Non-combustion type suction device

Abstract

To provide an aerosol generation device with enhanced safety property.SOLUTION: A suction device (100) includes: a heater connector Cn to which a heater HTR is connected for consuming electric power supplied from a power source BAT and heating a rod (500); a thermistor T3 disposed in the vicinity of the heater HTR for outputting a value on a temperature of the heater HTR; and a thermistor T4 provided at a position separated from the thermistor T3 for outputting a value on a temperature of the position. When at least one of an output value of the thermistor T3 and an output value of the thermistor T4 is abnormal, charging of the power source BAT and discharging from the power source BAT to the heater HTR are prohibited.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 21

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a power supply unit for an aerosol generating device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a device including an aerosol generating device containing a battery and an aerosol generating element, and a portable charger. In this device, the portable charger has a thermistor that detects the temperature of the housing of the aerosol generating device. When the temperature detected by this thermistor drops below 10°C, a coil around the battery of the aerosol generating device is operated to prevent the temperature of this battery from dropping to 10°C.

[0003] Patent Document 2 describes a device that uses a comparator to provide protection against overcurrent and overvoltage.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An aerosol generating device configured to be able to suck an aerosol is provided with heat-generating components such as a power supply and a heater in its housing. It is important for enhancing safety to prevent such components from generating heat in a high-temperature environment.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol generating device with enhanced safety.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The power supply unit of the aerosol generation device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a power supply, a heater connector to which a heater that consumes the power supplied from the power supply and heats an aerosol source is connected, a first sensor disposed near the heater or the power supply and outputting a value related to the temperature of the heater or a value related to the temperature of the power supply, and a second sensor provided at a position spaced apart from the first sensor and outputting a value related to the temperature of the position. When at least one of the output value of the first sensor and the output value of the second sensor is abnormal, charging of the power supply and / or discharging from the power supply to the heater is prohibited at least temporarily.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an aerosol generation device with enhanced safety.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, a suction system which is an embodiment of the aerosol generating device in the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This suction system includes a non-combustible suction device 100 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "suction device 100") which is an embodiment of the power supply unit of the present invention, and a rod 500 heated by the suction device 100. In the following description, a configuration in which the heating unit is non-removably accommodated in the suction device 100 will be described as an example. However, the heating unit may be configured to be detachable from the suction device 100. For example, a configuration in which the rod 500 and the heating unit are integrated and configured to be detachable from the suction device 100 may be used. That is, the power supply unit of the aerosol generating device may be configured not to include a heating unit as a component. Note that non-removable refers to a mode in which removal is not possible within the scope of the assumed use. Alternatively, an induction heating coil provided in the suction device 100 and a susceptor built in the rod 500 may cooperate to form a heating unit.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the suction device 100. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the suction device 100 showing the state in which the rod 500 is attached. FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the suction device 100. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the suction device 100. In the following description, a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system in which three mutually orthogonal directions are, for convenience, the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction will be used for explanation. In the figure, the front is shown as Fr, the rear as Rr, the right side as R, the left side as L, the upper side as U, and the lower side as D.

[0012] The suction device 100 is configured to generate an aerosol containing a fragrance by heating an elongated substantially cylindrical rod 500 (see FIG. 2) as an example of a fragrance component generation substrate having a filling material including an aerosol source and a fragrance source.

[0013] <Fragrance component generation substrate (rod)> The rod 500 contains a filling material containing an aerosol source that is heated at a predetermined temperature to generate an aerosol.

[0014] The type of aerosol source is not particularly limited, and extract substances from various natural products and / or their constituent components can be selected according to the application. The aerosol source may be solid, or may be a liquid such as a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerin or propylene glycol, or water. The aerosol source may contain a flavor source such as a tobacco raw material or an extract derived from a tobacco raw material that releases flavor components by heating. The gas to which the flavor component is added is not limited to aerosol, and for example, invisible vapor may be generated.

[0015] The filling of the rod 500 may contain tobacco flakes as a flavor source. The material of the tobacco flakes is not particularly limited, and known materials such as lamina and midrib can be used. The filling may contain one or more kinds of fragrances. The type of the fragrance is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of imparting good taste, it is preferably menthol. The flavor source may contain plants other than tobacco (for example, mint, Chinese herbal medicine, or herb, etc.). Depending on the application, the rod 500 may not contain a flavor source.

[0016] <Overall Structure of Non-Burning Inhaler> Subsequently, the overall structure of the inhaler 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The inhaler 100 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped case 110 having a front surface, a rear surface, a left surface, a right surface, an upper surface, and a lower surface. The case 110 includes a bottomed cylindrical case body 112 in which the front surface, the rear surface, the upper surface, the lower surface, and the right surface are integrally formed, an outer panel 115 and an inner panel 118 that seal the opening 114 (see FIG. 4) of the case body 112 and constitute the left surface, and a slider 119.

[0017] The inner panel 118 is fixed to the case body 112 with bolts 120. The outer panel 115 is fixed to the case body 112 so as to cover the outer surface of the inner panel 118 by a magnet 124 held by a chassis 150 (see FIG. 5) described later housed in the case body 112. Since the outer panel 115 is fixed by the magnet 124, the user can replace the outer panel 115 according to their preference.

[0018] The inner panel 118 is provided with two through holes 126 formed so that the magnet 124 passes through. Between the two vertically arranged through holes 126 in the inner panel 118, there are further provided a vertically long slot 127 and a circular round hole 128. This slot 127 is for transmitting light emitted from eight LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) L1 to L8 built into the case body 112. The button-type operation switch OPS built into the case body 112 passes through the round hole 128. Thereby, the user can detect the light emitted from the eight LEDs L1 to L8 through the LED window 116 of the outer panel 115. Also, the user can press down the operation switch OPS through the pressing portion 117 of the outer panel 115.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, an opening 132 into which a rod 500 can be inserted is provided on the upper surface of the case body 112. The slider 119 is coupled to the case body 112 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction between a position where the opening 132 is closed (see FIG. 1) and a position where the opening 132 is open (see FIG. 2).

[0020] The operation switch OPS is used to perform various operations of the suction device 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, with the rod 500 inserted and attached to the opening 132, the user operates the operation switch OPS via the pressing portion 117. As a result, the heating portion 170 (see FIG. 5) heats the rod 500 without burning it. When the rod 500 is heated, an aerosol is generated from the aerosol source contained in the rod 500, and the fragrance of the fragrance source contained in the rod 500 is added to the aerosol. The user can suck the aerosol containing the fragrance by sucking the suction port 502 of the rod 500 protruding from the opening 132.

[0021] On the lower surface of the case body 112, as shown in FIG. 3, a charging terminal 134 for electrically connecting to an external power source such as an outlet or a mobile battery to receive power supply is provided. In the present embodiment, the charging terminal 134 is a receptacle of the USB (Universal Serial Bus) Type-C shape, but it is not limited thereto. The charging terminal 134 will also be referred to as the receptacle RCP hereinafter.

[0022] Note that the charging terminal 134 may be provided with, for example, a power receiving coil and be configured to be able to receive power transmitted from an external power source in a non-contact manner. The method of power transmission (Wireless Power Transfer) in this case may be an electromagnetic induction type, a magnetic resonance type, or a combination of the electromagnetic induction type and the magnetic resonance type. As another example, the charging terminal 134 may be connectable to various USB terminals and the like and may have the above-described power receiving coil.

[0023] The configuration of the suction device 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is merely an example. The suction device 100 can be configured in various forms such that it holds the rod 500 and applies an action such as heating to generate a gas with a fragrance component imparted from the rod 500, and the user can suck the generated gas.

[0024] <Internal Configuration of Non-Burning Suction Device> The internal unit 140 of the aspirator 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the internal unit 140 of the aspirator 100. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the internal unit 140 of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the internal unit 140 with the power supply BAT and the chassis 150 removed. FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the internal unit 140 with the power supply BAT and the chassis 150 removed.

[0025] The internal unit 140 accommodated in the internal space of the case 110 includes a chassis 150, a power supply BAT, a circuit unit 160, a heating unit 170, a notification unit 180, and various sensors.

[0026] The chassis 150 includes a plate-shaped chassis body 151 disposed substantially at the center of the internal space of the case 110 in the front-rear direction and extending in the vertical and front-rear directions, a plate-shaped front-rear partition wall 152 disposed substantially at the center of the internal space of the case 110 in the front-rear direction and extending in the vertical and left-right directions, a plate-shaped upper-lower partition wall 153 extending forward from substantially the center of the front-rear partition wall 152 in the vertical direction, a plate-shaped chassis upper wall 154 extending rearward from the upper edge portions of the front-rear partition wall 152 and the chassis body 151, and a plate-shaped chassis lower wall 155 extending rearward from the lower edge portions of the front-rear partition wall 152 and the chassis body 151. The left surface of the chassis body 151 is covered by the inner panel 118 and the outer panel 115 of the case 110 described above.

[0027] The internal space of the case 110 is partitioned by the chassis 150 to form a heating unit accommodation region 142 in the upper front portion, a substrate accommodation region 144 in the lower front portion, and a power supply accommodation space 146 extending in the vertical direction in the rear.

[0028] The heating unit 170 housed in the heating unit accommodation area 142 is composed of a plurality of cylindrical members, which are arranged concentrically to form a cylindrical body as a whole. The heating unit 170 has a rod accommodation part 172 capable of accommodating a part of the rod 500 therein, and a heater HTR (see FIGS. 10 to 19) for heating the rod 500 from the outer periphery or the center. It is preferable that the rod accommodation part 172 is made of a heat insulating material or a heat insulating material is provided inside the rod accommodation part 172 so that the surface of the rod accommodation part 172 and the heater HTR are thermally insulated. The heater HTR may be an element capable of heating the rod 500. The heater HTR is, for example, a heating element. Examples of the heating element include a heating resistor, a ceramic heater, and an induction heating type heater. As the heater HTR, for example, one having a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) characteristic in which the resistance value increases as the temperature increases is preferably used. Alternatively, a heater HTR having an NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) characteristic in which the resistance value decreases as the temperature increases may be used. The heating unit 170 has a function of defining a flow path of air supplied to the rod 500 and a function of heating the rod 500. The case 110 is formed with a vent (not shown) for allowing air to flow in, and is configured such that air can flow into the heating unit 170.

[0029] The power source BAT housed in the power source accommodation space 146 is a rechargeable secondary battery, an electric double layer capacitor, etc., and is preferably a lithium ion secondary battery. The electrolyte of the power source BAT may be composed of one of a gel electrolyte, an electrolytic solution, a solid electrolyte, an ionic liquid, or a combination thereof.

[0030] The notification unit 180 notifies various information such as the state of charge (SOC) indicating the charging state of the power supply BAT, the preheating time during suction, and the available suction period. The notification unit 180 of the present embodiment includes eight LEDs L1 to L8 and a vibration motor M. The notification unit 180 may be constituted by a light-emitting element such as the LEDs L1 to L8, may be constituted by a vibration element such as the vibration motor M, or may be constituted by a sound output element. The notification unit 180 may be a combination of two or more elements among the light-emitting element, the vibration element, and the sound output element.

[0031] The various sensors include an intake sensor that detects the user's puff operation (suction operation), a power supply temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the power supply BAT, a heater temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the heater HTR, a case temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the case 110, a cover position sensor that detects the position of the slider 119, and a panel detection sensor that detects the attachment and detachment of the outer panel 115.

[0032] The intake sensor is mainly constituted by, for example, a thermistor T2 disposed near the opening 132. The power supply temperature sensor is mainly constituted by, for example, a thermistor T1 disposed near the power supply BAT. The heater temperature sensor is mainly constituted by, for example, a thermistor T3 disposed near the heater HTR. As described above, it is preferable that the rod accommodating portion 172 is thermally insulated from the heater HTR. In this case, the thermistor T3 is preferably in contact with or close to the heater HTR inside the rod accommodating portion 172. When the heater HTR has PTC characteristics or NTC characteristics, the heater HTR itself may be used as the heater temperature sensor. The case temperature sensor is mainly constituted by, for example, a thermistor T4 disposed near the left surface of the case 110. The thermistor T4 is preferably in contact with or close to the case 110. The cover position sensor is mainly constituted by a Hall IC14 including a Hall element disposed near the slider 119. The panel detection sensor is mainly constituted by a Hall IC13 including a Hall element disposed near the inner surface of the inner panel 118.

[0033] The circuit unit 160 includes four circuit boards, a plurality of ICs (Integrated Circuits), and a plurality of elements. The four circuit boards mainly include an MCU (Micro Controller Unit) mounting board 161 on which the MCU 1 and the charging IC 2 described later are arranged, a receptacle mounting board 162 on which the charging terminal 134 is mainly arranged, an LED mounting board 163 on which the operation switch OPS, LEDs L1 to L8, and the communication IC 15 described later are arranged, and a hall IC mounting board 164 on which the hall IC 14 including the hall element constituting the cover position sensor is arranged.

[0034] The MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 are arranged in parallel with each other in the board accommodation area 144. Specifically, the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 have their respective element arrangement surfaces arranged along the left - right direction and the up - down direction, and the MCU mounting board 161 is arranged in front of the receptacle mounting board 162. Openings are provided on the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 respectively. The MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 are fastened to the board fixing part 156 of the front - rear partition wall 152 with bolts 136 with a cylindrical spacer 173 interposed between the peripheral edges of these openings. That is, the spacer 173 fixes the positions of the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 inside the case 110 and mechanically connects the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162. Thereby, contact between the MCU mounting board 161 and the receptacle mounting board 162 can be achieved, and the generation of a short - circuit current between them can be suppressed.

[0035] In terms of cost, the surfaces facing the front of the MCU-mounted substrate 161 and the receptacle-mounted substrate 162 are defined as the respective main surfaces 161a and 162a, and the surfaces opposite to the main surfaces 161a and 162a are defined as the respective sub-surfaces 161b and 162b. Then, the sub-surface 161b of the MCU-mounted substrate 161 and the main surface 162a of the receptacle-mounted substrate 162 face each other with a predetermined gap therebetween. The main surface 161a of the MCU-mounted substrate 161 faces the front surface of the case 110, and the sub-surface 162b of the receptacle-mounted substrate 162 faces the front-rear partition wall 152 of the chassis 150. The elements and ICs mounted on the MCU-mounted substrate 161 and the receptacle-mounted substrate 162 will be described later.

