Suction device

Abstract

The present invention comprises a heating unit for heating an aerosol source that generates an aerosol due to being heated, a power supply unit for storing electric power, and a control unit for controlling the supply of electric power from the power supply unit to the heating unit. When generation of the aerosol is requested, the control unit implements first heating such that the temperature of the aerosol source reaches a temperature equal to or higher than a first temperature at which the aerosol source is atomized. When an event in which it is anticipated that generation of the aerosol will be requested is detected before generation of the aerosol is requested, the control unit implements second heating involving heating prior to the first heating such that the temperature of the aerosol source reaches a temperature equal to or higher than a second temperature and lower than the first temperature.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This Disclosure relates to a suction device.

Background Art

[0002] For example, the device described in Patent Document 1 starts heating the load after receiving a request for aerosol generation from the user in a device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol base material, which is a solid to which an aerosol source is added or supported. After starting the heating, the device transitions from a preparation state in which it is impossible to generate a predetermined amount or more of aerosol from the aerosol base material to a use state in which it is possible to generate a predetermined amount or more of aerosol from the aerosol base material. The user is not permitted to inhale the aerosol in the preparation state, but is permitted to inhale the aerosol after transitioning to the use state.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] It is desirable that the time from receiving a request for aerosol generation until the user can inhale the aerosol is short. Therefore, it is conceivable to start heating before receiving a request for aerosol generation. However, if heating is started before receiving a request for aerosol generation and then no generation request is made, the power consumption for the heating performed will be wasted. This Disclosure aims to provide a suction device that can be brought into a state where it can generate a predetermined amount or more of aerosol at an early stage while suppressing wasteful power consumption associated with heating.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] According to one aspect of this disclosure A suction device comprising: a heating unit for heating an aerosol source that generates an aerosol when heated; a power supply unit for storing electricity; and a control unit for controlling the supply of power from the power supply unit to the heating unit. The control unit performs a first heating when an aerosol generation request is made, so that the temperature of the aerosol source reaches a first temperature or higher, at which point the aerosol source atomizes. If the control unit detects an event that is expected to occur before the generation request is made, it performs a second heating before the first heating, so that the temperature of the aerosol source reaches a second temperature or higher, but lower than the first temperature. It will be provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the first feature, it is possible to suppress unnecessary power consumption associated with heating while quickly reaching a state where an amount of aerosol exceeding a predetermined level can be generated. According to the second feature, even if no production request is made after the second heating process, it is possible to suppress wasted power consumption. According to the third feature, even if the priority for power supply to the heating element is set to the highest, it is still possible to easily supply power to other parts other than the heating element. According to the fourth feature, since the second heating is performed based on user input, it is possible to more reliably suppress the waste of electricity used for the second heating. According to the fifth feature, it is possible to detect with greater accuracy when the likelihood of a generation request being made has increased. According to the sixth feature, it is possible to detect with greater accuracy when the likelihood of a generation request being made has increased. According to the seventh feature, it is possible to detect with greater accuracy when the likelihood of a generation request being made has increased. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This figure schematically shows an example of the general configuration of a suction device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2]This flowchart shows an example of the heat treatment procedure performed by the control unit. [Figure 3] (a) is a timing chart for when the first suction heating is performed, and (b) is a timing chart for when the second suction heating is performed. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of the schematic configuration of the sensor unit and control unit related to a modified example. [Figure 5] This diagram shows the relationship between the first suction heating power and the second suction heating power. [Figure 6] This figure schematically shows an example of the general configuration of a suction device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] This figure schematically shows an example of the general configuration of a suction device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 8] This figure schematically shows an example of the general configuration of a suction device according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 9] This figure schematically shows an example of the general configuration of a suction device according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 10] This figure schematically shows an example of the general configuration of a suction device according to the sixth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Please refer to the attached drawings below. Disclosure The embodiments relating to this will be described in detail. <First Embodiment> Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the general configuration of the suction device 1 according to the first embodiment. The suction device 1 according to the first embodiment is a device that generates a substance to be aspirated by the user. In the following description, the substance generated by the suction device 1 will be described as an aerosol. Alternatively, the substance generated by the suction device 1 may be a gas.

[0009] The suction device 1 generates an aerosol by heating the substrate containing the aerosol source from within the substrate. The suction device 1 includes a power supply unit 110, a heating unit 121, and a holding unit 140. The suction device 1 also has a housing 10 that houses the power supply unit 110, the heating unit 121, etc. In the suction device 1, suction is performed by the user with a stick-shaped base material 150, which is a stick-shaped member, held by the holding unit 140.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the power supply unit 110 includes a power supply section 111, a sensor section 112, a notification section 113, a storage section 114, a communication section 115, a control section 116, an operation section 117 that can be operated by the user, and a DC / DC converter 118. Each component will be described in order below.

[0011] The power supply section 111 stores electric power. Then, the power supply section 111 supplies electric power to each component of the suction device 1. The power supply section 111 can be constituted by, for example, a rechargeable battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery. The power supply section 111 may be charged by being connected to an external power supply by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable or the like. Also, the power supply section 111 may be charged in a state of not being connected to the power transmission side device by wireless power transmission technology. Additionally, it may be possible to remove only the power supply section 111 from the suction device 1, or it may be possible to replace it with a new power supply section 111.

[0012] The sensor section 112 detects various information regarding the suction device 1. As an example, the sensor section 112 has a temperature sensor 112t that detects the temperature of the heating unit 121. Then, the sensor section 112 outputs the detected information to the control section 116. For example, when the temperature sensor 112t detects the temperature of the heating unit 121, the sensor section 112 outputs information regarding the temperature to the control section 116.

[0013] The notification unit 113 notifies the user of information. For example, the notification unit 113 is composed of a light-emitting device such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode). In this case, the notification unit 113 emits light in different patterns depending on whether the power supply unit 111 needs charging, the power supply unit 111 is charging, or an abnormality occurs in the suction device 1. The light-emitting pattern here is a concept that includes the color and the timing of turning on / off. The notification unit 113 may be composed of, or instead of, a display device that displays an image, a sound output device that outputs sound, and a vibration device that vibrates.

[0014] The memory unit 114 stores various information for the operation of the suction device 1. The memory unit 114 is composed of a non-volatile storage medium such as flash memory. An example of the information stored in the memory unit 114 is information related to the OS (Operating System) of the suction device 1, such as the control contents of various components by the control unit 116. Another example of the information stored in the memory unit 114 is information related to suction by the user, such as the number of suctions, suction times, and cumulative suction time.

[0015] The communication unit 115 is a communication interface for sending and receiving information between the suction device 1 and other devices. The communication unit 115 communicates in accordance with any wired or wireless communication standard. Examples of such communication standards include wireless LAN (Local Area Network), wired LAN, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), or Bluetooth (registered trademark). As an example, the communication unit 115 transmits information about the user's suction to the smartphone in order to display the information about the user's suction on the smartphone. As another example, the communication unit 115 receives new OS information from the server in order to update the OS information stored in the storage unit 114.

