Non-flammable aerosol supply system

Abstract

The non-combustible aerosol delivery system includes a non-combustible aerosol delivery device (100) and a charging device (200) for use with the non-combustible aerosol delivery device. The non-combustible aerosol delivery device includes a first rechargeable battery. The charging device includes a housing (201), a second rechargeable battery (210) disposed within the housing, a first electrical connection port (202) for connection to the non-combustible aerosol delivery device, and a second electrical connection port (204) for connection to an external power source and control circuitry (208). In use, when an external power source is connected to the second electrical connection port and the non-combustible aerosol delivery device is connected to the first electrical connection port, the control circuitry prioritizes directing power from the external power source to the non-combustible aerosol delivery device for charging the first rechargeable battery over directing power from the external power source for charging the second rechargeable battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a non-flammable aerosol supply system including a non-flammable aerosol supply device and a charging device used together with the non-flammable aerosol supply device. The present invention also relates to a charging device used together with a non-flammable aerosol supply device.

Background Art

[0002] Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars that generate tobacco smoke by burning tobacco during use. Some examples are devices that generate aerosol / vapor with a tobacco flavor and / or perfume-infused air. Most of these devices include an internal battery that supplies energy to various components of the device, such as a heating element and a control circuit. As these devices become more sophisticated, the requirements for the internal battery are increasing.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-flammable aerosol supply system including a non-flammable aerosol supply device and a charging device used together with the non-flammable aerosol supply device, wherein the non-flammable aerosol supply device includes a first rechargeable battery, and the charging device includes a housing, a second rechargeable battery disposed within the housing, a first electrical connection port for connecting to the non-flammable aerosol supply device, and a second electrical connection port for connecting to an external power source. When, during use, the external power source is connected to the second electrical connection port and the non-flammable aerosol supply device is connected to the first electrical connection port, a control circuit is provided that prioritizes directing power from the external power source to charging the first rechargeable battery of the non-flammable aerosol supply device over directing power from the external power source to charging the second rechargeable battery.

[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a charging device for use with a non-flammable aerosol supply device, comprising a housing, a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing, a first electrical connection port for connecting to the non-flammable aerosol supply device, a second electrical connection port for connecting to an external power source, and a control circuit that, when in use, the external power source is connected to the second electrical connection port and the non-flammable aerosol supply device is connected to the first electrical connection port, prioritizes directing power from the external power source to charging the rechargeable battery of the non-flammable aerosol supply device over directing power from the external power source to charging the rechargeable battery of the charging device.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts comprising a charging device and a non-flammable aerosol supply device connectable to a first connection port.

[0006] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

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Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a non-combustible aerosol supply device 100. The non-combustible aerosol supply device may form part of a non-combustible aerosol generation system.

[0009] According to the present disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol supply device is one in which the aerosol generating material does not burn in order to facilitate the delivery of at least one substance to the user. In other words, the non-combustible aerosol supply device supplies an aerosol without combustion of the aerosol generating material.

[0010] In some examples, the non-combustible aerosol supply device is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or an electronic nicotine delivery system (END), but it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol generating material is not a requirement. In such examples, the non-combustible aerosol supply device vaporizes the aerosol generating material in liquid form.

[0011] In some examples, the non-combustible aerosol supply device is an aerosol generating material heating device, also known as a non-combustion heating device, a tobacco heating device, etc., as described above. In such examples, the aerosol generating material does not have to be in liquid form.

[0012] In some examples, the non-combustible aerosol supply device is a hybrid device that generates an aerosol by a combination of aerosol generating materials. In some such examples, one or more of the aerosol generating materials may be adapted to be heated. Each of the aerosol generating materials may be in the form of, for example, a solid, liquid, wax, or gel, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some examples, the hybrid system includes a liquid or gel aerosol generating material and a solid aerosol generating material. The solid aerosol generating material may include, for example, tobacco or non-tobacco products.

[0013] The non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 comprises a housing 101 that houses various components of the non-combustible aerosol supply device 100. The non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 comprises a chamber 102 configured to receive or contain an aerosol generating material (not shown). The aerosol generating material may be included in a consumable (not shown).

[0014] As used herein, the term "aerosol - generating material" is a material that can generate an aerosol when supplied with energy, for example, by heating, irradiation, or any other method. The aerosol - generating material may be in the form of, for example, a solid, a liquid, or a gel, and may or may not contain an active substance and / or a flavorant. In some embodiments, the aerosol - generating material may contain an "amorphous solid", which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non - fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material capable of retaining some fluid, such as a liquid, inside. In some embodiments, the aerosol - generating material may contain, for example, from approximately 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% to approximately 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% of an amorphous solid. The aerosol - generating material may contain one or more active substances and / or fragrances, one or more aerosol - forming materials, and optionally, one or more other functional materials.

[0015] The aerosol - generating material may include, for example, one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, extended tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. The aerosol - generating material may be a combination or mixture of materials. The aerosol - generating material may contain one or more active substances and / or fragrances, one or more aerosol - forming materials, and optionally, one or more other functional materials. Also, the aerosol - generating material may be known as a "smoking material".

