power supply after the predetermined period has elapsed is within the first temperature range, changes the current value of the charging current within the predetermined range according to the temperature of the power supply.

[0134] According to (11), if the temperature of the power source after a predetermined period of time has elapsed is within a first temperature range, the value of the charging current is changed within a predetermined range according to the temperature of the power source. As a result, after the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the charging current can be appropriately controlled according to the temperature of the power source, and the power source can be efficiently charged while preventing the power source from becoming too hot.

[0135] (12) A power supply unit according to any one of (1) to (11), wherein the control unit includes: a first control unit (charging IC 103) configured to be able to control charging of the power supply; and a second control unit (MCU 104) configured to be able to control the first control unit based on the temperature of the power supply, wherein the second control unit instructs the first control unit to change the current value of the charging current within the predetermined range depending on the temperature of the power supply when the temperature of the power supply is included in the first temperature range, the first control unit changes the current value of the charging current in accordance with the instruction of the second control unit when the temperature of the power supply is included in the first temperature range, and makes the current value of the charging current even smaller than the lower limit of the predetermined range regardless of the instruction of the second control unit when the temperature of the power supply is included in the second temperature range.

[0136] According to (12), when the temperature of the power source is within the first temperature range, the second control unit instructs the first control unit to change the value of the charging current within a predetermined range depending on the temperature of the power source. The first control unit then changes the value of the charging current in accordance with the instruction from the second control unit. This makes it possible to efficiently charge the power source while preventing the power source from becoming too hot when the temperature of the power source is within the first temperature range. Furthermore, when the temperature of the power source is within the second temperature range, the first control unit reduces the value of the charging current even further below the lower limit of the predetermined range, regardless of the instruction from the second control unit. This allows the first control unit to autonomously reduce the charging current without waiting for an instruction from the second control unit, thereby quickly preventing the power source temperature from further increasing. This prevents the power source from becoming too hot, enabling safe charging.

[0137] (13) The power supply unit according to (12), further comprising a power receiving unit that receives power output from the external power supply, the first control unit being a charging IC (Integrated Circuit) (charging IC 103) provided between the power receiving unit and the power supply, and the second control unit being an MCU (Micro Controller Unit) (MCU 104) that performs overall control of the power supply unit.

[0138] According to (13), by cooperation between the charging IC and the MCU, the charging current can be appropriately controlled according to the temperature of the power supply, and the power supply can be efficiently charged while preventing the power supply from becoming too hot.

[0139] (14) A control method performed by a computer (control unit 116, 116A, 116B, charging IC 103, MCU 104) that controls a power supply unit (inhalation device 100, 100A, 100B, power supply unit 110) of an aerosol generation device (inhalation device 100, 100A, 100B) that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source, wherein the power supply unit includes a power supply (power supply unit 111, 111A, 111B) that can supply power to a heating unit (heating unit 121, 121A, 121B) that heats the aerosol source and is configured to be chargeable with power received from an external power supply (external power supply PS), the computer is configured to acquire a temperature of the power supply and control charging of the power supply based on the temperature of the power supply, and the computer changes a current value of a charging current that charges the power supply within a predetermined range depending on the temperature of the power supply when the temperature of the power supply is included in a first temperature range that is a temperature range below a predetermined threshold temperature (steps S7, S24), When the temperature of the power supply is included in a second temperature range that is a temperature range equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, the current value of the charging current is made even smaller than the lower limit value of the predetermined range (step S25).

[0140] According to (14), when the temperature of the power source falls within a first temperature range, which is a temperature range below a predetermined threshold temperature, the value of the charging current for charging the power source can be changed within a predetermined range depending on the temperature of the power source. On the other hand, when the temperature of the power source falls within a second temperature range, which is a temperature range equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, the value of the charging current can be made even smaller than the lower limit of the predetermined range. This allows the charging current to be appropriately controlled depending on the temperature of the power source, making it possible to efficiently charge the power source while preventing the power source from becoming too hot. Therefore, higher quality charging control can be achieved that can shorten the charging time of the power source while ensuring safety.

[0141] (15) A control program for causing a computer (control unit 116, 116A, 116B, charging IC 103, MCU 104) that controls a power supply unit (inhalation device 100, 100A, 100B, power supply unit 110) of an aerosol generation device (inhalation device 100, 100A, 100B) that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source to perform a predetermined process, wherein the power supply unit includes a power supply (power supply unit 111, 111A, 111B) that can supply power to a heating unit (heating unit 121, 121A, 121B) that heats the aerosol source and is configured to be chargeable by power received from an external power supply (external power supply PS), the computer is configured to acquire a temperature of the power supply and control charging of the power supply based on the temperature of the power supply, and the computer: when the temperature of the power supply is included in a first temperature range that is a temperature range below a predetermined threshold temperature, changes a current value of a charging current that charges the power supply within a predetermined range depending on the temperature of the power supply (steps S7, S24); When the temperature of the power supply is included in a second temperature range that is a temperature range equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, the current value of the charging current is made even smaller than the lower limit value of the predetermined range (step S25).

[0142] According to (15), when the temperature of the power source falls within a first temperature range, which is a temperature range below a predetermined threshold temperature, the value of the charging current for charging the power source can be changed within a predetermined range depending on the temperature of the power source. On the other hand, when the temperature of the power source falls within a second temperature range, which is a temperature range equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, the value of the charging current can be made even smaller than the lower limit of the predetermined range. This allows the charging current to be appropriately controlled depending on the temperature of the power source, making it possible to efficiently charge the power source while preventing the power source from becoming too hot. Therefore, it is possible to achieve higher quality charging control that can shorten the charging time of the power source while ensuring safety.

[0143] (16) A computer-readable storage medium storing the control program according to (15).

