Aerosol supply system with charge level indicator
The aerosol supply system addresses battery charge management by differentiating and displaying device and base battery levels, ensuring efficient charging and operation through a controller and indicator system, enhancing user experience and device functionality.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NICOVENTURES TRADING LTD
- Filing Date
- 2021-11-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-17
AI Technical Summary
Existing non-combustible aerosol supply devices face challenges in efficiently managing and displaying the charge levels of their batteries, particularly when used in conjunction with base units, leading to potential operational limitations and user confusion.
An aerosol supply system with a controller that determines and displays the charge levels of both the device and base batteries, using indicator assemblies and a communication system to differentiate between them, ensuring appropriate power distribution and priority charging based on specific criteria.
The system effectively manages battery charging and display, enhancing user understanding and ensuring efficient operation by prioritizing device battery charging when connected to a base unit, thus extending battery life and reducing user confusion.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a non-combustible aerosol supply device and a charging device used together with the non-combustible aerosol supply device.
Background Art
[0002] (Background) 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 air infused with a fragrance. Most of these devices include a base unit battery that supplies energy to various components of the device, such as a heating assembly and a control circuit. With the increasing functionality of these devices, the requirements for the base unit battery are also increasing.
Summary of the Invention
[0003] (Summary) According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol supply system comprising: an aerosol supply device including a heating assembly configured to heat an aerosol-generating material and a device battery configured to supply power to heat the aerosol-generating material in the heating assembly; a base unit configured to removably hold the aerosol supply device, including a base battery and configured to be connected to a power source to supply electricity to the base battery; an indicator assembly; and a controller configured to determine a charge level of the device battery, determine a charge level of the base battery, determine characteristics of the aerosol supply device, and cause the indicator assembly to display the charge level of the device battery when the determined characteristics meet one or more criteria, and cause the indicator assembly to display the charge level of the base battery when the determined characteristics do not meet one or more criteria.
[0004] In one embodiment of the above embodiment, the aerosol supply system includes an aerosol supply device comprising a heating assembly configured to heat an aerosol generating material and a device battery configured to supply power to the heating assembly to heat the aerosol generating material; a base unit configured to detachably hold the aerosol supply device, comprising a base battery, and configured to be connected to a power source to supply electricity to the base battery; an indicator assembly; and a controller configured to determine the charge level of the device battery when the controller is in communication with the device battery, determine the charge level of the base battery when the controller is in communication with the base battery, determine the characteristics of the aerosol supply device, and if the determined characteristics meet one or more criteria, cause the indicator assembly to display the charge level of the device battery; and if the determined characteristics do not meet one or more criteria, cause the indicator assembly to display the charge level of the base battery. In some embodiments, communication between the controller and the device battery or base battery is via a wiring connection.
[0005] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the base battery has a capacity at the time of manufacture to fully charge the device battery multiple times. In some embodiments, multiple times is 2, 3, 4, or 5.
[0006] In one embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the determined characteristic is whether the aerosol supply device is held in the base unit, and the criterion is met if the aerosol supply device is held in the base unit.
[0007] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the determined characteristic is the charge level of the device battery, and the criterion is met when the charge level of the device battery falls below a threshold.
[0008] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the determined characteristic is whether the device battery is charged, and the criterion is met when the device battery is charged.
[0009] In one embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the indicator assembly comprises an array of lighting elements.
[0010] In one embodiment of the above-described embodiment, the controller is configured to display the charge level of the device battery by lighting up one or more elements of the array in a first color, and to display the charge level of the base battery by lighting up one or more elements of the array in a second color.
[0011] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, if the base unit is connected to a power source and the aerosol supply device is held in the base unit, the power source supplies power directly to the device battery.
[0012] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, if the base unit is connected to a power source and the aerosol supply device is held in the base unit, the power source supplies power directly to the device battery and the base battery. In some embodiments, recharging the device battery takes precedence over recharging the base battery.
[0013] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, when the base unit is connected to a power source and the aerosol supply device is held in the base unit, the power source supplies power to the base battery, and the base battery supplies power to the device battery.
[0014] In one embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the base unit further comprises an indicator unit and a control unit. In some embodiments of this embodiment, the control unit is configured to limit the operation and information displayed on the indicator unit to the operation and information relating to the base unit when the aerosol supply device is not held in the base unit.
[0015] In one embodiment of the above-described embodiment, the aerosol supply device further comprises one or both of a second indicator unit and a second control unit.
[0016] In one embodiment of the above-described embodiment, if the aerosol supply device is not held in the base unit, the second control unit is configured to limit its operation and the information displayed on the second indicator unit to the operation and information relating to the aerosol supply device.
[0017] In one embodiment of the above-described embodiment, the second indicator unit is covered when the aerosol supply device is held in the base unit.
[0018] In one embodiment of the above-described model, the second control unit is stopped when the aerosol supply device is held in the base unit.
[0019] In any one embodiment of the above-described embodiment, the aerosol supply device further comprises an indicator unit and a control unit.
[0020] In one embodiment of the above-described configuration, if the aerosol supply device is not held in the base unit, the control unit is configured to limit its operation and the information displayed on the indicator unit to the operation and information relating to the aerosol supply device.
[0021] In one embodiment of the above-described embodiment, the base unit further includes one or both of the second indicator unit and the second control unit.
[0022] In one embodiment of the above-described embodiment, when the aerosol supply device is not held by the base unit, the second control unit is configured to limit its operation and the information displayed on the second indicator unit to the operation and information related to the base unit.
