Aerosol generation system and information processing method

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a mechanism capable of further improving the quality of user experience. [Solution] Provided is an aerosol generation system provided with: a storage unit that has an internal space and an opening through which the internal space is communicated with the outside; at least one detection unit that emits light toward the internal space and detects received reflected light; and a control unit that determines whether or not an article inserted into the storage unit is a base material containing an aerosol source on the basis of the intensities of a plurality of reflected lights detected by the at least one detection unit.

Description

Aerosol generating system and information processing method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating system and an information processing method.

[0002] Inhalation devices, such as electronic cigarettes and nebulizers, that generate substances to be inhaled by users are widely used. For example, inhalation devices generate aerosols containing flavor components using a substrate containing an aerosol source for generating aerosols and a flavor source for imparting flavor components to the generated aerosol. Users can enjoy the flavor by inhaling the flavor-imparted aerosol generated by the inhalation device. The action of a user inhaling an aerosol is hereinafter also referred to as a puff or a puffing action.

[0003] Various technologies have been developed with the aim of further improving the quality of the user experience when using such suction devices. For example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a technology that emits light, detects the phosphorescence characteristics of the reflected light, and controls the operation of the suction device based on the detection results.

[0004] Special table 2019-528710 publication

[0005] As disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, temperature control when heating the substrate can contribute to improving the flavor. In addition, cleaning the suction device also contributes to improving the flavor. However, the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 does not mention anything about cleaning the suction device.

[0006] Therefore, the present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a mechanism that can further improve the quality of the user experience.

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generation system is provided, comprising: a storage section having an internal space and an opening connecting the internal space to the outside; one or more detection sections that emit light into the internal space and detect the received reflected light; and a control section that determines whether an item inserted into the storage section is a substrate containing an aerosol source based on the intensities of multiple reflected lights detected by the one or more detection sections.

[0008] The aerosol generating system may further include a heating unit that heats the substrate contained in the storage unit, and the control unit may control the operation of the heating unit based on the determination result of whether the item inserted in the storage unit is the substrate.

[0009] The control unit may start heating by the heating unit when it determines that the article inserted in the storage unit is the base material.

[0010] The control unit may allow heating by the heating unit when it determines that the item inserted in the storage unit is the substrate, and may prohibit heating by the heating unit when it determines that the item inserted in the storage unit is not the substrate.

[0011] The aerosol generation system may include two of the detection units, and the two detection units may be arranged at different positions from each other.

[0012] The control unit may operate the two detection units at different timings.

[0013] The control unit may operate one of the two detection units and put the other into sleep mode.

[0014] The two detection units may be disposed at different positions in the insertion direction of the base material.

[0015] The two detection units may be arranged at positions where they at least partially overlap each other in the insertion direction of the base material.

[0016] The two detection sections may be arranged at a distance equal to or greater than the diameter of the thickest part of an article other than the substrate that is expected to be inserted into the storage section.

[0017] The two detectors may be arranged at positions where the angle formed by the light emission directions is 90 degrees or more and 270 degrees or less on a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the base material.

[0018] The two detectors may be arranged at positions where the light emission directions form an angle of 180 degrees on a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the base material.

[0019] The control unit may determine whether the article inserted into the storage unit is the base material based on a plurality of intensities of reflected light detected at different times by the same detection unit.

[0020] The aerosol generating system may further comprise at least one of the substrate and an item other than the substrate that is intended to be inserted into the storage portion.

[0021] In addition, in order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing method executed by a computer, which includes emitting light into the internal space of a storage section having an internal space and an opening connecting the internal space to the outside, and determining whether an item inserted into the storage section is a substrate containing an aerosol source based on the intensities of multiple reflected lights detected by one or more detection sections that detect the received reflected light.

[0022] As described above, the present disclosure provides a mechanism that can further improve the quality of the user experience.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a suction device; FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of a suction device according to the present embodiment; FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of a suction device according to the present embodiment holding a stick-shaped substrate; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration in the vicinity of a storage unit of a suction device according to the present embodiment; FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing in detail the configuration in the vicinity of an optical sensor unit of a suction device according to the present embodiment; FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the optical sensor unit in a suction device according to the present embodiment; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the optical sensor unit on a time axis; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a cotton swab according to the present embodiment; FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the state of a storage unit with a stick-shaped substrate inserted, viewed from the open side (i.e., above); FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the state of a storage unit with a cotton swab inserted, viewed from the open side (i.e., above);

[0024] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0025] Furthermore, in this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functional configuration may be distinguished by adding different letters after the same reference numeral. For example, multiple elements having substantially the same functional configuration may be distinguished as necessary, such as optical sensor unit 170A and optical sensor unit 170B. However, if there is no need to particularly distinguish between multiple elements having substantially the same functional configuration, only the same reference numeral may be used. For example, if there is no need to particularly distinguish between optical sensor unit 170A and optical sensor unit 170B, they will simply be referred to as optical sensor unit 170.

[0026] 1. Configuration Example of Suction Device (1) Internal Configuration Example Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration example of a suction device. As shown in Fig. 1, a suction device 100 according to this configuration example 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 storage unit 140, and a heat insulating unit 144.

[0027] The power supply unit 111 stores electric power and supplies electric power to each component of the suction device 100 under the control of the control unit 116. The power supply unit 111 may be configured by, for example, a rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery.

[0028] The sensor unit 112 acquires various types of information related to the suction device 100. As one example, the sensor unit 112 is configured with a pressure sensor such as a condenser microphone, a flow rate sensor, a temperature sensor, or the like, and acquires values ​​associated with suction by the user. As another example, the sensor unit 112 is configured with an input device such as a button or a switch that accepts information input from the user.

[0029] The notification unit 113 notifies the user of information. The notification unit 113 is configured by, for example, a light emitting device that emits light, a display device that displays an image, a sound output device that outputs sound, or a vibration device that vibrates.

[0030] The storage unit 114 stores various types of information for the operation of the suction device 100. The storage unit 114 is configured by a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash memory, for example.

[0031] The communication unit 115 is a communication interface capable of performing communication conforming to any wired or wireless communication standard, such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy (registered trademark)), NFC (Near Field Communication), or LPWA (Low Power Wide Area).

