Attractant component generation device

Abstract

The present invention provides an aspiration component generating device that can accurately acquire the voltage value of a battery and reliably determine if it is in a low charge state. [Solution] The suction component generating device 100 comprises a power supply 10, a load group 125 including a load that vaporizes or atomizes the suction component source using power from the power supply, and a control circuit 50 configured to acquire the voltage value of the power supply 10. The control circuit 50 is configured to perform a1: a process of acquiring the closed-circuit voltage value CCV of the power supply 10 in a closed-circuit state in which the power supply 10 and the load group 125 are electrically connected, and a2: a process of comparing the acquired closed-circuit voltage value CCV with a first reference voltage value, and determining that the power supply 10 is in a low remaining charge state if it is less than or equal to the reference voltage value.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aspiration component generating apparatus, a control circuit, a control method for the aspiration component generating apparatus, and a control program, and more particularly to an aspiration component generating apparatus, a control circuit, a control method for the aspiration component generating apparatus, and a control program that can reliably determine a low remaining amount state. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, inhalation component generating devices have been proposed as an alternative to conventional cigarettes. These devices vaporize or atomize flavor sources such as tobacco or aerosol sources to produce inhalation components. Such inhalation component generating devices include a load for vaporizing or atomizing the flavor source and / or aerosol source, a power supply for supplying power to the load, and a control circuit for controlling the operation of the device.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for controlling an electronic cigarette, in which the light-emitting color of an LED is changed according to the remaining battery level. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0053856 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] In a configuration like the one in Patent Document 1, where the light color changes according to the remaining battery level, the user can determine the current battery level by checking the color of the LED. However, in the configuration of that document, it is unclear whether the battery level detection is performed based on the open-circuit voltage value, the closed-circuit voltage value, or both. The closed-circuit voltage is affected by the internal resistance of the power supply, so its value differs from the open-circuit voltage. This means that the derived battery voltage value can fluctuate depending on the ratio of the open-circuit voltage to the closed-circuit voltage. As a result, the derived battery voltage value tends to deviate from the true value, which leads to the problem of reduced accuracy in determining the low battery state.

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an aspiration component generating device, a control circuit, a control method for the aspiration component generating device, and a control program that can accurately acquire the voltage value of a battery and reliably determine a low remaining charge state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A form of the present invention for solving the above problems is as follows: comprising a power supply, a load group including a load that vaporizes or atomizes an aspirated component source using power from the power supply, and a control circuit configured to acquire the voltage value of the power supply, The above control circuit is, The process involves obtaining the closed-circuit voltage value of the power supply in a closed-circuit state where the power supply and the load group are electrically connected. The process involves comparing the acquired closed-circuit voltage value with a first reference voltage value, and determining that the power supply is in a low-power state if the value is less than or equal to the reference voltage value. An aspirated component generating device configured to perform the following actions.

[0008] A control circuit according to one embodiment of the present invention is as follows: A control circuit for controlling at least some functions of an aspirated component generating device comprising a power supply and a group of loads including a load that vaporizes or atomizes an aspirated component source using power from the power supply, The process involves obtaining the closed-circuit voltage value of the power supply in a closed-circuit state where the power supply and the load group are electrically connected. The process involves comparing the acquired closed-circuit voltage value with a first reference voltage value, and determining that the power supply is in a low-power state if the value is less than or equal to the reference voltage value. A control circuit configured to perform the following actions.

[0009] The control method for one embodiment of the present invention's aspirated component generating apparatus is as follows: A control method for an aspirated component generating apparatus comprising a power supply, a group of loads including a load that vaporizes or atomizes an aspirated component source using power from the power supply, and a control circuit configured to acquire the voltage value of the power supply, The steps include obtaining the closed-circuit voltage value of the power supply in a closed-circuit state where the power supply and the load group are electrically connected, The steps include comparing the acquired closed-circuit voltage value with the first reference voltage value, If the voltage is below the reference voltage value, the step is to determine that the power supply is in a low charge state, A control method for an aspirated component generating device.

[0010] Another embodiment of the present invention, an aspirated component generating apparatus, is as follows: Power supply and A group of loads including a load that vaporizes or atomizes the inhaled component source using power from the above power source, A pair of terminals that electrically connect the above power supply and the above load group, The system comprises a control circuit configured to acquire the voltage value applied to the load group via the pair of terminals mentioned above, The above control circuit compares the acquired voltage value applied to the load group with a first reference voltage value, and if it is less than or equal to the reference voltage value, it determines that the load group is in an inoperable state. An aspirated component generating device configured to perform the following actions.

[0011] The control method for another embodiment of the present invention, which is an aspirated component generating device, is as follows: A control method for an aspiration component generating apparatus comprising a power supply, a group of loads including a load that vaporizes or atomizes an aspiration component source using power from the power supply, a pair of terminals that electrically connect the power supply and the group of loads, and a control circuit configured to acquire the voltage value applied to the group of loads via the pair of terminals, The above control circuit compares the acquired voltage value applied to the load group with a first reference voltage value, and if it is less than or equal to the reference voltage value, it determines that the load group is in an inoperable state. A control method for an aspirated component generating device, configured to perform the following actions.

[0012] (Explanation of terms) • A “suction component generating device” refers to a device that generates suction components by vaporizing or atomizing flavor sources such as tobacco or aerosol sources. It may be a product formed in a single housing, or it may be a product used by connecting multiple parts (units). • A “power source” refers to a source of electrical energy, including batteries and capacitors. For batteries, secondary batteries such as lithium-ion secondary batteries can be used. A secondary battery may include a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator that separates the positive and negative electrodes, and an electrolyte or ionic liquid. The electrolyte or ionic liquid may be, for example, a solution containing an electrolyte. In a lithium-ion secondary battery, the positive electrode is made of a positive electrode material such as lithium oxide, and the negative electrode is made of a negative electrode material such as graphite. The electrolyte may be, for example, a lithium salt organic solvent. Examples of capacitors include electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs). However, the power source is not limited to these, and other secondary batteries such as nickel-metal hydride secondary batteries or primary batteries may also be used. • In electrical circuits, "load" refers to anything that consumes energy, but in this specification, it specifically refers to anything that primarily generates an attractive component. Loads include heating means such as heating elements, for example, electrical resistance heating elements and induction heating (IH) means. They also include means for generating an attractive component using ultrasound, means for generating an attractive component using piezoelectric elements, or atomizers. When referring to a "group of loads," it includes not only things that generate an attractive component, but also elements that generate light, sound, or vibration, for example. If a communication module is provided, it may be included in the group of loads. On the other hand, microcontrollers and the like in electrical circuits are elements that generate energy through the flow of minute currents, but in this specification, they are not included in the group of loads. • An "aerosol" refers to a mixture of fine liquid or solid particles dispersed in a gas. Regarding the "degradation diagnosis function," battery degradation generally includes, for example, a decrease in capacity and an increase in resistance. In the degradation diagnosis function, as an example, the power supply voltage value may be acquired to diagnose a decrease in capacity, and it may be determined whether that value is above the lower limit of a predetermined reference range. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an aspiration component generating device, a control circuit, a control method for the aspiration component generating device, and a control program that can accurately acquire the voltage value of a battery and reliably determine a low remaining charge state. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an aspirated component generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of an aspirated component generating device. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an aspirated component generation device. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal configuration of a cartridge unit. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the internal configuration of a cartridge unit. [Figure 6] This diagram shows the electrical circuit of the inhalation component generating device (with the power supply unit and cartridge unit connected). [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram showing a cartridge unit and charger that are detachably configured to be attached to the power supply unit. [Figure 8] This diagram shows the electrical circuit of the inhalation component generating device (with the power supply unit and charger connected). [Figure 9] This figure shows the relationship between the voltage supplied to the load and the suction action. [Figure 10] This diagram schematically shows the relationship between the output value of the suction sensor and the voltage supplied to the load. [Figure 11] This flowchart shows a specific example of the operation of the aspirated component generation device. [Figure 12] This figure shows several temperature ranges related to power supply temperature and the corresponding operating controls. [Figure 13] A flowchart illustrating an example of a deterioration diagnosis. [Figure 14] This flowchart shows another example of the specific operation of the aspirated component generating device. [Figure 15] This flowchart shows the sequence of events during a temperature anomaly. [Figure 16] This is a flowchart showing the sequence of events during battery degradation. [Figure 17] This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the charging process. [Figure 18A] This diagram shows a simplified representation of the connection between the power supply and the load. [Figure 18B] This is a diagram showing the equivalent circuit model of the power supply. [Figure 19] This diagram shows the time variation of the closed-circuit voltage, etc. [Figure 20] This diagram shows the relationship between suction detection and power supply control. [Figure 21] This curve shows the discharge characteristics of a rechargeable battery that can be used as a power source. [Figure 22] This figure shows an example of PWM control based on the power supply voltage value. [Figure 23] This is an example of a series of control flows for an aspirated component generation device. [Figure 24] This diagram illustrates the changes in open-circuit voltage and closed-circuit voltage (including at low temperatures). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the specific structures and electrical circuits described below are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to them. Furthermore, in the following description, structural parts with essentially the same function will be denoted by the same or corresponding reference numerals, although reference numerals may be omitted for the sake of explanation. It should be noted that while some parts of the device may be depicted differently in one drawing and others, these do not represent essential differences in the present invention, and either configuration can be adopted.

[0016] 1.Device configuration As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the aspirated component generating device 100 of this embodiment comprises a power supply unit 110 and a cartridge unit 120 that is detachably attached to it. In this embodiment, the power supply unit 110 and the cartridge unit 120 are shown as separate components, but in the aspirated component generating device of the present invention, these may be integrated into a single unit.

[0017] The overall shape of the inhalation component generating device 100 is not particularly limited and various shapes can be adopted, but for example, as shown in Figure 2, it may be formed in the shape of a rod as a whole. Specifically, the inhalation component generating device 100 is formed in the shape of a single rod by connecting the power supply unit 110 and the cartridge unit 120 in the axial direction. Because the overall shape of the device is a single rod, the user can inhale with a feeling similar to smoking a conventional cigarette. In the example in Figure 2, the right end of the figure is the mouthpiece 142, and the opposite end is provided with a light-emitting part 40 that emits light according to the operating state of the device. When using the device, a mouthpiece (not shown) may be attached to the mouthpiece 142 for inhalation. The specific dimensions of the device are not particularly limited, but to allow the user to hold and use it by hand, for example, the diameter may be about 15 mm to 25 mm and the total length may be about 50 mm to 150 mm.

[0018] (Power supply unit) As shown in Figure 1, the power supply unit 110 includes a case member 119, a power supply 10 located inside it, a suction sensor 20, a control circuit 50, and the like. The power supply unit 110 further includes a push button 30 and a light-emitting unit 40. Note that not all of these elements are necessarily essential components of the suction component generating device 100, and one or more may be omitted. Alternatively, one or more may be provided in the cartridge unit 120 instead of the power supply unit 110.

[0019] The case member 119 may be a cylindrical member, and its material is not particularly limited, but it may be made of metal or resin.

[0020] The power source 10 may be, for example, a rechargeable secondary battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery or a nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery. The power source 10 may also be a primary battery or a capacitor instead of a secondary battery. The power source 10 may be provided in a replaceable manner in the power supply unit 110, or it may be built-in. There may be one or more power sources 10.

[0021] The suction sensor 20 may be a sensor that outputs a predetermined output value (e.g., a voltage value or a current value) according to the flow rate and / or flow velocity of the gas passing through it. Such a suction sensor 20 is used to detect a puffing action (suction action) by the user. Various types of suction sensors 20 can be used, such as a condenser microphone sensor or a flow sensor.

[0022] The push button 30 is a button operated by the user. Although it is referred to as a "push button," it is not limited to a button whose part displaces when pressed, and may be an input device such as a touch-type button. The placement of the push button 30 is also not particularly limited and may be provided at any location on the housing of the suction component generating device 100. For example, to make it easier for the user to operate, the push button 30 may be provided on the side of the case member 119 of the power supply unit 110. Multiple push buttons 30 (input devices that receive input from the user) may be provided.

[0023] The light-emitting unit 40 includes one or more light sources (e.g., LEDs) and is configured to emit light in a predetermined light emission pattern at a predetermined timing. For example, it is preferable in one embodiment that it is configured to emit light in multiple colors. One example of the role of the light-emitting unit 40 is to inform the user of the operating status of the device, or to inform the user when an abnormality occurs. Focusing on this role, other notification devices that may be provided in the inhalation component generating device 100 include, for example, a vibration device that generates vibration, an acoustic device that generates sound, a display device that displays predetermined information, or one or a combination of these. For example, the light-emitting unit 40 may be provided at the end of the power supply unit 110. In the inhalation component generating device 100, if the light-emitting unit 40 provided at the end opposite to the end where the mouthpiece 142 is provided emits light in response to the user's puffing action, the user can inhale the inhalation component with the same ease of use as a conventional cigarette.