[0023] In one embodiment of the above-described embodiment, the second indicator unit is covered when the aerosol supply device is held by the base unit.
[0024] In one embodiment of the above-described embodiment, the second control unit is stopped when the aerosol supply device is held by the base unit.
[0025] In any one of the above-described embodiments, at least one indicator unit includes one or more light-emitting diodes. In some embodiments, at least one of the LEDs is an RGB LED.
[0026] In any one of the above-described embodiments, the color of the displayed charge level is determined according to whether the displayed charge level is of the device battery or of the base battery.
[0027] In any one of the above-described embodiments, the system further includes user activation means for causing the indicator assembly to display the charge level of a battery not selected as an object of display by the control unit.
[0028] [[ID=
[0029] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram of an embodiment of a non-combustible aerosol supply device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram of an embodiment of a charging device according to the present invention connected to the non-combustible aerosol supply device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] A schematic diagram of an embodiment of a charging device according to the present invention connected to the non-combustible aerosol supply device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] A more detailed schematic diagram of the base unit of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] A schematic diagram of the base unit of FIG. 3 according to a second example. [Figure 6] A schematic diagram of a non-power device. [Figure 7] A circuit diagram of a base unit connected to an aerosol generating device.
Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention
[0030] (Detailed Description) FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a non-combustible aerosol supply device 100. The relative positions and sizes of various elements of the aerosol supply device 100 in FIGS. 1 to 7 do not indicate any relative arrangement or size specification of the aerosol supply device according to the present invention.
[0031] According to the present disclosure, a "non-combustible" aerosol supply device is one in which an aerosol generating material is not burned in order to facilitate the delivery of at least one substance to a user. In other words, a non-combustible aerosol supply device supplies an aerosol without burning the aerosol generating material.
[0032] In some examples, the non-combustible aerosol supply device is an e-cigarette, also known as a vaping device or 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.
[0033] In some examples, the non-combustible aerosol supply device is an aerosol generating material heating device, also known as a non-combustible heating device or cigarette heating device, as described above. In such examples, the aerosol generating material does not have to be in liquid form.
[0034] In some examples, a 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 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 a non-tobacco product.
[0035] The non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 comprises a housing 101 that accommodates 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 contained in a consumable (not shown).
[0036] In this specification, the term "aerosol-generating material" means a material capable of generating an aerosol when energy is supplied, 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 active substances and / or flavorings. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may include an "amorphous solid," which may be alternatively referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material capable of holding some fluid, such as a liquid, within itself. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may include, for example, about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% of an amorphous solid. The aerosol-generating material may include one or more active substances and / or fragrances, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.
[0037] Aerosol-generating materials may include one or more of the following: tobacco, tobacco derivatives, extended tobacco, recycled tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. Aerosol-generating materials may also be combinations or mixtures of materials. Aerosol-generating materials may include one or more active substances and / or flavorings, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials. Aerosol-generating materials may also be known as "smoking materials."
[0038] The active substances used herein may be physiologically active materials (materials intended to realize or enhance physiological reactions). Active substances may be selected from, for example, nutritional supplements, psychotropic drugs, and psychoactive agents. Active substances may be naturally occurring or obtained through synthesis. Active substances may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6, B12, or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or their components, derivatives, or combinations. Active substances may also include one or more components, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco, cannabis, or another plant.
[0039] In some cases, the active substance includes nicotine. In some cases, the active substance includes caffeine, melatonin, or vitamin B12.
[0040] The aerosol-forming material may contain one or more constituent substances capable of forming an aerosol. In some examples, the aerosol-forming material may contain one or more of the following: 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, tributyline, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.
[0041] One or more other functional materials may include one or more of the following: pH adjusters, colorants, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and / or antioxidants.
[0042] In this specification, consumables are articles containing aerosol-generating material or articles consisting of aerosol-generating material, which are intended to be consumed in whole or in part by the user during use. Consumables may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transport component, an aerosol-generating area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier. Consumables may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, which releases heat during use to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material. The heater may comprise, for example, a flammable material, an electrically conductive material, or a susceptor.
[0043] The non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 includes an aerosol generator 104 that volatilizes at least one component of the aerosolizable material. Hereinafter, the non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 will be referred to as device 100.
[0044] In this specification, an aerosol generator is a device configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to form an aerosol by applying thermal energy to the aerosol-generating material, thereby causing one or more volatile substances to be released from the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to apply one or more of the following to the aerosol-generating material: vibration, high pressure, or electrostatic energy.
[0045] In the example where the aerosol generator 104 is a heater, it may be, for example, a resistance heater or an induction heater. When an induction heater is used, the induction heater generates a fluctuating magnetic field to heat one or more susceptor elements. In such an example, one or more susceptor elements may or may not constitute part of the aerosol generator 104.
[0046] The susceptor material is a material that can be heated by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor material may be a conductive material so that induction heating of the heating material occurs upon penetration of the fluctuating magnetic field. The susceptor material may be a magnetic material so that magnetic hysteresis heating of the susceptor material occurs upon penetration of the fluctuating magnetic field. The susceptor may have both conductive and magnetic properties so that it can be heated by both heating mechanisms.
[0047] Device 100 includes a power supply 106 located within a housing 101. The power supply 106 supplies power to various components of device 100, including an aerosol generator 104. The power supply 106 includes a rechargeable battery (e.g., a lithium-ion battery). The rechargeable device battery 106 may include multiple sub-batteries. In the following examples, the power supply 106 will be simply referred to as the device battery 106.