[0016] The control unit 116 functions as an arithmetic processing unit and control unit, controlling the overall operation of the suction device 1 according to various programs. The control unit 116 is implemented by electronic circuits such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a microprocessor. In addition, the control unit 116 may include a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing the programs and calculation parameters used, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) for temporarily storing parameters that change as needed. The suction device 1 performs various processes based on the control of the control unit 116. Examples of processes controlled by the control unit 116 include supplying power from the power supply unit 111 to other components, charging the power supply unit 111, detecting information by the sensor unit 112, notifying information by the notification unit 113, storing and reading information by the storage unit 114, and transmitting and receiving information by the communication unit 115. Other processes performed by the suction device 1, such as inputting information to each component and processing based on information output from each component, are also controlled by the control unit 116.

[0017] The operation unit 117 consists of a button-type switch or a touch panel, etc. The operation unit 117 is provided exposed from the surface of the housing 10. The operation unit 117 outputs information operated by the user to the control unit 116. For example, when the power supply unit 110 is in the OFF state, if a predetermined startup operation is performed on the operation unit 117, the operation unit 117 outputs a startup command for the power supply unit 110 to the control unit 116. When the control unit 116 receives this startup command, it starts up the power supply unit 110. An example of a predetermined startup operation by the operation unit 117 is pressing the operation unit 117 three times in quick succession.

[0018] The DC / DC converter 118 is connected between the heating unit 121 and the power supply unit 111. The control unit 116 is connected between the DC / DC converter 118 and the power supply unit 111. The DC / DC converter 118 is a boost circuit capable of boosting the input voltage and is configured to supply the boosted input voltage or the input voltage to the heating unit 121. The DC / DC converter 118 allows for adjustment of the power supplied to the heating unit 121. As the DC / DC converter 118, for example, a switching regulator can be used to convert the input voltage to a desired output voltage by controlling the on / off time of the switching element while monitoring the output voltage. When a switching regulator is used as the DC / DC converter 118, the input voltage can also be output directly without boosting it by controlling the switching element.

[0019] The temperature sensor 112t includes a voltage sensor and a current sensor. The voltage sensor measures and outputs the voltage value applied to the heating unit 121. The current sensor measures and outputs the current value flowing through the heating unit 121. The outputs of the voltage sensor and the current sensor are input to the control unit 116, respectively. The control unit 116 obtains the resistance value of the heating unit 121 based on the outputs of the voltage sensor and the current sensor, and obtains the temperature of the heating unit 121 corresponding to this resistance value. The temperature of the heating unit 121 can be considered to be approximately the same as the temperature of the aerosol source heated by the heating unit 121.

[0020] Furthermore, if a constant current is applied to the heating unit 121 when acquiring its resistance value, the temperature sensor 112t does not need to have a current sensor. Similarly, if a constant voltage is applied to the heating unit 121 when acquiring its resistance value, the temperature sensor 112t does not need to have a voltage sensor. Furthermore, the temperature sensor 112t may be a thermistor, for example, and may be placed near the heating unit 121.

[0021] The holding portion 140 has an internal space 141 and holds the stick-type substrate 150 while accommodating a portion of the stick-type substrate 150 in the internal space 141. The holding portion 140 has an opening 142 that communicates the internal space 141 with the outside and holds the stick-type substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 141 from the opening 142. For example, the holding portion 140 is a cylindrical body with the opening 142 and bottom portion 143 as its base, defining a columnar internal space 141. The holding portion 140 is configured such that, at least a portion in the height direction of the cylindrical body, its inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the stick-type substrate 150, and can hold the stick-type substrate 150 by compressing the stick-type substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 141 from its outer circumference. The holding portion 140 also has the function of defining an airflow path through the stick-type substrate 150. An air inlet hole, which is an inlet for air into such a flow path, is located, for example, at the bottom portion 143. On the other hand, the air outlet, which is the outlet for air from such a flow path, is the opening 142.

[0022] The stick-type base material 150 has a base material portion 151 and a suction port portion 152. The base material 151 contains an aerosol source. The aerosol source is atomized by heating, generating an aerosol. The aerosol source may be tobacco-derived, such as processed products made by molding shredded tobacco or tobacco raw materials into granules, sheets, or powder. The aerosol source may also contain non-tobacco-derived materials made from plants other than tobacco (e.g., mint and herbs). As an example, the aerosol source may contain fragrance components such as menthol. If the inhalation device 1 is a medical inhaler, the aerosol source may contain medication for the patient to inhale. The aerosol source is not limited to solids, but may also be liquids such as glycerin and polyhydric alcohols such as propylene glycol, and water. At least a portion of the base material 151 is housed in the internal space 141 of the holding part 140 when the stick-type base material 150 is held in the holding part 140.

[0023] The mouthpiece portion 152 is the part that the user holds in their mouth when suctioning. At least a portion of the mouthpiece portion 152 protrudes from the opening 142 when the stick-shaped base material 150 is held in the holding portion 140. When the user holds the mouthpiece portion 152 protruding from the opening 142 in their mouth and suctions, air flows into the inside of the holding portion 140 from an air inlet hole (not shown). The incoming air passes through the internal space 141 of the holding portion 140, that is, through the base material portion 151, and reaches the user's mouth together with the aerosol generated from the base material portion 151.

[0024] The heating unit 121 generates an aerosol by heating the aerosol source, thereby atomizing the aerosol source. The heating unit 121 is made of any material such as metal or polyimide. For example, the heating unit 121 is configured in a blade shape and is positioned to protrude from the bottom 143 of the holding unit 140 into the internal space 141 of the holding unit 140. Therefore, when the stick-shaped substrate 150 is inserted into the holding unit 140, the blade-shaped heating unit 121 is inserted into the inside of the stick-shaped substrate 150, piercing the substrate portion 151 of the stick-shaped substrate 150. When the heating unit 121 generates heat, the aerosol source contained in the stick-shaped substrate 150 is heated from the inside of the stick-shaped substrate 150 and atomized, generating an aerosol. The heating unit 121 generates heat when power is supplied from the power supply unit 111.

[0025] (Heating control of the heating unit 121 by the control unit 116) The control unit 116 is activated when the power to the suction device 1 is turned ON. For example, if the operation unit 117 is pressed three times in quick succession, the power to the suction device 1 is turned ON and the control unit 116 is activated. When a request for aerosol generation (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "generation request") is received, the control unit 116 supplies power to the heating unit 121 to raise the temperature of the aerosol source contained in the base material unit 151 to a first temperature at which the aerosol source atomizes or higher. An example of a generation request is when the operation unit 117 is pressed continuously for a predetermined period (e.g., 2 seconds) or longer. The target of the generation request may be an operation unit different from the operation unit 117 that performs the predetermined activation operation to turn on the power to the suction device 1. An example of the first temperature is 230 degrees. The suction device 1 may also be powered ON when the connection to a device provided separately from the suction device 1 (e.g., a device that charges the suction device 1) is disconnected.

