Aerosol generation system

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a mechanism capable of operating a battery at a more appropriate temperature. [Solution] This aerosol generation system includes: a first housing part for housing a base material containing an aerosol source; a load for generating energy for heating the aerosol source contained in the base material housed in the first housing part; a second housing part for housing a battery that supplies power to the load; a temperature sensor which is disposed in the second housing part and which measures the temperature of the battery housed in the second housing part; and a control part which controls the operation of the load on the basis of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The second housing part has a second opening and has the battery removably housed therein so as to be inserted in a third direction and removed in a fourth direction through the second opening. The temperature sensor is disposed on an inner wall of the second housing part on the third direction side or the fourth direction side.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generation system.

Background Art

[0002] Suction devices that generate substances to be inhaled by users, such as electronic cigarettes, nebulizers, or heated tobacco, are widely spread. For example, the suction device uses a base material including an aerosol source for generating an aerosol and a flavor source for imparting a flavor component to the generated aerosol, etc., to generate an aerosol to which a flavor component is imparted. The user can enjoy the flavor by inhaling the aerosol to which the flavor component is imparted, which is generated by the suction device. The operation of the user inhaling the aerosol is also referred to as puff or puff operation hereinafter.

[0003] In recent years, for the purposes of consumer protection and reduction of environmental load, etc., it is considered desirable to make the battery of the suction device replaceable. In this regard, in Patent Document 1 below, a suction device is disclosed in which a cover provided on the side surface of the suction device is removed to replace the battery.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in Patent Document 1 above, the examination regarding the temperature of the battery has not been sufficiently made. The higher the temperature of the battery, the more various inconveniences such as failures can occur.

[0006] Therefore, this disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned issues, and its purpose is to provide a mechanism that enables the battery to be operated at a more appropriate temperature. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, an aerosol generation system is provided comprising: a first housing for housing a substrate containing an aerosol source; a load for generating energy to heat the aerosol source contained in the substrate housed in the first housing; a second housing for housing a battery for supplying power to the load; a temperature sensor disposed in the second housing for measuring the temperature of the battery housed in the second housing; and a control unit for controlling the operation of the load based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, wherein the first housing has a first opening and is insertable and retractable for housing the substrate so that it is inserted in a first direction and withdrawn in a second direction through the first opening; the second housing has a second opening and is insertable and retractable for housing the battery so that it is inserted in a third direction and withdrawn in a fourth direction through the second opening; and the temperature sensor is disposed on the inner wall of the second housing on the third direction side or the fourth direction side.

[0008] The temperature sensor may be positioned close to the part of the battery surface that is expected to become the hottest when the load is in operation.

[0009] The temperature sensor may be positioned so as to be closer to the load than to the center of the battery on the surface of the battery.

[0010] The control unit may estimate the maximum temperature of the battery based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and control the operation of the load based on the estimated maximum temperature of the battery.

[0011] The aerosol generation system may include a plurality of temperature sensors, and the control unit may control the operation of the load based on the highest temperature among the temperatures detected by the plurality of temperature sensors.

[0012] The second housing further includes a lid that opens and closes the second opening, and the lid may open and close the second opening by being attached to or detached, or by being rotated.

[0013] The aerosol generation system may further include an opening / closing sensor that detects the opening and closing of the second opening by the lid, and the control unit may control the operation of the load based on the detection result from the opening / closing sensor.

[0014] The control unit may control the charging of the battery based on the detection result from the opening / closing sensor.

[0015] The aerosol generation system includes terminals electrically connected to the battery, the control unit is located on the second side of the second housing, and the terminals may be located on the inner wall of the second housing on the second side, offset from the load in the third or fourth direction.

[0016] The aerosol generation system includes terminals that are electrically connected to the battery, and these terminals may be made of an elastic material.

[0017] The aerosol generation system may further include a first through-hole that connects the internal space of the first housing and the internal space of the second housing, and a second through-hole that connects the internal space of the second housing to the outside.

[0018] The aerosol generation system further includes a charging terminal that receives power for charging the battery supplied from an external power source, and the charging terminal may be located on the second side of the second housing.

[0019] The first direction, the second direction, the third direction, and the fourth direction may be orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to each other.

[0020] The aerosol generation system may further include the battery.

[0021] The aerosol generation system may further include the substrate.

Advantages of the Invention

[0022] As described above, according to the present disclosure, a mechanism is provided that enables the battery to be operated at a more appropriate temperature.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] It is a schematic diagram schematically showing a configuration example of a suction device. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing an example of the external configuration of the suction device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the suction device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the suction device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a diagram for explaining a first modification example. [Figure 6] It is a diagram for explaining a second modification example. [Figure 7] It is a diagram for explaining a third modification example. [Figure 8] It is a diagram for explaining an example of an air flow path in the suction device. [Figure 9] It is a diagram for explaining another example of an air flow path in the suction device. [Figure 10] It is a diagram for explaining another example of an air flow path in the suction device.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] Preferred embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. In this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

[0025] Furthermore, in this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functional configuration may be distinguished by adding an index consisting of different letters or numbers after the same reference numeral. For example, multiple elements having substantially the same functional configuration may be distinguished as devices 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3 as needed. However, if there is no need to particularly distinguish each of multiple elements having substantially the same functional configuration, only the same reference numeral will be used. For example, if there is no need to particularly distinguish between devices 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3, they will simply be referred to as device 1.

[0026] <1. Basic Configuration Example> A suction device is a device that generates a substance to be aspirated by the user. In the following explanation, the substance generated by the suction device is assumed to be an aerosol. Alternatively, the substance generated by the suction device may be a gas.

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a suction device. As shown in Figure 1, the suction device 100 according to this example configuration includes a power supply unit 111, a sensor unit 112, a notification unit 113, a storage unit 114, a communication unit 115, a control unit 116, a heating unit 121, a housing unit 140, and a heat insulation unit 144.