[0048] In the example shown in Figure 1, device 100 includes a control circuit 108 that communicates with a computer-readable storage memory 110. The control circuit 108 is configured to control various aspects and operations of device 100. For example, the control circuit 108 may control the delivery of power from the device battery 106 to the aerosol generator 104. In some examples, the control circuit 108 includes a microprocessor and related circuits that control the functions of device 100.
[0049] In the example shown in Figure 1, device 100 includes an electrical connection port 112 that is electrically connected to a control circuit 108 and a device battery 106. Among several functions, the electrical connection port 112 facilitates charging of the device battery 106 from the base unit 200. In some examples not shown, device 100 includes another electrical connection port configured to connect to an alternative power source (e.g., an external battery or grid power source from the base unit 200). This other electrical connection port may be an industry-standard electrical connection port such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), USB Type-C, or Micro USB, or in other examples, a proprietary or custom-made connector configuration. This other electrical connection port may also be in the form of a wireless receiver that enables wireless charging of the battery 106.
[0050] The control circuit 108 is further configured to determine the charge level of the device battery 106, which is achieved by known methods and components.
[0051] The control circuit 108 is further configured to determine whether the device 100 is held in the base unit 200, via the data connection port 114. The data connection port 114 is configured to connect to the data connection port 220 of the base unit 200. The control circuit 108 may also be configured to detect when the data connection port 114 is connected to the data connection port 220.
[0052] The control circuit 108 is further configured to send control signals to the indicator display 116. The indicator display 116 comprises one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that can light up in many different colors. The indicator display is configured to provide a display that allows the user to understand and / or visualize the charge level of the device battery 106.
[0053] Naturally, device 100 includes other components not shown in Figure 1, such as ventilation inlets / outlets and a control interface that enables user operation of device 100. It should be noted that Figure 1 is merely a schematic diagram showing components that may be included in device 100. Figure 1 is not intended to reveal the specific locations of various components.
[0054] Figure 2 is a simplified schematic diagram of the base unit 200. The base unit 200 includes a housing 201 that encloses and protects various components of the base unit 200, including the base battery 210. The base battery 210 is a rechargeable battery (e.g., a lithium-ion battery). The base battery 210 may include multiple sub-batteries.
[0055] As will be explained in more detail below, by connecting the base unit 200 to the device 100 (holding the device 100 to the base unit 200), the base unit 200 can supply power to charge the device battery 106 of the device 100.
[0056] The base unit 200 can also be connected to an external power source 206 (for example, a power grid power source). When the base unit 200 is connected to the external power source 206, if the base battery 210 requires recharging, the external power source will supply power to charge the base battery 210 of the charging device 200.
[0057] When the base unit 200 is connected to the external power supply 206 and the device 100, the base battery 210 is configured to charge the device battery 106 while the external power supply 206 charges the base unit 210.
[0058] In some embodiments of the present invention, the base unit 200 is in the form of a portable carrying case that can be used for storing and charging the device 100. This effectively extends the battery life of the device 100 without increasing its size or weight, as the user can use the device simply by removing it from the carrying case.
[0059] The base unit 200 includes a first connection port 202 for connecting to the connection port 112 of the device 100. This connection is a direct port-to-port 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 have two pins (e.g., ground and +5V). An advantage of a custom connection port 202 is that only specific compatible devices with corresponding custom connection ports can be detachably connected to the base unit 200. For example, other proprietary devices manufactured by the manufacturer of the base unit 200. In some other examples, the first connection port 202 may include an industry-standard electrical connection port (e.g., a USB connection port).
[0060] The base unit 200 is configured to transmit power from its base battery 210 to the device battery 106 of the device 100 via the first connection ports 202 and 212. In this way, the power transmitted from the base battery 210 charges the device battery 106 of the device 100.
[0061] As shown in Figure 2, the base unit 200 includes a second connection port 204 for connecting to an external power supply 206. This connection may be a direct port-to-port connection via a suitably arranged connection cable or wireless connection. The second connection port 204 is housed within the housing 201 of the base unit 200 and provides a second electrical connection to the base unit 200. In this example, the second connection port 204 is an industry-standard electrical connection port (e.g., a USB connection port). This allows various types of power supplies to be detachably connected to the base unit 200. Of course, other examples of custom electrical connection sockets or power transmission components can also be used.
[0062] In some examples, the external power supply 206 is connected to the power grid via a wall outlet and supplied with power via a cable connected to the second connection port 204. For example, such a power supply could be the charger attached to the base unit 200 or another common USB charger connected to the power grid. In alternative examples, the external power supply 206 is powered by another device (e.g., a computer, a vehicle (vehicle power output socket), a solar panel, etc., connected to the second connection port 204 via cable or wirelessly).
[0063] The second connection port 204 is electrically connected to the base battery 210 via the control circuit 208. Therefore, power supplied from the external power supply 206 is transmitted to the base unit battery 210 via the control circuit 208, as indicated by arrow 216.
[0064] The base unit battery 210 of the base unit 200 is configured to store power supplied from an external power source 206 and to fully charge the device 100 multiple times (for example, at least twice). The base unit battery 210 is electrically connected to the first connection port 202 via a control circuit 208, as indicated by arrow 212.
[0065] As mentioned above, the flow of power from the external power supply 206 to the base unit battery 210 and the device 100 is controlled by the control circuit 208. In the example in Figure 2, since the device 100 is connected to the base unit 200, when the device battery 106 of the device 100 needs to be charged, power is directed from the base unit battery 210 to the device 100 through the first connection port 202 (indicated by arrow 212).
