Aerosol generation device, control method of aerosol generation device and program

Abstract

To provide an aerosol generation device, control method of the aerosol generation device and program capable of reducing a possibility that a locked state is released by an unintended accidental contact, etc. due to a complicated operation input by requiring operation inputs of different operation modes such as a long press and a short press when releasing a locked state.SOLUTION: An aerosol generation device includes an operation unit for detecting an input operation by a user, and control means for releasing a locked state of the aerosol generation device in response to the input operation detected by the operation unit, or releasing the locked state and executing a prescribed function in response to the input operation. When the aerosol generation device is not in the locked state, the control means distinguishes and receives a first operation on the operation unit and a second operation on the operation unit having a different operation mode, and when the aerosol generation device is in the locked state, receives the first operation on the operation unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generation device, a control method for an aerosol generation device, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, aerosol generating devices such as electronic aspirators have become widespread. To prevent operation by children or accidental operation, some aerosol generating devices are known to be locked to prevent certain functions from operating. Patent Document 1 proposes a technology for an aerosol generating device in which a series of operations, including short and long presses of a specific operating key, are pre-registered, and the user is prompted to enter the registered series of operations when releasing the lock state. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Application No. 2009-134519 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When releasing the locked state, by requiring different operation inputs, such as a long press and a short press, the possibility of the locked state being released due to unintended accidental contact, etc., due to the complicated operation input can be reduced.

[0005] Furthermore, in an aerosol generating device that allows long presses and short presses, it is possible to assign a specific combination of long presses and short presses to a function, and when that specific combination is input, the assigned function can be executed. By combining operation inputs with different operation modes, such as long presses and short presses, input operations can be assigned to various functions.

[0006] On the other hand, the user may wish to release the lock state easily or quickly in order to perform an aerosol generating operation immediately after releasing the lock state.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to realize a technology that enables the locked state to be released with a simple operation in an aerosol generating device that can accept input operations with different operating modes on a single operating unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to one aspect, there is provided an aerosol generating device, comprising: an operation unit that detects an input operation by a user; and a control means for releasing the locked state of the aerosol generating device in response to an input operation detected by the operation unit, or for releasing the locked state and executing a predetermined function in response to the input operation, An aerosol generating device is provided in which the control means distinguishes between a first operation on the operating unit and a second operation on the operating unit having a different operating mode when the aerosol generating device is not in the locked state, and accepts the first operation on the operating unit when the aerosol generating device is in the locked state.

[0009] The first operation may be a pressing operation on the operation unit for a predetermined time or less, and the second operation may be a pressing operation on the operation unit for a time longer than the predetermined time.

[0010] The first operation may be a pressing operation on the operation unit with a force equal to or less than a predetermined strength, and the second operation may be a pressing operation on the operation unit with a force stronger than the predetermined strength.

[0011] The first operation may be a tap operation on a touch panel that is the operation unit, and the second operation may be a flick operation along a surface of the touch panel.

[0012] When the aerosol generation device is in the locked state, the control means may accept the first operation as the first operation without distinguishing between the first operation and the second operation on the operation unit.

[0013] and a setting unit for setting an operation condition for an input operation determined by the user to release the locked state, When the control means receives an input operation in the locked state, it may execute the specified function if the operation conditions of the input operation that are pre-set to execute the specified function are identical to the operation conditions of the input operation that are determined by the user.

[0014] and a setting unit for setting an operation condition for an input operation determined by the user to release the locked state, When an input operation is received in the locked state, if the operation conditions of the input operation that are preset to execute the specified function are identical to the operation conditions of the input operation determined by the user, the control means may determine whether to release the locked state or execute the specified function in response to the input operation, depending on the priority of the specified function.

[0015] The priority of the predetermined function may be configurable by the user.

[0016] The priority of the predetermined function is determined in advance, Execution of the function of setting the aerosol generating device may have a higher priority than releasing the locked state.

[0017] Further including a communication means capable of short-range wireless communication with an external communication device; The function of configuring the aerosol generating device may include a function of performing initial configuration of the short-range wireless communication with the external communication device.

[0018] Further including a communication means capable of short-range wireless communication with an external communication device; The control means may be capable of releasing the locked state of the aerosol generation device by receiving a signal to release the locked state from the external communication device that performed the initial setting of the short-range wireless communication.

[0019] The control means does not need to release the locked state when the operating state of the aerosol generation device is a predetermined state in which heating by the heating means of the aerosol generation device cannot be started.

[0020] further comprising a rechargeable power source; The predetermined state may include a state in which the power source is charging.

[0021] further comprising a rechargeable power source; The predetermined state may include a state in which the remaining battery charge of the power source is less than a predetermined value.

[0022] The predetermined state may include a state in which initial settings for short-range wireless communication with an external communication device are being performed.

[0023] According to another aspect, there is provided a method for controlling the above-mentioned aerosol generation device, or a program for causing a processor to function as control means for the above-mentioned aerosol generation device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to the present invention, in an aerosol generation device that can accept input operations of different operation modes on a single operation unit, it is possible to release the locked state with a simple operation. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of an aerosol generating device as an example of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an example of the appearance of the aerosol generation device of FIG. 1, illustrating an example of opening the slide and inserting a tobacco stick into the aerosol generation device. [Figure 3A] Block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an aerosol generating device [Figure 3B] A block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a communication device. [Figure 4A] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an input operation to an operation unit in the aerosol generating device. [Figure 4BA] Diagram (1) explaining an example of LED control when unlocking an aerosol generator [Figure 4BB] Diagram (2) explaining an example of LED control when unlocking an aerosol generator [Figure 4BC] Diagram (3) explaining an example of LED control when unlocking an aerosol generator [Figure 5] A diagram illustrating the state transition of the aerosol generating device. [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart showing a series of operations in an unlocking process executed in an aerosol generating device. [Figure 7A] 1 is a flowchart showing another example of an unlocking process executed in the aerosol generating device. [Figure 7B] 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the unlocking process executed in the aerosol generating device (2). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0027] <Configuration of aerosol generating device> In the following description, an aerosol generating device having a lock function that restricts at least some of the operations performed by a user on an operating unit will be described as an example.