[0016] The active substance used in this specification may be a physiologically active material (a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological reaction). The active substance may be selected, for example, from nutraceuticals, psychotropic drugs, and psychoactive agents. The active substance may be naturally occurring or may be synthetically obtained. The active substance may include, for example, vitamins such as nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, B6, B12, or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or their constituent substances, derivatives, or combinations. The active substance may include one or more constituent substances, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco, cannabis, or another plant.

[0017] In some examples, the active substance includes nicotine. In some examples, the active substance includes caffeine, melatonin, or vitamin B12.

[0018] The aerosol-forming material may include one or more constituent substances capable of forming an aerosol. In some examples, the aerosol-forming material may include one or more of glycerin, glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl sulfate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0019] One or more other functional materials may include one or more of a pH adjuster, a colorant, a preservative, a binder, a filler, a stabilizer, and / or an antioxidant.

[0020] As used herein, a consumable is an article that contains an aerosol-forming material or consists of an aerosol-forming material, and part or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by the user. The consumable may comprise one or more other components such as an aerosol-forming material storage area, an aerosol-forming material transfer component, an aerosol-forming area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier. Further, the consumable may comprise an aerosol generator such as a heater that releases heat during use to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-forming material. The heater may include, for example, a combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.

[0021] The non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 comprises an aerosol generator 104 that volatilizes at least one component of the aerosolizable material. Hereinafter, the non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 is referred to as device 100.

[0022] As used herein, an aerosol generator is a device configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to release one or more volatile substances from the aerosol-forming material by applying thermal energy to the aerosol-forming material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-forming material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to apply one or more of vibration, high pressure, or electrostatic energy to the aerosol-forming material.

[0023] In the example where the aerosol generator 104 is a heater, it may be, for example, a resistive heater or an induction heater. When an induction heater is used, the induction heater generates a varying magnetic field to heat one or more susceptor elements. In such an example, the one or more susceptor elements may or may not form part of the aerosol generator 104.

[0024] The susceptor material is a material that can be heated by the intrusion of a fluctuating magnetic field such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor material may be a conductive material so that inductive heating of the heating material occurs due to the intrusion of the fluctuating magnetic field. The susceptor material may be a magnetic material so that magnetic hysteresis heating of the susceptor material occurs due to the intrusion of the fluctuating magnetic field. The susceptor may have both characteristics so that it can be heated by both the conductive and magnetic heating mechanisms.

[0025] Device 100 includes a power source 106 disposed within a housing 101. The power source 106 supplies power to various components of the device 100 including the aerosol generator 104. The power source 106 includes a rechargeable battery (e.g., a lithium ion battery). The rechargeable battery 106 may include a plurality of sub - batteries. In the following examples, the power source 106 is simply referred to as the battery 106.

[0026] In the example of FIG. 1, the device 100 includes a control circuit 108 in data communication with a computer - readable storage memory 110. The control circuit 108 is configured to control various aspects and operations of the device 100. For example, the control circuit 108 may be configured to control the delivery of power from the battery 106 to the aerosol generator 104. In some examples, the control circuit 108 includes a microprocessor and associated circuitry that controls the functions of the device 100.

[0027] In the example of FIG. 1, device 100 includes an electrical connection port 112 that is in electrical communication with control circuit 108 and battery 106. Among several functions, in particular, electrical connection port 112 facilitates charging of battery 106 from an external power source (not shown) (e.g., a battery charger or a mains power source). In some examples, electrical connection port 112 is an industry-standard electrical connection port such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB), USB Type-C, Micro USB, etc., and in other examples, electrical connection port 112 is a proprietary or custom connector configuration. Also, electrical connection port 112 may be in the form of a wireless receiver that enables wireless charging of battery 106.

[0028] Of course, device 100 includes other components not shown in FIG. 1, such as a ventilation inlet / outlet and a control interface. Note that FIG. 1 is only a schematic diagram showing the number of components that may be included in device 100. FIG. 1 is not intended to clarify the specific positions of the various components.

[0029] FIGS. 2 - 4 are simplified schematic diagrams of charging device 200 to which various combinations of devices according to a first example are connected. The charging device may form part of a non-combustible aerosol generating system together with device 100. Charging device 200 includes a housing 201 that encloses and protects various components of charging device 200, including an internal battery 210. Internal battery 210 is a rechargeable battery (e.g., a lithium-ion battery). Internal battery 210 may include a plurality of sub-batteries.

[0030] As will be described in more detail below, charging device 200 can supply power to battery 106 of device 100 upon connection to device 100. When device 100 is connected to charging device 200 and charging device 200 itself is not connected to an external power source (e.g., a mains power source), power for recharging battery 106 of device 100 is supplied from internal battery 210 of charging device 200.

[0031] The charging device 200 can also be connected to an external power source 206 (e.g., a power grid power source). When the charging device 200 is connected to the external power source 206 while not being connected to the device 100, if the internal battery 210 requires recharging, the external power source supplies power to charge the internal battery 210 of the charging device 200.

[0032] The charging device 200 is configured to prioritize directing the power from the external power source 206 to charge the battery 106 of the device 100 over directing the power from the external power source 206 to charge the internal battery 210 of the charging device 200 when the charging device 200 is connected to both the external power source 206 and the device 100.

