Aerosol generation system

Abstract

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

Description

Aerosol Generation System

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

[0002] Inhalation devices that generate substances to be inhaled by users, such as electronic cigarettes, nebulizers, or heated tobacco products, 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. A user can taste the flavor by inhaling the aerosol containing flavor components 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] In recent years, it has been considered desirable to make the batteries of suction devices replaceable for the purposes of consumer protection and reducing environmental impact, etc. In this regard, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a suction device in which the battery can be replaced by removing a cover provided on the side of the suction device.

[0004] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 107373765

[0005] However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the temperature of the battery is not sufficiently considered. As the temperature of the battery increases, various problems such as breakdowns may occur.

[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 enables a battery to be operated at a more appropriate temperature.

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, an aerosol generation system is provided, comprising: a first storage section that stores a substrate containing an aerosol source; a load that generates energy for heating the aerosol source contained in the substrate stored in the first storage section; a second storage section that stores a battery that supplies power to the load; a temperature sensor that is arranged in the second storage section and measures the temperature of the battery stored in the second storage section; and a control section that controls the operation of the load based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, wherein the first storage section has a first opening and stores the substrate in a removably manner so that it is inserted through the first opening in a first direction and removed in a second direction; the second storage section has a second opening and stores the battery in a removably manner so that it is inserted through the second opening in a third direction and removed in a fourth direction; and the temperature sensor is arranged on an inner wall of the second storage section on the third direction side or the fourth direction side.

[0008] The temperature sensor may be disposed adjacent to a portion of the surface of the battery that is expected to become hottest during operation of the load.

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

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

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

[0012] The second storage section may further include a lid section that opens and closes the second opening, and the lid section may be detachable or pivotable to open and close the second opening.

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

[0014] The control unit may control charging of the battery based on a detection result by the open / close sensor.

[0015] The aerosol generation system may include a terminal electrically connected to the battery, the control unit may be arranged on the second direction side of the second storage unit, and the terminal may be arranged on the inner wall on the second direction side of the second storage unit at a position offset from the load in the third direction or the fourth direction.

[0016] The aerosol generation system may include terminals electrically connected to the battery, the terminals being configured as elastic bodies.

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

[0018] The aerosol generation system may further include a charging terminal that receives power supplied from an external power source to charge the battery, and the charging terminal may be positioned on the second direction side of the second storage section.

[0019] The first direction and the second direction may be perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the third direction and the fourth direction.

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

[0021] The aerosol generating system may further comprise the substrate.

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

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

[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 assigning an index containing different letters or numbers after the same reference numeral. For example, multiple elements having substantially the same functional configuration may be distinguished as necessary, such as devices 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3. However, when there is no particular need to distinguish between multiple elements having substantially the same functional configuration, only the same reference numeral is assigned. For example, when there is no particular need to distinguish between devices 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3, they may also be simply referred to as device 1.

[0026] 1. Basic Configuration Example An inhalation device is a device that generates a substance to be inhaled by a user. In the following description, the substance generated by the inhalation device is described as an aerosol. Alternatively, the substance generated by the inhalation device may be a gas.

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

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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).

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

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

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

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

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

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

[0044] In this embodiment, the direction in which the stick-shaped substrate 150 is inserted into or removed from the storage section 140 is also referred to as the up-down direction. The up-down direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the suction device 100. The longitudinal direction of the cross section of the suction device 100 is also referred to as the left-right direction, and the short-side direction is also referred to as the front-rear direction.

[0045] 2 to 4, suction device 100 has a housing 160, a cover 161, a battery chamber 162, a control circuit 180, a charging circuit 181, charging terminals 182, battery terminals 183 (183-1 and 183-2), a temperature sensor 184, and an opening / closing sensor 185 (185-1 and 185-2). A battery pack 170 is detachably attached to suction device 100. Control circuit 180 and charging circuit 181 correspond to control unit 116 shown in FIG. 1. Battery pack 170 corresponds to power supply unit 111 shown in FIG. 1. Temperature sensor 184 and opening / closing sensor 185 correspond to sensor unit 112 shown in FIG. 1.