[0028] (Appearance of the aerosol generator) 1 shows an example of the appearance of an aerosol generation device 100 according to this embodiment. The aerosol generation device 100 includes, for example, a main body 101, a front panel 102, a display window 103, an operation member 104, and a slider 105.

[0029] The main body 101 is a housing of a predetermined shape, and supports, for example, one or more circuit boards of the aerosol generation device 100 therein. The main body 101 has, for example, a rounded, approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the vertical direction in FIG. 1. The size of the main body 101 may be, for example, large enough to be held by a user in one hand.

[0030] The front panel 102 is a flexible panel that covers the front of the main body 101. The front panel 102 may be detachably coupled to the main body 101 using, for example, a magnet. The front panel 102 covers an operation member 104 that accepts user input. The display window 103 is, for example, a strip-shaped window that extends along the longitudinal direction at approximately the center of the front panel 102. The display window 103 transmits light emitted by one or more LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes) arranged between the main body 101 and the front panel 102 to the outside.

[0031] The operation member 104 includes, for example, a physical button and is disposed inside the front panel 102. When a user presses the portion of the front panel 102 that covers the operation member 104, the operation member 104 detects the user input and notifies the control unit 120. Note that, in this embodiment, an example is described in which the operation member 104, which is configured as a physical button, is covered by the front panel 102, but other configurations are possible as long as they can accept user operations. The operation member 104 functions as an operation unit in this embodiment. For example, the operation member 104 may be a touch-sensitive surface exposed from the front panel, or any other type of input device, such as a switch.

[0032] The slider 105 is a cover member slidably disposed on the top surface of the main body 101 in a direction 105a. The slider 105 is configured to open and close an opening for inserting an aerosol source. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the slider 105 slides toward the user (in the direction 105a in FIG. 1) (i.e., the slider 105 is in an open state), an opening 106 on the top surface of the main body 101 is exposed. When a user inhales aerosol using the aerosol generation device 100, the user opens the slider 105 and inserts a tobacco stick 110 into the opening 106 that is exposed. The tobacco stick 110 is inserted from the opening 106 into a tubular insertion hole 107 in a direction 106a. The cross section of the insertion hole 107 perpendicular to the axial direction may be, for example, circular, elliptical, or polygonal, and the cross-sectional area may be configured to gradually decrease toward the bottom surface. With this configuration, the outer surface of the tobacco stick 110 inserted into the insertion hole 107 is pressed by the inner surface of the insertion hole 107, and frictional force prevents the tobacco stick 110 from falling out. When the user finishes inhaling the aerosol, he or she pulls the tobacco stick 110 out of the insertion hole 107 and closes the slider 105 (the slider 105 is in a closed state). When the slider 105 is slid to an open state, the aerosol generation device 100 enters an operating state, which will be described later, and when the slider 105 is slid to a closed state, the aerosol generation device 100 enters a standby state, which will be described later. The slider 105 also functions as an operating unit in this embodiment. The operating member 104 and the slider 105 are used for an unlocking operation, which will be described later. At this time, the operating member 104 may function as a first operating unit, and the slider 105 may function as a second operating unit.

[0033] The tobacco stick 110 is a tobacco article that holds a filler inside a cylindrical cigarette paper. The filler of the tobacco stick 110 may be, for example, a mixture of an aerosol-generating substrate and tobacco shreds. The aerosol-generating substrate may be a substrate containing any type of aerosol source, such as glycerin, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, or a mixture thereof. The tobacco shreds are what is known as a flavor source. The material of the tobacco shreds may be, for example, lamina or rib. Note that a flavor source derived from a non-tobacco source may be used instead of the tobacco shreds.

[0034] (Functional configuration of the aerosol generating device) Next, an example of the functional configuration of the aerosol generating device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 3A. Note that each of the functional blocks described may be integrated or separated. Furthermore, the functions described may be realized by different blocks. What is described as hardware may be realized by software, and vice versa.

[0035] The aerosol generating device 100 includes, for example, a control unit 120, a memory unit 121, an input detection unit 122, a status detection unit 123, a suction detection unit 124, a light emitting unit 125, a vibration unit 126, a communication interface (I / F) 127, a connection I / F 128, a heating unit 130, and a battery 132.

[0036] The control unit 120 includes one or more processors and a volatile memory, and the processor may be, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microcontroller. The control unit 120 controls the overall functions of the aerosol generation device 100 by loading computer programs (also referred to as software or firmware) stored in the storage unit 121 into the memory and executing them. The storage unit 121 may be, for example, a non-volatile memory. The storage unit 121 stores one or more computer programs, data describing a control sequence (heating profile) for heating control of the heating unit 130, and the like.

[0037] The control unit 120 performs an unlocking process (described later) to control the unlocking of the aerosol generation device. The locked state is a state in which the above-described lock function (i.e., a function that restricts at least some of the user's operations on the operation unit) is enabled. The control unit 120 also controls the state transition of the aerosol generation device 100 (described later) in response to input operations on the operation member 104 or the slider 105. When an input operation requesting the start of heating to generate aerosol is detected, the control unit 120 starts the supply of power from the battery 132 to the heating unit 130. The input operation requesting the start of heating may be, for example, a long press of the operation member 104 detected by the input detection unit 122. The control unit 120 can supply power from the battery 132 to the heating unit 130. The control unit 120 adjusts the duty ratio of a control pulse to control the temperature of the heating unit 130, for example, by pulse width modulation (PWM). Note that the control unit 120 may use pulse frequency modulation (PFM) instead of PWM.

[0038] The input detection unit 122 is a detection circuit for detecting an input operation. The input detection unit 122 detects an input operation on the operation member 104, for example, by pressing the front panel 102, and outputs an input signal indicating the input operation to the control unit 120. Note that the aerosol generation device 100 may be configured to detect the pressing of the front panel 102 itself, instead of detecting the pressing of the operation member 104. The input detection unit 122 and a state detection unit 123, which will be described later, may function as an operation unit that detects a user's input operation.