[0028] The power supply unit 111 stores power. Then, based on the control by the control unit 116, the power supply unit 111 supplies power to each component of the suction device 100. The power supply unit 111 may be composed of a rechargeable battery, such as a lithium-ion secondary battery.

[0029] The sensor unit 112 acquires various information related to the suction device 100. For example, the sensor unit 112 is composed of a pressure sensor such as a condenser microphone, a flow sensor, or a temperature sensor, and acquires values ​​associated with suction by the user. As another example, the sensor unit 112 is composed of an input device that accepts information input from the user, such as a button or switch.

[0030] The notification unit 113 notifies the user of information. The notification unit 113 is composed of, for example, a light-emitting device that emits light, a display device that displays an image, a sound output device that emits sound, or a vibration device that vibrates.

[0031] The memory unit 114 stores various information for the operation of the suction device 100. The memory unit 114 is composed of a non-volatile storage medium, such as flash memory.

[0032] The communication unit 115 is a communication interface capable of performing communication in accordance with any wired or wireless communication standard. Examples of such communication standards include Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy®), NFC (Near Field Communication), or LPWA (Low Power Wide Area).

[0033] The control unit 116 functions as both an arithmetic processing unit and a control device, controlling the overall operation of the suction device 100 according to various programs. The control unit 116 is implemented by electronic circuits such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microprocessor.

[0034] The housing section 140 has an internal space 141 and holds the stick-type substrate 150 while housing a portion of the stick-type substrate 150 in the internal space 141. The housing section 140 has an opening 142 that communicates the internal space 141 with the outside and accommodates the stick-type substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 141 from the opening 142. For example, the housing section 140 is a cylindrical body with the opening 142 and bottom 143 as its base, defining a columnar internal space 141. An air passage is connected to the housing section 140 to supply air to the internal space 141. An air inlet, which is the air entrance to the air passage, is located, for example, on the side of the suction device 100. An air outlet, which is the air exit from the air passage to the internal space 141, is located, for example, on the bottom 143.

[0035] The stick-type base material 150 includes a base material portion 151 and a mouthpiece portion 152. The base material portion 151 includes an aerosol source. The aerosol source includes flavoring components derived from tobacco or non-tobacco. If the inhalation device 100 is a medical inhaler such as a nebulizer, the aerosol source may also include a drug. The aerosol source may be a liquid such as water, including polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin and propylene glycol, and flavoring components derived from tobacco or non-tobacco, or it may be a solid containing flavoring components derived from tobacco or non-tobacco. When the stick-type base material 150 is held in the housing portion 140, at least a part of the base material portion 151 is housed in the internal space 141, and at least a part of the mouthpiece portion 152 protrudes from the opening 142. When the user puts the mouthpiece portion 152 protruding from the opening 142 in their mouth and inhales, air flows into the internal space 141 via an air passage (not shown) and reaches the user's mouth together with the aerosol generated from the base material portion 151.

[0036] The heating unit 121 generates an aerosol by heating the aerosol source, thereby atomizing it. In the example shown in Figure 1, the heating unit 121 is configured in a film-like form and is positioned to cover the outer circumference of the containment unit 140. When the heating unit 121 generates heat, the base material portion 151 of the stick-type base material 150 is heated from the outer circumference, generating an aerosol. The heating unit 121 generates heat when power is supplied from the power supply unit 111. For example, power may be supplied when the sensor unit 112 detects that the user has started inhaling and / or that predetermined information has been input. Power may be stopped when the sensor unit 112 detects that the user has finished inhaling and / or that predetermined information has been input.

[0037] The heat insulating section 144 prevents heat transfer from the heating section 121 to other components. For example, the heat insulating section 144 is made of a vacuum insulating material or an aerogel insulating material.

[0038] The above describes an example configuration of the suction device 100. Of course, the configuration of the suction device 100 is not limited to the above, and it can take various configurations as exemplified below.

[0039] As an example, the heating section 121 may be configured in a blade shape and positioned to protrude from the bottom 143 of the housing section 140 into the internal space 141. In this case, the blade-shaped heating section 121 is inserted into the base material portion 151 of the stick-shaped base material 150 and heats the base material portion 151 of the stick-shaped base material 150 from the inside. As another example, the heating section 121 may be positioned to cover the bottom 143 of the housing section 140. Furthermore, the heating section 121 may be configured as a combination of two or more of the following: a first heating section covering the outer circumference of the housing section 140, a blade-shaped second heating section, and a third heating section covering the bottom 143 of the housing section 140.

[0040] As another example, the housing section 140 may include an opening and closing mechanism, such as a hinge, that opens and closes a part of the outer shell forming the internal space 141. The housing section 140 may then house the stick-shaped base material 150 inserted into the internal space 141 while clamping it by opening and closing the outer shell. In this case, the heating section 121 may be provided at the clamping location in the housing section 140 and may heat the stick-shaped base material 150 while pressing it.

[0041] Furthermore, the means for atomizing the aerosol source is not limited to heating by the heating unit 121. For example, the means for atomizing the aerosol source may be induction heating. In that case, the suction device 100 has at least an electromagnetic induction source, such as a coil that generates a magnetic field, instead of the heating unit 121. The susceptor that generates heat by induction heating may be provided in the suction device 100 or may be included in the stick-type substrate 150.

[0042] <2. Detailed Configuration Example> A detailed example of the configuration of the suction device 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the external configuration of the suction device 100 according to this embodiment. Figures 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams showing the internal configuration of the suction device 100 according to this embodiment.