[0026] The period from when heating is started to raise the temperature of the heating unit 121 to a first temperature or higher until the stick-type substrate 150 reaches a state in which it can generate a predetermined amount or more of aerosol may be called the "preheating period," and the period after the stick-type substrate 150 reaches a state in which it can generate a predetermined amount or more of aerosol may be called the "inhalation period." The preheating period ends when the temperature of the heating unit 121 reaches the first temperature. Alternatively, the preheating period may end after a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed after the temperature of the heating unit 121 reaches the first temperature. Furthermore, the preheating period may end after a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed from when heating is started to raise the temperature of the heating unit 121 to a first temperature or higher. When the preheating period ends and the inhalation period begins, the control unit 116 notifies the user via the notification unit 113 that the inhalation period has begun. During the suction period, the temperature of the heating section 121 is maintained within a predetermined temperature range (for example, 230°C to 295°C).

[0027] Thus, when a user requests production, for example, the control unit 116 supplies power to the heating unit 121 to heat the heating unit 121 so that the temperature of the aerosol source contained in the substrate unit 151 is equal to or higher than the first temperature at which the aerosol source atomizes. Hereinafter, the process of supplying power to the heating unit 121 to heat the heating unit 121 so that the temperature of the aerosol source is equal to or higher than the first temperature may be referred to as "suction heating". The control unit 116 starts suction heating when a production request is made.

[0028] The suction heating period ends when predetermined conditions for terminating suction heating (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "suction heating termination conditions") are met, at which point suction heating will be stopped. Examples of suction heating termination conditions include the elapsed time (e.g., 6 minutes) after the start of the suction heating period, or the completion of a predetermined number of suction operations (e.g., 14 times) after the start of the suction heating period. Suction operation is the action of the user holding the suction nozzle 152 of the stick-type substrate 150 in their mouth and performing suction.

[0029] When heating the heating unit 121, the control unit 116 controls the power supplied to the heating unit 121 via the DC / DC converter 118 to achieve a time-series transition of the target temperature defined in the heating profile stored in the memory unit 114. For example, the control unit 116 controls the power supplied to the heating unit 121 based on the deviation between the target temperature defined in the heating profile and the actual temperature of the heating unit 121 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "actual temperature"). This temperature control of the heating unit 121 can be achieved, for example, by known feedback control.

[0030] On the other hand, if the control unit 116 detects an event that is expected to result in a generation request before the request is made, it supplies power to the heating unit 121 to set the temperature of the aerosol source to a higher second temperature or higher, and lower than the first temperature. An example of detecting an event that is expected to result in a generation request is detecting that a predetermined operation (e.g., a single press) has been performed on the operation unit 117. Note that the target of the predetermined operation may be a different operation unit from the operation unit 117 that performs a predetermined startup operation to turn on the power supply unit 110. Also, the target of the predetermined operation may be a different operation unit from the operation unit 117 that makes the generation request. The second temperature can be exemplified as, for example, 40 degrees Celsius.

[0031] Thus, when the control unit 116 detects an event that is expected to trigger a production request before the request is actually made, it supplies power to the heating unit 121 to heat the heating unit 121 so that the temperature of the aerosol source is at or above the second temperature and lower than the first temperature. Hereinafter, the process of supplying power to the heating unit 121 to heat the heating unit 121 so that the temperature of the aerosol source is at or above the second temperature and lower than the first temperature may be referred to as "preheating." The control unit 116 starts preheating when it detects an event that is expected to trigger a production request. The event that is expected to trigger a production request may be referred to as a "preliminary event."

[0032] When preheating is performed, the control unit 116 controls the power supplied to the heating unit 121, for example, so that it is set to a predetermined power value for preheating. For example, the predetermined power value may be a value determined by conducting experiments beforehand and stored in the memory unit 114 or ROM. Furthermore, for example, the predetermined power value may be set so that the temperature of the heating unit 121 during preheating reaches the preheating target temperature described later.

[0033] The control unit 116 may set the target temperature of the heating unit 121 during preheating to a temperature that is at or above the second temperature and lower than the temperature at which the aerosol source atomizes, and may control the power supply so that the temperature of the heating unit 121 during preheating reaches this target temperature. Hereinafter, the target temperature of the heating unit 121 during preheating may be referred to as the "preheating target temperature." For example, the preheating target temperature may be 100 degrees.

[0034] When preheating, the control unit 116 may, for example, control the power supplied to the heating unit 121 via the DC / DC converter 118 so that the temperature of the heating unit 121 detected by the temperature sensor 112t becomes the preheating target temperature. For example, the control unit 116 may control the power supplied to the heating unit 121 based on the deviation between the preheating target temperature stored in the memory unit 114 and the actual temperature of the heating unit 121 detected by the temperature sensor 112t. This temperature control of the heating unit 121 can be achieved, for example, by known feedback control. The control unit 116 may also control the power supplied to the heating unit 121 based on the deviation between the actual temperature and a temperature set to a value smaller than the preheating target temperature (for example, 95 degrees) so that the actual temperature does not exceed the preheating target temperature.

[0035] Furthermore, since the target temperature for preheating is lower than the target temperature for suction heating, the control unit 116 reduces the power used for preheating compared to the power used for suction heating. For example, the control unit 116 reduces the duty cycle of the PWM signal output to the DC / DC converter 118 for preheating to be lower than the duty cycle for suction heating. For example, the duty cycle for suction heating may be set to 90%, and the duty cycle for preheating to 30%.

[0036] Furthermore, when preheating, the control unit 116 may fix the duty cycle at 30% until the actual temperature reaches the preheating target temperature, and after the actual temperature reaches the preheating target temperature, it may change the duty cycle based on the deviation between the actual temperature and the preheating target temperature.

[0037] If a production request is made while preheating is being performed, the control unit 116 performs suction heating. Therefore, in the suction device 1, as described above, the control unit 116 controls the power supply to the heating unit 121, and the process of transitioning to suction heating can be either by performing preheating before transitioning to suction heating, or by transitioning to suction heating without preheating. In the following description, the suction heating when transitioning to suction heating after preheating may be referred to as "first suction heating," and the suction heating when transitioning to suction heating without preheating may be referred to as "second suction heating."

[0038] On the other hand, when preheating is being performed, if a predetermined condition for terminating preheating (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "preheating termination condition") is met without a production request being made, the control unit 116 will stop preheating. This is to suppress unnecessary power consumption associated with preheating. An example of the preheating termination condition is that a predetermined time (for example, 60 seconds) has elapsed since the start of preheating.

[0039] In the suction device 1 configured as described above, the first suction heating, in which preheating is performed before suction heating, is more likely to reach the first temperature earlier than the second suction heating, in which preheating is not performed. Therefore, in the suction device 1, the suction-ready period is more likely to be reached earlier when the first suction heating is performed than when the second suction heating is performed.

[0040] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the heat treatment procedure performed by the control unit 116. The control unit 116 repeatedly executes this process, for example, at a predetermined control cycle (for example, every 1 millisecond). The control unit 116 determines whether or not a preliminary event has been detected (S201). If a preliminary event is detected (YES in S201), the control unit 116 performs preheating (S202). After that, the control unit 116 determines whether or not a generation request has been made (S203). If a generation request has been made (YES in S203), the control unit 116 performs first suction heating (S204). After that, it determines whether or not the suction heating termination condition has been met (S205). If it is determined that the suction heating termination condition has not been met (NO in S205), the control unit 116 performs the processing from S204 onwards. If the suction heating termination condition has been met (YES in S205), the control unit 116 stops the power supply from the power supply unit 111 to the heating unit 121 and stops heating (S206).