[0032] The control unit 116 functions as an arithmetic processing unit and a control unit, and controls the overall operation of the suction device 100 in accordance with various programs. The control unit 116 is realized by an electronic circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microprocessor.

[0033] The storage unit 140 has an internal space 141 and holds the stick-shaped substrate 150 while accommodating a portion of the stick-shaped substrate 150 in the internal space 141. The storage unit 140 has an opening 142 that connects the internal space 141 to the outside and accommodates the stick-shaped substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 141 through the opening 142. For example, the storage unit 140 is a cylindrical body with the opening 142 and a bottom 143 as its bottom surface, and defines a columnar internal space 141. An air flow path that supplies air to the internal space 141 is connected to the storage unit 140. An air inlet, which is an air inlet to the air flow path, is arranged, for example, on a side surface of the suction device 100. An air outlet, which is an air outlet from the air flow path to the internal space 141, is arranged, for example, on the bottom 143.

[0034] The stick-shaped substrate 150 includes a substrate portion 151 and a mouthpiece portion 152. The substrate portion 151 includes an aerosol source. The aerosol source includes a tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor component. When the inhalation device 100 is a medical inhaler such as a nebulizer, the aerosol source may include a medicament. The aerosol source may be, for example, a liquid such as a polyhydric alcohol, such as glycerin or propylene glycol, or water, containing a tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor component, or a solid containing a tobacco-derived or non-tobacco-derived flavor component. When the stick-shaped substrate 150 is held in the storage portion 140, at least a portion of the substrate portion 151 is housed in the internal space 141, and at least a portion of the mouthpiece portion 152 protrudes from the opening 142. When a user holds the mouthpiece portion 152 protruding from the opening 142 in their mouth and inhales, air flows into the internal space 141 via an air flow path (not shown) and reaches the user's mouth along with the aerosol generated from the substrate portion 151.

[0035] The heating unit 121 generates aerosol by heating the aerosol source and atomizing the aerosol source. In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the heating unit 121 is configured in a film shape and is arranged to cover the outer periphery of the storage unit 140. When the heating unit 121 generates heat, the substrate unit 151 of the stick-shaped substrate 150 is heated from the outer periphery, generating aerosol. The heating unit 121 generates heat when power is supplied from the power supply unit 111. As an 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 supply may be stopped when the sensor unit 112 detects that the user has stopped inhaling and / or that predetermined information has been input.

[0036] 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 heat insulating material, an aerogel heat insulating material, or the like.

[0037] The above describes an example of the configuration of the suction device 100. Of course, the configuration of the suction device 100 is not limited to the above, and various configurations such as those exemplified below may be used.

[0038] As one example, the heating unit 121 may be configured in a blade shape and disposed so as to protrude from the bottom 143 of the storage unit 140 into the internal space 141. In this case, the blade-shaped heating unit 121 is inserted into the substrate 151 of the stick-shaped substrate 150 and heats the substrate 151 of the stick-shaped substrate 150 from the inside. As another example, the heating unit 121 may be disposed so as to cover the bottom 143 of the storage unit 140. Furthermore, the heating unit 121 may be configured as a combination of two or more of a first heating unit covering the outer periphery of the storage unit 140, a blade-shaped second heating unit, and a third heating unit covering the bottom 143 of the storage unit 140.

[0039] As another example, the storage unit 140 may include an opening / closing mechanism such as a hinge that opens and closes a portion of the outer shell that forms the internal space 141. The storage unit 140 may then open and close the outer shell to hold and store the stick-shaped substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 141. In this case, the heating unit 121 may be provided at the holding location in the storage unit 140, and may heat the stick-shaped substrate 150 while pressing it.

[0040] 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.

[0041] The inhalation device 100 and the stick-shaped substrate 150 may be considered to cooperate with each other to form an aerosol generating system that generates an aerosol. Alternatively, the inhalation device 100 may be considered to include the stick-shaped substrate 150.

[0042] (2) Exterior Configuration Example Fig. 2 is an overall perspective view of the suction device 100 according to this embodiment. Fig. 3 is an overall perspective view of the suction device 100 according to this embodiment in a state in which a stick-shaped substrate 150 is held.

[0043] 2 and 3 , the inhalation device 100 includes a top housing 11A, a bottom housing 11B, a cover 12, a switch 13, a lid portion 14, a vent 15, and a cap 16. The top housing 11A and the bottom housing 11B are connected to each other to form the outermost housing 11 of the inhalation device 100. The outer housing 11 is sized to fit in a user's hand. When using the inhalation device 100, the user can hold the inhalation device 100 in their hand and inhale the flavor.

[0044] The top housing 11A has an opening (not shown), and the cover 12 is coupled to the top housing 11A to close the opening. As shown in Fig. 3, the cover 12 has an opening 142 into which the stick-shaped substrate 150 can be inserted. The lid portion 14 is configured to open and close the opening 142 of the cover 12.

[0045] The switch 13 is used to switch the operation of the inhalation device 100 on and off. For example, as shown in FIG. 3 , a user can insert the stick-shaped substrate 150 into the internal space 141 through the opening 142 and operate the switch 13 to supply power from the power supply unit 111 to the heating unit 121, thereby heating the stick-shaped substrate 150 without burning it. When the stick-shaped substrate 150 is heated, an aerosol is generated from the aerosol source contained in the stick-shaped substrate 150, and the flavor of the flavor source is absorbed into the aerosol. The user can inhale the aerosol containing the flavor by sucking on the portion of the stick-shaped substrate 150 protruding from the inhalation device 100 (the portion shown in FIG. 3 , i.e., the mouthpiece portion 152).

[0046] The vent 15 is a vent for introducing air into the internal space 141. The air taken into the interior of the suction device 100 through the vent 15 is introduced into the internal space 141, for example, from the bottom 143 of the storage section 140. The cap 16 is configured to be detachable from the bottom housing 11B. By attaching the cap 16 to the bottom housing 11B, the vent 15 is formed between the bottom housing 11B and the cap 16. The cap 16 may have, for example, a through-hole or a notch (not shown).