[0043] As shown in Figure 2, the suction device 100 may be configured as a straight column with an oval top surface 102 and a bottom surface 103. The suction device 100 is configured to be a size that can be grasped by the user and is used while being grasped by the user. Although not shown in Figure 2, the surface of the suction device 100 may be provided with a user interface such as buttons for inputting operation instructions to the suction device 100, or a display for showing the operating status of the suction device 100.

[0044] In this embodiment, the direction in which the stick-shaped base material 150 is inserted into and removed from the housing section 140 is also referred to as the vertical direction. The vertical direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the suction device 100. Furthermore, the longitudinal direction of the cross-section of the suction device 100 is also referred to as the left-right direction, and the short-side direction is also referred to as the front-back direction.

[0045] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the suction device 100 includes a housing 160, a lid 161, a battery compartment 162, a control circuit 180, a charging circuit 181, a charging terminal 182, battery terminals 183 (183-1 and 183-2), a temperature sensor 184, and an open / close sensor 185 (185-1 and 185-2). A battery pack 170 is detachably mounted on the suction device 100. The control circuit 180 and the charging circuit 181 correspond to the control unit 116 shown in Figure 1. The battery pack 170 corresponds to the power supply unit 111 shown in Figure 1. The temperature sensor 184 and the open / close sensor 185 correspond to the sensor unit 112 shown in Figure 1.

[0046] The housing 160 constitutes the outermost shell of the suction device 100. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, an opening 142 is provided on the top surface 102 of the housing 160. The stick-shaped base material 150 is inserted into and removed from the housing section 140 through the opening 142.

[0047] The housing section 140 is an example of a first housing section for housing a stick-type substrate 150. The housing section 140 accommodates the stick-type substrate 150 so that it can be inserted downward and removed upward through an opening 142 (an example of a first opening). The downward direction is an example of a first direction, which is the insertion direction of the stick-type substrate 150. The upward direction is an example of a second direction, which is the removal direction of the stick-type substrate 150.

[0048] The battery compartment 162 is an example of a second housing for housing the battery pack 170. More specifically, the battery compartment 162 has an internal space 163, and the battery pack 170 is housed in the internal space 163.

[0049] The battery compartment 162 has an opening 164 (an example of a second opening) that connects the internal space 163 to the outside. The battery pack 170 is inserted into and removed from the battery compartment 162 through the opening 164. Specifically, the battery compartment 162 is designed to accommodate the battery pack 170 so that it can be inserted to the left and removed to the right through the opening 164. The left direction is an example of a third direction, which is the direction in which the battery pack 170 is inserted. The right direction is an example of a fourth direction, which is the direction in which the battery pack 170 is removed.

[0050] The battery compartment 162 has a lid 161 that opens and closes the opening 164. The lid 161 may be attached or detached to open and close the opening 164. Figure 3 shows the lid 161 closed over the opening 164 and the battery pack 170 housed in the battery compartment 162. On the other hand, Figure 4 shows the lid 161 open over the opening 164 and the battery pack 170 removed from the battery compartment 162.

[0051] The battery compartment 162 may be configured to be externally tangent to the battery pack 170. For example, it is desirable that the battery pack 170 be configured to be elliptical or prismatic, or otherwise, such that it is difficult to rotate with respect to the vertical axis when housed in the battery compartment 162. With such a configuration, it is possible to restrict the rotation of the battery pack 170 within the battery compartment 162 and easily maintain the connection between the battery terminals 183 and the electrodes 171, which will be described later. In the following, the battery pack 170 will be configured to be prismatic. The battery compartment 162 will define a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped internal space 163.

[0052] The battery pack 170 is a rechargeable battery that is detachably connected to the suction device 100. The part of the suction device 100 excluding the battery pack 170 is also referred to as the main body 101. The battery pack 170 supplies power to the components housed in the main body 101, including the heating unit 121. The battery pack 170 has multiple electrodes 171 (171-1 and 171-2). For example, electrode 171-1 may be the positive electrode and electrode 171-2 may be the negative electrode. The battery pack 170 can become hot during charging and discharging, or due to heat transfer from the heating unit 121.

[0053] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the main body 101 of the suction device 100 has a plurality of battery terminals 183 (183-1 and 183-2). The battery terminals 183 are electrically connected to the battery pack 170. In other words, the battery terminals 183 are the power interface between the battery pack 170 and the components within the main body 101 of the suction device 100. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the battery terminals 183 are connected to the heating unit 121 and the charging circuit 181 via dashed wires, and power is transmitted between them. In Figures 3 and 4, the illustration of electrical connections with other components is omitted.

[0054] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each of the multiple battery terminals 183 is detachably connected to each of the multiple electrodes 171 of the battery pack 170. For example, when the battery pack 170 is housed in the battery chamber 162, battery terminal 183-1 is connected to electrode 171-1, and battery terminal 183-2 is connected to electrode 171-2. Specifically, battery terminal 183-1 is located on the upper inner wall 165 of the battery chamber 162 and is connected to electrode 171-1 located on the upper side of the battery pack 170. On the other hand, battery terminal 183-2 is located on the lower inner wall 166 of the battery chamber 162 and is connected to electrode 171-2 located on the lower side of the battery pack 170. This enables power supply from the battery pack 170 to other components in the main body 101 of the suction device 100. Note that when the battery pack 170 is removed from the battery chamber 162, the connection between each of the multiple battery terminals 183 and each of the multiple electrodes 171 of the battery pack 170 is released.

[0055] The battery terminal 183 may be made of an elastic body such as a wire spring or a leaf spring. The elastic body serving as the battery terminal 183 is pressed in contact with the electrode 171 as the battery pack 170 is inserted into the battery chamber 162, and exerts an elastic force in the direction of clamping the battery pack 170. With this configuration, the battery terminal 183 and the electrode 171 can be made to make stronger contact when the battery pack 170 is housed in the battery chamber 162. As a result, it is possible to reduce the contact resistance at the connection point between the battery terminal 183 and the electrode 171.