[0066] The base unit 200 further includes a computer-readable storage memory 222. The control circuit 208 communicates data with the memory 222.
[0067] The base unit 200 further comprises a data connection port 220. The data connection port 220 is configured to connect to the data connection port 114 of the device 100. Control circuits 108 and 208 may be configured to detect when the data connection port 220 is connected to the data connection port 114. In some embodiments of the present invention, the data connection ports 220 and 114 are configured such that the control circuit 108 can transmit data to the control circuit 208 when the connection ports 220 and 114 engage with each other.
[0068] The control circuit 208 is further configured to send control signals to the indicator display 218. The indicator display 218 comprises one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that can illuminate in many different colors. The indicator display is configured to provide a display that allows the user to understand and / or visualize the charge levels of the device battery 106 and / or the base battery 210.
[0069] Control circuits 108 and 208 are configured such that control circuit 108 stops / turns off the indicator assembly 116 of device 100 when data connection port 220 is connected to data connection port 114. In some embodiments, the indicator assembly 116 is positioned such that it is covered by a portion of the base unit 200 when device 100 is held in the base unit 200, making it invisible to the user of the aerosol supply system of the present invention.
[0070] The control circuit 208 is configured to detect or measure one or more of the characteristics of device 100 and / or base unit 200, such as whether device 100 is held in base unit 200, the charge level of device battery 106, and whether device battery 106 is charged. The control circuit 108 then compares the measured characteristics against a standard set in one or more tables stored in memory 222, and sends an appropriate control signal to indicator assembly 218 based on this comparison of characteristics and standards.
[0071] In some embodiments of the present invention, where the control unit 208 is located in the base unit 200, the characteristic to be determined is whether the device 100 is held in the base unit 200, and the criterion is met if the device 100 is held in the base unit 200. If the criterion is met, the indicator assembly 218 displays the charge level of the device battery 106 in a first color (e.g., blue). If the criterion is not met, the indicator assembly 218 displays the charge level of the base battery 210 in a second color (e.g., green). The user may be taught to understand the meaning of the colors of the indicator assembly 218, or the indicator assembly 218 may display further guidance regarding the meaning of the colors of the indicator assembly 218.
[0072] In some embodiments of the present invention, where the control unit 208 is located in the base unit 200, the characteristic to be determined is the charge level of the device battery 106, where a criterion is met when the charge level of the device battery falls below a threshold. If the criterion is met, the indicator assembly 218 displays the charge level of the device battery 106 in a first color (e.g., blue). If the criterion is not met, the indicator assembly 218 displays the charge level of the base battery 210 in a second color (e.g., green).
[0073] In some embodiments of the present invention, where the control unit 208 is located in the base unit 200, the characteristic to be determined is whether the device battery 106 is charged, and the criterion is met if the device battery 106 is charged. If the criterion is met, the indicator assembly 218 displays the charge level of the device battery 106 in a first color (e.g., blue). If the criterion is not met, the indicator assembly 218 displays the charge level of the base battery 210 in a second color (e.g., green).
[0074] In some embodiments of the present invention (not shown), the indicator assembly 218 of the base unit 200 comprises an array of lighting elements, the number of elements in the array that are lit is proportional to the charge level of the device battery 106 or the base unit battery 210.
[0075] In some embodiments of the present invention (not shown), the base unit 200 is provided with user-operable control means that causes a control circuit 208 to send a control signal to an indicator assembly to display one or more user-selectable characteristics of the device 100 and / or the base unit 200.
[0076] Figure 3 schematically shows an alternative embodiment of the base unit 200 of the present invention. In Figure 3, the elements of the base unit 200 that are the same as those of the embodiment of the base unit 200 shown in Figure 2 have the same reference numerals as in Figure 2, as described above.
[0077] The difference between the base units 200 in Figures 2 and 3 is that, as indicated by the arrow 224, the power supply 206 can directly supply power to the first connection port 202, and therefore the device battery 106 of the device 100 can be directly charged.
[0078] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, both the external power supply 206 and the device 100 are connected to the base unit 200. When both the device battery 106 of the device 100 and the base unit battery 210 of the base unit 200 need to be charged, the control circuit 208 prioritizes directing the power from the external power supply 206 to charge the device battery 106 of the device 100 rather than directing the power from the external power supply 206 to charge the base unit battery 210.
[0079] In one example, while the device battery 106 of device 100 is being charged, the control circuit 208 will charge the base unit battery 210 of the base unit 200 by power supplied from the external power supply 206, but only if sufficient surplus power can be obtained from the external power supply 206.
[0080] In another example, the control circuit 208 starts supplying power from the external power supply 206 to charge the base unit battery 210 of the base unit 200 only when the device battery 106 of the device 100 is fully charged.
[0081] Naturally, the base unit 200 may include other components not shown in Figure 2 or Figure 3, such as input detectors, charge status indicators, and switches. Furthermore, the control unit 208 may include other components such as a processor, sensors, and voltage regulation circuits. It should be noted that Figures 2 and 3 are merely schematic diagrams showing a number of components that can be included in or connected to the base unit 200. Figures 2 and 3 are not intended to reveal the specific locations of various components.
[0082] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the base unit 200 in more detail, as described in Figure 3. In Figure 4, solid arrows represent power lines between the various internal components of the base unit 200, and dashed arrows represent control lines and / or monitoring lines. As described above, the base unit 200 includes a first connection port 202, a second connection port 204, a control circuit 208 (shown as a dashed box in Figure 4), and a base unit battery 210.
