Smoking system, power supply control method, program, primary device, and secondary device

Abstract

Smooth switching between charging mode and direct heating mode. [Solution] The smoking system comprises a secondary device equipped with a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source and a power supply capable of supplying power to the load; a primary device capable of supplying power to the load and the power supply when connected to the secondary device; and a control unit capable of executing a first mode in which power is supplied from the primary device to the load and a second mode in which power is supplied from the primary device to the power supply, wherein the control unit executes a transition mode having a transition time between the first mode and the second mode for changing a predetermined variable related to power supply in at least one of the first transition, which is a transition from the first mode to the second mode, and the second transition, which is a transition from the second mode to the first mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a smoking system, a power supply control method, a program, a primary device, and a secondary device.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a smoking system in which a heating device that heats an aerosol-generating article with an electric heater is charged with a portable charger every time a predetermined number of smokes are taken (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In particular, when a large amount of power is required to release an aerosol from the aerosol-generating article, it is impossible to smoke continuously because smoking is not possible during charging.

[0003] In order to address this problem, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is conceivable to supply power directly from the charger to the heater to generate an aerosol. In this case, it is necessary to switch between a mode of charging the built-in rechargeable battery of the heating device from the charger and a mode of supplying power directly from the charger to the heater, as in the prior art.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] As is widely known, it is preferable to set the power supply rate to an appropriate value depending on the characteristics and application of the powered object. Therefore, the amount of power supplied when charging a rechargeable battery is generally different from the amount of power supplied when supplying power to a heater. Consequently, if the mode is switched immediately without special consideration, as in Patent Document 2, when transitioning between a mode in which the charger charges the built-in rechargeable battery and a mode in which power is supplied directly to the heater, the rechargeable battery may deteriorate or the heater may not function properly. In addition, if direct power supply to the heater is started before an aerosol-generating item is attached to the heating device, the power of the charger may be wasted.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and one of its objectives is to enable smooth switching between charging mode and direct heating mode while ensuring safety and ease of use for the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention is a smoking system comprising: a secondary device equipped with a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source and a power supply capable of supplying power to the load; a primary device capable of supplying power to the load and the power supply when connected to the secondary device; and a control unit capable of executing a first mode of supplying power from the primary device to the load and a second mode of supplying power from the primary device to the power supply, wherein the control unit executes a transition mode having a transition time between the first mode and the second mode for changing a predetermined variable relating to power supply in at least one of the first transition, which is a transition from the first mode to the second mode, and the second transition, which is a transition from the second mode to the first mode.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is a smoking system in which, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit executes the transition mode in both the first transition and the second transition.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is a smoking system in which, in the above-described aspect, the transition time of the transition mode in the first transition and the transition time of the transition mode in the second transition are of different lengths.

[0010] Another aspect of the present invention is a smoking system in which, in the above-described aspect, the transition time of the transition mode in the first transition is shorter than the transition time of the transition mode in the second transition.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is a smoking system in which, in the above-described embodiment, the default variable is the amount of power supplied from the primary device to the secondary device, and the control unit performs the following actions in each mode: in the first mode, it supplies power from the primary device to the load at a first power supply amount; in the transition mode of the first transition, it performs the action on the primary device to reduce the amount of power supplied from the first power supply amount, and does not supply power from the primary device to the power supply; and in the second mode, it supplies power from the primary device to the power supply at a second power supply amount smaller than the first power supply amount.

[0012] Another aspect of the present invention is a smoking system that, in the above-described embodiment, includes means for switching between a state in which power can be supplied from the primary device to the power supply and a state in which it cannot, wherein the predetermined variable is the amount of power supplied from the primary device to the secondary device, and the control unit executes each mode such as: in the first mode, the primary device supplies power to the load at a first power supply amount; in the transition mode of the first transition, the means controls the primary device to a state in which power cannot be supplied from the primary device to the power supply and performs a process on the primary device to reduce the amount of power supplied from the first power supply amount; and in the second mode, the means controls the primary device to a state in which power can be supplied from the primary device to the power supply and supplies power from the primary device to the power supply at a second power supply amount smaller than the first power supply amount.

[0013] Another aspect of the present invention is a smoking system in which, in the above-described embodiment, the means is a switch provided between the primary device and the power supply, and the control unit electrically disconnects the primary device and the power supply by controlling the switch to open in the transition mode of the first transition, and electrically connects the primary device and the power supply by controlling the switch to close in the second mode.

[0014] Another aspect of the present invention is a smoking system comprising, in the above-described embodiment, a diode provided between the primary device and the power supply, wherein the forward direction is from the primary device to the power supply, the means being a regulator capable of adjusting the relative voltage between the output voltage of the primary device and the voltage of the power supply, the control unit controlling the regulator so that in the transition mode of the first transition the output voltage of the primary device is higher than the voltage of the power supply, and in the second mode controlling the regulator so that the voltage of the power supply is higher than the output voltage of the primary device.

[0015] Another aspect of the present invention is a smoking system in which, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit performs a process on the primary device to gradually reduce the power supply amount from the first power supply amount to the second power supply amount in the transition mode of the first transition, and supplies power from the primary device to the load with the gradually decreasing power supply amount.

[0016] Another aspect of the present invention is a smoking system in which, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit does not supply power from the primary device to the power supply and the load in the transition mode of the first transition.

[0017] Furthermore, in another aspect of the present invention, in the above-described embodiment, the primary device and the power supply and the The smoking system includes a switch provided between the primary device and the load, which can switch between a state in which power can be supplied from the primary device to the power supply and the load and a state in which power cannot be supplied, and the control unit electrically disconnects the primary device from the power supply and the load by controlling the switch to open in the transition mode of the first transition.

[0018] Another aspect of the present invention is a smoking system in which, in the above-described embodiment, the primary device includes a restraining unit that can maintain the connection between the secondary device and the primary device in a restrained state and release the connection in an unrestrained state, and the control unit identifies the first transition and the second transition based on the state of the restraining unit.

[0019] Another aspect of the present invention is a smoking system in which, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit sustains the transition mode of the second transition until contact occurs between the load and an aerosol generating article containing an aerosol source in the unrestrained state.

[0020] Another aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling the supply of power from a primary device to a secondary device in a smoking system, comprising the steps of: recognizing one of the following as an active mode: a first mode in which the primary device supplies power to a load provided in the secondary device for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source, and a second mode in which the primary device supplies power to a power source provided in the secondary device that is capable of supplying power to the load; receiving an instruction to transition from the active mode to the other of the first and second modes; and, in response to the instruction, executing a transition mode in at least one of the first transition, which is a transition from the first mode to the second mode, and the second transition, which is a transition from the second mode to the first mode, having a transition time between the first mode and the second mode for changing a predetermined variable relating to power supply.

[0021] Another aspect of the present invention is a program that causes a smoking system to perform the above method.

[0022] In addition, another aspect of the present invention is a primary device capable of supplying power to the load and the power source when connected to a secondary device including a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source and a power source capable of supplying power to the load, the primary device including a control unit capable of executing a first mode of supplying power from the primary device to the load and a second mode of supplying power from the primary device to the power source, and the control unit includes a first transition that is a transition from the first mode to the second mode and a second transition that is a transition from the second mode to the first mode. In at least one of them, a transition mode having a transition time for changing a predetermined variable related to power supply is executed between the first mode and the second mode.