[0056] It is desirable that the battery terminal 183 be made of a heat-resistant metal. Examples of heat-resistant metals include phosphor bronze and copper-based alloys such as Corson alloy. This is because copper has lower electrical resistance than aluminum, etc. With such a configuration, the relaxation of the elastic force of the battery terminal 183 as the temperature rises can be suppressed. As a result, even if the temperature of the battery terminal 183 rises due to heat transfer from the heating unit 121 or the battery pack 170, it is possible to suppress the increase in contact resistance at the connection point between the battery terminal 183 and the electrode 171.

[0057] Furthermore, it is desirable that the battery terminals 183 be gold-plated or otherwise treated to prevent rust and reduce contact resistance.

[0058] Here, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the control circuit 180 and the charging circuit 181 are positioned above the battery chamber 162. In this case, it is desirable that the battery terminal 183-1 be positioned on the upper inner wall 165 of the battery chamber 162 at a position offset from the heating unit 121 in the left-right direction (or front-back direction). Here, an offset position refers to a position that is separated or does not overlap. With this configuration, heat transfer from the heating unit 121 to the battery terminal 183-1 can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to suppress the increase in contact resistance at the connection point between the battery terminal 183 and the electrode 171 as the temperature of the battery terminal 183-1 rises. Furthermore, it is desirable that the battery terminal 183-1 be positioned directly below the control circuit 180 or the charging circuit 181. With this configuration, the distance between the battery terminal 183-1 and the control circuit 180 and the charging circuit 181 can be minimized, thereby reducing power loss in the conductors.

[0059] The temperature sensor 184 is placed in the battery compartment 162. The temperature sensor 184 measures the temperature of the battery pack 170 housed in the battery compartment 162. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the temperature sensor 184 contacts the battery pack 170 housed in the battery compartment 162 and measures the surface temperature of the battery pack 170. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 184 may indirectly contact the battery pack 170 housed in the battery compartment 162 via a heat-conducting member, and may measure the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 via a heat-conducting member. The temperature sensor 184 may be, for example, a thermistor.

[0060] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the temperature sensor 184 is positioned on the left inner wall 167 of the battery compartment 162, which is the inner wall on the side in which the battery pack 170 is inserted. With this configuration, the temperature sensor 184 and the battery pack 170 only come into contact when the battery pack 170 is fully inserted. Therefore, friction between the temperature sensor 184 and the battery pack 170 during insertion and removal of the battery pack 170 is prevented, thereby suppressing displacement and failure of the temperature sensor 184.

[0061] The temperature sensor 184 is positioned close to (for example, directly or indirectly in contact with) the part of the surface of the battery pack 170 that is expected to become the hottest when the heating unit 121 is in operation. With this configuration, it is possible to improve the accuracy of various controls, which will be described later, based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 184.

[0062] It is desirable that the temperature sensor 184 be positioned close to the heating element 121 on the surface of the battery pack 170, rather than closer to the center of the battery pack 170. For example, as shown in Figure 3, if the battery pack 170 has a shape with its longitudinal direction in the vertical direction, it is desirable that the temperature sensor 184 be positioned so as to be in contact between the center of the battery pack 170 and the upper end of the battery pack 170 in the vertical direction. In the case of the battery pack 170 alone, the center is the hottest, so it is assumed that the part of the surface of the battery pack 170 closest to the center, i.e., the central part 179 in the vertical direction, will be the hottest on the surface of the battery pack 170. On the other hand, when the battery pack 170 is housed in the battery chamber 162, it is assumed that the temperature of the battery pack 170 will rise due to heat transfer from the heating element 121. Therefore, it is assumed that the part of the surface of the battery pack 170 between the central part 179 in the vertical direction and the upper end will be the hottest on the surface of the battery pack 170. In this respect, with this configuration, the temperature sensor 184 can detect the surface temperature of the part of the battery pack 170 that is expected to be the hottest.

[0063] Furthermore, the part of the battery pack 170 surface that becomes hottest when the heating unit 121 is operating is expected to vary depending on the specifications of the heating unit 121 and the battery pack 170, as well as the physical configuration of the suction device 100. Therefore, the part of the battery pack 170 surface that actually becomes hottest when the heating unit 121 is operating may be identified through experiments using an actual unit of the suction device 100, and a temperature sensor 184 may be placed at the identified location.

[0064] The opening / closing sensor 185 detects the opening and closing of the opening 164 by the lid 161. For example, the opening / closing sensor 185 may be configured as a magnetic detection type proximity sensor such as a Hall sensor, and the opening and closing of the lid 161 may be detected based on the presence or absence of a magnet corresponding to the lid 161. Alternatively, the opening / closing sensor 185 may detect the opening and closing of the lid 161 based on the presence or absence of power, or the presence or absence of light detection, etc. Furthermore, the suction device 100 may be provided with a physical button that is pressed when the lid 161 is attached, and the opening and closing of the lid 161 may be detected based on the pressed state of the physical button.

[0065] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the open / close sensor 185-1 may be positioned on the upper inner wall 165 of the battery compartment 162 at the location where the lid 161 is attached and detached. The open / close sensor 185-2 may be positioned on the lower inner wall 166 of the battery compartment 162 at the location where the lid 161 is attached and detached. The control circuit 180 may determine that the lid 161 is closed when both the open / close sensor 185-1 and the open / close sensor 185-2 detect proximity to the lid 161. On the other hand, the control circuit 180 may determine that the lid 161 is open when at least one of the open / close sensors 185-1 and the open / close sensor 185-2 detects separation from the lid 161.

