Electronic device and program

Abstract

This electronic device has a control unit and a first battery, and is provided with a second battery in a cover member attached to a device body. When the residual amount of the second battery is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference value, the control unit performs switching of power supply, from the first battery to the second battery, to a portion of electronic components provided in the device body.

Description

Electronic devices and programs

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic device and a program.

[0002] Many portable electronic devices run on batteries built into the device itself. The batteries used may be primary or secondary batteries. Electronic devices that run on primary batteries are equipped with a lid or other cover that can be attached or removed by the user. Electronic devices that run on secondary batteries are equipped with a USB terminal or other power supply terminal for externally charging the secondary battery. Recently, some electronic devices have been developed that do not have a power supply terminal and can wirelessly charge the secondary battery.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-280186

[0004] Recently, portable electronic devices consume a lot of power, but they are also required to be usable for long periods of time. To address these conflicting demands, efforts have been made to increase the capacity of built-in batteries and to make electronic devices more energy-efficient. However, there are limits to each of these efforts.

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present disclosure provides a technology that enables a more diverse power supply than when the only power source is a battery built into an electronic device.

[0006] As one form of the present disclosure, there is provided an electronic device having a control unit and a first battery, wherein a second battery is provided in a cover member attached to the device body, and when the remaining charge of the second battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value, the control unit switches the supply of power to some of the electronic components provided in the device body from the first battery to the second battery.

[0007] The control unit may switch power supply to some of the electronic components that operate on the same system power supply as the control unit from the first battery to the second battery.

[0008] When a first presentation unit that presents information is provided on the cover member, the control unit may stop supplying power to a second presentation unit that is provided on the device main body side.

[0009] When a first presentation unit that presents information is provided on a cover member, the control unit may stop supplying power to the second presentation unit if the user is unable to confirm the presentation of information by the second presentation unit provided on the device main body due to the attachment of the cover member.

[0010] In this case, the control unit may switch the presentation of information from the second presentation unit to the first presentation unit.

[0011] The second battery may be charged by power supplied from the device main body.

[0012] Part of the electronic component may be a heating section that heats the aerosol source.

[0013] In this case, the attachment of the cover member to the device body may be one of the conditions that enables the heating of the aerosol source by the heating unit.

[0014] The cover member may be configured so that when attached to the device body, the user can press the cover member to operate a switch on the device body.

[0015] The control unit may receive information about an operation performed on an operation unit provided on the cover member from the cover member.

[0016] The cover member attached to the device body may form an integrated appearance with the uncovered portion of the device body.

[0017] As one form of the present disclosure, a program is provided for enabling a computer installed in an electronic device having a first battery to realize a function of switching the supply of power to some of the electronic components installed in the device body from the first battery to the second battery when a second battery is installed in a cover member attached to the device body.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to supply power in a wider variety of ways than when the power source is only a battery built into an electronic device.

[0019] 1 is a diagram of the front side of the aerosol generation device observed from diagonally above. FIG. 2 is a diagram of the front side of the aerosol generation device observed from diagonally below. FIG. 3 is a diagram of the aerosol generation device with the shutter removed observed from above. FIG. 4 is a diagram of the main body device observed from the front with the front panel removed. FIG. 5 is a diagram of the back side of the front panel removed from the main body device. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the aerosol generation device used in embodiment 1. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the connections of the power supply circuit of the aerosol generation device used in embodiment 1. FIG. 8 is a flowchart explaining an example of an attachment detection operation performed by the control unit of the main body device. FIG. 9 is a flowchart explaining the switching process of the system power supply by the control unit of embodiment 1. FIG. 10 is a diagram of the front side of the aerosol generation device observed from diagonally above. FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the aerosol generation device used in embodiment 2. FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing the connections of the power supply circuit of the aerosol generation device used in embodiment 2. FIG. 13 is a flowchart explaining the switching process of the power supply by the control unit of embodiment 2. FIG. 14 is a diagram of the front side of the aerosol generation device observed from diagonally above. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the power supply switching process performed by the control unit of embodiment 3. FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating the connection relationship of the power supply circuit of the aerosol generation device used in embodiment 4. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the power supply switching process performed by the control unit of embodiment 4. FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically illustrating the internal configuration of the aerosol generation device used in embodiment 5. FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically illustrating the connection relationship of the power supply circuit of the aerosol generation device used in embodiment 5. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a USB charging operation performed by the control unit of embodiment 5. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a USB charging operation. FIG. 17 is a diagram schematically illustrating the connection relationship of the power supply circuit of the aerosol generation device used in embodiment 6.

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0021] <Terminology> The aerosol generating device according to each embodiment is a form of electronic cigarette. In the following description, the substance generated by the aerosol generating device is referred to as aerosol. Aerosol refers to a mixture of tiny liquid or solid particles suspended in a gas and air or other gases. In each embodiment, an aerosol generating device that generates aerosol without combustion is described. In the following description, the user's inhalation of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating device is referred to as "inhalation" or "puffing." In each embodiment, an aerosol generating device to which a solid aerosol source can be attached is described. Note that the container that stores the solid aerosol source is referred to as either a "capsule" or a "stick-type substrate" depending on the product form. Capsules and stick-type substrates are consumables. For this reason, guidelines for replacement are set for capsules and stick-type substrates.

[0022] <First Embodiment> <External Appearance Example> First, an external appearance example of the aerosol generation device 1 used in the first embodiment will be described. Fig. 1 is a view of the front side of the aerosol generation device 1 observed from diagonally above. Fig. 2 is a view of the front side of the aerosol generation device 1 observed from diagonally below. Fig. 3 is a view of the aerosol generation device 1 observed from above with the shutter 30 removed. Fig. 4 is a view of the main device 20 observed from the front with the front panel 10 removed. Fig. 5 is a view of the back side of the front panel 10 removed from the main device 20.

[0023] The aerosol generation device 1 used in this embodiment has a size that allows the user to hold it in one hand. The aerosol generation device 1 has a main body device 20, a front panel 10 attached to the front of the main body device 20, and a shutter 30 that is arranged on the top surface of the main body device 20 and can be slid along the top surface. The main body device 20 here is an example of an equipment main body. The front panel 10 is a member that can be attached and detached to the main body device 20. The front panel 10 here is an example of a cover member. The front panel 10 is attached and detached by the user.

[0024] The front panel 10 attached to the main unit 20 covers the front portion of the main unit 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In other words, even after the front panel 10 is attached, the main unit 20 can be observed from the outside except for the front portion. For example, the side, back, top, and bottom surfaces of the main unit 20 can be observed from the outside even after the front panel 10 is attached. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front panel 10 attached to the main unit 20 is continuously connected to the side, top, and bottom surfaces of the main unit 20 without any steps, forming a unified appearance. Thus, one of the roles of the front panel 10 is decoration. Note that the side, top, and bottom surfaces of the main unit 20 are examples of parts not covered by the front panel 10.

[0025] The front panel 10 is provided with a window 10B. The window 10B is provided in a position facing the light-emitting element on the main device 20 side. In the case of embodiment 1, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 20A (see Figure 4) is used as the light-emitting element. The window 10B in embodiment 1 is made of a light-transmitting material. However, the window 10B may also be a slit that penetrates from the front to the back. The lighting and blinking of the light-emitting element represent the operating status of the aerosol generation device 1, etc. The operating status also includes errors. The lighting and blinking of the light-emitting element is controlled by the control unit 206 (see Figure 6), which will be described later.

[0026] In addition to its decorative role, the front panel 10 also serves to buffer the propagation of heat emitted from the main unit 20. Therefore, in this embodiment, aerosol generation is permitted only when the front panel 10 is attached to the main unit 20. In other words, the front panel 10 attached to the main unit 20 forms an integrated appearance with the main unit 20 in a state in which aerosol generation is possible. The front panel 10 also serves to protect the main unit 20 from dirt, scratches, and the like. Furthermore, the front panel 10 deforms when the user presses a position below the window 10B with their fingertip, and restores its original shape when the user stops pressing.

[0027] A primary battery 101 is attached to the inside of the front panel 10 used in this embodiment. When the front panel 10 with the primary battery 101 attached is attached to the main body device 20, the amount of power available for the entire aerosol generation device 1 can be increased compared to when a front panel 10 without the primary battery 101 is attached to the main body device 20. The primary battery 101 attached to the front panel 10 is an example of a second battery. Note that, hereinafter, the battery attached to the front panel 10 is referred to as a "sub-battery."