[0047] 2. Technical Features (1) Detailed Configuration Near the Storage Unit 140 Figure 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration near the storage unit 140 of the suction device 100 according to this embodiment. Figure 4 schematically illustrates a state in which the stick-shaped substrate 150 is stored in the storage unit 140. As shown in Figure 4, the suction device 100 includes a lid 14, a lower stick storage unit 140A, a guide unit 140B, an opening 142, a bottom 143, an optical sensor unit 170, and a circuit board 172. The direction in which the stick-shaped substrate 150 is inserted into or removed from the suction device 100 is also referred to as the up-down direction. The insertion direction of the stick-shaped substrate 150 is referred to as the down direction, and the removal direction of the stick-shaped substrate 150 is referred to as the up direction.

[0048] The stick lower storage section 140A is a cylindrical body with a bottom that constitutes a part of the bottom 143 side of the storage section 140. The stick lower storage section 140A stores a part of the bottom 143 side of the stick-shaped substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 141 from the opening 142.

[0049] The guide part 140B is a cylindrical body with openings on both ends that constitutes a portion of the accommodation part 140 on the opening 142 side. The guide part 140B accommodates the portion of the stick-shaped substrate 150 that is inserted into the internal space 141 from the opening 142 and that is accommodated in the accommodation part 140, but that is not accommodated in the lower stick accommodation part 140A. Furthermore, the guide part 140B functions as a guide to facilitate the insertion of the stick-shaped substrate 150 into the lower stick accommodation part 140A. For example, the guide part 140B may be configured with a larger diameter than the lower stick accommodation part 140A, or may be configured in a funnel shape with a diameter that gradually decreases from top to bottom.

[0050] The optical sensor unit 170 emits light into the internal space 141 and detects the received reflected light. The optical sensor unit 170 is an example of a detection unit in this embodiment and is included in the sensor unit 112. The optical sensor unit 170 is, for example, an integrated circuit (IC) equipped with an infrared proximity sensor. In this case, the optical sensor unit 170 emits infrared light into the internal space 141 and detects the infrared light reflected by a detected object such as an object contained in the internal space 141 or the inner wall of the container unit 140.

[0051] The optical sensor unit 170 is disposed in a location where it can emit light into the internal space 141. For example, the optical sensor unit 170 is disposed in the guide unit 140B. Specifically, the optical sensor unit 170 is embedded in the guide unit 140B. The optical sensor unit 170 detects light reflected by an object housed in the internal space 141 or a detected object such as the inner wall of the guide unit 140B.

[0052] Here, the heating unit 121 is arranged so as to cover the outer periphery of the lower stick housing portion 140A. On the other hand, the heating unit 121 is not arranged on the outer periphery of the guide portion 140B. Furthermore, the guide portion 140B may be made of a material with lower thermal conductivity than the material making up the lower stick housing portion 140A. Therefore, the optical sensor unit 170 can perform optical detection without being affected by the heating of the stick-shaped substrate 150.

[0053] The inner wall of the guide portion 140B may be black. By making the inner wall of the guide portion 140B black, it is possible to suppress reflection of the light emitted by the optical sensor portion 170. Considering that the stick-shaped substrate 150 may be configured in a color that reflects light relatively easily, such as white, it is possible to make a large difference in the intensity of the reflected light between when the stick-shaped substrate 150 is inserted and when it is not.

[0054] The circuit board 172 is a board on which the optical sensor unit 170 is mounted. The circuit board 172 is, for example, a flexible printed circuit (FPC) circuit. The circuit board 172 is connected to the control unit 116 by, for example, a connector or solder.

[0055] 5 is a schematic diagram showing in detail the configuration of the vicinity of the optical sensor unit 170 of the suction device 100 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the suction device 100 further includes a light transmission filter 173 and a reinforcing plate 174.

[0056] The light-transmitting filter 173 transmits light emitted by the optical sensor unit 170. For example, if the optical sensor unit 170 is an infrared proximity sensor, the light-transmitting filter 173 is an infrared-transmitting filter. The material of the light-transmitting filter 173 is not particularly limited and may be resin or glass, or a transparent resin coated with a light-transmitting coating. The light-transmitting filter 173 may be colored. By coloring the light-transmitting filter 173, it is possible to conceal the optical sensor unit 170 from the outside. A hole 140Bb is formed in the inner wall 140Ba of the guide unit 140B, and the optical sensor unit 170 is disposed so as to be embedded in the hole 140Bb. The light-transmitting filter 173 is disposed so as to close the hole 140Bb, forming the inner wall 140Ba of the guide unit 140B. This configuration allows the inner wall 140Ba of the guide unit 140B to be smooth. Furthermore, the light transmitting filter 173 can maintain airtightness so that sidestream smoke and the like flowing in from outside the stick does not come into contact with the optical sensor section 170 .

[0057] The clearance 175 is a gap provided between the stick-shaped substrate 150 accommodated in the accommodation section 140 and the inner wall 140Ba of the guide section 140B. The clearance 175 may be provided so that the distance between the stick-shaped substrate 150 and the inner wall 140Ba of the guide section 140B is 1 to 2 mm.

[0058] The reinforcing plate 174 is a plate-like member having a predetermined rigidity. The reinforcing plate 174 is disposed so as to cover the back side of the circuit board 172 on the front side of which the optical sensor unit 170 is disposed, and reinforces the optical sensor unit 170 and the circuit board 172.

[0059] 6 is a schematic diagram of the accommodation unit 140 of the suction device 100 according to this embodiment, viewed from the opening 142 side (i.e., from above). As shown in FIG. 6, the suction device 100 may have two optical sensors 170 (170A and 170B). The optical sensors 170A and 170B are arranged at a distance L. Ｄ The direction 171A in which the optical sensor unit 170A emits light (hereinafter also referred to as the radiation direction 171A) and the direction 171B in which the optical sensor unit 170B emits light (hereinafter also referred to as the radiation direction 171B) form an angle θ on a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. By having a plurality of optical sensor units 170, the suction device 100 can further determine an appropriate distance L Ｄ By setting an appropriate angle θ, it becomes possible to more accurately determine the article inserted into the storage unit 140. The determination process using the optical sensor unit 170 will be described in detail later.

[0060] (2) Configuration of Optical Sensor Unit 170 Next, the configuration of the optical sensor unit 170 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the optical sensor unit 170 in the suction device 100 according to this embodiment.

