Inhalation device, control method, and program

Abstract

A MCU (1) of an inhalation device (100) operates a heating unit (121C) to heat a rod-shaped substrate (150) based on a rod heating curve when the rod-shaped substrate (150) is received in a receiving portion (140C), and operates the heating unit (121C) based on a clean heating curve different from the rod heating curve when the rod-shaped substrate (150) is not received in the receiving portion (140C).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an inhalation device, a control method, and a program for generating an aerosol from a substrate having an aerosol source. Background Art

[0002] For example, an inhalation device that generates an aerosol to which a flavor component is added and allows a user to inhale the generated aerosol is conventionally known. Such an inhalation device typically delivers an aerosol to the user by heating a substrate containing an aerosol source with a heating unit (also referred to as a "heating element"), which is a resistance heater or an induction heater.

[0003] A housing portion in which the substrate is inserted may get dirty due to the use of the inhalation device. Thus, conventional inhalation devices include an inhalation device that allows the housing portion to be periodically cleaned using a cleaning tool having a cleaning agent (such as alcohol or water). For example, PTL 1 discloses cleaning the inside of a cavity by inserting a cleaning article (such as a brush) into the cavity or adding a cleaning component.

[0004] Citation List

[0005] Patent Literature

[0006] [PTL 1] JP 2012-513750 A Summary of the Invention

[0007] Technical Problem

[0008] When the housing portion is cleaned using a cleaning tool having a cleaning agent (such as alcohol or water), the inside of the housing portion may become wet immediately after cleaning. If the user uses the inhalation device when the inside of the housing portion is wet, a poor-quality smoking flavor aerosol may be delivered to the user. Thus, in the prior art, in order to obtain a high-quality smoking experience, the user needs to wait for the inside of the housing portion to dry naturally after cleaning, which is inconvenient.

[0009] The present disclosure provides an inhalation device, a control method, and a program that improve the convenience of using the inhalation device.

[0010] Solution to the Problem

[0011] One aspect of the present disclosure is an inhalation device for generating an aerosol from a substrate having an aerosol source, the inhalation device comprising: a housing portion in which the substrate is housed; a heating unit for heating the housing portion; and a control unit for controlling the heating unit based on heating information defining a time series transition of a target temperature, the target temperature being a target value of the temperature of the heating unit, wherein the heating information includes first heating information for heating the substrate and second heating information different from the first heating information, and when the substrate is housed in the housing portion, the control unit operates the heating unit based on the first heating information, and when the substrate is not housed in the housing portion, the control unit operates the heating unit based on the second heating information.

[0012] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a control method executed by a computer for controlling the operation of an inhalation device that generates an aerosol from a substrate having an aerosol source, wherein the inhalation device includes: a housing portion in which the substrate is housed; and a heating unit for heating the housing portion, the computer being configured to be able to control the heating unit based on heating information defining a time series transition of a target temperature, the target temperature being a target value of the temperature of the heating unit, the heating information including first heating information for heating the substrate and second heating information different from the first heating information, and when the substrate is housed in the housing portion, the computer operates the heating unit based on the first heating information, and when the substrate is not housed in the housing portion, the computer operates the heating unit based on the second heating information.

[0013] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a program that causes a computer for controlling the operation of an inhalation device to execute a predetermined process, the inhalation device generating an aerosol from a substrate having an aerosol source, wherein the inhalation device includes: a housing portion in which the substrate is housed; and a heating unit for heating the housing portion, the computer being configured to control the heating unit based on heating information defining a time series transition of a target temperature, the target temperature being a target value of the temperature of the heating unit, the heating information including first heating information for heating the substrate and second heating information different from the first heating information, and the program causes the computer to execute a process of operating the heating unit based on the first heating information when the substrate is housed in the housing portion and operating the heating unit based on the second heating information when the substrate is not housed in the housing portion.

[0014] Advantageous Effects of the Present Invention

[0015] According to the present disclosure, the convenience of using the inhalation device can be improved. Description of the Drawings

[0016] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram showing a first configuration example of an inhalation device (inhalation device 100A).

[0017] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram showing a second configuration example of an inhalation device (inhalation device 100B).

[0018] Figure 3 It is an overall perspective view of the inhalation device 100 as an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 4 It is a perspective view of the internal unit 10 observed from the right front.

[0020] Figure 5 It is a perspective view of the internal unit 10 observed from the left front.

[0021] Figure 6 It is an exploded perspective view of the internal unit 10.

[0022] Figure 7 It is a cross-sectional perspective view of the heater assembly 30.

[0023] Figure 8 It is along Figure 5 The cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in shows the structure around the sensor FPC 73, the rod detection sensor 12, and the rod guide 31 (accommodation portion 140C).

[0024] Figure 9 It is a schematic diagram showing the path of light emitted from the rod detection sensor 12 in the accommodated state and non-accommodated state of the rod-shaped substrate 150.

[0025] Figure 10 It is a chart showing the detection and non-detection of the rod-shaped substrate 150 based on brightness.

[0026] Figure 11 It is a chart showing the heating curve of the rod and the cleaning heating curve.

[0027] Figure 12 It is a flowchart showing an example of the process executed by the MCU 1.

[0028] Figure 13 It is a chart explaining the brightness regions (first region to third region) of the reflected light detected by the rod detection sensor 12. Detailed Description

[0029] In the following, an inhalation device, a control method, and a program according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, two configuration examples (a first configuration example and a second configuration example) to which the configuration of the inhalation device of the present disclosure can be applied will be described. Note that, in the following, the same or similar elements may be denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and the description of the same or similar elements may be appropriately omitted or simplified.

[0030] <<1. Configuration Examples of Inhalation Devices>>

[0031] An inhalation device is a device for generating a substance to be inhaled by a user. Hereinafter, the substance generated by the inhalation device will be described as an aerosol. Alternatively, the substance generated by the inhalation device may be a gas.

[0032] (1) First Configuration Example

[0033] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first configuration example of the inhalation device. As Figure 1 shown, the inhalation device 100A according to this configuration example includes a power supply unit 110, a cartridge 120, and a flavor cartridge 130. The power supply unit 110 includes a power supply unit 111A, a sensor unit 112A, a notification unit 113A, a memory unit 114A, a communication unit 115A, and a control unit 116A. The cartridge 120 includes a heating unit 121A, a liquid guiding portion 122, and a liquid storage portion 123. The flavor 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 cartridge 130.

[0034] The power supply unit 111A stores electric power. Then, the power supply unit 111A supplies electric power to each component of the inhalation device 100A according to the control executed by the control unit 116A. The power supply unit 111A may be configured by, for example, a rechargeable battery (such as a lithium-ion secondary battery).

[0035] The sensor unit 112A acquires various types of information related to the inhalation device 100A. As an example, the sensor unit 112A is configured by a pressure sensor (such as a capacitive microphone, a flow rate sensor, or a temperature sensor, etc.), and acquires a value associated with inhalation performed by the user. As another example, the sensor unit 112A is configured by an input device (such as a button or a switch) for receiving information input from the user.

[0036] The notification unit 113A notifies the user of information. The information notified by the notification unit 113A includes, for example, various information such as the state of charge (SOC) indicating the charging state of the power supply unit 111A, the preheating time during inhalation, and the inhalation possible period. For example, the notification unit 113A may be configured 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 can vibrate, etc.

[0037] The memory unit 114A stores various information for operating the inhalation device 100A. The memory unit 114A may be configured, for example, by a non-volatile storage medium (such as a flash memory).

[0038] The communication unit 115A is a communication interface capable of performing communication according to any wired or wireless communication standard. Such communication standards may include, for example, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), NFC (Near Field Communication), or LPWA (Low Power Wide Area).

[0039] The control unit 116A serves as an arithmetic processing device and a control device to control the overall operation within the inhalation device 100A according to various programs. The control unit 116A is implemented by an electronic circuit (such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microprocessor).

[0040] The liquid storage section 123 stores the aerosol source. The aerosol source is atomized to generate an aerosol. For example, the aerosol source is a polyol (such as glycerol or propylene glycol) or a liquid (such as water). The aerosol source may include tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor components. If the inhalation device 100A is a medical inhaler (such as a nebulizer), the aerosol source may include a drug.

[0041] The liquid guiding section 122 guides the aerosol source from the liquid storage section 123 and holds the aerosol source, which is the liquid stored in the liquid storage section 123. The liquid guiding section 122 is a wicking member formed, for example, by twisting a fibrous material (such as fiberglass) or a porous material (such as porous ceramics). In such a case, the aerosol source stored in the liquid storage section 123 is guided by the capillary action of the wicking member.