[0024] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an aspirated component generating device. As shown in Figure 3, the aspirated component generating device 100 also includes a temperature sensor 61 and a voltage sensor 62, in addition to the above.

[0025] The temperature sensor 61 is for acquiring or estimating the temperature of a predetermined object inside the suction component generating device 100. The temperature sensor 61 may measure the temperature of the power supply 10, or it may measure the temperature of an object other than the power supply 10. Alternatively, instead of providing a dedicated temperature sensor, a temperature detector incorporated into a predetermined component of an electrical circuit may be used. The specific processing based on the output of the temperature sensor 61 will be described later. Although not limited to these, the temperature sensor 61 can be, for example, a thermistor, thermocouple, resistance thermometer, IC temperature sensor, etc. There may be more than one temperature sensor 61.

[0026] The voltage sensor 62 is, for example, used to measure the power supply voltage. A sensor for measuring a predetermined voltage other than the power supply may also be provided. Specific processing based on the output of the voltage sensor 62 will be described later. Regarding the voltage sensor 62, there may be more than one; multiple sensors may be provided.

[0027] The aspirated component generating device 100 may, if necessary, be further provided with a wireless communication device (not shown) and / or a communication port (not shown) that enables connection to an external device. For example, it may be configured to transmit information regarding the power status, information regarding aspiration, etc., to an external device via these.

[0028] (Cartridge unit) The cartridge unit 120 is a unit that has an inhalation component source inside, and as shown in Figures 1 and 4, it has a case member 129, a reservoir 123, a flavoring unit 130, and a load 125 for vaporizing or atomizing the inhalation component source. Note that not all of the above elements are necessarily essential components of the inhalation component generating device 100. In particular, in this embodiment, we will describe an example in which both a reservoir 123 for aerosol generation and a flavoring unit 130 for generating flavoring components (details below) are provided, but either one or the other may be provided.

[0029] The general function of the cartridge unit 120 is as follows: Firstly, in the first stage, the load 125 operates, causing the aerosol source stored in the reservoir 123 to vaporize or atomize. Secondly, in the second stage, the generated aerosol flows through the flavoring unit 130, where it is imparted with flavoring components and finally inhaled into the user's mouth.

[0030] The case member 129 (see Figure 4) may be a cylindrical member, and its material is not particularly limited, but it may be made of metal or resin. The cross-sectional shape of the case member 129 may be formed to be the same as that of the case member 119 of the power supply unit 110. As mentioned above, the cartridge unit 120 can be connected to the power supply unit 110. Specifically, as an example, the connection part 121 at one end of the cartridge unit 120 may be physically connected to the connection part 111 at one end of the power supply unit 110. In Figure 4, the connection part 121 is depicted as a threaded part, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. Instead of connection by a threaded part, the connection parts 111 and 121 may be connected by magnetism. When the connection parts 111 and 121 are connected to each other, the electrical circuit on the power supply unit 110 side and the electrical circuit on the cartridge unit 120 side may be electrically connected (details will be described later).

[0031] As shown in Figure 4, a cylindrical member is provided inside the connection portion 121 that extends axially from the case member 129, forming an inlet 121a for taking in air into the unit. In addition, one or more holes 121b are formed in the connection portion 121, extending radially, allowing outside air to be taken in through these holes 121b. The inlet may be provided in the connection portion 111 of the power supply unit 110 instead of the connection portion 121 of the cartridge unit 120. Alternatively, the inlet may be provided in both the connection portion 111 of the power supply unit 110 and the connection portion 121 of the cartridge unit 120.

[0032] The reservoir 123 is a container for storing an aerosol source that is liquid at room temperature. The reservoir 123 may be a porous body made of a material such as a resin web. The aerosol source can also be a solid at room temperature. This description will mainly focus on a configuration in which an aerosol source is stored in the reservoir 123, but a configuration in which a flavor source is stored in the reservoir 123 may also be described.

[0033] As an aerosol source, for example, polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin or propylene glycol, or water can be used. The aerosol source itself may contain flavor components. Alternatively, the aerosol source may contain tobacco raw materials or extracts derived from tobacco raw materials that release flavor components when heated.

[0034] The load 125 may, for example, be a heating element such as a heater, or an ultrasonic element that generates, for example, minute droplets using ultrasound. Examples of heating elements include heating resistors (e.g., electric heating wires), ceramic heaters, and induction heating heaters. The load 125 may also generate flavor components from a flavor source.

[0035] To describe the surrounding structure of the reservoir 123 in more detail, in the example shown in Figure 4, a wick 122 is provided so as to be in contact with the reservoir 123, and a load 125 is provided so as to surround a part of the wick 122. The wick 122 is a component that draws in the aerosol source from the reservoir 123 using capillary action. The wick 122 may be made of, for example, glass fiber or porous ceramic. When a part of the wick 122 is heated, the aerosol source held therein is vaporized or atomized. In the case where a flavor source is stored in the reservoir 123, the flavor source will be vaporized or atomized.

[0036] In the example shown in Figure 4, the load 125 is provided as a spirally formed heating wire. However, the load 125 is not necessarily limited to a specific shape, but can be any shape as long as it can generate an attractive component.

[0037] The flavor unit 130 is a unit that houses the flavor source. Various configurations can be adopted for the specific configuration, and it is not particularly limited, but for example, the flavor unit 130 may be provided as a replaceable cartridge. In the example in Figure 4, the flavor unit 130 has a cylindrical body 131 into which the flavor source is filled. More specifically, this cylindrical body 131 includes a membrane member 133 and a filter 132.

[0038] The flavor source consists of raw material pieces of plant material that impart flavor components to the aerosol. As the raw material pieces constituting the flavor source, molded bodies made by shaping tobacco materials, such as shredded tobacco or tobacco raw materials, into granules can be used. Alternatively, the flavor source may be a molded body made by shaping tobacco materials into a sheet. Furthermore, the raw material pieces constituting the flavor source may be composed of plants other than tobacco (e.g., mint, herbs, etc.). The flavor source may also be imparted with flavorings such as menthol.

[0039] In this embodiment, a rupture section 127a is provided inside the cartridge unit 120 as shown in Figure 4, and the membrane member 133 of the flavoring unit 130 is broken by this rupture section 127a. Specifically, the rupture section 127a is a cylindrical hollow needle, and its tip is configured to pierce the membrane member 133. The rupture section 127a may be held by a partition member 127b that separates the cartridge unit 120 and the flavoring unit 130. The partition member 127b is, for example, made of polyacetal resin. When the rupture section 127a and the flavoring unit 130 are connected, a single flow path is formed inside the cartridge unit 120, and aerosols, air, etc., flow through this flow path.

[0040] Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, the flow path consists of an inlet hole 121a provided inside the reservoir 123, an internal passage 127c following it, a passage within the destructive section 127a, a passage within the flavor unit 130, and a suction hole 141 (details below). In one embodiment, it is preferable that the hollow needle, which is the destructive section 127a, has a mesh with a coarseness that prevents the flavor source from passing through. The suction component generating device 100 may include a mouthpiece section 142 having a suction hole 141 for the user to suction the suction component. The mouthpiece section 142 may be detachably attached to the suction component generating device 100, or it may be integrally and inseparably attached.

[0041] The flavor unit may have a structure such as that shown in Figure 5. In this flavor unit 130', a flavor source is placed inside a cylindrical body 131', a membrane member 133' is provided at one open end of the cylindrical body 131', and a filter 132' is provided at the other open end. The cylindrical body 131' may be provided in a way that it is replaceable with respect to the cartridge unit 120. The other structural parts of Figure 5 are the same as in Figure 4, so redundant explanations will be omitted. In the example in Figure 5, a gap is created between the outer surface of the cylindrical body 131' of the flavor unit 130' and the inner surface of the case member 129, but a configuration in which no such gap is formed is also possible. In this case, all the gas to be drawn in will pass inside the cylindrical body 131'. Various types of flavor units 130' containing different types of flavor sources are commercially available, and they may be configured so that they can be set in the inhalation component generating device 100 according to the user's preference and inhalation can be performed. Furthermore, when the flavoring unit 130' is connected to the cartridge unit 120, the end of the flavoring unit 130' may protrude and be exposed from the case member 129. With this configuration, the replaceable flavoring unit 130' acts as the mouthpiece 142, allowing the user to use the inhalation component generating device 100 hygienically without touching the case member 129 during inhalation.

[0042] (control circuit) Referring again to Figure 3, the control circuit 50 of the aspirated component generating device 100 may have a processor with memory and a CPU (neither shown) and various electrical circuits. The processor can be anything that performs various processes, regardless of its name, and may be called an MCU (Micro Controller Unit), microcomputer, control IC, control unit, etc. The control circuit 50 may be configured so that a single control circuit performs control related to the functions of the aspirated component generating device 100, or it may be configured so that various functions are divided and executed by multiple control circuits.

[0043] In the following description, we will explain a configuration in which the charger 200 is provided separately from the inhaled component generating device 100 as an example. In this case, the device side has a first control circuit, and the charger side has a second control circuit, and each control circuit can perform a predetermined function. On the other hand, as another example of the configuration of the inhaled component generating device 100, the function of the charger can be built into the main body of the device, and in this case, it may be configured as a single control circuit. Thus, in the present invention, there may be multiple control circuits depending on the physical configuration of the device, but it is possible to change which control circuit performs various controls as appropriate.

[0044] (Electrical circuit configuration) A specific example of the circuit configuration of the aspirated component generating device 100 of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 6, the overall electrical circuit of the aspirated component generating device 100 is configured such that the circuit on the power supply unit 110 side and the circuit on the cartridge unit 120 side can be connected.

[0045] The circuit of the cartridge unit 120 is provided with a load 125, and both ends of the load 125 are connected to a pair of electrical terminals 121t. In this embodiment, this pair of electrical terminals 121t constitutes a connection part 121 from the standpoint of electrical connection.

[0046] The power supply unit 110 includes a control unit (control IC) 50A, a power supply 10, a protection circuit 180, a first switch 172, a second switch 174, and the like. As schematically shown in Figure 7, the circuit of the cartridge unit 120 described above is connected to the circuit of the power supply unit 110, and the circuit of the charger 200 (details to be described later) is also configured to be connectable.

[0047] Referring again to Figure 6, in the circuit of the power supply unit 110, the high-potential side of the power supply 10 and the control unit 50A are connected by paths 110a, 110b, and 110c. Path 110a connects the high-potential side of the power supply 10 to node 156, path 110b connects node 156 to node 154, and path 110c connects node 154 to the control unit 50A. Path 110d is drawn out from node 154, and path 110d connects node 154 to the protection circuit 180. Two switches 172 and 174 are provided on path 110d.

[0048] A resistor 161 is provided between the point on path 110a where the high-potential side of the power supply 10 is connected and the protection circuit 180. A first resistor 150 is provided on path 110b, and a second resistor 152 is provided on path 110c. In this example, one of a pair of electrical terminals 111t is connected to node 156, and the other is connected to node 154. The control unit 50A and the point on path 110d between the second switch 174 and the protection circuit 180 are connected by path 110e, and a resistor 162 is provided on this path 110e. The protection circuit 180 and path 110a are also connected by path 110f, and a capacitor 163 is provided on this path 110f. In one embodiment, however not limited, it is preferable that the electrical resistance values ​​of the first resistor 150 and the second resistor 152 are known. The first resistor 150 may be a known resistance for the control unit 50A and external units. Similarly, the second resistor 152 may be a known resistance for the control unit 50A and the external unit. The electrical resistance values ​​of the first resistor 150 and the second resistor 152 may be the same.

[0049] The first switch 172 switches the electrical connection state between the power supply 10 and the load 125. The first switch 172 may be composed of, for example, a MOSFET. The first switch 172 may also function as a so-called discharge FET. The ON / OFF state of the first switch 172 is controlled by the control unit 50A. Specifically, when the first switch 172 is closed (i.e., turned ON), power is supplied from the power supply 10 to the load 125, and when the switch 172 is opened (i.e., turned OFF), no power is supplied.

[0050] The first switch 172 may be configured to perform PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control on the load 125 by controlling its opening and closing. However, PFM (Pulse Frequency Modulation) control may be performed instead of PWM control. The duty cycle in PWM control and the switching frequency in PFM control may be adjusted by various parameters, such as the voltage value of the power supply 10. The specific circuit configuration of the first switch 172 is not necessarily limited to the following, but it may have a parasitic diode. This parasitic diode may, for example, reverse the direction in which current from the power supply 10 flows through node 154 when no external unit such as a charger is connected.

[0051] The second switch 174 is electrically connected to the node 154 via the first switch 172. The second switch 174 may also be composed of, for example, a MOSFET and controlled by the control unit 50A. More specifically, the second switch 174 may be able to transition between an open state that interrupts the current flowing from the low potential side to the high potential side of the power supply 10 and a closed state that allows the current flowing from the low potential side to the high potential side of the power supply 10 to pass through. The second switch 174 may also have a parasitic diode that reverses the direction in which the charging current that charges the power supply 10 flows.