[0039] The state detection unit 123 is a detection circuit for detecting the open / closed state of the slider 105, and includes, for example, a Hall element. The state detection unit 123 outputs a state detection signal indicating whether the slider 105 is open or closed to the control unit 120. The state detection unit 123 may also be configured to detect the attached / detached state of the front panel 102. The state detection unit 123 may include another Hall element for detecting that the front panel 102 has been detached, and may output a state detection signal indicating the attached / detached state of the front panel 102 to the control unit 120.

[0040] The inhalation detection unit 124 is a detection circuit for detecting inhalation (puffing) of the tobacco stick 110 by the user. For example, the inhalation detection unit 124 may include a thermistor (not shown) disposed near the opening 106. In this case, the inhalation detection unit 124 may detect inhalation based on a change in the resistance value of the thermistor caused by a temperature change resulting from inhalation by the user. As another example, the inhalation detection unit 124 may include a pressure sensor (not shown) disposed at the bottom of the insertion hole 107. In this case, the inhalation detection unit 124 may detect inhalation based on a decrease in air pressure caused by an airflow caused by inhalation. The inhalation detection unit 124 outputs an inhalation detection signal to the control unit 120, for example, indicating whether inhalation is occurring or not.

[0041] The light-emitting unit 125 includes one or more LEDs and a driver for driving the LEDs. The light-emitting unit 125 causes each of the LEDs to emit light in accordance with an instruction signal input from the control unit 120. The vibration unit 126 includes a vibrator (e.g., an eccentric motor) and a driver for driving the vibrator. The vibration unit 126 vibrates the vibrator in accordance with an instruction signal input from the control unit 120. The control unit 120 may control at least one of the light-emitting unit 125 and the vibration unit 126 in an arbitrary pattern, for example, to notify the user of a certain status of the aerosol generation device 100 (e.g., a state in which the locked state has been released). For example, the light-emitting pattern of the light-emitting unit 125 can be distinguished by factors such as the light-emitting state (on / blinking / non-light-emitting), the blinking cycle, the light-emitting brightness, and the light-emitting color of each LED. The vibration pattern of the vibration unit 126 can be distinguished by factors such as the vibration state (vibration / stopped), the vibration pattern, and the vibration strength of the vibrator.

[0042] The communication I / F 127 includes, for example, a communication circuit and an antenna, and is a communication interface for wirelessly communicating between the aerosol generation device 100 and a communication device 200 (for example, a smartphone, a personal computer, a tablet terminal, or the like owned by a user). The communication I / F 127 may be an interface conforming to any wireless communication protocol, for example, short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), proximity wireless communication such as NFC (Near Field Communication), or wireless LAN (Local Area Network).

[0043] The connection I / F 128 is a wired interface having a terminal for connecting the aerosol generation device 100 to another external device. The connection I / F 128 may be a rechargeable interface such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface. The connection I / F 128 may be used to charge the battery 132 from an external power source (via a power supply line not shown).

[0044] The heating unit 130 may include, for example, a resistance heating component that generates aerosol by heating the aerosol source contained in the aerosol-generating substrate of the tobacco stick 110. The resistance heating component may be made of, for example, a mixture of one or more of copper, nickel alloy, chromium alloy, stainless steel, and platinum-rhodium. The heating unit 130 is connected to the battery 132 by wiring (not shown).

[0045] The battery 132 is a power source for supplying power to the heating unit 130 and other components of the aerosol generation device 100. In FIG. 3A, power supply lines from the battery 132 to the components of the aerosol generation device 100 are omitted. The battery 132 may be, for example, a lithium-ion battery. The fuel gauge 133 may include, for example, an IC chip for monitoring the remaining power and other status of the battery 132. The fuel gauge 133 may periodically measure status values ​​of the battery 132, such as the state of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH), relative state of charge (RSOC), and power supply voltage, and output the measurement results to the control unit 120.

[0046] <Configuration of communication device> Next, a simplified configuration example of communication device 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 3B. Communication device 200 shown in FIG. 3B is, for example, a smartphone, but may also be a personal computer, a tablet terminal, or the like. Each of the functional blocks described may be integrated or separated. Furthermore, the functions described may be realized by different blocks. What is described as hardware may be realized by software, and vice versa.

[0047] The communication device 200 includes, for example, a communication interface (I / F) 201, a control unit 202, an input detection unit 203, a sensor unit 204, a display unit 205, a storage unit 206, and a battery 207.

[0048] The communication I / F 201 includes, for example, a communication circuit and is a communication interface for the communication device 200 to wirelessly communicate with the aerosol generation device 100 and the like. The communication I / F 127 may be an interface conforming to any wireless communication protocol, for example, short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), proximity wireless communication such as NFC (Near Field Communication), or wireless LAN (Local Area Network). The communication I / F 201 may further include an interface conforming to a mobile communication protocol such as LTE, and may be connected to the Internet via mobile communication to transmit and receive data to and from an external server.

[0049] The control unit 202 includes one or more processors and a volatile memory, and the processor may be, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 202 controls the overall functions of the communication device 200 by, for example, loading a computer program recorded in the storage unit 206 into the memory and executing it.

[0050] The input detection unit 203 includes buttons and a touch panel provided on the communication device 200 and receives operations on a setting screen for selecting or setting a heating profile of the aerosol generation device 100 and GUIs for various operations. The GUIs for various operations may include GUIs for a browser application or other applications that display information provided from a server on a network. When the control unit 202 receives an operation to set or change a heating profile, it can transmit information about the heating profile to the aerosol generation device 100 via Bluetooth (registered trademark). The GUIs for various operations may also include a GUI for unlocking the locked state of the aerosol generation device 100. When a user inputs an operation to unlock the locked state of the aerosol generation device 100 via the GUI, the control unit 202 transmits a signal to unlock the locked state to the aerosol generation device 100. When the aerosol generation device 100 receives a signal to unlock the locked state from the paired communication device 200, the aerosol generation device 100 may unlock the locked state if its internal state allows it to be unlocked. The aerosol generation device 100 can release the locked state by determining that a request from an authenticated (i.e., trusted) communication device 200 paired through a predetermined procedure is a request from a trusted device. When the aerosol generation device 100 receives a signal to release the locked state from the communication device 200, the aerosol generation device 100 can release the lock without requesting the user to perform any further unlocking operation, thereby facilitating the unlocking operation.