[0023] In addition, another aspect of the present invention is a secondary device including a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source and a power source capable of supplying power to the load, and being connectable to a primary device capable of supplying power to the load and the power source, the secondary device including a control unit capable of executing a first mode of supplying power from the primary device to the load and a second mode of supplying power from the primary device to the power source, and the control unit includes a first transition that is a transition from the first mode to the second mode and a second transition that is a transition from the second mode to the first mode. In at least one of them, a transition mode having a transition time for changing a predetermined variable related to power supply is executed between the first mode and the second mode.

Advantages of the Invention

[0024] According to the present invention, the switching between the charging mode and the direct heating mode can be smoothly performed while ensuring safety and user convenience.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] It is a configuration diagram of a smoking system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It shows an electrical circuit diagram of a smoking system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3]This shows the state transitions of the electrical circuit 200 for multiple operating modes of a smoking system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4A] This is an example of a timing chart showing the state transition of the smoking system 100 when switching from direct heating mode to charging mode. [Figure 4B] This is an example of a timing chart showing the state transition of the smoking system 100 when switching from charging mode to direct heating mode. [Figure 4C] This is another example of a timing chart showing the state transition of the smoking system 100 when switching from direct heating mode to charging mode. [Figure 4D] This is another example of a timing chart showing the state transition of the smoking system 100 when switching from charging mode to direct heating mode. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows an exemplary process 500 for the control unit (control unit 134 and / or 154) of a smoking system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention to perform control to switch the operating mode of the smoking system 100. [Figure 6] This flowchart shows another exemplary process 600 for the control unit (control unit 134 and / or 154) of the smoking system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention to perform control to switch the operating mode of the smoking system 100. [Figure 7A] An example of an air intake channel 810 provided in the secondary device 140 is shown. [Figure 7B] An example of an air intake channel 820 provided in the primary device 120 is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0026] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0027] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a smoking system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Please note that Figure 1 shows the elements of the smoking system 100 in a schematic and conceptual manner, and does not show the precise arrangement, shape, dimensions, positional relationships, etc., of each of these elements and the smoking system 100.

[0028] As shown in Figure 1, the smoking system 100 comprises a primary device 120 and a secondary device 140. The smoking system 100 is configured to have two modes of use: a first mode in which the secondary device 140 is electrically connected to the primary device 120, and a second mode in which the secondary device 140 is electrically disconnected from the primary device 120. For example, in the smoking system 100 illustrated in Figure 1, the secondary device 140 is electrically connected to the primary device 120 by being inserted into the connection port 122 of the primary device 120, and electrically disconnected from the primary device 120 by being removed from the connection port 122. As another example, the electrical connection and disconnection between the primary device 120 and the secondary device 140 may be performed by attaching and detaching a conductive cable, such as a USB cable.

[0029] The secondary device 140 is a device that generates an aerosol or vapor containing flavor components by electrically heating an aerosol generating article 160 for smoking. A user who is a smoker can inhale the aerosol or vapor generated from the secondary device 140. The primary device 120 is a device for supplying power to the secondary device 140 in the first mode of use. In the first mode of use, the primary device 120 can charge the secondary power supply 148 built into the secondary device 140. In the second mode of use, the secondary device 140 can operate using the built-in secondary power supply 148. The smoking system 100 is returned from the second mode of use to the first mode of use, for example, when the secondary power supply 148 has been consumed by a predetermined amount. When returned to the first mode of use, the secondary device 140 can receive power from the primary device 120 to recharge the secondary power supply 148, and Furthermore, the aerosol-generating article 160 can also be directly heated using the power supplied from the primary device 120.

[0030] As shown in Figure 1, the secondary device 140 comprises an aerosol generating article holder 142, a load 144, a drive circuit 146, a secondary power supply 148, a user operation unit 152, a control unit 154, and a memory 156. The secondary device 140 is configured to have a shape and dimensions suitable for, for example, a user to inhale aerosol or vapor. The user can, for example, hold the secondary device 140 between their fingers and smoke. For example, the external shape of the secondary device 140 may be a cylindrical shape similar to a cigarette, but this should not be considered limiting, and it can take any other shape and dimensions.

[0031] The aerosol generating article holding section 142 is a space configured to hold the aerosol generating article 160. Therefore, the aerosol generating article holding section 142 can have a shape corresponding to the aerosol generating article 160. For example, the aerosol generating article 160 may include a solid aerosol base material molded into a cylindrical stick with a diameter similar to that of a cigarette. Figure 1 shows a secondary device 140 in which such an aerosol generating article 160 is inserted into the aerosol generating article holding section 142. The aerosol base material is, for example, made by processing shredded tobacco or granular or powdered tobacco raw material that releases flavor components when heated into a cylindrical shape and adding a liquid aerosol source thereto. In this embodiment, the aerosol base material and / or aerosol source function as flavor sources. As shown in Figure 1, the aerosol generating article 160 is held in the aerosol generating article holding section 142 with one end and the main part including the aerosol substrate housed inside the aerosol generating article holding section 142, and the other end protruding from the aerosol generating article holding section 142. The user can smoke by putting the end of the aerosol generating article 160 that protrudes from the aerosol generating article holding section 142 into their mouth.

[0032] Furthermore, considering ease of use, it is preferable that the secondary device 140 be configured in a shape similar to that of an existing cigarette. Also, since the secondary device 140 has a hollow aerosol generating article holding section 142, there are constraints on the placement of electrical components inside the secondary device 140. As a result, it is preferable that the secondary power supply 148 be small, and its capacity will also be relatively small. On the other hand, since the primary device 120 does not have such constraints, it is preferable that the primary power supply 126 has a sufficiently large capacity compared to the secondary power supply 148 so that the secondary power supply 148 can be charged multiple times. For example, it is preferable that the primary power supply 126 has 5 to 40 times the capacity of the secondary power supply 148, but it is not limited to this range. Also, it is preferable that both the primary power supply 126 and the secondary power supply 148 are composed of lithium-ion secondary batteries, but it is not limited to this.

[0033] The aerosol generating article 160 and the aerosol generating article holding section 142 may be configured differently from those shown in Figure 1. For example, the aerosol generating article 160 may be a liquid aerosol source containing a flavor component (flavor source). As an example, a liquid aerosol source containing a flavor component (flavor source) is a polyol such as glycerin or propylene glycol containing a nicotine component. In this embodiment, the aerosol source functions as a flavor source. When the aerosol generating article 160 is an aerosol source containing a flavor component (flavor source), the aerosol generating article holding section 142 is made of a fibrous or porous material such as glass fiber or porous ceramic, and holds the aerosol source as a liquid in the gaps between the fibers or in the pores of the porous material. Alternatively, the aerosol generating article holding section 142 may be configured as a tank for containing liquid. In such a configuration, the secondary device 140 is additionally equipped with a mouthpiece member. The user can inhale the generated aerosol or vapor by placing the mouthpiece in their mouth.