[0052] In the circuit configuration described above, the current from the power supply 10 mainly flows back to the power supply 10 through node 156, load 125, node 154, and switch 172 in that order, thereby heating the load 125. Although a portion of the current from the power supply 10 passes through resistor 150, the loss caused by the current flowing through resistor 150 can be reduced by setting the resistance value of resistor 150 to be sufficiently larger than the resistance value of load 125.

[0053] (Charger circuit configuration) Next, a specific example of the circuit configuration on the charger 200 side will be explained below with reference to Figure 8. Note that in Figure 8, the circuit configuration on the power supply unit 110 side is the same as in Figure 6.

[0054] The external shape of the charger 200 is not limited in any way and can be any shape, but as an example, the charger 200 may be shaped like a USB memory stick with a USB terminal that can be connected to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port. As another example, the charger 200 may be cradle-shaped to hold the power unit or case-shaped to house the power unit inside. If the charger 200 is configured as a cradle or case, the external power supply 210 is built into the charger 200 and is preferably of a size and weight that is portable for the user.

[0055] As shown in Figure 8, the circuit of the charger 200 includes a charge control unit (charge control IC) 250, an inverter 251 that converts AC to DC, and a converter 253 that raises or lowers the voltage output by the inverter 251. The charger 200 may have a built-in charging power supply 210 for supplying charging power, or it may use other equipment or commercial power as an external power source. Note that if the charging power supply 210 is built into the charger 200 and outputs DC, the inverter 251 may be omitted. The charger 200 is also provided with a current sensor 230 for reading the charging current value supplied to the power supply 10, and a voltage sensor 240 for acquiring the voltage difference between a pair of electrical terminals 211t (connection part 211). The voltage sensor 240 may be configured to cooperate with the control circuit 50 and switches 172 and 174 to also acquire the voltage value applied to the first resistor 150.

[0056] The charging control unit 250 may have one or more functions, such as detecting the connection of the power supply unit 110, determining the type of object to be connected, and controlling charging based on the output value of the current sensor and / or the output value of the voltage sensor. However, the control unit 50A of the suction component generating device 100 may be configured to perform one or more of these functions, rather than the charger 200. Details of the above functions will be described later.

[0057] 2. Motion Control The functions of the aspirated component generating device 100 include, for example, the following: (a1) Power supply control (a2) Light emission control (a3) Operation control based on power supply temperature (a4) Deterioration diagnosis function (b1) Charger connection detection (b2) Charge control The following explains the process step by step.

[0058] (a1) Power supply control The control circuit 50 has the function of supplying power to the load 125 based on a request signal from a request sensor. A request sensor is, for example, one that can output a signal requesting the operation of the load 125. Specifically, the request sensor may be, for example, a push button 30 pressed by a user, or a suction sensor 20 that detects the user's sucking motion. In other words, the control circuit 50 may be configured to perform a predetermined operation triggered by the pressing of the push button 30 and / or the detection result of the suction sensor 20. A value related to the amount of operation of the load 125 may be measured by a predetermined counter.

[0059] The power supply termination may be controlled as follows: The control circuit 50 determines whether it has detected the timing for the termination of power supply to the load 125, and terminates the power supply if it has detected it. The control circuit 50 may also measure values ​​related to the operation of the load 125 (such as the amount of power supplied to the load, the operating time of the load, and / or the amount of suction component source consumed). More specifically, the power supply termination timing may be the timing when the suction sensor 20 detects the end of the operation for using the load. For example, it may be the timing when the user detects the end of the suction operation. Alternatively, the power supply may be terminated when the release of the push button 30 is detected.

[0060] Furthermore, power supply may be terminated based on a cutoff time. That is, power supply may be terminated when it is detected that a predetermined cutoff time has elapsed during power supply. In order to implement control based on the cutoff time, a cutoff time (1.0 to 5.0 seconds, preferably (1.5 to 3.0 seconds, more preferably 1.5 to 2.5 seconds)) may be set based on the time required for a typical user to perform one suction operation.

[0061] An example of cutoff time is briefly explained with reference to Figure 9. The horizontal axis represents time, with the upper section showing the change in suction volume or suction speed, and the lower section showing the discharge FET signal (corresponding to the voltage waveform supplied to the load). In this example, power supply to the load is started when it is determined that suction has begun based on the output of the suction sensor 20 (suction volume or suction speed). In the figure, time t2 is the timing when suction has ended. When using a cutoff time, even if it is determined that suction is complete at time t2, the power supply is forcibly terminated when the predetermined cutoff time (in this case, time t1) has elapsed. By setting a cutoff time in this way, the variation in the amount of aerosol generated with each power supply can be reduced, thereby improving the user's aerosol suction experience. In addition, since long-term continuous power supply to the load 125 is suppressed, the lifespan of the load 125 can be extended.

[0062] The control circuit 50 may be configured to acquire values ​​related to the amount of load operation during a single puff operation and to derive cumulative values ​​of the acquired values. That is, it measures the amount of power supplied to the load, the operating time of the load, etc., during a single puff operation. The operating time may be the sum of the time during which power pulses are applied. In addition, the control circuit may be configured to measure the amount of suction component source consumed during a single puff operation. The amount of suction component source consumed can be estimated, for example, from the amount of power supplied to the load. If the suction component source is a liquid, the amount of suction component source consumed may be derived at least based on the weight of the suction component source remaining in the reservoir, or at least based on the output of a sensor that measures the liquid level of the suction component source. The amount of load operation during a single puff operation may be derived at least based on the load temperature (for example, the highest temperature of the load during the puff operation, and / or the amount of heat generated by the load).

[0063] To provide a specific example of operation based on the output of the suction sensor, please refer to Figure 10 for further explanation. Figure 10 schematically shows the relationship between the output value of the suction sensor and the voltage supplied to the load. In this example, the control circuit 50 detects whether the output value of the suction sensor is equal to or greater than a first reference value O1, and determines that suction operation is being performed if it is equal to or greater than the reference value. This timing serves as a trigger to request power supply. The control circuit 50 also detects whether the output value of the suction sensor is equal to or less than a second reference value O2, and determines that it is time to end power supply if it is equal to or less than the reference value.

[0064] The control circuit 50 may, for example, be configured to detect suction only when the absolute value of the output value of the suction sensor is greater than or equal to a first reference value O1. Since the detection of the second reference value O2 is for detecting a transition from a state in which the load is already operating to a state in which it is not operating, the first reference value O2 may be smaller than the second reference value O1.

[0065] Regarding the operation of the load, for example, when the power supply voltage is relatively high, the pulse width in PWM control may be narrowed (see the middle section of the graph in Figure 10), and when the power supply voltage is relatively low, the pulse width may be widened (the lower section of the same graph). The power supply voltage basically decreases as the charge level of the power supply decreases. Therefore, in one form, it is preferable to adjust the amount of power according to the power supply voltage at any given time. With such a control method, for example, the effective value of the voltage (power) supplied to the load can be made the same or substantially the same in both cases where the power supply voltage is relatively high and low. Furthermore, it is preferable to perform PWM control with a high duty cycle when the power supply voltage is low. With such a control method, it is possible to appropriately adjust (for example, nearly equalize) the amount of aerosol generated during puffing operation, regardless of the remaining power supply. By nearly equalizing the amount of aerosol generated during puffing operation, the user's aerosol inhalation experience can be improved.

[0066] (a2) LED light emission control, etc. The aspiration component generating device of this embodiment may operate the light-emitting unit 40 (see Figure 1, etc.) as follows. However, as mentioned above, it is also possible to notify the user by means of notification such as sound or vibration instead of light emission. Figure 11 is a flowchart showing a specific example of operation of the aspiration component generating device 100.

[0067] First, in step S101, the control circuit 100 (see Figure 3) detects whether or not suction has started. If the start of suction is not detected, step S101 is repeated. If the start of suction is detected, the process moves to step S102.

[0068] Next, in step S102, the power supply voltage value V of power supply 10 is set. batt The value is obtained and then the electricity Determine whether the discharge termination voltage value of power source 10 (3.2V in one example) is exceeded. Power supply voltage value V batt If the voltage is below the discharge termination voltage, it means that there is not enough remaining power in the battery. Therefore, in step S122, the light-emitting unit 40 is made to emit light in a predetermined mode. Specifically, for example, it may be made to blink in red.

[0069] In step S102, the power supply voltage value V batt The remaining charge is above the discharge termination voltage value. If it is determined that the discharge termination voltage < power supply voltage value V, then in step S103, the discharge termination voltage < power supply voltage value V batt Determine whether the value is ≤(full charge voltage - Δ). Note that Δ is a positive value. Power supply voltage value V batt Depending on whether it falls within this range, the duty is as follows: Whether or not to supply power at 100% duty cycle is changed. If within this range, power is supplied at 100% duty cycle in step S104. Although not limited to this, as an example, the light-emitting part 40 may be illuminated in blue (step S105).

[0070] Meanwhile, in step S103, the power supply voltage value V battWhen it is determined that it is not within the above range , then, in step S123, it is determined whether (fully charged voltage - Δ) < power supply voltage value V batt ≤ fully charged voltage . If it is within this range, constant power control is achieved by feeding power using PWM control in step S124.

[0071] In this embodiment, in step S106, the suction time T L is reset to "0", and then the suction time T L is updated by adding Δt in step S107.

[0072] Next, in step S108, it is determined whether the end of suction has been detected. If the end of suction is detected, the process proceeds to step S109 and the power supply to the load is stopped. On the other hand, if the end of suction has not been detected, but in step S128 the suction time T L is determined to be equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit time , the process also proceeds to step S109 and the power supply to the load is stopped. Then, the light emitting unit 40 is turned off in step S110.

[0073] In step S111, the integration time T A is updated. That is, the current suction time T A is added to the previous integration time T L to obtain a new integration time T A . Next, in step S112 , it is determined whether the integration time T A exceeds a predetermined suction possible time (for example, 120 sec) . If it does not exceed this time, it is assumed that continuous use can be continued, and the process returns to the sequence from step S101. On the other hand, if the integration time T A exceeds the suction possible time , it is estimated that the fragrance source in the fragrance unit 130 or the aerosol source in the reservoir 123 is insufficient or depleted, and the power supply to the load is prohibited in step S115 described later.

[0074] On the other hand, if this time is exceeded, step S113 detects whether suction has started, step S114 determines whether suction has continued for a predetermined time (e.g., 1.0 sec), and even if it has continued for longer than the predetermined time, step S115 prohibits power supply to the load. In this case, to indicate that power supply is prohibited, step S116 causes the light-emitting unit to emit light in a predetermined mode (e.g., blinking in blue), and after a certain period of time has elapsed, step S117 releases the power supply prohibition. Alternatively, instead of a certain period of time elapsed, replacing the flavor unit 130 or cartridge unit 120 with a new one, or refilling the flavor source or aerosol source may be used as the condition for releasing the power supply prohibition in step S117.

[0075] Through the series of operations described above, the operating mode of the load is appropriately changed according to the remaining power supply, and the user can also understand the current operating status of the inhalation component generator through the light-emitting unit 40.

[0076] (a3) Operation control based on power supply temperature The aspirated component generating apparatus 100 of this embodiment has a power supply temperature T batt within a specified temperature range The system may be configured to determine whether or not to perform a certain action and, based on the result, perform or not perform a predetermined action. Figure 12 shows a specific example of a temperature range. In this example, the first to fourth temperature ranges are set. Note that not all four ranges are set; only one, two, or three of them may be set.

[0077] The first temperature range is the temperature range for obtaining a State of Health (SOH) diagnosis, which indicates the healthy state of the power supply, and consists of an upper temperature limit T1a and a lower temperature limit T1b. The specific numerical values ​​for the upper and lower temperatures can be set as appropriate. The unit of SOH may also be in [%]. In this case, the SOH when new may be set to 100[%], and the SOH when the power supply has deteriorated to a state where charging and discharging is difficult may be set to 0[%]. As another example, the value obtained by dividing the current full charge capacity by the full charge capacity when new may be used as the SOH.

[0078] The upper temperature limit T1a is not limited, but it may be set below or below a temperature at which, for example, the structure and / or composition of the power supply electrodes and electrolyte may change (or the change becomes significant), or the decomposition gas may be generated (or the generation becomes significant), taking into consideration. If SOH is obtained at a temperature above the upper temperature limit T1a, it will be strongly affected by the temperature, making it difficult to obtain an accurate degradation diagnosis result. For example, temperature T1a may be 60°C. By setting the temperature range in this way, the degradation diagnosis will be performed in a range where structural changes of the power supply do not occur or the generation of decomposition gases is suppressed, making it possible to obtain an accurate degradation diagnosis result.