[0066] The control circuit 180 controls the power supply from the battery pack 170 to the heating unit 121. In particular, the control circuit 180 can control the power supply from the battery pack 170 to the heating unit 121 based on the heating profile. The heating profile is control information for controlling the temperature at which the aerosol source is heated, and is, for example, information showing the time-series progression of the target temperature of the heating unit 121. The control circuit 180 controls the power supply to the heating unit 121 so that the temperature of the heating unit 121 progresses as defined in the heating profile. The heating profile is typically designed so that the flavor the user experiences when inhaling the aerosol generated from the stick-type substrate 150 is optimal. Therefore, by controlling the operation of the heating unit 121 based on the heating profile, the flavor the user experiences can be optimized.

[0067] The temperature of the heating unit 121 can be controlled by, for example, a known feedback control. The feedback control may be, for example, a PID control (Proportional-Integral-Differential Controller). The control unit 116 can supply power from the battery pack 170 to the heating unit 121 in the form of pulses obtained by pulse width modulation (PWM) or pulse frequency modulation (PFM). In this case, the control unit 116 can control the temperature of the heating unit 121 by adjusting the duty cycle of the power pulses in the feedback control.

[0068] The temperature of the heating section 121 can be quantified, for example, by measuring or estimating the electrical resistance of the heating section 121 (more precisely, the heat-generating resistor constituting the heating section 121). This is because the electrical resistance of the heat-generating resistor changes with temperature. The electrical resistance of the heat-generating resistor can be estimated, for example, by measuring the voltage drop across the heat-generating resistor. The voltage drop across the heat-generating resistor can be measured by a voltage sensor that measures the potential difference applied to the heat-generating resistor. In another example, the temperature of the heating section 121 can be measured by a temperature sensor, such as a thermistor, installed near the heating section 121.

[0069] The control circuit 180 controls the operation of the heating unit 121 based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 184. More specifically, the control circuit 180 may control whether or not heating is performed by the heating unit 121 based on the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184. For example, the control circuit 180 may allow heating by the heating unit 121 when the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184 is below a predetermined threshold, and prohibit heating by the heating unit 121 when it exceeds the predetermined threshold. Prohibiting heating here means stopping heating if heating is in progress, and not performing heating if heating is not in progress. In addition, the control circuit 180 may control the voltage applied to the heating unit 121 based on the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184. For example, if the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control circuit 180 may apply a lower voltage to the heating unit 121 compared to when it is below the predetermined threshold. Voltage control is a concept that includes not only control of the maximum voltage but also control of the duty cycle. This configuration allows the battery pack 170 to be operated at an appropriate temperature. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of various problems such as malfunctions caused by excessive overheating of the battery pack 170.

[0070] Furthermore, the control circuit 180 may estimate the maximum temperature of the battery pack 170 based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 184, and control the operation of the heating unit 121 based on the estimated maximum temperature of the battery pack 170. Specifically, the control circuit 180 may control whether or not heating is performed by the heating unit 121, or control the voltage applied to the heating unit 121, based on the estimated maximum temperature of the battery pack 170. The maximum temperature here may be the highest surface temperature of the battery pack 170, because the temperature sensor 184 may not necessarily be able to detect the highest surface temperature of the battery pack 170. Alternatively, the maximum temperature here may be the highest temperature of the entire battery pack 170, including not only the surface but also the interior, because the interior of the battery pack 170 can be hotter than the surface. As an example, the control circuit 180 may estimate the maximum temperature of the battery pack 170 by multiplying the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 184 by a constant, or by adding a constant. This constant can be determined by experiments using an actual suction device 100. This configuration allows the battery pack 170 to be operated at a more appropriate temperature.

[0071] The control circuit 180 may control the operation of the heating unit 121 based on the detection result from the open / close sensor 185. For example, the control circuit 180 may permit heating by the heating unit 121 only when the lid 161 is closed. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the user from directly touching the battery pack 170, which has become hot due to heating by the heating unit 121, thereby improving safety.

[0072] The charging circuit 181 controls the charging of the battery pack 170. The charging circuit 181 supplies power to the battery pack 170 from an external power source via the charging terminal 182. In doing so, the charging circuit 181 controls the voltage and current.

[0073] The charging circuit 181 may control the charging of the battery pack 170 based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 184. More specifically, the charging circuit 181 may control whether or not to charge the battery pack 170 based on the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184. For example, the charging circuit 181 may allow charging of the battery pack 170 when the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184 is below a predetermined threshold, and prohibit charging of the battery pack 170 when it exceeds the predetermined threshold. Prohibiting charging here means stopping charging if it is in progress, and not performing charging if it is not in progress. In addition, the charging circuit 181 may control the voltage applied to the battery pack 170 based on the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184. For example, if the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the charging circuit 181 may apply a lower voltage to the battery pack 170 compared to when it is below the predetermined threshold. This configuration allows the battery pack 170 to be operated at an appropriate temperature. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of various problems such as malfunctions caused by excessive overheating of the battery pack 170.

[0074] Furthermore, the charging circuit 181 may control the charging of the battery pack 170 based on the highest temperature of the battery pack 170 estimated based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 184. With such a configuration, it becomes possible to operate the battery pack 170 at a more appropriate temperature.

[0075] The charging circuit 181 may control the charging of the battery pack 170 based on the detection result from the open / close sensor 185. For example, the charging circuit 181 may permit charging of the battery pack 170 only when the lid 161 is closed. With such a configuration, it is possible to improve safety by preventing the user from directly touching the battery pack 170, which has become hotter due to charging.

[0076] The charging terminal 182 accepts power supplied from an external power source to charge the battery pack 170. More specifically, the charging terminal 182 is an interface between the charging circuit 181 and the external power source that supplies power to charge the battery pack 170 housed in the battery compartment 162. For example, the charging terminal 182 may be a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port. The charging terminal 182 may also be connected to a USB cable, and power may be supplied from a power outlet via the USB cable.