[0028] The primary battery 101 attached to the front panel 10 is used as an auxiliary power source to compensate for power shortages in the main device 20. The primary battery 101 can be attached to and detached from the rear surface of the front panel 10. In other words, a primary battery 101 that has run out of remaining capacity or has a low remaining capacity can be replaced with a new primary battery 101. The front panel 10 in this embodiment is an example of a cover member. Note that the main body panel 10A that forms the exterior of the front panel 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is an example of a main body portion.

[0029] The primary battery 101 may be, for example, a film-type, coin-type, or chip-type battery. In either case, the primary battery 101 is required to be thin so as not to interfere with the attachment of the front panel 10 to the main device 20. The front panel 10 to which the primary battery 101 is attached is also provided with electrodes and connectors (not shown) used to supply power to the main device 20. However, the power supply electrodes are used in the case of contact-type power supply to the main device 20; in the case of contactless power supply (i.e., wireless power supply), a loop coil (not shown) is added as an electronic component. Standards for contactless power supply here include electromagnetic induction and electric field induction standards such as the Qi standard and the NFC (Near Field Communication) standard.

[0030] A Type C USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector 21 is provided on the bottom side of the main device 20. The shape and type of the USB connector 21 are merely examples. In other words, the USB connector 21 may be a USB other than Type C. In the case of the first embodiment, the USB connector 21 is used, for example, to charge a power supply unit 201 (see FIG. 6 ) built into the main device 20. A hole 22 is provided on the top surface of the main device 20 for inserting a stick-shaped substrate 210 (see FIG. 6 ) that contains an aerosol source.

[0031] The stick-shaped substrate 210 used in this embodiment has a solid aerosol source housed in a paper tube formed into a substantially cylindrical shape. The hole 22 is exposed by sliding the shutter 30 to the open position, and is concealed by sliding the shutter 30 to the closed position. In the case of embodiment 1, the hole 22 has substantially the same cylindrical shape as the stick-shaped substrate 210. The diameter of the opening of the hole 22 is a dimension that allows the stick-shaped substrate 210 to be inserted. In other words, the diameter of the stick-shaped substrate 210 is a dimension that allows it to be inserted into the hole 22.

[0032] A magnet, for example, is attached to the back surface of the shutter 30. Meanwhile, a Hall IC is attached to the main device 20 within the movable range of the shutter 30. The Hall IC is a magnetic sensor comprised of a Hall element and an operational amplifier, etc., and outputs a voltage according to the strength of the magnetic field that crosses the Hall element. In this embodiment, the opening and closing of the shutter 30 is detected from the change in voltage output from the Hall IC as the shutter 30 slides. In other words, it is detected whether the shutter 30 is in the open or closed position.

[0033] A button 20B is located approximately in the center of the front of the main device 20. As described above, the button 20B can be operated with the front panel 10 attached. The button 20B is used, for example, to turn the power of the main device on and off, turn on and off the power supply to the heating unit 207 (see FIG. 6 ) that heats the aerosol source, and issue a Bluetooth (registered trademark) pairing command. Note that if the button 20B is pressed and held (for example, pressed for 5 seconds or more) with the front panel 10 detached from the main device 20, a reset function is activated. In this embodiment, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) is used as Bluetooth.

[0034] Magnets 20C used to attach the front panel 10 are located at the top and bottom of the front of the main unit 20. The magnets 20C are located opposite magnets 10C located inside the front panel 10. For example, if the magnet 10C on the front panel 10 has a north pole, the magnet 20C on the main unit 20 side has a south pole. The front panel 10 is detachably attached to the main unit 20 by the attractive force between the magnets.

[0035] Either one of the magnets 10C and 20C may be a piece of iron or other magnetic metal. The attachment of the front panel 10 to the main device 20 is detected by a Hall IC provided on the main device 20. The main device 20 also incorporates various electronic components necessary for generating aerosol. In this sense, the main device 20 is an example of an electronic device specialized for generating aerosol. In a narrower sense, the main device 20 is referred to as an aerosol generating device.

[0036] <Internal Configuration> <Configuration of Functional Units> Fig. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating the internal configuration of the aerosol generation device 1 used in embodiment 1. Fig. 6 illustrates a state in which the stick-shaped substrate 210 is attached to the main device 20. With the stick-shaped substrate 210 held in the holding portion 209, the user inhales the aerosol. The internal configuration illustrated in Fig. 6 is intended to explain the electronic components provided in the main device 20 and their positional relationships. For this reason, the appearance of the electronic components, etc., illustrated in Fig. 6 does not necessarily match the appearance diagram described above.

[0037] The front panel 10 is provided with a primary battery 101 and a power supply circuit (not shown). For example, in the case of contact power supply, spring-loaded electrode pins (pogo pins), connectors, etc. are used in the power supply circuit. In the case of non-contact power supply, a loop coil, etc. is used in the power supply circuit. Note that standards for non-contact power supply include electromagnetic induction methods such as the Qi standard and the NFC (Near Field Communication) standard. The primary battery 101 stores power using, for example, a lithium-ion secondary battery or a capacitor.

[0038] The main device 20 is provided with a power supply unit 201, a sensor unit 202, a notification unit 203, a memory unit 204, a communication unit 205, a control unit 206, a heating unit 207, a heat insulating unit 208, and a holding unit 209. The power supply unit 201 is a unit that supplies power to the main device 20. The sensor unit 202 is an electronic component that detects various types of information related to the main device 20. The sensor unit 202 includes, for example, a pressure sensor such as a microphone capacitor and a flow rate sensor. The sensor unit 202 as a sensor outputs the detected information to the control unit 206. For example, when a change in air pressure or air flow due to inhalation is detected, the sensor unit 202 outputs a numerical value representing the user's inhalation to the control unit 206.

[0039] The sensor unit 202 has an input device that accepts input from, for example, a user. The input device may be, for example, a button or a switch. In this embodiment, a button 20B (see FIG. 4) is used as the input device. The button 20B is used to switch the main power supply on and off, and to start and stop the supply of power to the heating unit 207 (i.e., start and stop the generation of aerosol), etc. The content of the user's instruction is output from the sensor unit 202 to the control unit 206. Note that the button 20B is not only an example of a button, but also an example of a switch.

[0040] In addition, the sensor unit 202 has a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the heating unit 207. The temperature sensor detects the temperature of the heating unit 207 based on, for example, the electrical resistance value of the conductive track of the heating unit 207. The detected electrical resistance value is output from the sensor unit 202 to the control unit 206. The control unit 206 calculates the temperature of the heating unit 207 based on the electrical resistance value. In other words, the control unit 206 calculates the temperature of the stick-shaped substrate 210 held by the holding unit 209.

[0041] In addition, the sensor unit 202 includes a sensor that detects whether a sub-battery is attached to the front panel 10 attached to the front of the main unit 20 (i.e., whether the front panel 10 is equipped with a sub-battery). For example, if a predetermined structural feature is detected from the attached front panel 10 through the sensor unit 202, the attached front panel 10 is determined to be a front panel 10 equipped with a sub-battery. Also, if a current or voltage is detected in the power supply line used to supply power from the front panel 10, the attached front panel 10 is determined to be a front panel 10 equipped with a sub-battery.

[0042] The sensor unit 202 also includes a capacitance sensor, an optical sensor, a pressure sensor, etc. that detect the insertion of the stick-shaped substrate 210 into the holding unit 209 or the approach of a target part through a change in capacitance. The sensor unit 202 also includes an optical color sensor for identifying the stick-shaped substrate 210 individually by color, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader, an NFC (Near Field Communication) reader, etc. The sensor unit 202 also includes a biosensor that measures the user's heart rate, etc., a fingerprint sensor used for unlocking, etc. The sensor unit 202 also includes an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, etc. that detect the user's movement.

[0043] The notification unit 203 is an electronic component that notifies the user of various types of information related to the main device 20. The notification unit 203 includes an LED 20A (see FIG. 4) and other light-emitting devices. For example, the LED 20A emits light in different patterns when the power supply unit 201 needs to be charged, when the power supply unit 201 is being charged, and when an abnormality has occurred in the main device 20. The patterns here include different colors, different timings for turning the light on and off, etc.