[0036] The LED-mounted substrate 163 is disposed between the left side surface of the chassis body 151 and two magnets 124 arranged vertically. The element arrangement surface of the LED-mounted substrate 163 is arranged along the vertical direction and the front-rear direction. In other words, the element arrangement surfaces of the MCU-mounted substrate 161 and the receptacle-mounted substrate 162 and the element arrangement surface of the LED-mounted substrate 163 are orthogonal to each other. Thus, it is preferable that the element arrangement surfaces of the MCU-mounted substrate 161 and the receptacle-mounted substrate 162 and the element arrangement surface of the LED-mounted substrate 163 are not limited to being orthogonal, but intersect (are non-parallel). Note that the vibration motor M constituting the notification unit 180 together with the LEDs L1 to L8 is fixed to the lower surface of the chassis lower wall 155 and is electrically connected to the MCU-mounted substrate 161.

[0037] The Hall IC-mounted substrate 164 is disposed on the upper surface of the chassis upper wall 154.

[0038] <Operation Modes of the Suction Device> FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation modes of the suction device 100. As shown in FIG. 9, the operation modes of the suction device 100 include a charging mode, a sleep mode, an active mode, a heating initial setting mode, a heating mode, and a heating end mode.

[0039] The sleep mode is a mode mainly for power saving by stopping the power supply to the electronic components necessary for the heating control of the heater HTR.

[0040] The active mode is a mode in which most functions except the heating control of the heater HTR are enabled. When the slider 119 is opened while the suction device 100 is operating in the sleep mode, the operating mode is switched to the active mode. When the slider 119 is closed or the non-operation time of the operation switch OPS reaches a predetermined time while the suction device 100 is operating in the active mode, the operating mode is switched to the sleep mode.

[0041] The heating initial setting mode is a mode for performing initial settings such as control parameters for starting the heating control of the heater HTR. When the suction device 100 detects an operation of the operation switch OPS while operating in the active mode, the operating mode is switched to the heating initial setting mode, and when the initial setting is completed, the operating mode is switched to the heating mode.

[0042] The heating mode is a mode for executing the heating control of the heater HTR (heating control for aerosol generation and heating control for temperature detection). When the operating mode of the suction device 100 is switched to the heating mode, the heating control of the heater HTR is started.

[0043] The heating end mode is a mode for executing the end process of the heating control of the heater HTR (such as the process of storing the heating history). When the suction device 100 is operating in the heating mode, if the energization time to the heater HTR or the number of suction operations by the user reaches the upper limit, or if the slider 119 is closed, the operation mode is switched to the heating end mode. When the end process is completed, the operation mode is switched to the active mode. When the suction device 100 is operating in the heating mode and a USB connection is made, the operation mode is switched to the heating end mode. When the end process is completed, the operation mode is switched to the charging mode. As shown in FIG. 9, in this case, before switching the operation mode to the charging mode, the operation mode may be switched to the active mode. In other words, when the suction device 100 is operating in the heating mode and a USB connection is made, the operation mode may be switched in the order of the heating end mode, the active mode, and the charging mode.

[0044] The charging mode is a mode for charging the power supply BAT with the power supplied from an external power supply connected to the receptacle RCP. When the suction device 100 is operating in the sleep mode or the active mode and an external power supply is connected (USB connection) to the receptacle RCP, the operation mode is switched to the charging mode. When the suction device 100 is operating in the charging mode and the charging of the power supply BAT is completed or the connection between the receptacle RCP and the external power supply is disconnected, the operation mode is switched to the sleep mode.

[0045] <Schematic of the circuit of the internal unit> FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 are diagrams showing the schematic configuration of the electric circuit of the internal unit 140. FIG. 11 is the same as FIG. 10 except that the range 161A (the range surrounded by the thick dashed line) mounted on the MCU mounting board 161 and the range 163A (the range surrounded by the thick solid line) mounted on the LED mounting board 163 in the electric circuit shown in FIG. 10 are added. FIG. 12 is the same as FIG. 10 except that the range 162A mounted on the receptacle mounting board 162 and the range 164A mounted on the hall IC mounting board 164 in the electric circuit shown in FIG. 10 are added.

[0046] In FIG. 10, the wiring shown by the thick solid line is a wiring having the same potential as the reference potential (ground potential) of the internal unit 140 (a wiring connected to the ground provided in the internal unit 140), and this wiring is hereinafter referred to as a ground line. In FIG. 10, an electronic component in which a plurality of circuit elements are chip-mounted is shown as a rectangle, and the symbols of various terminals are described inside this rectangle. The power supply terminals VCC and VDD mounted on the chip respectively indicate the power supply terminals on the high potential side. The power supply terminal VSS and the ground terminal GND mounted on the chip respectively indicate the power supply terminals on the low potential side (reference potential side). For the chip-mounted electronic component, the difference between the potential of the power supply terminal on the high potential side and the potential of the power supply terminal on the low potential side is the power supply voltage. The chip-mounted electronic component executes various functions using this power supply voltage.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 11, on the MCU mounting board 161 (range 161A), as main electronic components, there are an MCU 1 that comprehensively controls the entire aspirator 100, a charging IC 2 that controls the charging of the power supply BAT, load switches (hereinafter referred to as LSWs) 3, 4, 5 configured by combining capacitors, resistors, transistors, etc., a ROM (Read Only Memory) 6, a switch driver 7, a step-up / down DC / DC converter 8 (described as step-up / down DC / DC 8 in the figure), an operational amplifier OP2, an operational amplifier OP3, flip-flops (hereinafter referred to as FFs) 16, 17, a connector Cn(t2) electrically connected to a thermistor T2 that constitutes an intake sensor (in the figure, the thermistor T2 connected to this connector is described), a connector Cn(t3) electrically connected to a thermistor T3 that constitutes a heater temperature sensor (in the figure, the thermistor T3 connected to this connector is described), a connector Cn(t4) electrically connected to a thermistor T4 that constitutes a case temperature sensor (in the figure, the thermistor T4 connected to this connector is described), and a voltage dividing circuit Pc for USB connection detection.

[0048] The ground terminals GND of each of the charging IC2, LSW3, LSW4, LSW5, switched driver 7, buck-boost DC / DC converter 8, FF16, and FF17 are connected to the ground line. The power supply terminal VSS of the ROM6 is connected to the ground line. The negative power supply terminals of each of the operational amplifiers OP2 and OP3 are connected to the ground line.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 11, on the LED mounting substrate 163 (range 163A), as main electronic components, a Hall IC 13 including a Hall element constituting a panel detection sensor, LEDs L1 to L8, an operation switch OPS, and a communication IC 15 are provided. The communication IC 15 is a communication module for communicating with an electronic device such as a smartphone. The power supply terminal VSS of the Hall IC 13 and the ground terminal GND of the communication IC 15 are each connected to the ground line. The communication IC 15 and the MCU1 are configured to be communicable via a communication line LN. One end of the operation switch OPS is connected to the ground line, and the other end of the operation switch OPS is connected to the terminal P4 of the MCU1.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 12, on the receptacle mounting substrate 162 (range 162A), as main electronic components, a power supply connector electrically connected to the power supply BAT (in the figure, the power supply BAT connected to this power supply connector is described), a connector electrically connected to a thermistor T1 constituting a power supply temperature sensor (in the figure, the thermistor T1 connected to this connector is described), a boost DC / DC converter 9 (described as boost DC / DC9 in the figure), a protection IC 10, an overvoltage protection IC 11, a remaining amount meter IC 12, a receptacle RCP, switches S3 to S6 composed of MOSFETs, an operational amplifier OP1, and a pair (positive electrode side and negative electrode side) of heater connectors Cn electrically connected to a heater HTR are provided.

[0051] The two ground terminals GND of the receptacle RCP, the ground terminal GND of the boost DC / DC converter 9, the power supply terminal VSS of the protection IC 10, the power supply terminal VSS of the remaining amount meter IC 12, the ground terminal GND of the overvoltage protection IC 11, and the negative power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP1 are each connected to the ground line.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 12, on the hall IC mounting substrate 164 (range 164A), a hall IC 14 including a hall element that constitutes a cover position sensor is provided. The power supply terminal VSS of the hall IC 14 is connected to the ground line. The output terminal OUT of the hall IC 14 is connected to the terminal P8 of the MCU1. The MCU1 detects the opening and closing of the slider 119 based on the signal input to the terminal P8.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 11, the connector electrically connected to the vibration motor M is provided on the MCU mounting substrate 161.

[0054] <Details of the circuit of the internal unit> Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 10, the connection relationship and the like of each electronic component will be described.

[0055] The two power input terminals V of the receptacle RCP BUS are each connected to the input terminal IN of the overvoltage protection IC 11 via a fuse Fs. When a USB plug is connected to the receptacle RCP and a USB cable including this USB plug is connected to an external power supply, the two power input terminals V of the receptacle RCP BUS are supplied with a USB voltage V USB .

[0056] One end of a voltage dividing circuit Pa composed of a series circuit of two resistors is connected to the input terminal IN of the overvoltage protection IC11. The other end of the voltage dividing circuit Pa is connected to the ground line. The connection point of the two resistors constituting the voltage dividing circuit Pa is connected to the voltage detection terminal OVLo of the overvoltage protection IC11. When the voltage input to the voltage detection terminal OVLo of the overvoltage protection IC11 is less than the threshold value, the overvoltage protection IC11 outputs the voltage input to the input terminal IN from the output terminal OUT. When the voltage input to the voltage detection terminal OVLo of the overvoltage protection IC11 becomes equal to or higher than the threshold value (overvoltage), the overvoltage protection IC11 stops the voltage output from the output terminal OUT (cuts off the electrical connection between the LSW3 and the receptacle RCP) to protect the electronic components downstream of the overvoltage protection IC11. The output terminal OUT of the overvoltage protection IC11 is connected to the input terminal VIN of the LSW3 and one end of a voltage dividing circuit Pc (a series circuit of two resistors) connected to the MCU1. The other end of the voltage dividing circuit Pc is connected to the ground line. The connection point of the two resistors constituting the voltage dividing circuit Pc is connected to the terminal P17 of the MCU1.

[0057] One end of a voltage dividing circuit Pf composed of a series circuit of two resistors is connected to the input terminal VIN of the LSW3. The other end of the voltage dividing circuit Pf is connected to the ground line. The connection point of the two resistors constituting the voltage dividing circuit Pf is connected to the control terminal ON of the LSW3. The collector terminal of a bipolar transistor S2 is connected to the control terminal ON of the LSW3. The emitter terminal of the bipolar transistor S2 is connected to the ground line. The base terminal of the bipolar transistor S2 is connected to the terminal P19 of the MCU1. When the signal input to the control terminal ON of the LSW3 becomes high level, the LSW3 outputs the voltage input to the input terminal VIN from the output terminal VOUT. The output terminal VOUT of the LSW3 is connected to the input terminal VBUS of the charging IC2. When there is no USB connection, the MCU1 turns on the bipolar transistor S2. As a result, the control terminal ON of the LSW3 is connected to the ground line via the bipolar transistor S2, so that a low-level signal is input to the control terminal ON of the LSW3. The bipolar transistor S2 connected to LSW3 is turned off by the MCU1 when a USB connection is made. When the bipolar transistor S2 turns off, the USB voltage V divided by the voltage divider circuit Pf USB is input to the control terminal ON of LSW3. Therefore, when a USB connection is made and the bipolar transistor S2 is turned off, a high-level signal is input to the control terminal ON of LSW3. As a result, LSW3 outputs the USB voltage V supplied from the USB cable from the output terminal VOUT. Note that even if a USB connection is made while the bipolar transistor S2 is not turned off, the control terminal ON of LSW3 is connected to the ground line via the bipolar transistor S2. Therefore, it should be noted that a low-level signal continues to be input to the control terminal ON of LSW3 unless the MCU1 turns off the bipolar transistor S2. USB

[0058] The positive terminal of the power supply BAT is connected to the power supply terminal VDD of the protection IC10, the input terminal VIN of the boost DC / DC converter 9, and the charging terminal bat of the charging IC2. Therefore, the power supply voltage V of the power supply BAT BAT is supplied to the protection IC10, the charging IC2, and the boost DC / DC converter 9. A resistor Ra, a switch Sa composed of a MOSFET, a switch Sb composed of a MOSFET, and a resistor Rb are connected in series in this order to the negative terminal of the power supply BAT. The current detection terminal CS of the protection IC10 is connected to the connection point of the resistor Ra and the switch Sa. The control terminals of each of the switches Sa and Sb are connected to the protection IC10. Both ends of the resistor Rb are connected to the remaining amount meter IC12.

[0059] ​The protection IC 10 acquires the current value flowing through the resistor Ra during charging and discharging of the power supply BAT from the voltage input to the current detection terminal CS, and when this current value becomes excessive (overcurrent), controls the opening and closing of the switches Sa and Sb to stop the charging or discharging of the power supply BAT, thereby protecting the power supply BAT. More specifically, when the protection IC 10 acquires an excessive current value during charging of the power supply BAT, it turns off the switch Sb to stop the charging of the power supply BAT. When the protection IC 10 acquires an excessive current value during discharging of the power supply BAT, it turns off the switch Sa to stop the discharging of the power supply BAT. Also, the protection IC 10 controls the opening and closing of the switches Sa and Sb when the voltage value of the power supply BAT becomes abnormal (in the case of overcharging or overvoltage) from the voltage input to the power supply terminal VDD, and stops the charging or discharging of the power supply BAT, thereby protecting the power supply BAT. More specifically, when the protection IC 10 detects overcharging of the power supply BAT, it turns off the switch Sb to stop the charging of the power supply BAT. When the protection IC 10 detects overdischarging of the power supply BAT, it turns off the switch Sa to stop the discharging of the power supply BAT.

[0060] A resistor Rt1 is connected to a connector connected to a thermistor T1 arranged near the power supply BAT. The series circuit of the resistor Rt1 and the thermistor T1 is connected to the ground line and the regulator terminal TREG of the remaining amount meter IC12. The connection point of the thermistor T1 and the resistor Rt1 is connected to the thermistor terminal THM of the remaining amount meter IC12. The thermistor T1 may be a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) thermistor whose resistance value increases as the temperature increases, or an NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) thermistor whose resistance value decreases as the temperature increases.

[0061] The remaining capacity meter IC12 detects the current flowing through the resistor Rb, and based on the detected current value, derives battery information such as the remaining capacity of the power supply BAT, the state of charge (SOC) indicating the charging state, and the state of health (SOH) indicating the soundness state. The remaining capacity meter IC12 supplies voltage to the voltage dividing circuit of the thermistor T1 and the resistor Rt1 from the built-in regulator connected to the regulator terminal TREG. The remaining capacity meter IC12 acquires the voltage divided by this voltage dividing circuit from the thermistor terminal THM, and based on this voltage, acquires temperature information regarding the temperature of the power supply BAT. The remaining capacity meter IC12 is connected to the MCU1 by the communication line LN for serial communication and is configured to be able to communicate with the MCU1. The remaining capacity meter IC12 transmits the derived battery information and the acquired temperature information of the power supply BAT to the MCU1 in response to a request from the MCU1. Note that for serial communication, a plurality of signal lines such as a data line for data transmission and a clock line for synchronization are required. It should be noted that in FIGS. 10 - 19, only one signal line is shown for simplicity.