[0051] The sensor unit 204 includes a GPS for identifying the current location of the communication device 200, an imaging sensor for acquiring images or videos of the surroundings of the communication device 200, a biometric authentication sensor for identifying the user of the communication device 200, and the like.

[0052] The display unit 205 includes a display panel such as an LCD or an OLED, and displays GUIs for various operations in response to instructions from the control unit 202. The display unit 205 displays GUIs for various operations, such as a setting screen for selecting or setting the heating profile of the aerosol generation device 100 described above, and a GUI for unlocking the locked state of the aerosol generation device 100.

[0053] The storage unit 206 includes a nonvolatile memory such as a semiconductor memory, and stores set user information, computer programs such as applications executed by the control unit 202, and the like.

[0054] Battery 207 includes, for example, a lithium ion battery, and is a power source for supplying power to each component of communication device 200. In Fig. 3B, power supply lines from battery 132 to each component of communication device 200 are omitted.

[0055] <Example of input operations for aerosol generator> The input operation in the aerosol generation device 100 will be described. When the aerosol generation device of this embodiment is not in a locked state, it can accept an input operation such as "three short presses + two-second long press" that is predetermined as an operation to start pairing. That is, the aerosol generation device 100 distinguishes between and accepts input operations with different operation modes, such as long presses and short presses. In other words, the aerosol generation device 100 distinguishes between and accepts a first press operation on the operation unit for a predetermined time or less and a second press operation on the operation unit for a time longer than the predetermined time.

[0056] For example, when the aerosol generation device 100 is not in a locked state, the input operation includes an operation of opening the slider 105, an operation of closing the slider 105, an operation of briefly pressing the operating member 104, and an operation of long-pressing the operating member 104.

[0057] On the other hand, when the aerosol generation device is in a locked state, it accepts a first press operation. That is, it does not distinguish between input operations of different operation types, and if the input operation is an input operation on the operation member 104, it treats the detected input operation as a short press. The aerosol generation device 100 distinguishes between an operation to open the slider 105, an operation to close the slider 105, and an operation to short press the operation member 104 as input operations to release the locked state. In other words, the aerosol generation device 100 accepts a first press operation when it is in a locked state. Furthermore, it does not distinguish between a first press operation on the operation unit for a predetermined time or less and a second press operation for a time longer than the predetermined time, and accepts both as a first press operation. When the input operation input by the user satisfies an operation condition, the aerosol generation device 100 releases the locked state of the aerosol generation device 100, or executes a predetermined function such as pairing after releasing the locked state. In the embodiment described below, examples of cases in which an input operation input by a user satisfies an operation condition will be described, such as when a series of input operation patterns determined by the user are input, or when a series of predetermined input operation patterns such as pairing are input.

[0058] A short press is, for example, pressing the operation member 104 for 1000 msec or less, and a long press is, for example, pressing the operation member 104 for a period of time longer than 1000 msec.

[0059] The control unit 120 can identify operations input within a predetermined time as a series of patterns of operations (also referred to as combination presses). In this case, for example, when a series of patterns defined by a user has been input partially, the control unit 120 clears the input that has been partially input after a predetermined time has elapsed. As shown in FIG. 4A , when a pressing operation lasts for 1000 ms or less, the control unit 120 identifies the operation as a short press (normal press). Then, the operation member 104 is released. When the operation member 104 is pressed again, if the release time is, for example, 2000 ms or less, the control unit 120 determines that the previous short press and the next pressing operation (short press or long press) are part of a series of patterns of operations. The series of patterns shown as an example in FIG. 4A represents a combination of three short presses and one long press.

[0060] 4A shows a case where a series of patterns of operations is configured using only operations on the operation member 104, but as described above, the series of patterns of operations may include opening and closing the slider 105. In order to distinguish an operation to open the slider 105 and an operation to close the slider 105 as a series of patterns of operations, the control unit 120 may apply the time interval (2000 msec or less) applied to the operation member 104, or may apply a longer time interval to the operation of the slider 105. In other words, the time interval between operations may be different for each operation target.

[0061] The user can set a series of operation patterns for unlocking the locked state in the unlock pattern setting mode. When the control unit 120 detects a specific operation while the aerosol generating device 100 is being charged (i.e., when the USB connector is connected to the connection I / F 128 and power is being supplied), the control unit 120 can operate in the unlock pattern setting mode. The specific operation may be, for example, a series of operations such as opening the slider 105, then closing the slider 105, and further pressing and holding the operating member 104 for two seconds.

[0062] In the unlock pattern setting mode, when the control unit 120 receives a series of patterns consisting of, for example, six short presses, the control unit 120 enables the lock function and stores the series of patterns in the storage unit 121. That is, when the lock function is enabled (the control unit 120 enters a locked state), the control unit 120 requests the user to input the series of patterns determined by the user. On the other hand, in the unlock pattern setting mode, when a predetermined number of operations (for example, three operations) are not input within a predetermined time, the control unit 120 disables the lock function. That is, since the lock function is disabled, the control unit 120 does not request the user to perform an operation to unlock the device. The series of patterns may be composed of, for example, a maximum of 10 operations. The control unit 120 may terminate the unlock pattern setting mode when 10 operations are performed within a predetermined time, or when the predetermined number of operations or more but less than 10 operations are performed and a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0063] In the following description, unless otherwise specified, no distinction is made between an input operation on the slider 105 and an input operation on the operating member 104, and the two will be simply described as an input operation on the operating member 104. The mere term "input operation" includes at least either an input operation on the slider 105 or an input operation on the operating member 104.