[0044] The notification unit 203 may be configured with a display device that displays images, a sound output device that outputs sound, a vibration device that vibrates the main body device 20, or the like, in addition to or instead of the light-emitting device described above. The light-emitting device, display device, sound output device, vibration device, etc. are also examples of a notification unit that notifies information. In addition, the notification unit 203 may notify the user that it is now possible to inhale the aerosol. This notification is given when the temperature of the stick-shaped substrate 210 heated by the heating unit 207 reaches a predetermined temperature.

[0045] The storage unit 204 is an electronic component that stores various information related to the operation of the main device 20. The storage unit 204 is configured with a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash memory. Information stored in the storage unit 204 includes, for example, an operating system (OS), firmware (FW), and other programs. The storage unit 204 also stores a heating profile used to heat the stick-shaped substrate 210, which is the aerosol source. The heating profile is a data file that specifies the change in target temperature over time after heating begins.

[0046] In this embodiment, one heating profile is stored in the storage unit 204. The heating profile is also called a "control profile" or a "control sequence." Other information stored in the storage unit 204 includes, for example, information related to the control of electronic components. The control information includes information related to the user's suction, such as the number of suctions, the suction time, and the cumulative suction time. In other words, the storage unit 204 records the user's suction behavior history and operation history.

[0047] The communication unit 205 is an electronic component for enabling communication between the main device 20 and other devices. The communication unit 205 is also referred to as a communication interface. The communication unit 205 communicates with other devices in accordance with any wired or wireless communication standard. Examples of communication standards include wireless LAN, wired LAN, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and Bluetooth (registered trademark). For example, the communication unit 205 transmits information about the user's inhalation to a smartphone. The communication unit 205 also downloads update programs and a profile that defines the temperature change of the heating unit 207 in heating mode from a server.

[0048] The control unit 206 is an electronic component that functions as a processing unit or control device and controls the operation of the main unit 20 according to various programs. Control signals are transmitted via a signal line that is different from the power supply line. For example, communication within the main unit 20 uses a serial communication method such as the I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) communication method, the SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) communication method, or the UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) communication method.

[0049] The control unit 206 is realized by electronic circuits such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), etc. The control unit 206 may include a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs, calculation parameters, etc., and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores parameters that change as appropriate.

[0050] The control unit 206 executes various processes and controls through the execution of programs. These processes and controls include, for example, rewriting the heating profile, supplying power from the power supply unit 201 to other electronic components, charging the power supply unit 201, detecting information using the sensor unit 202, notifying information using the notification unit 203, storing and reading information using the memory unit 204, and sending and receiving information using the communication unit 205. The control unit 206 also controls switching of the power source for the electronic components. The control unit 206 also has a function of determining whether the front panel 10 attached to the main unit 20 is a front panel 10 with a sub-battery, and executing processes and controls according to the determination result.

[0051] The holding part 209 is a roughly cylindrical container. In this embodiment, the space inside the holding part 209, which is defined by the inner wall and the bottom surface, is referred to as the internal space 209A. The internal space 209A is roughly columnar. The holding part 209 is provided with an opening 209B that connects the internal space 209A to the outside. The stick-shaped substrate 210 is inserted into the internal space 209A from this opening 209B. The stick-shaped substrate 210 is inserted until its tip hits the bottom 209C. Only a portion of the stick-shaped substrate 210 is accommodated in the internal space 209A. A state in which the stick-shaped substrate 210 is accommodated in the internal space 209A is referred to as the stick-shaped substrate 210 being held in the internal space 209A.

[0052] The holding part 209 is formed so that the inner diameter of at least a portion of its axial direction is smaller than the outer diameter of the stick-shaped substrate 210. For this reason, the outer peripheral surface of the stick-shaped substrate 210 inserted into the internal space 209A is subjected to pressure from the inner wall of the holding part 209. This pressure holds the stick-shaped substrate 210 in the internal space 209A. The holding part 209 also has the function of defining the flow path of air passing through the stick-shaped substrate 210. An air inlet, which is the entrance of air to the flow path, is located, for example, in the bottom part 209C. Note that the opening 209B corresponds to an air outlet, which is the air outlet.

[0053] In the present embodiment, only a portion of the stick-shaped substrate 210 is held in the holding portion 209, with the remainder protruding from the housing. Hereinafter, the portion held in the holding portion 209 will be referred to as the substrate portion 210A, and the portion protruding from the housing will be referred to as the mouthpiece portion 210B. At least the substrate portion 210A houses an aerosol source. The aerosol source is a substance that is atomized by heating to generate an aerosol. Aerosol sources include shredded tobacco, as well as processed products in which tobacco raw materials are formed into granules, sheets, or powder, and other tobacco-derived substances.

[0054] Furthermore, the aerosol source may include non-tobacco-derived substances made from plants other than tobacco, such as mint or herbs. For example, the aerosol source may include a flavoring component such as menthol. If the main device 20 is a medical inhaler, the aerosol source may include a medication for inhalation by the patient. Note that the aerosol source is not limited to solids and may be, for example, a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerin or propylene glycol, or a liquid such as water.

[0055] At least a portion of suction mouth portion 210B is held in the user's mouth when inhaling. When the user holds suction mouth portion 210B in their mouth and inhales, air flows into internal space 209A through the air inlet hole. The inflowing air passes through internal space 209A and base portion 210A and reaches the user's mouth. The air that reaches the user's mouth contains aerosol generated in base portion 210A.

[0056] The heating unit 207 is an electronic component made of a heater or other heat generating element. The heating unit 207 is made of any material, such as metal or polyimide. The heating unit 207 is, for example, in the form of a film, and is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the holding unit 209. The aerosol source contained in the stick-shaped substrate 210 is heated and atomized by the heat generated by the heating unit 207. The atomized aerosol source is mixed with air or the like to generate an aerosol. In the case of FIG. 6 , the area near the periphery of the stick-shaped substrate 210 is heated first, and the heated range gradually moves toward the center.

[0057] Therefore, atomization of the aerosol source begins near the periphery of the stick-shaped substrate 210 and gradually moves toward the center. The heating unit 207 generates heat when power is supplied from the power supply unit 201. For example, when a predetermined user input is detected via the sensor unit 202, power supply to the heating unit 207 is permitted. The user input here includes operation of the shutter 30 (see FIG. 1) or button 20B (see FIG. 4). However, power supply to the heating unit 207 is premised on the front panel 10 (see FIG. 1) being attached to the main device 20. By attaching the front panel 10, it is possible to reduce the temperature transmitted to the user's hand compared to when the front panel 10 is not attached.

[0058] When the temperature of the stick-shaped substrate 210 heated by the heating unit 207 reaches a predetermined temperature, the user becomes able to inhale. The inhalation of the aerosol by the user is detected by a flow rate sensor or the like of the sensor unit 202 and stored in the storage unit 204. Thereafter, when a predetermined user input is detected by the sensor unit 202, power supply to the heating unit 207 is stopped. It is also possible to employ a system in which power is supplied to the heating unit 207 while the sensor unit 202 detects inhalation by the user, and power supply to the heating unit 207 is stopped when inhalation by the user is no longer detected by the sensor unit 202.

[0059] 6, the heating unit 207 is disposed outside the stick-shaped substrate 210, but the heating unit 207 may be a blade-shaped metal piece that is inserted into the stick-shaped substrate 210, or a metal piece that is built into the stick-shaped substrate 210. When the metal piece that functions as the heating unit 207 is built into the stick-shaped substrate 210, an induction heating coil may be disposed around the holding unit 209. The induction heating coil is an example of an electronic component.

[0060] The heat insulating section 208 is a member that reduces the propagation of heat generated in the heating section 207 to the surrounding area. For this reason, the heat insulating section 208 is arranged so as to cover at least the outer peripheral surface of the heating section 207. The heat insulating section 208 is made of, for example, a vacuum insulation material, an aerogel insulation material, or the like. A vacuum insulation material is an insulation material in which, for example, glass wool and silica (silicon powder) are wrapped in a resin film and placed in a high vacuum state, thereby reducing the thermal conduction of gases to as close to zero as possible.

[0061] <Power Supply Circuit of Main Device> Fig. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the connection relationship of the power supply circuit of the aerosol generation device 1 used in embodiment 1. Note that Fig. 7 shows a state in which the primary battery 101 is attached to the main body part of the front panel 10. As shown in Fig. 7, the power supply part 201 is provided with a secondary battery 201A, a step-up DC / DC circuit 201B, a power supply unit 201C, step-up / step-down DC / DC circuits 201D and 201E, power switches 201F and 201G, a backflow prevention circuit 201H, and electronic components 220.