[0062] The remaining capacity meter IC12 is provided with a notification terminal 12a. The notification terminal 12a is connected to the terminal P6 of the MCU1 and the cathode of the diode D2 described later. When the remaining capacity meter IC12 detects an abnormality such as the temperature of the power supply BAT becoming excessive, it notifies the MCU1 of the occurrence of the abnormality by outputting a low-level signal from the notification terminal 12a. This low-level signal is also input to the CLR(￣) terminal of the FF17 via the diode D2.

[0063] One end of the reactor Lc is connected to the switching terminal SW of the step-up DC / DC converter 9. The other end of this reactor Lc is connected to the input terminal VIN of the step-up DC / DC converter 9. The step-up DC / DC converter 9 steps up the input voltage and outputs it from the output terminal VOUT by performing on / off control of the built-in transistor connected to the switching terminal SW. Note that the input terminal VIN of the step-up DC / DC converter 9 constitutes the high-potential power supply terminal of the step-up DC / DC converter 9. The step-up DC / DC converter 9 performs a step-up operation when the signal input to the enable terminal EN is at a high level. In the state where USB is connected, the signal input to the enable terminal EN of the step-up DC / DC converter 9 may be controlled to a low level by the MCU1. Alternatively, in the state where USB is connected, the potential of the enable terminal EN may be made indefinite by the MCU1 not controlling the signal input to the enable terminal EN of the step-up DC / DC converter 9.

[0064] The source terminal of a switch S4 composed of a P-channel MOSFET is connected to the output terminal VOUT of the step-up DC / DC converter 9. The gate terminal of the switch S4 is connected to the terminal P15 of the MCU1. One end of a resistor Rs is connected to the drain terminal of the switch S4. The other end of the resistor Rs is connected to the positive electrode side heater connector Cn that is connected to one end of the heater HTR. A voltage dividing circuit Pb composed of two resistors is connected to the connection point between the switch S4 and the resistor Rs. The connection point of the two resistors constituting the voltage dividing circuit Pb is connected to the terminal P18 of the MCU1. The connection point between the switch S4 and the resistor Rs is further connected to the positive power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP1.

[0065] To the connection line between the output terminal VOUT of the boost DC / DC converter 9 and the source terminal of the switch S4, the source terminal of the switch S3 composed of a P-channel type MOSFET is connected. The gate terminal of the switch S3 is connected to the terminal P16 of the MCU1. The drain terminal of the switch S3 is connected to the connection line between the resistor Rs and the positive electrode side heater connector Cn. Thus, between the output terminal VOUT of the boost DC / DC converter 9 and the positive electrode side of the heater connector Cn, a circuit including the switch S3 and a circuit including the switch S4 and the resistor Rs are connected in parallel. Since the circuit including the switch S3 has no resistor, it is a circuit with lower resistance than the circuit including the switch S4 and the resistor Rs.

[0066] The non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP1 is connected to the connection line between the resistor Rs and the positive electrode side heater connector Cn. The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP1 is connected to the negative electrode side heater connector Cn connected to the other end of the heater HTR and the drain terminal of the switch S6 composed of an N-channel type MOSFET. The source terminal of the switch S6 is connected to the ground line. The gate terminal of the switch S6 is connected to the terminal P14 of the MCU1, the anode of the diode D4, and the enable terminal EN of the boost DC / DC converter 9. The cathode of the diode D4 is connected to the Q terminal of the FF17. One end of the resistor R4 is connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP1. The other end of the resistor R4 is connected to the terminal P9 of the MCU1 and the drain terminal of the switch S5 composed of an N-channel type MOSFET. The source terminal of the switch S5 is connected to the ground line. The gate terminal of the switch S5 is connected to the connection line between the resistor Rs and the positive electrode side heater connector Cn.

[0067] The input terminal VBUS of the charging IC2 is connected to the anode of each of the LEDs L1 to L8. The cathode of each of the LEDs L1 to L8 is connected to the control terminals PD1 to PD8 of the MCU1 via resistors for current limiting. That is, the LEDs L1 to L8 are connected in parallel to the input terminal VBUS. The LEDs L1 to L8 are operable by the USB voltage V USB supplied from a USB cable connected to the receptacle RCP, and the voltage supplied from the power supply BAT via the charging IC2, respectively. The MCU1 incorporates transistors (switching elements) connected to each of the control terminals PD1 to PD8 and the ground terminal GND. The MCU1 energizes the LED L1 by turning on the transistor connected to the control terminal PD1 to light it, and turns off the LED L1 by turning off the transistor connected to the control terminal PD1. By rapidly switching between on and off of the transistor connected to the control terminal PD1, the brightness and light emission pattern of the LED L1 can be dynamically controlled. The LEDs L2 to L8 are similarly controlled for lighting by the MCU1.

[0068] The charging IC2 has a charging function for charging the power supply BAT based on the USB voltage V USB input to the input terminal VBUS. The charging IC2 obtains the charging current and charging voltage of the power supply BAT from terminals and wirings not shown, and based on these, performs charging control of the power supply BAT (power supply control from the charging terminal bat to the power supply BAT). Further, the charging IC2 may obtain the temperature information of the power supply BAT transmitted from the remaining amount meter IC12 to the MCU1 by serial communication using the communication line LN and use it for charging control.

[0069] The charging IC2 further has a BAT power pass function and an OTG function. The BAT power pass function is a function of outputting a system power supply voltage Vcc0 that substantially matches the power supply voltage V BAT input to the charging terminal bat from the output terminal SYS. The OTG function is a function of the power supply voltage V BATThis is a function of outputting the system power supply voltage Vcc4 obtained by boosting from the input terminal VBUS. The on / off of the OTG function of the charging IC2 is controlled by the MCU1 through serial communication using the communication line LN. In the OTG function, the power supply voltage V BAT input to the charging terminal bat may be output directly from the input terminal VBUS. In this case, the power supply voltage V BAT is substantially the same as the system power supply voltage Vcc4.

[0070] The output terminal SYS of the charging IC2 is connected to the input terminal VIN of the buck-boost DC / DC converter 8. One end of the reactor La is connected to the switching terminal SW of the charging IC2. The other end of the reactor La is connected to the output terminal SYS of the charging IC2. The charging enable terminal CE(￣) of the charging IC2 is connected to the terminal P22 of the MCU1 via a resistor. Further, the collector terminal of the bipolar transistor S1 is connected to the charging enable terminal CE(￣) of the charging IC2. The emitter terminal of the bipolar transistor S1 is connected to the output terminal VOUT of the LSW4 described later. The base terminal of the bipolar transistor S1 is connected to the Q terminal of the FF17. Further, one end of the resistor Rc is connected to the charging enable terminal CE(￣) of the charging IC2. The other end of the resistor Rc is connected to the output terminal VOUT of the LSW4.

[0071] A resistor is connected to the input terminal VIN and the enable terminal EN of the buck-boost DC / DC converter 8. When the system power supply voltage Vcc0 is input from the output terminal SYS of the charging IC2 to the input terminal VIN of the buck-boost DC / DC converter 8, the signal input to the enable terminal EN of the buck-boost DC / DC converter 8 becomes high level, and the buck-boost DC / DC converter 8 starts the boost operation or the buck operation. The buck-boost DC / DC converter 8 boosts or buck-boosts the system power supply voltage Vcc0 input to the input terminal VIN by switching control of the built-in transistor connected to the reactor Lb to generate the system power supply voltage Vcc1 and outputs it from the output terminal VOUT. The output terminal VOUT of the buck-boost DC / DC converter 8 is connected to the feedback terminal FB of the buck-boost DC / DC converter 8, the input terminal VIN of the LSW4, the input terminal VIN of the switch driver 7, the power supply terminal VCC and the D terminal of the FF16. The wiring through which the system power supply voltage Vcc1 output from the output terminal VOUT of the buck-boost DC / DC converter 8 is supplied is described as the power supply line PL1.

[0072] When the signal input to the control terminal ON of the LSW4 becomes high level, the LSW4 outputs the system power supply voltage Vcc1 input to the input terminal VIN from the output terminal VOUT. The control terminal ON of the LSW4 and the power supply line PL1 are connected via a resistor. Therefore, when the system power supply voltage Vcc1 is supplied to the power supply line PL1, a high-level signal is input to the control terminal ON of the LSW4. The voltage output by the LSW4 is the same as the system power supply voltage Vcc1 if wiring resistance and the like are ignored, but in order to distinguish it from the system power supply voltage Vcc1, the voltage output from the output terminal VOUT of the LSW4 is hereinafter described as the system power supply voltage Vcc2.

[0073] The output terminal VOUT of LSW4 is connected to the power supply terminal VDD of MCU1, the input terminal VIN of LSW5, the power supply terminal VDD of the remaining amount meter IC12, the power supply terminal VCC of ROM6, the emitter terminal of the bipolar transistor S1, the resistor Rc, and the power supply terminal VCC of FF17. The wiring to which the system power supply voltage Vcc2 output from the output terminal VOUT of LSW4 is supplied is described as the power line PL2.

[0074] When the signal input to the control terminal ON of LSW5 becomes high level, LSW5 outputs the system power supply voltage Vcc2 input to the input terminal VIN from the output terminal VOUT. The control terminal ON of LSW5 is connected to the terminal P23 of MCU1. The voltage output by LSW5 is the same as the system power supply voltage Vcc2 if wiring resistance etc. is ignored, but in order to distinguish it from the system power supply voltage Vcc2, the voltage output from the output terminal VOUT of LSW5 is hereinafter described as the system power supply voltage Vcc3. The wiring to which the system power supply voltage Vcc3 output from the output terminal VOUT of LSW5 is supplied is described as the power line PL3.

[0075] A series circuit of the thermistor T2 and the resistor Rt2 is connected to the power line PL3, and the resistor Rt2 is connected to the ground line. The thermistor T2 and the resistor Rt2 constitute a voltage dividing circuit, and the connection point thereof is connected to the terminal P21 of MCU1. MCU1 detects the temperature variation (resistance value variation) of the thermistor T2 based on the voltage input to the terminal P21, and determines the presence or absence of the puff operation according to the amount of the temperature variation.

[0076] A series circuit of the thermistor T3 and the resistor Rt3 is connected to the power line PL3, and the resistor Rt3 is connected to the ground line. The thermistor T3 and the resistor Rt3 constitute a voltage dividing circuit, and the connection point thereof is connected to the terminal P13 of MCU1 and the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2. MCU1 detects the temperature of the thermistor T3 (corresponding to the temperature of the heater HTR) based on the voltage input to the terminal P13.

[0077] A series circuit of a thermistor T4 and a resistor Rt4 is connected to the power line PL3, and the resistor Rt4 is connected to the ground line. The thermistor T4 and the resistor Rt4 constitute a voltage dividing circuit, and the connection point thereof is connected to the terminal P12 of the MCU1 and the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP3. The MCU1 detects the temperature of the thermistor T4 (corresponding to the temperature of the case 110) based on the voltage input to the terminal P12.

[0078] The source terminal of a switch S7 constituted by a MOSFET is connected to the power line PL2. The gate terminal of the switch S7 is connected to the terminal P20 of the MCU1. The drain terminal of the switch S7 is connected to one of a pair of connectors to which the vibration motor M is connected. The other of this pair of connectors is connected to the ground line. The MCU1 can control the opening and closing of the switch S7 by operating the potential of the terminal P20, and vibrate the vibration motor M in a specific pattern. Instead of the switch S7, a dedicated driver IC may be used.

[0079] The positive power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 and a voltage dividing circuit Pd (a series circuit of two resistors) connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 are connected to the power line PL2. The connection point of the two resistors constituting the voltage dividing circuit Pd is connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2. The operational amplifier OP2 outputs a signal corresponding to the temperature of the heater HTR (a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the thermistor T3). In the present embodiment, since a thermistor T3 having an NTC characteristic is used, the higher the temperature of the heater HTR (the temperature of the thermistor T3), the lower the output voltage of the operational amplifier OP2. This is because the negative power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 is connected to the ground line, and when the voltage value (the voltage division value by the thermistor T3 and the resistor Rt3) input to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 becomes higher than the voltage value (the voltage division value by the voltage dividing circuit Pd) input to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2, the value of the output voltage of the operational amplifier OP2 becomes substantially equal to the value of the ground potential. That is, when the temperature of the heater HTR (the temperature of the thermistor T3) becomes high, the output voltage of the operational amplifier OP2 becomes a low level. When using a thermistor T3 with PTC characteristics, the output of the voltage dividing circuit of the thermistor T3 and the resistor Rt3 may be connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2, and the output of the voltage dividing circuit Pd may be connected to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2.

[0080] Connected to the power supply line PL2 are the positive power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP3 and a voltage dividing circuit Pe (a series circuit of two resistors) connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP3. The connection point of the two resistors constituting the voltage dividing circuit Pe is connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP3. The operational amplifier OP3 outputs a signal corresponding to the temperature of the case 110 (a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the thermistor T4). In this embodiment, since a thermistor T4 with NTC characteristics is used, the higher the temperature of the case 110, the lower the output voltage of the operational amplifier OP3. This is because the negative power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP3 is connected to the ground line, and when the voltage value input to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP3 (the voltage dividing value by the thermistor T4 and the resistor Rt4) becomes higher than the voltage value input to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP3 (the voltage dividing value by the voltage dividing circuit Pe), the value of the output voltage of the operational amplifier OP3 becomes substantially equal to the value of the ground potential. That is, when the temperature of the thermistor T4 becomes high, the output voltage of the operational amplifier OP3 becomes a low level. When using a thermistor T4 with PTC characteristics, the output of the voltage dividing circuit of the thermistor T4 and the resistor Rt4 may be connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP3, and the output of the voltage dividing circuit Pe may be connected to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP3.

[0081] A resistor R1 is connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP2. The cathode of the diode D1 is connected to the resistor R1. The anode of the diode D1 is connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP3, the D terminal of the FF17, and the CLR(￣) terminal of the FF17. A resistor R2 connected to the power supply line PL1 is connected to the connection line between the resistor R1 and the diode D1. Also, the CLR(￣) terminal of the FF16 is connected to this connection line.

[0082] One end of a resistor R3 is connected to a connection line between the anode of a diode D1 and the output terminal of an operational amplifier OP3 and the D terminal of an FF17. The other end of the resistor R3 is connected to a power supply line PL2. Further, the anode of a diode D2 connected to a notification terminal 12a of a remaining amount meter IC12, the anode of a diode D3, and the CLR(￣) terminal of the FF17 are connected to this connection line. The cathode of the diode D3 is connected to a terminal P5 of an MCU1.