[0064] Furthermore, if the USB connector is removed while the control unit 120 is accepting an operation in the unlock pattern setting mode, the control unit 120 discards the input operation and returns the setting to the locked state before entering the unlock pattern setting mode. Furthermore, if the front panel 102 is removed or the aerosol generating device 100 is paired with a communication device, the control unit 120 may not transition to the unlock pattern setting mode even if a specific operation is detected during charging.

[0065] Next, with reference to FIGS. 4BA-4BC, the light-emitting state of the light-emitting unit 125 when the locked state is released will be described. FIGS. 4BA-4BC show eight LEDs visible through the display window 103. The left side of FIGS. 4BA-4BC corresponds to the lower side (in FIG. 1) of the aerosol generation device 100, and the right side of FIGS. 4BA-4BC corresponds to the upper side (in FIG. 1) of the aerosol generation device 100. FIG. 4BA schematically illustrates the state of the light-emitting unit 125 when the control unit 120 receives a series of patterns for releasing the locked state. As shown as an example in FIG. 4BA, the control unit 120 does not need to light any of the LEDs while receiving a series of patterns (display state 401 indicates that the LEDs are off). By not emitting any LEDs while receiving a series of patterns, it is possible to prevent unnecessary reduction in the remaining battery power by displaying an LED each time an input is made to the operation unit due to an erroneous operation or unintentional contact.

[0066] As described below, the control unit 120 controls the aerosol generating device 100 so that it does not release the locked state (or does not accept a pattern) when the operating state of the aerosol generating device 100 is in a predetermined state (heating control state, charging state, and pairing execution state) in which heating of the heating unit 130 cannot be started.

[0067] FIG. 4BB shows the state of the light-emitting unit 125 when the input operation matches a user-defined pattern (i.e., matches a registered pattern). When the input operation matches a user-defined pattern, the control unit 120 lights all LEDs at baseline (display state 403 shows baseline lighting). Baseline lighting may be achieved by lighting the LEDs at, for example, 5% of their maximum brightness. Then, LEDs 1 through 8 are sequentially changed to normal lighting (display state 402 shows normal lighting). For example, the control unit 120 controls the lighting of the eight LEDs one by one for, for example, 560 ms from the time point at which the control unit 120 determines that the input operation matches a user-defined pattern. Finally, all LEDs of the light-emitting unit 125 are in display state 402, as shown in FIG. 4BC. Furthermore, the control unit 120 may activate vibration for, for example, 560 ms from the time point at which the control unit 120 determines that the input operation matches a user-defined pattern. This allows the user to be notified visually and tactilely that the lock state has been released. Also, by switching the display state from baseline lighting to normal lighting in sequence, the visual change is emphasized, making the notification more noticeable to the user.

[0068] Although the above embodiment does not explicitly state what to do when an erroneous input operation is performed, the LED may be illuminated in a manner different from the manner in which the input operation matches a series of patterns (FIG. 4BB). Alternatively, as in the case where a series of patterns is being input, no display may be displayed in order to conserve the remaining battery power.

[0069] The aerosol generating device 100 can automatically re-lock once the locked state has been released. For example, the control unit 120 may re-lock the device after releasing the locked state or after a predetermined time (e.g., 15 minutes) has elapsed since the completion of the last heating control state described below. In this case, if suction is performed in the heating control state 10 minutes after the lock state is released, the control unit 120 may re-lock the device after a predetermined time (e.g., 15 minutes) has elapsed since the heating control state ended.

[0070] <Example of the operating state of the aerosol generator> An example of state transitions of the aerosol generation device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The aerosol generation device 100 has several operating states, and performs state transitions in response to user input or control by the control unit 120. The operating states of the aerosol generation device 100 include, for example, a sleep state 501, an active state 502, and a pairing execution state 503. The operating states of the aerosol generation device 100 may also include one or more operating states (e.g., a heating control state 504 and a heating end state 505) to which transitions can be made starting from the active state 502, and one or more operating states (e.g., a charging state 506) to which transitions can be made starting from the sleep state 501.

[0071] The sleep state 501 is, for example, a state in which the operation of the control unit 120 is temporarily stopped and the control unit 120 is put into standby in a power-saving state with reduced power consumption. When the sleep state is released, the operation may be resumed from the state before the stop. The control unit 120 can accept a predetermined user input, and upon accepting the corresponding user input, can transition to a state corresponding to the user input (for example, the active state 502 or the pairing execution state 503). Note that in the following description, the sleep state may also be referred to as a standby state. In this embodiment, the sleep state 501 may be entered by a "suspend" or "standby" method in which the contents of the memory of the control unit 120 are maintained and the control unit 120 enters a standby state, or by a "hibernation" method in which the contents of the memory of the control unit 120 are copied to the storage unit 121 and the control unit 120 enters a standby state.

[0072] In the sleep state 501 of the aerosol generation device 100, other functions may not be operating except for the function of detecting an input operation and the function of monitoring the remaining battery level.

[0073] The active state 502 is, for example, a state in which no restrictions are placed on the functions of a device (e.g., the aerosol generating device 100). For example, in the aerosol generating device 100, at least the heating function is not restricted. The active state may be a state in which the power-saving sleep state, which is a power-saving state in which power consumption is reduced, is canceled. In the following description, the active state may also be referred to as the operating state.

[0074] For example, in the aerosol generation device 100, when the slider 105 is closed in the active state 502, the control unit 120 controls the operation state from the active state 502 (operating state) to the sleep state 501 (standby state) (for example, 512 in FIG. 5). Also, in the aerosol generation device 100, when the slider 105 is opened in the sleep state 501, the control unit 120 controls the operation state from the sleep state 501 (standby state) to the active state 502 (operating state) (for example, 511 in FIG. 5).