[0079] The lower limit temperature T1b may be set higher than or above a temperature at which, for example, output degradation due to temperatures lower than SOH may become dominant (or become significant). For example, temperature T1b is 15°C. To obtain SOH, it is common to use indicators that show capacity degradation of the power supply 10, such as output degradation. Therefore, in temperature ranges where factors other than SOH contribute to output degradation, it becomes difficult to obtain proper degradation diagnosis results. In other words, if degradation diagnosis is permitted only when the power supply temperature is within the first temperature range determined by the upper limit temperature T1a and lower limit temperature T1b described above, the influence of power supply temperature on the degradation diagnosis results can be minimized. Thus, it becomes possible to obtain proper degradation diagnosis results.

[0080] The second temperature range is the temperature range for allowing the power supply to discharge, and consists of an upper temperature limit T2a and a lower temperature limit T2b. The specific numerical values ​​for the upper and lower temperatures can be set as appropriate. For example, the upper temperature limit T2a may be set using the same criteria as the upper temperature limit T1a of the first temperature range. For example, temperature T2a is 60°C. As another example, the upper temperature limit T2a may be different from the upper temperature limit T1a. The lower temperature limit T2b may be set higher than or above a temperature at which the internal resistance may become excessive (or at which it becomes noticeable) due to the solidification of the electrolyte or ionic liquid of the power supply, for example. Temperature T2b may be -10°C. The second temperature range determined by these upper temperature limit T2a and lower temperature limit T2b is a range in which the structure and / or composition of the electrodes and electrolyte of the power supply do not change, and solidification of the electrolyte or ionic liquid of the power supply does not occur, thus improving the safety and lifespan of the power supply in terms of discharge.

[0081] The third temperature range is the temperature range for allowing power supply charging, with an upper temperature limit T3a and a lower temperature limit T3b. As with the above range, the specific numerical values ​​for the upper and lower temperature limits can be set as appropriate.

[0082] The upper temperature limit T3a is not limited, but may be set to the same standard as the upper temperature limit T2a of the first temperature range, for example. For example, the upper temperature limit T3a is 60°C. Another example is that the upper temperature limit T3a may be different from the upper temperature limit T1a. For example, if the power source is a lithium-ion secondary battery, metallic lithium may be deposited on the surface of the negative electrode when voltage is applied at low temperatures. Considering the temperature at which this so-called electrodeposition phenomenon may occur (or at which it becomes significant), the lower temperature limit T3b may be set higher than or above that temperature. For example, the lower temperature limit T3b is 0°C. This third temperature range determined by the upper temperature limit T3a and the lower temperature limit T3b is a range in which the structure and / or composition of the power source electrodes and electrolyte do not change and electrodeposition does not occur, thus improving the safety and lifespan of the power source during charging.

[0083] The fourth temperature range is the temperature range for permitting fast charging, with an upper temperature limit T4a and a lower temperature limit T4b. As with the above range, the specific numerical values ​​for the upper and lower temperatures can be set as appropriate. In this specification, fast charging is defined as charging performed at a higher rate than the charging permitted in the third temperature range. For example, fast charging may be performed at a rate more than twice that of the regular charging. For example, the fast charging rate may be 2C and the regular charging rate may be 1C.

[0084] The upper temperature limit T4a is not limited, but may be set to the same standard as the upper temperature limit T1a of the first temperature range, for example. For example, the upper temperature limit T4a is 60°C. Alternatively, the upper temperature limit T4a may be different from the upper temperature limit T1a. The lower temperature limit T4b may be set higher than or above the temperature at which power supply degradation is accelerated as a result of high-rate charging, for example. For example, the temperature limit T4b is 10°C. This fourth temperature range determined by the upper temperature limit T4a and the lower temperature limit T4b is a range in which the structure and / or composition of the power supply electrodes and electrolyte do not change and power supply degradation is not accelerated, thus improving the safety and lifespan of the power supply in relation to rapid charging.

[0085] The above describes the first to fourth temperature ranges, but the relationships between these temperature ranges may be as follows: (1) With respect to the first temperature range, its lower limit temperature T1b may be set higher than the lower limit temperature T2b of the second temperature range. The lower limit temperature T1b may also be set higher than the lower limit temperatures T2b to T4b of all second to fourth temperature ranges. The upper limit temperature T1a may be set to be the same as or substantially the same as the upper limit temperatures T2a to T4a of the other temperature ranges (meaning it is within a numerical range obtained by increasing or decreasing the value of the comparison by 10%; the same applies in this specification). Alternatively, the upper limit temperature T1a may be greater than or equal to the upper limit temperature T2a of the second temperature range, greater than or equal to the upper limit temperature T3a of the third temperature range, or greater than or equal to the upper limit temperature T4a of the fourth temperature range. (2) With respect to the second temperature range, the second temperature range may be set to be wider than the first temperature range and to encompass the first temperature range (the term "encompass" in this specification includes cases where the upper limits of the temperatures are the same, or where the lower limits of the temperatures are the same; the same applies in this specification). In one embodiment of the present invention, the second temperature range may be set to be wider than the temperature range in which other functions are permitted (the first, third, and fourth temperature ranges in the example of Figure 12). (3) With respect to the third temperature range, the third temperature range may be set to be wider than the first temperature range and to include the first temperature range. Also, the third temperature range may be set to be wider than the fourth temperature range and to include the fourth temperature range. (4) With respect to the fourth temperature range, the fourth temperature range may be set to be wider than the first temperature range and to encompass the first temperature range. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first temperature range may be set to be narrower than the temperature range in which other functions are permitted (the second to fourth temperature ranges in the example of Figure 12).

[0086] Incidentally, SOH diagnosis is generally performed based on the electrical parameters of the power supply during discharge and charging. Examples of electrical parameters include the current value discharged or the voltage value output by the power supply during discharge, and the current value charged to the power supply or the voltage value applied during charging. As mentioned above, if a first temperature range is set, the power supply temperature belonging to the first temperature range will inevitably belong to the second to fourth temperature ranges. Therefore, in conditions where SOH diagnosis is permitted, at least one of discharge, charging, or rapid charging will be permitted simultaneously. Thus, since the electrical parameters necessary for SOH diagnosis can be obtained by any of discharge, charging, or rapid charging, SOH diagnosis can be performed without problems in conditions where SOH diagnosis is permitted. Therefore, the effectiveness of SOH diagnosis is improved.

[0087] Furthermore, the electrical parameters used in SOH diagnosis are affected not only by power supply degradation but also by power supply temperature. Therefore, in order to ensure the accuracy of SOH diagnosis, it is preferable to perform SOH diagnosis only when the temperature range in which the power supply temperature has little effect on the electrical parameters used in SOH diagnosis.

[0088] As a result of diligent research by the inventors of this application, it was found that the temperature range suitable for SOH diagnosis is narrower than the temperature range in which charging and discharging can be performed without accelerating power supply degradation. In particular, it was also found that at low temperatures, the influence of the power supply temperature on the electrical parameters used for SOH diagnosis becomes dominant.

[0089] As mentioned above, if a first temperature range is set, the power supply temperature belonging to the second to fourth temperature ranges does not necessarily belong to the first temperature range. In other words, it means that there are temperature ranges where charging and discharging are permitted, but SOH diagnosis is not permitted. By setting each temperature range in this way, SOH diagnosis can be performed only in the preferred temperature range, thereby improving the accuracy of SOH diagnosis. In particular, in one embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that charging and discharging of the power supply is permitted in the temperature range below 15℃ from the standpoint of suppressing power supply degradation, but SOH diagnosis is not permitted from the standpoint of ensuring the accuracy of SOH diagnosis.

[0090] Furthermore, discharging generally has less impact on power supply degradation than charging. This difference in the impact of charging and discharging on power supply degradation becomes more pronounced as the power supply temperature decreases. As mentioned above, by setting a second temperature range, it is possible to maximize the opportunities for charging and discharging while suppressing power supply degradation.

[0091] Furthermore, between regular charging and fast charging, regular charging generally has less impact on power supply degradation. This difference in the impact of regular charging and fast charging on power supply degradation becomes more pronounced as the power supply temperature decreases. As mentioned above, by setting a third temperature range and / or a fourth temperature range, it is possible to maximize the opportunities for both regular charging and fast charging while suppressing power supply degradation.

[0092] Thus, by appropriately setting the first temperature range, the accuracy of SOH diagnosis is improved, and the power supply 10 can be used for a longer period while ensuring safety, resulting in energy savings.

[0093] Furthermore, by appropriately setting each temperature range, the degradation of the power supply 10 is suppressed, extending the lifespan of the power supply 10 and resulting in energy savings.

[0094] (a4) Deterioration diagnosis function Figure 13 is a flowchart showing an example of degradation diagnosis and fault diagnosis. In step S201, first, the power supply voltage value V batt Measurement is performed. Power supply voltage value V batt is, This can be obtained using a pressure sensor. Note that this flowchart is executed when the start of suction is detected by the control circuit 50 (see Figure 3).

[0095] Power supply voltage value V batt For example, this involves electrically connecting the power supply 10 and the load 125. The open-circuit voltage (OCV) obtained without any special procedure may also be used. Power supply voltage value V batt For example, the power supply 10 and the load 125 are electrically connected. It may also be the closed-circuit voltage (CCV) obtained by connecting to it. Power supply voltage value V batt For example, open-circuit voltage and closed-circuit voltage Both the circuit voltage and the open-circuit voltage (OCV) may be used. In order to eliminate the effects of voltage drop due to the electrical connection of load 10 and changes in internal resistance and temperature due to discharge, it may be preferable to use the open-circuit voltage (OCV) rather than the closed-circuit voltage (CCV). The open-circuit voltage (OCV) may also be estimated from the closed-circuit voltage (CCV).

[0096] Power supply voltage value V batt Specifically, the timing of acquisition is when power is supplied to the load. This could be during the discharge, immediately before the discharge, or immediately after the discharge. "Immediately before the discharge" could be, for example, the time from before the discharge started, for example, 5 to 10 msec, until the discharge started. "Immediately after the discharge" could be, for example, the time from the end of the discharge until 5 to 10 msec has elapsed.

[0097] Note that in the flow chart of Figure 13, the power supply voltage value V during charging is shown. batt The acquisition will not take place, but charging The power supply voltage value V is inside. batt If you need to obtain it, in addition to during charging, as above, Power supply voltage value V immediately before or after charging batt You can also try to obtain it. "Just before charging" "The period before charging" could be, for example, the time from 5 to 10 msec before charging begins until the charging starts. "Immediately after charging" could be, for example, the time from the end of charging until 5 to 10 msec has elapsed.

[0098] Next, in step S202, the acquired power supply voltage value V batt within a predetermined voltage range Determine whether the value is below the upper limit. If it is above the upper limit, terminate the process without estimating or detecting power supply degradation and failure. Alternatively, if it is above the upper limit, you may return to step S201.

[0099] On the other hand, the power supply voltage value V batt If it is less than or equal to a predetermined upper limit, then proceed to step S203. Then, it is determined whether the power supply voltage value obtained during the previous suction operation was less than or equal to the upper limit of a predetermined voltage range. before The place If the voltage is higher than the upper limit of a predetermined voltage range, it is determined that the power supply voltage has finally fallen below the upper limit of the predetermined voltage range after the latest suction operation. Next, in step S204, a cumulative counter (I) counts the cumulative value of the value related to the amount of operation of the load 125. Cо ) to "0" Set to this. If the result of step S203 is No, it means that the power supply was charged between the previous suction operation and the current suction operation.

[0100] If the result of step S203 is Yes, or after the cumulative counter is reset in step S204, then in step S205, the power supply voltage value V batt at a predetermined voltage Determine whether the value is below the lower limit of the range. Power supply voltage V batt If it is above the lower limit In addition, in step S206, the cumulative value "ICo = ICo + Co" of the values ​​related to the load's operation is derived. Co is a value related to the load's operation in the current suction operation. ICo is the cumulative value of the values ​​related to the load's operation. Subsequently, the process is terminated without estimating or detecting power supply degradation or failure.

[0101] In step S205, the power supply voltage value V batt If it is below the lower limit of the specified voltage range If so, then in S207, the power supply voltage value V batt While it is within a predetermined voltage range The system determines whether the cumulative value of ICo, which is related to the amount of operation of the load, is greater than a predetermined threshold. If the cumulative value of ICo is greater than the predetermined threshold, the system determines that the power supply is normal and terminates the diagnostic function.

[0102] If the cumulative value of ICo is below a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the power supply 10 is degraded or malfunctioning (step S208), and the abnormality is notified to the user via the light-emitting unit 40 (step S209). If it is determined that the power supply is degraded or malfunctioning, control may be taken to disable the power supply to the load 125 as necessary.

[0103] The degradation diagnosis function is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various known methods can be employed. For example, if the power supply voltage drops significantly when the power supply 10 is discharged at a constant current or constant power, degradation of the power supply 10 may be determined. Another example is if the power supply voltage rises rapidly when the power supply 10 is charged, degradation of the power supply 10 may be determined. Another example is if the power supply voltage drops when the power supply 10 is charged, a failure of the power supply 10 may be determined. Another example is if the heating rate of the power supply 10 is fast when charging and discharging the power supply 10, degradation of the power supply 10 may be determined. Another example is if any of the cumulative charge amount, cumulative charging time, cumulative discharge amount, or cumulative discharge time of the power supply 10 exceeds a threshold, degradation of the power supply 10 may be determined.

[0104] (a5) An example of operation control based on power supply temperature Next, an example of the operation of the aspirated component generating device 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart in Figure 14. This flowchart is based on the power supply temperature T batt Actions based on This is an example of control.

[0105] First, in step S301, the aspirated component generating device 100 determines whether an aspiration operation is detected or whether the switch 30 (see Figure 1) is ON. As mentioned above, the detection of the aspiration operation may be based on the output of the aspiration sensor 20.

[0106] If the result of step S301 is No, the steps from S311 onwards will be carried out, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the result of step S301 is Yes, a user request for aerosol generation is detected. Next, in step S302, the power supply temperature T batt Calculate the power supply temperature T. batt The calculation is as described above, The temperature of the power source 10 may be detected by a temperature sensor and the power supply temperature may be determined based on its output; the power supply temperature may be estimated based on a value related to the power supply temperature; or the temperature of an object other than the power supply may be detected by a temperature sensor and the power supply temperature may be estimated based on its output. In any case, it is sufficient to obtain or estimate the current temperature of the power supply, and the method is not limited to any particular means.

[0107] After step S302, the aspirated component generating device 100, in step S303, the power supply temperature T batt Determine whether the temperature is within the second temperature range. For example, if the power supply temperature is - 10℃ <T batt Determine whether or not it falls within the range of ≤60°C.

[0108] T batt If the result is not within this range (if the result of step S302 is No), then The sequence for when the temperature is abnormal (steps S381, S382) will be performed, but this will be described later.

[0109] Meanwhile, T batt If it is within this range (if the result of step S302 is Yes) In the following step, the aspirated component generating device 100 generates an aerosol in step S304. The aerosol is generated by supplying power to the load 125. The power supply control is not limited to a specific control method, and various control methods, including the method described above and conventionally known methods, can be used.

[0110] The aspirated component generating device 100 then, in step S305, the power supply temperature T batt Determine whether the temperature is within the first temperature range. For example, if the power supply temperature is 15°C <T batt Determine whether or not it falls within the range of ≤60°C.

[0111] Power supply temperature T battIf the temperature is within the above temperature range (the result of step S305 is Yes) If this is the case, the aspirated component generating device 100 performs SOH diagnosis, etc., in steps S306 and S307. Specifically, SOH diagnosis is performed in step S306, and it is determined in step S307 whether the SOH is above a predetermined threshold. Regarding degradation diagnosis, it is not limited to a specific control, and various control methods, including the method described above and conventionally known methods, can be used.

[0112] If the SOH is above a predetermined threshold (if the result of step S307 is Yes), it is determined that the power supply 10 has not deteriorated, and then steps S308 and S309, described later, are performed.

[0113] On the other hand, if the SOH is below a predetermined threshold (if the result of step S307 is No), the power supply 10 is determined to be degraded, and the battery degradation sequence (steps S391 to S394, see Figure 16) is executed, which will be described later.

[0114] In step S305, the power supply temperature T batt If it is determined that the temperature is not within the above temperature range In this case, steps S306 and S307 are skipped, and the SOH diagnosis is not performed. In other words, in this embodiment, the power supply voltage T batt SOH diagnosis only if it is within the first temperature range The system is configured to perform the following. However, if the situation falls outside this range, it may be configured to generate a predetermined notification (e.g., illumination of the light-emitting unit 40) to indicate that the diagnosis cannot be performed.

[0115] Referring again to Figure 14, the aspirated component generating device 100 then determines in step S308 whether the aspiration operation has finished, whether the switch is OFF, or whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If the result of step S308 is No (i.e., the aspiration operation has not finished, the switch is not OFF, or the predetermined time has not elapsed), the process returns to step S305. On the other hand, if the result of step S308 is Yes, the aerosol generation is completed in step S309. As another example, if the result of step S308 is No, the process may return to step S306 instead of step S305. This speeds up the flow, allowing for an increase in the number of SOH diagnoses.

[0116] Through the series of steps described above, the power supply temperature T batt When it is within the temperature range in which it can discharge Power is supplied to the load, and the power supply temperature T batt Deterioration diagnosis possible Degradation diagnosis will only be performed when the temperature is within a specified range. By allowing SOH diagnosis only within a portion of the temperature range in which power supply 10 discharge is permitted, the SOH diagnosis can be performed only within a temperature range where the influence of power supply temperature is minimal, thereby improving its accuracy.

[0117] (fast charging) Next, we will explain the steps from S311 onwards that are performed if the result of step S301 described above is No. First, in step S311, the aspirated component generating device 100 detects whether or not the charger is fitted. If the fitting of the charger is not detected, the process returns to step S301.

[0118] If the charging device is detected to be engaged, the aspirated component generating device 100 will, in step S312, change the power supply temperature T batt Obtain or estimate the power supply temperature T. batt The acquisition or estimation of is This can be implemented using the same method as step S302.

[0119] Next, in step S313, the aspirated component generating device 100 controls the power supply temperature T batt Determine whether the temperature is within the fourth temperature range. For example, if the power supply temperature is 10°C <T batt Determine whether or not it falls within the range of ≤60°C.

[0120] Power supply temperature T batt If it is within this range (if the result of step S313 is Yes) Next, in step S314, the aspirated component generating device 100 performs rapid charging. The charging rate in CC mode of rapid charging may be 2C.

[0121] On the other hand, the power supply temperature T batt If the result of step S313 is No In this case, the aspirated component generating device 100 performs a normal charging sequence instead of a rapid charging sequence (from step S321 onwards, details below).

[0122] When rapid charging is started in step S314, the inhaled component generating device 100 then, in step S315, the power supply temperature T batt is the first temperature range (e.g., 15°C < T batt Determine whether the temperature is ≤60℃.

[0123] Power supply temperature T batt If it is within this range (if the result of step S313 is Yes) ), the aspirated component generating device 100 performs SOH diagnosis, etc. in steps S316 and S317. Specifically, in step S316, an SOH diagnosis is performed, and in step S317, it is determined whether the SOH is above a predetermined threshold. batt If it is not within the first range, step Steps S316 and S317 are skipped, and the SOH diagnosis is not performed.

[0124] If the SOH is above a predetermined threshold (if the result of step S317 is Yes), it is determined that the power supply 10 has not deteriorated, and then steps S318 and S319, described later, are performed.

[0125] On the other hand, if SOH is below a predetermined threshold (if the result of step S317 is No), it is determined that the power supply 10 is degraded, and the battery degradation sequence (steps S391 to S394, see Figure 16) is executed.

[0126] Next, in step S318, the aspirated component generating device 100 detects a flag indicating that charging is complete. If the result of step S318 is No (i.e., charging is not complete), the process returns to step S315. If the result of step S318 is Yes, charging is completed in step S319. As another example, if the result of step S318 is No, the process may return to step S316 instead of step S315. This speeds up the flow, allowing for an increase in the number of SOH diagnoses.

[0127] By allowing SOH diagnostics only within a portion of the temperature range in which rapid charging of power supply 10 is permitted, the SOH diagnostics can be performed only within a temperature range where the influence of power supply temperature is minimal, thereby improving their accuracy.

[0128] (normal charging) In step S313 described above, the power supply temperature T batt This is the fourth temperature range (e.g., 10°C). <T batt If it is determined that the temperature is not ≤60℃, the aspirated component generating device 100 proceeds to step S3 At 21, 0℃ <T batt Determine whether the temperature is ≤10℃ (step S313) (Based on the combination of the contents and the contents of step S321, a determination was made as to whether or not it is within the third temperature range.) Power supply temperature T batt If it is not within this range (step S321) If the result is No, the sequence for handling temperature abnormalities is performed (steps S381, S382, details below). Power supply temperature T batt If the result of step S321 is within this range If the answer is Yes, the aspirated component generating device 100 then performs normal charging in step S322. The charging rate in CC mode of normal charging may be 1C.

[0129] When normal charging starts in step S322, the aspirated component generating device 100 then, in step S323, the power supply temperature T batt is the first temperature range (e.g., 15°C < T batt Determine whether the temperature is ≤60℃.

[0130] Power supply temperature T batt If it is within this range (if the result of step S323 is Yes) ), the aspirated component generating device 100 performs SOH diagnosis, etc. in steps S324 and S325. Specifically, in step S324, an SOH diagnosis is performed, and in step S325, it is determined whether the SOH is above a predetermined threshold. Power supply temperature T batt If it is not within the first range If the result of step S323 is No, steps S324 and S325 are skipped, and the SOH diagnosis is not performed.

[0131] If the SOH is above a predetermined threshold (if the result of step S325 is Yes), it is determined that the power supply 10 has not deteriorated, and then steps S326 and S327 described later are performed.

[0132] On the other hand, if the SOH is below a predetermined threshold (if the result of step S325 is No), the power supply 10 is determined to be degraded, and the battery degradation sequence (steps S391 to S394, see Figure 16) is executed.

[0133] Next, in step S326, the aspirated component generating device 100 detects a flag indicating that charging is complete. If the result of step S326 is No (i.e., charging is not complete), the process returns to step S323. Alternatively, if the result of step S326 is No, the process may return to step S324 instead of step S323. This speeds up the process and allows for an increase in the number of SOH diagnostics. If the result of step S326 is Yes, the process completes charging in step S327.

[0134] By allowing SOH diagnostics only within a portion of the temperature range in which charging of power supply 10 is permitted, the SOH diagnostics can be performed only within a temperature range where the influence of power supply temperature is minimal, thereby improving their accuracy.

[0135] (Sequence of events during temperature anomalies) As an example of the sequence in case of a temperature anomaly, as shown in Figure 15, first, in step S381, the suction component generating device 100 detects a temperature anomaly, and then in step S382, charging or discharging may be stopped. However, charging or discharging stopped in step S382 may be permitted again under conditions such as the passage of a predetermined time or the power supply temperature returning to the normal range.

[0136] (Sequence during power supply degradation) A sequence of actions when battery degradation is detected may be, for example, as shown in Figure 16. In this example, first, in step S391, the suction component generating device 100 detects battery degradation, and then in step S392, it stops charging or stopping discharging.

[0137] Next, in step S393, the time and conditions under which the power supply degradation was detected are stored in memory. Then, in step S394, the series of operations is stopped. However, the series of operations stopped in step S394 may be permitted again, for example, if the power supply 10 is replaced.

[0138] Comparing the sequence for abnormal temperature with the sequence for power supply degradation, it can be said that the conditions for re-permitting charging and discharging, which were stopped in step S382, are more difficult to satisfy than the conditions for re-permitting the series of operations that were stopped in step S394.

[0139] Comparing the sequence during temperature abnormalities with the sequence during power supply degradation, charging and discharging stopped in step S382 are permitted again if the suction component generating device 100 is left unattended. On the other hand, the series of operations stopped in step S394 may be permitted again even if the suction component generating device 100 is left unattended.

[0140] Thus, by appropriately setting the first temperature range, the accuracy of SOH diagnosis is improved, and the power supply 10 can be used for a longer period while ensuring safety, resulting in energy savings.

[0141] Furthermore, by appropriately setting each temperature range, the degradation of the power supply 10 is suppressed, extending the lifespan of the power supply 10 and resulting in energy savings.

[0142] (b1) Detection of connection of charger etc. Various methods can be used for charge control and charger connection detection, and these examples will be briefly explained below. The charge control unit 250 (see Figure 8) has a function to detect when the electrical circuit of the charger 200 and the electrical circuit of the power supply unit 110 are electrically connected. There are no particular limitations on the method of detecting such electrical connection, and various methods can be used, but for example, the connection of the power supply unit 110 may be detected by detecting the voltage difference between a pair of connection terminals 211t.

[0143] In one embodiment, it is preferable that the system be configured to determine which type of power supply unit 110 and / or which type of power supply 10 is connected when the charger 200 and the power supply unit 110 are connected. To achieve this, for example, the system may be configured to determine the type of power supply unit 110 and / or the power supply 10 within the power supply unit 110 based on a value relating to the electrical resistance of the first resistor 150 (see Figure 8). That is, by changing the electrical resistance value of the first resistor 150 for each different type of power supply unit 110, it becomes possible to distinguish between the connected power supply unit 110 and the power supply 10. The "value relating to the electrical resistance of the first resistor" may be the electrical resistance value of the first resistor 150 itself, the voltage drop (potential difference) across the first resistor 150, or the current value of the current passing through the first resistor 150.

[0144] (b2) Charge control Next, charging control will be explained. In the following example, the charging control unit 250 of the charger 200 controls the operation, but as mentioned above, in a configuration where the charging function is provided within the suction component generating device 100, the main control may be the control circuit 50 on the device side. Figure 17 is a flowchart showing an example of a control method by the charging control unit 250. First, in step S401, the connection of the power supply unit 110 to the charger 200 is detected.

[0145] After a connection is detected (if the result of step S401 is Yes), in step S402, a value relating to the electrical resistance of the first resistor 150 is obtained. In such measurements, the value to be measured may be obtained multiple times, and the final value may be determined using a moving average, simple average, or weighted average based on these values.

[0146] Next, in step S403, based on the electrical resistance value obtained above, it is determined whether it is necessary to change the predetermined control or whether it is acceptable to execute the predetermined control.

[0147] For example, if the electrical resistance value obtained above is outside a predetermined range, or if the predetermined conditions are not met, charging of the power supply 10 does not need to be performed. On the other hand, if the electrical resistance value obtained above is within a predetermined range, or if the predetermined conditions are met, charging may be performed. In other words, the above-mentioned change to the predetermined control includes changing it so that the charging process is not performed. This prevents the occurrence of abnormal situations by not sending charging current if the power supply unit is abnormal or if it is determined to be a non-genuine power supply unit.

[0148] Furthermore, the changes to the predetermined control may also include at least one of the following: a change in the charging current value, a change in the charging rate, and a change in the charging time. As a specific example, it is preferable in one embodiment that the type of power supply unit 110 or power supply 10 can be determined based on the electrical resistance value obtained above, and the charging current rate can be changed according to the determined type. This makes it possible, for example, to perform charging control with a high-rate charging current of 2C or more for a power supply 10 that supports fast charging, or to perform normal charging control with a low-rate charging current of 1C or less for a power supply 10 that does not support fast charging.

[0149] Next, in step S404, the power supply voltage value V batt Obtain it. Then step In the S405, the acquired power supply voltage value V batt Whether or not the voltage is above a predetermined switching voltage This determines the switching voltage. This switching voltage is a threshold value that separates the constant current charging (CC charging) section from the constant voltage charging (CV charging) section. The specific value is not particularly limited, but it may be within the range of 4.0V to 4.1V, for example.

[0150] Power supply voltage value V batt If the voltage is less than the switching voltage (if the result of step S405 is No) If the result is Yes, constant current charging (CC charging) is performed (step S406). If the voltage is above the switching voltage (if the result of step S405 is Yes), constant voltage charging (CV charging) is performed (step S407). In the constant voltage charging method, as charging progresses, the power supply voltage increases and the difference between the power supply voltage and the charging voltage decreases, so the charging current decreases.

[0151] When charging is started using the constant voltage charging method, in step S408, it is determined whether the charging current is less than or equal to a predetermined charging completion current. The charging current can be obtained by the current sensor 230 inside the charger 200. If the charging current is greater than the predetermined charging completion current (if the result of step S408 is No), charging continues using the constant voltage charging method. If the charging current is less than or equal to the predetermined charging completion current (if the result of step S408 is Yes), it is determined that the power supply 10 has reached a fully charged state, and charging is stopped (step S409).

[0152] Naturally, in addition to the charging current, other conditions for stopping charging may also include the time elapsed since the start of charging using a constant current charging method or a constant voltage charging method, the power supply voltage value, the power supply temperature value, etc.

[0153] Embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, but the present invention can be modified as appropriate without departing from its spirit.

[0154] For example, the flowchart in Figure 14 basically assumes processing by a single control circuit, where step S313 first determines whether rapid charging is possible (fourth temperature range), and if not, then step S321 determines whether normal charging is possible (third temperature range). However, the charger 200 may also be configured to determine whether the power supply temperature is within the fourth temperature range, and if the result is Yes, perform rapid charging, and if No, perform normal charging.

[0155] (Low remaining amount detection using closed-circuit voltage) Figure 18A shows a simplified connection between the power supply 10 and the load 125. The power supply voltage is measured by the voltage sensor 62 at both terminals of the power supply 10, for example, between the high-potential side of the power supply 10 (equal potential to node 156 in Figure 6) and ground (the potential of contact 154 in Figure 6 is approximately the ground potential), and the information is sent to the control circuit 50. Power supply from the power supply 10 to the load 125 is controlled by turning the first switch 172 ON and OFF.

[0156] When the first switch 172 is OFF (switch OFF), no power is supplied to the load 125. The power supply voltage measured by the voltage sensor 62 at this time is called the open-circuit voltage (OCV). When the first switch 172 is ON (switch ON), power is supplied to the load 125. The power supply voltage measured by the voltage sensor 62 at this time is called the closed-circuit voltage (CCV). In an ideal power supply, OCV and CCV are the same, but in a real power supply such as a battery, the closed-circuit voltage (CCV) is smaller than the open-circuit voltage (OCV) due to internal resistance and capacitance. The closed-circuit voltage (CCV) is smaller than the open-circuit voltage (OCV) only by the amount of loss due to internal resistance and capacitance.

[0157] Figure 18B shows an equivalent circuit model of the power supply. As shown in Figure 18B, the power supply (battery) 10 is E Batt (Ideal power supply) and resistance value R imp The internal resistance and the resistance value R EDL The reaction resistance and capacitance values ​​C EDL A parallel RC circuit consisting of electric double layer capacitance is connected in series. It can be considered a successor model. The open-circuit voltage OCV of power supply 10 is E Batt Equivalent to The closed-circuit voltage CCV (V) of power supply 10 becomes smaller. meas ) can be expressed by the following equation (1) ru.

[0158]

number

[0159] In equation (1), ΔEimp ΔE is the loss (voltage drop) in the internal resistance. EDL This is a diagram. This shows the loss (voltage drop) in an 18B RC parallel circuit.

[0160] The current discharged from power supply 10 is first C EDL It flows towards C EDL As charging progresses, Each R EDL It flows to. Based on this phenomenon, equation (1) should be rewritten as equation (2) below. It is possible.

[0161]

number

[0162]

number

[0163] From equation (3), the current value I(0) discharged by the power supply 10 immediately after the switch 172 is turned ON (t=0) can be expressed by the following equation (4).

[0164]

number

[0165] From equations (2) and (4), the closed-circuit voltage V of the power supply 10 immediately after the switch 172 is turned ON (t=0) is given by equation (2) and (4). meas (0) can be expressed by the following equation (5).

[0166]

number

[0167] On the other hand, from equation (3), REDL and C EDL When t becomes sufficiently large compared to the product of the current value at which the power supply 10 discharges in

[0168] [Number]

[0169] From equations (2) and (6), R EDL and C EDL When t becomes sufficiently large compared to the product of the closed-circuit voltage V of the power supply 10 at that time meas (t) can be expressed by the following equation (7) .

[0170] [Number]

[0171] Note that since R EDL and C EDL are very small values, after turning on the switch 172, at a relatively early stage, the current value at which the power supply 10 discharges and the closed-circuit voltage V of the power supply 10 meas (t) converge to the values of equations (6) and (7) respectively. Please note this point.

[0172] As described above, the closed-circuit voltage CCV (V meas ) of the power supply 10 is obtained by subtracting the voltage drop in the internal resistance R Batt from the open-circuit voltage OCV (E imp which has no strong time-dependence) and the voltage drop in the RC parallel circuit (which has strong time-dependence). t is the energization time, and R EDL ·C EDL is the time constant τ (also referred to as the "relaxation time"). The time change of the closed-circuit voltage CCV is as shown in the graph of Fig. 19.

[0173] ​ Next, Figure 20 is a diagram showing the relationship between suction detection and power supply control. As shown in Figure 20, the suction component generating device of this embodiment is configured, as an example, to first detect the open-circuit voltage OCV at time t1, and then detect the closed-circuit voltage CCV at time t2. When detecting the closed-circuit voltage CCV, a pulse voltage is applied for voltage detection, and it is preferable that the application time is set to a time that does not generate aerosols and does not lead to over-discharge. Specifically, as an example, it may be within 5 msec, preferably within 1 msec. Note that the application time of the pulse voltage for voltage detection may be shorter than the minimum on time allowed by the PWM control performed from time t3 onwards.

[0174] Subsequently, at time t3, the duty cycle is set and power supply is started. Power supply can be terminated at any time, but in this example, power supply is terminated when the end of suction is detected at time t4. Power supply may also be terminated after a predetermined time has elapsed since it started. Alternatively, power supply may be terminated upon detection of either the end of suction or the elapsed predetermined time.

[0175] Furthermore, regarding the acquisition of the open-circuit voltage (OCV) and / or closed-circuit voltage (CCV), it is acceptable to perform multiple measurements rather than just one. In particular, the closed-circuit voltage (CCV) is affected by internal resistance and the electric double layer, so its value tends to vary more than that of the open-circuit voltage (OCV). Therefore, it is preferable to perform multiple measurements of the closed-circuit voltage (CCV). Furthermore, since there is some variation in the value of the open-circuit voltage (OCV), it is also acceptable to perform multiple measurements of the open-circuit voltage (OCV).

[0176] When measuring the open-circuit voltage OCV and the closed-circuit voltage CCV multiple times, the number of measurements may be the same. Alternatively, the number of measurements of the closed-circuit voltage CCV may be increased. As a specific example, when the number of measurements of the closed-circuit voltage CCV is N (N is a natural number of 1 or more) and the number of measurements of the open-circuit voltage OCV is M (M is a natural number of 1 or more), voltage measurement may be performed such that N > M. By performing voltage measurement in this way, appropriate values for each can be obtained in a short time while considering the magnitude of the variation in the values of the open-circuit voltage OCV and the closed-circuit voltage CCV respectively.

[0177] As a method for obtaining one voltage value (representative value) from a plurality of measured voltage values, various methods can be used and are not limited to specific ones. For example, those using the average value, the median value, or the mode value, or those that perform, for example, a predetermined correction on a certain value may be used.

[0178] As another example, since it is necessary to apply a pulse voltage to any load, the measurement of the closed-circuit voltage CCV may be performed once. On the other hand, the measurement of the open-circuit voltage OCV, for which there is no need to apply a pulse voltage, may be performed multiple times. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the number of measurements of the closed-circuit voltage CCV is less than the number of measurements of the open-circuit voltage OCV.

[0179] Regarding the measurement of the voltage value, the following aspect may also be adopted. (i) Regarding the measurement of the closed-circuit voltage, after the power supply 10 and the load 125 form a closed-circuit state and after a relaxation time (time constant τ) has elapsed, the voltage value is measured (see, for example, Phase Ph1 in FIG. 19). As described above, immediately after forming the closed-circuit state, in the equivalent circuit of FIG. 18B, current flows towards C EDL and the charging of C EDL progresses and gradually flows towards R EDL . The measured voltage value changes over time The value changes from the value in equation (5) to the value in equation (7). In other words, immediately after the closed circuit state is formed, the measured voltage value gradually decreases from the value in equation (5) and converges to the value in equation (7). By measuring after the relaxation time has elapsed in this way, it becomes possible to obtain the closed circuit voltage value in a stabilized state. To obtain a more accurate value, the measurement may be taken after 1.5τ time, 2τ time, or 3τ time.

[0180] The relaxation time τ can be determined from the datasheet of power supply 10, or it can be determined experimentally using methods such as the AC impedance method (Cole-Cole plot method).

[0181] Furthermore, (ii) when measuring the voltage value multiple times, it is also preferable to set the detection time to be longer than the relaxation time (time constant τ) (see Phase Ph2 in Figure 19 as an example). By performing measurements for a longer period than the relaxation time (time constant τ), a stabilized voltage value after the relaxation time has elapsed can be obtained, making it possible to obtain a closed-circuit voltage value based on the stabilized value. Note that (i) and (ii) may be performed individually or in combination.

[0182] (Drive control of load according to battery level) Next, the relationship between battery charge and load drive control will be explained with reference to Figures 21 and 22. Figure 21 is a curve showing the discharge characteristics of a secondary battery usable as a power source, with the vertical axis representing the power supply voltage value and the horizontal axis representing the usage time (which can also be considered as the charge level). Note that the power supply voltage value on the vertical axis can be either the open-circuit voltage (OCV) or the closed-circuit voltage (CCV). In particular, when the power supply voltage value on the vertical axis is the open-circuit voltage (OCV), Figure 21 is also called the state-of-charge-open-circuit voltage characteristic (SOC-OCV characteristic). The following explanation will use the SOC-OCV characteristic as an example. Thus, in secondary batteries such as lithium-ion batteries, the curve includes an initial region (high charge) where the power supply voltage value decreases relatively rapidly with use, a plateau region (medium charge) where the change in power supply voltage value becomes gradual, and then an end region (low charge) where the power supply voltage value decreases relatively rapidly with use. In the example in Figure 21, P1 is shown as the initial region, P2 as the plateau region, and P3 as the end region. P2 is located slightly past the middle of the plateau region and approaching its end (i.e., a state within the same plateau region where the power supply voltage is relatively low).