[0083] When the temperature of a heater HTR becomes excessive, the signal output from the operational amplifier OP2 becomes small, and the signal input to the CLR(￣) terminal becomes a low level, an FF16 inputs a high-level signal from a Q(￣) terminal to a terminal P11 of an MCU1. A high-level system power supply voltage Vcc1 is supplied from a power supply line PL1 to the D terminal of the FF16. Therefore, in the FF16, a low-level signal continues to be output from the Q(￣) terminal unless the signal input to the CLR(￣) terminal operating in negative logic becomes a low level.

[0084] The signal input to the CLR(￣) terminal of FF17 becomes low level when any of the following cases occur: when the temperature of the heater HTR becomes excessive, when the temperature of the case 110 becomes excessive, or when a low-level signal indicating abnormal detection is output from the notification terminal 12a of the remaining amount meter IC12. When the signal input to the CLR(￣) terminal of FF17 becomes low level, FF17 outputs a low-level signal from the Q terminal. This low-level signal is input to the terminal P10 of MCU1, the gate terminal of switch S6, the enable terminal EN of the boost DC / DC converter 9, and the base terminal of the bipolar transistor S1 connected to the charging IC2, respectively. When a low-level signal is input to the gate terminal of switch S6, the gate-source voltage of the N-channel MOSFET constituting switch S6 becomes less than the threshold voltage, so switch S6 turns off. When a low-level signal is input to the enable terminal EN of the boost DC / DC converter 9, since the enable terminal EN of the boost DC / DC converter 9 is positive logic, the boost operation stops. When a low-level signal is input to the base terminal of the bipolar transistor S1, the bipolar transistor S1 turns on (an amplified current is output from the collector terminal). When the bipolar transistor S1 turns on, a high-level system power supply voltage Vcc2 is input to the CE(￣) terminal of the charging IC2 via the bipolar transistor S1. Since the CE(￣) terminal of the charging IC2 is negative logic, the charging of the power supply BAT stops. As a result, the heating of the heater HTR and the charging of the power supply BAT stop. Note that even if MCU1 tries to output a low-level enable signal from the terminal P22 to the charging enable terminal CE(￣) of the charging IC2, when the bipolar transistor S1 is turned on, the amplified current is input from the collector terminal to the terminal P22 of MCU1 and the charging enable terminal CE(￣) of the charging IC2. Therefore, it should be noted that a high-level signal is input to the charging enable terminal CE(￣) of the charging IC2.

[0085] The D terminal of FF17 is supplied with a high-level system power supply voltage Vcc2 from the power supply line PL2. Therefore, in FF17, as long as the signal input to the CLR(￣) terminal that operates in negative logic does not become low level, a high-level signal continues to be output from the Q terminal. When a low-level signal is output from the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP3, a low-level signal is input to the CLR(￣) terminal of FF17 regardless of the level of the signal output from the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP2. It should be noted that when a high-level signal is output from the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP2, the low-level signal output from the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP3 is not affected by this high-level signal by the diode D1. Also, when a low-level signal is output from the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP2, even if a high-level signal is output from the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP3, this high-level signal is replaced by a low-level signal via the diode D1.

[0086] The power supply line PL2 further branches from the MCU-mounted substrate 161 toward the LED-mounted substrate 163 and the Hall IC-mounted substrate 164 side. The power supply terminals VDD of the Hall IC 13, the power supply terminal VCC of the communication IC 15, and the power supply terminal VDD of the Hall IC 14 are connected to this branched power supply line PL2.

[0087] The output terminal OUT of the Hall IC 13 is connected to the terminal P3 of the MCU1 and the terminal SW2 of the switch driver 7. When the outer panel 115 is removed, a low-level signal is output from the output terminal OUT of the Hall IC 13. The MCU1 determines the presence or absence of the outer panel 115 based on the signal input to the terminal P3.

[0088] The LED-mounted substrate 163 is provided with a series circuit (a series circuit of a resistor and a capacitor) connected to the operation switch OPS. This series circuit is connected to the power line PL2. The connection point of the resistor and the capacitor in this series circuit is connected to the terminal P4 of the MCU1, the operation switch OPS, and the terminal SW1 of the switch driver 7. When the operation switch OPS is not pressed, the operation switch OPS is non-conductive, and the signals input to the terminal P4 of the MCU1 and the terminal SW1 of the switch driver 7 respectively become high level due to the system power supply voltage Vcc2. When the operation switch OPS is pressed and the operation switch OPS becomes conductive, the signals input to the terminal P4 of the MCU1 and the terminal SW1 of the switch driver 7 respectively become low level because they are connected to the ground line. The MCU1 detects the operation of the operation switch OPS based on the signal input to the terminal P4.

[0089] The switch driver 7 is provided with a reset input terminal RSTB. The reset input terminal RSTB is connected to the control terminal ON of the LSW4. When the levels of the signals input to the terminal SW1 and the terminal SW2 of the switch driver 7 are both low level (when the outer panel 115 is removed and the operation switch OPS is pressed), the switch driver 7 outputs a low level signal from the reset input terminal RSTB to stop the output operation of the LSW4. That is, when the operation switch OPS, which is originally pressed through the pressing portion 117 of the outer panel 115, is directly pressed by the user with the outer panel 115 removed, the levels of the signals input to the terminal SW1 and the terminal SW2 of the switch driver 7 both become low level.

[0090] <Operation of the aspirator for each operation mode> Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 13 to 19, the operation of the electric circuit shown in FIG. 10 will be described. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the electric circuit in the sleep mode. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the electric circuit in the active mode. FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the electric circuit in the heating initial setting mode. FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the electric circuit when the heater HTR is being heated in the heating mode. FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the electric circuit when the temperature of the heater HTR is being detected in the heating mode. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the electric circuit in the charging mode. FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the electric circuit when the MCU1 is reset (restarted). In each of FIGS. 13 to 19, among the terminals of the chip-sized electronic components, the terminals surrounded by the dashed ellipse are the terminals where inputs or outputs such as the power supply voltage V BAT and the USB voltage V USB are made, indicating the terminals where inputs or outputs such as the system power supply voltage are made.

[0091] In any operation mode, the power supply voltage V BAT is input to the power supply terminal VDD of the protection IC10, the input terminal VIN of the boost DC / DC converter 9, and the charging terminal bat of the charging IC2.

[0092] <Sleep mode: FIG. 13> The MCU1 enables the V BAT power pass function of the charging IC2 and disables the OTG function and the charging function. Since the USB voltage V USB is not input to the input terminal VBUS of the charging IC2, the V BAT power pass function of the charging IC2 becomes effective. Since the signal for enabling the OTG function is not output from the MCU1 to the charging IC2 via the communication line LN, the OTG function becomes ineffective. Therefore, the charging IC2 uses the power supply voltage V BATIt generates the system power supply voltage Vcc0 from [source] and outputs it from the output terminal SYS. The system power supply voltage Vcc0 output from the output terminal SYS is input to the input terminal VIN and the enable terminal EN of the buck-boost DC / DC converter 8. When a high-level system power supply voltage Vcc0 is input to the enable terminal EN, which is positive logic, the buck-boost DC / DC converter 8 is enabled, generates the system power supply voltage Vcc1 from the system power supply voltage Vcc0, and outputs it from the output terminal VOUT. The system power supply voltage Vcc1 output from the output terminal VOUT of the buck-boost DC / DC converter 8 is supplied to the input terminal VIN of LSW4, the control terminal ON of LSW4, the input terminal VIN of the switch driver 7, the power supply terminal VCC and the D terminal of FF16, respectively.

[0093] When the system power supply voltage Vcc1 is input to the control terminal ON of LSW4, LSW4 outputs the system power supply voltage Vcc1 input to the input terminal VIN as the system power supply voltage Vcc2 from the output terminal VOUT. The system power supply voltage Vcc2 output from LSW4 is input to the power supply terminal VDD of MCU1, the input terminal VIN of LSW5, the power supply terminal VDD of Hall IC13, the power supply terminal VCC of communication IC15, and the power supply terminal VDD of Hall IC14. Furthermore, the system power supply voltage Vcc2 is supplied to the power supply terminal VDD of the remaining amount meter IC12, the power supply terminal VCC of ROM6, the resistor Rc and the bipolar transistor S1 connected to the charge enable terminal CE(￣) of the charge IC2, the power supply terminal VCC of FF17, the positive power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP3, the voltage dividing circuit Pe, the positive power supply terminal of the operational amplifier OP2, and the voltage dividing circuit Pd, respectively. The bipolar transistor S1 connected to the charge IC2 is off unless a low-level signal is output from the Q terminal of FF17. Therefore, the system power supply voltage Vcc2 generated by LSW4 is also input to the charge enable terminal CE(￣) of the charge IC2. Since the charge enable terminal CE(￣) of the charge IC2 is negative logic, in this state, the charging function by the charge IC2 is turned off.

[0094] It should be noted that the "from [source]" in the translation of is a placeholder for the original text which is not clear in the provided content. You may need to replace it with the correct source information according to the actual situation.Thus, in the sleep mode, since LSW5 stops the output of the system power supply voltage Vcc3, the power supply to the electronic components connected to the power line PL3 is stopped. Also, in the sleep mode, since the OTG function of the charging IC2 is stopped, the power supply to the LEDs L1 to L8 is stopped.

[0095] <Active mode: Figure 14> When the MCU1 detects from the sleep mode state in Figure 13 that the signal input to the terminal P8 becomes high level and the slider 119 is opened, it inputs a high-level signal from the terminal P23 to the control terminal ON of the LSW5. As a result, LSW5 outputs the system power supply voltage Vcc2 input to the input terminal VIN as the system power supply voltage Vcc3 from the output terminal VOUT. The system power supply voltage Vcc3 output from the output terminal VOUT of the LSW5 is supplied to the thermistor T2, the thermistor T3, and the thermistor T4.

[0096] Furthermore, when the MCU1 detects that the slider 119 is opened, it enables the OTG function of the charging IC2 via the communication line LN. As a result, the charging IC2 outputs the system power supply voltage Vcc4 obtained by boosting the power supply voltage V BAT input from the charging terminal bat from the input terminal VBUS. The system power supply voltage Vcc4 output from the input terminal VBUS is supplied to the LEDs L1 to L8.

[0097] <Heating initial setting mode: Figure 15> When the signal input to the terminal P4 becomes low level (the operation switch OPS is pressed) from the state in Figure 14, the MCU1 performs various settings necessary for heating and then inputs a high-level enable signal from the terminal P14 to the enable terminal EN of the boost DC / DC converter 9. As a result, the boost DC / DC converter 9 outputs the drive voltage V BAT obtained by boosting the power supply voltage V bst from the output terminal VOUT. The drive voltage V bstIt is supplied to switch S3 and switch S4. In this state, switch S3 and switch S4 are off. Also, switch S6 is turned on by the high-level enable signal output from terminal P14. As a result, the negative terminal of heater HTR is connected to the ground line, and if switch S3 is turned on, the heater HTR can be heated. After a high-level enable signal is output from terminal P14 of MCU1, it shifts to the heating mode.

[0098] <Heater Heating in Heating Mode: Figure 16> In the state of Figure 15, MCU1 starts the switching control of switch S3 connected to terminal P16 and the switching control of switch S4 connected to terminal P15. These switching controls may be automatically started when the above-described heating initial setting mode is completed, or may be started by pressing the further operation switch OPS. Specifically, as shown in Figure 16, MCU1 turns on switch S3, turns off switch S4, and supplies the drive voltage V bst to heater HTR, and performs heating control for heating heater HTR for aerosol generation, and as shown in Figure 17, turns off switch S3, turns on switch S4, and performs temperature detection control for detecting the temperature of heater HTR.

[0099] As shown in Figure 16, during heating control, the drive voltage V bst is also supplied to the gate of switch S5, and switch S5 is turned on. Also, during heating control, the drive voltage V bst passing through switch S3 is input to the positive power supply terminal of operational amplifier OP1 via resistor Rs. The resistance value of resistor Rs is negligibly small compared to the internal resistance value of operational amplifier OP1. Therefore, during heating control, the voltage input to the positive power supply terminal of operational amplifier OP1 is almost equal to the drive voltage V bst .

[0100] Note that the resistance value of resistor R4 is larger than the on-resistance value of switch S5. The operational amplifier OP1 operates during heating control, but switch S5 is turned on during heating control. When switch S5 is on, the output voltage of operational amplifier OP1 is divided by the voltage divider circuit of resistor R4 and switch S5 and input to terminal P9 of MCU1. Since the resistance value of resistor R4 is larger than the on-resistance value of switch S5, the voltage input to terminal P9 of MCU1 becomes sufficiently small. Thereby, it is possible to prevent a large voltage from being input from operational amplifier OP1 to MCU1.

[0101] <Heater temperature detection in heating mode: FIG. 17> As shown in FIG. 17, during temperature detection control, the drive voltage V bst is input to the positive power supply terminal of operational amplifier OP1 and also input to the voltage divider circuit Pb. The voltage divided by the voltage divider circuit Pb is input to terminal P18 of MCU1. Based on the voltage input to terminal P18, MCU1 obtains the reference voltage V temp applied to the series circuit of resistor Rs and heater HTR during temperature detection control.

[0102] Also, during temperature detection control, the drive voltage V bst (reference voltage V temp ) is supplied to the series circuit of resistor Rs and heater HTR. Then, the voltage V bst (reference voltage V temp ) divided by resistor Rs and heater HTR is input to the non-inverting input terminal of operational amplifier OP1. Since the resistance value of resistor Rs is sufficiently larger than the resistance value of heater HTR, the voltage V heat is a value sufficiently lower than the drive voltage V heat bst . During temperature detection control, this low voltage V heat is also supplied to the gate terminal of switch S5, so switch S5 is turned off. Operational amplifier OP1 amplifies and outputs the difference between the voltage input to the inverting input terminal and the voltage V heat input to the non-inverting input terminal.

[0103] ​ The output signal of the operational amplifier OP1 is input to terminal P9 of the MCU1. The MCU1 acquires the temperature of the heater HTR based on the signal input to terminal P9, the reference voltage V obtained based on the input voltage of terminal P18, temp the electrical resistance value of the known resistor Rs, and. The MCU1 performs heating control of the heater HTR (for example, control such that the temperature of the heater HTR reaches the target temperature) based on the acquired temperature of the heater HTR.

[0104] Note that the MCU1 can also acquire the temperature of the heater HTR even during the period when the switches S3 and S4 are each turned off (the period when the heater HTR is not energized). Specifically, the MCU1 acquires the temperature of the heater HTR based on the voltage input to terminal P13 (the output voltage of the voltage dividing circuit composed of the thermistor T3 and the resistor Rt3).