[0042] The heating unit 121A heats the aerosol source to atomize the aerosol source, thereby generating an aerosol. Figure 1In the example shown, the heating unit 121A is configured as a coil and wound around the liquid guiding unit 122. When the heating unit 121A generates heat, the aerosol source held in the liquid guiding part 122 is then heated and atomized, thereby generating an aerosol. The heating unit 121A generates heat when powered by the power supply unit 111A. For example, when the sensor unit 112A detects that the user has started inhaling and / or has input a predetermined message, power can be supplied to the heating unit 121A. Then, when the sensor unit 112A detects that the user has completed inhaling and / or has input a predetermined message, the power supply to the heating unit 121A can be stopped. The user's inhalation operation on the inhalation device 100A can be detected by a suction sensor, for example, based on the internal pressure within the inhalation device 100A exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

[0043] The flavor source 131 is a component for imparting flavor components to the aerosol. The flavor source 131 may include tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor components.

[0044] The air flow path 180 is a flow path for the air to be inhaled by the user. The air flow path 180 has a tubular structure having an air inlet hole 181 and an air outlet hole 182. The air inlet hole is an entrance for air to enter the air flow path 180, and the air outlet hole is an exit for air to leave the air flow path 180. Midway along the air flow path 180, the liquid guiding part 122 is disposed upstream (closer to the air inlet hole 181), while the flavor source 131 is disposed downstream (closer to the air outlet hole 182). The air flowing in through the air inlet hole 181 during user inhalation is mixed with the aerosol generated by the heating unit 121A and is conveyed through the flavor source 131 to the air outlet hole 182, as indicated by the arrow 190. When the mixed fluid of the aerosol and air passes through the flavor source 131, the flavor components contained in the flavor source 131 are applied to the aerosol.

[0045] The mouthpiece 124 is a member held in the user's mouth during inhalation. The air outlet hole 182 is provided in the mouthpiece 124. The user holds the mouthpiece 124 in their mouth so as to enable the mixed fluid of the aerosol and air to be drawn into the oral cavity.

[0046] The configuration example of the inhalation device 100A has been described above. The inhalation device 100A is of course not limited to the configuration described above and can adopt various configurations, such as those shown by way of example below.

[0047] As an example, the inhalation device 100A does not need to include the flavor cartridge 130. In such a case, the cartridge 120 is provided with the mouthpiece 124.

[0048] As another example, the inhalation device 100A can include various types of aerosol sources. By mixing various types of aerosols generated from various types of aerosol sources in the air flow path 180 to cause a chemical reaction, other types of aerosols can be produced.

[0049] In addition, the means for atomizing the aerosol source is not limited to the heating provided by the heating unit 121A. For example, the means for atomizing the aerosol source can be vibration atomization or induction heating.

[0050] (2) Second configuration example

[0051] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a second configuration example of the inhalation device. As Figure 2 shown, the inhalation device 100B according to 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 housing portion 140, and a heat insulation unit 144. In the first configuration example, the inhalation device 100A has a separate power supply unit 110 that houses the power supply unit 111A and the heating unit 121A, but in the second configuration example, the inhalation device 100B has an integrated power supply unit 111B and heating unit 121B. That is, the inhalation device 100B in the second configuration example can also be referred to as a power supply unit with a built-in heating unit.

[0052] Each of the power supply unit 111B, the sensor unit 112B, the notification unit 113B, the memory unit 114B, the communication unit 115B, and the control unit 116B is substantially the same as the corresponding component included in the inhalation device 100A of the first configuration example.

[0053] The housing portion 140 has an internal space 141 and holds the rod-shaped substrate 150 while accommodating a part of the rod-shaped substrate 150 in the internal space 141. The housing portion 140 has an opening 142 that communicates the internal space 141 with the outside, and holds the rod-shaped substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 141 from the opening 142. For example, the housing portion 140 is a cylindrical body that has the opening 142 and a bottom 143 as the bottom surface, defining the columnar internal space 141. An air flow path for supplying air to the internal space 141 is connected to the housing portion 140. For example, an air inlet hole is provided in the side surface of the inhalation device 100, and this air inlet hole is the entrance for air to enter the air flow path. For example, an air outlet hole is provided in the bottom portion 143, and this air outlet hole serves as the exit for air from the air flow path to the internal space 141.

[0054] The rod-shaped substrate 150 includes a substrate portion 151 and a mouthpiece portion 152. The substrate portion 151 includes an aerosol source. The aerosol source may include tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor components. If the inhalation device 100B is a medical inhaler (such as a nebulizer), the aerosol source may include a drug. The aerosol source may be, for example, a liquid (such as water and polyols (such as glycerol and propylene glycol)) including tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor components, or alternatively may be a solid including tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor components. When the rod-shaped substrate 150 is held in the accommodating portion 140, at least a part of the substrate portion 151 is accommodated in the internal space 141, and at least a part of the mouthpiece portion 152 protrudes from the opening 142. When the user holds the mouthpiece portion 152 protruding from the opening 142 in the mouth and inhales, air flows into the internal space 141 through an air flow path not shown in the drawings, and reaches the user's mouth together with the aerosol generated from the substrate portion 151.

[0055] In Figure 2 the example shown, the heating unit 121B is configured in a film shape and is arranged to cover the outer circumference of the accommodating portion 140. Then, when the heating unit 121B generates heat, the substrate portion 151 of the rod-shaped substrate 150 is heated from the outer periphery, thereby generating an aerosol.

[0056] The heat insulation portion 144 prevents heat from being transferred from the heating unit 121B to other components. For example, the heat insulation portion 144 is configured by a vacuum heat insulation material or an aerogel heat insulation material, etc.

[0057] The configuration examples of the inhalation device 100B have been described above. The inhalation device 100B is of course not limited to the configuration described above, and various configurations can be adopted, such as those shown by way of example below.

[0058] As an example, the heating unit 121B may be configured in a blade shape and arranged to protrude from the bottom 143 of the accommodating portion 140 into the internal space 141. In this case, the blade-shaped heating unit 121B is inserted into the substrate portion 151 of the rod-shaped substrate 150 and heats it from the inside of the substrate portion 151 of the rod-shaped substrate 150. In another example, the heating unit 121B may be arranged to cover the bottom 143 of the accommodating portion 140. Additionally, the heating unit 121B may be configured as a combination of two or more of a first heating unit covering the outer circumference of the accommodating portion 140, a second heating unit in blade shape, and a third heating unit covering the bottom 143 of the accommodating portion 140.

[0059] As another example, the accommodating portion 140 may include an opening / closing mechanism (such as a hinge) for opening / closing a part of the outer casing that forms the internal space 141. By opening and closing the outer casing, the accommodating portion 140 can then receive and hold the rod-shaped substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 141. In this case, the heating unit 121B may be provided at the holding portion of the accommodating portion 140 and may heat the rod-shaped substrate while pressing it.

[0060] In addition, 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 this case, the inhalation device 100B includes at least an electromagnetic induction source (such as a coil) for generating a magnetic field instead of the heating unit 121B. A receptor that generates heat by induction heating may be provided in the inhalation device 100B or may be included in the rod-shaped substrate 150.

[0061] The inhalation device 100B may further include the heating unit 121A, the liquid guiding portion 122, the liquid storage portion 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 further mixes with the aerosol generated by the heating unit 121B to reach the user's mouth.

[0062] <<2. Configuration Examples of the Inhalation Device of the Present Disclosure>>

[0063] Next, an embodiment of the inhalation device to which the configuration of the inhalation device of the present disclosure is applied (the inhalation device 100B of the second configuration example described above) (hereinafter referred to as the inhalation device 100) will be described. Although specific descriptions are omitted, some configurations of the inhalation device 100 described in detail below may also be applied to the inhalation device 100A of the first configuration example.

[0064] [Overall Configuration of the Inhalation Device]

[0065] Figure 3 is an overall perspective view of the inhalation device 100. Hereinafter, in the inhalation device 100, the insertion and removal direction of the rod-shaped substrate 150 with respect to the inhalation device 100 is defined as the vertical direction, the sliding movement direction of the shutter 23 described later is defined as the front-rear direction, and the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the front-rear direction is defined as the left-right direction. In addition, as shown in the figure, the front is represented as Fr, the rear is represented as Rr, the left side is represented as L, the right side is represented as R, the upper side is represented as U, and the lower side is represented as D.

[0066] The inhalation device 100 is preferably sized to be held in a hand, for example having a rod shape. For example, a user holds the inhalation device 100 with one hand while touching the surface of the inhalation device 100 with fingertips. Note that the shape of the inhalation device 100 is not limited to the rod shape and can be any shape (e.g., a rounded rectangular shape or an egg shape).

[0067] The inhalation device 100 includes an internal unit 10 (see Figures 4 to 6 ), and a housing 20 that forms the appearance of the inhalation device 100. The housing 20 includes a lower housing 21 and an upper housing 22. A part of the internal unit 10 is accommodated in the lower housing 21, and the entire internal unit 10 is accommodated in the housing 20 by covering the upper housing 22 from above the lower housing 21.