[0061] 7, the optical sensor unit 170 includes a light emitting unit 176, a light receiving unit 177, a detection storage unit 178, and a detection control unit 179. The optical sensor unit 170 is connected to the control unit 116. The optical sensor unit 170 operates under the control of the control unit 116.

[0062] The light-emitting unit 176 emits light into the internal space 141. The light-emitting unit 176 is configured with a light-emitting element such as an LD (Laser Diode) or an LED (Light Emitting Diode). In this embodiment, the light-emitting unit 176 is an infrared LD and emits infrared light. The light-receiving unit 177 detects reflected light of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 176. The infrared light emitted by the light-emitting unit 176 may be a VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser). The operation of the light-emitting unit 176 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 8 .

[0063] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the optical sensor unit 170 on a time axis. The horizontal axis of FIG. 8 represents time, with time flowing from left to right. The vertical axis of FIG. 8 represents the intensity of light emitted by the light-emitting unit 176. As shown in FIG. 8, the light-emitting unit 176 emits pulsed light at a predetermined cycle. This cycle is also referred to as the operation cycle. After emitting pulsed light three times, the light-emitting unit 176 stops emitting light during a processing time and an intermittent operation time. The processing time is the time during which processing is performed based on the reflected light detected by the light-receiving unit 177. The intermittent operation time is the time until the next pulsed light is emitted. The light-emitting unit 176 repeatedly performs a series of operations, including pulsed light emission and the cessation of light emission, described with reference to FIG. 8.

[0064] The detection control unit 179 controls the operation of each component of the optical sensor unit 170. An example of the processing executed by the detection control unit 179 will be described below. These processing steps are basically executed during the processing time described with reference to FIG. 8.

[0065] As an example, the detection control unit 179 calculates a value indicating the intensity of the reflected light detected by the light receiving unit 177. The calculated value indicating the intensity of the reflected light is also referred to as a detection value hereinafter. The detection control unit 179 calculates a larger detection value as the detected intensity of the reflected light increases. The relationship between the intensity of the reflected light and the detection value may be linear.

[0066] As another example, the detection control unit 179 may calculate, based on the detection value, the distance to the detected object that reflects the light emitted from the optical sensor unit 170, i.e., the distance between the detected object and the optical sensor unit 170. Specifically, the detection control unit 179 calculates a shorter distance as the detection value is larger, i.e., the intensity of the reflected light is stronger. On the other hand, the detection control unit 179 calculates a longer distance as the detection value is smaller, i.e., the intensity of the reflected light is weaker.

[0067] As another example, the detection control unit 179 controls the operation of the light-emitting unit 176. Specifically, the detection control unit 179 may control at least one of the number of pulsed emissions, the operation cycle, and the intermittent operation time shown in Fig. 8. Furthermore, the detection control unit 179 may control the intensity of infrared light emitted by the light-emitting unit 176 by controlling the current value applied to the light-emitting unit 176 (hereinafter also referred to as the LD current value).

[0068] As another example, the detection control unit 179 notifies the control unit 116 of information. For example, the detection control unit 179 may notify the control unit 116 of the calculated detection value. Furthermore, the detection control unit 179 may store the calculated detection value in the detection storage unit 178. Then, when the detection value exceeds a predetermined threshold (hereinafter also referred to as the notification threshold), the detection control unit 179 may notify the control unit 116 of this. Such notification is hereinafter also referred to as an interrupt notification. In this case, the control unit 116 reads the detection value stored in the detection storage unit 178, triggered by the reception of the interrupt notification. Such processing related to the detection value may also be performed with respect to the distance to the detected object. That is, the detection control unit 179 may notify the control unit 116 of the calculated distance. Alternatively, the detection control unit 179 may store the calculated distance in the detection storage unit 178, and, when the calculated distance exceeds the notification threshold, notify the control unit 116 of this.

[0069] The interrupt notification may be a notification indicating that an item has been inserted into the storage unit 140. In this case, the control unit 116 may execute a predetermined process in response to the reception of the interrupt notification. An example of the predetermined process may include determining whether or not a stick determination condition, which will be described later, is satisfied, and controlling heating based on the determination result. With this configuration, the predetermined process is executed only when an interrupt notification is received, thereby reducing the processing load on the control unit 116.

[0070] As another example, the detection control unit 179 may perform calibration. Specifically, the detection control unit 179 may adjust the relationship between the intensity of reflected light detected by the light receiving unit 177 and the calculated detection value so that the same detection value is calculated under predetermined conditions. By performing calibration, it becomes possible to eliminate deviations in the detection value due to temperature or vibration, and to eliminate the effects of aging deterioration of the light emitting unit 176 or the light receiving unit 177, etc.

[0071] 8 shows an example in which the light-emitting unit 176 emits pulsed light three times, but the number of pulsed light emissions is not particularly limited. Furthermore, if the light-emitting unit 176 emits pulsed light multiple times, the detection control unit 179 may perform processing using the detection results from the light-receiving unit 177 multiple times, or may perform processing using some of the detection results from the light-receiving unit 177 multiple times.

[0072] The detection storage unit 178 stores programs executed by the detection control unit 179, various data, and the like. The detection storage unit 178 is an example of a storage unit in this embodiment. The detection storage unit 178 is realized by, for example, a register. The detection storage unit 178 stores various setting values ​​used during control by the detection control unit 179, such as an operating cycle of infrared pulse emission, an intermittent operating time, a notification threshold, and an LD current value.

[0073] The control unit 116 and the detection control unit 179 communicate with each other via a serial communication interface such as I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) communication. The control unit 116 controls the operation of each component of the optical sensor unit 170 via the detection control unit 179.

[0074] The control unit 116 controls the optical sensor unit 170 to switch between an operation mode in which reflected light is detected and a sleep mode in which reflected light detection is stopped. Specifically, in the sleep mode, the control unit 116 controls the light-emitting unit 176 to stop emitting light and the light-receiving unit 177 to stop detecting reflected light. In addition, in the operation mode, the control unit 116 controls the light-emitting unit 176 to emit light and the light-receiving unit 177 to detect reflected light. By controlling the switching of the mode of the optical sensor unit 170 by the control unit 116, it is possible to reduce power consumption compared to when the optical sensor unit 170 constantly detects reflected light.