[0105] Also, the MCU1 can acquire the temperature of the case 110 at any timing. Specifically, the MCU1 acquires the temperature of the case 110 based on the voltage input to terminal P12 (the output voltage of the voltage dividing circuit composed of the thermistor T4 and the resistor Rt4).

[0106] <Charging mode: Figure 18> Figure 18 illustrates the case when a USB connection is made in the sleep mode. When a USB connection is made, the USB voltage V USB is input to the input terminal VIN of the LSW3 via the overvoltage protection IC11. The USB voltage V USB is also supplied to the voltage dividing circuit Pf connected to the input terminal VIN of the LSW3. Immediately after the USB connection is made, since the bipolar transistor S2 is on, the signal input to the control terminal ON of the LSW3 remains at a low level. The USB voltage V USB is also supplied to the voltage dividing circuit Pc connected to terminal P17 of the MCU1, and the voltage divided by this voltage dividing circuit Pc is input to terminal P17. The MCU1 detects that a USB connection has been made based on the voltage input to terminal P17.

[0107] When the MCU1 detects that the USB connection has been established, it turns off the bipolar transistor S2 connected to the terminal P19. When a low-level signal is input to the gate terminal of the bipolar transistor S2, the USB voltage V divided by the voltage divider circuit Pf is USB is input to the control terminal ON of LSW3. As a result, a high-level signal is input to the control terminal ON of LSW3, and LSW3 is turned on by the USB voltage V USB is output from the output terminal VOUT. The USB voltage V USB is input to the input terminal VBUS of the charging IC2. Also, the USB voltage V USB is supplied as it is to the LEDs L1 to L8 as the system power supply voltage Vcc4.

[0108] When the MCU1 detects that the USB connection has been established, it also outputs a low-level enable signal from the terminal P22 to the charging enable terminal CE(￣) of the charging IC2. This causes the charging IC2 to enable the charging function of the power supply BAT and increase the USB voltage V USB Charging of the power supply BAT starts.

[0109] If a USB connection is made in the active mode, the MCU1 detects that a USB connection has been made and turns off the bipolar transistor S2 connected to the terminal P19. In addition, the MCU1 outputs a low-level enable signal from the terminal P22 to the charging enable terminal CE(￣) of the charging IC2. In addition, the MCU1 turns off the OTG function of the charging IC2 through serial communication using the communication line LN. As a result, the system power supply voltage Vcc4 supplied to the LEDs L1 to L8 becomes the voltage (power supply voltage V BAT The USB voltage V output from the LSW3 USB The LEDs L1 to L8 do not operate unless the built-in transistors are turned on by the MCU 1. This prevents the unstable voltage that occurs during the transition period from on to off of the OTG function from being supplied to the LEDs L1 to L8.

[0110] In FIG. 18, the supply state of the system power supply voltage in the charging mode is the same as that in the sleep mode. However, it is preferable that the supply state of the system power supply voltage in the charging mode be the same as that in the active mode shown in FIG. 14. That is, in the charging mode, for temperature management described later, it is preferable that the system power supply voltage Vcc3 be supplied to the thermistors T2 to T4.

[0111] <Reset of MCU: FIG. 19> When the outer panel 115 is removed and the output of the hall IC 13 becomes low level, and when the on operation of the operation switch OPS is performed and the signal input to the terminal P4 of the MCU1 becomes low level, both the terminal SW1 and the terminal SW2 of the switch driver 7 become low level. As a result, the switch driver 7 outputs a low level signal from the reset input terminal RSTB. The low level signal output from the reset input terminal RSTB is input to the control terminal ON of the LSW4. Thereby, the LSW4 stops the output of the system power supply voltage Vcc2 from the output terminal VOUT. Since the system power supply voltage Vcc2 is no longer input to the power supply terminal VDD of the MCU1 when the output of the system power supply voltage Vcc2 is stopped, the MCU1 stops.

[0112] When the time during which the switch driver 7 outputs a low level signal from the reset input terminal RSTB reaches a predetermined time, or when the signal input to either the terminal SW1 or the terminal SW2 becomes high level, the switch driver 7 returns the signal output from the reset input terminal RSTB to high level. Thereby, the control terminal ON of the LSW4 becomes high level, and the state returns to the state where the system power supply voltage Vcc2 is supplied to each part.

[0113] Hereinafter, for ease of understanding, the thermistor T1 described above is also referred to as the power supply thermistor T1, the thermistor T2 described above is also referred to as the perf thermistor T2, the thermistor T3 described above is also referred to as the heater thermistor T3, and the thermistor T4 described above is also referred to as the case thermistor T4.

[0114] (Details of suction detection) FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for explaining the suction operation detection process by the MCU1 using the puffs thermistor T2. As shown in FIG. 20, inside the MCU1, an operational amplifier 1A, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 1B, a filter circuit 1C, a delay circuit 1D, a subtractor 1E, and a comparator 1F are provided.

[0115] The non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier 1A is connected to the terminal P21. A reference voltage V Ref is input to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier 1A. The reference voltage V Ref may be generated from the system power supply voltage Vcc2 input to the power supply terminal VDD of the MCU1. The puffs thermistor T2 is assumed to have NTC characteristics in the example of FIG. 20. A signal obtained by dividing the system power supply voltage Vcc3 by the puffs thermistor T2 and the resistor Rt2 is input to the terminal P21. Therefore, the signal input to the terminal P21 becomes larger as the temperature of the puffs thermistor T2 is higher. The operational amplifier 1A amplifies and outputs the voltage applied to the puffs thermistor T2. The ADC1B converts the output signal of the operational amplifier 1A into a digital value. The filter circuit 1C performs filter processing such as a high-pass filter, a low-pass filter, or a band-pass filter on the digital signal output from the ADC1B. The digital signal after the filter processing by the filter circuit 1C is input to the + side of the subtractor 1E. This digital signal is delayed by the delay circuit 1D and input to the - side of the subtractor 1E. Therefore, the subtractor 1E outputs a difference value between the digital signal corresponding to the temperature of the puffs thermistor T2 obtained at an arbitrary time t(n) and the digital signal corresponding to the temperature of the puffs thermistor T2 obtained at the time t(n-1) before the delay time of the time t(n). When the temperature of the puffs thermistor T2 decreases from the time t(n-1) to the time t(n), the output value of the subtractor 1E becomes a negative value and the output of the comparator 1F becomes a low level. When the temperature of the puffs thermistor T2 increases from the time t(n-1) to the time t(n), the output value of the subtractor 1E becomes a positive value and the output of the comparator 1F becomes a high level.

[0116] When shifting from the initial heating setting mode to the heating mode, the MCU1 starts preheating the heater HTR. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the puffer thermistor T2 is arranged near the heating unit 170. Therefore, when the temperature of the heater HTR rises due to this preheating, the temperature of the puffer thermistor T2 will also rise accordingly. In this state, when the user performs suction, the temperature of the puffer thermistor T2 will slightly decrease due to the gas flow inside the case 110. That is, when suction is performed during the preheating of the heater HTR, the output of the subtracter 1E becomes a negative value, and a low-level signal is output from the comparator 1F. The MCU1 determines that a suction operation has been performed when a low-level signal is output from the comparator 1F.

[0117] (Protection Control) In the suction device 100, the temperature of the power supply BAT (hereinafter referred to as the power supply temperature T BAT as described) can be obtained from the resistance value (output value) of the power supply thermistor T1, and the temperature of the heater HTR (hereinafter referred to as the heater temperature T HTR as described) can be obtained from the resistance value (output value) of the heater thermistor T3, and the temperature of the case 110 (hereinafter referred to as the case temperature T CASE as described) can be obtained from the resistance value (output value) of the case thermistor T4. And the suction device 100 is configured to execute protection control to prohibit the charging of the power supply BAT and the discharging from the power supply BAT to the heater HTR (hereinafter also referred to as charge and discharge) when at least any one of the power supply temperature T BAT , the heater temperature T HTR , and the case temperature T CASE is in a state far from the values in the recommended environment where the suction device 100 is used, so as to enhance safety. This protection control is performed by the MCU1 and the FF17.

[0118] The protection control for prohibiting charge and discharge refers to controlling electronic components so that charge and discharge become impossible. To make the discharge from the power supply BAT to the heater HTR impossible, a low-level signal is input to the enable terminal EN of the boost DC / DC converter 9 (or the potential of the enable terminal EN is made indefinite) to stop the boost operation, and a low-level signal is input to the gate terminal of the switch S6 (or the potential of the gate terminal is made indefinite) to cut off the connection between the negative electrode side heater connector Cn(-) and the ground. Note that it is also possible to make the discharge from the power supply BAT to the heater HTR impossible by performing only one of stopping the boost operation of the boost DC / DC converter 9 and cutting off the connection between the heater connector Cn(-) and the ground. To make the charging of the power supply BAT impossible, the charging operation of the charging IC2 may be stopped by inputting a high-level signal to the charging enable terminal CE(￣) of the charging IC2. Hereinafter, an example of prohibiting charge and discharge as protection control will be described. However, from the viewpoint of improving safety, the protection control may be control that prohibits only charging or control that prohibits only discharge.

[0119] When the protection control is performed, it is preferable that the operation mode is further restricted. Hereinafter, it is assumed that when the protection control is performed, the operation mode is restricted. However, since the MCU1 manages the operation mode, the operation mode does not have to be restricted when the MCU1 is not operating for some reason.

[0120] The protection control performed by the suction device 100 includes a manual reset protection control that can be terminated by resetting the MCU1 by a user operation, an automatic reset protection control that does not require resetting of the MCU1 and can be automatically terminated by improving the temperature environment, and a non-return protection control that cannot be terminated. The operation modes of the suction device 100 include an error mode and a permanent error mode in addition to those described with reference to FIG. 9. In this specification, when it is described as "all operation modes of the suction device", it means all operation modes excluding these error mode and permanent error mode (all operation modes shown in FIG. 9).

[0121] When manual return protection control or automatic return protection control is performed, the suction device 100 shifts to the error mode, and it becomes impossible to shift to other operation modes. In the error mode, it is assumed that the state of the power supply voltage (the supply state of the system power supply voltage) in the immediately preceding operation mode is maintained. That is, in the error mode, functions that can be executed in the immediately preceding operation mode (for example, acquisition of temperature information, etc.) excluding charging and discharging become executable. When the MCU1 is reset in the error mode, the manual return protection control ends. When the temperature environment is improved in the error mode, the automatic return protection control ends. When the manual return protection control or the automatic return protection control ends, the restriction of the operation mode is released, and the operation mode shifts to the sleep mode. Thereafter, it becomes possible to change the operation mode by user operation or the like.

[0122] When non-return protection control is performed, the suction device 100 shifts to the permanent error mode. In the permanent error mode, all functions of the suction device 100 become unusable, and the suction device 100 needs to be repaired or discarded.

[0123] The MCU1 outputs a low-level signal from the terminal P14 to stop the boosting operation of the boost DC / DC converter 9 and cut off the connection between the negative electrode side heater connector Cn(-) and the ground, and outputs a high-level signal from the terminal P22 to stop the charging operation of the charging IC2, thereby performing protection control. When only charging is prohibited, it is not necessary to output a low-level signal from the terminal P14. When only discharging is prohibited, it is not necessary to output a high-level signal from the terminal P22.

[0124] FF17 outputs a low-level signal from the Q terminal to stop the boosting operation of the boost DC / DC converter 9, cut off the connection between the negative electrode side heater connector Cn(-) and the ground, and stop the charging operation of the charging IC2 by turning on the bipolar transistor S1, thereby performing protection control without passing through the MCU1.

[0125] When the signal input to the CLR(￣) terminal of FF17 switches from high level to low level, FF17 outputs a low-level signal from the Q terminal. This low-level signal is also input to the P10 terminal of MCU1. While a low-level signal is input to terminal P10, MCU1 does not switch the signal input to the CLK terminal (not shown) of FF17 from low level to high level. In other words, while a low-level signal is input to terminal P10, the CLK signal of FF17 does not rise. Also, when MCU1 is, for example, in a frozen state, the signal input to the CLK terminal (not shown) of FF17 remains at low level. Therefore, regardless of whether MCU1 is in a normal operating state or a frozen state, after a low-level signal is output from the Q terminal of FF17, even if the signal input to the CLR(￣) terminal of FF17 switches from low level to high level, a low-level signal continues to be output from the Q terminal of FF17. When MCU1 is reset as described with reference to FIG. 19, FF17 restarts (the system power supply voltage Vcc2 is re-applied). Since the reset MCU1 operates in sleep mode, the system power supply voltage Vcc3 is not applied to the heater thermistor T3 and the case thermistor T4, and both the output of the operational amplifier OP2 and the output of the operational amplifier OP3 become high level. As a result, high-level signals are input to the D terminal and the CLR(￣) terminal of FF17. At this timing, since a low-level signal is not input to terminal P10 due to the restart of FF17, MCU1 raises the CLK signal of FF17. Thereby, it is possible to return the output of the Q terminal of FF17 to high level. When the output of the Q terminal of FF17 returns to high level, the protection control by FF17 ends.

[0126] As described above, the signal output from the Q terminal of FF17 is also input to the P10 terminal of MCU1. Therefore, MCU1 can detect that FF17 has performed protection control based on the low-level signal input to terminal P10. When MCU1 detects that FF17 has performed protection control, it is preferable to cause the notification unit 180 to issue a reset request notification of MCU1 and shift to the error mode.

[0127] In the aspirator 100, the following are set as threshold values for temperature determination (hereinafter referred to as temperature threshold values). The numerical values and magnitude relationships within the parentheses for each of these temperature threshold values show preferred examples and are not limited thereto. Hereinafter, it will be described assuming that each temperature threshold value is the value within the parentheses. Temperature threshold THH0 (340 °C) Temperature threshold THH1 (85 °C) Temperature threshold THH2 (65 °C) Temperature threshold THH3 (60 °C) Temperature threshold THH4 (55 °C) Temperature threshold THH5 (51 °C) Temperature threshold THH6 (48 °C) Temperature threshold THH7 (47 °C) Temperature threshold THH8 (45 °C) Temperature threshold THL1 (0 °C) Temperature threshold THL2 (-5 °C)

[0128] Next, the circuit configuration necessary for the explanation of the protection control will be described. FIG. 21 is a main circuit diagram showing the main electronic components related to the thermistors T1 to T4 among the electric circuits shown in FIG. 10 extracted. FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the portion of the range AR surrounded by the broken line in FIG. 21 extracted. Note that in FIG. 22, an LSW5 that generates the system power supply voltage Vcc3 is shown as an electronic component that was not shown in FIG. 21.