[0041] On the other hand, if it is determined in S203 that no generation request has been made (NO in S203), the control unit 116 determines whether the preheating termination condition has been met (S207). If the preheating termination condition has not been met (NO in S207), the control unit 116 proceeds with the processing from S202 onwards. On the other hand, if the preheating termination condition has been met (YES in S207), the control unit 116 stops the power supply from the power supply unit 111 to the heating unit 121 and stops heating (S206).

[0042] On the other hand, if it is determined in S201 that no preliminary event has been detected (NO in S201), the control unit 116 determines whether or not a generation request has been made (S208). If no generation request has been made (NO in S208), the control unit 116 terminates this process. On the other hand, if a generation request has been made (YES in S208), the control unit 116 performs second suction heating (S209). After that, it determines whether or not the suction heating termination condition has been met (S210). If it is determined that the suction heating termination condition has not been met (NO in S210), the control unit 116 performs the processing from S209 onwards. If the suction heating termination condition has been met (YES in S210), the control unit 116 stops the power supply from the power supply unit 111 to the heating unit 121 and stops heating (S206).

[0043] Figure 3(a) is a timing chart for the first suction heating process, and Figure 3(b) is a timing chart for the second suction heating process. Figure 3(a) shows the change in temperature of the heating unit 121 when, at time t1, an operation to turn on the power of the suction device 1 is performed (for example, the operation unit 117 is pressed quickly three times in succession (an example of a first operation)), a preliminary event is detected at time t2 (for example, the operation unit 117 is pressed once (an example of a second operation)), and a generation request is made at time t3 (the operation unit 117 is pressed continuously for a predetermined period (for example, 2 seconds) or longer). Figure 3(b) shows the change in temperature of the heating unit 121 when the operation to turn on the power of the suction device 1 is performed at time t1, and a production request is made at time t3.

[0044] In the first suction heating method shown in Figure 3(a), preheating is performed before suction heating, making it easier to reach the first temperature earlier than in the second suction heating method shown in Figure 3(b). Therefore, in the first suction heating method, it is easier to reach the suction-ready period earlier than in the second suction heating method.

[0045] As described above, the suction device 1 comprises a heating unit 121 that heats an aerosol source that generates an aerosol when heated, a power supply unit 111 that stores power, and a control unit 116 that controls the power supply from the power supply unit 111 to the heating unit 121. When a request for aerosol generation is made, the control unit 116 performs suction heating as an example of first heating so that the temperature of the aerosol source is equal to or higher than the first temperature at which the aerosol source atomizes. Furthermore, if the control unit 116 detects an event that is expected to cause such a generation request before the request is made, it performs preheating as an example of second heating so that the temperature of the aerosol source is equal to or higher than the second temperature but lower than the first temperature before suction heating.

[0046] With the suction device 1 configured in this way, by performing suction heating after preheating, it is possible to reach a state where an aerosol of a predetermined amount or more can be generated at an earlier stage than when suction heating is performed without preheating.

[0047] While the second temperature is exemplified as 40 degrees Celsius, it is not limited to 40 degrees. Since the purpose of preheating is to raise the temperature of the aerosol source before suction heating, the second temperature should be higher than the temperature of the location where the suction device 1 is used. For example, if the region where the suction device 1 is used is Japan, the second temperature should be higher than the temperature in Japan. Since the temperature changes with the seasons, the second temperature may be changed according to the season. Also, while the preheating target temperature is exemplified as 100 degrees Celsius, it is not limited to 100 degrees. The preheating target temperature may be changed in the same way as the second temperature, for example, by setting it to second temperature + 60 degrees. Similarly, if the power value supplied to the heating unit 121 during preheating is a predetermined power value, the predetermined power value may be changed in the same way as the second temperature. In other words, this predetermined power value and the preheating target temperature may be changed according to the region and season in which the suction device 1 is used.

[0048] Furthermore, in the suction device 1, preheating is performed when an event that is expected to result in a generation request is detected before a generation request is actually made. Therefore, compared to, for example, when the power of the suction device 1 is turned ON, unnecessary power consumption associated with preheating can be suppressed. In other words, for example, even if the power of the suction device 1 is turned ON, a generation request is not necessarily made immediately by the user. If preheating is started when the power of the suction device 1 is turned ON, and then no generation request is made by the user, the power used for preheating will be wasted. In contrast, with the suction device 1, after the power of the suction device 1 is turned ON, if an event that is expected to result in a generation request is detected, for example, when a predetermined operation (for example, pressing once) is performed on the operation unit 117, preheating will be started. And if the event that is expected to result in a generation request is more likely to lead to a generation request by the user than other events (for example, the power of the suction device 1 being turned ON), then suction heating will be performed with a high degree of certainty after preheating, so the power used for preheating is less likely to be wasted.

[0049] (Example of detecting an event in which a generation request is expected to occur) The following describes a modified method for detecting events (preliminary events) that are expected to trigger a generation request. Here, by performing preheating before a request for aerosol generation is made, it is possible to quickly reach a state where an amount of aerosol greater than the predetermined amount can be generated. However, if no generation request is made after preheating, the power used for preheating will be wasted. Furthermore, if the time from the start of preheating until the target preheating temperature is reached is called the "minimum heating time," then if preheating is started before the minimum heating time at which a generation request is made after preheating, the power consumption required to maintain the target preheating temperature after it is reached can be suppressed. The minimum heating time depends on the specifications of the heating unit 121 and the target preheating temperature, but it can be exemplified as 10 seconds or less. If the minimum heating time is 5 seconds, then if preheating is started 5 seconds before the generation request, the target preheating temperature can be sufficiently reached by the time the generation request is made. Therefore, it is desirable to start preheating before the minimum heating time required for the production request to be performed with high accuracy.

[0050] In addition to the predetermined operation on the control unit 117 described above (e.g., pressing it once), the following are also possible contingency events: namely, the suction device 1 has been moved to a position where the control unit 117 is visible. This is because the user moves the suction device 1 to a position where the control unit 117 is operable before making a request for aerosol generation (e.g., pressing the control unit 117 for a predetermined period (e.g., 2 seconds or longer)).

[0051] Figure 4 shows an example of a schematic configuration of the sensor unit 112 and control unit 116 according to a modified example. In view of the above, the control unit 116 can be shown to detect preliminary events in the following manner. Before a user requests a generation, they might pick up the suction device 1, which is placed on a desk or table, for example. Therefore, the sensor unit 112 has a gyro sensor 112j, and the control unit 116 detects a preliminary event when the output value of the gyro sensor 112j indicates that the orientation of the suction device 1 has changed from horizontal to vertical. The gyro sensor 112j is provided within the housing 10. When the suction device 1 is placed on a desk or table, it is in a horizontal orientation where the power supply unit 111 and the heating unit 121 are at the same height. On the other hand, when a user requests a generation, the heating unit 121 is positioned above the power supply unit 110; in other words, the heating unit 121 is at a greater height than the power supply unit 111, resulting in a vertical orientation. Therefore, the control unit 116 can be exemplified by detecting a preliminary event when the output value of the gyro sensor 112j changes from a value indicating that the height of the power supply unit 111 and the heating unit 121 are the same to a value indicating that the height of the heating unit 121 is greater than the height of the power supply unit 111. Note that the state in which the height of the power supply unit 111 and the heating unit 121 are the same is not limited to the case where the heights of the power supply unit 111 and the heating unit 121 are exactly the same, but may also be the case when the height difference between the power supply unit 111 and the heating unit 121 is 1 cm or less. This is because when the height difference between the power supply unit 111 and the heating unit 121 is 1 cm or less, the suction device 1 can be considered to be oriented sideways.

[0052] Furthermore, since the user touches the suction device 1 with their hand before making a generation request, the sensor unit 112 may have a tactile sensor 112s, and the control unit 116 may detect a preliminary event when the output value of the tactile sensor 112s indicates that a hand is touching the suction device 1. For example, the tactile sensor 112s can be mounted on the housing 10, which houses the power supply unit 110, in a state where it is exposed from the surface of the housing 10.

[0053] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the user may move the suction device 1 from near the waist to a position where the operating unit 117 can be operated before making a generation request. In this case, the sensor unit 112 may have an acceleration sensor 112a, and the control unit 116 may detect a preliminary event when the output value of the acceleration sensor 112a exceeds a predetermined threshold. Note that when the suction device 1 is moved from bottom to top, a downward inertial force acts, and the acceleration sensor 112a shows positive acceleration. When the suction device 1 is moved from top to bottom, an upward inertial force acts, and the acceleration sensor 112a shows negative acceleration. Therefore, when the output value of the acceleration sensor 112a exceeds a predetermined threshold, it can be assumed that the user has moved the suction device 1 from near the waist to near the mouth in order to perform a suction operation.

[0054] Furthermore, if the suction device 1 is moved from the waist area to the mouth area, the height of the suction device 1 may change by the amount of the height difference between the waist area and the mouth area. Therefore, if the sensor unit 112 has a height sensor 112h, the control unit 116 may detect a preliminary event when the amount of change in the output value of the height sensor 112h exceeds a predetermined threshold. If the sensor unit 112 has a pressure sensor (not shown), such as a microphone condenser, to detect numerical values ​​associated with suction by the user, the control unit 116 may, instead of using the output value of the height sensor 112h, estimate that the suction device 1 has been moved from the waist area to the mouth area when the amount of change in the output value of the pressure sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold, and detect a preliminary event.

[0055] The suction device 1 has at least two of the above-mentioned gyro sensor 112j, tactile sensor 112s, acceleration sensor 112a, and altitude sensor 112h, and the control unit 116 may detect preliminary events based on the output values ​​from two or more sensors. For example, the control unit 116 may detect a preliminary event when the output value of the gyro sensor 112j indicates that the suction device 1 is oriented vertically, and the output value of the acceleration sensor 112a indicates that the suction device 1 has moved from bottom to top. This makes it possible to detect preliminary events with higher accuracy.

[0056] Furthermore, the suction device 1 has at least three of the above-mentioned gyro sensor 112j, tactile sensor 112s, acceleration sensor 112a, and altitude sensor 112h, and the control unit 116 may detect preliminary events based on the output values ​​from these three sensors. For example, the control unit 116 may detect preliminary events when the output value of the gyro sensor 112j indicates that the orientation of the suction device 1 is vertical, the output value of the tactile sensor 112s indicates that a hand is touching the suction device 1, and the output value of the acceleration sensor 112a indicates that the suction device 1 has moved from bottom to top.

[0057] (Regarding the end of preheating) As explained above, in the suction device 1, the control unit 116 stops preheating when the preheating termination condition is met after preheating has been performed. For example, the control unit 116 stops preheating after a predetermined time (e.g., 60 seconds) has elapsed since the start of preheating. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which preheating continues until a user requests aerosol generation, the period of preheating can be shortened when no generation request is made, thereby reducing power consumption for preheating.

[0058] In addition to the above-mentioned condition that a predetermined time (e.g., 60 seconds) has elapsed since the start of preheating, the conditions for ending preheating may also be the following: The control unit 116 can exemplify a condition for terminating preheating when the output value of the gyro sensor 112j indicates that the orientation of the suction device 1 has been changed from vertical to horizontal. In other words, the control unit 116 can exemplify a condition for terminating preheating when the output value of the gyro sensor 112j changes from a value indicating that the height of the heating unit 121 is greater than the height of the power supply unit 111 to a value indicating that the heights of the power supply unit 111 and the heating unit 121 are the same. This is because it is considered unlikely that a user would request generation if the suction device 1 were placed, for example, on a desk or table.

[0059] Furthermore, the control unit 116 may also use the condition for terminating preheating as the output value of the tactile sensor 112s no longer indicating that the hand is touching the suction device 1. This is because it is unlikely that the user will request generation once they have removed their hand from the suction device 1.

[0060] Furthermore, the control unit 116 may also use the condition for terminating preheating as the output value of the acceleration sensor, which results in negative acceleration when the suction device 1 is moved from top to bottom, falling below a predetermined negative threshold. This is because, for example, if the user moves the suction device 1 from a position where the operation unit 117 is visible to the user to around the waist, it is unlikely that the user will be able to request generation.

[0061] Furthermore, considering that the change in altitude becomes a negative value when the suction device 1 is moved from top to bottom, the control unit 116 may also use the change in the output value of the altitude sensor 112h falling below a predetermined negative threshold as a condition for terminating preheating. This is because it is unlikely that a user will request generation if, for example, the suction device 1 is moved from the mouth to the waist. Alternatively, instead of using the output value of the altitude sensor 112h, the control unit 116 may estimate that the suction device 1 has been moved from the mouth to the waist when the change in the output value of the pressure sensor falls below a predetermined negative threshold, and thus determine that the preheating termination condition has been met.

[0062] The suction device 1 may have at least two of the above-mentioned gyro sensor 112j, tactile sensor 112s, acceleration sensor 112a, and altitude sensor 112h, and the control unit 116 may determine whether the preheating termination condition has been met based on the output values ​​from two or more sensors.

[0063] For example, the control unit 116 may determine that the preheating completion condition has been met when the output value of the acceleration sensor 112a indicates that the suction device 1 has moved from top to bottom, and the output value of the gyro sensor 112j indicates that the orientation of the suction device 1 is sideways. This makes it possible to determine with greater accuracy that the suction operation will not be performed within the minimum heating time.

[0064] By setting the preheating termination conditions to the conditions described above, the control unit 116 can determine early and with high accuracy that the likelihood of a user requesting production is low and stop preheating, thereby suppressing unnecessary power consumption associated with preheating.

[0065] In the embodiment described above, the control unit 116 starts preheating when it detects an event (preliminary event) in which a generation request is expected to be made, but the system is not limited to this configuration. The control unit 116 may start preheating without detecting a preliminary event. For example, the control unit 116 may start preheating immediately when the power to the suction device 1 is turned ON and it starts up. That is, for example, if the operation unit 117 is pressed three times in quick succession, the power to the suction device 1 is turned ON, the control unit 116 starts up, and preheating may start immediately. By performing preheating, the time from receiving a generation request to reaching a state in which a predetermined amount or more of aerosol can be generated can be shortened. Furthermore, by stopping preheating when the preheating termination conditions described above are met, unnecessary power consumption associated with preheating can be suppressed.

[0066] (Variations of the power supplied when performing suction heating) The control unit 116 may set the power supplied to the heating unit 121 when performing the first suction heating (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "first suction heating power") to be less than the power supplied to the heating unit 121 when performing the second suction heating (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "second suction heating power") (first suction heating power < second suction heating power).

[0067] Figure 5 shows the relationship between the first suction heating power and the second suction heating power. Figure 5(a) is a timing chart for when the first suction heating is performed, and Figure 5(b) is a timing chart for when the second suction heating is performed. Figure 5(c) shows the change in temperature of the heating section 121 when the suction device 1 performs the first suction heating as shown in Figure 5(a) and when it performs the second suction heating as shown in Figure 5(b). Figure 5(a) shows the change in power when the power of the suction device 1 is turned ON at time t1, a preliminary event is detected at time t2, and a generation request is made at time t3. Figure 5(b) shows the change in power when the power of the suction device 1 is turned ON at time t1 and a generation request is made at time t3.

[0068] For example, the control unit 116 sets the duty cycle of the PWM signal output to the DC / DC converter 118 to be smaller when performing the first suction heating than when performing the second suction heating. For example, the control unit 116 may set the duty cycle to 50% when performing the first suction heating and to 90% when performing the second suction heating. Alternatively, when performing the first suction heating, the control unit 116 may fix the duty cycle to 50% until the actual temperature reaches the first temperature, and then change the duty cycle based on the deviation between the actual temperature and the target temperature.

[0069] By making the first suction heating power less than the second suction heating power, it is possible to supply more power to parts other than the heating unit 121 (for example, the notification unit 113 and the communication unit 115) when performing the first suction heating compared to when performing the second suction heating. For example, during the preheating period, it is conceivable to give the highest priority to supplying power to the heating unit 121 and a lower priority to supplying power to other parts. When the priority of supplying power to the heating unit 121 is given the highest, and the duty cycle during the preheating period in the second suction heating is 90%, it is difficult to supply power to other parts during the preheating period. In contrast, if the duty cycle during the preheating period in the first suction heating is, for example, 50%, even if the priority of supplying power to the heating unit 121 is given the highest, it is possible to supply power to other parts with the remaining 50%, making it easier to supply power to other parts during the preheating period. As a result, it becomes easier, for example, to notify the user of information via the notification unit 113 or to send and receive information with other devices via the communication unit 115.

[0070] In addition, to make the first suction heating power less than the second suction heating power, the example shows a duty cycle of 50% when performing the first suction heating and a duty cycle of 90% when performing the second suction heating, but the example is not limited to these duty cycles. It is desirable to set both duty cycles so that the time from the start of suction heating to reaching the first temperature when the first suction heating is started after the preheating target temperature has been reached is shorter than the time from the start of suction heating to reaching the first temperature when the second suction heating is started. This makes it possible to shorten the time from receiving a request for aerosol generation to reaching a state where a predetermined amount or more of aerosol can be generated, while increasing the power that can be supplied to parts other than the heating unit 121.

[0071] <Second Embodiment> Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the general configuration of the suction device 2 according to the second embodiment. The suction device 2 according to the second embodiment differs from the suction device 1 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a heating unit 221 instead of a heating unit 121, and also includes a heat insulating unit 244. The differences from the first embodiment will be described below. The same reference numerals are used for the same parts in the first and second embodiments, and their detailed descriptions will be omitted.

[0072] The heating unit 221 is made of any material such as metal or polyimide. For example, the heating unit 221 is made in the form of a film and is arranged to cover the outer circumference of the holding unit 140. When the heating unit 221 generates heat, the aerosol source contained in the stick-shaped substrate 150 is heated from the outer circumference of the stick-shaped substrate 150 and atomized, generating an aerosol. The heating unit 221 generates heat when power is supplied from the power supply unit 111.

[0073] The heat insulating section 244 prevents heat transfer from the heating section 221 to other components of the suction device 2. The heat insulating section 244 is positioned to cover at least the outer periphery of the heating section 221. For example, the heat insulating section 244 is made of vacuum insulating material, aerogel insulating material, etc. Vacuum insulating material is an insulating material in which heat conduction by gas is reduced to almost zero by wrapping glass wool and silica (silicon powder) etc. in a resin film and creating a high vacuum.

[0074] In the suction device 2 according to the second embodiment configured as described above, the control unit 116 heats the heating unit 221 in the same manner as described in the first embodiment, thereby suppressing unnecessary power consumption associated with preheating and enabling the device to quickly reach a state where it can generate an amount of aerosol greater than or equal to a predetermined amount.

[0075] <Third Embodiment> Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the general configuration of the suction device 3 according to the third embodiment. The suction device 3 according to the third embodiment differs from the suction device 1 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a heating unit 221 in addition to the heating unit 121, and also includes a heat insulating unit 244. The differences from the first embodiment will be described below. The same reference numerals are used for the same components in the first and third embodiments, and their detailed descriptions will be omitted.

[0076] In the suction device 3 according to the third embodiment configured as described above, the control unit 116 heats the heating unit 121 and heating unit 221 in the same manner as described in the first embodiment, thereby suppressing unnecessary power consumption associated with preheating and enabling the device to quickly reach a state where it can generate an amount of aerosol greater than or equal to a predetermined amount.

[0077] The control unit 116 may also control the temperature of the heating unit 221 to be lower than the temperature of the heating unit 121. This is because the heat emitted from the heating unit 221 is more easily transferred to the other components of the suction device 3 compared to the heat emitted from the heating unit 121. Furthermore, although Figure 7 shows an example in which the heating unit 221 is arranged on the outer circumference of the holding unit 140, this configuration example is not limited to this example. For example, the heating unit 221 may be arranged to cover the bottom 143 of the holding unit 140.

[0078] <Fourth Embodiment> Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the general configuration of the suction device 4 according to the fourth embodiment. The suction device 4 according to the fourth embodiment differs from the suction device 1 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a heating unit 421 and a holding unit 440 instead of the heating unit 121 and holding unit 140, and also includes a heat insulating unit 444. The differences from the first embodiment will be described below. The same reference numerals are used for the same components in the first and fourth embodiments, and their detailed descriptions will be omitted.

[0079] The holding portion 440 has an internal space 441 and holds the stick-type substrate 150 while accommodating a portion of the stick-type substrate 150 in the internal space 441. The holding portion 440 has an opening 442 that communicates the internal space 441 with the outside and holds the stick-type substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 441 from the opening 442. For example, the holding portion 440 is a cylindrical body with the opening 442 and bottom portion 443 as its base, defining a columnar internal space 441. The holding portion 440 is configured such that, at least a portion in the height direction of the cylindrical body, its inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the stick-type substrate 150, and can hold the stick-type substrate 150 by compressing the stick-type substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 441 from its outer circumference. The holding portion 440 also has the function of defining an airflow path through the stick-type substrate 150. An air inlet hole, which is an inlet for air into such a flow path, is located, for example, at the bottom portion 443. On the other hand, the air outlet, which is the outlet for air from such a flow path, is the opening 442.