[0033] In this example, the charging device 200 is in the form of a portable carrying case that can be used to store and charge the device 100 when the user of the device 100 is on the move. In effect, this increases the battery life of the device 100 without increasing the size / weight of the device 100. This is because the user can start using the device 100 just by taking it out of the carrying case. Hereinafter, the charging device 200 is referred to as the charging case 200.

[0034] The charging case 200 includes a first connection port 202 for connecting to the connection port 112 of the device 100, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. This connection may be a direct port-to-port connection via a suitably arranged connection cable or a wireless connection. In some examples, the first connection port 202 is a custom (i.e., proprietary) connection port. For example, the first connection port 202 may include two pins (e.g., ground and +5V). An advantage of the custom connection port 202 is that only specific compatible devices with corresponding custom connection ports can be removably connected to the charging case 200. For example, other proprietary devices manufactured by the manufacturer of the charging case 200.

[0035] The charging case 200 is configured to be able to transmit the power from the charging case 200 or the power via the charging case 200 to the device 100 through the first connection port 202. The power transmitted from the charging case 200 charges the battery 106 of the device 100.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the charging case 200 includes a second connection port 204 for connecting to an external power source 206. This connection may similarly be a direct port-to-port connection via a suitably arranged connection cable or a wireless connection. The second connection port 204 is disposed within the housing 201 of the charging case 200 and provides a second electrical and / or data connection to the charging case 200. In this example, the second connection port 204 is an industry-standard electrical connection port (e.g., a USB connection port). Thereby, various types of power sources and / or various types of other devices can be removably connected to the charging case 200. Of course, other examples of custom electrical connection sockets or power transmission configurations can also be used.

[0037] In some examples, the external power source 206 is connected to the mains power via a wall socket and supplies power via a cable connected to the second connection port 204. For example, such a power source can also be a charger attached to the charging case 200 or another common USB charger connected to the mains power. In an alternative example, the external power source 206 is a power source from another device (e.g., a computer, a vehicle (vehicle power output socket), a solar panel, etc. connected to the second connection port 204 via a cable or wirelessly).

[0038] The second connection port 204 is electrically connected to the first connection port 202 through a control circuit 208. Therefore, the power supplied from the external power source 206 is transmitted to the device 100 through the second connection port 204, the control circuit 208, and the first connection port 202 as represented by the arrow 214 in FIG. 4. Examples of the control circuit 208 will be described in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0039] The internal battery 210 of the charging case stores the power supplied from the external power source 206 and is configured to fully charge the device 100 multiple times (e.g., at least twice). The internal battery 210 is electrically connected to the first connection port 202 and the second connection port 204 through the control circuit 208. The internal battery 210 can be charged by the external power source 206 when the external power source 206 is connected to the second connection port 204.

[0040] As described above, the flow of power from the external power source 206 to the internal battery 210 and the device 100 is controlled by the control circuit 208. In the example of FIG. 2, since only the device 100 is connected to the charging case 200, when the battery 106 of the device 100 needs to be charged, power is directed from the internal battery 210 to the device 100 through the first connection port 202 (indicated by arrow 212).

[0041] In the example of FIG. 3, only the external power source 206 is connected to the charging case 200. Therefore, when the internal battery 210 needs to be charged, the control circuit 208 directs the power from the external power source 206 to charge the internal battery 210 (indicated by arrow 216).

[0042] When both the external power source 206 and the device 100 are connected to the charging case 200 (as best seen in FIG. 4) and both the battery 106 of the device 100 and the internal battery 210 of the charging case 200 need to be charged, the control circuit 208 prioritizes directing the power from the external power source 206 to charge the battery 106 of the device 100 rather than directing the power from the external power source 206 to charge the internal battery 210.

[0043] In one example, while the battery 106 of the device 100 is being charged, the control circuit 208 will charge the internal battery 210 of the charging case 200 by the power supply from the external power source 206 only if sufficient surplus power can be obtained from the external power source 206.

[0044] In another example, the control circuit 208 starts supplying power from the external power source 206 to charge the internal battery 210 of the charging case 200 only when the battery 106 of the device 100 is fully charged.

[0045] Naturally, the charging case 200 may include other components not shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, such as an input detector, a charge state indicator, and a switch. Further, the control unit 208 may include other components such as a processor, a sensor, and a voltage adjustment circuit. It should be noted that FIGS. 2 to 4 are merely schematic diagrams showing the number of components that can be included in or connected to the charging case 200. FIGS. 2 to 4 are not intended to clarify the specific positions of various components.

[0046] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the charging case 200 in more detail as described with respect to FIGS. 2 to 4. In FIG. 5, solid arrows represent power lines between various internal components of the charging case 200, and dashed arrows represent control and / or monitoring lines. As described above, the charging case 200 includes a first connection port 202, a second connection port 204, a control circuit 208 (shown as a dashed box in FIG. 5), and an internal battery 210.