[0068] On the upper surface of the inhalation device 100, there are provided: an opening 27 (see Figures 4 to 6 ), which is for inserting and removing the rod-shaped substrate 150; and a shutter 23 that can slide in the front-rear direction. The opening 27 is arranged on the rear side of the upper surface of the inhalation device 100. The shutter 23 selectively takes an open state (front position) and a closed state (rear position). The open state allows the insertion and removal of the rod-shaped substrate 150 by opening the opening 27, and the closed state closes the opening 27 by positioning the shutter 23 above the opening 27. When inserting the rod-shaped substrate 150 into the opening 27, the user sets the shutter 23 to the open state.

[0069] A shutter detection sensor 11 (see Figure 4 ) is provided near the shutter 23. The shutter detection sensor 11 detects whether the shutter 23 is in the open state. The shutter detection sensor 11 is an example of the sensor unit 112B of the inhalation device 100B shown in Figure 2 .

[0070] In addition, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port 26 (see Figure 4 ) is provided on the upper surface of the inhalation device 100. The USB port is arranged adjacent to the opening 27. In the aforementioned open state, the shutter 23 closes the USB port 26. On the other hand, in the aforementioned closed state, the shutter 23 does not close the USB port 26, and the USB port 26 is open. The USB port 26 is configured to be electrically connectable to an external power source (not shown) that can supply power to charge the power supply unit 111C (see Figure 4 ). The USB port 26 is, for example, a socket into which a plug on the opposite side can be inserted. In this embodiment, for example, the USB port 26 is a socket in the shape of USB Type-C.

[0071] The front surface of the inhalation device 100 is provided with an operation unit 24 and a light-emitting unit 25. The operation unit 24 is arranged below the light-emitting unit 25. More specifically, the operation unit 24 and the light-emitting unit 25 are components of the internal unit 10 accommodated in the housing 20, and a part of the operation unit 24 and the light-emitting unit 25 is configured to be exposed from an opening formed in the front surface of the housing 20. The light-emitting unit 25 is Figure 2 an example of the notification unit 113B of the inhalation device 100B shown in

[0072] The operation unit 24 is a button-type switch operable by the user and is an input device for receiving information input from the user. The operation unit 24 is connected to the main board 50 described later (see Figures 4 to 6 ). For example, by pressing the operation unit 24, the MCU (Microcontroller Unit) 1 (see Figures 4 to 6 and the heating unit 121C (see Figure 7 ) are activated. Note that the MCU 1 serves as the control unit 116B in the inhalation device 100B. In addition to serving as the control unit 116B in the inhalation device 100B, the MCU 1 may also integrally have the function of the communication unit 115B. Furthermore, the MCU 1 may be constituted by a single IC or two or more ICs. For example, the discharge control of the heating unit 121C and the charging control of the power supply unit 111C may be performed by a single IC or by separate ICs.

[0073] The light-emitting unit 25 includes a light-emitting element, such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode). More specifically, the light-emitting unit 25 includes: a plurality of LEDs 251 (see Figure 6 ) provided on the main board 50; and a transparent cover member 250 that covers the plurality of LEDs 251 and transmits the light of the LEDs 251. A part of the transparent cover member 250 is exposed from an opening formed in the front surface of the housing 20. In the present embodiment, for example, the plurality of LEDs 251 are configured to emit light of a variety of emission colors, including blue, yellow, and red. Note that the number of light-emitting elements can be arbitrarily set, and for example, the light-emitting unit 25 may have only one light-emitting element.

[0074] The light-emitting unit 25 emits light in a predetermined emission mode based on a command from the MCU 1 to notify the user of predetermined information. Here, the emission mode may be, for example, the emission color, but is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, the intensity of illumination (in other words, brightness) or illumination pattern (e.g., flashing at a predetermined time interval), etc. Additionally, the predetermined information is, for example, operation information indicating whether the power supply of the inhalation device 100 is turned on.

[0075] Next, the internal unit 10 of the inhalation device 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 6 the following.Figure 4 is a perspective view of the internal unit 10 as viewed from the right front, Figure 5 is a perspective view of the internal unit 10 as viewed from the left front, and Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the internal unit 10. Note that the internal unit 10 is the suction device 100 with the outer case 20 and the shutter 23 removed.

[0076] The internal unit 10 includes a base 40, a main board 50, a vibration device 60, a heater assembly 30, a power supply unit 111C, a power board 71, a peripheral FPC (flexible printed circuit) 72, a sensor FPC 73, and various sensors. Note that the power board 71 can be a flexible circuit board, a rigid board described later, or a combination of a flexible board and a rigid board, but here the power board is described as an example of a flexible circuit board.

[0077] (Base)

[0078] As Figure 6 shown in the exploded perspective view, the base 40 includes a power holding section 41 that holds the power supply unit 111C, a board holding section 42 that holds the main board 50, and a heater holding section 43 that holds the heater assembly 30. The power holding section 41 is located at the lower part of the base 40, and the board holding section 42 and the heater holding section 43 are located at the upper part of the base 40.

[0079] The power holding section 41 has a cylindrical shape with a part of the side surface cut off, in other words, a substantially semi-cylindrical shape. The power holding section 41 includes: a bottom wall section 401; a side wall section 402 having an arc shape and erected from the bottom wall section 401; and an upper wall section 403 provided at the upper end of the side wall section 402. The power supply unit 111C is arranged in the space surrounded by the bottom wall section 401, the side wall section 402, and the upper wall section 403.

[0080] The board holding section 42 is provided on an upright wall section 404 that erects from the upper wall section 403 of the power holding section 41. The board holding section 42 is provided on one side (here the front side) of the upright wall section 404 in the front-rear direction and holds the main board 50.

[0081] The heater holding section 43 is provided on the side (here the rear side) of the upright wall section 404 in the front-rear direction opposite to the board holding section 42. The heater holding section 43 has a space surrounded by the upright wall section 404, a pair of left and right wall sections 405 extending from the upright wall section 404 in the front-rear direction, and the upper surface of the upper wall section 403 of the power holding section 41, and the heater assembly 30 is arranged in this space.

[0082] (Main Board)

[0083] The main board 50 is a rigid board with a plurality of electronic components (elements) mounted on both sides. An MCU 1, an LED 251, a charging IC (integrated circuit), a boost DC / DC converter, etc. are mounted on the main board 50. The main board 50 is held by the board holding section 42 of the base 40 such that the component mounting surface faces the front-rear direction. In Figure 6 this, only the front surface 501 (here the front side) of the main board 50 is shown. Therefore, the charging IC and the boost DC / DC converter mounted on the rear surface 502 (here the rear side) are not shown.

[0084] A power connection section 51 electrically connected to the power supply unit 111C is provided in the lower region of the front surface 501 of the main board 50. The power connection section 51 is electrically connected to the power supply unit 111C via a power board 71. The power supply unit 111C is a cylindrical lithium-ion secondary battery and is an Figure 2 example of the power supply unit 111B of the suction device 100B shown in

[0085] As Figure 6 shown in, the power supply unit 111C is provided with a positive electrode tab 111a and a negative electrode tab 111b. The power supply unit 111C is arranged in the power holding section 41 of the base 40 such that the positive electrode tab 111a and the negative electrode tab 111b are positioned at the front. The power board 71 is positioned in front of the power supply unit 111C and the main board 50 and extends in the vertical direction. The power board 71 is connected to the positive electrode tab 111a and the negative electrode tab 111b of the power supply unit 111C and is also connected to the power connection section 51 of the main board 50. Electric power from the power supply unit 111C is transmitted to the main board 50 through the conductive tracks formed on the power board 71 and is supplied to each electronic component. In addition, the power board 71 is equipped with a power temperature sensor 16. The power temperature sensor 16 is a sensor that detects the temperature of the power supply unit 111C. The power temperature sensor 16 is, for example, a thermistor. The power temperature sensor 16 is an Figure 2 example of the sensor unit 112B of the suction device 100B shown in

[0086] A USB port 26 is provided in the upper region of the rear surface 502 of the main board 50. The USB port 26 is electrically connected to a charging IC (not shown) via the wiring formed on the main board 50.

[0087] In addition to the charging IC and the boost DC / DC converter (not shown), a heater connection section is also provided on the rear surface 502 of the main board 50. The charging IC performs charging control to supply (charge) the electric power input from the USB port 26 to the power supply unit 111C. The boost DC / DC converter boosts the electric power supplied from the power supply unit 111C to generate power supplied to the heating unit 121C (seeFigure 7 Power of ().

[0088] The heater connection section is connected to the board connection section 121a extending from below the heater assembly 30, thereby supplying power to the heating unit 121C of the heater assembly 30. As a result, the power from the power supply unit 111C is supplied to the heating unit 121C of the heater assembly 30 via the main board 50.