[0075] Furthermore, the control unit 116 stores various setting values ​​used during control by the detection control unit 179 in the detection storage unit 178. Furthermore, the control unit 116 receives various information such as interrupt notifications from the detection control unit 179 and reads out information stored in the detection storage unit 178.

[0076] Here, the detection storage unit 178 may be configured with a volatile storage medium or a non-volatile storage medium. If the detection storage unit 178 is configured with a non-volatile storage medium, when power supply to the optical sensor unit 170 is interrupted and then resumed, the various setting values ​​stored in the detection storage unit 178 are initialized. When the various setting values ​​are initialized, the control unit 116 may store the various setting values ​​before initialization in the detection storage unit 178 again.

[0077] Instead of the sleep mode, the control unit 116 may control the optical sensor unit 170 to enter a power-off mode, in which power supply to the optical sensor unit 170 is stopped. When the detection storage unit 178 is configured as a volatile storage medium and this control is performed, the control unit 116 stores the various setting values ​​before initialization in the detection storage unit 178 again when switching the mode of the optical sensor unit 170 from the power-off mode to the operating mode. Furthermore, in the sleep mode, the control unit 116 may control the optical sensor unit 170 to maintain power supply to the detection storage unit 178 included in the optical sensor unit 170. This eliminates the need to store the various setting values ​​before initialization in the detection storage unit 178 again every time the mode is switched from the sleep mode to the operating mode, when the detection storage unit 178 is configured as a volatile storage medium. Furthermore, in the sleep mode, the control unit 116 may control the optical sensor unit 170 to maintain power supply only to a portion of the memory in the detection storage unit 178 included in the optical sensor unit 170.

[0078] (3) Determination of inserted item Dirt, foreign matter, or other attachments may remain in the internal space 141. As an example, the contents may spill from the tip of the stick-shaped substrate 150 after heating and remain in the internal space 141 as attachments. If attachments remain, it becomes difficult to heat the stick-shaped substrate 150 appropriately, and as a result, it becomes difficult to provide a good flavor to the user. For this reason, it is preferable to clean the storage section 140 regularly. Removing attachments through cleaning makes it possible to heat the stick-shaped substrate 150 appropriately, and as a result, it becomes possible to provide a good flavor to the user. An example of a cleaning item used to clean the storage section 140 will be described with reference to FIG. 9.

[0079] 9 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a cotton swab 190 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the cotton swab 190 has a shaft portion 191 and a fibrous mass portion 192.

[0080] The shaft portion 191 is a member configured in a longitudinal shape. For example, the shaft portion 191 is configured by winding a paper sheet.

[0081] The fiber agglomerates 192 are formed by wrapping and adhering fibers around one end of the shaft 191. The fiber agglomerates 192 may have any shape, such as a teardrop shape, a cylindrical shape, a spherical shape, or a shape with random irregularities. Examples of fibers that may be used to form the fiber agglomerates 192 include various natural fibers (such as cotton, silk, or wool), regenerated fibers (such as rayon or cupra), and synthetic fibers (such as polyester or polypropylene). The fiber agglomerates 192 may contain a liquid such as alcohol. The fiber agglomerates 192 may be disposed at one end of the shaft 191 as shown in FIG. 9 , or at both ends of the shaft 191.

[0082] The cotton swab 190 is an example of a cleaning item. The user grasps the shaft 191 and inserts the fiber lump 192 into the internal space 141 through the opening 142. The user then moves the fiber lump 192 so as to rub it against the storage section 140. As a result, any deposits remaining in the storage section 140 adhere to the fiber lump 192 and are removed. In this manner, the storage section 140 is cleaned.

[0083] The cotton swab 190 is configured to be thinner than the stick-shaped substrate 150. In particular, the diameter L of the cotton swab 190 (more specifically, the diameter of the fiber mass 192, which is the thickest part) Ｃ is the diameter of the stick-shaped substrate 150 (more specifically, the diameter of the thinnest part) L Ｓ As an example, the diameter L of the cotton swab 190 is Ｃ is the diameter L of the stick-shaped substrate 150 Ｓ The distance between the inner wall 140Ba of the guide portion 140B and the swab 190 may be half or less, and preferably a quarter or less. With this configuration, when the swab 190 is inserted into the storage portion 140, a large gap is secured between the inner wall 140Ba of the guide portion 140B and the swab 190. As a result, the fibrous mass 192 can move freely within the internal space 141, improving cleaning efficiency.

[0084] The cotton swab 190 is an example of an article other than the stick-shaped substrate 150 that is expected to be inserted into the storage section 140. The suction device 100 and the cotton swab 190 may be considered to constitute an aerosol generation system. Alternatively, the suction device 100 may be considered to include the cotton swab 190.

[0085] Diameter L of cotton swab 190 Ｃ and the diameter L of the stick-shaped substrate 150 Ｓ This difference can also be used to identify the article inserted into the storage section 140 (hereinafter also referred to as the inserted article). This is because the detection values ​​detected by the optical sensor section 170A and the optical sensor section 170B differ greatly depending on whether the inserted article is a stick-shaped substrate 150 or a cotton swab 190. This point will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0086] 10 is a diagram showing a schematic view of the container 140 with the stick-shaped substrate 150 inserted, as viewed from the opening 142 side (i.e., from above). As shown in FIG. 10, the diameter L Ｓ is the distance L between the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B. Ｄ 5, the distance between the stick-shaped substrate 150 and the inner wall 140Ba of the guide portion 140B is approximately 1 to 2 mm. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, when the stick-shaped substrate 150 is inserted into the storage portion 140, all parts of the inner wall 140Ba of the guide portion 140B are located at a close distance from the stick-shaped substrate 150. As a result, the light emitted by both the optical sensor portion 170A and the optical sensor portion 170B is reflected by the stick-shaped substrate 150, which is located at a close distance. Therefore, the detection value detected by the optical sensor portion 170A and the detection value detected by the optical sensor portion 170B are large and equivalent to each other.