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

[0047] The storage section 140 is an example of a first storage section that stores the stick-shaped substrate 150. The storage section 140 stores the stick-shaped substrate 150 in a removable manner so that the stick-shaped substrate 150 is inserted downward through the opening 142 (an example of a first opening) and removed upward. The downward direction is an example of a first direction, which is the insertion direction of the stick-shaped substrate 150. The upward direction is an example of a second direction, which is the removal direction of the stick-shaped substrate 150.

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

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

[0050] The battery chamber 162 has a lid 161 that opens and closes an opening 164. The lid 161 may be attached or detached to open or close the opening 164. Fig. 3 illustrates a state in which the lid 161 closes the opening 164 and a battery pack 170 is housed in the battery chamber 162. On the other hand, Fig. 4 illustrates a state in which the lid 161 opens the opening 164 and the battery pack 170 has been removed from the battery chamber 162.

[0051] The battery chamber 162 may be configured in a shape that circumscribes the battery pack 170. As an example, it is desirable that the battery pack 170 be configured in a shape that makes it difficult to rotate around the vertical axis when housed in the battery chamber 162, such as an elliptical cylinder or a rectangular cylinder. This configuration limits the rotation of the battery pack 170 within the battery chamber 162, making it possible to easily maintain the connection between the battery terminal 183 (described later) and the electrode 171. In the following description, the battery pack 170 is assumed to be configured in a rectangular cylinder shape. The battery chamber 162 is assumed to define a rectangular parallelepiped internal space 163.

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

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

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

[0055] The battery terminal 183 may be formed of an elastic body such as a wire spring or a leaf spring. The elastic body serving as the battery terminal 183 is pressed into the battery chamber 162 while contacting the electrode 171 as the battery pack 170 is inserted into the battery chamber 162, exerting an elastic force in a direction that sandwiches the battery pack 170. This configuration allows the battery terminal 183 and the electrode 171 to be in stronger contact with each other when the battery pack 170 is housed in the battery chamber 162. As a result, it is possible to reduce the contact resistance at the connection point between the battery terminal 183 and the electrode 171.

[0056] The battery terminals 183 are preferably made of a heat-resistant metal. Examples of heat-resistant metals include copper-based alloys such as phosphor bronze and Corson alloy. This is because copper has lower electrical resistance than aluminum and other metals. This configuration can prevent the elastic force of the battery terminals 183 from relaxing as the battery terminals 183 heat up. This makes it possible to prevent an increase in contact resistance at the connection points between the battery terminals 183 and the electrodes 171, even if the battery terminals 183 heat up due to heat transfer from the heating unit 121 or the battery pack 170.

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

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

[0059] The temperature sensor 184 is disposed in the battery chamber 162. The temperature sensor 184 measures the temperature of the battery pack 170 housed in the battery chamber 162. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the temperature sensor 184 abuts against the battery pack 170 housed in the battery chamber 162 and measures the surface temperature of the battery pack 170. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 184 may be in indirect contact with the battery pack 170 housed in the battery chamber 162 via a heat-conductive member, or may measure the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 via the heat-conductive member. The temperature sensor 184 may be, for example, a thermistor.

[0060] 3 and 4, the temperature sensor 184 is disposed on the left inner wall 167 of the battery chamber 162, which is the inner wall on the side toward which the battery pack 170 is inserted. With this configuration, the temperature sensor 184 comes into contact with the battery pack 170 only when the battery pack 170 is fully inserted. This prevents friction between the temperature sensor 184 and the battery pack 170 that occurs when the battery pack 170 is inserted or removed, making it possible to prevent the temperature sensor 184 from shifting position or malfunctioning.