[0047] In this example, the charging case 200 further includes a first electrostatic discharge protection unit 230 and a second electrostatic discharge protection unit 238. The first electrostatic discharge unit 230 protects the first connection port 202 from electrostatic discharge and is disposed between the first connection port 202 and the control circuit 208. The second electrostatic discharge unit 238 protects the second connection port 204 from electrostatic discharge and is disposed between the second connection port 204 and the control circuit 208. Also, the charging case 200 includes one or more indicators 250 for indicating to the user of the charging case 200 the charge state and / or other information of the internal battery 210.

[0048] In some examples, one or more indicators 250 are a set of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) electrically connected to the control circuit 208 via the control line 288. The LEDs are used to indicate the charge state of the internal battery 210 (e.g., whether the internal battery 210 is fully charged, partially charged, or fully discharged). In one example, one or more indicators 250 comprise a single RGB LED, and different colors indicate different charge states of the internal battery 210. In another example, one or more indicators 250 comprise a plurality of single-color LEDs (e.g., white LEDs), and the number of LEDs switched on indicates the charge state of the internal battery 210. In another example, one or more indicators 250 indicate not only the charge state but also that the internal battery 210 is being charged. Of course, other indicators such as a screen, an LCD display, a speaker, etc. can equally well be used to indicate the charge state of the charging case 200.

[0049] In this example, the control circuit 208 is represented by the dashed box 209 surrounding various components. The control circuit 208 includes a microcontroller unit (MCU) 224 (e.g., model STM32G031G4). The MCU 224 detects whether the device is connected to the charging case 200 and whether the first connection port 202 and the second connection port 204 are valid by monitoring the first connection port 202 via the monitoring line 270 and the second connection port 204 via the monitoring line 272. Since different external power supplies supply different voltage levels, the MCU 224 monitors the voltage level on the monitoring line 272 of the power supply or device connected to the second connection port 204. The voltage of the internal battery 210 is monitored by the MCU 224 on the monitoring line 290.

[0050] The control circuit 208 further includes an input voltage protection unit 240 for protecting the internal components of the charging case 200 from overvoltage and / or reverse voltage conditions. In one example, the charging case 200 is capable of handling a +20V supply from a USB Type-C power source without damaging its internal components, and the input protection unit 240 protects the charging case 200 when a non-compliant USB Type-C charger is connected. The control circuit 208 further includes an output voltage protection unit 228 for protecting the components of the device 100 from overcurrent conditions when connected to the first connection port 202.

[0051] The control circuit 208 further includes a low dropout voltage regulator (LDO) 242 for maintaining a constant voltage supply from the internal battery 210 to the MCU 224.

[0052] The control circuit 208 further includes a charging integrated circuit 226 (charging IC). In this example, the charging IC 226 is a switch-mode battery charger (e.g., BQ25303J manufactured by Texas Instruments). The charging IC 226 adjusts the charging of the internal battery 210 under the control of the MCU 224 when a power source is connected to the second connection port 204 and the internal battery 210 is being charged. The charging IC 226 is connected to the MCU 224 via a suitable control line 280 (e.g., an inter-integrated circuit (I 2 C) serial communication bus).

[0053] The charging IC 226 monitors the temperature of the internal battery 210 via a battery temperature monitoring line 278 connected to the battery temperature sensor 252. The internal battery 210 is protected from overcharging by the battery protection unit 232. In one example, the battery temperature sensor 252 is in thermal contact with the internal battery 210 to provide an accurate temperature measurement of the internal battery 210. For example, when the internal battery 210 starts to reach a temperature considered too high during charging of the internal battery 210, the charging IC 226 will accordingly suppress the current supply to the internal battery 210. Alternatively, when the temperature of the internal battery 210 is considered too high when using the internal battery 210 to charge the battery 106 of the device 100 connected to the first electrical connection port 202, the charging IC 226 will accordingly suppress the current or stop the charging to prevent damage to the internal battery 210. Also, the charging IC 226 may adjust the power supply to and from the internal battery 210 when the temperature of the internal battery 210 is too low or below a specific threshold temperature.

[0054] The control circuit 208 further includes a first switch 220 and a second switch 222. The MCU 224 controls the first switch 220 via a first switch control line 274 and controls the second switch 222 via a second switch control line 276. As will be described in more detail below, the MCU 224 directs power between the first connection port 202, the second connection port 204, and the internal battery 210 by controlling the first switch 220 and the second switch 222 to be in on or off states in various combinations. In one example, the first switch 220 and the second switch 222 are low-resistance field-effect transistors (FETs), but other types of switches may be used.

[0055] Regarding the configuration shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, with reference to the components shown in FIG. 5, the operation of the charging case 200 will be described in detail below.