[0062] The secondary battery 201A may be, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery or a capacitor. The secondary battery 201A is a battery that stores the power required for the operation of the main device 20. The secondary battery 201A is an example of a first battery. Hereinafter, the secondary battery 201A will also be referred to as the "main battery." The secondary battery 201A can be charged from an external power source. In the present embodiment, the external power source may be, for example, a commercial power source or a mobile battery.

[0063] The step-up DC / DC circuit 201B is a circuit that supplies a constant voltage (for example, 5 V) regardless of the output voltage of the secondary battery 201A to a power supply line to which the heating unit 207 is connected. The power supply unit 201C is a circuit that distributes power to a power supply line that supplies, for example, 3.3 V (i.e., "system power supply") and performs voltage conversion of power supplied from an external power supply (for example, a commercial power supply).

[0064] When an external power supply is not connected, the power supply unit 201C outputs the output voltage of the secondary battery 201A to the step-up / step-down DC / DC circuit 201D. On the other hand, when an external power supply is connected, the power supply unit 201C steps down the external power supply to 4.2 V and outputs it to the secondary battery 201A and the step-up / step-down DC / DC circuit 201D. The step-up / step-down DC / DC circuit 201D is configured, for example, with a switching regulator. The power supply unit 201C outputs, for example, a 5 V power supply Vcc5 to a power supply line (not shown) to which the LED 20A (see FIG. 4) is connected. Here, the external power supply includes not only a commercial power supply and a mobile battery, but also the primary battery 101 of the front panel 10. Since a USB cable is used to supply power from the commercial power supply or the mobile battery, the power supply terminal corresponding to these is represented as VUSB in FIG. 7.

[0065] The step-up / step-down DC / DC circuit 201D converts the voltage provided by the power supply unit 201C into a 3.3V system power supply Vsys. For example, when the output voltage of the secondary battery 201A is provided from the power supply unit 201C, the step-up / step-down DC / DC circuit 201D steps up or down the output voltage to generate a 3.3V system power supply Vsys. As is well known, the output voltage of the secondary battery 201A fluctuates depending on the remaining capacity and degree of deterioration, but is converted to 3.3V by the step-up / step-down DC / DC circuit 201D. On the other hand, when the output voltage of an external power supply is provided from the power supply unit 201C, the step-up / step-down DC / DC circuit 201D steps down the output voltage to generate a 3.3V system power supply Vsys.

[0066] The step-up / step-down DC / DC circuit 201E converts the output voltage of the primary battery 101 in the front panel 10 into a 3.3V system power supply Vsys. The output voltage of the primary battery 101 also fluctuates depending on the remaining capacity and degree of deterioration, but the step-up / step-down DC / DC circuit 201E boosts or lowers the output voltage to generate the 3.3V system power supply Vsys. The step-up / step-down DC / DC circuit 201E is also composed of, for example, a switching regulator. The power switch 201F switches the supply of the system power supply Vsys to the electronic component 220 between the supply from the primary battery 101 in the front panel 10 and the supply from the secondary battery 201A in the main unit 20. The control unit 206 instructs the power switch 201F to switch.

[0067] When the system power Vsys derived from the secondary battery 201A of the main device 20 is supplied to the electronic components 220, the power switch 201F is controlled to be on. On the other hand, when the system power Vsys derived from the primary battery 101 of the front panel 10 is supplied to the electronic components 220, the power switch 201F is controlled to be off. In the case of Fig. 7, the power switch 201F is provided on a power line to which the system power Vsys derived from the secondary battery 201A of the main device 20 is applied.

[0068] In the case of FIG. 7 , electronic component 220 is a general term for electronic components built into main device 20 that switch between different power supplies (Vsys) to use the system power supply Vsys. Examples of electronic components 220 include sensor unit 202, notification unit 203, memory unit 204, and communication unit 205. Incidentally, control unit 206 operates only on the system power supply Vsys derived from secondary battery 201A. However, control unit 206 can also be included in electronic components 220. Furthermore, only some of sensor unit 202, notification unit 203, memory unit 204, and communication unit 205 (e.g., sensor unit 202 and notification unit 203) may be treated as electronic components 220. In other words, only the system power supply Vsys derived from secondary battery 201A may be supplied to the other electronic components.

[0069] The units included in the electronic component 220 whose power source can be switched are not limited to the functional classifications shown in FIG. 6 (e.g., the sensor unit 202 and the notification unit 203), but may be individual components. For example, a pressure sensor, which is an example of the sensor unit 202, is included in the electronic component 220, but a temperature sensor, which is also an example of the sensor unit 202, may be excluded from the electronic component 220. The LED 20A (see FIG. 4) in this embodiment requires a 5V power supply. Therefore, the LED 20A, which is an example of the notification unit 203 (see FIG. 4), is not included in the electronic component 220. However, an LED that operates on a 3.3V system power supply Vsys may be included in the electronic component 220.

[0070] The power switch 201G is a circuit that switches the supply of system power Vsys to the electronic component 220 between supply from the primary battery 101 in the front panel 10 and supply from the secondary battery 201A in the main unit 20. The control unit 206 also instructs the switching of the power switch 201G. In the case of FIG. 7 , the power switch 201G is provided on a power line to which the system power Vsys derived from the primary battery 101 in the front panel 10 is applied. Therefore, when the system power Vsys derived from the primary battery 101 in the front panel 10 is supplied to the electronic component 220, the power switch 201G is controlled to be on. When the system power Vsys derived from the secondary battery 201A in the main unit 20 is supplied to the electronic component 220, the power switch 201G is controlled to be off.

[0071] The backflow prevention circuit 201H is a so-called protection circuit. In the case of Fig. 7, the backflow prevention circuit 201H is a diode and is arranged on the power supply line connected to the GND terminal and the external power supply terminal. However, the backflow prevention circuit 201H may also be an FET (Field Effect Transistor).

[0072] <Example of Processing Operation> An example of processing operation executed by the control unit 206 (see FIG. 6) of the main body device 20 (see FIG. 6) will be described below.

[0073] <Attachment Detection Operation> Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an attachment detection operation executed by the control unit 206 of the main unit 20. This operation is executed not only before heating by the heating unit 207 (see Figure 6) starts, but also after heating starts, and is always executed in the background. Note that the symbol S in the figure indicates a step. First, the control unit 206 determines whether the front panel 10 (see Figure 1) is attached to the main unit 20 (see Figure 1) (step 1).

[0074] If the front panel 10 is attached to the main device 20, a positive result is obtained in step 1. On the other hand, if the front panel 10 is detached from the front of the main device 20, a negative result is obtained in step 1. Attachment or detachment of the front panel 10 is determined based on the output signal of the Hall IC. If a positive result is obtained in step 1, the control unit 206 cancels the prohibition on heating of the aerosol source by the heating unit 207 (step 2).

[0075] However, lifting the heating prohibition state and starting heating are separate events. Heating of the stick-shaped substrate 210 (see FIG. 6), which is the aerosol source, is started by pressing and holding the button 20B (see FIG. 4) from above the front panel 10 for at least one second. If a negative result is obtained in step 1, the control unit 206 controls the heating unit 207 to prohibit heating of the aerosol source (step 3). This prevents heating of the aerosol source when the front panel 10 is not attached. After step 2 or step 3 is executed, the control unit 206 returns to step 1 and repeatedly determines whether the front panel 10 is attached to the main device 20. This attachment detection operation prevents the user from directly touching the main device 20 during the heating operation.

[0076] <Switching of System Power Supply> Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating the switching process of the system power supply Vsys by the control unit 206 (see Figure 6) according to the first embodiment. The process shown in Figure 9 is started, for example, when the attachment of the front panel 10 is detected by an output signal from a Hall IC. The process shown in Figure 9 may also be started when a specific operation by the user is received. Examples of the specific operation include opening and closing the shutter 30 multiple times (e.g., twice), operating the button 20B multiple times (e.g., twice), or pressing and holding the button 20B for a long time (e.g., five seconds or more) to reset the camera.

[0077] 9 begins, the control unit 206 determines whether a front panel 10 with a sub-battery is attached (step 11). In this embodiment, there is no need to determine the type of sub-battery. That is, it is not necessary to consider whether the sub-battery is a primary battery 101 or a secondary battery 101A (see FIG. 19 ) described in embodiment 5. The presence of a front panel 10 with a sub-battery can be detected, for example, by detecting structural features on the back surface of the front panel 10 (the surface attached to the front surface of the main unit 20), by detecting the current or voltage appearing in the power line receiving power from the front panel 10, or by information communicated from the front panel 10 to the main unit 20.