[0061] The temperature sensor 184 is disposed close to (for example, directly or indirectly contacts) a portion of the surface of the battery pack 170 that is expected to be the hottest when the heating unit 121 is in operation. This configuration makes it possible to improve the accuracy of various controls, which will be described later, that are based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 184.

[0062] The temperature sensor 184 is preferably disposed on the surface of the battery pack 170 so as to be closer to the heating unit 121 than to the center of the battery pack 170. For example, as shown in FIG. 3 , if the battery pack 170 has a longitudinal direction in the vertical direction, the temperature sensor 184 is preferably disposed so as to abut between the vertical center of the battery pack 170 and the upper end of the battery pack 170. When the battery pack 170 is considered to be a single unit, the center becomes the hottest, so the part of the surface of the battery pack 170 closest to the center, i.e., the vertical central portion 179, is expected to become the hottest part of the surface of the battery pack 170. On the other hand, when the battery pack 170 is housed in the battery chamber 162, it is expected that the temperature of the battery pack 170 increases due to heat transfer from the heating unit 121. Therefore, it is expected that the part of the surface of the battery pack 170 between the vertical central portion 179 and the upper end becomes the hottest part of the surface of the battery pack 170. In this regard, with this configuration, the temperature sensor 184 can detect the surface temperature of the part of the surface of the battery pack 170 that is expected to be the hottest.

[0063] It is considered that the part of the surface of battery pack 170 that becomes the hottest when heating unit 121 is in operation varies depending on the physical configuration of suction device 100, such as the specifications of heating unit 121 and battery pack 170. Therefore, the part of the surface of battery pack 170 that actually becomes the hottest when heating unit 121 is in operation may be identified by an experiment using an actual suction device 100, and temperature sensor 184 may be disposed at the identified position.

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

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

[0066] The control circuit 180 controls the power supply from the battery pack 170 to the heating unit 121. In particular, the control circuit 180 can control the power supply from the battery pack 170 to the heating unit 121 based on a heating profile. The heating profile is control information for controlling the temperature at which the aerosol source is heated, and is, for example, information indicating the time series transition of the target temperature value of the heating unit 121. The control circuit 180 controls the power supply to the heating unit 121 so that the temperature of the heating unit 121 transitions as defined in the heating profile. The heating profile is typically designed to optimize the flavor that the user tastes when the user inhales the aerosol generated from the stick-shaped substrate 150. Therefore, by controlling the operation of the heating unit 121 based on the heating profile, the flavor that the user tastes can be optimized.

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

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

[0069] The control circuit 180 controls the operation of the heating unit 121 based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 184. More specifically, the control circuit 180 may control whether or not the heating unit 121 performs heating based on the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184. For example, the control circuit 180 may permit heating by the heating unit 121 when the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184 is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold, and may prohibit heating by the heating unit 121 when the surface temperature exceeds the predetermined threshold. Prohibiting heating here means stopping heating if heating is in progress, and not performing heating if heating is not in progress. Alternatively, the control circuit 180 may control the voltage applied to the heating unit 121 based on the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184. For example, the control circuit 180 may apply a lower voltage to the heating unit 121 when the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184 exceeds a predetermined threshold compared to when the surface temperature is below the predetermined threshold. The concept of voltage control includes control of the duty ratio in addition to control of the maximum voltage. This configuration allows the battery pack 170 to be operated at an appropriate temperature, thereby preventing various inconveniences such as breakdowns caused by the battery pack 170 becoming excessively hot.

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

[0071] Control circuit 180 may control the operation of heating unit 121 based on the detection result of open / close sensor 185. For example, control circuit 180 may permit heating by heating unit 121 only when lid 161 is closed. This configuration prevents the user from directly touching battery pack 170 that has been heated by heating unit 121, thereby improving safety.

[0072] The charging circuit 181 controls charging of the battery pack 170. The charging circuit 181 supplies power supplied from an external power source via a charging terminal 182 to the battery pack 170. At that time, the charging circuit 181 controls the voltage and current.