[0129] FIG. 21 shows, as electronic components and nodes whose illustration was omitted in FIG. 10, capacitor Cu, capacitor Ct3, resistor Rh, capacitor Ct4, capacitor Ch, capacitor Ct2, node Nu, node Nt2, node Nt3, node Nt4, and node Nb. Capacitor Cu, capacitor Ct3, resistor Rh, capacitor Ct4, capacitor Ch, and capacitor Ct2 are each provided for the purpose of reducing noise (smoothing the signal). Further, the notification terminal 12a of the remaining amount meter IC12, which was a single terminal in FIG. 10, is shown divided into a first notification terminal 12aa and a second notification terminal 12ab in FIG. 21.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 22, node Nu connects the output terminal VOUT of LSW5 and the positive electrode side of the connector Cn(t2) to which the puffer thermistor T2 is connected. One end of capacitor Cu is connected to the connection line between node Nu and the output terminal VOUT of LSW5. The other end of capacitor Cu is connected to ground. The capacitance of capacitor Cu is 1 μF as an example. To node Nu, the positive electrode side of the connector Cn(t4) to which the case thermistor T4 is connected and the positive electrode side of the connector Cn(t3) to which the heater thermistor T3 is connected are respectively connected.

[0131] Node Nt2 connects the negative electrode side of the connector Cn(t2) and one end of the resistor Rt2. The other end of the resistor Rt2 is connected to ground. One end of capacitor Ct2 is connected to the connection line between node Nt2 and the negative electrode side of the connector Cn(t2). The other end of capacitor Ct2 is connected to ground. The capacitance of capacitor Ct2 is 0.01 μF as an example. Node Nt2 is connected to the terminal P21 of MCU1.

[0132] Node Nt4 connects the negative electrode side of connector Cn(t4) and one end of resistor Rt4. The other end of resistor Rt4 is connected to ground. One end of capacitor Ct4 is connected to the connection line between node Nt4 and the negative electrode side of connector Cn(t4). The other end of capacitor Ct4 is connected to ground. The capacitance of capacitor Ct4 is 0.1 μF as an example. Node Nt4 is connected to terminal P12 of MCU1. The inverting input terminal of operational amplifier OP3 is connected to the connection line between node Nt4 and terminal P12 of MCU1.

[0133] Node Nt3 connects the negative electrode side of connector Cn(t3) and one end of resistor Rt3. The other end of resistor Rt3 is connected to ground. One end of capacitor Ct3 is connected to the connection line between node Nt3 and the negative electrode side of connector Cn(t3). The other end of capacitor Ct3 is connected to ground. The capacitance of capacitor Ct3 is 0.1 μF as an example. One end of resistor Rh is connected to node Nt3. The other end of resistor Rh is connected to terminal P13 of MCU1. One end of capacitor Ch is connected to the connection line between the other end of resistor Rh and terminal P13 of MCU1. The other end of capacitor Ch is connected to ground. The capacitance of capacitor Ch is 0.01 μF as an example. Resistor Rh and capacitor Ch constitute filter circuit RC1 by a primary RC series circuit.

[0134] Node Nb connects one end of resistor Rh and node Nt3. The inverting input terminal of operational amplifier OP2 is connected to node Nb.

[0135] (Preferred configuration of capacitors) It is desirable that the capacitances of capacitor Cu, capacitor Ct3, capacitor Ct4, capacitor Ch, and capacitor Ct2 satisfy the following relationships (A) to (C).

[0136] (A) The capacitance of capacitor Cu is larger than the capacitances of capacitor Ct3, capacitor Ct4, and capacitor Ct2 respectively As shown in FIG. 22, the capacitor Cu is provided on the upstream side (higher potential side) of three voltage dividing circuits, namely, the voltage dividing circuit of the puffer thermistor T2 and the resistor Rt2, the voltage dividing circuit of the case thermistor T4 and the resistor Rt4, and the voltage dividing circuit of the heater thermistor T3 and the resistor Rt3. The presence of the large-capacity capacitor Cu at this position makes it difficult for unstable power supplies to be supplied to each voltage dividing circuit, thus stabilizing the output signals of the thermistors T2 to T4 and enabling the aspirator 100 to operate stably. Also, since the large-capacity capacitor Cu exists on the upstream side, the capacitances of the capacitors Ct2, Ct3, and Ct4 provided on the downstream side can be reduced. As a result, the area of the circuit board can be effectively utilized, and the cost and size of the aspirator 100 can be reduced. In addition, by providing the capacitor Cu, an effect of smoothing the transient voltage that may occur when the LSW5, which is intermittently turned on according to the opening and closing of the slider 119 or the reset of the MCU1, is turned on and off can also be obtained.

[0137] (B) The capacitance of the capacitor Ct2 is smaller than the capacitances of the capacitors Ct3 and Ct4 respectively The MCU1 executes a filtering process only on the signal input to the terminal P21 among the signals input to the terminals P21, P12, and P13 respectively, as described with reference to FIG. 20. Also, the MCU1 detects the suction operation based on the change in the signal input to the terminal P21. Therefore, it is not preferable for the signal input to the terminal P21 to be greatly smoothed before the input. By reducing the capacitance of the capacitor Ct2, while moderately removing noise from the output of the puffer thermistor T2, it becomes difficult to affect the result of the filtering process. Thereby, suction detection can be performed with high accuracy. On the other hand, for the capacitors Ct3 and Ct4, by making their capacitances larger, a sufficiently smoothed signal can be input to the operational amplifiers OP2 and OP3. As a result, the possibility of malfunction of the operational amplifiers OP2 and OP3 is reduced, and the MCU1 can accurately acquire the output values of the heater thermistor T3 and the case thermistor T4.

[0138] (C) The capacitance of capacitor Ch is smaller than that of capacitor Ct3. By providing the RC filter circuit RC1, an effect of removing spike noise that could not be completely smoothed by capacitor Ct3 can be obtained. That is, the RC filter circuit RC1 serves an auxiliary role to capacitor Ct3. By using a capacitor with a smaller capacitance than capacitor Ct3 for such an auxiliary RC filter circuit RC1, the delay of the output signal of the heater thermistor T3 due to the RC filter circuit RC1 can be suppressed. As a result, the MCU1 can acquire the heater temperature T HTR at high speed and with low noise. Note that the output signal of the heater thermistor T3 is also input to the operational amplifier OP2. However, the input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 is connected between the node Nt3 and the RC filter circuit RC1. Therefore, it is prevented that the output signal of the heater thermistor T3 input to the operational amplifier OP2 is delayed by the RC filter circuit RC1.

[0139] As shown in FIG. 21, the first notification terminal 12aa of the remaining amount meter IC12 is connected to the cathode of the diode D2. The second notification terminal 12ab of the remaining amount meter IC12 is connected to the terminal P6 of the MCU1.

[0140] The remaining amount meter IC12 acquires the power supply temperature T BAT at regular timings (for example, every 1 second) and holds it in the built-in register. The remaining amount meter IC12 can communicate with the MCU1 via the communication line LN in an operation mode other than the sleep mode in which the MCU1 is trying to save power. When the remaining amount meter IC12 receives a transmission request for the power supply temperature T BAT from the MCU1 via the communication line LN, it transmits the power supply temperature T BAT to the MCU1 in response to the transmission request.

[0141] In the sleep mode, the remaining amount meter IC12 is the power supply temperature T BATWhen the high-temperature condition (a condition where a state of a temperature threshold THH1 (85°C) or higher continues for a plurality of times) is satisfied (when the output value of the power supply thermistor T1 is abnormal), a high-temperature notification signal SIG2a is output from the second notification terminal 12ab. In the sleep mode, the MCU1 cannot communicate with the remaining amount meter IC12 via the communication line LN. Therefore, the high-temperature notification signal SIG2a can also be said to be an interrupt signal for the MCU1.

[0142] The remaining amount meter IC12 measures the power supply temperature T in all operation modes. BAT When the low-temperature condition (a condition where the temperature becomes equal to or lower than a temperature threshold THL2 (-5°C)) is satisfied (when the output value of the power supply thermistor T1 is abnormal), a low-temperature notification signal SIG2b is output from the second notification terminal 12ab. The remaining amount meter IC12 measures the power supply temperature T in all operation modes. BAT When the low-temperature release condition (a condition where the temperature becomes equal to or higher than a temperature threshold THL1 (0°C)) is satisfied (when the output value of the power supply thermistor T1 is normal), a low-temperature release notification signal SIG2c is output from the second notification terminal 12ab. In FIG. 21, the high-temperature notification signal SIG2a, the low-temperature notification signal SIG2b, and the low-temperature release notification signal SIG2c are collectively referred to as a notification signal SIG2. The low-temperature notification signal SIG2b and the low-temperature release notification signal SIG2c are output without waiting for a request from the MCU1 via the communication line LN. The low-temperature notification signal SIG2b and the low-temperature release notification signal SIG2c can also be said to be interrupt signals for the MCU1.

[0143] The MCU1 operating in the sleep mode reduces power consumption by limiting its functions to the detection of the operation of the operation switch OPS, the detection of the opening of the slider 119, the detection of the detachment of the outer panel 115, the detection of USB connection, the detection of notifications from the remaining amount meter IC12, and the execution of protection control based on notifications from the remaining amount meter IC12.

[0144] While the MCU1 is operating in the sleep mode, it is activated (all functions are enabled) when the slider 119 is opened, and the operation mode of the suction device 100 is shifted to the active mode as described above. In addition, in the sleep mode, the MCU1 also starts up when it receives the high-temperature notification signal SIG2a from the remaining amount meter IC12 at the terminal P6 (when the output value of the power thermistor T1 is abnormal), and shifts the operation mode of the suction device 100 to the active mode.

[0145] Also, in the sleep mode, when the MCU1 receives the low-temperature notification signal SIG2b from the remaining amount meter IC12 at the terminal P6 (when the output value of the power thermistor T1 is abnormal), it executes the automatic return protection control and shifts the operation mode of the suction device 100 to the error mode. After executing this automatic return protection control, when the MCU1 receives the low-temperature release notification signal SIG2c at the terminal P6 (when the output value of the power thermistor T1 is normal), it ends the automatic return protection control and returns to the sleep mode.

[0146] When the remaining amount meter IC12 detects that the power temperature T BAT meets the high-temperature condition (the condition that the temperature threshold THH3 (60 °C) or higher is reached) (when the output value of the power thermistor T1 is abnormal), it outputs a low-level high-temperature notification signal SIG1 from the first notification terminal 12aa. When the low-level high-temperature notification signal SIG1 is output from the first notification terminal 12aa, the CLR (-) terminal of the FF17 becomes low level. That is, the output of the Q terminal of the FF17 becomes low level, and the manual return protection control is executed. The protection control based on the high-temperature notification signal SIG1 can be executed in all operation modes.

[0147] The voltage dividing circuit Pd connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP2 has a resistance value determined such that when the temperature of the heater thermistor T3 becomes equal to or higher than the temperature threshold THH0 (340 °C) (when the output value of the heater thermistor T3 is abnormal), the output of the operational amplifier OP2 becomes low level. The temperature of the heater thermistor T3 becomes high close to the temperature threshold THH0 (340 °C) in the heating mode. Therefore, in the heating mode, when a low-level signal is output from the operational amplifier OP2, the CLR(￣) terminal of the FF17 becomes low level. That is, the output of the Q terminal of the FF17 becomes low level, and the manual reset protection control is executed. The protection control based on the output of the operational amplifier OP2 can be executed in the operation mode in which power is supplied to the heater thermistor T3 (in other words, the operation mode other than the sleep mode).

[0148] The voltage dividing circuit Pe connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP3 has a resistance value determined such that when the temperature of the case thermistor T4 becomes equal to or higher than the temperature threshold THH3 (60 °C) (when the output value of the case thermistor T4 is abnormal), the output of the operational amplifier OP3 becomes low level. When a low-level signal is output from the operational amplifier OP3, the CLR(￣) terminal of the FF17 becomes low level. That is, the output of the Q terminal of the FF17 becomes low level, and the manual reset protection control is executed. The protection control based on the output of the operational amplifier OP3 can be executed in the operation mode in which power is supplied to the case thermistor T4 (in other words, the operation mode other than the sleep mode).

[0149] In this way, since the FF17 can execute the protection control without going through the MCU1, even when the MCU1 is attempting to save power in the sleep mode or when the MCU1 is not operating normally for some reason, the power supply temperature T BAT , the heater temperature T HTR , and the case temperature T CASE Based on any of these temperatures, charging and discharging can be prohibited. Thereby, the safety of the aspirator 100 can be enhanced.

[0150] In the sleep mode, the thermistors T2 to T4 are not supplied with the power supply voltage (system power supply voltage Vcc3). Therefore, FF17 cannot prohibit charging and discharging based on either the heater temperature T HTR or the case temperature T CASE . On the other hand, the power supply thermistor T1 is supplied with the power supply voltage in all operation modes. Therefore, in all operation modes, it is possible to execute the protection control by FF17.

[0151] The MCU1 mainly performs protection control in operation modes other than the sleep mode. Hereinafter, it will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 23. FIG. 23 is a diagram summarizing specific examples of protection control patterns performed by the suction device 100. For understanding, the relationship between the temperature in the figure and the temperature threshold is also shown in FIG. 23.

[0152] (Protection control pattern) As shown in FIG. 23, there are patterns PT1 to PT4 for protection control performed based only on the power supply temperature T BAT . There is a pattern PT5 for protection control performed based only on the heater temperature T HTR . There are patterns PT6 and PT7 for protection control performed based only on the case temperature T CASE . There is a pattern PT8 for protection control performed based on the power supply temperature T BAT and the case temperature T CASE . Hereinafter, each pattern will be described.

[0153] (Pattern PT1) The MCU1 executes the protection control, and the type of the protection control is auto - reset protection control. The MCU1 can execute the auto - reset protection control during the transition period from the sleep mode to the active mode (the period until the startup process for enabling all functions is completed) and in the heating initial setting mode respectively. In each of the above - mentioned transition period and heating initial setting mode, the MCU1 transmits the power supply temperature T BATPeriodically issue an acquisition request. In response to this acquisition request, the MCU1 receives the power supply temperature T transmitted from the remaining quantity meter IC12 BAT When the temperature becomes equal to or higher than the high-temperature side temperature threshold THH5 (51 °C), it is determined that the output value of the power supply thermistor T1 is abnormal, and automatic reset protection control is executed. After executing the automatic reset protection control, the MCU1 receives the power supply temperature T transmitted from the remaining quantity meter IC12 BAT When the temperature becomes equal to or lower than the temperature threshold THH8 (45 °C) lower than the temperature threshold THH5, it is determined that the output value of the power supply thermistor T1 is normal, the automatic reset protection control is terminated, and the system shifts to the sleep mode.