[0078] If a front panel 10 with a sub-battery is attached, a positive result is obtained in step 11. In this case, the control unit 206 determines whether the remaining charge of the sub-battery (primary battery 101) is equal to or greater than a reference value (step 12). Here, "remaining charge" refers to the remaining capacity of the battery. The remaining charge may be expressed, for example, with the capacity when unused (hereinafter also referred to as "initial capacity") as 100%, or it may be expressed in mAh. In this embodiment, the sub-battery is a primary battery, but if the sub-battery is a secondary battery, the fully charged capacity when in use may be expressed as 100%.

[0079] The reference value is an example of a threshold value set to prevent the remaining capacity from reaching 0% while power is being supplied from the primary battery 101. In this embodiment, the reference value is set to 10% of the initial capacity of the primary battery 101. However, since the initial capacity of the same button-type sub-battery may differ depending on the manufacturer, a specific value [mAh] may also be used. Note that if there are multiple maximum capacities of sub-batteries attached to the front panel 10 (for example, if there is a front panel 10 with one 1.5V battery attached and another with two 1.5V batteries attached), the control unit 206 detects the capacity of the sub-battery attached to the front panel 10 based on the structural features described above.

[0080] Additionally, the sensor unit 202 (see FIG. 6) of the main unit 20 may be provided with a remaining battery level detection sensor that detects the remaining battery level of the sub-battery attached to the front panel 10. This remaining battery level detection sensor may be placed, for example, on the power supply line between the step-up / step-down DC / DC circuit 201E and the backflow prevention circuit 201H. However, the remaining battery level detection sensor may also be provided within the front panel 10, and the detected current and voltage values ​​and the remaining battery level value may be notified to the control unit 206.

[0081] If the remaining charge of the sub-battery is equal to or greater than the reference value, a positive result is obtained in step 12. In this case, the control unit 206 sets the system power supply Vsys, which is supplied to some electronic components (i.e., the electronic component 220 in FIG. 7 ), to the sub-battery (step 13). That is, the supply source of the system power supply Vsys for the electronic component 220 is switched from the main battery to the sub-battery. After this switch, power from the main battery (secondary battery 201A) is supplied to the control unit 206, the heating unit 207, the LED 20A (not shown) (see FIG. 4 ), and electronic components other than the electronic component 220. As a result, power consumption of the main battery is reduced compared to before the switch. Therefore, the main battery lasts longer than when power is supplied from the main battery to all electronic components (including the electronic component 220) in the main device 20. That is, the usable time of the aerosol generation device 1 on a single charge is extended, and the number of inhalable stick-shaped substrates 210 is also increased.

[0082] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step 11 or step 12, the control unit 206 proceeds to step 14. A negative result in step 11 occurs when a front panel 10 without a sub-battery is attached to the main device 20. A negative result in step 12 occurs when the remaining charge of the sub-battery of the front panel 10 attached to the main device 20 is less than a reference value. The control unit 206 proceeds to step 14 and sets the system power supply Vsys, which is supplied to some electronic components (i.e., electronic component 220 in FIG. 7 ), to the main battery (secondary battery 201A). This results in a state in which all power consumed by the main device 20 is supplied by the main battery. After executing step 13 or 14, the control unit 206 returns to the determination in step 11.

[0083] That is, the switching of the system power supply Vsys is performed as follows. First, if a sub-battery is not attached to the front panel 10, the control unit 206 proceeds to step 14 and supplies power from the main battery to all electronic components in the main device 20. On the other hand, if a sub-battery is attached to the front panel 10 and the remaining charge of the sub-battery is equal to or greater than a reference value, the control unit 206 proceeds to step 13 and switches the power supply to some electronic components (i.e., electronic component 220 in FIG. 7 ) from the main battery to the sub-battery. Note that if the remaining charge of the sub-battery falls below the reference value during use, the power supply to some electronic components (i.e., electronic component 220 in FIG. 7 ) will be switched from the sub-battery to the main battery.

[0084] <Summary> The aerosol generation device 1 (main device 20) in this embodiment is provided with a power line that can switch between the system power supply Vsys derived from the main battery and the system power supply Vsys derived from the sub-battery. In addition, the control unit 206 controls the switching of the system power supply Vsys depending on the remaining charge of the sub-battery attached to the front panel 10. This allows the aerosol generation device 1 in this embodiment to achieve a more diverse power supply than when only the main battery is used as a power source.

[0085] Furthermore, the total amount of power available to the main device 20 equipped with the front panel 10 with a sub-battery is greater than when the main battery of the main device 20 is used as the power source. This allows the usable time per charge of the main battery (secondary battery 201A) and the number of stick-shaped substrates 210 that can be used to generate aerosol per charge to be increased compared to when power is supplied by the secondary battery 201A alone.

[0086] <Embodiment 2> In this embodiment, a case where a display is attached to a front panel 10 with a sub-battery will be described. <External Appearance Example> Fig. 10 is a view of the front side of the aerosol generation device 1 used in embodiment 2, observed from diagonally above. In Fig. 10, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals. A display 40 is attached to the main panel 10A of the front panel 10 shown in Fig. 10. The display 40 is formed, for example, from a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, or a segment-type display formed by a fixed electrode pattern. The display 40 here is an example of a "first presentation unit" that presents information.

[0087] Liquid crystal displays, organic EL displays, and other dot-matrix displays can display any information. On the other hand, segment displays can only display information defined by an electrode pattern. The display 40 shown in FIG. 10 is roughly square and located near the center of the front panel 10. The display 40 does not have a window 10B (see FIG. 1). Therefore, when the front panel 10 shown in FIG. 10 is attached, the illumination of the LED 20A (see FIG. 4) provided on the main unit 20 cannot be confirmed from the outside. The LED 20A here is an example of a "second display unit." However, the front panel 10 envisioned in this embodiment may have both the display 40 and the window 10B.

[0088] <Internal Configuration> <Configuration of Functional Units> Figure 11 is a diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the aerosol generation device 1 used in embodiment 2. In Figure 11, parts corresponding to those in Figure 6 are assigned reference numerals corresponding to those in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 11, the hardware configuration of the main unit 20 is basically the same as that in embodiment 1. Meanwhile, the front panel 10 is provided with a primary battery 101, a display 40, and a communication unit 102. In Figure 11, the display is represented as "DSP." Figure 12 is a diagram schematically showing the connection relationship of the power supply circuit of the aerosol generation device 1 used in embodiment 2. In Figure 12, parts corresponding to those in Figure 7 are assigned reference numerals corresponding to those in Figure 7.

[0089] The main unit 20 shown in Fig. 12 is further equipped with an LED 20A and a power switch 201K that controls the on / off of the supply of 5V power Vcc5 to the LED 20A. The rest of the configuration of the main unit 120 is the same as that shown in Fig. 7. The front panel 10 shown in Fig. 12 is further equipped with a step-up / step-down DC / DC circuit 103, a display 40, and a communication unit 102. The step-up / step-down DC / DC circuit 103 converts the output voltage of the primary battery 101 into the system power supply Vsys and supplies it to the display 40 and the communication unit 102 via the power supply line.

[0090] That is, the front panel 10 used in this embodiment supplies the power required to operate the electronic components provided on the front panel 10 from the primary battery 101. In other words, the main battery (secondary battery 201A) of the main device 20 does not supply power to the electronic components provided on the front panel 10. However, it is possible to supply the system power supply Vsys generated by the main device 20 to the electronic components on the front panel 10. However, this increases the power consumption of the main battery (secondary battery 201A). In addition, the communication unit 102 receives information to be displayed on the display 40 from the communication unit 205 of the main device 20. The received information is displayed on the display 40.

[0091] <Switching of Power Supply> FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the switching process of the power supply by the control unit 206 (see FIG. 11 ) according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 13 , the same reference numerals are used to denote parts corresponding to those in FIG. 9 . The process shown in FIG. 13 is also initiated, for example, when the attachment of the front panel 10 is detected by an output signal from a Hall IC. The process shown in FIG. 13 may also be initiated when a specific operation by the user is received. Examples of the specific operation include opening and closing the shutter 30 (see FIG. 1 ) multiple times (e.g., twice), operating the button 20B (see FIG. 4 ) multiple times (e.g., twice), or pressing and holding the button 20B for a long time (e.g., five seconds or longer) to reset the camera.