[0087] 11 is a diagram showing a schematic view of the storage section 140 with the cotton swab 190 inserted, as viewed from the opening 142 side (i.e., from above). As shown in FIG. 11, the diameter L Ｃ is the distance L between the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B. Ｄ11 , when the cotton swab 190 is inserted into the storage section 140, the distance between the inner wall 140Ba of the guide section 140B and the cotton swab 190 varies significantly depending on the position of the inner wall 140Ba. As a result, the detection value of at least one of the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B is significantly smaller than when the stick-shaped substrate 150 is inserted into the storage section 140. This is because the position of at least one of the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B is far from the cotton swab 190 or is in a position where the emitted light is not reflected by the cotton swab 190. In the example shown in FIG. 11 , the detection value of the optical sensor unit 170B is the same as when the stick-shaped substrate 150 is inserted, while the detection value of the optical sensor unit 170A is significantly smaller.

[0088] Therefore, the control unit 116 according to this embodiment determines whether the insertion article is a stick-shaped substrate 150 based on the detection values ​​detected by the two optical sensor units 170. As an example, the control unit 116 determines that the insertion article is a stick-shaped substrate 150 when a stick determination condition is met. One example of a stick determination condition is that both the detection value by the optical sensor unit 170A and the detection value by the optical sensor unit 170B are equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (hereinafter also referred to as the stick determination threshold). On the other hand, the control unit 116 determines that the insertion article is not a stick-shaped substrate 150 when the stick determination condition is not met. That is, the control unit 116 determines that the insertion article is not a stick-shaped substrate 150 when at least one of the detection value by the optical sensor unit 170A and the detection value by the optical sensor unit 170B is less than the stick determination threshold. The control unit 116 may determine that the insertion article is a cotton swab 190 when the stick determination condition is not met. The stick determination threshold may be arbitrarily set as a value at which the stick determination condition is satisfied when the inserted article is the stick-shaped substrate 150, and at which the stick determination condition is not satisfied when the inserted article is the cotton swab 190. However, the diameter of the stick-shaped substrate 150 may vary depending on the brand or production lot, or may have an irregular shape. Therefore, it is desirable to set the stick determination threshold to a value with some leeway (i.e., a low value). Furthermore, the stick determination threshold may be the same value as the notification threshold described above. With this configuration, it is possible to determine whether the inserted article is the stick-shaped substrate 150.

[0089] Here, the positional relationship between the two optical sensor units 170 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0090] 6, the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B are disposed at different positions. As a result, the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B can emit light from different positions and angles toward the inserted article. This configuration can prevent the stick determination condition from being met when the inserted article is a cotton swab 190. In other words, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining whether the inserted article is a stick-shaped substrate 150.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 11, the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B are arranged such that the diameter L of the thickest part of the cotton swab 190 is equal to the diameter L of the cotton swab 190 in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction. Ｃ It is desirable that the optical sensors 170A and 170B are spaced apart from each other by the distance L. Ｄ is the diameter L of the fiber mass 192 Ｃ With this configuration, when the cotton swab 190 is inserted into the storage section 140, it is possible to prevent the cotton swab 190 from being present in at least one of the radial directions 171A and 171B. As a result, when the inserted article is the cotton swab 190, it is possible to prevent the stick determination condition from being satisfied. In other words, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining whether the inserted article is the stick-shaped substrate 150.

[0092] As shown in Fig. 6, it is desirable that the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B are disposed at positions where the angle θ formed by the directions 171A and 171B of emitting light from each other is 90 degrees or more and 270 degrees or less in a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. Ｄ As a result, the stick determination condition can be prevented from being satisfied when the inserted article is the cotton swab 190. That is, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining whether the inserted article is the stick-type substrate 150.

[0093] However, it is desirable that the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B are arranged in a position on a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction such that the angle θ formed by the directions 171A and 171B in which each light is emitted is other than 180 degrees. This configuration makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of crosstalk. Crosstalk is a phenomenon in which light emitted from one of the optical sensor unit 170A or 170B is erroneously detected by the other. Preventing the occurrence of crosstalk makes it possible to prevent erroneous determination of whether the inserted article is a stick-shaped substrate 150.

[0094] The control unit 116 may operate the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B at different timings. For example, the control unit 116 may alternately operate the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B. More specifically, in the example described above with reference to FIG. 8, the control unit 116 may alternately cause the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B to emit pulsed light three times each. This configuration makes it possible to more reliably prevent crosstalk from occurring.

[0095] The control unit 116 may operate one of the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B and put the other into sleep mode. Operating the optical sensor unit 170 refers to causing the optical sensor unit 170 to detect reflected light. Putting the optical sensor unit 170 into sleep mode refers to stopping the detection of reflected light by the optical sensor unit 170. That is, the control unit 116 may set one of the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B into operation mode and the other into sleep mode or power-off mode. The control unit 116 may interrupt the sleep mode of the other optical sensor unit 170A or the optical sensor unit 170B and start operation only when the detection value of the operating optical sensor unit 170A or the optical sensor unit 170B is equal to or greater than the stick determination threshold. In this case, both the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B are operated only when an article is inserted into the storage unit 140, and it is possible to determine whether the inserted article is a stick-shaped substrate 150. This makes it possible to reduce power consumption. Furthermore, while one of the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B is in sleep mode, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of crosstalk.

[0096] The optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B may be disposed at a position where the angle θ formed by the directions 171A and 171B of emitting their respective lights is 180 degrees in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction. Even in this case, crosstalk can be prevented if the above-mentioned crosstalk prevention measures are taken. Furthermore, with this configuration, the distance L between the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B is Ｄ As a result, when the inserted article is the cotton swab 190, the stick determination condition is not satisfied. That is, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining whether the inserted article is the stick-type substrate 150.

[0097] (4) Heating Control According to the Determination Result of the Insertion Item The control unit 116 may control the operation of the heating unit 121 based on the determination result of whether the insertion item is the stick-shaped substrate 150. Specifically, the control unit 116 causes the operation of the heating unit 121 to differ depending on whether the insertion item is the stick-shaped substrate 150 or not. This configuration can further improve usability.

[0098] As an example, when the control unit 116 determines that the inserted article is the stick-shaped substrate 150, it may cause the heating unit 121 to start heating. On the other hand, when the control unit 116 determines that the inserted article is not the stick-shaped substrate 150, it does not cause the heating unit 121 to start heating. In other words, the control unit 116 may automatically start heating only when the stick-shaped substrate 150 is inserted. With this configuration, heating starts automatically just by inserting the stick-shaped substrate 150 into the storage unit 140, without requiring a separate user operation to instruct the start of heating, such as pressing a button, thereby improving usability.