[0034] The load 144 is a heating element for electrically heating the aerosol generating article 160 held in the aerosol generating article holding section 142. The load 144 is positioned in contact with or near the aerosol generating article 160 so that it can heat the aerosol generating article 160. In the second mode of use, when the secondary device 140 is disconnected from the primary device 120, the load 144 heats the aerosol generating article 160 by being powered by a secondary power supply 148 built into the secondary device 140. In the first mode of use, when the secondary device 140 is connected to the primary device 120, the load 144 heats the aerosol generating article 160 by being powered by the primary device 120. If the aerosol generating article 160 includes an aerosol source and an aerosol substrate, heating the aerosol generating article 160 with the load 144 as described above raises the temperature of the aerosol source and generates an aerosol. On the other hand, if the aerosol generating article 160 is a liquid aerosol source containing flavor components (flavor sources), the aerosol may be generated by directly heating the aerosol source with the load 144.

[0035] Any arrangement may be used to bring the load 144 into contact with the aerosol generating article 160. For example, the load 144 may be positioned so as to be exposed on the surface of the inner wall of the aerosol generating article holder 142. With this arrangement, the aerosol generating article 160 inserted into the aerosol generating article holder 142 will come into contact with the load 144 on its outer surface (e.g., the side of a cylindrical stick), thus allowing the aerosol generating article 160 to be heated from the outside. As another example, when the aerosol generating article 160 is inserted into the aerosol generating article holder 142, the load 144 may enter into the aerosol substrate (e.g., by piercing the aerosol substrate). With such a configuration, the load 144 can heat the aerosol generating article 160 from the inside. Note that the load 144 may not be in direct contact with the aerosol generating article 160, but rather positioned near the aerosol generating article 160 to the extent that it can heat the aerosol generating article 160.

[0036] The secondary power supply 148 is a power source used to operate the secondary device 140 in the second mode of use. The secondary power supply 148 can supply power to the load 144 via the drive circuit 146. Supplying power to the load 144 reduces the remaining capacity of the secondary power supply 148, but the secondary power supply 148 can recover its remaining capacity by being charged by the primary device 120 in the first mode of use.

[0037] The user operation unit 152 is configured to receive operations from the user to the secondary device 140. User operations to the secondary device 140 include, for example, a start command to start the secondary device 140 and a power supply command to supply power to the load 144. The user operation unit 152 may have separate start command units for inputting start commands and power supply command units for inputting power supply commands, or it may have a single command unit capable of receiving both start commands and power supply commands. As an example, the user operation unit 152 may be configured as a button, switch, knob, lever, touch sensor, etc., that can be physically operated by the user.

[0038] The control unit 154 is an electronic circuit module configured as a microprocessor or microcomputer, and is programmed to control the operation of the secondary device 140 according to computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 156. The memory 156 is an information storage medium such as ROM, RAM, or flash memory. In addition to computer-executable instructions, the memory 156 stores setting data necessary for controlling the secondary device 140.

[0039] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the primary device 120 comprises a connection port 122, a power supply circuit 124, a primary power supply 126, a user operation unit 132, a control unit 134, and a memory 136. Each of these elements of the device 120 is provided, for example, in the main body 120A of the primary device 120. The primary device 120 further includes a restraining part 120B, which is depicted as a lid in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the lid 120B is attached to the upper part of the main body 120A by engaging with the main body 120A via a hinge 120C, and can open and close the main body 120A. Figure 1 shows the primary device 120 with the lid 120B open. When the lid 120B is closed, it restrains the secondary device 140 so that the secondary device 140 inserted into the connecting port 122 does not fall out of the connecting port 122. The lid 120B may be a sliding lid. Alternatively, the restraining part 120B may not be in the form of a lid, but may be composed of other members capable of restraining the movement of the secondary device 140 (for example, a structure that engages a claw with the secondary device 140, or a structure that utilizes magnetic attraction).

[0040] The connection port 122 is a space for housing the secondary device 140 in the first usage configuration of the smoking system 100. When the secondary device 140 is inserted into the connection port 122, the connection terminal 146-1 of the secondary device 140 makes contact with the connection terminal 124-2 on the primary device 120 side, which is located within the connection port 122. The connection terminal 146-1 is a terminal that forms part of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140, and the connection terminal 124-2 is a terminal that forms part of the power supply circuit 124 of the primary device 120. This electrically connects the secondary device 140 to the primary device 120.

[0041] The primary power supply 126 is a power supply used to supply power to the secondary device 140 in the first mode of use. In the first mode of use, when the smoking system 100 is driven in the charging mode described later, the primary power supply 126 charges the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140 via the power supply circuit 124 and the drive circuit 146. The primary power supply 126 can also supply power to the load 144 of the secondary device 140 via the power supply circuit 124 and the drive circuit 146 when the smoking system 100 is driven in the direct heating mode described later. As a result, the load 144 of the secondary device 140 can heat the aerosol generating article 160 by receiving power from the primary power supply 126 as soon as the secondary device 140 is inserted into the connection port 122, without waiting for the remaining capacity of the secondary power supply 148 built into the secondary device 140 to recover. The remaining capacity of the primary power supply 126 decreases when power is supplied to the secondary device 140, but the remaining capacity of the primary power supply 126 can be restored by charging it with an external charging device (not shown) via an external connection terminal (not shown).

[0042] The user operation unit 132 is configured to receive operations from the user to the primary device 120. User operations to the primary device 120 include, for example, operational instructions to authorize power supply to the secondary device 140. As an example, the user operation unit 132 is configured as a button, switch, knob, lever, touch sensor, etc., that can be physically operated by the user.

[0043] The control unit 134 is an electronic circuit module configured as a microprocessor or microcomputer, and is programmed to control the operation of the primary device 120 according to computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 136. The memory 136 is an information storage medium such as ROM, RAM, or flash memory. In addition to computer-executable instructions, the memory 136 stores setting data necessary for controlling the primary device 120.

[0044] Figure 2 shows an electrical circuit diagram of a smoking system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the electrical circuit 200 of the smoking system 100 includes a power supply circuit 124 for the primary device 120 and a drive circuit 146 for the secondary device 140. The power supply circuit 124 of the primary device 120 comprises a DC / DC converter 124-1 and connection terminals 124-2. The DC / DC converter 124-1 increases or decreases the voltage of the primary power supply 126 according to the control of the control unit (control unit 134 of the primary device 120 and / or control unit 154 of the secondary device 140), thereby increasing or decreasing the voltage of the primary power supply 126. The output voltage of device 120 is adjusted. Generally, DC / DC converters have a voltage control mode that controls the output voltage and a current (power) mode that controls the output current (power), so DC / DC converter 124-1 may also adjust the output current (power) of the primary device 120. The drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 includes a first switch SW1, a second switch SW2, a third switch SW3, a fourth switch SW4, and a connection terminal 146-1. Each switch SW1, SW2, SW3, and SW4 is an electrical switch such as a transistor, and is controlled by the control unit (control unit 154 of the secondary device 140 and / or control unit 134 of the primary device 120) to switch between an on state and an off state individually. The electrical circuit 200 is configured such that the secondary device 140, inserted into the connection port 122 of the primary device 120, is electrically connected to the primary device 120 via the connection terminal 146-1 on the secondary device 140 side and the connection terminal 124-2 on the primary device 120 side.

[0045] Figure 3 shows the state transitions 300 of the electrical circuit 200 for multiple operating modes of a smoking system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The smoking system 100 can operate in four modes: normal smoking mode, normal non-smoking mode, charging mode, and direct heating mode. The normal smoking mode is a mode in which smoking is performed by electrically disconnecting the secondary device 140 from the primary device 120 and operating it independently. The normal non-smoking mode is a mode in which smoking is stopped while the secondary device 140 remains disconnected from the primary device 120. The charging mode is a mode in which the secondary device 140 is connected to the primary device 120 and the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140 is charged from the primary power supply 126 of the primary device 120. The direct heating mode is a mode in which smoking is performed by connecting the secondary device 140 to the primary device 120 and directly supplying power from the primary power supply 126 of the primary device 120 to the load 144 of the secondary device 140. The normal smoking mode and normal non-smoking mode correspond to the second usage mode, while the charging mode and direct heating mode correspond to the first usage mode.

[0046] As shown in Figure 3, in normal smoking mode, the control unit sets the first switch SW1, the second switch SW2, and the fourth switch SW4 to the ON state and the third switch SW3 to the OFF state. This allows power to be supplied from the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140 to the load 144, and the aerosol generating item 160 is heated by the load 144. Therefore, the user can smoke in the second usage mode. In normal non-smoking mode, the control unit also sets all switches SW1, SW2, SW3, and SW4 to the OFF state. This cuts off the power supply to the load 144, and the heating of the aerosol generating item 160 stops. In charging mode, the control unit sets the third switch SW3 to the ON state and the first switch SW1, the second switch SW2, and the fourth switch SW4 to the OFF state. This allows power to be supplied from the primary power supply 126 of the primary device 120 to the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140, and the secondary power supply 148 is charged. On the other hand, in direct heating mode, the control unit sets the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 to the ON state, and the third switch SW3 and the fourth switch SW4 to the OFF state. As a result, power is directly supplied from the primary power supply 126 of the primary device 120 to the load 144, and the aerosol generating article 160 is heated by the load 144. Therefore, the user can smoke even in the first usage mode.

[0047] Thus, the smoking system 100 can switch operating modes by controlling the on and off states of each switch in the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140. Furthermore, in the first usage configuration in which the secondary device 140 is connected to the primary device 120, when switching modes between the charging mode and the direct heating mode, the smoking system 100 is configured to execute a transition mode in between, rather than immediately transitioning from the charging mode to the direct heating mode or from the direct heating mode to the charging mode. That is, the switching of operating modes in the first usage configuration of the smoking system 100 is performed by transitioning from the charging mode to the direct heating mode via the transition mode, or from the direct heating mode to the direct heating mode via the transition mode. This is done by transitioning to charging mode. A transition mode may be involved in both the transition from charging mode to direct heating mode and the transition from direct heating mode to charging mode, or a transition mode may be involved in only one of the directions.

[0048] The transition mode is a mode in which a variable relating to the power supply from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 is changed. The variables relating to power supply include, as an unrestricted example, the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 (i.e., the discharge rate from the primary power supply 126 of the primary device 120). For example, since it is preferable to set the amount of power supplied (rate) to an appropriate value depending on the characteristics and application of the powered device, the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 in the charging mode is different from the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 in the direct heating mode.

[0049] For example, when a lithium-ion secondary battery is used as the secondary power source 148 of the secondary device 140, lithium-ion secondary batteries have a property called rate dependence, although there are differences depending on the materials and structure of electrodes, electrolyte, active material, or conductive additive. This rate dependence refers to the correlation between the magnitude of the charge rate or discharge rate and its effect on the degradation of the lithium-ion secondary battery. Here, the degradation of the lithium-ion secondary battery is expressed, for example, by the ratio of the current chargeable capacity or dischargeable capacity to the chargeable capacity or dischargeable capacity when new (at the time of factory shipment). As a general trend, the effect on the degradation of the lithium-ion secondary battery increases exponentially as the rate increases. Also, even at the same rate, the effect of charging on degradation is about 2 to 3 times greater than the effect of discharge on degradation. Therefore, it is preferable that the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 in the charging mode be controlled to a relatively small value in order to suppress the degradation of the secondary power source 140 being charged.

[0050] In the direct heating mode, power is mainly supplied from the primary power supply 126 to the load 144, so there are no constraints to suppress the degradation of the secondary power supply 140 as described above. Rather, since it is necessary to heat the aerosol generating article 160 to a temperature at which aerosols are generated, it is preferable that the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 in the direct heating mode be controlled to a relatively large value. If we consider this in more detail, if a lithium-ion secondary battery is also used for the primary power supply 126 of the primary device 120, there is a concern as to whether degradation of the primary power supply 126 will occur due to the rate dependence of the primary power supply 126 itself if the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 is controlled to a large value. Here, as described above, it is preferable that the primary power supply 126 has a sufficiently large capacity compared to the secondary power supply 148 so that it can charge the secondary power supply 148 multiple times, but as is widely known, the larger the capacity of a secondary battery, the smaller the rate. Also, the primary power supply 126 discharges to the secondary device 140, but as described above, discharge has a smaller effect on degradation compared to charging. Therefore, even if the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 is controlled to a large value, the degradation of the primary power supply 126 can be sufficiently suppressed by adjusting it to an appropriate range.

[0051] To bridge the gap between the charging mode and the direct heating mode, the smoking system 100 performs a process in the transition mode to change the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 from the amount of power supplied in the mode before the operating mode switch (one of the charging mode and the direct heating mode) to the amount of power supplied in the mode after the switch (the other of the charging mode and the direct heating mode). This change in power supply is achieved, for example, by controlling the output voltage and output current (power) from the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the primary device 120. By performing this power supply change process in the transition mode, the smoking system 100 can smoothly switch between the charging mode and the direct heating mode in the first usage configuration.

[0052] The duration of the transition mode (hereinafter referred to as the transition time) can be set to various values. For example, when switching the operating mode from direct heating mode to charging mode, the transition time can simply be set to the time required for the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the primary device 120 to change the output voltage and output current (voltage). The length of this time depends solely on the electrical processing of the DC / DC converter 124-1 and is typically less than 1 second. Alternatively, when switching the operating mode from charging mode to direct heating mode, the transition mode may be delayed after the voltage has been changed by the DC / DC converter 124-1 until the user inserts the aerosol generating article 160 into the aerosol generating article holder 142 of the secondary device 140 in preparation for starting smoking. In this case, the transition time is typically longer than 1 second, for example, several seconds to tens of seconds, because it requires waiting for the user's manual operation.

[0053] Figure 4A is a timing chart showing an example of the state transition of the smoking system 100 when switching from direct heating mode to charging mode. Referring to Figure 4A, the smoking system 100 initially operates in direct heating mode. As described above, in direct heating mode, the control unit sets the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 to the ON state, and the third switch SW3 to the OFF state. The control unit also controls the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the power supply circuit 124 of the primary device 120 to adjust the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the load 144 of the secondary device 140 so that the aerosol generating article 160 is heated or maintained at a predetermined target temperature.