[0073] The charging circuit 181 may control charging of the battery pack 170 based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 184. More specifically, the charging circuit 181 may control whether or not to charge the battery pack 170 based on the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184. For example, the charging circuit 181 may permit charging of the battery pack 170 when the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184 is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold, and prohibit charging of the battery pack 170 when the surface temperature exceeds the predetermined threshold. Prohibiting charging here means stopping charging if charging is in progress, and not performing charging if charging is not in progress. Alternatively, the charging circuit 181 may control the voltage applied to the battery pack 170 based on the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184. For example, the charging circuit 181 may apply a lower voltage to the battery pack 170 when the surface temperature of the battery pack 170 detected by the temperature sensor 184 exceeds a predetermined threshold compared to when the surface temperature is below the predetermined threshold. This configuration allows the battery pack 170 to be operated at an appropriate temperature, thereby preventing various inconveniences such as breakdowns caused by the battery pack 170 becoming excessively hot.

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

[0075] The charging circuit 181 may control charging of the battery pack 170 based on the detection result of the open / close sensor 185. For example, the charging circuit 181 may permit charging of the battery pack 170 only when the lid 161 is closed. This configuration prevents the user from directly touching the battery pack 170, which may become warmer as it is being charged, thereby improving safety.

[0076] The charging terminal 182 receives power supplied from an external power source for charging the battery pack 170. Specifically, the charging terminal 182 is an interface between the charging circuit 181 and an external power source that supplies power for charging the battery pack 170 housed in the battery chamber 162. As an example, the charging terminal 182 may be a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port. A USB cable may be connected to the charging terminal 182, and power may be supplied from an outlet via the USB cable.

[0077] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, it is desirable that the charging terminal 182 be located above the battery chamber 162. In other words, it is desirable that the charging terminal 182 be located in the same direction as the housing 140 when viewed from the battery chamber 162, but offset from the housing 140 in the left-right direction (or front-back direction). Typically, the battery pack 170 is configured to be larger than the housing 140 to ensure a long operating time. In this regard, by offsetting the battery chamber 162 and the charging terminal 182 in the vertical direction, it is possible to make the suction device 100 slimmer and easier to hold, compared to when the charging terminal 182 and the battery chamber 162 are positioned so as to overlap each other in the vertical direction. In other words, it is possible to make the suction device 100 more compact.

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

[0079] 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.

[0080] (1) First Modification FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a first modification. As shown in FIG. 5, suction device 100 according to this modification has hinge mechanism 168 that rotates lid portion 161. Cover portion 161 may rotate to open and close opening 164. When hinge mechanism 168 is disposed on the upper side as shown in FIG. 5, opening / closing sensor 185-1 may be omitted, and only opening / closing sensor 185-2 may be disposed. Control circuit 180 may determine that lid portion 161 is closed when opening / closing sensor 185-2 detects proximity to lid portion 161, and may determine that lid portion 161 is open when opening / closing sensor 185-2 detects separation from lid portion 161.

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

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

[0083] 6, the battery terminal 183-1 may be disposed on the left inner wall 167 of the battery chamber 162, or may be connected to the electrode 171-1 disposed on the right side of the battery pack 170. With this configuration, the distance between the electrode 171-1 and the battery terminal 183-1 and the heating unit 121 can be increased compared to when the battery terminal 183-1 is disposed on the upper inner wall 165 of the battery chamber 162. As a result, it is possible to suppress heat transfer from the heating unit 121 to the electrode 171-1 and the battery terminal 183-1. Similar to the battery terminal 183-1, the battery terminal 183-2 may be disposed on the left inner wall 167 of the battery chamber 162, or may be connected to the electrode 171-2 disposed on the right side of the battery pack 170. When the battery terminal 183 is disposed on the left inner wall 167 of the battery chamber 162, the battery terminal 183 and the battery pack 170 come into contact only when the battery pack 170 is fully inserted. Therefore, friction between the battery terminals 183 and the battery pack 170 caused when the battery pack 170 is inserted or removed can be prevented, and deterioration of the battery terminals 183 can be suppressed.