[0080] However, the internal space 441 of the holding portion 440 is realized as a space sandwiched between the first housing 445 and the second housing 446. The holding portion 440 further includes an opening / closing mechanism 447, which is a mechanism for opening and closing the first housing 445 in the direction indicated by arrow 493. The opening / closing mechanism 447 is, for example, a hinge. The holding portion 440 opens and closes the first housing 445 using the opening / closing mechanism 447 to hold the stick-type base material 150 sandwiched between the first housing 445 and the second housing 446.

[0081] The heating section 421 has a heating section 421-1 and a heating section 421-2. Heating sections 421-1 and 421-2 heat an aerosol source, atomizing the aerosol source and generating an aerosol. Heating sections 421-1 and 421-2 are made of any material such as metal or polyimide. For example, heating sections 421-1 and 421-2 are made in a film form and are arranged to cover the outer circumference of the holding section 440. However, heating section 421-1 is located in the first housing 445, and heating section 421-2 is located in the second housing 446. When heating sections 421-1 and 421-2 generate heat, the aerosol source contained in the stick-type substrate 150 is heated from the outer circumference of the stick-type substrate 150 and atomized, generating an aerosol. The heating units 421-1 and 421-2 generate heat when power is supplied from the power supply unit 111.

[0082] The heat insulating section 444 comprises a heat insulating section 444-1 and a heat insulating section 444-2. The heat insulating sections 444-1 and 444-2 prevent heat transfer from the heating sections 421-1 and 421-2 to other components of the suction device 4. The heat insulating section 444-1 is located in the first housing 445. The heat insulating section 444-1 is positioned to cover at least the outer circumference of the heating section 421-1. The heat insulating section 444-2 is located in the second housing 446. The heat insulating section 444-2 is positioned to cover at least the outer circumference of the heating section 421-2. For example, the heat insulating sections 444-1 and 444-2 are made of vacuum insulating material and aerogel insulating material, etc. Vacuum insulating material is an insulating material in which heat conduction of gas is reduced to as close to zero as possible by wrapping glass wool and silica (silicon powder), etc., in a resin film and creating a high vacuum.

[0083] In the suction device 4 according to the fourth embodiment configured as described above, the control unit 116 heats the heating unit 421-1 and heating unit 421-2 in the same manner as described in the first embodiment, thereby suppressing unnecessary power consumption associated with preheating and enabling the device to quickly reach a state where it can generate an amount of aerosol greater than or equal to a predetermined amount.

[0084] <Fifth Embodiment> Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the general configuration of the suction device 5 according to the fifth embodiment. The suction device 5 according to the fifth embodiment differs from the suction device 1 according to the first embodiment in that it generates an aerosol by heating a substrate containing an aerosol source by induction heating (IH). The differences from the first embodiment will be described below. The same reference numerals are used for the same components in the first and fifth embodiments, and their detailed descriptions will be omitted.

[0085] As shown in Figure 9, the suction device 5 includes a power supply unit 110, a holding unit 140, a susceptor 561, and an electromagnetic induction source 562. The susceptor 561 is contained within the stick-type substrate 150. The susceptor 561 generates heat through electromagnetic induction. The susceptor 561 is made of a conductive material such as metal. For example, the susceptor 561 is a metal piece. The susceptor 561 is placed in close proximity to the aerosol source. In the example shown in Figure 9, the susceptor 561 is contained within the substrate portion 151 of the stick-type substrate 150.

[0086] The electromagnetic induction source 562 generates heat in the susceptor 561 through electromagnetic induction. The electromagnetic induction source 562 is, for example, made of a coiled wire and is arranged to wrap around the outer circumference of the holding part 140. When alternating current is supplied to the electromagnetic induction source 562 from the power supply unit 111, it generates a magnetic field. The electromagnetic induction source 562 is positioned so that the internal space 141 of the holding part 140 is superimposed on the generated magnetic field. Therefore, when a magnetic field is generated while the stick-type substrate 150 is held in the holding part 140, eddy currents are generated in the susceptor 561, and Joule heat is generated. This Joule heat then heats and atomizes the aerosol source contained in the stick-type substrate 150, generating an aerosol.

[0087] In Figure 9, an example is shown in which the susceptor 561 is included in the base material portion 151 of the stick-type base material 150, but this example configuration is not limited to this example. For example, the holding portion 140 may perform the function of the susceptor 561. In this case, the magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic induction source 562 generates eddy currents in the holding portion 140, which in turn generates Joule heat. This Joule heat then heats and atomizes the aerosol source contained in the stick-type base material 150, generating an aerosol.

[0088] In the suction device 5 according to the fifth embodiment configured as described above, the control unit 116 heats the electromagnetic induction source 562 in the same manner as described in the first embodiment, thereby suppressing unnecessary power consumption associated with preheating and enabling the device to quickly reach a state where it can generate an amount of aerosol greater than or equal to a predetermined amount.

[0089] <Sixth Embodiment> Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the general configuration of the suction device 6 according to the sixth embodiment. The suction device 6 according to the sixth embodiment differs from the suction device 2 according to the second embodiment in that, in addition to generating aerosols by heating a substrate containing an aerosol source, it also generates aerosols by heating an aerosol source in liquid form. The differences from the first embodiment will be described below. The same reference numerals are used for the same components in the first and sixth embodiments, and their detailed descriptions will be omitted.

[0090] The suction device 6 includes a power supply unit 110, a heating unit 221, a holding unit 140, a liquid guide unit 622, a liquid storage unit 623, and another heating unit 621. An air passage 680 is also formed in the suction device 6. In the suction device 6, the user performs suction while the stick-shaped substrate 150 is held in the holding unit 140.

[0091] The liquid storage unit 623 stores the aerosol source. The aerosol source is atomized by heating, generating an aerosol. The aerosol source is, for example, a liquid such as glycerin, polyhydric alcohols such as propylene glycol, and water. The aerosol source may further contain tobacco raw materials or extracts derived from tobacco raw materials that release flavor components when heated. The aerosol source may further contain nicotine. If the inhalation device 6 is a medical inhaler such as a nebulizer, the aerosol source may contain a drug for the patient to inhale.

[0092] The liquid guide section 622 guides and holds the aerosol source, which is the liquid stored in the liquid storage section 623, from the liquid storage section 623. The liquid guide section 622 is, for example, a wick formed by twisting a fibrous material such as glass fiber or a porous material such as porous ceramic. The liquid guide section 622 is in liquid communication with the liquid storage section 623. Therefore, the aerosol source stored in the liquid storage section 623 spreads throughout the liquid guide section 622 by the capillary effect.