[0083] In this example, the base unit 200 further comprises 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 located 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 located between the second connection port 204 and the control circuit 208. The base unit 200 also comprises one or more indicators 218 for indicating the charge level of the base unit battery 210 and / or the charge level of the device battery 106.
[0084] In some examples, indicator 218 is a set of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) electrically connected to the control circuit 208 via control lines 288. The LEDs are used to indicate the charge level of the base unit battery 210 or the device battery 106 (for example, whether the base unit battery 210 or the device battery 106 is fully charged, partially charged, or fully discharged). In one example, indicator 218 comprises multiple RGB LEDs, with different colors indicating different batteries.
[0085] In this example, the control circuit 208 is represented by a dashed box 209 enclosing various components. The control circuit 208 includes a microcontroller unit (MCU) 225 (e.g., model STM32G031G4). The MCU 225 detects whether a device is connected to the base unit 200 and whether the first and second connection ports 202 and 204 are active by monitoring the first connection port 202 or data port 220 via monitoring line 270 and the second connection port 204 via monitoring line 272. Since different external power supplies have different supplied voltage levels, the MCU 225 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 base unit battery 210 is monitored by the MCU 225 on monitoring line 290.
[0086] The control circuit 208 further includes an input voltage protection unit 240 for protecting the internal components of the base unit 200 from overvoltage and / or reverse voltage conditions. In one example, the base unit 200 can handle a +20V supply from a USB Type-C power supply without damaging its internal components, and the input protection unit 240 protects the base unit 200 if 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 203.
[0087] The control circuit 208 further includes a low-dropout voltage regulator (LDO) 242 for maintaining a constant voltage supply from the base unit battery 210 to the MCU 225.
[0088] The control circuit 208 further comprises 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 regulates the charging of the base unit battery 210 when a power supply is connected to the second connection port 204 and the base unit battery 210 is being charged, under the control of the MCU 225. The charging IC 226 controls a suitable control line 280 (e.g., between integrated circuits (I 2 C) It is connected to the MCU225 via a serial communication bus.
[0089] The charging IC 226 monitors the temperature of the base unit battery 210 via a battery temperature monitoring line 278 connected to a battery temperature sensor 252. The base unit battery 210 is protected from overcharging by a battery protection unit 232. In one example, the battery temperature sensor 252 makes thermal contact with the base unit battery 210 to provide an accurate temperature measurement of the base unit battery 210. For example, if the temperature of the base unit battery 210 begins to reach a level that is considered too high during charging, the charging IC 226 will accordingly reduce the current supply to the base unit battery 210. Alternatively, if the temperature of the base unit battery 210 is considered too high when the base unit battery 210 is being used to charge the device battery 106 of device 100 connected to the first electrical connection port 202, the charging IC 226 will accordingly reduce the current or stop charging to prevent damage to the base unit battery 210. Furthermore, the charging IC 226 may adjust the power supply to and from the base unit battery 210 if the temperature of the base unit battery 210 is too low or falls below a certain threshold temperature.
[0090] The control circuit 208 further comprises a first switch 221 and a second switch 223. The MCU 225 controls the first switch 221 via a first switch control line 274 and the second switch 223 via a second switch control line 276. As will be described in more detail below, the MCU 225 directs power between the first connection port 202, the second connection port 204, and the base unit battery 210 by controlling the first switch 221 and the second switch 223 to be on or off in various combinations. In one example, the first switch 221 and the second switch 223 are low-resistance field-effect transistors (FETs), but other types of switches may be used.
[0091] With respect to the configuration shown in Figure 3, the operation of the base unit 200 will be described in detail below with reference to the components shown in Figure 4.
[0092] In one example, only device 100 is held in the base unit 200, and the device battery 106 of device 100 is being charged. In this scenario, the MCU 225 detects via the monitoring line 272 that device 100 is held in the base unit 200 through the first connection port 202 or data port 220, and determines via the monitoring line 270 that no power supply or another device is connected to the base unit 200 through the second connection port 204. The MCU 225 sets the first switch 221 to the OFF state via the switch control line 274 and sets the second switch 223 to the ON state via the switch control line 276. Thus, with the switches set in this way, power is supplied from the base unit battery 210 through the charging IC 226 and the first connection port 202, charging the device battery 106 of device 100. No power flows to the second connection port 204. Naturally, since device 100 itself includes a charging integrated circuit (not shown) that regulates the charging of the device battery 106 of device 100 when power is supplied in this manner from the base unit battery 210, in these situations the charging of the device battery 106 of device 100 is controlled by the charging integrated circuit (not shown) of device 100 itself, rather than by IC 226. However, in some examples, IC 226 may be configured to convert the voltage of the base unit battery 210 to a value that matches the expected charging voltage of device 100.
[0093] As described above, the charging IC 226 monitors the temperature of the base unit battery 210 and adjusts the output voltage to the first connection port 202 to prevent damage to the base unit battery 210 due to overheating and / or safety hazards to the user.
[0094] In another example, only the external power supply 206 is connected to the base unit 200 via the second connection port 204, and the base unit battery 210 is being charged. In this configuration, the MCU 225 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 base unit 200 via the first connection port 202. The MCU 225 sets the first switch 221 to the ON state and the second switch 223 to the OFF state via the switch control lines 274 and 276, respectively. With the first switch 221 and the second switch 223 in this setting, and the base unit battery being charged, power from the external power supply 206 is supplied to the base unit battery 210 via the charging IC 226, and the base unit battery 210 is charged. The base unit battery 210 is protected from overcharging by the battery protection unit 232, and the battery temperature is monitored during charging by the temperature sensor 252. No power flows to the first connection port 202.