[0183] A plateau region refers to a range where the change in power supply voltage is small in response to changes in remaining capacity. The rate of change depends on the battery composition and other factors, so it is not necessarily limited to a specific value. For example, a plateau region may be defined as a range where the power supply voltage is 0.01 to 0.005 (V / %) or less (for example, a change in voltage of 0.01 to 0.005V when the state of charge (SOC) changes by 1%). Alternatively, a plateau region may be defined as a range of ±15 to 30% from the point where the change in power supply voltage in response to changes in SOC is smallest. Furthermore, a plateau region may be defined as a range where the change in power supply voltage in response to changes in SOC is almost constant.

[0184] In the drive control of the load described herein, in one embodiment, the closed-circuit voltage CCV is measured, and based on this, the voltage value or voltage waveform applied to the load is adjusted. For example, at least one of the pulse width, duty ratio, average value, effective value, voltage value, application time, or maximum value of the application time of the voltage applied to the load can be adjusted.

[0185] Already using FIG. 10, when performing power supply from the power source to the load by PWM control, when the power source voltage value is relatively high, the duty ratio is made small (the pulse width is narrow), and as the power source voltage value decreases, the duty ratio is made large (the pulse width is wide). Also, when the power source voltage becomes less than or equal to (fully charged voltage - Δ), it was explained that power supply is performed with a duty ratio of 100 (step S103 in FIG. 11). Furthermore, the control for ending power supply according to the cut-off time was also explained using FIG. 9. Here, control including extending the cut-off time based on the power source voltage (closed-circuit voltage CCV) will be explained.

[0186] FIG. 22(a) shows PWM control in the initial region. Here, with the measured power source voltage value V1, a waveform with a duty ratio of less than 100 is set. When continuing to apply the voltage The maximum application time, which is the time, is set to a predetermined time t max Let it be assumed that it is set. Incidentally, this maximum Application time t max corresponds to the cut-off time explained using FIG. 9. Under such conditions, the amount of electric power supplied to the load is represented by the following formula (8.1). Here, D is the duty ratio, and R is the resistance value of the load.

[0187]

Equation

[0188] Next, as the battery level decreases and enters a plateau region of battery voltage, the duty cycle (pulse width) in PWM control is increased compared to the initial region. As the battery voltage decreases, especially near the end of the plateau region (low battery level side), attempting to perform constant power control may result in a duty cycle of 100%. Figure 22(b) shows the PWM control at point P2, i.e., near the end of the plateau region. In this example, the measured power supply voltage value V2 (lower than V1) ) is set to an input waveform with a duty cycle of 100%. The amount of power supplied to the load is given by the above equation (8.2). In this embodiment, the input waveform may be set so that the amount of power in equation (8.2) and the amount of power in equation (8.1) are the same or substantially the same. In one embodiment of the present invention, one of the technical features is that the waveform supplied to the load is changed according to the remaining battery charge. If the voltage is high throughout the plateau region, a duty cycle of less than 100% may be set throughout the entire plateau region. Alternatively, the duty cycle may be set to less than 100% at the beginning of the plateau region and then to 100% towards the end of the plateau region when the battery voltage has decreased. Alternatively, the duty cycle may be set to 100% throughout the entire plateau region.

[0189] Figure 22(c) shows PWM control in the end-of-life region (the region where the remaining charge decreases further beyond the plateau region). In this example, the measured power supply voltage value V3 (lower than V2) is used. An input waveform with a utility ratio of 100% is set. The amount of power supplied to the load is given by equation (8.3) above. In this control, the maximum application time t max An additional time α is added and extended. The additional time α may be determined such that the amount of power applied in equation (8.3) is the same as or substantially the same as that in equations (8.1) and (8.2), etc. In other words, in this embodiment, the maximum application time is extended to drive the load when the residual amount is low beyond the plateau region, so that aerosols (one example) can be generated even at low residual amounts in substantially the same way as in the plateau region.

[0190] Regarding how much the power supply voltage needs to drop before the additional time α is added, in one embodiment, the additional time α can be added to match the amount of power at the battery voltage value reached with a 100% duty cycle using PWM control. Alternatively, a certain degree of power shortage can be tolerated, and the additional time α can be added at a 100% duty cycle. max We will continue supplying power for a limited time. The additional time α may be set to be added after the voltage drops to a point where the energy deficiency is no longer acceptable, for example, when the energy reaches a predetermined percentage (e.g., 90%, 80%, 70%, etc.). Alternatively, the additional time α may be set to be added when the plateau region termination voltage is reached (CCV is preferred, but OCV may be used as a substitute).

[0191] Note that the maximum application time after extension (t max Regarding the additional information, even if an upper limit is set... Good. In other words, the maximum application time t max It is not possible to extend the time beyond a certain upper limit. It's fine if you do that.

[0192] (Examples of acquiring open-circuit and closed-circuit voltages and controlling a series of operations) Figure 23 shows an example of a series of control flows for an aspirated component generating device. The aspirated component generating device of this embodiment may implement control as shown in the flow in the figure.

[0193] First, in step S501, the suction component generating device 100 determines whether a suction operation has been detected or whether switch 30 (see Figure 1) has been turned ON. The detection of the suction operation may be based on the output of the suction sensor 20, as described above. If the result of this step is No, step S501 is repeated; if it is Yes, the timer is started in the following step S502.

[0194] After the timer is activated, the suction component generating device 100 then acquires the open-circuit voltage OCV in step S503. In this step, as described above, the OCV may be acquired only once or multiple times. As a specific example, based on one or more acquired values, an average value or the like may be calculated as needed to obtain a representative value of the power supply voltage.

[0195] Next, in step S504, it is determined whether the acquired open-circuit voltage OCV exceeds a predetermined reference value. This predetermined reference value (referred to as the "second reference value" in relation to the claims) may be a reference value for determining whether or not to acquire the closed-circuit voltage CCV as described below. The second reference value is not limited to a specific numerical value, but may be, for example, 3.45V. In one embodiment, the second reference value may be the termination voltage in the plateau region when the remaining battery capacity is viewed using the open-circuit voltage value OCV. This second reference value for the open-circuit voltage value OCV may be set to be the same as or higher than the discharge termination voltage.

[0196] If the result of step S504 is Yes, then in step S505 the discharge FET is turned ON, and in step S506 the closed-circuit voltage CCV is acquired. In this step as well, the voltage value may be acquired only once, or multiple times. The acquired values ​​may be used to calculate the average value or the like as needed to obtain a representative value of the power supply voltage.

[0197] If the result of step S504 is No, the low charge sequence is performed (step S521). This sequence may include, for example, issuing a charging alert. In this embodiment, if the result of step S504 is No (i.e., the measured open-circuit voltage is less than or equal to the second reference value (e.g., 3.45V)), the subsequent acquisition of the closed-circuit voltage CCV is not performed, thus suppressing unnecessary operation and discharge.

[0198] Next, in step S507, it is determined whether the acquired closed-circuit voltage CCV exceeds a predetermined reference value (referred to as the "first reference value"). The first reference value is not limited to a specific numerical value, but may be, for example, 3.00V, which is lower than the second reference value. As mentioned above, the closed-circuit voltage CCV is lower than the open-circuit voltage OCV, so it is preferable that the first reference value is lower than the second reference value.

[0199] Figure 24 shows an example where the closed-circuit voltage CCV exceeds the first reference value (e.g., 3.00V) (e3, at room temperature). The same figure also shows examples where the open-circuit voltage OCV exceeds the second reference value (e.g., 3.45V) (e1, at room temperature) and below it (e2). As indicated by arrow α1 in e3, the value of the closed-circuit voltage CCV is lower than the value of the open-circuit voltage by the amount of internal resistance and voltage drop due to the electric double layer (also called IR drop). e4 further considers low temperatures. At low temperatures, as indicated by arrow α2, internal resistance and reaction resistance increase, resulting in a further IR drop and an even lower voltage value.

[0200] In one configuration, it is preferable that the "first reference value" mentioned above be set to a value lower than the discharge termination voltage value (3.2V in one example). The reason for this is to detect insufficient output of the power supply 10 at low temperatures. Even if the open-circuit voltage value (OCV) indicates that the remaining charge of the power supply 10 is sufficient, the output of the power supply 10 may be insufficient due to the effects of temperature. As mentioned above, the closed-circuit voltage value (CCV) reflects the values ​​of the internal resistance and the electric double layer, which are strongly affected by temperature. Therefore, by using the closed-circuit voltage value (CCV), it is possible to determine whether or not the output of the power supply 10 is insufficient. If one were to try to determine whether or not the output of the power supply 10 is insufficient without using the closed-circuit voltage value (CCV), a temperature sensor to obtain the temperature of the power supply 10 would be required. Therefore, from the standpoint of weight and cost, it is preferable to use the closed-circuit voltage value (CCV).

[0201] In order to accurately detect insufficient output from the power supply 10 at low temperatures, it is preferable in one embodiment that the first reference value (3.0V in one example) is equal to or lower than the value that the closed-circuit voltage CCV can take when the temperature is lower than room temperature. It is even more preferable that the first reference value is a value that the closed-circuit voltage CCV cannot take when the temperature of the power supply 10 is higher than room temperature and the voltage of the power supply 10 is equal to or higher than the discharge termination voltage. In other words, it is preferable that the first reference value is lower than the value obtained by subtracting the voltage drop (IR drop) that occurs at room temperature in the internal resistance and electric double layer from the open-circuit voltage OCV of the power supply 10 in the discharge termination state. As described above, the internal resistance and reaction resistance worsen at low temperatures compared to room temperature, so the voltage value drops further due to the IR drop. Depending on the temperature of the power supply 10, this further IR drop at low temperatures can be relatively large, and may fall below 3.0V even if there is sufficient SOC. In other words, by setting this first reference value, a threshold that takes into account factors such as IR drop at low temperatures can be set, making it possible to determine whether the output of the power supply 10 is good.

[0202] In this embodiment, prior to the PWM control described later, it is determined whether the remaining power of the power supply 10 is insufficient using the open-circuit voltage OCV and whether the output of the power supply 10 is insufficient using the closed-circuit voltage CCV. By obtaining multiple voltages with different characteristics from the power supply 10 in this way, the state of the power supply 10 can be understood more accurately.

[0203] In this embodiment, after determining whether the remaining power of the power supply 10 is insufficient using the open-circuit voltage OCV (steps S503 and S504 in Figure 23), it is determined whether the output of the power supply 10 is insufficient using the closed-circuit voltage CCV (steps S506 and S507). As a result, since it is confirmed that the remaining power of the power supply 10 is not insufficient at the time the closed-circuit voltage CCV is acquired, it can be determined that the reason the closed-circuit voltage CCV falls below the first reference value is a decrease in the output of the power supply 10 at low temperatures. Therefore, the state of the power supply 10 can be grasped more accurately compared to the case where only the closed-circuit voltage CCV is used.

[0204] In this embodiment, the closed-circuit voltage CCV is used not only to determine whether the remaining amount of the power supply 10 is insufficient, but also to set the duty ratio of the PWM control and extend the maximum application time, which will be described later. Therefore, by measuring the closed-circuit voltage CCV once, not only can the state of the power supply 10 be grasped, but also the accuracy of the power supply control can be improved.

[0205] Note that the "room temperature" may be defined, for example, in the range of 1°C to 30°C. In this case, "(temperature) lower than the room temperature" means less than 1°C. Here, the room temperature is used as a reference, but "normal temperature (for example, in the range of 15°C to 25°C)" may also be used as a reference.

[0206] Referring to FIG. 23 again, if the result of step S507 is No, a low-remaining amount sequence is executed (step S521). This sequence may be, for example, one that issues a charging alert as described above. In this embodiment, when the output of the power supply 10 is insufficient, a low-remaining amount sequence is also executed. Instead of this, a low-output sequence distinguishable from this sequence may be executed.

[0207] If the result of step S507 is Yes, then in step S508, it is determined whether the acquired closed-circuit voltage CCV exceeds another predetermined reference value. This step is for determining whether it is necessary to extend the maximum application time (also refer to FIG. 22). Regarding the "predetermined reference value", as described above, the battery voltage value at which the duty ratio reaches 100% in PWM control may be set as the "predetermined reference value", the voltage at which the shortage of the power amount becomes unacceptable may be set as the "predetermined reference value", the voltage value indicating the end of the plateau region may be set as the "predetermined reference value", etc. If the closed-circuit voltage CCV exceeds the reference value (that is, if the result of step S508 is Yes), then in step S509, the maximum application time is not extended and PWM control based on the closed-circuit voltage CCV is performed.