[0099] As another example, the control unit 116 may permit heating by the heating unit 121 when it determines that the inserted article is a stick-shaped substrate 150, and may prohibit heating by the heating unit 121 when it determines that the inserted article is not a stick-shaped substrate 150. When heating is permitted, the suction device 100 starts heating when a user operation to start heating is performed, such as pressing a button. On the other hand, when heating is prohibited, the suction device 100 does not start heating even when a user operation to start heating is performed, such as pressing a button. With this configuration, heating does not start even if a button is pressed incorrectly during cleaning, thereby improving user safety.

[0100] (5) Process Flow FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the process flow executed by the suction device 100 according to this embodiment.

[0101] 12 , first, the control unit 116 acquires the detection values ​​detected by each of the two optical sensor units 170 (step S102). For example, the control unit 116 is triggered by receiving an interrupt notification from one of the two optical sensor units 170, and reads out the detection values ​​stored in the detection storage units 178 of each of the two optical sensor units 170.

[0102] Next, the control unit 116 determines whether or not the stick determination condition is satisfied (step S104). Specifically, the control unit 116 determines whether or not both the detection value by the optical sensor unit 170A and the detection value by the optical sensor unit 170B are equal to or greater than the stick determination threshold value.

[0103] If it is determined that the stick determination condition is satisfied (step S104: YES), the control unit 116 permits heating by the heating unit 121 (step S106).

[0104] On the other hand, if it is determined that the stick determination condition is not satisfied (step S104: NO), the control unit 116 prohibits heating by the heating unit 121 (step S108).

[0105] 3. Supplementary Information Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can conceive of various modified or altered examples within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0106] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the suction device 100 has two optical sensor units 170, but the present disclosure is not limited to such an example, and the suction device 100 may have three or more optical sensor units 170. In this case, it is sufficient that the above-described positional relationship is satisfied for at least two of the three or more optical sensor units 170.

[0107] In the above embodiment, an example of determining whether the insertion article is a stick-type substrate 150 has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. The control unit 116 may determine the shape characteristics of the insertion article based on the detection value detected by the optical sensor unit 170. One example of the shape characteristics is the diameter of the insertion article. In other words, it may be determined whether the diameter of the insertion article is equal to the diameter of the stick-type substrate 150.

[0108] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the stick determination condition relates to the detection value detected by the optical sensor unit 170, but the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. The stick determination condition may also relate to the distance to the detected object calculated based on the detection value. For example, the first condition may be that both the distance from the optical sensor unit 170A to the detected object and the distance from the optical sensor unit 170B to the detected object are less than a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance may be set as a distance corresponding to the stick determination threshold. This configuration also makes it possible to determine whether the inserted article is a stick-shaped substrate 150.

[0109] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B are arranged at different positions on a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, but the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. Instead of or in addition to being arranged at different positions on a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B may be arranged at different positions in the vertical direction. As an example, the optical sensor unit 170A may be arranged on the opening 142 side of the guide unit 140B, and the optical sensor unit 170B may be arranged on the bottom 143 side of the guide unit 140B. When the optical sensor unit 170A and the optical sensor unit 170B are arranged at different positions in the vertical direction, the radial direction 171A and the radial direction 171B can be prevented from intersecting. This further improves the accuracy of determining whether the inserted article is a stick-shaped substrate 150.

[0110] When optical sensor unit 170A and optical sensor unit 170B are arranged at different positions in the vertical direction, it is possible to distinguish changes in the thickness of the insertion item in the vertical direction. Therefore, even if a portion of the cleaning item in the vertical direction has a thickness similar to that of stick-shaped substrate 150, it is possible to determine whether the insertion item is stick-shaped substrate 150 or a cleaning item. However, this is premised on the fact that the vertical distance between optical sensor unit 170A and optical sensor unit 170B is longer than the vertical length of the portion of the cleaning item that has a thickness similar to that of stick-shaped substrate 150.

[0111] Of course, the two optical sensors 170 may be disposed in positions where they at least partially overlap each other in the vertical direction. In order to prevent heat transfer from the heating unit 121 to the optical sensors 170, the range in which the optical sensors 170 can be disposed in the guide unit 140B is considered to be limited. In this regard, with this configuration, it is possible to prevent heat transfer from the heating unit 121 to the optical sensors 170 by, for example, disposing both of the two optical sensors 170 on the opening 142 side, which is farther from the heating unit 121.

[0112] The control unit 116 may determine whether the insertion article is a stick-shaped substrate 150 based on multiple detection values ​​detected at different times by the same optical sensor unit 170. As an example, the control unit 116 may determine that the insertion article is a stick-shaped substrate 150 if the width of the time-series change in the detection value by the optical sensor unit 170 is less than a predetermined threshold. This is because, if the insertion article is a stick-shaped substrate 150, the stick-shaped substrate 150 does not move significantly within the storage unit 140, and therefore, the width of the time-series change in the detection value by the optical sensor unit 170 is expected to be small. As another example, the control unit 116 may determine that the insertion article is not a stick-shaped substrate 150 if the width of the time-series change in the detection value by the optical sensor unit 170 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. This is because, if the insertion article is a cotton swab 190, the user will move the cotton swab 190 significantly within the storage unit 140, and therefore, the detection value by the optical sensor unit 170 is expected to change significantly over time. This configuration makes it possible to improve the accuracy of determining whether the insertion article is a stick-shaped substrate 150.

[0113] When determining whether the insertion item is the stick-type substrate 150 based on the time-series change in the detection value, the suction device 100 may have only one optical sensor unit 170. Here, the time-series change in the detection value corresponds to the change in the thickness of the insertion item in the vertical direction. Therefore, even if the cleaning item has a portion in the vertical direction that is approximately the same thickness as the stick-type substrate 150, it is possible to determine whether the insertion item is the stick-type substrate 150 or a cleaning item based on the time-series change in the detection value.

[0114] The series of processes performed by each device described herein may be implemented using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The software programs may be stored in advance, for example, on a recording medium (more specifically, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium) internal or external to each device. Each program is then loaded into RAM and executed by a processing circuit such as a CPU when executed by a computer controlling each device described herein. The recording medium may be, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory. The computer program may also be distributed, for example, via a network, without using a recording medium. The computer may be, for example, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a general-purpose processor that executes functions by loading a software program, or a computer on a server used in cloud computing. The series of processes performed by each device described herein may also be distributed among multiple computers.