[0089] (Vibration device)

[0090] The vibration device 60 includes a vibration element, such as a vibration motor. As Figure 6 shown, the vibration device 60 is arranged between the upper surface of the power supply unit 111C and the upper wall section 403 in the power holding section 41 of the base 40. The lead 61 of the vibration device 60 is connected to the peripheral FPC 72. The vibration device 60 vibrates in a predetermined vibration mode based on a command from the MCU 1 to notify the user of predetermined information. For example, the vibration device 60 vibrates in a predetermined vibration mode at the start or end of the heating of the rod-shaped substrate 150 to notify the user of the start or end of the heating. The vibration device 60 is Figure 2 an example of the notification unit 113B of the suction device 100B shown in.

[0091] (Heater assembly)

[0092] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the heater assembly 30.

[0093] The heater assembly 30 includes a heating unit 121C, a housing portion 140C, and a heat insulation section 144C. The heating unit 121C is, for example, a film heater and is wound around the outer circumference of the housing portion 140C. In addition, the heating unit 121C and the board connection section 121a may be constituted by a single heater FPC.

[0094] The heater assembly 30 is also provided with a rod guide 31. The rod guide 31 is provided at the top of the heater assembly 30 and guides the rod-shaped substrate 150 to be inserted into and removed from the housing portion 140C. The rod guide 31 is a cylindrical member having an opening 27 and forms a part of the housing portion 140C.

[0095] The heater assembly 30 is also equipped with a heater temperature sensor 15 capable of detecting the temperature of the heating unit 121C. More specifically, the heater temperature sensor 15 is provided to be in contact with or close to the heating unit 121C between the heating unit 121C and the heat insulation section 144C. The heater temperature sensor 15 is, for example, a thermistor.

[0096] (Sensor FPC)

[0097] As shown in Figure 6 the figure, the sensor FPC 73 is arranged between the upright wall section 404 of the heater holding section 43 and the heater assembly 30. The sensor FPC 73 is equipped with a rod detection sensor 12, a suction sensor 13, and a housing temperature sensor 14. The rod detection sensor 12, the suction sensor 13, and the housing temperature sensor 14 are Figure 2 instances of the sensor unit 112B of the inhalation device 100B shown in

[0098] The rod detection sensor 12 is a sensor capable of detecting the rod-shaped substrate 150 accommodated in the accommodation part 140C. In this embodiment, the rod detection sensor 12 is an optical sensor capable of detecting the rod-shaped substrate 150 based on the amount of reflected light from the light irradiated onto the accommodation part 140C. Here, the amount of light includes concepts such as luminous flux, illuminance, luminous intensity, and brightness. The optical sensor is, for example, an IR (infrared) sensor.

[0099] The suction sensor 13 is a sensor that detects the suction operation (inhalation operation) performed by the user. The suction sensor 13 includes, for example, a capacitive microphone or a pressure sensor. The suction sensor 13 is provided on the sensor FPC 73 and is close to the rod guide 31.

[0100] The housing temperature sensor 14 is a sensor that detects the temperature of the housing 20. The housing temperature sensor 14 is, for example, a thermistor. The housing temperature sensor 14 is arranged adjacent to the inner surface of the housing 20 on the sensor FPC 73.

[0101] The sensor FPC 73 is also provided with a heater temperature sensor connection section 731, which is connected to the heater temperature sensor 15 of the heater assembly 30. The heater temperature sensor connection section 731 is provided at the lower part of the sensor FPC 73. More specifically, the heater temperature sensor 15 is connected to the lead 15a, and the heater temperature sensor connection section 731 is connected to the lead 15a extending from below the heater assembly 30.

[0102] The rod detection sensor 12, the suction sensor 13, the housing temperature sensor 14, and the heater temperature sensor connection section 731 are connected to the board connection section 730 via conductive tracks formed on the sensor FPC 73. The board connection section 730 is connected to the sensor FPC connection section 55 provided in the central area of the front surface 501 of the main board 50. As a result, the detection results of each sensor are output to the MCU 1 and other components mounted on the main board 50.

[0103] In the inhalation device 100 configured as described above, when the shutter detection sensor 11 detects the open state of the shutter 23 and the rod detection sensor 12 detects the rod-shaped substrate 150, the MCU 1 starts heating the heating unit 121C. When the user holds the mouthpiece portion 152 of the rod-shaped substrate 150 in the mouth and inhales, the aerosol from the aerosol source of the rod-shaped substrate 150 heated by the heating unit 121C is supplied to the user's mouth. The inhalation sensor 13 detects the number of inhalations, and the MCU 1 stops heating after a predetermined number of inhalations or after a predetermined time has elapsed. During the heating of the inhalation device 100, the housing temperature sensor 14, the heater temperature sensor 15, and the power supply temperature sensor 16 detect their respective temperatures, and if it is determined that the heating is abnormal, the MCU 1 stops or inhibits the heating of the heating unit 121C. Additionally, for example, the user can operate the operation unit 24 to check the SOC of the power supply unit 111C. The light-emitting unit 25 (LED 251) and the vibration device 60 notify the user of various information, such as the SOC of the power supply unit 111C and error displays. If the SOC of the power supply unit 111C decreases, the user can connect an external power supply to the USB port 26 to charge the power supply unit 111C.

[0104] [Rod detection sensor]

[0105] Next, details of the rod detection sensor 12 will be described with reference to Figure 8 and Figure 9 FIG.

[0106] The rod detection sensor 12 is an optical sensor that irradiates light onto the accommodation portion 140C and detects the amount of reflected light from the accommodation portion 140C. The MCU 1 is configured to detect whether the rod-shaped substrate 150 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 140C based on the amount of reflected light detected by the rod detection sensor 12. Here, the light irradiated and received by the rod detection sensor 12 is, for example, near-infrared light, and in this case, the rod detection sensor 12 is an IR sensor. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the rod detection sensor 12 detects "brightness" as an example of the amount of light.

[0107] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A in Figure 5 which shows the structure around the sensor FPC 73, the rod detection sensor 12, and the rod guide 31 (accommodation portion 140C). The sensor FPC 73 is a flexible member arranged around the accommodation portion 140C. The rod detection sensor 12 is provided on the sensor FPC 73. As a result, the rod detection sensor 12 can be easily arranged around the accommodation portion 140C compared to when the rod detection sensor 12 is provided on the rigid main board 50. Due to the high degree of freedom in arrangement, the size of the inhalation device 100 can be reduced.

[0108] The rod detection sensor 12 is arranged at a predetermined distance from the rod guide 31, thereby reducing the influence of the heat from the rod guide 31 (accommodating portion 140C). In addition, a part of the accommodating portion 140C in the partitioned rod guide 31 of the wall section is provided with a transparent filter 311 that allows light to pass through, and the sensor FPC 73 is arranged around the accommodating portion 140C such that the rod detection sensor 12 faces the transparent filter 311 at a predetermined distance. The portion of the rod guide 31 not provided with the transparent filter 311 is configured to be light-impermeable.

[0109] As Figure 9 shown, the rod detection sensor 12 irradiates light onto the accommodating portion 140C through the transparent filter 311 and receives the reflected light. When the rod-shaped substrate 150 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 140C (also referred to as the accommodating state hereinafter), the light irradiated from the rod detection sensor 12 is immediately reflected on the surface of the rod-shaped substrate 150 after passing through the transparent filter 311. The rod detection sensor 12 receives the reflected light reflected on the surface of the rod-shaped substrate 150. On the other hand, when the rod-shaped substrate 150 is not accommodated in the accommodating portion 140C (also referred to as the non-accommodating state hereinafter), the light irradiated from the rod detection sensor 12 passes through the transparent filter 311, travels inside the accommodating portion 140C, and is reflected on the inner wall of the accommodating portion 140C. The rod detection sensor 12 receives the reflected light reflected on the inner wall of the accommodating portion 140C.

[0110] In this way, the distance that the light travels from irradiation to reception in the accommodating state is shorter than that in the non-accommodating state. Therefore, the brightness of the reflected light received by the rod sensing sensor 12 in the accommodating state is higher than that in the non-accommodating state. The MCU 1 detects the rod-shaped substrate 150 based on the brightness difference between the accommodating state and the non-accommodating state. Specifically, as Figure 10 shown, when the brightness of the reflected light detected by the rod detection sensor 12 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value L1, the MCU 1 detects the rod-shaped substrate 150. On the other hand, when the brightness of the reflected light detected by the rod detection sensor 12 is less than the predetermined value L1, the MCU 1 does not detect the rod-shaped substrate 150.

[0111] In this embodiment, two rod detection sensors 12 and two transparent filters 311 are provided. For example, the MCU 1 can be configured to not detect the rod-shaped substrate 150 unless the detection results of both rod detection sensors 12 indicate the accommodating state of the rod-shaped substrate 150.