[0084] The positions of the components of the suction device 100 are not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 or the example shown in FIG. 6, but can be changed as appropriate.

[0085] (3) Third Modification FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a third modification. As shown in FIG. 7, the suction device 100 may have multiple temperature sensors 184 (184-1 to 184-5). In this case, the control circuit 180 may control the operation of the heating unit 121 based on the highest temperature detected by the multiple temperature sensors 184. In particular, it is desirable that the multiple temperature sensors 184 be spaced apart from each other while abutting the battery pack 170 in a range between the vertical center 179 and the upper end of the surface of the battery pack 170. This is because the portion of the surface of the battery pack 170 closest to the center is considered to be in this range. However, it is desirable that at least one temperature sensor 184-5 be located in the vertical center 179 of the surface of the battery pack 170. Of course, the charging circuit 181 may also control the charging of the battery pack 170 based on the highest temperature detected by the multiple temperature sensors 184. This makes it possible to operate the battery pack 170 at a more appropriate temperature.

[0086] (4) Supplementary Information Regarding Air Flow Path The following provides additional information regarding the flow path of air that flows through inhalation device 100 in response to a puff by the user, with reference to FIGS.

[0087] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an air flow path in the inhaler 100. The configuration of the inhaler 100 shown in FIG. 8 is as described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In the example shown in FIG. 8, when a user holds the stick-type substrate 150 in their mouth and puffs, air flows along the air flow path 190-1. That is, the air passes through the opening 142, the gap between the stick-type substrate 150 and the housing portion 140, the tip of the stick-type substrate 150, and the inside of the stick-type substrate 150, in that order, and reaches the user's mouth together with the aerosol generated in the stick-type substrate 150. This air flow is also referred to as a counterflow.

[0088] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating another example of an air flow path in inhaler 100. Inhaler 100 shown in FIG. 9 is provided with a first through-hole 104 having opposite ends defined by the bottom 143 of housing 140 and the upper inner wall 165 of battery chamber 162. First through-hole 104 connects internal space 141 of housing 140 and internal space 163 of battery chamber 162. Inhaler 100 is further provided with a second through-hole 105 having opposite ends defined by the lower inner wall 166 of battery chamber 162 and the bottom surface 103 of inhaler 100. Second through-hole 105 connects internal space 163 of battery chamber 162 to the outside. In the example shown in FIG. 9, when a user holds stick-shaped substrate 150 in their mouth and puffs, air flows along air flow path 190-2. That is, the air passes through second through-hole 105, the gap between battery chamber 162 and battery pack 170, first through-hole 104, the tip of stick-shaped substrate 150, and the inside of stick-shaped substrate 150 in that order, and reaches the user's mouth together with the aerosol generated in stick-shaped substrate 150. With this configuration, cold air from outside passes through battery chamber 162 as the puff is applied, making it possible to cool battery pack 170, which has risen in temperature as a result of heating by heating unit 121.

[0089] 9, it is desirable to provide a partition wall 107 around the temperature sensor 184 that surrounds the temperature sensor 184 and abuts against the battery pack 170. With this configuration, the partition wall 107 can isolate the temperature sensor 184 from the air flow path 190-2. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which cold external air that flows into the battery chamber 162 due to a puff comes into contact with the temperature sensor 184, causing an undesirable drop in the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 184.

[0090] Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of an air flow path in the inhaler 100. The inhaler 100 shown in Fig. 10 is provided with a third through hole 106 whose opposite ends are the bottom 143 of the housing 140 and a side surface of the inhaler 100. In the example shown in Fig. 10, when a user holds the stick-type substrate 150 in their mouth and puffs, air flows along the air flow path 190-3. That is, the air passes through the third through hole 106, the tip of the stick-type substrate 150, and the inside of the stick-type substrate 150 in that order, and reaches the user's mouth together with the aerosol generated in the stick-type substrate 150.