[0093] The heating unit 621 generates an aerosol by heating the aerosol source, which is a liquid stored in the liquid storage unit 623, thereby atomizing the aerosol source. The heating unit 621 is made of any material, such as metal or polyimide, and can take any shape, such as a coil, film, or blade. The heating unit 621 is positioned close to the liquid guide unit 622. In the example shown in Figure 10, the heating unit 621 is made of a metal coil and is wrapped around the liquid guide unit 622. Therefore, when the heating unit 621 generates heat, the aerosol source held in the liquid guide unit 622 is heated and atomized, generating an aerosol. The heating unit 621 generates heat when power is supplied from the power supply unit 111. As an example, if the user has performed suction during the suction-possible period described above, and this is detected by a pressure sensor (not shown) provided in the sensor unit 112, power may be supplied to the heating unit 621 and an aerosol may be generated. Furthermore, during the period when the pressure sensor provided in the sensor unit 112 detects that the user has performed suction, power may be supplied to the heating unit 621 and an aerosol may be generated.

[0094] The air passage 680 is the passage for air drawn in by the user. The air passage 680 has a tubular structure with an air inlet 681, which is the entrance for air into the air passage 680, and an air outlet 682, which is the exit for air from the air passage 680, at both ends. As the user draws air in, air flows into the air passage 680 from the air inlet 681 and flows out into the internal space 141 of the holding part 140 from the air outlet 682. For example, the air inlet 681 can be placed at any position on the suction device 6. On the other hand, the air outlet 682 can be placed at the bottom 143 of the holding part 140. A liquid guide unit 622 is placed in the middle of the air passage 680. The aerosol generated by the heating unit 621 is mixed with the air that flows in from the air inlet 681. Next, as the user inhales, the aerosol-air mixture is transported to the internal space 141 of the holding unit 140 via the air outlet 682, as shown by arrow 690. The aerosol-air mixture transported to the internal space 141 of the holding unit 140, along with the aerosol generated by the heating unit 221, then reaches the user's mouth.

[0095] In the suction device 6 according to the sixth embodiment configured as described above, the control unit 116 heats the heating unit 221 in the same manner as described in the first embodiment, thereby suppressing unnecessary power consumption associated with preheating and enabling the device to quickly reach a state where it can generate an amount of aerosol greater than or equal to a predetermined amount. Furthermore, when the above-mentioned suction period begins, the heating unit 621 may be started to heat the liquid to a temperature of the second temperature or higher, and lower than the boiling point of the liquid (for example, 50 degrees Celsius). Subsequently, when the pressure sensor provided in the sensor unit 112 detects that the user has performed suction, the heating unit 621 may be heated to raise the liquid temperature above the boiling point to generate an aerosol. This makes it possible to suction a high atomization amount from the initial stage of suction.

[0096] In this configuration example, aerosol generation may be performed by vibration or induction heating instead of heating by the heating unit 621. When aerosol generation is performed by vibration, the suction device 6 is equipped with a vibrating section instead of a heating section 621. For example, the vibrating section is composed of a plate-shaped member containing piezoelectric ceramics that function as an ultrasonic transducer. When the vibrating section vibrates, the aerosol source guided to the surface of the vibrating section by the liquid induction section 622 is atomized by the ultrasonic waves generated by the vibration of the vibrating section, thereby generating an aerosol.

[0097] When aerosol generation is performed by induction heating, the suction device 6 is equipped with a susceptor and an electromagnetic induction source instead of the heating unit 621. The susceptor generates heat by electromagnetic induction. The susceptor is made of a conductive material such as metal. The susceptor is positioned close to the liquid induction unit 622. For example, the susceptor is made of a metal wire and is wrapped around the liquid induction unit 622. The electromagnetic induction source generates heat in the susceptor by electromagnetic induction. The electromagnetic induction source is made of, for example, a coiled wire. When alternating current is supplied to the electromagnetic induction source from the power supply unit 111, it generates a magnetic field. The electromagnetic induction source is positioned so that the susceptor is superimposed on the generated magnetic field. Therefore, when a magnetic field is generated, eddy currents are generated in the susceptor, and Joule heat is generated. Then, the aerosol source held in the liquid induction unit 622 is heated and atomized by this Joule heat, and an aerosol is generated.

[0098] Similarly, in this configuration example, a heating unit 121 may be provided instead of, or in addition to, the heating unit 221. Alternatively, a heating unit 421 may be provided instead of the heating unit 221. Furthermore, an electromagnetic induction source 562 may be provided instead of the heating unit 221, and aerosol generation may be performed by induction heating. In that case, the stick-type substrate 150 may further include a susceptor. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 1,2,3,4,5,6...Suction device, 10...Housing, 110...Power supply unit, 111...Power supply unit, 112...Sensor unit, 112t...Temperature sensor, 116...Control unit, 117...Operation unit, 118...DC / DC converter, 121,221,421,621...Heating unit, 140...Holding unit, 150...Stick-type substrate

Claims

1. A heating unit that heats an aerosol source that generates aerosols when heated, A power supply unit that stores electricity, A control unit that controls the supply of power from the power supply unit to the heating unit, Equipped with, When a request for aerosol generation is made, the control unit performs a first heating to raise the temperature of the aerosol source to a first temperature or higher, the temperature at which the aerosol source atomizes. If the control unit detects an event that is expected to occur before the request for generation is made, it performs a second heating to raise the temperature of the aerosol source to a second temperature or higher, but lower than the first temperature, before the first heating. The control unit reduces the amount of power per unit time during the first heating period when transitioning to the first heating during the second heating, to less than the amount of power per unit time during the first heating period when transitioning to the first heating without performing the second heating, so that the time from the start of the first heating to reaching the first temperature when transitioning to the first heating during the second heating is shorter than the time from the start of the first heating to reaching the first temperature when transitioning to the first heating without performing the second heating. The control unit stops the second heating when a predetermined termination condition is met after the second heating has started. It has at least one of a gyro sensor, a tactile sensor that detects when the user's hand is touching the suction device, an accelerometer, and an altitude sensor. The control unit determines whether the termination condition has been met based on the output values ​​from the gyro sensor, the tactile sensor, the acceleration sensor, or the altitude sensor. Suction device.

2. Having at least two sensors, the gyro sensor, the tactile sensor, the acceleration sensor, and the altitude sensor, The control unit determines whether the termination condition has been met based on the output values ​​from the two or more sensors. The suction device according to claim 1.

3. It is equipped with a user-operable control panel, The aforementioned generation request means that a predetermined first operation has been performed on the operating unit. The aforementioned event is that a second operation, which is determined to be different from the first operation, is performed on the operating unit. The suction device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. Equipped with a gyro sensor, The aforementioned event is that the output value of the gyro sensor changed from a value indicating that the altitude of the power supply unit and the heating unit were the same to a value indicating that the altitude of the heating unit was greater than the altitude of the power supply unit. A suction device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. It is equipped with a tactile sensor that detects when the user's hand is touching the suction device. The aforementioned event is that the output value of the tactile sensor indicated that the user's hand was touching the suction device. A suction device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. Equipped with an accelerometer, The aforementioned event indicates that the output value of the acceleration sensor exceeded a predetermined threshold. A suction device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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