[0112] [Examples of the operation of the inhalation device]

[0113] Next, examples of the operation of the inhalation device 100 will be described.

[0114] The inhalation device 100 is activated, for example, in response to the shutter 23 being in the open state. Specifically, the MCU 1 is activated in response to the shutter detection sensor 11 detecting the open state of the shutter 23. After the MCU 1 is activated, the operation of the heating unit 121C becomes possible. Here, the shutter detection sensor 11 is constituted by, for example, a magnet provided on the shutter 23 and a Hall IC (integrated circuit) provided at the upper end of the main board 50. Note that the MCU 1 can also be activated in response to a press on the operation unit 24.

[0115] Next, the automatic heating mode and the manual heating mode, which are modes for starting the operation of the heating unit 121C, will be described.

[0116] The automatic heating mode is a mode in which the operation of the heating unit 121C automatically starts in response to the rod-shaped substrate 150 being accommodated in the accommodation portion 140C. In the automatic heating mode, for example, in response to the shutter 23 being in the open state, the rod detection sensor 12 starts irradiating and receiving light and detecting the amount of reflected light. When the automatic heating mode is selected, the MCU 1 starts heating the rod-shaped substrate 150 after detecting the rod-shaped substrate 150 based on the detection result of the rod detection sensor 12.

[0117] The manual heating mode is a mode in which the operation of the heating unit 121C starts in response to a heating request from the user. When the manual heating mode is selected, even if the rod-shaped substrate 150 is detected, the MCU 1 does not automatically start heating the rod-shaped substrate 150. The MCU 1 starts heating the rod-shaped substrate 150 in response to a heating request from the user. Here, the heating request from the user is, for example, a press on the operation unit 24 or an inhalation operation of the inhalation device 100.

[0118] The user selects the automatic heating mode or the manual heating mode. The mode selection is performed on, for example, a user terminal (such as a smartphone), and the MCU 1 receives instruction information from the user terminal via the communication unit 115B and sets the mode selected by the user.

[0119] Next, the heating of the rod-shaped substrate 150 will be described.

[0120] When the rod-shaped substrate 150 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 140C, the MCU 1 operates the heating unit 121C based on the rod heating curve to heat the rod-shaped substrate 150. The rod heating curve is information defining the time-series transition of the target temperature (the target value of the temperature of the heating unit 121C) and is information for heating the rod-shaped substrate 150. For example, the rod heating curve is pre-stored in the ROM. The MCU 1 controls the temperature of the heating unit 121C based on the rod heating curve to generate an aerosol from the rod-shaped substrate 150.

[0121] Figure 11 The solid line shown in Figure 11 is an example of a rod heating curve. According to the rod heating curve, the temperature of the heating unit 121C rises to the maximum temperature T1 with the start of heating control, then drops to T2, and then rises again to T3. When the time elapsed since the start of heating control reaches t1, the heating control is terminated. In Figure 11 Figure 11 , when it is assumed that the temperature of the heating unit 121C has reached T1 and the heating unit 121C is hot enough, it is assumed that a sufficient amount of aerosol is generated and the user can inhale. The heating period before inhalation becomes possible is also referred to as the preheating period.

[0122] To describe the temperature control of the heating unit 121C based on the rod heating curve, the MCU 1 controls the temperature of the heating unit 121C based on the deviation between the target temperature corresponding to the time elapsed since the start of heating control and the actual temperature of the heating unit 121C (hereinafter also referred to as the "actual temperature"). More specifically, at this time, the MCU 1 controls the temperature of the heating unit 121C such that the time-series transition of the actual temperature of the heating unit 121C becomes similar to the time-series transition of the target temperature defined in the rod heating curve. Note that the heating control of the accommodation part 140C based on the cleaning heating curve described later is performed in the same manner.

[0123] The rod heating curve is typically designed to optimize the flavor experienced by the user when inhaling the aerosol generated from the rod-shaped substrate 150. Therefore, by controlling the temperature of the heating unit 121C based on the rod heating curve, the flavor experienced by the user can be optimized, thereby providing the user with a high-quality smoking experience.

[0124] Next, the heating of the accommodation part 140C when the rod-shaped substrate 150 is not accommodated in the accommodation part 140C will be described.

[0125] The accommodation part 140C may get dirty with the use of the inhalation device 100. For example, a part of the aerosol source of the rod-shaped substrate 150 (e.g., tobacco leaves) may spill into the accommodation part 140C, or a part of the aerosol generated by heating the rod-shaped substrate 150 may turn into a liquid and adhere to the accommodation part 140C. Generally, when dirt adheres to the accommodation part 140C, the quality of the flavor experienced by the user decreases, so it is desirable for the user to clean the accommodation part 140C regularly.

[0126] For example, the cleaning of the accommodation part 140C is performed by inserting a cleaning tool (e.g., a cotton swab) having a cleaning agent (e.g., a liquid substance such as alcohol or water) into the accommodation part 140C. This allows the removal of dirt adhering to the accommodation part 140C. However, after cleaning, the accommodation part 140C remains immediately wet due to the cleaning agent, and thus, if the user immediately uses the inhalation device 100 while the inside of the accommodation part 140C is wet after cleaning, a poor-quality smoking flavor aerosol may be delivered to the user.

[0127] Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the rod-shaped substrate 150 is not accommodated in the accommodation part 140C, the MCU 1 operates the heating unit 121C based on a cleaning heating curve to heat the accommodation part 140C without the rod-shaped substrate 150. The cleaning heating curve is information defining a time-series transition of a target temperature (which is a target value of the temperature of the heating unit 121C) and is information for cleaning the inside of the accommodation part 140C. For example, the cleaning heating curve is pre-stored in the ROM. The cleaning heating curve is a heating curve different from the rod heating curve, and for example, information such as the target temperature and the operation time is different, as will be described later.

[0128] In this way, by controlling the temperature of the heating unit 121C based on the cleaning heating curve, the MCU 1 can evaporate and remove the cleaning agent adhering to the accommodation part 140C without the rod-shaped substrate 150. Therefore, even after the user cleans the accommodation part 140C with the cleaning tool, the inhalation device 100 can immediately provide the user with a high-quality smoking experience without degrading the quality of the flavor due to the MCU 1 heating the accommodation part 140C based on the cleaning heating curve. Thus, the convenience of using the inhalation device 100 can be improved.

[0129] In addition, the heating control based on the cleaning heating curve can not only remove the cleaning agent but also remove the dirt adhering to the accommodation part 140C as the inhalation device 100 is used, as described above. Specifically, by the heating control based on the cleaning heating curve, the liquid present in the accommodation part 140C evaporates, so that a part of the aerosol source (e.g., tobacco leaves) that adheres to the accommodation part 140C due to the liquid no longer adheres to the accommodation part 140C. Therefore, the user can easily remove a part of the aerosol source from the accommodation part 140C, for example, by guiding the opening 27 downward.

[0130] Regarding the conditions for performing heating control based on a cleaning heating curve, when there is a heating request from the user and the rod-shaped substrate 150 is not accommodated in the accommodation portion 140C, the MCU 1 operates the heating unit 121C based on the cleaning heating curve. Here, the heating request from the user is, for example, a press on the operation unit 24. By using the heating request from the user as a condition for heating control based on the cleaning heating curve, cleaning heating can be performed based on the user's intention.

[0131] In addition, in the present embodiment, in addition to the above conditions, the MCU 1 may also operate the heating unit 121C based on the cleaning heating curve under the condition that the manual heating mode is selected.

[0132] In the present embodiment, when the manual heating mode is selected, when there is a heating request from the user, the rod detection sensor 12 starts to operate (irradiate and receive light). When there is a heating request from the user and the rod-shaped substrate 150 is not detected based on the detection result of the rod detection sensor 12, the MCU 1 operates the heating unit 121C based on the cleaning heating curve. By starting the operation of the rod detection sensor 12 when there is a heating request from the user, power consumption can be reduced compared to when the rod detection sensor 12 operates continuously. Note that in the manual heating mode, the timing at which the rod detection sensor 12 starts to operate is not limited to this. Even in the manual heating mode, the rod detection sensor 12 may be configured to start operating in response to the shutter 23 being in the open state (similar to the automatic heating mode).

[0133] Here, referring to Figure 11 , the cleaning heating curve (the dotted line in Figure 11 ) is described in comparison with the rod heating curve.

[0134] According to the cleaning heating curve, the temperature of the heating unit 121C rises to the maximum temperature T4 at the start of heating control, and then is maintained at this temperature T4. When the time elapsed since the start of heating control reaches t2, the heating control is terminated.