[0095] In another example, as shown in Figure 4, both the device 100 and the external power supply 106 are connected to the base unit 200 via the first connection port 202 and the second connection port 204, respectively. The MCU 225 detects via the monitoring line 272 that the device 100 is connected to the first connection port 202, and also detects via the monitoring line 270 that the external power supply 206 is connected to the second connection port 204. Power from the external power supply 206 can be supplied to the base unit battery 210, the device battery 106 of the device 100, or both.
[0096] The MCU225 prioritizes charging the device battery 106 of device 100 over charging the base unit battery 210 of base unit 200.
[0097] In one example, the MCU225 determines that the device battery 106 of device 100 is being charged, and the base unit battery 210 is also being charged, but the power obtained from the external power supply 106 is only sufficient to meet the charging requirements of the device battery 106 of device 100. For example, the device battery 106 of device 100 may require a certain minimum supply voltage (e.g., 5V) for charging, and the power supply 106 can supply 5V. In this scenario, the MCU225 sets both the first switch 221 and the second switch 223 to the ON state via switch control lines 274 and 276, and sets the charging IC 226 to the OFF state. Therefore, in this scenario, power is supplied to device 100 from the external power supply 206 through the path defined by the second connection port 204, the first switch 221, the second switch 223, and the first connection port 202, and charges the device battery 106 of device 100. The base unit battery 210 is not supplied with power. As described above, the device 100 itself includes a charging integrated circuit (not shown) that adjusts the charging of the device battery 106 of the device 100 when power is supplied from the external power supply 206 in this way. Therefore, in these situations, the charging of the device battery 106 of the device 100 is controlled by the charging integrated circuit (not shown) of the device 100 itself, rather than by the IC 226.
[0098] The MCU225 monitors the charge status of the device battery 106 of device 100 to determine when the device battery 106 of device 100 reaches a predetermined charge level (e.g., fully charged) and no longer requires power supply. In response to this determination, the MCU225 keeps the first switch 221 in the ON state and sets the second switch 223 to the OFF state. It also turns on the charging IC 226 to enable charging of the base unit battery 210 via power supply 106 through the charging IC 226. The voltage of the base unit battery 210 is monitored by the MCU225 on the monitoring line 290. As is standard for such components, the charging IC 226 controls the current that charges the base unit battery 210 based on the input voltage to the charging IC 226 (e.g., reducing the charging current when the input voltage drops).
[0099] By prioritizing the charging of the device battery 106 of device 100 over the base unit battery 210, a scenario in which the base unit battery 210 is charged but device 100 is not is prevented. If a user connects the base unit 200 to an external power supply 206 to charge its base unit battery 210, and then connects device 100 to the base unit 200 to charge device 100's device battery 106, the MCU 225 detects that device 100 is currently connected and that its device battery 106 needs charging. In response, as described above, the MCU 225 sets the first switch 221 and the second switch 223 to the ON state and sets the charging IC 226 to the OFF state to prevent power supply to the base unit battery 210. In this way, power from the external power supply 206 is directed to device battery 106 of device 100, rather than to base unit battery 210 of base unit 200.
[0100] In another example, the MCU225 determines that the power obtained from the external power supply 206 is sufficient to simultaneously meet the charging requirements of the device battery 106 and the base unit battery 210 of the device 100. For example, the external power supply 206 can supply 20V, while the battery of the device 100 requires only a 5V supply voltage for charging. In this scenario, the MCU225 turns on both the first switch 221 and the second switch 223 via the switch control lines 274 and 276, respectively, and switches on the charging IC 226. Thus, the device battery 106 and the base unit battery 210 of the device 100 are charged simultaneously by the external power supply 206. The MCU225 and the charging IC 226 prevent overload by monitoring the voltage of the base unit battery 210 via the monitoring line 290. The charging IC 226 minimizes charging time by maintaining the charging current of the base unit battery 210 as high as possible.
[0101] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the internal components of the base unit 300 according to the second example. For simplification, components that are the same as or equivalent to the components of the base unit 200 described above with reference to Figure 4 have reference numbers that are the same as those used in Figure 4 but increased by 100.
[0102] In this example, the base unit 300 includes a device detection unit 392 configured to detect when a device such as 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 Figure 6.
[0103] The MCU324 is connected to the second connection port 304 via a monitoring line 383, and by using the monitoring line 383, it can detect when a device or external power supply is connected to the second connection port 304.
[0104] The MCU324 is connected to the first connection port 302 via data line 385, and by using data line 385, it receives data from or sends data to device 100 when device 100 is connected to the first connection port 302.
[0105] The base unit 300 includes an input protection unit 399 for protecting the charging IC 326.
[0106] Furthermore, the base unit 300 includes a fuel gauge 394 in series with the electrical connection 396 between the base unit battery 310 and the charging IC 326. The fuel gauge 394 measures the electrical energy entering or being drawn from the base unit battery 310 by measuring the current and voltage of the base unit battery 310.
[0107] In this example, the control circuit 308 includes a first switch 320, a second switch 322, and a third switch 398, which are controlled by the MCU 324 via a switch control line 374a (although each switch has its own control line, only one line is shown in Figure 5 for simplification).
[0108] In the first example, device 100 is connected to the first connection port 302 of the base unit 300, the device battery 106 of device 100 is being charged, and the second connection port 304 is not in use (i.e., not enabled). In this scenario, the MCU 324 detects, via the device detection unit 392, that device 100 is connected to the base unit 300, and determines via monitoring lines 383 and / or 372 that the second connection port 304 is not in use. 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 the switches set in this way, power stored in the base unit battery 310 is supplied via the charging IC 326 and the first connection port 302 to charge the device battery 106 of device 100. No power flows to the second connection port 304.