[0144] According to (16), it is possible to make a computer execute the control program described in (15).

[0145] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100, 100A, 100B Suction device (aerosol generating device, power supply unit) 110 Power supply unit 111, 111A, 111B Power supply section (power supply) 121, 121A, 121B Heating section 116, 116A, 116B Control section (computer) 102 Power receiving section 103 Charging IC (control section, first control section) 104 MCU (control section, second control section) PS External power supply

Claims

1. A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source, comprising: a power source configured to be capable of supplying power to a heating unit that heats the aerosol source and to be rechargeable by power received from an external power source; a control unit configured to acquire a temperature of the power source and control charging of the power source based on the temperature of the power source; Equipped with The control unit When the temperature of the power source is within a first temperature range that is a temperature range below a predetermined threshold temperature, a current value of a charging current that charges the power source is changed within a predetermined range according to the temperature of the power source; When the temperature of the power source is included in a second temperature range that is a temperature range equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, the current value of the charging current is made smaller than the lower limit value of the predetermined range. Power supply unit.

2. 2. The power supply unit according to claim 1, The control unit When the temperature of the power supply is included in the first temperature range, the current value of the charging current is changed according to the temperature of the power supply so that the temperature of the power supply does not exceed the threshold temperature. Power supply unit.

3. 2. The power supply unit according to claim 1, The control unit When the temperature of the power supply is included in the first temperature range, the current value of the charging current is changed in stages according to the temperature of the power supply. Power supply unit.

4. 2. The power supply unit according to claim 1, The control unit When the temperature of the power supply is included in the first temperature range, the current value of the charging current is changed linearly in accordance with the temperature of the power supply. Power supply unit.

5. 5. The power supply unit according to claim 3 or 4, The control unit when the temperature of the power supply is included in the first temperature range and the temperature of the power supply reaches a predetermined first temperature, the current value of the charging current is set to a predetermined first current value; When the temperature of the power source reaches a second temperature lower than the first temperature while the current value of the charging current is set to the first current value, the current value of the charging current is set to a second current value higher than the first current value. Power supply unit.

6. 6. The power supply unit according to claim 5, The control unit When the temperature of the power source reaches a third temperature higher than the first temperature while the current value of the charging current is set to the first current value, the current value of the charging current is set to a third current value lower than the first current value. Power supply unit.

7. 4. The power supply unit according to claim 3, the temperature of the power supply that satisfies the condition for setting the charging current to one current value and the temperature of the power supply that satisfies the condition for changing the charging current from the one current value to another current value are different from each other; Power supply unit.

8. 2. The power supply unit according to claim 1, The control unit When a request to start charging is made after the aerosol is generated, the current value of the charging current is set to a predetermined current value that is smaller than the upper limit value of the predetermined range for a predetermined period of time. Power supply unit.

9. 2. The power supply unit according to claim 1, The control unit If the temperature of the power source at the time of a request to start charging is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature included in the first temperature range, the current value of the charging current is set to a predetermined current value that is smaller than an upper limit value of the predetermined range for a predetermined period of time. Power supply unit.

10. 10. The power supply unit according to claim 8 or 9, The predetermined current value is the lower limit value. Power supply unit.

11. 10. The power supply unit according to claim 8 or 9, The control unit If the temperature of the power source after the predetermined period has elapsed is within the first temperature range, the current value of the charging current is changed within the predetermined range according to the temperature of the power source. Power supply unit.

12. 2. The power supply unit according to claim 1, The control unit a first control unit configured to be able to control charging of the power source; a second control unit configured to be able to control the first control unit based on the temperature of the power source; The invention comprises: The second control unit is when the temperature of the power source is included in the first temperature range, instructing the first control unit to change the current value of the charging current within the predetermined range in accordance with the temperature of the power source; The first control unit When the temperature of the power source is included in the first temperature range, the current value of the charging current is changed in accordance with an instruction from the second control unit; When the temperature of the power source is included in the second temperature range, the current value of the charging current is made smaller than the lower limit value of the predetermined range regardless of an instruction from the second control unit. Power supply unit.

13. 13. The power supply unit of claim 12, the power supply unit further includes a power receiving unit that receives power output from the external power supply; the first control unit is a charging IC provided between the power receiving unit and the power source, The second control unit is an MCU that controls the power supply unit. Power supply unit.

14. 1. A computer-implemented control method for controlling a power supply unit of an aerosol generating device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source, comprising: the power supply unit includes a power supply configured to be capable of supplying power to a heating unit that heats the aerosol source and to be rechargeable by power received from an external power supply; the computer is configured to acquire a temperature of the power supply and control charging of the power supply based on the temperature of the power supply; The computer When the temperature of the power source is within a first temperature range that is a temperature range below a predetermined threshold temperature, a current value of a charging current that charges the power source is changed within a predetermined range according to the temperature of the power source; When the temperature of the power source is included in a second temperature range that is a temperature range equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, the current value of the charging current is made smaller than the lower limit value of the predetermined range. A method of control, which performs processing.

15. A control program for causing a computer that controls a power supply unit of an aerosol generating device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source to perform predetermined processing, the power supply unit includes a power supply configured to be capable of supplying power to a heating unit that heats the aerosol source and to be rechargeable by power received from an external power supply; the computer is configured to acquire a temperature of the power supply and control charging of the power supply based on the temperature of the power supply; The computer, When the temperature of the power source is within a first temperature range that is a temperature range below a predetermined threshold temperature, a current value of a charging current that charges the power source is changed within a predetermined range according to the temperature of the power source; When the temperature of the power source is included in a second temperature range that is a temperature range equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, the current value of the charging current is made smaller than the lower limit value of the predetermined range. A control program that performs processing.