[0075] The pairing execution state 503 is a state for executing pairing between the communication device 200 and Bluetooth (registered trademark). When a predetermined input operation on the operation member 104 is detected while the slider 105 is closed in the sleep state 501, the control unit 120 transitions the state to the pairing execution state (for example, 513 in FIG. 5 ). When pairing (also referred to as initial setting) with the communication device 200 is successful, the control unit 120 registers the paired device in a whitelist held in the storage unit 121. When registration in the whitelist is successful or when pairing fails, the control unit 120 returns the operating state from the pairing execution state 503 to the sleep state 501.

[0076] Furthermore, the control unit 120 transitions the operating state to a heating control state 504 (e.g., 515 in FIG. 5) for performing a heating function (e.g., generating an aerosol) in response to a predetermined input operation in the active state 502. The control unit 120 may then transition the operating state to the active state 502.

[0077] Alternatively, the control unit 120 may transition the operating state from the sleep state 501 to a state in which the aerosol generating device is being charged (e.g., 506) in response to a USB terminal being connected to the connection I / F 128 (e.g., 516 in Figure 5).

[0078] Next, a series of operations of the unlocking process executed in the aerosol generating device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. This process is realized by the processor of the control unit 120 executing a program stored in the storage unit 121. In the following description, it is assumed that the user inputs a series of inputs one by one to unlock the locked state.

[0079] In S601, the control unit 120 detects an input operation via the input detection unit 122 and the state detection unit 123. In S602, the control unit 120 determines whether the aerosol generation device 100 is in a locked state. For example, the control unit 120 retains information indicating the locked state using a predetermined method such as a flag when the lock function is enabled or disabled, and determines the locked state based on the retained information indicating the locked state. If the control unit 120 determines that the aerosol generation device 100 is in a locked state, it proceeds to S603. If not, it proceeds to S610.

[0080] In S603, the control unit 120 acquires the operating state of the aerosol generation device 100. For example, the control unit 120 may acquire the operating state via each unit such as the state detection unit 123, and store information indicating the operating state of the device in the memory or storage unit 121 each time the operating state changes. When acquiring the operating state, the control unit 120 may refer to the information indicating the operating state stored in the memory or storage unit 121, and acquire an operating state such as that the aerosol generation device 100 is in a charging state.

[0081] In S604, the control unit 120 determines whether the operating state of the aerosol generation device 100 is a state in which heating of the heating unit 130 cannot be started. For example, the control unit 120 determines whether the operating state of the aerosol generation device 100 is a state for executing pairing (i.e., a state in which initial settings for short-range wireless communication are being performed). If the operating state of the aerosol generation device 100 is a state for executing pairing, the control unit 120 determines that the operating state of the aerosol generation device 100 is a state in which heating of the heating unit 130 cannot be started and ends this series of operations; otherwise, the control unit 120 proceeds to S605.

[0082] Alternatively, the control unit 120 determines whether the operating state of the aerosol generation device 100 is a charging state. If the operating state of the aerosol generation device 100 is a charging state, the control unit 120 determines that the heating unit 130 cannot start heating and ends this series of operations, but if not, the process may proceed to S605.

[0083] Alternatively, the control unit 120 determines whether the operating state of the aerosol generation device 100 is a heating control state. If the operating state of the aerosol generation device 100 is a heating control state, the control unit 120 determines that the heating unit 130 cannot start heating and ends this series of operations; otherwise, the control unit 120 may proceed to S605.

[0084] Alternatively, the control unit 120 may determine whether the front panel 102 is detached, and if the front panel 102 is detached, determine that the heating unit 130 cannot start heating and terminate this series of operations, but if not, proceed to S605. By taking into account the attachment and detachment of the front panel, the lock can be released only when the aerosol generation device 100 is being used in an appropriate state, and then the heating unit 130 can be made to heat.

[0085] Furthermore, the control unit 120 may determine whether the remaining battery charge is less than a predetermined threshold based on a signal from the fuel gauge 133. That is, the control unit 120 may determine that heating of the heating unit 130 cannot be started when the remaining battery charge is less than the predetermined threshold. By taking the remaining battery charge into consideration in this way, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the quality of the user experience, such as a power shortage when the user is about to start inhaling the aerosol.

[0086] Note that if the operating state becomes a state in which heating cannot be started after an input operation to the operating unit has been started and before the input operation forms a series of patterns defined by the user, the control unit 120 will not accept any input operation after the operating state becomes a state in which heating cannot be started. In this case, the control unit 120 will discard any input operation that was accepted before the operating state became a state in which heating cannot be started.

[0087] In S605, the control unit 120 accepts an input operation on the operation unit. At this time, the control unit 120 accepts an input operation of one type of operation mode (for example, a short press) in the locked state. When an input operation that has a different operation mode from a short press, such as a long press, is input, the control unit 120 may accept it as a short press without distinguishing between a long press and a short press.

[0088] Furthermore, the control unit 120 first executes S604 and does not accept any input operations when heating cannot be started. This prevents a situation in which suction cannot be performed even after the lock is released. The control unit 120 temporarily stores the accepted input operations, for example, in the memory of the control unit 120. In this case, the memory stores a series of input operations that have been accepted up to that point.

[0089] In S606, the control unit 120 determines whether the number of received input operations is equal to or greater than the number of operations in a series of patterns set for unlocking. The control unit 120, for example, compares the number of received input operations (e.g., six) with the number of operations in a series of patterns set for unlocking (e.g., a preset "six short presses"). If the control unit 120 determines that the number of received input operations is equal to or greater than the number of operations in the series of patterns set for unlocking, the control unit 120 proceeds to S607. If not (i.e., the number of input operations is less than the number of operations set for unlocking), the control unit 120 returns the process to S601 to receive further input.

[0090] In S607, the control unit 120 determines whether the received input operations constitute a predetermined series of patterns. For example, the control unit 120 compares a series of input operations received thus far (e.g., "six short presses") stored in memory with a series of patterns set for unlocking. If the set series of patterns is, for example, a preset "six short presses," the control unit 120 compares the received series of input operations with the preset "six short presses." If the two match, the control unit 120 determines that the input operations constitute a predetermined series of patterns and proceeds to S608. If not, the control unit 120 determines that the received input operations do not match the unlock pattern (are not correct inputs) and ends this series of processes.