[0056] In one example, as shown in FIG. 2, only the device 100 is connected to the charging case 200, and the battery 106 of the device 100 is being charged. In this scenario, the MCU 224 detects that the device 100 is connected to the charging case 200 through the first connection port 202 via the monitoring line 272, and determines via the monitoring line 270 that there is no fact that a power source or another device is connected to the charging case 200 through the second connection port 204. The MCU 224 sets the first switch 220 to the off state via the switch control line 274 and sets the second switch 222 to the on state via the switch control line 276. Therefore, with such a set switch, power is supplied from the internal battery 210 via the charging IC 226 and the first connection port 202 to charge the battery 106 of the device 100. No power flows through the second connection port 204. Naturally, the device 100 itself includes a charging integrated circuit (not shown) that adjusts the charging of the battery 106 of the device 100 when power is supplied in this way from the internal battery 210. Therefore, in these situations, the charging of the battery 106 of the device 100 is controlled not by the IC 226 but by the charging integrated circuit (not shown) of the device 100 itself. However, in some examples, the IC 226 may convert the voltage of the internal battery 210 to a value that matches the expected charging voltage of the device 100.

[0057] As described above, the charging IC 226 monitors the temperature of the internal battery 210 and adjusts the output voltage to the first connection port 202 to prevent damage due to overheating of the internal battery 210 and / or safety risks to the user.

[0058] In another example, as shown in FIG. 3, only the external power supply 206 is connected to the charging device 200 via the second connection port 204, and the internal battery 210 is being charged. In this configuration, the MCU 224 detects via the monitoring line 270 that the external power supply 206 is connected to the second connection port 204, and determines from the monitoring line 272 that the device 100 is not connected to the charging case 200 through the first connection port 202. The MCU 224 sets the first switch 220 to the on state and the second switch 222 to the off state via the switch control lines 274 and 276, respectively. When the first switch 220 and the second switch 222 are in this setting and the internal battery is being charged, the power from the external power supply 206 is supplied to the internal battery 210 via the charging IC 226 to charge the internal battery 210. The internal battery 210 is protected from overcharging by the battery protection unit 232, and the temperature of the battery is monitored during charging by the temperature sensor 252. No power flows through the first connection port 202.

[0059] In another example, as shown in FIG. 4, both the device 100 and the external power supply 206 are connected to the charging case 200 via the first connection port 202 and the second connection port 204, respectively. The MCU 224 detects via the monitoring line 272 that the device 100 is connected to the first connection port 202, and detects via the monitoring line 270 that the external power supply 206 is connected to the second connection port 204. The power from the external power supply 206 can be supplied to the internal battery 210, the battery 106 of the device 100, or both.

[0060] The MCU 224 prioritizes charging the battery 106 of the device 100 over charging the internal battery 210 of the charging case 200.

[0061] In one example, the MCU 224 determines that the battery 106 of the device 100 is being charged and the internal battery 210 is also being charged, but the power obtained from the external power supply 206 is only sufficient to meet the charging requirements of the battery 106 of the device 100. For example, the battery 106 of the device 100 may require a certain minimum supply voltage (e.g., 5V) for charging, and the external power supply 206 can supply 5V. In this scenario, the MCU 224 sets both the first switch 220 and the second switch 222 to the on state and sets the charging IC 226 to the off state via the switch control lines 274 and 276. Therefore, in this scenario, power is supplied from the external power supply 206 to the device 100 through the path defined by the second connection port 204, the first switch 220, the second switch 222, and the first connection port 202 to charge the battery 106 of the device 100. No power is supplied to the internal battery 210. As described above, since the device 100 itself includes a charging integrated circuit (not shown) that adjusts the charging of the battery 106 of the device 100 when power is supplied from the external power supply 206 in this manner, in these situations, the charging of the battery 106 of the device 100 is controlled by the charging integrated circuit (not shown) of the device 100 itself rather than the IC 226.

[0062] By monitoring the charging state of the battery 106 of the device 100, the MCU 224 determines the timing when the battery 106 of the device 100 reaches a predetermined charging level (e.g., full charge) and power supply is no longer required. In response to this determination, the MCU 224 sets the second switch 222 to the off state while maintaining the first switch 220 in the on state. Also, the charging IC 226 is turned on to enable charging of the internal battery 210 by power supply from the external power supply 206 through the charging IC 226. The voltage of the internal battery 210 is monitored by the MCU 224 on the monitoring line 290. As is standard for such components, the charging IC 226 controls the current for charging the internal battery 210 based on the input voltage to the charging IC 226 (e.g., when the input voltage drops, the charging current is reduced).

[0063] By prioritizing the charging of the battery 106 of the device 100 over the internal battery 210, a scenario where the internal battery 210 is charged but the device 100 is not charged is prevented. When the user connects the charging case 200 to the external power supply 206 to charge its internal battery 210 and then connects the device 100 to the charging case 200 to charge the battery 106 of the device 100, the MCU 224 detects that the device 100 is currently connected and that the charging of its battery 106 is necessary. In response, as described above, the MCU 224 sets the first switch 220 and the second switch 222 to the on state and sets the charging IC 226 to the off state to prevent power supply to the internal battery 210. In this way, the power from the external power supply 206 is directed to the battery 106 of the device 100 instead of the internal battery 210 of the charging case 200.

[0064] In another example, the MCU 224 determines that the power obtained from the external power supply 206 is sufficient to simultaneously meet the charging requirements of the battery 106 of the device 100 and the internal battery 210. For example, while the external power supply 206 can supply 20V, the battery of the device 100 only requires a supply voltage of 5V for charging. In this scenario, the MCU 224 sets both the first switch 220 and the second switch 222 to the on state via the switch control lines 274 and 276 respectively, and switches the charging IC 226 on. Thus, the battery 106 of the device 100 and the internal battery 210 are simultaneously charged by the external power supply 206. The MCU 224 and the charging IC 226 prevent overloading by monitoring the voltage of the internal battery 210 via the monitoring line 290. The charging IC 226 maintains the charging current of the internal battery 210 as large as possible to minimize the charging time.

[0065] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the internal components of the charging case 300 according to the second example. For simplicity, components that are the same as or equivalent to the components of the charging case 200 described above with reference to FIG. 5 have reference numbers that are 100 greater than the same reference numbers used in FIG. 5.

[0066] In this example, the charging case 300 includes a device detection unit 392 configured to detect the timing at which a device such as the device 100 is connected to the first connection port 302. An example of the device detection unit 392 will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 7.

[0067] The MCU 324 is connected to the second connection port 304 via the monitoring line 383, and by using the monitoring line 383, detects that a device or an external power supply is connected to the second connection port 304.

[0068] The MCU 324 is connected to the first connection port 302 via the data line 385, and by using the data line 385, when the device 100 is connected to the first connection port 302, it receives data from the device 100 or transmits data to the device 100.

[0069] The charging case 300 includes an input protection unit 399 for protecting the charging IC 326.

[0070] Also, the charging case 300 includes a fuel gauge 394 in series with the electrical connection part 396 between the internal battery 310 and the charging IC 326. The fuel gauge 394 measures the electrical energy entering or taken out from the internal battery 310 by measuring the current and voltage of the internal battery 310.

[0071] In this example, the control circuit 308 includes a first switch 320, a second switch 322, and a third switch 398 controlled by the MCU 324 via the switch control line 374a (although there is a control line for each switch, only one line is shown in FIG. 6 for simplicity).

[0072] In the first example, the device 100 is connected to the first connection port 302 of the charging case 300, the battery 106 of the device 100 is being charged, and the second connection port 304 is not used (i.e., is inactive). In this scenario, the MCU 324 detects, via the device detection unit 392, that the device 100 is connected to the charging case 300 and determines, via the monitoring line 383 and / or the monitoring line 372, that the second connection port 304 is unused. The MCU 324 sets both the first switch 320 and the second switch 322 to the off state and sets the third switch 398 to the on state. With such a switch setting, the power stored in the internal battery 310 is supplied via the charging IC 326 and the first connection port 302 to charge the battery 106 of the device 100. No power flows through the second connection port 304.

[0073] In the second example, an external power source 206 is connected to the charging case 300 via the second connection port 304, the internal battery 310 is being charged, and the first connection port 302 is not used. In this scenario, the MCU 324 detects, via the monitoring line 383 and / or the monitoring line 372, that the external power source 206 is connected to the second connection port 304 and detects, via the device detection unit 392, that the device 100 is not connected to the charging case 300. The MCU 324 sets the first switch 320 to the on state and sets both the second switch 322 and the third switch 398 to the off state. With such a switch setting, power is supplied from the external power source 206 via the charging IC 326 to charge the internal battery 310.

[0074] In the third example, a non-power device 400 (a schematic example of which is shown in FIG. 7) is connected to the charging case 300 via the second connection port 304. The non-power device 400 includes its own internal battery 401 and a connection port 402 similar to the above-described connection port that enables connection to the second connection port 304.

[0075] The non-power device may be, for example, a camera, a mobile phone, a GPS device, or the like.

[0076] In this example, the first connection port 302 is not used. In this scenario, when the MCU 324 detects that the non-power device 400 is connected to the second connection port 304 via the monitoring line 383 and / or the monitoring line 372, and the device detection unit 392 detects that the device 100 is not connected to the charging case 300, the MCU 324 sets the first switch 320 to the on state and the second switch 322 and the third switch 398 to the off state. With such a switch setting, power is supplied from the internal battery 310 via the charging IC 326 to charge the internal battery 401 of the non-power device 400.

[0077] In the fourth example, both the device 100 and the non-power device 400 are connected to the charging case 300 via the first connection port 302 and the second connection port 304, respectively. The MCU 324 detects that the device 100 is connected to the first connection port 302 by the device detection unit 392, and detects that the non-power device 400 is connected to the second connection port 304 via the monitoring line 383 and / or the monitoring line 372.

[0078] The MCU 324 prioritizes charging the battery 106 of the device 100 over charging the battery 401 of the non-power device 400.

[0079] In this example, the MCU 324 sets the first switch 320 and the second switch 322 to the off state and the third switch 398 to the on state. Therefore, power is supplied from the internal battery 310 via a path including the charging IC 326, the third switch 322, and the first connection port 302 to charge the battery 106 of the device 100.

[0080] The MCU 324 determines the timing when the battery 106 of the device 100 reaches a predetermined charge level (e.g., full charge) and power supply is no longer required by monitoring the charge state of the battery 106 of the device 100. In response to this determination, the MCU 324 sets the first switch 320 to the on state, sets the third switch 398 to the off state, and maintains the second switch 322 in the off state. With such switch settings, power is supplied from the internal battery 310 through a path including the charging IC 326, the first switch 320, and the second connection port 304 to charge the battery 401 of the non-power device 400.

[0081] In some examples, when sufficient power can be obtained from the internal battery 310, the batteries 401 of the non-power device 400 and 106 of the device 100 will be charged simultaneously. That is, the battery 106 of the device 100 is charged to full capacity, and the internal battery 310 can additionally supply power for charging the battery 401 of the device 400.

[0082] In the fifth example, both the device 100 and the external power supply 206 are connected to the charging case 300 via the first connection port 302 and the second connection port 304, respectively. The MCU 324 detects that the device 100 is connected to the first connection port 202 by the device detection unit 392, and detects that the external power supply 206 is connected to the second connection port 304 via the monitoring line 383 and / or the monitoring line 370.

[0083] The MCU 324 prioritizes charging the battery 106 of the device 100 over charging the internal battery 310.

[0084] In a certain scenario, the MCU 324 determines that the battery 106 of the device 100 is being charged, the internal battery 310 is also being charged, but the power obtained from the external power supply 206 is only sufficient to meet the charging requirements of the battery 106 of the device 100. For example, although the battery 106 of the device 100 may require a certain minimum supply voltage (e.g., 5V) for charging, the external power supply 206 can only supply 5V. In this scenario, the MCU 324 sets the first switch 320 and the third switch 398 to the off state and sets the second switch 322 to the on state. Therefore, in this scenario, power is supplied from the external power supply 206 through a path including the second connection port 304, the second switch 322, and the first connection port 302 to charge the battery 106 of the device 100.

[0085] By monitoring the charging state of the battery 106 of the device 100, the MCU 324 determines the timing when the battery 106 of the device 100 reaches a predetermined charging level (e.g., full charge) and power supply is no longer required. In response to this determination, the MCU 324 sets the first switch 320 to the on state, the second switch 322 to the off state, while maintaining the third switch 398 in the off state. With such switch settings, power is supplied from the external power supply 206 to charge the internal battery 310. No power is supplied to the device 100.

[0086] In an alternative scenario, the MCU 324 determines that the battery of the device 100 and the internal battery 310 are being charged, and the power obtained from the external power supply 206 is sufficient to simultaneously meet the charging requirements of both. In this scenario, the MCU 324 sets both the first switch 320 and the second switch 322 to the on state and sets the third switch 398 to the off state. With such switch settings, power is supplied from the external power supply 206 to simultaneously charge the internal battery 310 and the battery 106 of the device 100.

[0087] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the MCU 324 and the device detection unit 392 (represented by the dashed box) of the charging case 300 and the device 100 as described above. The dashed line 401 represents a customized connection interface between the charging case 300 and the device 100 when the device 100 is connected to the charging case 300. In this example, the first connection port 302 defines the charging case 300 side of the connection interface 401.

[0088] The MCU 324 includes a voltage output pin VO and a voltage detection pin VD. The device detection unit 392 includes a resistor 402, a diode 404, and a first contact 401a and a second contact 401b. The first end of the resistor 402 is connected to the voltage output pin VO, and the second end of the resistor 402 is connected to the voltage detection pin VD and the anode of the diode 404. The cathode of the diode 404 is connected to the first contact 401a. The second contact 401b is connected to the ground.

[0089] The device 100 includes a third electrical contact 401c and a fourth electrical contact 401d and a resistor 406 connected between the third electrical contact 401c and the fourth electrical contact 401d.

[0090] When the device 100 is connected to the charging case 300, the first electrical contact 401a contacts the third electrical contact 401c, and the second electrical contact 401b contacts the fourth electrical contact 401d.

[0091] During use, the voltage output pin VO of the MCU 324 outputs a low fixed voltage, and the MCU 324 monitors the detected voltage level at the detection pin VD.

[0092] When the device 100 is connected to the charging case 300, since the resistor 402 and the resistor 406 form a potential divider, the voltage level at the detection pin VD drops to a predetermined detection voltage, which is detected by the MCU 324.

[0093] When the device 100 is connected to the charging case, the voltage drop detected by the MCU 324 will be determined by the resistances of the two resistors 402 and 406. Therefore, by knowing the two resistances, the MCU can identify whether the device 100 is connected or whether a different non-compatible device is connected. Thus, it is also conceivable that when a non-compatible device with different internal resistances / resistors is connected, the MCU 324 can identify this and prevent the supply of +5V 408.

[0094] In other examples, the connection interface is not custom-made, but instead is defined by a standard connector type (e.g., USB Type-C connector). Also in these examples, the MCU 324 may detect that the device 100 is connected to the charging case by detecting that the high-level signal to the output connector of the interface drops to a low-level signal when the device 100 is connected to the carry case.

[0095] The charging case 300 may be provided with an alternative configuration (e.g., a hall or mechanical switch) for detecting the timing when the device 100 is connected.