[0154] (Pattern PT2) The MCU1 executes the protection control, and the type of the protection control is manual reset protection control. The MCU1 can execute the manual reset protection control in each of the heating mode and the charging mode. In each of the heating mode and the charging mode, the MCU1 periodically issues an acquisition request for the power supply temperature T to the remaining quantity meter IC12 via the communication line LN BAT During operation in the heating mode, when the power supply temperature T received by the MCU1 from the remaining quantity meter IC12 BAT becomes equal to or higher than the high-temperature side temperature threshold THH4 (55 °C), it is determined that the output value of the power supply thermistor T1 is abnormal, and manual reset protection control is performed. During operation in the charging mode, when the power supply temperature T received by the MCU1 from the remaining quantity meter IC12 BAT becomes equal to or higher than the temperature threshold THH4 (55 °C) or when the power supply temperature T received by the MCU1 from the remaining quantity meter IC12 BAT becomes lower than the low-temperature side temperature threshold THL1 (0 °C), it is determined that the output value of the power supply thermistor T1 is abnormal, and manual reset protection control is performed.

[0155] (Pattern PT3) The FF17 executes the protection control, and the type of the protection control is manual reset protection control. The FF17 can execute the manual reset protection control in all operation modes. In all operation modes, the FF17 receives the notification signal SIG1 (power supply temperature T) from the remaining quantity meter IC12 BATWhen it receives a signal indicating that the temperature has reached or exceeded the temperature threshold THH3 (60°C) at the CLR terminal (￣) (when the output value of the power thermistor T1 is abnormal), it performs manual reset protection control.

[0156] (Pattern PT4) The MCU1 executes the protection control, and the type of protection control is automatic reset protection control. The MCU1 can execute the automatic reset protection control in all operating modes. When the MCU1 receives the low-temperature notification signal SIG2b from the remaining amount meter IC12 at the terminal P6, it determines that the output value of the power thermistor T1 is abnormal and executes the automatic protection control. After executing this automatic reset protection control, when the MCU1 receives the low-temperature release notification signal SIG2c at the terminal P6, it determines that the output value of the power thermistor T1 is normal and ends the automatic protection control.

[0157] (Pattern PT5) The FF17 executes the protection control, and the type of protection control is manual reset protection control. The FF17 can execute the manual reset protection control in operating modes other than the sleep mode. When the FF17 receives a low-level signal from the operational amplifier OP2 at the CLR (￣) terminal (when the output value of the heater thermistor T3 is abnormal), it performs the manual reset protection control. In operating modes other than the heating mode, the temperature of the heater thermistor T3 is extremely unlikely to approach the temperature threshold THH0 (340°C). Therefore, in Fig. 23, the operating mode in which this manual reset protection control is performed is shown as only the heating mode.

[0158] (Pattern PT6) The MCU1 executes the protection control, and the type of protection control is automatic reset protection control. The MCU1 can execute the automatic reset protection control in the active mode and the heating initial setting mode. During operation in these operating modes, the MCU1 determines the case temperature T based on the signal input to the terminal P12 (a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the case thermistor T4). CASEWhen the temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold THH6 (48°C), it is determined that the output value of the case thermistor T4 is abnormal, and automatic reset protection control is executed. After the execution of the automatic reset protection control, the MCU1 determines the case temperature T based on the signal input to the terminal P12 CASE When the temperature becomes equal to or lower than the temperature threshold THH7 (47°C) which is lower than the temperature threshold THH6, it is determined that the output value of the case thermistor T4 is normal, and the automatic reset protection control is terminated. Note that in the pattern PT6, the protection control cannot be executed in the charging mode and the heating mode, but the protection control may be made executable in either one of them.

[0159] (Pattern PT7) FF17 executes the protection control, and the type of the protection control is manual reset protection control. FF17 can execute the manual reset protection control in operation modes other than the sleep mode. In these operation modes, when FF17 receives a low-level signal (a signal indicating that the case temperature T CASE is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold THH3 (60°C)) from the operational amplifier OP3 at the CLR(￣) terminal (when the output of the case thermistor T4 is abnormal), it performs the manual reset protection control.

[0160] (Pattern PT8) The MCU1 executes the protection control, and the type of the protection control is non-return protection control. The non-return protection control can be executed when the high-temperature notification signal SIG2a is output from the remaining amount meter IC12 in the sleep mode. When the MCU1 operating in the sleep mode receives the high-temperature notification signal SIG2a, it shifts to the active mode and executes a primary check to determine whether the output values of the power thermistor T1 and the case thermistor T4 are abnormal. Specifically, the MCU1 determines the power temperature T transmitted from the remaining amount meter IC12 via the communication line LN BAT is equal to or higher than the high-temperature side temperature threshold THH1 (85°C), and the case temperature T based on the signal input to the terminal P12 (a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the case thermistor T4) CASEWhen the temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold THH2 (65°C), it is determined that the output values of the power supply thermistor T1 and the case thermistor T4 are abnormal, and non-return protection control is executed.

[0161] Note that the protection control for pattern PT8 is non-return protection control, but it may be replaced with manual return protection control. The situation where the output values of the power supply thermistor T1 and the case thermistor T4 are abnormal is a situation where it is estimated that an abnormality has strongly occurred in the aspirator 100. In such a situation, by preventing the protection control from automatically ending by non-return protection control or manual return protection control, the safety of the aspirator 100 can be improved.

[0162] FIG. 24 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operations of the remaining amount meter IC12 and the MCU1 when a high-temperature notification signal SIG2a is output from the remaining amount meter IC12 in the sleep mode state.

[0163] The remaining amount meter IC12 acquires the power supply temperature T BAT at, for example, 1-second intervals and stores it in the built-in register (step S1). In parallel with the process of step S1, the remaining amount meter IC12 performs an abnormality determination of the power supply temperature T BAT at, for example, 1-minute intervals. Specifically, the remaining amount meter IC12 determines whether 1 minute has elapsed since the last abnormality determination (step S2). If the determination in step S2 is yes, the remaining amount meter IC12 determines whether the latest power supply temperature T BAT stored in the built-in register is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold THH1 (85°C) (step S3). If the determination in step S3 is no, the remaining amount meter IC12 resets the numerical value n of the built-in counter to the initial value 0 (step S4) and returns the process to step S2.

[0164] If the determination in step S3 is yes, the remaining amount meter IC12 increments the value n of the built-in counter by 1 (step S5). After that, if the value n is less than 2 (step S6: no), the remaining amount meter IC12 returns the process to step S2, and if the value n is 2 or more (step S6: yes), it transmits a high temperature notification signal SIG2a to the MCU1 (step S7). Note that the determination threshold value (=2) in step S6 is just an example, and any natural number of 1 or more may be used.

[0165] When the MCU1 operating in the sleep mode receives the high temperature notification signal SIG2a transmitted in step S7 (step S11), it resets the value m of the built-in counter to the initial value 0 (step S12) and changes the operation mode to the active mode (step S13). After that, the MCU1 starts the abnormality determination of the power supply temperature T BAT and the case temperature T CASE of.

[0166] Specifically, when 1 second has elapsed (step S14: yes), the MCU1 requests the remaining amount meter IC12 to transmit the power supply temperature T BAT via the communication line LN (step S15). When the remaining amount meter IC12 receives this request (step S8), it acquires the power supply temperature T BAT and transmits it to the MCU1 via the communication line LN (step S9). The MCU1 receives and acquires the power supply temperature T BAT transmitted from the remaining amount meter IC12 in step S9 (step S16).

[0167] The MCU1 performs the process of step S17 in parallel with the processes of steps S15 and S16. In step S17, the MCU1 acquires the case temperature T CASE based on the signal input to the terminal P12. After steps S16 and S17, the MCU1 determines whether the power supply temperature T BAT acquired in step S16 is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold value THH1 (85 ° C) and whether the case temperature T CASE acquired in step S17 is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold value THH2 (65 ° C) (step S18).

[0168] If the determination in step S18 is no, the MCU1 returns the process to step S14. Alternatively, if the determination in step S18 is no, the MCU1 may end the process. If the determination in step S18 is yes, the MCU1 increments the numerical value m by one (step S19). After that, the MCU1 determines whether the numerical value m is 5 or more (step S20). If the determination in step S20 is no, the MCU1 returns the process to step S14. If the determination in step S20 is yes, the MCU1 performs protection control to prohibit charging and discharging by outputting a low-level signal from the terminal P14 and a high-level signal from the terminal P22 (step S21). After step S21, the MCU1 transitions the operation mode to the permanent error mode (step S22). Note that the determination threshold value (=5) in step S20 is merely an example, and any natural number equal to or greater than 1 may be used.

[0169] 23, in the inhaler 100, the protective control is executed in a plurality of patterns in which the subject of the protective control is different, the type of the protective control is different, the type of the signal used for determining whether or not to execute the protective control is different, and the executable operation mode is different. In this way, the protective control can be executed appropriately according to the temperature measurement target and the situation, so that the safety of the inhaler 100 can be improved.

[0170] In the embodiment described above, the protection control of pattern PT8 is executed in response to the high temperature notification signal SIG2a output from fuel gauge IC 12. Alternatively to this embodiment, the protection control of pattern PT8 may be executed without being triggered by the high temperature notification signal SIG2a. In other words, after a normal transition from the sleep mode to another mode occurs when an external power source is connected to receptacle RCP (USB connection) or slider 119 is opened, MCU1 detects the power supply temperature T BAT becomes equal to or higher than the high temperature threshold THH1 (85°C) and the case temperature T CASEWhen the temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold THH2 (65 °C), non-return protection control may be executed. The protection control for such a pattern PT8 is realized by omitting steps S2 to S7 and steps S11 to S13 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 24.

[0171] (Preferred arrangement of the case thermistor T4) FIGS. 25 and 26 are cross-sectional views of the suction device 100 shown in FIG. 1 taken along a cross-section passing through the case thermistor T4. FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along a cross-section perpendicular to the front-rear direction. FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along a cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0172] A heating unit 170 including a heater HTR, a power supply BAT, and a case thermistor T4 are fixed to a chassis 150 inside the case 110. As shown in FIG. 26, the heating unit 170 and the power supply BAT are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, and the case thermistor T4 is fixed to the chassis 150 so as to be positioned between the heating unit 170 and the power supply BAT in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the chassis 150 includes a portion Pb positioned between the power supply BAT and the case thermistor T4, and a portion Pa positioned between the heating unit 170 and the case thermistor T4.

[0173] In this way, the position of the case thermistor T4 is fixed by the chassis 150 used for fixing other electronic components. Therefore, while avoiding an increase in the manufacturing cost of the suction device 100, the case thermistor T4 can accurately acquire the temperature of the case 110. Further, as shown in FIG. 26, since the case thermistor T4 is not positioned toward the end in the front-rear direction, it becomes difficult for the heat of the user's hand when the user grips the case 110 to affect the case thermistor T4. Further, due to the presence of the portion Pa and the portion Pb, it becomes difficult for the heat generated by the power supply BAT or the heater HTR to be transmitted to the case thermistor T4. Therefore, the environment in which the suction device 100 is placed can be grasped more accurately from the output value of the case thermistor T4.

[0174] Note that, even if one of the parts Pa and Pb of the chassis 150 is omitted, the presence of the other of the parts Pa and Pb can achieve the effect of making it difficult for the heat generated by the power supply BAT or the heater HTR to be transmitted to the case thermistor T4.

[0175] As described above, various embodiments have been described with reference to the drawings. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modification examples or correction examples within the scope described in the claims, and it is naturally understood that they also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0176] At least the following matters are described in this specification. In the parentheses, the corresponding components, etc. in the above-described embodiments are shown, but it is not limited thereto.

[0177] (1) A power supply unit (suction device 100) of an aerosol generating device, A power supply (power supply BAT), A heater connector (heater connector Cn) to which a heater (heater HTR) that consumes the power supplied from the above power supply and heats an aerosol source is connected, A first sensor (heater thermistor T3 or power supply thermistor T1) disposed in the vicinity of the above heater or the above power supply and outputting a value related to the temperature of the above heater or a value related to the temperature of the above power supply, A second sensor (case thermistor T4) provided at a position separated from the above first sensor and outputting a value related to the temperature of the above position, When at least one of the output value of the above first sensor and the output value of the above second sensor is abnormal, charging of the above power supply and discharging from the above power supply to the above heater are prohibited, at least temporarily, A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device.

[0178] According to (1), even when one of the first sensor and the second sensor fails to detect an abnormality for some reason, if the other is abnormal, at least one of the charging of the power supply and the discharging of the power supply to the heater can be stopped, so that the safety of the aerosol generating device can be improved.

[0179] (2) A power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to (1), comprising an MCU (MCU1) configured to control the supply of power from the power supply to the heater, when the output value of the first sensor is abnormal, without passing through the MCU, execute a first protection control (protection control of pattern PT3 or pattern PT5 in FIG. 23) to prohibit one or both of the charging and the discharging, when the output value of the second sensor is abnormal, without passing through the MCU, execute a second protection control (protection control of pattern PT7 in FIG. 23) to prohibit one or both of the charging and the discharging. A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device.

[0180] According to (2), even when an abnormality such as a freeze has occurred in the MCU, protection control using each of the first sensor and the second sensor can be executed. Therefore, even when the MCU is not operating normally, the safety of the aerosol generating device can be improved.

[0181] (3) A power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to (2), to end the first protection control, restart of the MCU is required, to end the second protection control, restart of the MCU is required, A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device.

[0182] When the protection control that prohibits at least one of charging the power supply and discharging the power supply to the heater without going through the MCU is executed, there is no guarantee that the MCU is operating normally. Therefore, as in (3), to end this protection control, it is necessary to restart the MCU, so that the MCU can operate normally and normalize the control of the aerosol generating device.

[0183] (4) The power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to (2) or (3), It can operate in multiple modes, In a mode where one of the first protection control (protection control of pattern PT3 in FIG. 23) and the second protection control (protection control of pattern PT7 in FIG. 23) among the above multiple modes is not executable, the other of the first protection control and the second protection control is executable. The power supply unit of the aerosol generating device.

[0184] In a mode where only one of the two protection controls is executable, the power consumption can be reduced compared to the case where both are made executable. Therefore, according to (4), power saving of the aerosol generating device can be achieved while ensuring safety.

[0185] (5) The power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to (4), It includes a case (case 110) that constitutes the surface of the power supply unit, The first sensor (power supply thermistor T1) is arranged near the power supply and outputs a value related to the temperature of the power supply, The second sensor (case thermistor T4) is arranged near the case and outputs a value related to the temperature of the case, In a mode (sleep mode) where the second protection control (protection control of pattern PT7 in FIG. 23) among the above multiple modes is not executable, the first protection control (protection control of pattern PT3 in FIG. 23) is executable. The power supply unit of the aerosol generating device.