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

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

[0093] As described above, the direction in which the stick-shaped substrate 150 is inserted or removed and the direction in which the battery pack 170 is inserted or removed may be perpendicular to each other, but the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. The direction in which the stick-shaped substrate 150 is inserted or removed and the direction in which the battery pack 170 is inserted or removed may be approximately perpendicular to each other.

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

[0095] Although the above describes an example in which the temperature sensor 184 is disposed on the left inner wall 167, the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. For example, the temperature sensor 184 may be disposed inside the lid 161, which is the inner wall of the battery chamber 162 on the side from which the battery pack 170 is removed. With this configuration, the temperature sensor 184 and the battery pack 170 come into contact only when the battery pack 170 is fully inserted and the lid 161 is closed. This prevents friction between the temperature sensor 184 and the battery pack 170 that occurs when the battery pack 170 is inserted or removed, making it possible to prevent the temperature sensor 184 from shifting position or malfunctioning.

[0096] Although the above describes an example in which the battery chamber 162 defines the rectangular parallelepiped internal space 163, the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. The inner wall of the internal space 163 does not necessarily have to be flat, and may be curved.

[0097] The series of processes performed by each device described herein may be implemented using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The software programs may be stored in advance 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 over a network without using a recording medium. The computer may be 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 be centrally processed by a single computer or distributed across multiple computers. Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, two or more communication means present in a single device may be physically implemented on a single medium.

[0098] Furthermore, the processes described herein using flowcharts or 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.

[0099] Note that the following configurations also fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure: (1) An aerosol generation system comprising: a first storage unit that stores a substrate containing an aerosol source; a load that generates energy for heating the aerosol source contained in the substrate stored in the first storage unit; a second storage unit that stores a battery that supplies power to the load; a temperature sensor that is disposed in the second storage unit and measures the temperature of the battery stored in the second storage unit; and a control unit that controls the operation of the load based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, wherein the first storage unit has a first opening and stores the substrate in a removably manner so that the substrate is inserted in a first direction through the first opening and removed in a second direction; the second storage unit has a second opening and stores the battery in a removably manner so that the battery is inserted in a third direction through the second opening and removed in a fourth direction; and the temperature sensor is disposed on an inner wall of the second storage unit on the third direction side or the fourth direction side. (2) The aerosol generation system according to (1), wherein the temperature sensor is arranged close to a portion of the surface of the battery that is expected to be hottest when the load is operating. (3) The aerosol generation system according to (2), wherein the temperature sensor is arranged close to a side of the surface of the battery that is closer to the load than a center of the battery. (4) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the control unit estimates a maximum temperature of the battery based on temperatures detected by the temperature sensor, and controls operation of the load based on the estimated maximum temperature of the battery. (5) The aerosol generation system according to (4), wherein the aerosol generation system includes a plurality of the temperature sensors, and the control unit controls operation of the load based on the highest temperature of the temperatures detected by the plurality of the temperature sensors. (6) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the second storage unit further includes a lid that opens and closes the second opening, and the lid opens and closes the second opening by being attached and detached or by being rotated.(7) The aerosol generation system according to (6), further comprising an opening / closing sensor that detects whether the second opening is opened or closed by the lid, and the control unit controls the operation of the load based on the detection result of the opening / closing sensor. (8) The aerosol generation system according to (7), further comprising: a control unit that controls charging of the battery based on the detection result of the opening / closing sensor. (9) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (8), further comprising: a terminal electrically connected to the battery, the control unit being arranged on the second direction side of the second storage unit, and the terminal being arranged on an inner wall on the second direction side of the second storage unit, offset from the load in the third direction or the fourth direction. (10) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (9), further comprising: a terminal electrically connected to the battery, the terminal being configured as an elastic body. (11) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (10), further comprising: a first through hole communicating the internal space of the first storage unit with the internal space of the second storage unit; and a second through hole communicating the internal space of the second storage unit with the outside. (12) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (11), further comprising: a charging terminal that receives power supplied from an external power source for charging the battery, the charging terminal being arranged on the second direction side of the second storage unit. (13) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (12), wherein the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the third direction and the fourth direction. (14) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (11), further comprising the battery. (15) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (12), further comprising the substrate.