[0092] 13 starts, the control unit 206 executes steps 11 to 14, as in the first embodiment. The following describes the differences from the first embodiment. After executing step 13 (i.e., when the system power Vsys derived from the sub-battery is supplied to a specific electronic component 220), the control unit 206 determines whether or not a display 40 is attached to the front panel 10 (step 15). The determination here is whether or not a display 40 is attached, regardless of whether or not the LED 20A is hidden by the display 40, as in the third embodiment described below.

[0093] Therefore, in this embodiment, the control unit 206 does not distinguish between the front panel 10 having the external configuration shown in FIG. 10 and the front panel 10 having the external configuration shown in FIG. 14 (described later) and the display 40. If the front panel 10 with a sub-battery does not have a display 40, a negative result is obtained in step 15. This case is the same as in embodiment 1. In this case, the control unit 206 returns to the determination in step 11.

[0094] On the other hand, if the display 40 is attached to the front panel 10 with a sub-battery, a positive result is obtained in step 15. In this case, the control unit 206 stops the supply of the 5V power supply Vcc5 to the LED 20A of the main unit (step 16). Specifically, the power switch 201K (see FIG. 12) is controlled to the OFF state. This forces the LED 20A to be turned off.

[0095] Next, the control unit 206 starts presenting information on the display 40 of the front panel 10 (step 17). For example, the display 40 displays information such as failures or abnormalities in electronic components (not limited to electronic component 220), abnormalities in the main body temperature, the remaining charge of the main battery, and the remaining charge of the sub-battery using characters, symbols, diagrams, etc. Displays using characters, symbols, diagrams, etc. are easier for the user to understand than lit or flashing LED 20A. After executing step 17, the control unit 206 returns to the determination in step 11.

[0096] <Summary> In the aerosol generation device 1 (main body device 20) of this embodiment, when a display 40 is provided on a front panel 10 with a sub-battery, power supply to the LED 20A is stopped and information display by the display 40 is started. In other words, information presentation is unified to the display 40. As a result, it becomes possible to stop power supply from the main battery (secondary battery 201A) to the LED 20A, which consumes a large amount of power. In other words, it becomes possible to supply power according to the form of information presentation.

[0097] On the other hand, the information displayed by the display 40 has better visibility than the LED 20 A. Furthermore, when the display 40 is a dot matrix display, the amount of information that can be presented is greater than that of the LED 20 A. As a result, it is possible to convey more information to the user in an easily understandable manner.

[0098] <Embodiment 3> In this embodiment, a form will be described in which the positional relationship between the display 40 (see FIG. 10) provided on the front panel 10 and the LED 20A (see FIG. 4) is also determined to control the supply of power to the LED 20A. The basic hardware configuration and functional configuration are the same as those in embodiment 2. Figure 14 is a view of the front side of the aerosol generation device 1 used in embodiment 3, observed from diagonally above. In Figure 14, parts corresponding to those in Figure 10 are assigned the same reference numerals.

[0099] 14, the front panel 10 is provided with a window 10B and a display 40. This allows the user to observe not only the information displayed on the display 40 but also the lighting state of the LED 20A through the window 10B. However, the main unit 20 can be equipped with not only the front panel 10 having the external configuration shown in FIG. 14, but also the front panel 10 having the external configuration shown in FIG. 10.

[0100] FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the power supply switching process performed by the control unit 206 (see FIG. 11 ) according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 15 , the same reference numerals are used to denote parts corresponding to those in FIG. 13 . The process shown in FIG. 15 is also initiated, for example, when the attachment of the front panel 10 is detected by an output signal from a Hall IC. The process shown in FIG. 15 may also be initiated when a specific operation by the user is received. Examples of the specific operation include opening and closing the shutter 30 (see FIG. 1 ) multiple times (e.g., twice), pressing the button 20B (see FIG. 4 ) multiple times (e.g., twice), or pressing the button 20B for a long time (e.g., five seconds or longer) to reset the camera.

[0101] 15 starts, control unit 206 executes steps 11 to 15, as in embodiment 2. In this embodiment, control unit 206 determines whether LED 20A of main unit 20 is hidden by display 40 between steps 15 and 16 (step 21). Note that control unit 206 obtains information necessary for this determination, for example, by detecting structural characteristics of attached front panel 10 or by communicating with communication unit 102 of front panel 10.

[0102] For example, the control unit 206 identifies the positional relationship between the display 40 and the LED 20A based on the number of protrusions provided on the back surface of the front panel 10. In other words, the type of front panel 10 is identified. For example, if there is one protrusion, the control unit 206 determines that the LED 20A is hidden by the display 40, and if there are two protrusions, the control unit 206 determines that the LED 20A is not hidden by the display 40. Incidentally, the state in which the LED 20A is hidden by the display 40 is an example of "a case in which the user cannot confirm the information presented by the LED 20A."

[0103] When the information required for the determination is acquired through communication, the control unit 206 identifies the positional relationship between the display 40 and the LED 20A, for example, by a specific flag being "1" or "0" or by a multi-digit code. For example, if the specific flag is "1", the control unit 206 determines that the LED 20A is hidden by the display 40, and if the specific flag is "0", the control unit 206 determines that the LED 20A is not hidden by the display 40. The code also includes, for example, the manufacturing number and serial number of the front panel 10.

[0104] If the LED 20A of the main unit 20 is obscured by the display 40 of the front panel 10, a positive result is obtained in step 21. In this case, the control unit 206 executes steps 16 and 17 in order. That is, the supply of the 5V power supply Vcc5 to the LED 20A is stopped, and the display 40 starts displaying information. On the other hand, if the LED 20A of the main unit 20 is not obscured by the display 40 of the front panel 10, a negative result is obtained in step 21. In this case, the control unit 206 displays information using both the LED 20A and the display 40 (step 22).

[0105] Incidentally, the information presented through the display 40 and the information presented through the LED 20A may overlap. For example, the remaining battery charge (either or both of the primary battery 101 and the secondary battery 201A) may be displayed by both the display 40 and the LED 20A. However, the remaining charge may be displayed by the number of lit LEDs 20A or the blinking rate, and the remaining charge may be displayed by the number of unit blocks displayed or a numerical value (e.g., 30%). After executing step 17 or step 22, the control unit 206 returns to the determination in step 11.

[0106] <Summary> In the aerosol generation device 1 (main device 20) of this embodiment, it is possible to switch between presenting information using only the display 40 and presenting information using both the LED 20A and the display 40, depending on the positional relationship between the display 40 provided on the front panel 10 with a sub-battery and the LED 20A provided on the main device 20. In other words, it is possible to supply power according to the form of information presentation.

[0107] <Fourth Embodiment> In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the power supply source for the heating unit 207 is switched between a main battery and a sub-battery. The basic hardware configuration and functional configuration are the same as those in the second embodiment. Fig. 16 is a diagram schematically showing the connection relationship of the power supply circuit of the aerosol generation device 1 used in the fourth embodiment. In Fig. 16, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 12 are assigned the same reference numerals.

[0108] In this embodiment, the system power supply Vsys of the main device 20 is derived solely from the main battery (secondary battery 201A). Therefore, the main device 20 shown in Fig. 16 does not include a step-up / step-down DC / DC circuit 201E (see Fig. 12) or power switches 201F and 201G (see Fig. 12). However, as a configuration unique to this embodiment, the main device 20 includes a step-up DC / DC circuit 201M that boosts the output voltage of the sub-battery (primary battery 101) to a constant voltage (e.g., 5V), and power switches 201N and 201L that control the on / off of power supply to the heating unit 207.

[0109] Of these, power switch 201N is controlled to be ON when power is supplied from the sub-battery and OFF when power is supplied from the main battery. On the other hand, power switch 201L is controlled to be ON when power is supplied from the main battery and OFF when power is supplied from the sub-battery. Note that in this embodiment as well, a display 40 is provided on the front panel 10. For this reason, the front panel 10 shown in FIG. 16 has the same circuit configuration as in embodiment 3. However, a front panel 10 without a display 40, as in embodiment 1, may be attached to the main unit 20.