[0135] In the cleaning heating curve, the target temperature of the heating unit 121C is set lower than the target temperature of the heating unit 121C in the rod heating curve. Specifically, while the maximum temperature T1 of the target temperature is set to about 300°C in the rod heating curve, the maximum temperature T4 of the target temperature in the cleaning heating curve is about 100°C to 200°C. The maximum temperature T4 of the cleaning heating curve is set to a temperature at which the moisture in the accommodation portion 140C can be evaporated (for example, higher than the boiling point of water). By setting the target temperature in this way, overheating of the accommodation portion 140C without the rod-shaped substrate 150 is suppressed.

[0136] In addition, the rod heating curve and the cleaning heating curve include information regarding the operation time for operating the heating unit 121C, and the operation time t2 of the cleaning heating curve is set to be shorter than the operation time t1 of the rod heating curve. The operation time t2 of the cleaning heating curve should be sufficient to evaporate the moisture in the accommodation portion 140C. By setting the operation time in this manner, overheating of the accommodation portion 140C in the absence of the rod-shaped substrate 150 is suppressed. In addition, power consumption can be reduced.

[0137] [Examples of Notification by the Notification Unit]

[0138] Next, examples of notifying the user during heating will be described. Here, light emission by the light-emitting unit 25 (LED 251), which is an example of the notification unit 113B in Figure 2 will be described.

[0139] The light-emitting unit 25 notifies the user that the heating unit 121C is operating. Specifically, when the heating unit 121C is operating and the rod-shaped substrate 150 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 140C (i.e., the accommodation state) and when the heating unit 121C is operating and the rod-shaped substrate 150 is not accommodated in the accommodation portion 140C (i.e., the non-accommodation state), the light-emitting unit 25 emits light in a predetermined emission pattern. Such notification allows the user to easily and visually recognize that the heating unit 121C is operating. In particular, when the heating unit 121C is operating in the accommodation state, the user can confirm the light emission by the light-emitting unit 25 and, for example, can take care not to let a finger approach near the opening 27.

[0140] In addition, when the heating unit 121C is operating in the accommodation state and when the heating unit 121C is operating in the non-accommodation state, the light-emitting unit 25 can emit light in different emission patterns. For example, as shown in Figure 11 , the emission color of the LED 251 changes between the emission pattern during heating control based on the rod heating curve and the emission pattern during heating control based on the cleaning heating curve. In addition, the emission pattern can be distinguished by changing the number of the LED 251s among the plurality of LED 251s that emit light. By setting the emission pattern differently between the accommodation state and the non-accommodation state, the user can easily and visually recognize that different heating controls are being performed when the heating unit 121C is operating in the non-accommodation state compared to when the heating unit 121C is operating in the accommodation state.

[0141] For example, the notification performed by the notification unit 113B is not limited to the light emission by the light-emitting unit 25, and may be the vibration by the vibration device 60. Specifically, the vibration device 60 may vibrate during the operation of the heating unit 121C to notify the user that the heating unit 121C is operating. In addition, when the heating unit 121C is operating in the housed state and when the heating unit 121C is operating in the non-housed state, the vibration device 60 may vibrate in different vibration modes.

[0142] [Examples of processes executed by the control unit]

[0143] Next, examples of the processes executed by the MCU 1 will be described using the flowchart shown in Figure 12 .

[0144] The MCU 1 first determines whether the manual heating mode is selected (step S101). If the manual heating mode is not selected (step S101: No), the MCU 1 repeatedly monitors step S101 until the manual heating mode is selected.

[0145] If the manual heating mode is selected (step S101: Yes), the MCU 1 determines whether there is a heating request from the user (step S102). If there is no heating request from the user (step S102: No), the MCU 1 repeatedly monitors step S102 until there is a heating request from the user.

[0146] When there is a heating request from the user (step S102: Yes), the MCU 1 determines whether the rod-shaped substrate 150 is in the housed state in the housing portion 140C (step S103). Specifically, when there is a heating request from the user, the rod detection sensor 12 starts operating, and the MCU 1 obtains the detection result from the rod detection sensor 12 to determine whether the rod-shaped substrate 150 is in the housed state in the housing portion 140C.

[0147] When the rod-shaped substrate 150 is in the housed state in the housing portion 140C (step S103: Yes), the MCU 1 operates the heating unit 121C based on the rod heating curve (step S104). As a result, heating of the rod-shaped substrate 150 starts, and aerosol is generated.

[0148] On the other hand, when the rod-shaped substrate 150 is not in the housed state in the housing portion 140C (step S103: No), the MCU 1 operates the heating unit 121C based on the cleaning heating curve (step S105). As a result, the liquid substance in the housing portion 140C can be evaporated and removed by heating using the heating unit 121C.

[0149] In the embodiment described above, on the premise that the manual heating mode is selected (i.e., "Yes" in step S101), the MCU 1 operates the heating unit 121C based on the cleaning heating curve, but this is not limited thereto. For example, even when the automatic heating mode is selected, the heating unit 121C can also operate based on the cleaning heating curve. In such a configuration, for example, when there is a heating request from the user (such as pressing the operation unit 24), the MCU 1 can operate the heating unit 121C based on the cleaning heating curve.

[0150] <<Variant Example>>

[0151] In the embodiment described above, when the brightness of the reflected light is less than the predetermined value L1, the MCU 1 does not detect the rod-shaped substrate 150 and operates the heating unit 121C based on the cleaning heating curve. The difference between this variant and the embodiment described above is that even when the brightness of the reflected light is less than the predetermined value L1, the MCU 1 may not operate the heating unit 121C.

[0152] When there is a large amount of cleaning agent or dirt in the accommodating portion 140C due to the use of the inhalation device 100, the brightness of the reflected light may be smaller than when there is less cleaning agent or dirt. This is because the light irradiated from the rod detection sensor 12 is scattered by the cleaning agent or dirt when reflected on the inner wall of the accommodating portion 140C, thereby reducing the amount of light returned to the rod detection sensor 12. In this modification, when it is determined based on the brightness of the reflected light that there is almost no cleaning agent or dirt in the accommodating portion 140C, the MCU 1 does not operate the heating unit 121C.

[0153] This variant will be specifically described. First, regarding the brightness region of the reflected light detected by the rod detection sensor 12, as Figure 13 shown, when the brightness of the reflected light is included in the first region (the region where the brightness is equal to or greater than L1), the MCU 1 detects the rod-shaped substrate 150. In addition, when the brightness of the reflected light is included in the second region (the region where the brightness is equal to or greater than L2 and less than L1) or the third region (the region where the brightness is less than L2), the MCU 1 does not detect the rod-shaped substrate 150. Here, L2 is a value less than L1. These regions are different from each other. The second region has almost no cleaning agent or dirt in the accommodating portion 140C and the brightness of the reflected light is high, while the third region has a large amount of cleaning agent or dirt in the accommodating portion 140C and the brightness of the reflected light is low.

[0154] When the brightness detected by the rod detection sensor 12 is included in the first region, the MCU 1 detects the rod-shaped substrate 150 and operates the heating unit 121C based on the rod heating curve, as described in the above embodiment.

[0155] In addition, when the brightness is included in the second region, the MCU 1 does not detect the rod-shaped substrate 150 and does not operate the heating unit 121C. As a result, when it is determined that there is almost no detergent or dirt in the accommodation portion 140C, the MCU 1 does not operate the heating unit 121C, thereby reducing the power consumption. Note that when a heating request from the user is a condition for heating control, the MCU 1 will not operate the heating unit 121C against the heating request from the user. Therefore, the user can be notified that the heating unit 121C is not operated via a communication unit (such as the light-emitting unit 25 or the vibration device 60).

[0156] In addition, when the brightness is included in the third region, the MCU 1 does not detect the rod-shaped substrate 150 and operates the heating unit 121C based on the cleaning heating curve. As a result, when it is determined that there is a large amount of detergent or dirt in the accommodation portion 140C, the heating unit 121C is operated based on the cleaning heating curve to evaporate and remove the liquid substance in the accommodation portion 140C.

[0157] In the case where the automatic heating mode is selected, as described above, the rod detection sensor 12 starts to operate in response to the shutter 23 being in the open state and detects the brightness of the reflected light. When the brightness is included in the third region, the MCU 1 can prompt the user to perform heating based on the cleaning heating curve via a communication unit (such as the light-emitting unit 25 or the vibration device 60). As a result, the user who receives the notification can, for example, press the operation unit 24 for the MCU 1 to perform heating control based on the cleaning heating curve. In addition, in the case where the automatic heating mode is selected, the MCU 1 can operate the heating unit 121C based on the cleaning heating curve instead of prompting the user to perform heating based on the cleaning heating curve when the brightness is included in the third region.

[0158] The control method of the inhalation device 100 described in the above embodiments and variations can be implemented by executing a pre-prepared program on a computer (processor). The program is stored in a computer-readable storage medium and is executed by reading from the storage medium. In addition, the program can be provided in a form stored in a non-transitory storage medium (such as a flash memory), or can be provided via a network (such as the Internet). In addition, the computer that executes the program can be, for example, a computer (such as the MCU 1) included in the inhalation device 100, but is not limited thereto, and can be a computer included in another device (such as a smart phone or a server device) that can communicate with the inhalation device 100.