[0109] In the second example, an external power supply 206 is connected to the base unit 300 via a second connection port 304, the base unit battery 310 is being charged, and the first connection port 302 is not used. In this scenario, the MCU 324 detects, via monitoring lines 383 and / or 372, that the external power supply 206 is connected to the second connection port 304, and the device detection unit 392 detects that the device 100 is not connected to the base unit 300. The MCU 324 sets the first switch 320 to the ON position and both the second switch 322 and the third switch 398 to the OFF position. With the switches set in this way, power is supplied from the external power supply 206 via the charging IC 326 to charge the base unit battery 310.
[0110] In the third example, a non-powered device 400 (one example of which is schematically shown in Figure 6) is connected to the base unit 300 via a second connection port 304. The non-powered device 400 comprises its own base unit battery 401 and a connection port 402 similar to the above-described connection port, which enables connection to the second connection port 304.
[0111] Non-powered devices may include, for example, cameras, mobile phones, GPS devices, etc.
[0112] In this example, the first connection port 302 is not used. In this scenario, the MCU 324 detects via monitoring lines 383 and / or 372 that the non-powered device 400 is connected to the second connection port 304, and the device detection unit 392 detects that the device 100 is not connected to the base unit 300. The MCU 324 sets the first switch 320 to the ON position and both the second switch 322 and the third switch 398 to the OFF position. With the switches set in this position, power is supplied from the base unit battery 310 via the charging IC 326, which charges the base unit battery 401 of the non-powered device 400.
[0113] In the fourth example, both device 100 and non-powered device 400 are connected to the base unit 300 via the first connection port 302 and the second connection port 304, respectively. The MCU 324 detects, via the device detection unit 392, that device 100 is connected to the first connection port 302, and also detects, via monitoring lines 383 and / or 372, that non-powered device 400 is connected to the second connection port 304.
[0114] The MCU324 prioritizes charging the device battery 106 of device 100 over charging the battery 401 of the non-powered device 400.
[0115] 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. Thus, power is supplied from the base unit battery 310 through a path including the charging IC 326, the third switch 322, and the first connection port 302 to charge the device battery 106 of the device 100.
[0116] The MCU 324 monitors the charge status of the device battery 106 of device 100 to determine when the device battery 106 of device 100 reaches a predetermined charge level (e.g., fully charged) and no longer requires power supply. In response to this determination, the MCU 324 sets the first switch 320 to the ON position, the third switch 398 to the OFF position, and keeps the second switch 322 to the OFF position. With the switches set in this manner, power is supplied from the base unit 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-powered device 400.
[0117] In some cases, if sufficient power is available from the base unit battery 310, both the battery 401 of the non-powered device 400 and the device battery 106 of device 100 will be charged simultaneously. That is, the device battery 106 of device 100 will be charged to full capacity, and the base unit battery 310 will be able to supply additional power to charge the battery 401 of device 400.
[0118] In the fifth example, both the device 100 and the external power supply 106 are connected to the base unit 300 via the first connection port 302 and the second connection port 304, respectively. The MCU 324 detects, via the device detection unit 392, that the device 100 is connected to the first connection port 202, and also detects, via the monitoring line 383 and / or monitoring line 370, that the external power supply 106 is connected to the second connection port 304.
[0119] The MCU324 prioritizes charging the device battery 106 of device 100 over charging the base unit battery 310.
[0120] In one scenario, the MCU324 determines that the device battery 106 of device 100 is being charged, and the base unit battery 310 is also being charged, but the power available from the external power supply 106 is only sufficient to meet the charging requirements of the device battery 106 of device 100. For example, the device battery 106 of device 100 may require a certain minimum supply voltage (e.g., 5V) for charging, but power supply 106 can only supply 5V. In this scenario, the MCU324 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 106 through a path including the second connection port 304, the second switch 322, and the first connection port 302 to charge the device battery 106 of device 100.
[0121] The MCU324 monitors the charge status of the device battery 106 of device 100 to determine when the device battery 106 of device 100 reaches a predetermined charge level (e.g., fully charged) and no longer requires power supply. In response to this determination, the MCU324 sets the first switch 320 to the ON position, the second switch 322 to the OFF position, and keeps the third switch 398 in the OFF position. With the switches set in this way, power is supplied from the power supply 106 to charge the base unit battery 310. Device 100 is not supplied with power.
[0122] In the alternative scenario, the MCU 324 determines that the battery of device 100 and the base unit battery 310 are being charged, and that 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 position and sets the third switch 398 to the OFF position. With the switches set in this way, power is supplied from the power supply 106, and the base unit battery 210 and the device battery 106 of device 100 are charged simultaneously.
[0123] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the base unit 300, including the MCU 324, the device detection unit 392 (shown by a dashed box), and the device 100, as described above. The dashed line 401 represents a custom connection interface between the base unit 300 and the device 100 when the device 100 is connected to the base unit 300. In this example, the first connection port 302 defines the base unit 300 side of the connection interface 401.
[0124] The MCU324 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 ground.
[0125] Device 100 includes a third electrical contact 401c and a fourth electrical contact 401d, as well as a resistor 406 connected between the third electrical contact 401c and the fourth electrical contact 401d.
[0126] When the device 100 is connected to the base unit 300, the first electrical contact 401a contacts the third electrical contact 401c, and the second electrical contact 401b contacts the fourth electrical contact 401d.