[0091] In S608, the control unit 120 releases the locked state of the aerosol generation device 100. Then, in S609, the control unit 120 turns on the LED and activates the vibration, as described with reference to Figures 4BA-4BC, for example. When the control unit 120 has finished turning on the LED and activating the vibration in S609, the control unit 120 completes this series of processes.

[0092] In S610, since the control unit 120 is not in a locked state, it distinguishes between operation modes such as a short press and a long press and accepts the input operation. At this time, since it is not necessary to release the locked state, the control unit 120 ends the series of operations of this process. After the end of this process, the control unit 120 may execute the operation of the function corresponding to the accepted input operation.

[0093] As described above, in this embodiment, the control unit 120 controls the aerosol generation device 100 to either release the locked state or execute a predetermined function in response to the input operation. At this time, when the aerosol generation device is not in a locked state, the control unit 120 distinguishes between and accepts a first operation on the operation unit and a second operation on the operation unit, which has a different operation mode. On the other hand, when the aerosol generation device is in a locked state, the control unit 120 accepts the first operation on the operation unit. In this way, in an aerosol generation device that can accept input operations of different operation modes on a single operation unit, it is possible to release the locked state with a simple operation.

[0094] <Another example of unlocking process> Next, another example of the unlocking process executed in the aerosol generating device 100 will be described with reference to Figures 7A and 7B. In this process, in addition to the operations of the unlocking process described above with reference to Figure 6, predetermined operations (referred to as default operations) assigned to other functions are preferentially accepted. Note that this process is realized by the processor of the control unit 120 executing a program stored in the storage unit 121. In the following explanation, operations that are the same or substantially the same as those in Figure 6 are assigned the same reference symbols, and duplicate explanations will be omitted.

[0095] The control unit 120 executes the processes of S601 and S602 in the same manner as the operation of Fig. 6 described above, and if the aerosol generation device 100 is in a locked state, proceeds to S701. If the aerosol generation device 100 is not in a locked state, the control unit 120 proceeds to S610, and then ends the series of operations of this process. In this case, after the end of this process, the control unit 120 may execute the assigned function in response to the received input operation.

[0096] In S701, the control unit 120 determines whether the input operation corresponds to a default operation. The default operation is, for example, a predetermined operation (e.g., three short presses and one long press on the operation unit) for performing Bluetooth (registered trademark) pairing. However, since this step handles input operations detected in the locked state, the default operation is identified as, for example, four short presses. If the previous input operation corresponds to a series of patterns constituting the default operation (e.g., the previous input operation is two short presses), the control unit 120 accepts the input in S605 (without making the determinations in S603 and S604) so ​​as to be able to execute the function assigned to the default operation. In other words, if the input operation corresponds to a series of patterns of the default operation, the control unit 120 can accept the input operation that may correspond to the default operation without considering the operating state of the device.

[0097] In S702, the control unit 120 determines whether the received input operation constitutes a series of predefined operation patterns. If the received input operation constitutes a series of predefined operation patterns (e.g., three short presses and one long press for pairing), the control unit 120 proceeds to S608 to release the locked state and prioritize pairing. However, because the aerosol generation device 100 is in a locked state, the control unit 120 determines that the series of predefined operation patterns for pairing are three short presses and one short press (i.e., four short presses). If the received input operation does not constitute a series of predefined operation patterns, the control unit 120 executes the processes of S606 and S607 shown in FIG. 6 (determination for unlocking). The control unit 120 then executes the processes of S608 and S609 in the same manner as described above, and terminates this series of processes.

[0098] In this way, when a default operation is registered in the aerosol generation device 100, the default operation can be executed with priority. Note that in the example shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when a default operation is registered, execution of the function assigned to the default operation is always prioritized over unlocking the device. However, it may be determined whether to unlock the device or execute a predetermined function corresponding to the input operation depending on the priority of the function to be executed. In this case, the control unit 120 may refer to priority information that sets the priority between executing the function assigned to the default operation and unlocking the device.

[0099] The control unit 120 refers to the priority information and, if the execution of a certain predetermined function assigned to a default operation has a higher priority than unlocking the locked state, executes the certain predetermined function. Conversely, if the control unit 120 refers to the priority information and, if the execution of a certain predetermined function has a lower priority than unlocking the locked state, unlocks the locked state of the aerosol generation device 100. The certain function of the aerosol generation device 100 may include, for example, a setting function for the aerosol generation device 100. The setting function is, for example, a function for configuring the aerosol generation device 100, and includes functions for changing the operating parameters of the aerosol generation device 100 and enabling or disabling functions of the aerosol generation device 100. The setting function may also include a function for enabling the communication function or locking function of the aerosol generation device 100, such as a function for performing initial setting (pairing) of short-range wireless communication with an external communication device, or a function for registering a series of operations for unlocking the locked state of the aerosol generation device 100. Execution of the setting function for the aerosol generation device 100 may have a higher priority than unlocking the locked state. For example, if execution of pairing has a higher priority than unlocking the locked state, the control unit 120 prioritizes execution of pairing.

[0100] The priority set in the priority information may be, for example, a fixed priority determined in advance at the time of manufacture, or may be settable by the user. If the priority set in the priority information is settable by the user, the control unit 120 may set or change the priority set in the priority information based on a user operation received via an operation unit of the aerosol generating device 100. Alternatively, the control unit 120 may change or set the priority set in the priority information by receiving a request to change or set the priority from the paired communication device 200.

[0101] In this way, the control unit 120 can release the locked state of the aerosol generation device while prioritizing the default operation. Furthermore, when the function assigned to the default operation is not executed, if the operating state of the aerosol generation device is such that heating of the heating unit 130 cannot be started (as described above in S604), the control unit 120 can prevent the locked state from being released. In this way, the lock on the aerosol generation device can be released at an appropriate timing.