[0054] The smoking system 100 then transitions to a transition mode, for example, when a predetermined user operation is input to the user operation unit 132 or 152. For example, the user inputs an instruction to switch the smoking system 100 from direct heating mode to charging mode via the user operation unit 132 or 152. Upon receiving such a user operation, the control unit changes the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 from the ON state to the OFF state, while keeping the third switch SW3 in the OFF state, thereby transitioning the smoking system 100 to the transition mode. In the transition mode, the control unit also controls the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the primary device 120 to change the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 from the amount of power supplied for direct heating mode to the amount of power supplied for charging mode. As mentioned above, generally, the maximum amount of power supplied (charging rate) that can be allowed when charging the rechargeable battery (secondary power supply 148) is smaller than the amount of power supplied to heat the heater (load 144). If charging is performed at a rate higher than the maximum allowable rate, the performance of the secondary power supply 148 may deteriorate. Therefore, the control unit controls the DC / DC converter 124-1 so that the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 decreases from a high amount of power for direct heating mode to a low amount of power for charging mode. It takes a finite amount of time (e.g., less than 1 second) for the amount of power to decrease completely, but in the transition mode shown in Figure 4A, the third switch SW3 of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 is set to the off state, so it is possible to avoid the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140 being charged by the relatively high amount of power supplied before it has decreased completely to the low amount of power for charging mode. In addition, since the time it takes for the amount of power to decrease to the low amount of power for charging mode is very short, it is possible to achieve a quick switch from direct heating mode to charging mode in practice.

[0055] After a predetermined transition time has elapsed, the smoking system 100 transitions from the transition mode to the charging mode. In the charging mode, the control unit keeps the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 in the same off state as in the transition mode, and changes the third switch SW3 from the off state to the on state. As a result, the primary device 120 supplies power to the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140 with a low power supply amount for the charging mode, and the secondary power supply 148 is charged. During the series of transitions from the direct heating mode to the charging mode via the transition mode, the fourth switch SW4 is continuously controlled to be in the off state.

[0056] Figure 4B is a timing chart showing an example of the state transition of the smoking system 100 when switching from charging mode to direct heating mode. Referring to Figure 4B, the smoking system 100 initially operates in charging mode. As described above, in charging mode, the control unit sets the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 to the off state and the third switch SW3 to the on state. The control unit also controls the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the power supply circuit 124 of the primary device 120 to adjust the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140 to a predetermined low value.

[0057] The smoking system 100 then transitions to a transition mode, for example, when a predetermined user operation is input to the user operation unit 132 or 152. For example, the user inputs an instruction to switch the smoking system 100 from charging mode to direct heating mode via the user operation unit 132 or 152. Upon receiving such a user operation, the control unit changes the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 from the off state to the on state, and changes the third switch SW3 from the on state to the off state, thereby transitioning the smoking system 100 to a transition mode. In the transition mode, the control unit also controls the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the primary device 120 to change the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 from a low power supply amount for charging mode to a high power supply amount for direct heating mode (for example, gradually increasing from a low power supply amount for charging mode to a high power supply amount for direct heating mode, as shown in Figure 4B). Unlike in Figure 4A, in the direct heating mode, which is the mode after switching, there are no particular restrictions on the amount of power supplied to the load 144. Therefore, in the transition mode shown in Figure 4B, the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 are set to the ON state. As a result, power supply from the primary device 120 to the load 144 of the secondary device 140 begins in the transition mode, and the aerosol generating article 160 can be heated quickly. During the series of transitions from the charging mode to the direct heating mode via the transition mode, the fourth switch SW4 is continuously controlled to the OFF state.

[0058] Figure 4C is a timing chart showing another example of the state transition of the smoking system 100 when switching from direct heating mode to charging mode. The timing chart in Figure 4C differs from the timing chart in Figure 4A only in that the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 are set to the ON state in the transition mode. When the control unit receives a predetermined user operation in direct heating mode, it moves the smoking system 100 to the transition mode while keeping the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 in the ON state and the third switch SW3 in the OFF state. In the transition mode, the control unit controls the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the primary device 120 to gradually reduce the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 from a high power supply amount for direct heating mode to a low power supply amount for charging mode.

[0059] In a smoking system 100 in which the load 144 of the secondary device 140 is configured to be in direct physical contact with the aerosol generating article 160, components of the aerosol generating article 160 may remain on the surface of the load 144 after the user finishes smoking and removes the aerosol generating article 160 from the aerosol generating article holder 142. If these residual components are left as they are, it may adversely affect the reliability and heating capacity of the load 144. In the transition mode shown in Figure 4C, the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 are set to the ON state, so that heating of the load 144 continues even after the direct heating mode has ended. This allows the components of the aerosol generating article 160 remaining on the surface of the load 144 to evaporate and the load 144 to be cleaned.

[0060] The transition time required to sustain the transition mode is, for example, sufficient to effectively clean load 144. The transition time may be set to a predetermined length of time that is expected to be necessary to perform the transition. Once such a predetermined transition time has elapsed, the smoking system 100 transitions from the transition mode to the charging mode. In the charging mode, the control unit changes the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 from the ON state to the OFF state, and changes the third switch SW3 from the OFF state to the ON state. This causes the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140 to be charged from the primary device 120. During the series of transitions from the direct heating mode to the charging mode via the transition mode, the fourth switch SW4 is continuously controlled to the OFF state.

[0061] Figure 4D is a timing chart showing another example of the state transition of the smoking system 100 when switching from charging mode to direct heating mode. The timing chart in Figure 4D differs from the timing chart in Figure 4B in that the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 are set to the off state in the transition mode. When the control unit receives a predetermined user operation in charging mode, it maintains the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 in the same off state as in charging mode, and changes the third switch SW3 from the on state to the off state, thereby transitioning the smoking system 100 to the transition mode. In the transition mode, the control unit also controls the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the primary device 120 to change the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 from a low power supply amount for charging mode to a high power supply amount for direct heating mode. However, unlike in Figure 4B, since the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 are in the off state, power supply to the load 144 is suspended while the transition mode is maintained. For example, immediately after switching from charging mode to transition mode, the aerosol generating article 160 may not yet be attached to the aerosol generating article holding section 142 of the secondary device 140. In such a situation, the power supply to the load 144 is withheld, which prevents the load 144 from running dry.

[0062] In the example shown in Figure 4D, the transition mode may persist, for example, until the aerosol generating article 160 is attached to the aerosol generating article holder 142. Alternatively, the duration of the transition mode may be set independently of the attachment of the aerosol generating article 160 to the aerosol generating article holder 142. In other words, the transition mode may persist before and after the aerosol generating article 160 is attached to the aerosol generating article holder 142. For example, the transition mode may persist until the acquisition or estimation of the charge state of the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140 is completed. When the control unit detects that the aerosol generating article 160 has been attached to the aerosol generating article holder 142, it changes the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 from the off state to the on state, while keeping the third switch SW3 in the off state. As a result, the smoking system 100 transitions from the transition mode to the direct heating mode, and power is supplied from the primary device 120 to the load 144 of the secondary device 140. During the series of transitions from charging mode to direct heating mode via the transition mode, the fourth switch SW4 is continuously controlled to the OFF state.

[0063] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process 500 for a control unit (control unit 134 and / or 154) of a smoking system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention to perform control to switch the operating mode of the smoking system 100. The process 500 is initiated in either a first usage mode in which the secondary device 140 is connected to the primary device 120, or a second usage mode in which the secondary device 140 is disconnected from the primary device 120.