[0127] During use, the MCU324 outputs a low fixed voltage via its voltage output pin VO, and the MCU324 monitors the detected voltage level at its detection pin VD.
[0128] When device 100 is connected to base unit 300, resistors 402 and 406 form a potential divider, causing the voltage level at detection pin VD to drop to a predetermined detection voltage, which is detected by MCU 324.
[0129] The voltage drop detected by the MCU324 when device 100 is connected to the base unit will be determined by the resistance of the two resistors 402 and 406. Therefore, by knowing the resistance of these two resistors, the MCU can identify whether device 100 is connected or whether a different, incompatible device is connected. This means that if an incompatible device with different base unit resistors / resistors is connected, the MCU324 may be able to identify this and prevent the supply of +5V 408.
[0130] In other examples, the connection interface is not custom-made, but rather defined by a standard connector type (e.g., a USB Type-C connector). In these examples as well, the MCU324 may detect that device 100 is connected to the base unit by detecting that a high-level signal to the interface's output connector drops to a low-level signal when device 100 is connected to the carry case.
[0131] The base unit 300 may include an alternative configuration (e.g., a Hall or mechanical switch) for detecting when the device 100 is connected.
[0132] In the example above, the first electrical connection ports 202 and 302 are two custom-made pin connection ports. Alternatively, the first electrical connection ports 202 and 302 may be standard pin connection ports (e.g., USB Type-C or micro USB). In the example above, the first connection ports 202 and 302 and the second connection ports 204 and 304 were described as pin connectors, but naturally, alternative connection ports may be used for power and / or data transmission to the device. Examples include wireless connection ports and wireless charging systems.
[0133] The embodiments described above are to be understood as illustrative examples useful for explaining the present invention. Other embodiments of the present invention are also conceivable. Any feature described in any one embodiment may be used alone or in combination with other described features, and may be used in combination with one or more features of any other embodiment or any combination thereof. Furthermore, without departing from the scope of the present invention, other equivalents and improvements not described above as set forth in the appended claims may also be adopted.
Claims
1. An aerosol supply device comprising a heating assembly configured to heat an aerosol generating material and a device battery configured to supply power to the heating assembly to heat the aerosol generating material, A base unit configured to detachably hold the aerosol supply device, comprising a base battery, and configured to be connected to a power source to supply electricity to the base battery, Indicator assembly and It is a controller, Determining the charge level of the device battery, Determining the charge level of the base battery, To determine the characteristics of the aerosol supply device, If the determined characteristics satisfy one or more criteria, the indicator assembly will display the charge level of the device battery. If the determined characteristics do not satisfy one or more of the criteria, the indicator assembly shall display the charge level of the base battery, A controller configured to perform the following actions: An aerosol supply system equipped with [a specific feature / equipment].
2. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic determined is whether the aerosol supply device is held in the base unit, and the criterion is satisfied when the aerosol supply device is held in the base unit.
3. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the determined characteristic is the charge level of the device battery, and the criterion is satisfied when the charge level of the device battery falls below a threshold.
4. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the characteristic determined is whether the device battery is charged, and the criterion is satisfied when the device battery is charged.
5. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the indicator assembly comprises an array of lighting elements.
6. The aerosol supply system according to claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to display the charge level of the device battery by illuminating one or more elements of the array in a first color, and to display the charge level of the base battery by illuminating one or more elements of the array in a second color.
7. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, when the base unit is connected to the power supply and the aerosol supply device is held in the base unit, the power supply directly supplies power to the device battery.
8. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, when the base unit is connected to the power supply and the device is held in the base unit, the power supply supplies power to the base battery, and the base battery supplies power to the device battery.
9. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the base unit further comprises the indicator assembly and the controller.
10. The aerosol supply system according to claim 9, wherein, if the aerosol supply device is not held in the base unit, the controller is configured to limit its operation and the information displayed in the indicator assembly to the operation and information relating to the base unit.
11. The aerosol supply system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the aerosol supply device further comprises one or both of a second indicator assembly and a second controller.
12. The aerosol supply system according to claim 11, wherein, if the aerosol supply device is not held in the base unit, the second controller is configured to restrict its operation and the information displayed in the second indicator assembly to the operation and information relating to the aerosol supply device.
13. The aerosol supply system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the second indicator assembly covers the aerosol supply device when it is held in the base unit.
14. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the second controller is stopped when the aerosol supply device is held in the base unit.
15. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising the aerosol supply device, the indicator assembly, and the controller.
16. The aerosol supply system according to claim 15, wherein, if the aerosol supply device is not held in the base unit, the controller is configured to limit its operation and the information displayed in the indicator assembly to the operation and information relating to the aerosol supply device.
17. The aerosol supply system according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the base unit further comprises one or both of a second indicator assembly and a second controller.
18. The aerosol supply system according to claim 17, wherein, if the aerosol supply device is not held in the base unit, the second controller is configured to restrict its operation and the information displayed in the second indicator assembly to the operation and information relating to the base unit.
19. The aerosol supply system according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the second indicator assembly covers the aerosol supply device when it is held in the base unit.
20. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the second controller is stopped when the aerosol supply device is held in the base unit.
21. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein at least one indicator assembly comprises one or more light-emitting diodes.
22. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the color of the displayed charge level is determined according to whether the displayed charge level is that of the device battery or the base battery.
23. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 21, further comprising a user activation means for displaying the charge level of the battery not selected as a target for display by the controller on the indicator assembly.