[0110] FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating the power supply switching process executed by the control unit 206 (see FIG. 6 ) according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 17 , parts corresponding to those in FIG. 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The process shown in FIG. 17 is also initiated, for example, when the attachment of the front panel 10 is detected by an output signal from a Hall IC. The process shown in FIG. 17 may also be initiated when a specific operation by the user is received. Examples of the specific operation include opening and closing the shutter 30 (see FIG. 1 ) multiple times (e.g., twice), pressing the button 20B (see FIG. 4 ) multiple times (e.g., twice), or pressing the button 20B for a long time (e.g., five seconds or longer) to reset the camera.

[0111] 17 starts, the control unit 206 determines whether or not the front panel 10 with a sub-battery is attached (step 11). If a negative result is obtained in step 11, the control unit 206 determines whether or not a request for aerosol generation has been detected (step 33). While a negative result is obtained in step 33, the control unit 206 repeats the determination in step 33. Note that if a negative result is obtained in step 33, the control unit 206 may return to step 11.

[0112] If a positive result is obtained in step 33, the control unit 206 supplies power from the main battery (secondary battery 201A) to the heating unit 207 (step 34). In this case, the control unit 206 controls the power switch 201L (see FIG. 16) to the ON state (connected state) and the power switch 201N (see FIG. 16) to the OFF state (disconnected state).

[0113] On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step 11, the control unit 206 determines whether the remaining charge of the sub-battery is equal to or greater than a reference value (step 12). If a negative result is obtained in step 12, the control unit 206 proceeds to step 33. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step 12, the control unit 206 determines whether an aerosol generation request has been detected (step 31). While a negative result is obtained in step 31, the control unit 206 repeats the determination in step 31. Note that if a negative result is obtained in step 31, the control unit 206 may return to step 11.

[0114] If a positive result is obtained in step 31, the control unit 206 supplies power from the sub-battery (primary battery 101) to the heating unit 207 (step 32). In this case, the control unit 206 controls the power switch 201N (see FIG. 16) to the ON state (connected state) and the power switch 201L (see FIG. 16) to the OFF state (disconnected state).

[0115] In the case of FIG. 17 , after executing step 32, the control unit 206 executes step 15. If a negative result is obtained in step 15 (if the front panel 10 does not have a display 40) or after executing step 34, the control unit 206 returns to the determination of step 11. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step 15 (if the front panel 10 has a display 40), the control unit 206 stops the supply of 5V power to the LED 20A of the main unit 20 (step 16), and then starts presenting information on the display 40 of the front panel 10 (step 17). Note that after executing step 17, the control unit 206 returns to the determination of step 11. However, the processing shown in steps 15-17 may be performed before executing steps 31-32 or steps 33-34.

[0116] <Summary> In the aerosol generation device 1 (main body device 20) of this embodiment, when the remaining charge of the sub-battery (primary battery 101) provided in the front panel 10 is equal to or greater than a reference value, power is supplied from the sub-battery to the heating unit 207. On the other hand, when the front panel 10 is not provided with a sub-battery, or when the remaining charge of the sub-battery provided in the front panel 10 is less than the reference value, power is supplied from the main battery to the heating unit 207. In this way, while the remaining charge of the sub-battery is greater than the reference value, power can be supplied from the sub-battery to the heating unit 207, which consumes a large amount of power. This makes it possible to reduce consumption of the main battery.

[0117] In the present embodiment, the total amount of power available to the main device 20 equipped with the front panel 10 with a sub-battery is also greater than when power is supplied only from the secondary battery 201A of the main device 20. Therefore, the usable time per charge of the secondary battery 201A and the number of stick-shaped substrates 210 that can be used to generate aerosol per charge can be increased compared to when power is supplied only from the secondary battery 201A.

[0118] <Embodiment 5> In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the sub-battery attached to the front panel 10 is a secondary battery. Therefore, the basic hardware configuration and functional configuration of this embodiment are the same as those of embodiment 1. However, in this embodiment, the connection relationship of the power supply circuit is different from that of embodiment 1. Figure 18 is a diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the aerosol generation device 1 used in embodiment 5. In Figure 18, parts corresponding to those in Figure 6 are assigned the same reference numerals. The difference between Figure 18 and Figure 6 is that the sub-battery attached to the front panel 10 is a secondary battery 101A.

[0119] Fig. 19 is a diagram schematically showing the connection relationship of the power supply circuit of the aerosol generation device 1 used in embodiment 5. In Fig. 19, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 7 are assigned the same reference numerals. In the case of Fig. 19, a power supply line for charging the secondary battery 101A of the front panel 10 is added to the power supply section 201. The secondary battery 101A of the front panel 10 is charged by a power supply unit 201C. The other configurations are the same as those of the power supply section 201 described in Fig. 7.

[0120] The control unit 206 in this embodiment executes the processing operations described in embodiment 1. The following describes processing operations specific to this embodiment, namely, the charging operation of the secondary battery 101A in the front panel 10. Fig. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a USB charging operation executed by the control unit 206 in embodiment 5. First, the control unit 206 determines whether a USB connection has been detected (step 41).

[0121] If a USB connection is not detected, a negative result is obtained in step 41. In this case, the control unit 206 repeats the determination in step 41. On the other hand, if a USB connection is detected, a positive result is obtained in step 41. In this case, the control unit 206 determines whether a secondary battery is mounted on the front panel 10 (step 42).

[0122] If a secondary battery is installed in the front panel 10, a positive result is obtained in step 42. In this case, the control unit 206 starts charging the secondary battery in the main unit 20 and the secondary battery in the front panel 10 (step 43A). Note that the actual charging may be performed by first fully charging either the secondary battery 201A in the main unit 20 or the secondary battery 101A in the front panel 10, and then fully charging the other. However, the secondary battery 201A in the main unit 20 and the secondary battery 101A in the front panel 10 may be charged in parallel. Next, the control unit 206 determines whether both secondary batteries are fully charged (step 44A). If either one is not fully charged, a negative result is obtained in step 44A. On the other hand, if both secondary batteries are fully charged, a positive result is obtained in step 44A.

[0123] If a negative result is obtained in step 44A, the control unit 206 determines whether the USB cable has been removed (step 45A). If the USB cable remains connected, a negative result is obtained in step 45A. In this case, the control unit 206 returns to step 44A. On the other hand, if the USB cable is removed during charging, a positive result is obtained in step 45A. If a positive result is obtained in step 44A or if a positive result is obtained in step 45A, the control unit 206 stops charging the secondary battery of the main unit 20 and the secondary battery of the front panel 10 (step 46A). Thereafter, the control unit 206 ends the USB charging operation.

[0124] The process returns to the determination in step 42. If secondary battery 101A is not installed in front panel 10 (this includes not only the case where a sub-battery is not installed, but also the case where the installed sub-battery is primary battery 101), a negative result is obtained in step 42. In this case, control unit 206 starts charging secondary battery 201A in main unit 20 (step 43B). Next, control unit 206 determines whether secondary battery 201A in main unit 20 is fully charged (step 44B). If secondary battery 201A is not fully charged, a negative result is obtained in step 44B. On the other hand, if secondary battery 201A is fully charged, a positive result is obtained in step 44B.

[0125] If a negative result is obtained in step 44B, the control unit 206 determines whether the USB cable has been removed (step 45B). If the USB cable remains attached, a negative result is obtained in step 45B. In this case, the control unit 206 returns to step 44B. On the other hand, if the USB cable is removed during charging, a positive result is obtained in step 45B. If a positive result is obtained in step 44B or if a positive result is obtained in step 45B, the control unit 206 stops charging the secondary battery of the main unit 20 (step 46B). Thereafter, the control unit 206 ends the USB charging operation.

[0126] FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the USB charging operation. The horizontal axis in the diagram represents time, the upper half of the vertical axis represents the remaining charge of the secondary battery 201A in the main unit 20, and the lower half of the vertical axis represents the remaining charge of the secondary battery 101A in the front panel 10. In FIG. 21, in the initial state T1, the secondary battery 101A in the front panel 10 and the secondary battery 201A in the main unit 20 are both fully charged. At time T2, the remaining charge of both the secondary battery 101A in the front panel 10 and the secondary battery 201A in the main unit 20 has decreased from full charge. When a USB cable is connected in this state, USB charging begins. At the end of USB charging at T3, the secondary battery 101A in the front panel 10 and the secondary battery 201A in the main unit 20 have both returned to full charge.

[0127] <Summary> Front panel 10 equipped with secondary battery 101A described in this embodiment can be applied to any of the above-described embodiments 1 to 4. Furthermore, as described in this embodiment, when secondary battery 101A is attached to front panel 10, secondary battery 101A in front panel 10 is also charged when secondary battery 201A in main unit 20 is charged.