[0077] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, it is desirable that the charging terminal 182 be positioned above the battery compartment 162. In other words, it is desirable that the charging terminal 182 be positioned in the same direction as the housing 140 when viewed from the battery compartment 162, and offset from the housing 140 in the left-right (or front-back) direction. Typically, the battery pack 170 is made larger than the housing 140 in order to ensure a longer operating time. In this regard, by offsetting the battery compartment 162 and the charging terminal 182 in the vertical direction, it becomes possible to make the suction device 100 thinner and easier to hold compared to the case where the charging terminal 182 and the battery compartment 162 are positioned overlapping in the vertical direction. That is, it becomes possible to miniaturize the suction device 100.

[0078] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, it is desirable that the charging terminal 182 be positioned offset from the heating unit 121 in the left-right (or front-back) direction. Specifically, the charging terminal 182 may be provided on the right side of the top surface 102 of the housing 160, opposite to the heating unit 121 which is provided on the left side. With this configuration, heat transfer from the heating unit 121 to the charging terminal 182 can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to prevent damage to the charging terminal 182 due to the rise in temperature of the charging terminal 182.

[0079] <3. Supplement> While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the attached drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear to any person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains that various modifications or alterations may be conceived within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and these will naturally be understood to fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0080] (1) First variation Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the first modified example. As shown in Figure 5, the suction device 100 according to this modified example has a hinge mechanism 168 that rotates the lid 161. The lid 161 may open and close the opening 164 by rotating. As shown in Figure 5, when the hinge mechanism 168 is positioned on the upper side, the opening / closing sensor 185-1 may be omitted, and only the opening / closing sensor 185-2 may be provided. The control circuit 180 may determine that the lid 161 is closed when the opening / closing sensor 185-2 detects proximity to the lid 161, and determine that the lid 161 is open when the opening / closing sensor 185-2 detects distance from the lid 161.

[0081] Of course, the mechanism by which the lid 161 opens and closes the opening 164 is not limited to attachment / detachment and rotation. The lid 161 may also open and close the opening 164 by other actions such as sliding.

[0082] (2) Second variation Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a second modified example. As shown in Figure 6, the positions of the control circuit 180, the charging circuit 181, and the charging terminal 182, and the positions of the housing 140 and the heating unit 121 may be reversed in the left-right direction compared to the embodiment described with reference to Figures 2 to 4.

[0083] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the battery terminal 183-1 may be located on the left inner wall 167 of the battery chamber 162, or it may be connected to the electrode 171-1 located on the right side of the battery pack 170. With this configuration, the distance between the electrode 171-1 and the battery terminal 183-1 and the heating unit 121 can be made longer compared to the case where the battery terminal 183-1 is located on the upper inner wall 165 of the battery chamber 162. As a result, heat transfer from the heating unit 121 to the electrode 171-1 and the battery terminal 183-1 can be suppressed. Similar to the battery terminal 183-1, the battery terminal 183-2 may be located on the left inner wall 167 of the battery chamber 162, or it may be connected to the electrode 171-2 located on the right side of the battery pack 170. When the battery terminal 183 is located on the left inner wall 167 of the battery chamber 162, the battery terminal 183 and the battery pack 170 will only come into contact when the battery pack 170 is fully inserted. Therefore, friction between the battery terminals 183 and the battery pack 170 during insertion and removal of the battery pack 170 is prevented, thereby suppressing deterioration of the battery terminals 183.

[0084] The positions of each component of the suction device 100 are not limited to the examples shown in Figures 2 to 4 or the example shown in Figure 6, and can be changed as appropriate.

[0085] (3) Third variation Figure 7 illustrates a third modified example. As shown in Figure 7, the suction device 100 may have a plurality of temperature sensors 184 (184-1 to 184-5). In this case, the control circuit 180 may control the operation of the heating unit 121 based on the highest temperature detected by the plurality of temperature sensors 184. In particular, it is desirable that the plurality of temperature sensors 184 be arranged spaced apart from each other while in contact with the battery pack 170 in the range between the vertical central portion 179 and the upper end of the surface of the battery pack 170. This is because the part of the surface of the battery pack 170 closest to the center is considered to be in this range. However, it is desirable that at least one temperature sensor 184-5 be placed in the vertical central portion 179 of the surface of the battery pack 170. Of course, the charging circuit 181 may also control the charging of the battery pack 170 based on the highest temperature detected by the plurality of temperature sensors 184. These measures make it possible to operate the battery pack 170 at a more appropriate temperature.

[0086] (4) Supplementary information regarding air passages The following provides supplementary information regarding the airflow path through the suction device 100 in conjunction with the user's puffing action, referring to Figures 8 to 10.

[0087] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an airflow path in the suction device 100. The configuration of the suction device 100 shown in Figure 8 is as described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. In the example shown in Figure 8, when the user holds the stick-type substrate 150 in their mouth and performs puffing, air flows along the airflow path 190-1. That is, the air passes sequentially through the opening 142, the gap between the stick-type substrate 150 and the housing 140, the tip of the stick-type substrate 150, and the inside of the stick-type substrate 150, reaching the user's mouth along with the aerosol generated in the stick-type substrate 150. This type of airflow is also called counterflow.

[0088] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating another example of the airflow path in the suction device 100. The suction device 100 shown in Figure 9 is provided with a first through-hole 104 with the bottom 143 of the housing section 140 and the upper inner wall 165 of the battery compartment 162 at both ends. The first through-hole 104 connects the internal space 141 of the housing section 140 and the internal space 163 of the battery compartment 162. Furthermore, the suction device 100 is provided with a second through-hole 105 with the lower inner wall 166 of the battery compartment 162 and the bottom surface 103 of the suction device 100 at both ends. The second through-hole 105 connects the internal space 163 of the battery compartment 162 to the outside. In the example shown in Figure 9, when the user holds the stick-type substrate 150 in their mouth and performs puffing, air flows along the airflow path 190-2. In other words, the air passes sequentially through the second through-hole 105, the gap between the battery chamber 162 and the battery pack 170, the first through-hole 104, the tip of the stick-shaped substrate 150, and the inside of the stick-shaped substrate 150, reaching the user's mouth along with the aerosol generated in the stick-shaped substrate 150. With this configuration, as the puffing action brings in cold air from outside, it becomes possible to cool the battery pack 170, which has been heated by the heating unit 121.