[0159] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. Obviously, those skilled in the art can conceive of various variations or modifications within the scope described in the claims, and these variations or modifications are naturally understood to belong to the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, the components in the embodiments described above can be arbitrarily combined without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0160] For example, in the embodiments described above, the optical sensor is shown as an example of the rod detection sensor 12, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the rod detection sensor 12 may be a pressure sensor that detects the pressure fluctuations occurring in the accommodation portion 140C accompanying the insertion and removal of the rod-shaped substrate 150. In this case, the MCU 1 detects the rod-shaped substrate 150 based on the pressure fluctuations detected by the pressure sensor. In addition, if the rod-shaped substrate 150 is provided with identification information, the rod detection sensor 12 may be an identification information reader capable of reading the identification information of the rod-shaped substrate 150. In this case, the MCU 1 detects the rod-shaped substrate 150 based on the reading result of the identification information reader. In addition, the rod detection sensor 12 may be a mechanical switch provided near the accommodation portion 140C (for example, the bottom surface of the accommodation portion 140C) and pressed by the rod-shaped substrate 150. In this case, the MCU 1 detects the rod-shaped substrate 150 by pressing the switch. In addition, if the rod-shaped substrate 150 includes a receptor, the MCU 1 may detect the rod-shaped substrate 150 based on the characteristic change (for example, inductance change) of the circuit of the inhalation device 100 due to the insertion of the rod-shaped substrate 150.

[0161] The present specification and the like at least illustrate the following features. The corresponding components and the like in the embodiments described above are shown in parentheses by way of example, but are not limited thereto.

[0162] (1) An inhalation device (inhalation devices 100, 100A, 100B) for generating an aerosol from a substrate (rod-shaped substrate 150) having an aerosol source, the inhalation device comprising: a receiving portion (receiving portions 140, 140C) in which the substrate is received; a heating unit (heating units 121A to 121C) for heating the receiving portion; and a control unit (control units 116A, 116B, MCU 1) for controlling the heating unit based on heating information defining a time series transition of a target temperature, the target temperature being a target value of the temperature of the heating unit, wherein the heating information includes first heating information (rod heating curve) for heating the substrate and second heating information (cleaning heating curve) different from the first heating information, and when the substrate is received in the receiving portion, the control unit operates the heating unit based on the first heating information, and when the substrate is not received in the receiving portion, the control unit operates the heating unit based on the second heating information.

[0163] As the inhalation device is used, dirt may adhere to the receiving portion. When the user cleans the receiving portion with a liquid (such as alcohol or water) to remove the dirt, the inside of the receiving portion becomes wet immediately after cleaning. According to (1), when the substrate is not received in the receiving portion, the control unit operates the heating unit based on second heating information different from the first heating information to heat the substrate. This allows the evaporation and removal of the liquid used for cleaning (such as alcohol or water), so that the user does not need to wait for the receiving portion to dry naturally immediately after cleaning, and can enjoy a high-quality smoking experience even after cleaning. Therefore, the convenience of using the inhalation device can be improved.

[0164] (2) The inhalation device according to (1), wherein the target temperature of the second heating information is lower than the target temperature of the first heating information.

[0165] According to (2), when the heating unit is operated based on the second heating information, overheating of the receiving portion without the substrate received therein is suppressed.

[0166] (3) The inhalation device according to (2), wherein the highest temperature of the target temperature of the second heating information is higher than the boiling point of water.

[0167] According to (3), heating the receiving portion based on the second heating information can evaporate the moisture inside the receiving portion.

[0168] (4) The inhalation device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein each of the first heating information and the second heating information includes an operation time for operating the heating unit, and the operation time of the second heating information is shorter than the operation time of the first heating information.

[0169] According to (4), when operating the heating unit based on the second heating information, overheating of the accommodation part without the substrate being accommodated is suppressed. In addition, power consumption can be reduced.

[0170] (5) The inhalation device according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein when there is a heating request from the user and the substrate is not accommodated in the accommodation part, the control unit operates the heating unit based on the second heating information.

[0171] According to (5), by making the heating request from the user a condition for heating control based on the second heating information, heating control based on the second heating information can be performed according to the user's intention.

[0172] (6) The inhalation device according to (5), wherein the control unit can selectively switch between a first mode (automatic heating mode) and a second mode (manual heating mode), the first mode automatically starts the operation of the heating unit in response to the substrate being accommodated in the accommodation part, the second mode starts the operation of the heating unit in response to a heating request from the user, and when the second mode is selected, when there is a heating request from the user and the substrate is not accommodated in the accommodation part, the control unit operates the heating unit based on the second heating information.

[0173] According to (6), since the operation of the heating unit can be selectively switched between the first mode and the second mode, the user can set the heating operation mode according to their preference. In addition, when the second mode is selected, when there is a heating request from the user, the heating unit can be operated based on the second heating information.

[0174] (7) The inhalation device according to any one of (1) to (6) further includes an optical sensor (rod detection sensor 12), the optical sensor irradiates light onto the accommodation part and detects the amount of reflected light from the accommodation part, wherein the control unit is configured to detect the substrate based on the amount of the reflected light.

[0175] According to (7), it is possible to detect whether the substrate is accommodated in the accommodation part based on the amount of light detected by the optical sensor.

[0176] (8) The inhalation device according to (7), wherein when the amount of light is included in the first region, the control unit detects the substrate and operates the heating unit based on the first heating information; when the amount of light is included in a second region different from the first region, the control unit does not detect the substrate and does not operate the heating unit; and when the amount of light is included in a third region different from the first region and the second region, the control unit does not detect the substrate and operates the heating unit based on the second heating information.

[0177] According to (8), since the heating unit is not operated when heating based on the second heating information is not required, power consumption can be reduced.

[0178] (9) The inhalation device according to (7) or (8), further comprising a flexible member (sensor FPC 73), the flexible member being arranged around the accommodating portion and electrically connected to the control unit, wherein the optical sensor is provided on the flexible member.

[0179] According to (9), by providing the optical sensor on the flexible member, the degree of freedom of arranging the optical sensor around the accommodating portion is increased compared to when the optical sensor is provided on a rigid plate.

[0180] (10) The inhalation device according to (9), wherein a part of the wall section that partitions the accommodating portion is provided with a light-transmitting member (transparent filter 311), and the flexible member is arranged around the accommodating portion such that the optical sensor faces the light-transmitting member at a predetermined distance.

[0181] According to (10), since the optical sensor faces the light-transmitting member at a predetermined distance, the influence of heat from the accommodating portion on the optical sensor can be reduced.

[0182] (11) The inhalation device according to any one of (1) to (10), further comprising a notification unit (light-emitting unit 25, vibration device 60), the notification unit notifying the user that the heating unit is operating, wherein when the heating unit is operating and the substrate is not accommodated in the accommodating portion, the notification unit notifies the user that the heating unit is operating.

[0183] According to (11), the user can easily identify that the heating unit is operating while the substrate is not accommodated in the accommodating portion, and can pay attention not to bring the fingers close to the vicinity of the accommodating portion.

[0184] (12) The inhalation device according to (11), wherein when the heating unit is operating and the substrate is accommodated in the accommodation part, the notification unit notifies the user that the heating unit is operating in a first notification mode, and when the heating unit is operating and the substrate is not accommodated in the accommodation part, the notification unit notifies the user that the heating unit is operating in a second notification mode different from the first notification mode.

[0185] According to (12), when the heating unit is operating and the substrate is not accommodated in the accommodation part, the user can easily recognize that different heating controls are being performed compared to when the heating unit is operating and the substrate is accommodated in the accommodation part.

[0186] (13) The inhalation device according to (12), wherein the notification unit includes a light-emitting unit (light-emitting unit 25) that notifies the user by light emission, and the first notification mode and the second notification mode have different emission modes.

[0187] According to (13), the user can easily visually recognize whether the heating control based on the first heating information or the heating control based on the second heating information is being performed.

[0188] (14) A control method executed by a computer (control units 116A, 116B, MCU 1) for controlling the operation of an inhalation device (inhalation devices 100, 100A, 100B), the inhalation device generating an aerosol from a substrate (rod-shaped substrate 150) having an aerosol source, wherein the inhalation device includes: an accommodation part (accommodation parts 140, 140C) in which the substrate is accommodated; and a heating unit (heating units 121A to 121C) for heating the accommodation part, and the computer is configured to control the heating unit based on heating information defining a time-series transition of a target temperature, the target temperature being a target value of the temperature of the heating unit, wherein the heating information includes first heating information (rod heating curve) for heating the substrate and second heating information (cleaning heating curve) different from the first heating information, and when the substrate is accommodated in the accommodation part, the computer operates the heating unit based on the first heating information, and when the substrate is not accommodated in the accommodation part, the computer operates the heating unit based on the second heating information.