[0100] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Suction device 101 Main body 102 Top surface 103 Bottom surface 104 First through hole 105 Second through hole 106 Third through hole 107 Partition wall 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 141 Internal space 142 Opening 143 Bottom 150 Stick-shaped substrate 151 Base unit 152 Suction nozzle unit 160 Housing 161 Lid unit 162 Battery chamber 163 Internal space 164 Opening 165 Upper inner wall 166 Lower inner wall 167 Left inner wall 168 Hinge mechanism 170 Battery pack 171 Electrode 180 Control circuit 181 Charging circuit 182 Charging terminal 183 Battery terminal 184 Temperature sensor 185 Open / close sensor 190 Air flow path

Claims

1. a first container that contains a substrate containing an aerosol source; a load that generates energy to heat the aerosol source contained in the substrate contained in the first container; a second housing portion that houses a battery that supplies power to the load; a temperature sensor disposed in the second housing portion and configured to measure the temperature of the battery housed in the second housing portion; a control unit that controls the operation of the load based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor; Equipped with the first accommodating portion has a first opening and accommodates the base material so as to be insertable / removable in a first direction and to be removed in a second direction via the first opening; the second housing portion has a second opening and houses the battery so that the battery can be inserted in a third direction through the second opening and removed in a fourth direction; the temperature sensor is disposed on an inner wall of the second housing portion on the third direction side or the fourth direction side; Aerosol generation systems.

2. The temperature sensor is disposed in proximity to a portion of the surface of the battery that is expected to become the hottest during operation of the load.

10. The aerosol generating system of claim 1.

3. the temperature sensor is disposed on a surface of the battery so as to be close to a side closer to the load than a center of the battery; 3. The aerosol generating system according to claim 2.

4. the control unit estimates a maximum temperature of the battery based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and controls the operation of the load based on the estimated maximum temperature of the battery.

4. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1.

5. the aerosol generating system includes a plurality of the temperature sensors; the control unit controls the operation of the load based on the highest temperature among the temperatures detected by the plurality of temperature sensors.

5. The aerosol generating system according to claim 4.

6. the second storage section further includes a lid section that opens and closes the second opening, The cover opens and closes the second opening by being attached / detached or rotated.

4. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1.

7. the aerosol generation system further includes an opening / closing sensor that detects opening and closing of the second opening by the lid portion; The control unit controls the operation of the load based on the detection result of the open / close sensor.

7. The aerosol generating system according to claim 6.

8. The control unit controls charging of the battery based on a detection result by the open / close sensor.

8. The aerosol generating system according to claim 7.

9. the aerosol generation system includes a terminal electrically connected to the battery; the control unit is disposed on the second direction side of the second accommodation unit, the terminal is disposed on an inner wall of the second accommodating portion on the second direction side at a position offset from the load in the third direction or the fourth direction.

4. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1.

10. the aerosol generation system includes a terminal electrically connected to the battery; The terminal is configured as an elastic body.

4. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1.

11. The aerosol generating system comprises: a first through hole that communicates an internal space of the first accommodating portion with an internal space of the second accommodating portion; a second through hole that connects the internal space of the second accommodating portion to the outside; Further provided with 4. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1.

12. The aerosol generating system comprises: a charging terminal for receiving power for charging the battery supplied from an external power source; The charging terminal is disposed on the second direction side of the second housing portion.

4. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1.

13. the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the third direction and the fourth direction; 4. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1.

14. the aerosol generation system further comprises the battery; 4. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1.

15. The aerosol generating system further comprises the substrate.

4. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1.