[0064] When process 500 is started, in step S502, the control unit first determines whether the secondary device 140 is connected to the primary device 120. For example, the control unit determines whether the secondary device 140 is inserted into the connection port 122 of the primary device 120, that is, whether the secondary device 140 is connected to the primary device 120, by detecting the electrical contact between the connection terminal 146-1 of the secondary device 140 and the connection terminal 124-2 of the primary device 120. This can be done. Process 500 proceeds to step S504 if the secondary device 140 is connected to the primary device 120, and to step S524 if it is not connected.

[0065] When the secondary device 140 is connected to the primary device 120, that is, when the smoking system 100 is in the first usage mode, in step S504, the control unit determines whether the restraining part 120B of the primary device 120 is in a restrained state or an unrestrained state. The restrained state of the restraining part 120B is a state in which the restraining part 120B restrains the secondary device 140 so as to maintain the electrical connection between the primary device 120 and the secondary device 140 inserted into the connecting port 122. The unrestrained state of the restraining part 120B is a state in which the restraining part 120B does not restrain the secondary device 140 inserted into the connecting port 122, and therefore it is possible to release the electrical connection between the primary device 120 and the secondary device 140. For example, in a configuration in which the restraining part 120B is a lid, the state in which the lid 120B is closed is a restrained state, and the state in which the lid 120B is open is an unrestrained state. The control unit can determine, for example, whether the restraining unit 120B is restrained or unrestrained based on a signal from a mechanical switch linked to the movement of the restraining unit 120B. Alternatively, the primary device 120 may be configured such that the lid 120B automatically opens when the main power button is turned on, and automatically closes when the main power button is turned off. If the restraining unit 120B is unrestrained, the process 500 proceeds to step S506, and if it is restrained, it proceeds to step S516. The lid 120B may be a sliding lid. Furthermore, the restraining unit 120B may not be in the form of a lid, but may be composed of other members capable of restraining the movement of the secondary device 140 (for example, a structure that engages claws with the secondary device 140, or a structure that utilizes magnetic attraction).

[0066] If the restraint portion 120B of the primary device 120 is in an unrestrained state, in step S506, the control unit determines whether or not the aerosol generating article 160 is inserted into the aerosol generating article holding portion 142 of the secondary device 140. For example, the secondary device 140 includes a mechanical switch that is pressed by the aerosol generating article 160 when the aerosol generating article 160 is inserted into the aerosol generating article holding portion 142. The mechanical switch supplies an electrical signal to the control unit indicating that it has been pressed by the aerosol generating article 160. Based on this signal, the control unit can determine whether or not the aerosol generating article 160 is inserted into the aerosol generating article holding portion 142. If the aerosol generating article 160 is inserted into the aerosol generating article holding portion 142, the process 500 proceeds to step S508; otherwise, it repeats step S506. In this embodiment, if it is determined in step S506 that the aerosol generating article 160 has been inserted into the aerosol generating article holding section 142 of the secondary device 140, the direct heating mode is executed in step S508. In addition, between step S506 and step S508, it may be determined whether there is a sufficient amount of aerosol generating article 160 remaining in the aerosol generating article holding section 142. If there is not a sufficient amount of aerosol generating article 160 remaining, a sufficient amount of aerosol cannot be generated even if the direct heating mode is executed in step S508, so the direct heating mode may not be executed, or direct heating may be stopped when the amount of aerosol generating article 160 runs out.

[0067] In step S508, the control unit controls the smoking system 100 to operate in direct heating mode. More specifically, as described above, the control unit sets the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 to the ON state and the third switch SW3 to the OFF state. The control unit also controls the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the power supply circuit 124 of the primary device 120 to adjust the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the load 144 of the secondary device 140 so that the aerosol generating article 160 is heated or maintained at a predetermined target temperature. This step S508 corresponds to the direct heating mode that is first performed when switching the operation of the smoking system 100 from direct heating mode to charging mode, as shown in the timing charts of Figures 4A and 4C. In this configuration, power is supplied from the primary device 120 to the load 144 of the secondary device 140, allowing the user to smoke in the first usage configuration in which the secondary device 140 is connected to the primary device 120.

[0068] The control unit then determines in step S510 whether the state of the restraint unit 120B of the primary device 120 has changed from an unrestrained state to a restrained state (for example, whether the lid 120B has been closed). For example, a user can instruct the smoking system 100 to switch its operating mode from direct heating mode to charging mode by changing the restraint unit 120B from an unrestrained state to a restrained state (for example, by closing the lid 120B). If the state of the restraint unit 120B has changed to a restrained state, the process 500 proceeds to step S512, and if it remains in an unrestrained state, it returns to step S508.

[0069] In step S510, instead of determining whether the state of the restraint portion 120B has changed from an unrestrained state to a restrained state, it may be determined whether the aerosol generating article 160 has been removed from the aerosol generating article holding portion 142. In such an example, if the aerosol generating article 160 has been removed from the aerosol generating article holding portion 142, process 500 proceeds to step S512, and returns to step S508 if the aerosol generating article 160 remains inserted in the aerosol generating article holding portion 142.

[0070] When the restraint unit 120B is changed to a restrained state, in step S512, the control unit controls the smoking system 100 to transition from direct heating mode to transition mode. For example, the control unit changes the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 from the ON state to the OFF state, while keeping the third switch SW3 in the OFF state. The control unit also controls the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the primary device 120 to change the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 from a high power supply amount for direct heating mode to a low power supply amount for charging mode. This corresponds to the control performed in the transition mode in the timing chart of Figure 4A. This type of transition mode control prevents the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140 from being charged by a high power supply amount. Alternatively, the control unit may maintain the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 in the ON state and the third switch SW3 in the OFF state, while gradually reducing the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 from a high power supply amount for the direct heating mode to a low power supply amount for the charging mode. This corresponds to the control performed in the transition mode of the timing chart in Figure 4C. This type of transition mode control makes it possible to avoid the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140 being charged by a high power supply amount, and also allows for cleaning of the load 144.

[0071] Furthermore, in order to enhance the cleaning effect on the load 144, it may be determined whether the aerosol-generating article 160 is indeed removed from the aerosol-generating article holder 142 during the cleaning process. For example, the control unit may determine whether the aerosol-generating article 160 is removed from the aerosol-generating article holder 142 based on the rate at which the load 144 heats up when power is supplied to the load 144 in the transition mode. The heat capacity of the aerosol-generating article 160 is greater when it is attached to the aerosol-generating article holder 146 than when it is detached from the aerosol-generating article holder 142, and therefore the rate at which the load 144 heats up is slower when the same current or power is supplied to the load 144. By utilizing this characteristic, it is possible to determine with high accuracy whether the aerosol-generating article 160 is indeed removed from the aerosol-generating article holder 142 during the cleaning process without using a dedicated sensor. As another example, if the control unit determines that the aerosol-generating item 160 is attached to the aerosol-generating item holder 142 during cleaning, it may notify the user to remove the aerosol-generating item 160 from the aerosol-generating item holder 142. When issuing the notification, it may also notify the user to clean the load 144. You may interrupt it.

[0072] After the smoking system 100 transitions to the transition mode, for example, after a predetermined transition time has elapsed, the control unit controls the smoking system 100 to transition from the transition mode to the charging mode in step S514. This allows the user to charge the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140 using the primary device 120. Step S514 corresponds to the charging mode performed after the mode switching in the timing charts of Figures 4A and 4C. The process 500 then returns to step S504.

[0073] On the other hand, if the determination result in step S504 indicates that the restraint unit 120B of the primary device 120 is in a restrained state, the control unit controls the smoking system 100 to operate in charging mode in step S516. More specifically, as described above, the control unit sets the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 to the off state and the third switch SW3 to the on state. The control unit also controls the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the power supply circuit 124 of the primary device 120 to adjust the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140 to a predetermined low value. This step S516 corresponds to the charging mode that is first performed when switching the operation of the smoking system 100 from charging mode to direct heating mode, as shown in the timing charts of Figures 4B and 4D.

[0074] The control unit then determines in step S518 whether the state of the restraint unit 120B of the primary device 120 has changed from a restrained state to an unrestrained state (for example, whether the lid 120B has been opened). For example, a user can instruct the smoking system 100 to switch its operating mode from charging mode to direct heating mode by changing the restraint unit 120B from a restrained state to an unrestrained state (for example, by opening the lid 120B). If the state of the restraint unit 120B has changed to an unrestrained state, the process 500 proceeds to step S520, and if it remains in a restrained state, it returns to step S516.

[0075] When the restraint unit 120B is changed to an unrestrained state, in step S520, the control unit controls the smoking system 100 to transition from charging mode to transition mode. For example, the control unit changes the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 from the off state to the on state, and changes the third switch SW3 from the on state to the off state. The control unit also controls the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the primary device 120 to change the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 from a low power supply amount for charging mode to a high power supply amount for direct heating mode. This corresponds to the control performed in the transition mode in the timing chart of Figure 4B. This control of the transition mode allows the aerosol generating article 160 to be heated quickly.

[0076] After the smoking system 100 transitions to the transition mode, for example, after a predetermined transition time has elapsed, the control unit controls the smoking system 100 in step S522 to transition from the transition mode to the direct heating mode. Step S522 corresponds to the direct heating mode performed after the mode switch in the timing chart of Figure 4B. In step S522, the user can smoke in the first usage configuration in which the secondary device 140 is connected to the primary device 120. The process 500 then returns to step S504.

[0077] If the determination result in step S502 indicates that the secondary device 140 is not connected to the primary device 120, that is, if the smoking system 100 is in the second usage mode, the control unit sets the mode of the smoking system 100 to normal smoking mode or normal non-smoking mode in step S524. For example, if the main power button (user operation unit 152) of the secondary device 140 is turned on, the control unit operates the smoking system 100 in normal smoking mode. Then, power is supplied from the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140 to the load 144, and the user can smoke using the secondary device 140 on its own. Also, for example, if the main power button of the secondary device 140 is turned off, the control unit will operate the smoking system 100 in normal non-smoking mode. In this way, the secondary device 140 can operate independently in a second usage mode, disconnected from the primary device 120.

[0078] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing another exemplary process 600 for the control unit (control unit 134 and / or 154) of the smoking system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention to perform control to switch the operating mode of the smoking system 100. Process 600 differs from the above-described process 500 in that it includes steps S519 and S521, which are performed when the state of the constraint unit 120B changes to an unconstrained state in step S518.

[0079] In step S519, the control unit determines whether or not the aerosol generating article 160 has been inserted into the aerosol generating article holding section 142 of the secondary device 140. If the operation to insert the aerosol generating article 160 into the aerosol generating article holding section 142 is performed, the process 600 proceeds to step S522 (the same as described for process 500), and the direct heating mode is performed. On the other hand, if the aerosol generating article 160 has not yet been inserted into the aerosol generating article holding section 142, the process 600 proceeds to step S521.

[0080] In step S521, the control unit controls the smoking system 100 to transition from charging mode to transition mode. For example, the control unit keeps the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 of the drive circuit 146 of the secondary device 140 in the same off state as in charging mode, while changing the third switch SW3 from the on state to the off state. The control unit also controls the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the primary device 120 to change the amount of power supplied from the primary device 120 to the secondary device 140 from a low power supply amount for charging mode to a high power supply amount for direct heating mode. This corresponds to the control performed in the transition mode in the timing chart of Figure 4D. This control of the transition mode prevents the load 144 from being dry-heated.

[0081] Following step S521, process 600 repeats the determination in step S519. As a result, the transition mode of step S521 is continued until the aerosol generating article 160 is inserted into the aerosol generating article holding unit 142. The smoking system 100 can be operated to switch to the direct heating mode when the user inserts the aerosol generating article 160 into the aerosol generating article holding unit 142.

[0082] In the process 500 shown in Figure 5, the control unit (control units 134 and / or 154) may transition the smoking system 100 from the mode before the change (direct heating mode or charging mode) to the transition mode based on the state of the restraint unit 120B. Also, in the process 600 shown in Figure 6, the control unit (control units 134 and / or 154) may transition the smoking system 100 from the charging mode to the transition mode based on the state of the restraint unit 120B, as well as whether or not the aerosol generating article 160 has been inserted into the aerosol generating article holding unit 142 of the secondary device 140. Alternatively, the condition for transitioning from the mode before the change to the transition mode may be limited to whether or not the aerosol generating article 160 has been inserted into the aerosol generating article holding unit 142 of the secondary device 140. Or, instead, input to the user operation unit 132 or 152 may be used.

[0083] As described above, the control unit (control unit 134 and / or 154) of the smoking system 100 uses specific and direct user operation conditions, such as the state of the restraint unit 120B, whether or not the aerosol generating article 160 has been inserted into the aerosol generating article holding unit 142 of the secondary device 140, and input to the user operation unit 132 or 152, to change the smoking system 100 to its pre-modified state. The system transitions from a mode (direct heating mode or charging mode) to a transition mode. Alternatively, the smoking system 100 may transition from the previous mode (direct heating mode or charging mode) to a transition mode using conditions unrelated to user operation or conditions related to more indirect user operation. As an example of a more indirect user operation condition, it may be determined whether or not the remaining amount of aerosol generating article 160 falls below a predetermined threshold. The control unit (control unit 134 and / or 154) may estimate the remaining amount of aerosol generating article 160 using the number of times smoked since a new aerosol generating article 160 was inserted into the aerosol generating article holding unit 142, or the cumulative value of the power supply time or power supply amount from the secondary power supply 148 to the load 144. Note that the method for estimating the remaining amount of aerosol generating article 160 is not limited to these, and various methods can be adopted. Alternatively, a sensor that can accurately measure the remaining amount of aerosol generating article 160 may be used. For example, a weight sensor or an optical sensor can be used as such a sensor.