[0189] As the inhalation device is used, dirt may adhere to the accommodation portion. When the user uses a liquid (such as alcohol or water) to clean the accommodation portion to remove the dirt, the interior of the accommodation portion immediately becomes wet after cleaning. According to (14), when the substrate is not accommodated in the accommodation portion, the computer operates the heating unit based on second heating information that is different from the first heating information used to heat the substrate. This allows the evaporation and removal of the liquid used for cleaning (such as alcohol or water), so that the user does not need to wait for the accommodation portion to dry naturally immediately after cleaning, and can enjoy a high-quality smoking experience even after cleaning. Therefore, the convenience of using the inhalation device can be improved.

[0190] (15) A program for causing a computer (control units 116A, 116B, MCU 1) that controls the operation of an inhalation device (inhalation devices 100, 100A, 100B) to perform a predetermined process, the inhalation device generating an aerosol from a substrate (rod-shaped substrate 150) having an aerosol source, wherein the inhalation device includes: an accommodation portion (accommodation portion 140C) in which the substrate is accommodated; and a heating unit (heating units 121A to 121C) for heating the accommodation portion, and the computer is configured to control the heating unit based on heating information that defines a time-series transition of a target temperature, the target temperature being a target value of the temperature of the heating unit, wherein the heating information includes first heating information (rod heating curve) for heating the substrate and second heating information (cleaning heating curve) that is different from the first heating information, and the program causes the computer to perform a process of operating the heating unit based on the first heating information when the substrate is accommodated in the accommodation portion and operating the heating unit based on the second heating information when the substrate is not accommodated in the accommodation portion.

[0191] As the inhalation device is used, dirt may adhere to the accommodation portion. When the user uses a liquid (such as alcohol or water) to clean the accommodation portion to remove the dirt, the interior of the accommodation portion immediately becomes wet after cleaning. According to (15), when the substrate is not accommodated in the accommodation portion, the computer operates the heating unit based on second heating information that is different from the first heating information used to heat the substrate. This allows the evaporation and removal of the liquid used for cleaning (such as alcohol or water), so that the user does not need to wait for the accommodation portion to dry naturally immediately after cleaning, and can enjoy a high-quality smoking experience even after cleaning. Therefore, the convenience of using the inhalation device can be improved.

[0192] (16) An inhalation system including a substrate (rod-shaped substrate 150) having an aerosol source and an inhalation device (inhalation devices 100, 100A, 100B) according to any one of (1) to (13).

[0193] As the inhalation device is used, dirt may adhere to the accommodation portion. When the user uses a liquid (such as alcohol or water) to clean the accommodation portion to remove the dirt, the interior of the accommodation portion becomes wet immediately after cleaning. According to (16), when the substrate is not accommodated in the accommodation portion, the control unit operates the heating unit to heat the substrate based on second heating information different from the first heating information. This allows the evaporation and removal of the liquid used for cleaning (such as alcohol or water), so that the user does not need to wait for the accommodation portion to dry naturally immediately after cleaning, and can enjoy a high-quality smoking experience even after cleaning. Therefore, the convenience of using the inhalation device can be improved.

[0194] (17) The inhalation device according to (13), wherein the emission color of the light-emitting unit is different between the first notification mode and the second notification mode.

[0195] According to (17), the user can easily identify whether the heating control based on the first heating information or the heating control based on the second heating information is being performed by checking the emission color.

[0196] (18) The inhalation device according to (13), wherein the light-emitting unit includes a plurality of light-emitting elements (LED251), and the number of light-emitting elements emitting light is different between the first notification mode and the second notification mode.

[0197] According to (18), the user can easily identify whether the heating control based on the first heating information or the heating control based on the second heating information is being performed by checking the number of light-emitting elements emitting light.

[0198] List of reference numerals

[0199] 1 MCU (control unit, computer)

[0200] 12 Rod detection sensor (optical sensor)

[0201] 25 Light-emitting unit (notification unit)

[0202] 60 Vibration device (notification unit)

[0203] 73 Sensor FPC (flexible member)

[0204] 100, 100A, 100B Inhalation device

[0205] 116A, 116B Control unit (computer)

[0206] 121A to 121C Heating unit

[0207] 140, 140C Accommodation portion

[0208] 150 rod-shaped substrate (substrate)

[0209] 311 transparent filter (transmission member)

Claims

1. An inhalation device for generating an aerosol from a substrate having an aerosol source, the inhalation device comprising: A receiving portion in which the substrate is received; A heating unit configured to heat the receiving portion; And a control unit configured to control the heating unit based on heating information that defines a time-series transition of a target temperature, the target temperature being a target value of the temperature of the heating unit, wherein the heating information includes first heating information for heating the substrate and second heating information different from the first heating information, and when the substrate is received in the receiving portion, the control unit operates the heating unit based on the first heating information, and when the substrate is not received in the receiving portion, the control unit operates the heating unit based on the second heating information.

2. The inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein, The target temperature of the second heating information is lower than the target temperature of the first heating information.

3. The inhalation device according to claim 2, wherein, The maximum temperature of the target temperature of the second heating information is higher than the boiling point of water.

4. The inhalation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The first heating information and the second heating information each include an operation time for operating the heating unit, and the operation time of the second heating information is shorter than the operation time of the first heating information.

5. The inhalation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, When there is a heating request from a user and the substrate is not received in the receiving portion, the control unit operates the heating unit based on the second heating information.

6. The inhalation device according to claim 5, wherein, The control unit is capable of selectively switching between a first mode and a second mode. The first mode automatically starts the operation of the heating unit in response to the substrate being received in the receiving portion, and the second mode starts the operation of the heating unit in response to a heating request from a user. When the second mode is selected, when there is a heating request from a user and the substrate is not received in the receiving portion, the control unit operates the heating unit based on the second heating information.

7. The inhalation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an optical sensor that irradiates light onto the accommodating portion and detects the amount of reflected light from the accommodating portion, wherein, The control unit is configured to detect the substrate based on the amount of reflected light.

8. The inhalation device according to claim 7, wherein, When the amount of light is included in the first region, the control unit detects the substrate and operates the heating unit based on the first heating information. When the amount of light is included in a second region different from the first region, the control unit does not detect the substrate and does not operate the heating unit. When the amount of light is included in a third region different from the first region and the second region, the control unit does not detect the substrate and operates the heating unit based on the second heating information.

9. The inhalation device according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising a flexible member arranged around the receiving portion and electrically connected to the control unit, wherein, The optical sensor is provided on the flexible member.

10. The inhalation device according to claim 9, wherein, A part of the wall section that partitions the receiving portion is provided with a light-transmitting member, and the flexible member is arranged around the receiving portion such that the optical sensor faces the light-transmitting member at a predetermined distance.

11. The inhalation device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a notification unit configured to notify a user that the heating unit is operating, wherein, When the heating unit is operating and the substrate is not received in the receiving portion, the notification unit notifies the user that the heating unit is operating.

12. The inhalation device according to claim 11, wherein, When the heating unit is operating and the substrate is received in the receiving portion, the notification unit notifies the user that the heating unit is operating in a first notification mode, and when the heating unit is operating and the substrate is not received in the receiving portion, the notification unit notifies the user that the heating unit is operating in a second notification mode different from the first notification mode.

13. The inhalation device according to claim 12, wherein, The notification unit includes a light-emitting unit that notifies a user by light emission, and the first notification mode and the second notification mode have different light emission modes.

14. A control method executed by a computer for controlling the operation of an inhalation device that generates an aerosol from a substrate having an aerosol source, wherein, The inhalation device includes: a housing portion in which the substrate is housed; and a heating unit configured to heat the housing portion, and the computer is configured to control the heating unit based on heating information that defines a time-series transition of a target temperature, the target temperature being a target value of the temperature of the heating unit, wherein the heating information includes first heating information for heating the substrate and second heating information different from the first heating information, and when the substrate is housed in the housing portion, the computer operates the heating unit based on the first heating information, and when the substrate is not housed in the housing portion, the computer operates the heating unit based on the second heating information.

15. A program for a computer to perform a predetermined process for controlling the operation of an inhalation device that generates an aerosol from a substrate having an aerosol source, wherein, The inhalation device includes: a housing portion in which the substrate is housed; and a heating unit configured to heat the housing portion, and the computer is configured to control the heating unit based on heating information that defines a time-series transition of a target temperature, the target temperature being a target value of the temperature of the heating unit, wherein the heating information includes first heating information for heating the substrate and second heating information different from the first heating information, and the program causes the computer to perform a process of operating the heating unit based on the first heating information when the substrate is housed in the housing portion and operating the heating unit based on the second heating information when the substrate is not housed in the housing portion.

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