[0102] In the above-described embodiment, the operating member 104 is a physical button. That is, when the aerosol generation device 100 is not in a locked state, the control unit 120 distinguishes between a first operation and a second operation, which are different operating modes of the physical button. In this case, the first operation is a pressing operation on the operating unit for a predetermined time or less, and the second operation is a pressing operation on the operating unit for a time longer than the predetermined time. Furthermore, when the aerosol generation device 100 is in a locked state, the control unit 120 accepts an input operation on the physical button as the first operation.

[0103] However, the operating member 104 may be an operating unit capable of distinguishing the strength of the pressing force. In this case, the input operation may include a pressing operation on the operating unit with a force strength equal to or less than a predetermined strength, and a pressing operation on the operating unit with a force stronger than the predetermined strength. In this case, when the aerosol generation device 100 is not in a locked state, the control unit 120 distinguishes between these different operation modes (different strengths of force). For example, the first operation may be a pressing operation on the operating unit with a force strength equal to or less than a predetermined strength, and the second operation may be a pressing operation on the operating unit with a force stronger than the predetermined strength. On the other hand, when the aerosol generation device 100 is in a locked state, the control unit 120 may accept the input operation on the operating unit as the first operation.

[0104] Furthermore, the operation member 104 may be a touch panel exposed from the front panel 102. In this case, the input operation may include a tap operation on the touch panel and a flick operation along the surface of the touch panel. In this case, when the aerosol generation device 100 is not in a locked state, the control unit 120 distinguishes between a first operation and a second operation, which are different operation modes on the touch panel. For example, the first operation on the touch panel may be a tap operation on the touch panel, which is the operation unit, and the second operation on the touch panel may be a flick operation along the surface of the touch panel. On the other hand, when the aerosol generation device 100 is in a locked state, the control unit 120 may accept the input operation on the touch panel as the first operation.

[0105] Furthermore, in the above-described unlocking process, the control unit 120 accepts an input operation to unlock the locked state. However, the above-described embodiment can be applied to a case where a signal to unlock the locked state is received from a paired communication device via Bluetooth (registered trademark) to unlock the locked state. That is, the control unit 120 may unlock the locked state of the aerosol generation device 100 in response to receiving a signal to unlock the locked state from the paired communication device.

[0106] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention.

[0107] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-076012, filed on April 28, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Explanation of symbols]

[0108] 100... aerosol generating device, 200... communication device, 120... control unit, 127... communication I / F, 122... input detection unit, 123... status detection unit

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device an operation unit that detects an input operation by a user; and a control means for releasing the locked state of the aerosol generating device in response to an input operation detected by the operation unit, or for releasing the locked state and executing a predetermined function in response to the input operation, The control means distinguishes between and accepts a first operation on the operating unit and a second operation on the operating unit having a different operating mode when the aerosol generating device is not in the locked state, and accepts the first operation on the operating unit when the aerosol generating device is in the locked state.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the first operation is a pressing operation on the operating unit for a predetermined time or less, and the second operation is a pressing operation on the operating unit for a time longer than the predetermined time.

3. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first operation is a pressing operation on the operating unit with a force strength less than a predetermined force, and the second operation is a pressing operation on the operating unit with a force stronger than the predetermined force.

4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the first operation is a tap operation on a touch panel that is the operation unit, and the second operation is a flick operation along the surface of the touch panel.

5. An aerosol generating device described in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein when the aerosol generating device is in the locked state, the control means does not distinguish between the first operation and the second operation on the operating unit and accepts them as the first operation.

6. and a setting unit for setting an operation condition for an input operation determined by the user to release the locked state, An aerosol generating device described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the control means receives an input operation in the locked state, it executes the specified function if the operating conditions of the input operation that are pre-set to execute the specified function are the same as the operating conditions of the input operation determined by the user.

7. and a setting unit for setting an operation condition for an input operation determined by the user to release the locked state, An aerosol generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when an input operation is received in the locked state, if the operating conditions of the input operation that are pre-set to execute the specified function are the same as the operating conditions of the input operation set by the user, the control means determines whether to release the locked state or execute the specified function in response to the input operation, depending on the priority of the specified function.

8. The aerosol generating device according to claim 7 , wherein the priority of the predetermined function can be set by the user.

9. The priority of the predetermined function is determined in advance, The aerosol generating device according to claim 7 , wherein execution of a function for setting the aerosol generating device has a higher priority than releasing the locked state.

10. Further including a communication means capable of short-range wireless communication with an external communication device; The aerosol generating device according to claim 9 , wherein the function of performing the settings on the aerosol generating device includes a function of performing initial settings for the short-range wireless communication with the external communication device.

11. Further including a communication means capable of short-range wireless communication with an external communication device; An aerosol generating device described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the control means is capable of releasing the locked state for the aerosol generating device by receiving a signal to release the locked state from the external communication device that performed the initial setting of the short-range wireless communication.

12. An aerosol generating device described in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the control means does not release the locked state when the operating state of the aerosol generating device is a predetermined state in which heating by the heating means of the aerosol generating device cannot be started.

13. further comprising a rechargeable power source; The aerosol generating device according to claim 12 , wherein the predetermined state includes a state in which the power source is being charged.

14. further comprising a rechargeable power source; The aerosol generating device according to claim 12 , wherein the predetermined state includes a state in which the remaining battery charge of the power source is less than a predetermined value.

15. The aerosol generating device according to claim 12 , wherein the predetermined state includes a state in which initial setting of short-range wireless communication with an external communication device is being performed.

16. A method for controlling an aerosol generating device In response to an input operation by a user detected by an operation unit, the locked state of the aerosol generating device is released, or the locked state is released and an operation corresponding to the input operation is performed, A control method for an aerosol generating device in which releasing the locked state or releasing the locked state and performing an operation corresponding to the input operation distinguishes between and accepts a first operation on the operating unit and a second operation on the operating unit having a different operating mode when the aerosol generating device is not in the locked state, and accepts the first operation on the operating unit when the aerosol generating device is in the locked state.

17. A program for causing a processor to function as a control means of the aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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