[0089] However, as shown in Figure 9, it is desirable that a partition wall 107 be provided around the temperature sensor 184, surrounding the temperature sensor 184 and in contact with the battery pack 170. With this configuration, the partition wall 107 can isolate the temperature sensor 184 from the air passage 190-2. As a result, it is possible to prevent the cold outside air that flows into the battery chamber 162 due to puffing from coming into contact with the temperature sensor 184, which would cause the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 184 to drop unduly.

[0090] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of the airflow path in the suction device 100. The suction device 100 shown in Figure 10 is provided with a third through-hole 106 with the bottom 143 of the housing 140 and the side of the suction device 100 at both ends. In the example shown in Figure 10, when the user holds the stick-type substrate 150 in their mouth and performs puffing, air flows along the airflow path 190-3. That is, the air passes sequentially through the third through-hole 106, the tip of the stick-type substrate 150, and the inside of the stick-type substrate 150, and reaches the user's mouth together with the aerosol generated in the stick-type substrate 150.

[0091] (5) Others The suction device 100 is an example of an aerosol generation system that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source. As described above, the battery pack 170 is configured to be detachably attached to the suction device 100. The main body 101 of the suction device 100, excluding the battery pack 170, may be considered as an aerosol generation system, or the entire suction device 100, including the battery pack 170, may be considered as an aerosol generation system. Alternatively, the combination of the suction device 100 and the stick-type substrate 150 may be considered as an aerosol generation system.

[0092] The heating unit 121 described above is an example of a load that generates energy to heat the aerosol source contained in the stick-shaped substrate 150 housed in the containment unit 140. The load may be a resistance heating type heating unit 121 as described above. Alternatively, when the suction device 100 heats the aerosol source by induction heating, an electromagnetic induction source such as an induction coil corresponds to the load.

[0093] As described above, the direction in which the stick-type substrate 150 is inserted and removed and the direction in which the battery pack 170 is inserted and removed may be orthogonal, but this disclosure is not limited to such examples. The direction in which the stick-type substrate 150 is inserted and removed and the direction in which the battery pack 170 is inserted and removed may be substantially orthogonal.

[0094] The above describes an example in which the charging terminal 182 is provided on the top surface 102 of the housing 160, but this disclosure is not limited to such an example. The charging terminal 182 may also be provided on the side of the battery pack 170. For example, if the heating unit 121 is provided on the left side, it is desirable that the charging terminal 182 be provided on the right side, which is opposite to the heating unit 121. This configuration also makes it possible to suppress heat transfer from the heating unit 121 to the charging terminal 182.

[0095] The above describes an example in which the temperature sensor 184 is located on the left inner wall 167, but this disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, the temperature sensor 184 may be located inside the lid 161, which is the inner wall of the battery compartment 162 on the side in which the battery pack 170 is removed. With this configuration, the temperature sensor 184 and the battery pack 170 come into contact only when the battery pack 170 is fully inserted and the lid 161 is closed. Therefore, friction between the temperature sensor 184 and the battery pack 170 during insertion and removal of the battery pack 170 is prevented, thereby suppressing displacement and failure of the temperature sensor 184.

[0096] The above describes an example in which the battery chamber 162 defines a rectangular internal space 163, but the disclosure is not limited to such an example. The inner walls of the internal space 163 do not necessarily have to be planar, but may be curved.

[0097] The series of processes performed by each device described herein may be implemented using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The programs constituting the software are pre-stored on a recording medium (more specifically, a non-temporary storage medium readable by a computer) provided inside or outside each device. Each program is then loaded into RAM when executed by a computer controlling each device described herein, and executed by a processing circuit such as a CPU. The recording medium is, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or flash memory. The computer program may also be distributed via a network, for example, without using a recording medium. The computer may be an application-specific integrated circuit such as an ASIC, a general-purpose processor that performs functions by loading software programs, or a computer on a server used for cloud computing. Furthermore, the series of processes performed by each device described herein may be centrally processed by a single computer or distributed among multiple computers. In addition, in each of the above embodiments, two or more communication means present in a single device may be implemented on a single physical medium.

[0098] Furthermore, the processes described herein using flowcharts or sequence diagrams do not necessarily have to be executed in the order shown. Some processing steps may be executed in parallel. Additional processing steps may be adopted, and some processing steps may be omitted.