[0208] On the other hand, if the closed-circuit voltage CCV does not exceed the reference value (i.e., the result of step S508 is No), that is, if the remaining power supply is below a predetermined standard, then in step S510, the maximum application time is extended to supply power to the load. Although not limited to this, this time extension may utilize the method shown in Figure 22 described above.

[0209] Next, after power supply is started, step S511 determines whether the suction operation has finished, whether the switch has been turned OFF, or whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If the result of step S511 is No, power supply is continued; if Yes, the process moves to step S512 to complete aerosol generation.

[0210] The above describes a specific example of the operation according to the flow shown in Figure 23. However, it is not mandatory to carry out all the steps in this flow, and naturally, it is acceptable to carry out only a part of it based on different technical concepts.

[0211] One technical concept in the present invention is to detect a low power supply state based on the closed-circuit voltage CCV (steps S505-507, S521, etc.). Measurement of the open-circuit voltage OCV may or may not be performed.

[0212] Another technical concept in the present invention is to measure the closed-circuit voltage CCV and adjust the application conditions to the load (adjustment of the voltage value and / or voltage waveform applied to the load, etc.) based on that value (steps S508 to S510, etc.). In this case as well, measuring the open-circuit voltage OCV is not essential and may or may not be performed.

[0213] (From the perspective of measuring closed-circuit voltage and determining low remaining charge state based on the results) As described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the closed-circuit voltage value can be obtained, and a determination can be made based on that value as to whether or not the remaining charge is low.

[0214] The suction component generating device 100 of this embodiment may have an auxiliary device that performs a predetermined operation when it is determined to be in a low-level state. Various types of auxiliary devices can be used, but for example, any one or a combination of (i) a device that suppresses the discharge of the power supply 10, (ii) a device that notifies the user that it is in a low-level state, or (iii) a device that adjusts the power supply temperature. More specifically, when it is in a low-level state, the discharge of the power supply 10 may be suppressed by the function of the auxiliary device. It is also preferable that when it is in a low-level state, the user is notified of this fact by the function of the auxiliary device. It is also preferable that when it is in a low-level state, the power supply is heated by the function of the auxiliary device. Furthermore, if it is determined that the output of the power supply 10 is insufficient based on the closed-circuit voltage CCV described above, it is preferable to heat the power supply 10. This is because heating the power supply 10 when it is in a low-temperature state improves the voltage drop (IR drop) due to the internal resistance of the power supply 10, so it is possible that the insufficient output of the power supply 10 will be resolved without charging.

[0215] (From the perspective of measuring closed-circuit voltage and adjusting the applied conditions to the load based on the results) In this embodiment, it is also disclosed that the voltage conditions applied to the load may be adjusted as appropriate based on the acquired closed-circuit voltage value. That is, as explained with reference to Figures 21 and 22, in this type of suction component generating device 100, the measured power supply voltage value will also differ depending on the current power consumption. Therefore, the power supply voltage value acquired by measurement (for example, V1 Based on V2, V3, etc. (See Figure 22), the voltage value and voltage waveform supplied to the load are adjusted. In one form, it is preferable to do so.

[0216] However, continuing to supply power when the output of power supply 10 is insufficient is undesirable because it accelerates the deterioration of power supply 10. According to this embodiment, the closed-circuit voltage CCV is used to determine whether or not the output of power supply 10 is insufficient, and if it is insufficient, the power supply of power supply 10 is suppressed at least temporarily. Therefore, the deterioration of power supply 10 is suppressed, resulting in an energy-saving effect where power supply 10 can be used for a longer period of time.

[0217] Furthermore, if the power supply 10 is not charged and discharged under appropriate conditions according to its remaining charge, the deterioration of the power supply 10 will be accelerated, which is undesirable. According to this embodiment, since power supply control is performed using the accurate remaining charge of the power supply 10 as determined by the closed-circuit voltage CCV, the accuracy of power supply control is improved. Therefore, the deterioration of the power supply 10 is suppressed, resulting in an energy-saving effect in that the power supply 10 can be used for a longer period of time.

[0218] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, since the closed-circuit voltage, which represents the actual voltage of the power supply 10 reflecting the temperature and degradation state, is used to determine whether the power supply is in a low-power state, it has the energy-saving effect of allowing the power supply 10 to be used for a longer period of time.

[0219] (Note) This application discloses the following invention. Note that the reference numerals and specific numerical values ​​are provided for reference only and are not intended to limit the invention in any way: 1. The system comprises a power supply, a load group including a load that vaporizes or atomizes an inhalation component source using power from the power supply, and a control circuit configured to acquire the voltage value of the power supply. The above control circuit is, a1: A process to obtain the closed-circuit voltage value of the power supply in a closed-circuit state where the power supply and the load group are electrically connected. a2: The process involves comparing the acquired closed-circuit voltage value with a first reference voltage value (e.g., 3.0V), and determining that the power supply is in a low-power state if the value is less than or equal to the reference voltage value. An aspirated component generating device configured to perform the following actions.

[0220] 2. The above-described attraction component generating apparatus, wherein the control circuit is configured to acquire the closed-circuit voltage value after a relaxation time has elapsed from the time the power supply and the load group form a closed-circuit state until the closed-circuit voltage reaches a steady state in the process of a1 above.

[0221] 3. The above-described attraction component generating apparatus, wherein the control circuit is configured to acquire multiple voltage values ​​of the power supply during a predetermined detection time in the process of a1 above, and to acquire the closed-circuit voltage value based on the acquired multiple voltage values.

[0222] 4. The above-described aspirated component generating apparatus, wherein the predetermined detection time is longer than the relaxation time until the closed-circuit voltage value reaches a steady state.

[0223] 5. The above-described aspiration component generating apparatus, wherein the predetermined detection time is such that no aspiration component is generated even when the load is driven in the closed-circuit state.

[0224] 6. The above-described suction component generating apparatus, wherein the first reference voltage value is set to a value smaller than the discharge termination voltage of the power supply (e.g., 3.2V).

[0225] 7. The first reference voltage value mentioned above (for example, 3.0V) is: The above-described aspirated component generating apparatus, wherein the closed-circuit voltage value is equal to or less than the possible value only when the above-mentioned power supply is lower than room temperature.

[0226] 8. The above control circuit further, b1: A process to obtain the open-circuit voltage value of the power supply in an open-circuit state where the power supply and the load group are not electrically connected. b2: A process to compare the acquired open-circuit voltage value with a second reference voltage value (e.g., 3.45V), and to determine that the power supply is in the low remaining charge state if the acquired open-circuit voltage value is less than or equal to the second reference voltage value. The above-described aspirated component generating apparatus, configured to perform the following actions.

[0227] 9. The above-described aspirated component generating apparatus, wherein the control circuit is configured to perform the processes of a1 and a2 after the process of b2.

[0228] 10. The above control circuit is: The above-described aspirated component generating apparatus, configured to perform the a1 and a2 processes when the open-circuit voltage value is equal to or greater than the second reference voltage value in the process of b2 above.

[0229] 11. The above-described attraction component generating apparatus, wherein the control circuit is configured to acquire the open-circuit voltage value based on multiple voltage values ​​of the power supply detected in the open-circuit state during the process of b1 above.

[0230] 12. The control circuit described above is configured to obtain the closed-circuit voltage value in the process of a1 above based on N (N is a natural number of 1 or more) voltage values ​​of the power supply detected in a closed-circuit state, and to obtain the open-circuit voltage value in the process of b1 above based on M (M is a natural number of 1 or more) voltage values ​​of the power supply detected in an open-circuit state, wherein N is greater than M, as described above for the attractant component generating apparatus.

[0231] 13. The suction component generating apparatus described above, wherein the second reference voltage value is set to be equal to or greater than the discharge termination voltage of the power supply.

[0232] 14. The above-described aspirated component generating apparatus, wherein the first reference voltage value is different from the second reference voltage value.

[0233] 15. The attraction component generating apparatus described above, comprising a sensor capable of outputting a signal requesting the operation of the above load, wherein the control circuit is configured to acquire the closed-circuit voltage value while power is being supplied to the above load from the power supply triggered by the detection of the output of the above sensor.

[0234] 16. The above-described attraction component generating apparatus, wherein the control circuit is configured to perform a process to acquire the open-circuit voltage value after detecting the output of the above-mentioned sensor and before supplying power to the above-mentioned load.

[0235] 17. The above-described inhalation component generating apparatus, comprising a power supply unit in which the above-mentioned power supply is housed in a case, and a cartridge unit that is interchangeably attached to the power supply unit.

[0236] 18. The suction component generating apparatus described above, further comprising an auxiliary device for suppressing the discharge of the power supply in the low remaining charge state, wherein the control circuit is configured to perform a process to activate the auxiliary device when it determines that the power supply is in a low remaining charge state.

[0237] 19. The above-described aspiration component generating apparatus, wherein the above-described auxiliary equipment is configured to notify that the above-described power supply is in the low remaining charge state.

[0238] 20. The above-described aspirated component generating apparatus, wherein the above-described auxiliary equipment is configured to adjust the temperature of the above-described power supply.

[0239] 21. A control circuit for controlling at least some functions of an aspirated component generating device, which comprises a power supply and a group of loads including loads that vaporize or atomize an aspirated component source using power from the power supply, The process involves obtaining the closed-circuit voltage value of the power supply in a closed-circuit state where the power supply and the load group are electrically connected. The process involves comparing the acquired closed-circuit voltage value with a first reference voltage value, and determining that the power supply is in a low-power state if the value is less than or equal to the reference voltage value. A control circuit configured to perform the following actions.

[0240] 22. A control method for an aspirated component generating apparatus comprising a power supply, a load group including a load that vaporizes or atomizes an aspirated component source using power from the power supply, and a control circuit configured to acquire the voltage value of the power supply, The steps include obtaining the closed-circuit voltage value of the power supply in a closed-circuit state where the power supply and the load group are electrically connected, The steps include comparing the acquired closed-circuit voltage value with the first reference voltage value, If the voltage is below the reference voltage value, the step is to determine that the power supply is in a low charge state, A control method for an aspirated component generating device.

[0241] 23. Power supply and, A group of loads including a load that vaporizes or atomizes the inhaled component source using power from the above power source, A pair of terminals that electrically connect the above power supply and the above load group, The system comprises a control circuit configured to acquire the voltage value applied to the load group via the pair of terminals mentioned above, The above control circuit compares the acquired voltage value applied to the load group with a first reference voltage value, and if it is less than or equal to the reference voltage value, it determines that the load group is in an inoperable state. An aspirated component generating device configured to perform the following actions.

[0242] 24. A control method for an aspiration component generating apparatus comprising a power supply, a group of loads including a load that vaporizes or atomizes an aspiration component source using power from the power supply, a pair of terminals that electrically connect the power supply and the group of loads, and a control circuit configured to acquire the voltage value applied to the group of loads via the pair of terminals, The above control circuit compares the acquired voltage value applied to the load group with a first reference voltage value, and if it is less than or equal to the reference voltage value, it determines that the load group is in an inoperable state. A control method for an aspirated component generating device, configured to perform the following actions.

[0243] 25. A control program that causes the aspirated component generating device to execute the control method described above.

[0244] This specification also discloses inventions that have been modified from, for example, a product invention into a method, a computer program, and a computer program medium. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0245] 10 Power supply 20. Suction Sensor (Request Sensor) 30 Push buttons (request sensors) 40. Light-emitting part (notification device) 50 Control circuits 50A Control Unit 61 Temperature Sensor 62 Voltage Sensor 100 Suction component generator 110 Power Supply Unit 119 Case components 120 Cartridge Unit 122 Wick 123 Reservoir 125 load 129 Case components 130, 130' Flavor Unit 131 Cylinder 142 Mouthpiece 150, 152 resistors 172, 174 Switches 180 Protection circuit 200 charger 230 Current Sensor 240 Voltage Sensor 251 Inverter 250 Charging Control Unit 253 Converter

Claims

1. Power supply and A heating means that generates an aspirated component by vaporizing or atomizing the aspirated component source using power from the aforementioned power source, A display unit including a display device, The system comprises the heating means and a control unit that controls the operation of the display unit, The control unit, When power is supplied to the heating means, the display unit is made to display predetermined information. If the remaining power supply is insufficient or the heating means is in a power-off state, the display unit will display information different from the predetermined information. When the remaining power supply is insufficient, information different from the predetermined information, and when the heating means is in a power supply disabled state, information different from the predetermined information will be displayed on the display unit. The state in which the heating means is power-off means that the source of the suction component is insufficient and the heating means Only the power supply is prohibited. An aspiration component generating device that suppresses the discharge of the power supply if the remaining power of the power supply is insufficient.

2. The aspirated component generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input section for receiving input by contact.

3. The aspirated component generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the display unit when it receives the input at the input unit.

4. The aspirated component generating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heating means is an induction heating means.

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