[0186] The power supply is a component with a complex structure and is an important part compared to the case. According to (5), in a mode where the second protection control cannot be executed, the first protection control based on the temperature of this power supply becomes executable. Therefore, while ensuring safety more appropriately, power saving of the aerosol generating device can be achieved by reducing the modes in which both the first protection control and the second protection control can be executed.

[0187] (6) The power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to (5), The above first protection control (the protection control of pattern PT3 in FIG. 23) is executable in all of the above modes, The power supply unit of the aerosol generating device.

[0188] (6) According to this, since the first protection control based on the temperature of the power supply becomes executable in all modes, while ensuring safety more appropriately, power saving of the aerosol generating device can be achieved.

[0189] (7) The power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to any one of (1) to (6), Comprising an MCU (MCU1) configured to control the supply of power from the above power supply to the above heater, The above MCU, When the output value of the above first sensor (power supply thermistor T1) is abnormal, execute a third protection control (the protection controls of patterns PT1, PT2, and PT4 in FIG. 23) that prohibits one or both of the above charging and discharging, When the output value of the above second sensor (case thermistor T4) is abnormal, configured to execute a fourth protection control (the protection control of pattern PT6 in FIG. 23) that prohibits one or both of the above charging and discharging, The power supply unit of the aerosol generating device.

[0190] (7) According to this, among the ICs built into the aerosol generating device, the MCU that operates most accurately executes the third protection control and the fourth protection control, so these protection controls can be executed at more appropriate timings.

[0191] (8) The power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to (7), wherein the MCU, when the output value of the first sensor becomes normal, ends the third protection control (the protection control of pattern PT1 and pattern PT4 in FIG. 23), and is configured to end the fourth protection control (the protection control of pattern PT6 in FIG. 23) when the output value of the second sensor becomes normal. The power supply unit of the aerosol generating device.

[0192] According to (8), even when the protection control is performed by the MCU, if it returns to the normal state, the protection control is automatically terminated without waiting for the user's operation. Therefore, when the output values of the first sensor and the second sensor are temporarily abnormal, it is possible to prevent the protection control from being executed for a long time, improving the marketability of the aerosol generating device.

[0193] (9) The power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to any one of (1) to (6), comprising a case (case 110) constituting the surface of the power supply unit, and an MCU (MCU1) configured to control the supply of power from the power supply to the heater. The first sensor (power supply thermistor T1) is disposed near the power supply and outputs a value related to the temperature of the power supply. The second sensor (case thermistor T4) is disposed near the case and outputs a value related to the temperature of the case. The MCU, acquires the temperature of the power supply based on the output value of the first sensor, and acquires the temperature of the case based on the output value of the second sensor. When the temperature of the power supply is equal to or higher than a first threshold value (temperature threshold THH5: 51 °C or temperature threshold THH4: 55 °C), it is determined that the output value of the first sensor is abnormal, and a third protection control (protection control of pattern PT1 or pattern PT2 in FIG. 23) that prohibits one or both of the charging and discharging is executed. When the temperature of the case is equal to or higher than a second threshold value (temperature threshold THH6: 48 °C), it is determined that the output value of the second sensor is abnormal, and a fourth protection control (protection control of pattern PT6 in FIG. 23) that prohibits one or both of the charging and discharging is executed. The first threshold value is different from the second threshold value. A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device.

[0194] According to (9), an appropriate threshold value can be set according to the temperature measurement target, so the safety of the aerosol generating device is improved.

[0195] (10) A power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to (9), The first threshold value is higher than the second threshold value. A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device.

[0196] A case that is not a heat source itself is not likely to become hot under normal circumstances. Therefore, even if the second threshold value is lowered, it is possible to distinguish between abnormal and normal. According to (10), an early detection of an abnormality regarding the temperature of the case is possible with a low second threshold value, so the safety of the aerosol generating device is improved.

[0197] (11) A power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to any one of (1) to (6), A case (case 110) that constitutes the surface of the power supply unit, An MCU (MCU1) configured to control the supply of power from the power supply to the heater, and The first sensor (power supply thermistor T1) is disposed near the power supply and outputs a value regarding the temperature of the power supply. The second sensor (the case thermistor T4) is arranged near the case, outputs a value related to the temperature of the case, The MCU Based on the output value of the first sensor, obtains the temperature of the power supply, Based on the output value of the second sensor, obtains the temperature of the case, When the temperature of the power supply is equal to or higher than a first threshold value (temperature threshold value THH5: 51 °C), it is determined that the output value of the first sensor is abnormal, and a third protection control (the protection control of pattern PT1 in FIG. 23) for prohibiting one or both of the charging and the discharging is executed, When the temperature of the power supply becomes equal to or lower than a second threshold value (temperature threshold value THH8: 45 °C) that is lower than the first threshold value after the execution of the third protection control, it is determined that the output value of the first sensor is normal, and the third protection control is terminated, When the temperature of the case is equal to or higher than a third threshold value (temperature threshold value THH6: 48 °C), it is determined that the output value of the second sensor is abnormal, and a fourth protection control (the protection control of pattern PT6 in FIG. 23) for prohibiting one or both of the charging and the discharging is executed, When the temperature of the case becomes equal to or lower than a fourth threshold value (temperature threshold value THH7: 47 °C) that is lower than the third threshold value after the execution of the fourth protection control, it is determined that the output value of the second sensor is normal, and the fourth protection control is terminated, The value obtained by subtracting the second threshold value from the first threshold value is different from the value obtained by subtracting the fourth threshold value from the third threshold value, A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device.

[0198] (11) According to this, since an appropriate hysteresis corresponding to the temperature measurement target is set for the threshold value for determining the abnormality of the output value of the sensor, the safety of the aerosol generating device is improved.

[0199] (12) A power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to (11), The value obtained by subtracting the second threshold value from the first threshold value is larger than the value obtained by subtracting the fourth threshold value from the third threshold value, A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device.

[0200] In the case where it is not the heat source itself, its temperature is inherently less likely to change. Therefore, as in (12), by reducing the difference between the third threshold value and the fourth threshold value, while suppressing the possibility that the fourth protection control is executed for a long time or frequently, early detection of an abnormality regarding the temperature of the case becomes possible with a relatively low threshold value. As a result, the safety and convenience of the aerosol generating device are improved.

[0201] (13) A power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to any one of (1) to (12), a case (case 110) constituting the surface of the power supply unit, an MCU (MCU1) configured to control the supply of power from the power supply to the heater, and the first sensor (heater thermistor T3) is disposed near the heater and outputs a value regarding the temperature of the heater, the second sensor (case thermistor T4) is disposed near the case and outputs a value regarding the temperature of the case, when the output value of the first sensor is abnormal, fifth protection control (protection control of pattern PT5 in FIG. 23) that prohibits one or both of the charging and the discharging is executed without passing through the MCU, the MCU is configured to execute sixth protection control (protection control of pattern PT6 in FIG. 23) that prohibits one or both of the charging and the discharging when the output value of the second sensor is abnormal, the power supply unit is operable in a plurality of modes, in a mode (heating mode) in which the sixth protection control cannot be executed among the plurality of modes, the fifth protection control is executable, A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device.

[0202] According to (13), since the fifth protection control based on the temperature abnormality of the heater, which is more important than the case, can be executed in a mode in which the sixth protection control cannot be executed, the safety of the aerosol generating device is improved.

[0203] (14) The power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to (13), wherein the plurality of modes include a heating mode in which power is discharged from the power supply to the heater, a sleep mode, and a pre-heating mode (an active mode and a heating initial setting mode) that needs to be passed through to transition from the sleep mode to the heating mode, wherein the sixth protection control is executable only in the pre-heating mode among the heating mode and the pre-heating mode, The power supply unit of the aerosol generating device.

[0204] According to (14), it is possible to determine whether the aerosol generating device is in a safe situation before generating aerosol. If the aerosol generating device is placed in a non-recommended environment, for example, it is not necessary to start heating the heater, so waste of the aerosol source can be avoided, and the convenience and safety of the aerosol generating device can be improved.

[0205] As described above, various embodiments have been described with reference to the drawings. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modification examples or correction examples within the scope described in the claims, and it is naturally understood that they also belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention, the components in the above embodiments may be arbitrarily combined.

[0206] This application is based on a Japanese patent application filed on May 10, 2021 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-079893), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0207] 100 Suction device 110 Case 119 Slider 150 Chassis 170 Heating unit 1 MCU 2 Charging IC 9 Boost DC / DC Converter 12 Remaining Quantity Meter IC 17 Flip-Flop HTR Heater BAT Power Supply Cn Heater Connector T1 Power Supply Thermistor T2 Perf Thermistor T3 Heater Thermistor T4 Case Thermistor Ch, Cu, Ct2, Ct3, Ct4 Capacitors Nt1, Nt2, Nt3, Nt4, Nu, Nb Nodes OPS Operation Switch PT1~PT8 Patterns

Claims

1. A power supply unit for an aerosol generating device, comprising: a power supply; a heater connector to which a heater that consumes power supplied from the power supply and heats an aerosol source is connected; a first sensor disposed near the heater or the power supply and outputting a value related to the temperature of the heater or a value related to the temperature of the power supply; a second sensor provided at a position spaced apart from the first sensor and outputting a value related to the temperature of the position, wherein when at least one of the output value of the first sensor and the output value of the second sensor is abnormal, charging of the power supply and / or discharging from the power supply to the heater is prohibited at least temporarily. A power supply unit for an aerosol generating device.

2. The power supply unit for an aerosol generating device according to Claim 1, further comprising: an MCU configured to control the supply of power from the power supply to the heater, wherein when the output value of the first sensor is abnormal, a first protection control for prohibiting at least one of the charging and the discharging without passing through the MCU is executed; when the output value of the second sensor is abnormal, a second protection control for prohibiting at least one of the charging and the discharging without passing through the MCU is executed. A power supply unit for an aerosol generating device.

3. The power supply unit for an aerosol generating device according to Claim 2, wherein: restart of the MCU is required to end the first protection control; restart of the MCU is required to end the second protection control. A power supply unit for an aerosol generating device.

4. The power supply unit for an aerosol generating device according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein: it is operable in a plurality of modes; in a mode in which one of the first protection control and the second protection control cannot be executed among the plurality of modes, the other of the first protection control and the second protection control can be executed. A power supply unit for an aerosol generating device.

5. The power supply unit for an aerosol generating device according to Claim 4, further comprising: a case constituting the surface of the power supply unit, wherein the first sensor is disposed near the power supply and outputs a value related to the temperature of the power supply; the second sensor is disposed near the case and outputs a value related to the temperature of the case; in a mode in which the second protection control cannot be executed among the plurality of modes, the first protection control can be executed. A power supply unit for an aerosol generating device.

6. A power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to claim 5, wherein the first protection control is executable in all of the modes; a power supply unit of an aerosol generating device. **Claim 7** A power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising an MCU configured to control the supply of power from the power supply to the heater, wherein the MCU when the output value of the first sensor is abnormal, executes a third protection control for prohibiting one or both of the charging and discharging; when the output value of the second sensor is abnormal, is configured to execute a fourth protection control for prohibiting one or both of the charging and discharging. A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device. **Claim 8** A power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to claim 7, wherein the MCU when the output value of the first sensor becomes normal, terminates the third protection control; when the output value of the second sensor becomes normal, is configured to terminate the fourth protection control. A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device. **Claim 9** A power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a case constituting the surface of the power supply unit, and an MCU configured to control the supply of power from the power supply to the heater, wherein the first sensor is disposed near the power supply and outputs a value related to the temperature of the power supply; the second sensor is disposed near the case and outputs a value related to the temperature of the case; wherein the MCU acquires the temperature of the power supply based on the output value of the first sensor; acquires the temperature of the case based on the output value of the second sensor; when the temperature of the power supply is equal to or higher than a first threshold value, determines that the output value of the first sensor is abnormal and executes a third protection control for prohibiting one or both of the charging and discharging; when the temperature of the case is equal to or higher than a second threshold value, determines that the output value of the second sensor is abnormal and is configured to execute a fourth protection control for prohibiting one or both of the charging and discharging; wherein the first threshold value is different from the second threshold value. A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device. **Claim 10** A power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to claim 9, wherein the first threshold value is higher than the second threshold value. A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device. **Claim 11** A power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein A case that constitutes the surface of the power supply unit, and an MCU configured to control the supply of power from the power supply to the heater, wherein the first sensor is disposed near the power supply and outputs a value related to the temperature of the power supply, the second sensor is disposed near the case and outputs a value related to the temperature of the case, the MCU, acquires the temperature of the power supply based on the output value of the first sensor, acquires the temperature of the case based on the output value of the second sensor, when the temperature of the power supply is equal to or higher than a first threshold value, determines that the output value of the first sensor is abnormal, and executes a third protection control for prohibiting one or both of the charging and discharging, when the temperature of the power supply becomes equal to or lower than a second threshold value that is lower than the first threshold value after the execution of the third protection control, determines that the output value of the first sensor is normal, and ends the third protection control, when the temperature of the case is equal to or higher than a third threshold value, determines that the output value of the second sensor is abnormal, and executes a fourth protection control for prohibiting one or both of the charging and discharging, when the temperature of the case becomes equal to or lower than a fourth threshold value that is lower than the third threshold value after the execution of the fourth protection control, determines that the output value of the second sensor is normal, and is configured to end the fourth protection control, a value obtained by subtracting the second threshold value from the first threshold value is different from a value obtained by subtracting the fourth threshold value from the third threshold value, A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device.

12. The power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to claim 11, wherein a value obtained by subtracting the second threshold value from the first threshold value is larger than a value obtained by subtracting the fourth threshold value from the third threshold value, A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device.

13. The power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, including a case that constitutes the surface of the power supply unit, and an MCU configured to control the supply of power from the power supply to the heater, wherein the first sensor is disposed near the heater and outputs a value related to the temperature of the heater, the second sensor is disposed near the case and outputs a value related to the temperature of the case, when the output value of the first sensor is abnormal, executes a fifth protection control for prohibiting one or both of the charging and discharging without passing through the MCU, The MCU is configured to execute a sixth protection control for prohibiting one or both of the charging and the discharging when the output value of the second sensor is abnormal. The power supply unit is operable in a plurality of modes. In a mode in which the sixth protection control cannot be executed among the plurality of modes, the fifth protection control is executable. A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device.

14. A power supply unit of the aerosol generating device according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of modes include a heating mode of discharging from the power supply to the heater, a sleep mode, and a pre-heating mode that needs to be passed through in order to transition from the sleep mode to the heating mode. The sixth protection control is executable only in the pre-heating mode among the heating mode and the pre-heating mode. A power supply unit of an aerosol generating device.

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