[0099] Furthermore, the following configurations also fall within the technical scope of this disclosure. (1) A first containment section for containing a substrate containing an aerosol source, A load that generates energy for heating the aerosol source contained in the substrate housed in the first containment section, A second housing section housing a battery that supplies power to the aforementioned load, A temperature sensor is placed in the second housing and measures the temperature of the battery housed in the second housing, A control unit that controls the operation of the load based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, Equipped with, The first housing section has a first opening and houses the base material so that it can be inserted in a first direction and withdrawn in a second direction through the first opening. The second housing has a second opening and houses the battery so that it can be inserted in a third direction and removed in a fourth direction through the second opening. The temperature sensor is positioned on the inner wall of the second housing on the third or fourth direction side. Aerosol generation system. (2) The temperature sensor is positioned close to the part of the battery surface that is expected to become the hottest when the load is in operation. The aerosol generation system described in (1) above. (3) The temperature sensor is positioned so as to be closer to the load than to the center of the battery surface. The aerosol generation system described in (2) above. (4) The control unit estimates the maximum temperature of the battery based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and controls the operation of the load based on the estimated maximum temperature of the battery. An aerosol generation system according to any one of the above items (1) to (3). (5) The aerosol generation system comprises a plurality of temperature sensors, The control unit controls the operation of the load based on the highest temperature among the temperatures detected by the multiple temperature sensors. The aerosol generation system described in (4) above. (6) The second housing further includes a lid that opens and closes the second opening, The lid opens and closes the second opening by being attached to or detached, or by being rotated. An aerosol generation system according to any one of the above items (1) to (5). (7) The aerosol generation system further includes an opening / closing sensor that detects the opening and closing of the second opening by the lid, The control unit controls the operation of the load based on the detection result from the opening / closing sensor. The aerosol generation system described in (6) above. (8) The control unit controls the charging of the battery based on the detection result from the open / close sensor. The aerosol generation system described in (7) above. (9) The aerosol generation system includes terminals that are electrically connected to the battery, The control unit is positioned on the second side of the second housing unit, The terminal is positioned on the inner wall of the second housing on the second direction side, at a position offset from the load in the third or fourth direction. An aerosol generation system according to any one of the above items (1) to (8). (10) The aerosol generation system includes terminals that are electrically connected to the battery, The aforementioned terminal is constructed as an elastic body. An aerosol generation system according to any one of the above items (1) to (9). (11) The aerosol generation system is A first through-hole that connects the internal space of the first housing and the internal space of the second housing, The second through-hole connects the internal space of the second housing to the outside, Furthermore, An aerosol generation system according to any one of the above items (1) to (10). (12) The aerosol generation system is The device further includes a charging terminal that accepts power supplied from an external power source for charging the battery, The charging terminal is positioned on the second side of the second housing portion. An aerosol generation system according to any one of the above items (1) to (11). (13) The first and second directions and the third and fourth directions are orthogonal or substantially orthogonal. An aerosol generation system according to any one of the above items (1) to (12). (14) The aerosol generation system further comprises the battery, An aerosol generation system according to any one of the above items (1) to (11). (15) The aerosol generation system further comprises the substrate, An aerosol generation system according to any one of the above items (1) to (12). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0100] 100 Suction device 101 Main Unit 102 Top surface 103 Bottom 104 First through hole 105 Second through hole 106 Third through hole 107 Bulkhead 111 Power supply section 112 Sensor section 113 Notification Department 114 Storage section 115 Communications Department 116 Control Unit 121 Heating section 140 storage units 141 Interior space 142 Aperture 143 Bottom 150 Stick-type base material 151 Base material part 152 Mouthpiece 160 Housing 161 Lid 162 Battery Room 163 Interior space 164 Aperture 165 Upper inner wall 166 Lower inner wall 167 Left interior wall 168 Hinge Mechanism 170 Battery Pack 171 Electrode 180 Control circuits 181 Charging circuit 182 Charging terminal 183 Battery terminal 184 Temperature Sensor 185 Open / Close Sensor 190 Airflow channel

Claims

1. A first containment section for containing a substrate containing an aerosol source, A load that generates energy for heating the aerosol source contained in the substrate housed in the first containment section, A second housing section housing a battery that supplies power to the aforementioned load, A temperature sensor is placed in the second housing and measures the temperature of the battery housed in the second housing, A control unit that controls the operation of the load based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, Equipped with, The first housing section has a first opening and houses the base material so that it can be inserted in a first direction and withdrawn in a second direction through the first opening. The second housing has a second opening and houses the battery so that it can be inserted in a third direction and removed in a fourth direction through the second opening. The temperature sensor is positioned on the inner wall of the second housing on the third or fourth direction side. Aerosol generation system.

2. The temperature sensor is positioned close to the part of the battery surface that is expected to become the hottest when the load is in operation. The aerosol generation system according to claim 1.

3. The temperature sensor is positioned so as to be closer to the load than to the center of the battery surface. The aerosol generation system according to claim 2.

4. The control unit estimates the maximum temperature of the battery based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and controls the operation of the load based on the estimated maximum temperature of the battery. An aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The aerosol generation system comprises a plurality of temperature sensors, The control unit controls the operation of the load based on the highest temperature among the temperatures detected by the multiple temperature sensors. The aerosol generation system according to claim 4.

6. The second housing further includes a lid that opens and closes the second opening, The lid opens and closes the second opening by being attached to or detached, or by being rotated. An aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. The aerosol generation system further includes an opening / closing sensor that detects the opening and closing of the second opening by the lid, The control unit controls the operation of the load based on the detection result from the opening / closing sensor. The aerosol generation system according to claim 6.

8. The control unit controls the charging of the battery based on the detection result from the open / close sensor. The aerosol generation system according to claim 7.

9. The aerosol generation system includes terminals that are electrically connected to the battery, The control unit is positioned on the second side of the second housing unit, The terminal is positioned on the inner wall of the second housing on the second direction side at a location offset from the load in the third or fourth direction. An aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

10. The aerosol generation system includes terminals that are electrically connected to the battery, The aforementioned terminal is constructed as an elastic body. An aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

11. The aerosol generation system is A first through-hole that connects the internal space of the first housing and the internal space of the second housing, The second through-hole connects the internal space of the second housing to the outside, Furthermore, An aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

12. The aerosol generation system is The device further includes a charging terminal that accepts power supplied from an external power source for charging the battery, The charging terminal is positioned on the second side of the second housing portion. An aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

13. The first and second directions and the third and fourth directions are orthogonal or substantially orthogonal. An aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

14. The aerosol generation system further comprises the battery, An aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

15. The aerosol generation system further comprises the substrate, An aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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