[0128] <Embodiment 6> In this embodiment, another configuration example of Embodiment 4 will be described. Fig. 22 is a diagram schematically showing the connection relationship of the power supply circuit of the aerosol generation device 1 used in Embodiment 6. In Fig. 22, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 16 are assigned the same reference numerals. The aerosol generation device 1 shown in Fig. 22 differs from the aerosol generation device 1 shown in Fig. 16 in that the supply of power to the heating unit 207 is switched by one step-up DC / DC circuit 201B and one power switch 201P.

[0129] 22, one of the two input terminals of the power switch 201P is connected to the primary battery 101 (or secondary battery 101A) on the front panel 10 via a power supply line, and the other is connected to the secondary battery 201A on the main unit 20 via a power supply line. Switching the power switch 201P switches the power supply connected to the step-up DC / DC circuit 201B. By adopting the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 22, it is possible to reduce the number of parts compared to the fourth embodiment.

[0130] <Other Embodiments> (1) Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the scope described in the above-described embodiments. It is clear from the claims that various modifications or improvements to the above-described embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0131] (2) In the above-described embodiment, the joint between the front panel 10 and the main device 20 is continuously connected without any steps, forming a unified appearance. However, the joint may have steps or notches as long as the appearance is unified with the main device 20.

[0132] (3) In the above embodiment, the aerosol source is described as a solid, but the aerosol source may be a liquid. In the case where the aerosol source is a liquid, a method is adopted in which the aerosol source is guided into a thin tube called a wick by using capillary action, and the aerosol source is evaporated by heating a coil wound around the wick.

[0133] (4) In the above embodiment, the aerosol generator generates an aerosol by heating a solid aerosol source. However, the aerosol generator may generate an aerosol by separately heating a solid aerosol source and a liquid aerosol source. This type of aerosol generator is also called a hybrid aerosol generator.

[0134] (5) In the above-described embodiment, an aerosol generating device 1 (main body device 20) to which a front panel 10 is attached was described as an example of an electronic device. However, the electronic device may also be a cover member (including a main body cover and a protective cover) or panel member that can be attached and detached to the device main body, and can be used with the cover member or panel member attached, such as a remote control, a game console, a music player, a video camera, a digital camera, an electronic dictionary, or a calculator.

[0135] (6) In the above-described fifth embodiment, the case where the sub-battery of front panel 10 in the first embodiment is replaced with secondary battery 101A has been described, but the sub-battery of front panel 10 in the second to fourth embodiments may also be replaced with secondary battery 101A. When it is assumed that secondary battery 101A is attached as the sub-battery of front panel 10 in the second to fourth embodiments, the processing operations described in the fifth embodiment are also used in each of the fourth embodiments.

[0136] (7) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which aerosol generation was permitted when the front panel 10 was attached to the main device 20. However, the main device 20 may be capable of generating aerosol even when the front panel 10 is not attached. In this case, attaching the front panel 10 to the main device 20 is used to expand the functions executable by the main device 20. For example, when the front panel 10 is removed, the main device 20 operates solely on the built-in secondary battery 201A (see FIG. 7 ), and when the main device 20 is attached to a front panel 10 with a secondary battery, functions that use power from the batteries (primary battery 101, secondary battery 101A) of the front panel 10 are enabled.

[0137] (8) In the above-described embodiment, an example was described in which the front panel 10 attached to the main device 20 was pressed and deformed to operate the buttons 20B provided on the main device 20. However, instructions to the main device 20 may be input using methods other than deformation of the front panel 10. For example, a touch panel may be provided on the front panel 10, and information indicating user operations on the touch panel may be communicated to the control unit 206 (see FIG. 6 ) of the main device 20 using a communication unit (not shown). Alternatively, for example, switches or buttons may be provided on the front panel 10, and the presence or absence of operations on these may be communicated to the control unit 206 (see FIG. 6 ) of the main device 20. The touch panel, switches, etc. here are examples of an operation unit. Note that a heat-shielding structure is employed on the surface and interior of this type of main device 20.

[0138] <Summary> The present disclosure includes the following configurations. (1) An electronic device having a control unit and a first battery, wherein a second battery is provided in a cover member attached to a device body, and when the remaining charge of the second battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value, the control unit switches the power supply to some of the electronic components provided in the device body from the first battery to the second battery. (2) The electronic device described in (1), wherein the control unit switches the power supply to some of the electronic components that operate on the same system power source as the control unit from the first battery to the second battery. (3) The aerosol generating device described in (1) or (2), wherein, when a first presentation unit that presents information is provided in the cover member, the control unit stops the power supply to a second presentation unit that is provided in the device body. (4) The electronic device described in (1) or (2), wherein, when the first presentation unit that presents information is provided in the cover member, the control unit stops the power supply to the second presentation unit when the attachment of the cover member prevents the user from confirming the presentation of information by the second presentation unit that is provided in the device body. (5) The electronic device according to (4), wherein the control unit switches the presentation of information from the second presentation unit to the first presentation unit. (6) The electronic device according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the second battery is charged by power supplied from the device main body. (7) The electronic device according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein a part of the electronic component is a heating unit that heats the aerosol source. (8) The electronic device according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein attachment of the cover member to the device main body is one of the conditions that enables heating of the aerosol source by the heating unit. (9) The electronic device according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the cover member, when attached to the device main body, allows a user to operate a switch on the device main body by pressing it. (10) The electronic device according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the control unit receives information on an operation performed on an operation unit provided in the cover member from the cover member. (11) An electronic device according to any one of (1) to (10), wherein the cover member attached to the device body forms an appearance that is integrated with the uncovered portion of the device body.(12) A program for realizing, in a computer installed in an electronic device having a first battery, a function of switching the power supply to some of the electronic components installed in the device body from the first battery to the second battery when a second battery is installed in a cover member attached to the device body.

[0139] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... aerosol generating device, 10... front panel, 10A... main body panel, 10B... window, 10C, 20C... magnet, 20... main body device, 20A... LED, 20B... button, 21... USB connector, 22... hole, 30... shutter, 40... display, 101... primary battery, 101A... secondary battery, 102... communication unit, 201A... secondary battery, 201... power supply unit, 201B, 201M... Step-up DC / DC circuit, 201C...power supply unit, 201D, 201E...step-up / step-down DC / DC circuit, 201F, 201G, 201K, 201L, 201N...power switch, 201H...backflow prevention circuit, 202...sensor unit, 203...notification unit, 204...storage unit, 205...communication unit, 206...control unit, 207...heating unit, 208...heat insulation unit, 209...holding unit, 210...stick-shaped substrate

Claims

1. An electronic device having a control unit and a first battery, a second battery is provided in a cover member attached to the device body, and when the remaining charge of the second battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value, the control unit switches the supply of power to a part of the electronic components provided in the device body from the first battery to the second battery; electronic equipment.

2. the control unit switches power supply to a part of the electronic components that is operated by the same system power supply as the control unit from the first battery to the second battery; 2. The electronic device according to claim 1.

3. In a case where a first presenting unit that presents information is provided on the cover member, The control unit is Stopping the supply of power to a second presentation unit provided on the device body side; 3. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. In a case where a first presenting unit that presents information is provided on the cover member, The control unit is when the user is unable to confirm the presentation of information by a second presentation unit provided on the device body side due to the attachment of the cover member, the supply of power to the second presentation unit is stopped; 2. The electronic device according to claim 1.

5. The control unit is switching the presentation of information by the second presentation unit to the presentation of information by the first presentation unit; 4. The electronic device according to claim 3.

6. The second battery is charged by power supplied from the device main body.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1.

7. A part of the electronic component is a heating section that heats the aerosol source.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1.

8. Attachment of the cover member to the device body is one of the conditions that enables the heating unit to heat the aerosol source.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7.

9. When the cover member is attached to the device body, the user can press the cover member to operate a switch on the device body.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1.

10. The control unit is receiving information on an operation performed on an operation unit provided on the cover member from the cover member; 2. The electronic device according to claim 1.

11. The cover member attached to the device body forms an integrated appearance with the uncovered portion of the device body.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1.

12. A computer provided in an electronic device having a first battery, A function of switching the supply of power to a part of electronic components provided in the device body from the first battery to the second battery when a second battery is provided in a cover member attached to the device body; A program to achieve this.