[0084] Figure 7A shows an example of an air intake channel 710 provided in the secondary device 140. Figure 7B shows an example of an air intake channel 720 provided in the primary device 120. The smoking system 100 is configured to allow smoking in the first usage mode (direct heating mode) by inserting the secondary device 140 into the connecting port 122 of the primary device 120. Therefore, a structure is needed to supply a sufficient amount of air to the aerosol generating article 160 even when the secondary device 140 is inserted into the connecting port 122. The exemplary air intake channel 710 provided in the secondary device 140 allows air to be taken in from the opening side of the aerosol generating article holding section 142 and to flow to the vicinity of the load 144. The exemplary air intake channel 720 provided in the primary device 120 is configured to take in air from the bottom of the main body 120A of the primary device 120 and guide it to the innermost part of the connecting port 122. The air introduced into the connecting port 122 via the air intake channel 720 is further introduced to the vicinity of the load 144 inside the secondary device 140 through the air intake channel of the secondary device 140 (not shown in Figure 7B), which is formed as a different channel from the air intake channel 710 shown in Figure 7A and opens at the tip portion (the end opposite to the aerosol generating article holding section 142) of the secondary device 140 inserted into the connecting port 122. The smoking system 100 may be equipped with either the air intake channel 710 or 720, or with both. Such air intake channels 710 and / or 720 allow for a sufficient amount of air to be supplied to the aerosol generating article 160 inside the secondary device 140, even when smoking is performed by inserting the secondary device 140 into the connecting port 122 of the primary device 120 in direct heating mode.

[0085] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the power flow in the direct heating mode, transition mode, and charging mode was controlled by switching the on and off states of the first switch SW1, second switch SW2, third switch SW3, and fourth switch SW4, respectively. However, the means for controlling the power flow in each mode are not limited to this. As an example, in Figure 2, a reverse current prevention diode that directs the charging direction from the primary power supply 126 to the secondary power supply 148 may be provided on the circuit that branches from the main positive busbar and main negative busbar of the drive circuit 146 connected from the connection terminal 146-1 of the secondary device 140 to the load 144. In the direct heating mode, where the power supply from the primary power supply 126 to the secondary power supply 148 is stopped, the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the primary device 120 should be controlled so that the output voltage from the primary device 120 is lower than the terminal voltage of the secondary power supply 148. On the other hand, in the charging mode, where power is supplied from the primary power supply 126 to the secondary power supply 148, the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the primary device 120 should be controlled so that the output voltage from the primary device 120 is higher than the terminal voltage of the secondary power supply 148.

[0086] Furthermore, the means for adjusting the relative voltage between the terminal voltages of the primary power supply 126 and the terminal voltages of the secondary power supply 148 is not limited to the DC / DC converter 124-1 of the primary device 120. For example, a DC / DC converter may also be provided in the secondary device 140. Alternatively, the primary power supply 126 and the secondary At least one of the power supplies 148 may consist of multiple energy storage devices, and these may be switched between series and parallel connections.

[0087] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible without departing from its essence.

[0088] For example, in the embodiment described above, the primary device 120 in direct heating mode supplies power only to the load 144 of the secondary device 140, and the primary device 120 in charging mode supplies power only to the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and a portion of the power may be supplied simultaneously to both the load 144 and the secondary power supply 148 of the secondary device 140. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0089] 100 Smoking Systems 120 Primary device 120A Main Unit 120B Restraint part (lid) 120C Hinge 122 Link Ports 124 Power supply circuit 124-1 DC / DC Converter 124-2 Connection terminals 126 Primary power supply 132 User Operation Section 134 Control Unit 136 memory 140 Secondary device 142 Aerosol-generating article holding unit 144 load 146 Drive Circuit 146-1 Connection terminals 148 Secondary power supply 152 User Operation Section 154 Control Unit 156 memory 160 Aerosol-generating items 200 Electrical Circuits 710 Air intake channel 720 Air intake channel

Claims

1. A secondary device comprising a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source, and a power supply capable of supplying power to the load, A primary device capable of supplying power to the load and the power supply when connected to the secondary device, Includes, In the first mode for supplying power to the load, a first power supply amount is supplied from the primary device to the secondary device, and in the second mode for supplying power to the power source, a second power supply amount is supplied from the primary device to the secondary device. Smoking system.

2. The first power supply amount is smaller than the second power supply amount. The smoking system according to claim 1.

3. The first mode is a heating mode that atomizes the aerosol source or heats the flavor source. The second mode is a charging mode for charging the power supply. The smoking system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The aforementioned smoking system In the first mode, the primary device can simultaneously supply power to the load and the power supply, A smoking system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The aforementioned smoking system It is possible to transition from the first mode to the second mode. A smoking system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The system further includes means for switching between a state in which power can be supplied from the primary device to the load and a state in which power cannot be supplied, The aforementioned smoking system The means is controlled to transition from the first mode to the second mode. The smoking system according to claim 5.

7. The means is a switch provided between the primary device and the load, The aforementioned smoking system The switch is controlled to be in the ON state, thereby transitioning from the first mode to the second mode. The smoking system according to claim 6.

8. The device further includes a diode provided between the primary device and the power supply, with the direction from the primary device to the power supply being the forward direction, The means is a voltage adjustment circuit capable of adjusting the relative voltage between the output voltage of the primary device and the voltage of the load, The aforementioned smoking system The voltage adjustment circuit is controlled so that the voltage of the load becomes higher than the output voltage of the primary device, thereby transitioning from the first mode to the second mode. The smoking system according to claim 6.

9. The system includes a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source, and a power supply capable of supplying power to the load. A control method for controlling the power supply between a secondary device and a primary device capable of supplying power to the load and the power supply when connected to the secondary device, In the first mode for supplying power to the load, the steps include supplying power from the primary device to the load with a first power supply amount, In the second mode for supplying power to the power supply, the steps include supplying power from the primary device to the power supply with a second power supply amount, A control method including

10. The first power supply amount is smaller than the second power supply amount. The control method according to claim 9.

11. The first mode is a heating mode that atomizes the aerosol source or heats the flavor source. The second mode is a charging mode for charging the power supply. The control method according to claim 9 or 10.

12. In the first mode, the primary device can simultaneously supply power to the load and the power supply, The control method according to any one of claims 9 to 11.

13. A load that atomizes an aerosol source or heats a flavor source, A power supply capable of supplying power to the aforementioned load, The system includes a control unit that controls the power supply between the load and a primary device capable of supplying power to the aforementioned load and the aforementioned power supply, The control unit, In the first mode for supplying power to the load, the primary device supplies power to the secondary device at a first power supply amount, and in the second mode for supplying power to the power source, the primary device supplies power to the secondary device at a second power supply amount. Secondary device.

14. The first power supply amount is smaller than the second power supply amount. The secondary apparatus according to claim 13.

15. The first mode is a heating mode that atomizes the aerosol source or heats the flavor source. The second mode is a charging mode for charging the power supply. The secondary apparatus according to claim 13 or 14.

16. The control unit, In the first mode, power is supplied simultaneously from the primary device to the load and the power supply. The secondary apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 15.

17. The control unit, Transition from the first mode to the second mode, The secondary apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 16.

18. The device further includes means for switching between a state in which power can be supplied from the primary device to the load and a state in which power cannot be supplied. The control unit, The means is controlled to transition from the first mode to the second mode. The secondary apparatus according to claim 17.

19. The means is a switch provided between the primary device and the load, The control unit, The switch is controlled to be in the ON state, thereby transitioning from the first mode to the second mode. The secondary apparatus according to claim 18.

20. The device further comprises a diode provided between the primary device and the power supply, with the direction from the primary device to the power supply being the forward direction, The means is a voltage adjustment circuit capable of adjusting the relative voltage between the output voltage of the primary device and the voltage of the load, The control unit, The voltage adjustment circuit is controlled so that the voltage of the load becomes higher than the output voltage of the primary device, thereby transitioning from the first mode to the second mode. The secondary apparatus according to claim 18.

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