[0096] In the above examples, the first electrical connection ports 202 and 302 are custom two-pin connection ports. Alternatively, the first electrical connection ports 202, 302 may be standard pin connection ports (e.g., USB Type-C or micro USB, etc.). In the above examples, the first connection ports 202, 302 and the second connection ports 204, 304 were described as pin connectors. Of course, alternative connection ports may be used for the transmission of power and / or data to the device. For example, there are wireless connection ports, wireless charging systems, etc.

[0097] The above embodiments are to be understood as examples useful for explaining the present invention. Other embodiments of the present invention are also conceivable. It is to be understood that any feature described with respect to any one embodiment can be used alone or in combination with other described features, and also in combination with one or more features of any other or any arbitrary combination of embodiments. Further, equivalents and improvements not described above as defined in the appended claims can also be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claim 1 A non-flammable aerosol supply system comprising a non-flammable aerosol supply device and a charging device used together with the non-flammable aerosol supply device, wherein the non-flammable aerosol supply device includes a first rechargeable battery, and the charging device includes a housing, a second rechargeable battery disposed within the housing, a first electrical connection port for connecting to the non-flammable aerosol supply device, a second electrical connection port for connecting to an external power source, and a control circuit that, when the external power source is connected to the second electrical connection port and the non-flammable aerosol supply device is connected to the first electrical connection port during use, prioritizes directing the power from the external power source to charge the first rechargeable battery over directing the power from the external power source to charge the second rechargeable battery, and is configured such that when the external power source is connected to the second electrical connection port and the non-flammable aerosol supply device is connected to the first electrical connection port, the control circuit determines whether the external power source has sufficient power for simultaneous charging of the second rechargeable battery and the first rechargeable battery, and if it is determined that the external power source has only insufficient power for simultaneous charging of the second rechargeable battery and the first rechargeable battery, the power from the external power source to the non-flammable aerosol supply device is directed only to charge the first rechargeable battery, and when the control circuit determines that the external power source has sufficient power for simultaneous charging of the second rechargeable battery and the first rechargeable battery, the power from the external power source is configured to be directed simultaneously to charge the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery, A non-flammable aerosol supply system. Claim 2 The non-flammable aerosol supply system according to claim 1, wherein when the external power source is connected to the second electrical connection port and the non-flammable aerosol supply device is connected to the first electrical connection port, the control circuit prioritizes directing the power from the external power source to charge the first rechargeable battery until the charge level of the first rechargeable battery reaches a predetermined charge level, and then directs the power from the external power source to charge the second rechargeable battery. ​ Claim 3 The non-flammable aerosol supply system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined charging level is full charge. Claim 4 The non-flammable aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the external power source is connected to the second electrical connection port and the first electrical connection port is inoperative, the control circuit is configured to direct the power from the external power source to charge the second rechargeable battery. Claim 5 The non-flammable aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second electrical connection port is also for connecting to a non-power device, and when the non-power device is connected to the second electrical connection port and the first electrical connection port is inoperative, the control circuit is configured to direct the power from the second rechargeable battery to charge the rechargeable battery of the non-power device. Claim 6 The non-flammable aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second electrical connection port is also for connecting to a non-power device, and when the first electrical connection port is connected to the non-flammable aerosol supply device and the second electrical connection port is connected to the non-power device, the control circuit is configured to prioritize directing the power from the second rechargeable battery to charge the first rechargeable battery over directing the power from the first rechargeable battery to charge the rechargeable battery of the non-power device. Claim 7 The non-flammable aerosol supply system according to claim 6, wherein when the non-power device is connected to the second electrical connection port and the non-flammable aerosol supply device is connected to the first electrical connection port, the control circuit is configured to prioritize directing the power from the second rechargeable battery to charge the first rechargeable battery until the charging level of the first rechargeable battery reaches a predetermined charging level, and then direct the power from the second rechargeable battery to charge the rechargeable battery of the non-power device. Claim 8 The non-flammable aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein when the non-flammable aerosol supply device is connected to the first electrical connection port and the second electrical connection port is inoperative, the control circuit is configured to direct the power from the second rechargeable battery to charge the first rechargeable battery.

9. The non-flammable aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the control circuit includes a controller and a plurality of switches controlled by the controller, and the controller sets the plurality of switches to any one of a plurality of different selectable on / off setting states to pass power to the charging device.

10. When in use and the non-flammable aerosol supply device is connected to the first electrical connection port, the controller sets the plurality of switches to a first setting state among the plurality of different selectable on / off setting states to direct the power from the power source connected to the second electrical connection port to charge the second rechargeable battery and / or direct the power from the external power source to charge the first rechargeable battery. The non-flammable aerosol supply system according to claim 9.

11. When in use and the non-flammable aerosol supply device is connected to the first electrical connection port, the controller sets the plurality of switches to a selected second setting state among the plurality of different selectable on / off setting states to direct the power from the second rechargeable battery to charge the first rechargeable battery. The non-flammable aerosol supply system according to claim 10.

12. The non-flammable aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising one or more indicators configured to indicate the charging state of the second rechargeable battery.

13. The non-flammable aerosol supply system according to claim 12, wherein the one or more indicators include one or more light-emitting diodes.

14. The non-flammable aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the charging device is a portable carrying case for storing the non-flammable aerosol supply device.

15. A charging device for use in the non-flammable aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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