[0115] Furthermore, the processes described herein using flowcharts and sequence diagrams do not necessarily have to be performed in the order shown. Some process steps may be performed in parallel. Furthermore, additional process steps may be employed, and some process steps may be omitted.

[0116] Note that the following configurations also fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure. (1) An aerosol generating system comprising: a storage unit having an internal space and an opening connecting the internal space to the outside; one or more detection units that emit light into the internal space and detect the received reflected light; and a control unit that determines whether an article inserted into the storage unit is a substrate containing an aerosol source based on the intensities of the multiple reflected lights detected by the one or more detection units. (2) The aerosol generating system described in (1), further comprising a heating unit that heats the substrate stored in the storage unit, and the control unit controls the operation of the heating unit based on the determination result of whether the article inserted in the storage unit is the substrate. (3) The aerosol generating system described in (2), in which the control unit starts heating by the heating unit when it determines that the article inserted in the storage unit is the substrate. (4) The aerosol generation system according to (2), wherein the control unit permits heating by the heating unit when it determines that the article inserted in the storage unit is the substrate, and prohibits heating by the heating unit when it determines that the article inserted in the storage unit is not the substrate. (5) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the aerosol generation system includes two detection units, and the two detection units are arranged in different positions from each other. (6) The aerosol generation system according to (5), wherein the control unit operates each of the two detection units at different times from each other. (7) The aerosol generation system according to (5) or (6), wherein the control unit operates one of the two detection units and puts the other into sleep mode. (8) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (5) to (7), wherein the two detection units are arranged in different positions from each other in the insertion direction of the substrate. (9) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (5) to (7), wherein the two detection units are arranged at positions where they at least partially overlap each other in the insertion direction of the substrate.(10) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (5) to (9), wherein the two detection units are arranged at a distance equal to or greater than the diameter of the thickest part of an article other than the substrate that is expected to be inserted into the storage unit. (11) The aerosol generation system according to (10), wherein the two detection units are arranged at positions where the angle formed by the light emission directions in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the substrate is between 90 degrees and 270 degrees. (12) The aerosol generation system according to (11), wherein the two detection units are arranged at positions where the angle formed by the light emission directions in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the substrate is 180 degrees. (13) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (12), wherein the control unit determines whether the article inserted into the storage unit is the substrate based on the intensities of multiple reflected lights detected by the same detection unit at different times. (14) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (13), further comprising at least one of the substrate and an article other than the substrate that is expected to be inserted into the storage unit. (15) An information processing method executed by a computer, comprising: emitting light into an internal space of a storage unit having an internal space and an opening that connects the internal space to the outside, and determining whether or not the article inserted into the storage unit is a substrate containing an aerosol source based on intensities of multiple reflected lights detected by one or more detection units that detect the received reflected light.

[0117] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Suction device 111 Power supply unit 112 Sensor unit 113 Notification unit 114 Memory unit 115 Communication unit 116 Control unit 121 Heating unit 140 Storage unit 140A Stick lower storage unit 140B Guide unit 141 Internal space 142 Opening 143 Bottom 144 Heat insulation unit 150 Stick-shaped substrate 170 Optical sensor unit 172 Circuit board 173 Light transmission filter 174 Reinforcing plate 175 Clearance 176 Light-emitting unit 177 Light-receiving unit 178 Detection memory unit 179 Detection control unit 190 Swab 191 Shank 192 Fiber lump portion

Claims

1. A storage section having an internal space and an opening communicating the internal space with the outside; one or more detectors that emit light into the internal space and detect received reflected light; a control unit that determines whether the article inserted into the container is a substrate containing an aerosol source based on the intensities of the multiple reflected lights detected by the one or more detection units; An aerosol generating system comprising:

2. The aerosol generation system further includes a heating unit that heats the base material contained in the container, The control unit controls the operation of the heating unit based on a determination result of whether or not the article inserted in the storage unit is the base material.

10. The aerosol generating system of claim 1.

3. When the control unit determines that the object inserted in the storage unit is the base material, the control unit starts heating by the heating unit.

3. The aerosol generating system of claim 2.

4. The control unit permits heating by the heating unit when it is determined that the object inserted in the storage unit is the substrate, and prohibits heating by the heating unit when it is determined that the object inserted in the storage unit is not the substrate.

3. The aerosol generating system of claim 2.

5. The aerosol generating system includes two of the detection units, The two detection units are disposed at different positions from each other.

5. An aerosol generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The control unit operates the two detection units at different timings.

6. The aerosol generating system of claim 5.

7. The control unit operates one of the two detection units and puts the other into sleep mode.

6. The aerosol generating system of claim 5.

8. The two detection units are disposed at different positions in the insertion direction of the base material.

6. The aerosol generating system of claim 5.

9. The two detection units are disposed at positions where they at least partially overlap each other in the insertion direction of the base material.

6. The aerosol generating system of claim 5.

10. The two detection units are arranged apart from each other by a distance equal to or greater than the diameter of the thickest part of the article other than the base material that is assumed to be inserted into the storage unit.

6. The aerosol generating system of claim 5.

11. The two detection units are arranged at positions such that the angle between the directions of emitting light on a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the base material is 90 degrees or more and 270 degrees or less.

11. The aerosol generating system of claim 10.

12. The two detection units are arranged at positions such that the angle between the directions of emitting light is 180 degrees on a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the base material.

12. The aerosol generating system of claim 11.

13. The control unit determines whether the article inserted into the storage unit is the base material based on a plurality of intensities of reflected light detected by the same detection unit at different timings.

10. The aerosol generating system of claim 1.

14. The aerosol generating system further comprises at least one of the substrate or an article other than the substrate that is intended to be inserted into the container; 10. The aerosol generating system of claim 1.

15. A light is emitted into an internal space of a storage unit having an internal space and an opening communicating the internal space with the outside, and the reflected light received by the one or more detection units is detected based on the intensities of a plurality of reflected lights, and whether or not an article inserted into the storage unit is a substrate containing an aerosol source is determined; 2. An information processing method implemented by a computer, comprising: