Aerosol generation system

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a mechanism capable of further improving the quality of user experience. [Solution] This aerosol generation system comprises: a housing; a base material housing part having a first opening and housing a base material so as to be insertable and removable through the first opening; a tubular member having a second opening and having both end openings connected to the base material housing part; a battery housing part having a third opening and housing a battery pack so as to be insertable and removable through the third opening; a load for generating energy for heating an aerosol source contained in the base material housed in the base material housing part by using power supplied from the battery pack housed in the battery housing part; and a control part for controlling operation of the load. The first opening is provided in a surface of the housing in a first direction, and the second opening and the third opening are provided in a surface of the housing in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Description

Aerosol Generation System

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating system, a control method, and a program.

[0002] Inhalation devices that generate substances to be inhaled by users are widely used. For example, inhalation devices generate aerosols imparted with flavor components using a substrate containing an aerosol source for generating aerosols and a flavor source for imparting flavor components to the generated aerosol. Users can enjoy the flavor by inhaling the aerosols imparted with flavor components generated by the inhalation device. The action of a user inhaling the aerosol is hereinafter also referred to as a puff or puffing action. An example of a device classified as an inhalation device is a heated tobacco product, which is used instead of a cigarette. A heated tobacco product is a type of inhalation device that generates an aerosol by heating a solid containing an aerosol source.

[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, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 has only recently been developed, and there is still room for improvement in various respects.

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

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generation system is provided, comprising: a housing; a substrate accommodating section having a first opening and accommodating a substrate so that the substrate can be inserted and removed through the first opening; a tubular member having a second opening and openings at both ends and connected to the substrate accommodating section; a battery accommodating section having a third opening and accommodating a battery pack so that the battery pack can be inserted and removed through the third opening; a load that generates energy for heating the aerosol source contained in the substrate accommodated in the substrate accommodating section using power supplied from the battery pack accommodated in the battery accommodating section; and a control section that controls the operation of the load, wherein the first opening is provided on a first-direction surface of the housing, and the second and third openings are provided on a second-direction surface of the housing opposite the first direction.

[0008] The aerosol generation system may further include a lid portion that opens and closes the second opening and a lid portion that opens and closes the third opening.

[0009] The aerosol generation system further includes a locking mechanism that locks the lid portion that opens and closes the second opening in a closed state, and the locking mechanism has a recess and a claw portion, and locks the lid portion that opens and closes the second opening by inserting the claw portion into the recess, and unlocks the lid portion that opens and closes the second opening by removing the claw portion from the recess, and the claw portion may be provided on one of the lid portion that opens and closes the second opening and the housing, and the recess may be provided on the other.

[0010] The aerosol generation system may further include a lid portion that opens and closes the third opening, and the lid portion that opens and closes the third opening may open and close the second opening as well as the third opening.

[0011] The cover portion that opens and closes the third opening may be provided detachably from the housing.

[0012] The aerosol generation system may further include a locking mechanism that locks the lid portion, which opens and closes the third opening, in a state in which the third opening is closed.

[0013] The control unit may control the operation of the locking mechanism that locks the lid portion that opens and closes the third opening based on the operating state of the aerosol generation system.

[0014] The aerosol generation system may further include a lid portion that opens and closes the first opening, and the control unit may control the operation of the locking mechanism that locks the lid portion that opens and closes the third opening so as to prohibit the lid portion that opens and closes the third opening from being unlocked when the lid portion that opens and closes the first opening opens the first opening and the second opening is closed.

[0015] The aerosol generation system may further include an opening / closing sensor that detects whether a lid that opens and closes the third opening is closing the third opening, and the control unit may control the operation of the load based on the detection result by the opening / closing sensor.

[0016] The aerosol generation system may further include a liquid leakage detection unit that is made of a liquid-absorbent material and whose appearance changes when it absorbs liquid, and that is positioned in contact with the battery pack housed in the battery housing unit.

[0017] The aerosol generation system may further include a charging terminal that receives power supplied from an external power source to charge the battery pack, and the charging terminal may be positioned on the first direction side of the battery accommodating section and offset from the load in the direction from the second opening toward the third opening.

[0018] The aerosol generating system may further comprise the substrate.

[0019] As described above, the present disclosure provides a mechanism that can further improve the quality of the user experience.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a configuration of a suction device. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an external configuration of a suction device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of an external configuration of a suction device according to the same embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of an external configuration of a suction device according to the same embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of an external configuration of a suction device according to the same embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a suction device according to the same embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a suction device according to the same embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration near a cleaning hole cover on the bottom surface of a suction device according to a first modified example. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration near a cleaning hole cover on the bottom surface of a suction device according to the same modified example. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration near a battery cover on the bottom surface of a suction device according to a second modified example. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration near a battery cover on the bottom surface of a suction device according to the same modified example. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a suction device according to a third modified example.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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).

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 2. Detailed Configuration Example A detailed configuration example of the suction device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7. FIGS. 2 to 5 are perspective views showing an example of the external configuration of the suction device 100 according to this embodiment. FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams schematically showing an example of the internal configuration of the suction device 100 according to this embodiment. Note that in FIGS. 2 to 7, some components shown in FIG. 1 are omitted. Further, below, redundant descriptions of the components described with reference to FIG. 1 will be omitted.

[0039] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, 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 Figures 2 to 5, the surface of the suction device 100 may be provided with a user interface, such as buttons for inputting operational instructions to the suction device 100 and a display that displays the operational status of the suction device 100.

[0040] In this embodiment, the direction in which the stick-shaped substrate 150 is inserted into and 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. The up-down direction is an example of a first direction. The down-down direction is an example of a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 , the suction device 100 has a housing 160 that forms the outermost shell of the suction device 100. The various components of the suction device 100 are disposed in the housing 160. The housing 160 is also provided with an opening 142, an opening 162a, and an opening 164a, which are opened and closed by a heater cover 161, a cleaning hole cover 163, or a battery cover 165. These components will be described in detail below. FIG. 2 illustrates a state in which the heater cover 161 closes the opening 142. FIG. 3 illustrates a state in which the heater cover 161 opens the opening 142. FIG. 4 illustrates a state in which the cleaning hole cover 163 closes the opening 162a, and the battery cover 165 closes the opening 164a. FIG. 5 illustrates a state in which the cleaning hole cover 163 opens the opening 162a, and the battery cover 165 opens the opening 164a. Fig. 6 shows a state in which heater cover 161 closes opening 142, cleaning hole cover 163 closes opening 162a, and battery cover 165 closes opening 164a. Fig. 7 shows a state in which heater cover 161 opens opening 142, cleaning hole cover 163 opens opening 162a, and battery cover 165 opens opening 164a.

[0042] 6 and 7 , the suction device 100 has a storage section 140. The storage section 140 has an opening 142 corresponding to the first opening, and is an example of a substrate storage section that stores a stick-shaped substrate 150 so that the stick-shaped substrate 150 can be inserted and removed via the opening 142. The storage section 140 is a cylindrical body having the opening 142 on the upper side, and the stick-shaped substrate 150 is inserted downward and removed upward. Hereinafter, the storage section 140 will also be referred to as substrate storage section 140.

[0043] 2 and 3 , the suction device 100 has a heater cover 161, which is a lid that opens and closes the opening 142 of the substrate storage unit 140. The heater cover 161 may be configured as a slider that can slide left and right. By opening the heater cover 161, the user can expose the opening 142 and make it possible to insert the stick-shaped substrate 150. On the other hand, when the stick-shaped substrate 150 is not being inserted, the user can close the heater cover 161 to close the opening 142 and prevent debris, such as debris that has fallen from the stick-shaped substrate 150, from falling through the opening 142.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 , the suction device 100 has a cleaning hole 162. The cleaning hole 162 has an opening 162a corresponding to the second opening and is a tubular member with both ends open that is connected to the substrate accommodating portion 140. The cleaning hole 162 and the substrate accommodating portion 140 are connected at the bottom 143 of the substrate accommodating portion 140, forming a tube with both ends open, with the opening 142 and the opening 162a at their ends. A user can clean the substrate accommodating portion 140 by inserting a cleaning tool such as a brush with a handle or a cotton swab into the cleaning hole 162 through the opening 162a and rubbing it against the inner wall of the substrate accommodating portion 140. The cleaning hole 162 may be tapered near the opening 162a, with the diameter widening downward. This configuration makes it easier to insert a cleaning tool into the cleaning hole 162.

[0045] As shown in Figures 4 to 7, the suction device 100 has a cleaning hole cover 163 that opens and closes the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162. The cleaning hole cover 163 may open and close the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162 using a hinge mechanism. When cleaning, the user can open the cleaning hole cover 163 to expose the opening 162a and make it cleanable. On the other hand, when not cleaning, the user can close the cleaning hole cover 163 to close the opening 162a and prevent debris such as debris that has fallen from the stick-shaped base material 150 from falling through the opening 162a.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 , the suction device 100 has a battery housing 164. The battery housing 164 has an opening 164a, which corresponds to the third opening, and houses a battery pack 170 removably insertable through the opening 164a. The battery housing 164 is a cylindrical body with the opening 164a on its lower side, and the battery pack 170 is inserted upward and removed downward. Typically, the diameter of the opening 164a of the battery housing 164 is larger than the diameter of the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162. This is because the battery pack 170 is often larger than the cleaning tool. By configuring the suction device 100 so that the battery pack 170 can be attached and detached, the user can extend the use of the suction device 100 by replacing or repairing the battery pack 170. This results in consumer protection and environmental protection.

[0047] The battery accommodating section 164 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 while housed in the battery accommodating section 164, such as an elliptical cylinder or a rectangular cylinder. With such a configuration, it is possible to limit the rotation of the battery pack 170 within the battery accommodating section 164, and easily maintain the connection between the battery terminal 183 and the electrode 171, which will be described later.

[0048] 5 to 7 , suction device 100 has battery cover 165 that opens and closes opening 164a. Battery cover 165 may open and close opening 164a of battery housing portion 164 using a hinge mechanism. When replacing battery pack 170, the user can open battery cover 165 to expose opening 164a and make battery pack 170 replaceable. On the other hand, when not replacing battery pack 170, the user can close battery cover 165 to conceal battery pack 170, making it impossible to access battery pack 170 and preventing battery pack 170 from falling off.

[0049] The battery pack 170 is a rechargeable battery that is detachable from the suction device 100. The parts of the suction device 100 excluding the battery pack 170 are also referred to as the main body. The battery pack 170 supplies power for operation to various components of the main body of the suction device 100. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the battery pack 170 has an electrode 171. The electrode 171 is a power interface between the battery pack 170 and the main body of the suction device 100. The battery pack 170 inputs or outputs power via the electrode 171. Although not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the battery pack 170 may have two electrodes, a positive electrode and a negative electrode, as the electrode 171.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the suction device 100 has a battery terminal 183 disposed in the battery housing 164. The battery terminal 183 is a power interface between the main body of the suction device 100 and the battery pack 170. The main body of the suction device 100 inputs or outputs power via the battery terminal 183. The battery terminal 183 is connected to the heating unit 121, the control circuit 180, and the charging circuit 181 via wiring indicated by dashed lines, and transmits and receives power therebetween. In FIGS. 6 and 7 , electrical connections with other components are omitted. Although omitted in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the main body of the suction device 100 may have two terminals, a positive terminal and a negative terminal, as the battery terminal 183.

[0051] 6 and 7 , when the battery pack 170 is housed in the battery housing section 164, the battery terminal 183 and the electrode 171 are connected to each other. This allows power to be transmitted and received between the main body of the suction device 100 and the battery pack 170.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 , the opening 142 of the substrate accommodating portion 140 is provided on the top surface 102, which is the upper surface of the housing 160. On the other hand, the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162 is provided on the bottom surface 103, which is the lower surface of the housing 160, at a position that overlaps with the opening 142 of the substrate accommodating portion 140 in the front-rear and left-right directions. This configuration allows the substrate accommodating portion 140 and the cleaning hole 162 to be configured as a single linear through-hole, making cleaning by inserting a cleaning tool into the cleaning hole 162 easy and effective. Furthermore, the opening 164a of the battery accommodating portion 164 is provided on the same surface as the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162, i.e., the bottom surface 103, which is the lower surface of the housing 160. This configuration simplifies the mechanical structure of the suction device 100, thereby enabling the suction device 100 to be made more compact. Furthermore, in order to perform maintenance such as cleaning or replacing the battery pack 170, it is only necessary to operate the bottom surface 103 of the suction device 100, and this allows for a standardized maintenance method, thereby improving usability.

[0053] 6 and 7, the suction device 100 has a control circuit 180. The control circuit 180 corresponds to the control unit 116 shown in Fig. 1. The control circuit 180 controls the overall processing within the suction device 100.

[0054] As an example, the control circuit 180 controls the operation of the heating unit 121. Control of the operation of the heating unit 121 is achieved by controlling 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 a target value of a parameter corresponding to the temperature of the heating unit 121. The control circuit 180 controls the power supply to the heating unit 121 so that the parameter corresponding to the temperature of the heating unit 121 transitions as defined in the heating profile. The heating profile is typically designed to optimize the flavor experienced by the user 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 experienced by the user can be optimized.

[0055] The parameter corresponding to the temperature of the heating unit 121 may be the electrical resistance value of the heating unit 121. The temperature of the heating unit 121 can be measured, for example, based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit 121 (more precisely, the heating resistor that constitutes the heating unit 121). This is because the electrical resistance value of the heating resistor changes depending on the temperature. The electrical resistance value of the heating resistor can be estimated, for example, by measuring the amount of voltage drop in the heating resistor. Another example of the parameter corresponding to the temperature of the heating unit 121 may be the temperature of the heating unit 121 itself. In addition to being measured based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit 121, the temperature of the heating unit 121 may also be measured by a temperature sensor such as a thermistor installed near the heating unit 121.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 6 and 7 , the suction device 100 has a charging circuit 181. The charging circuit 181 corresponds to the control unit 116 shown in FIG. 1. The charging circuit 181 controls charging of the battery pack 170 based on control by the control circuit 180. The charging circuit 181 supplies power supplied from an external power source via a charging terminal 182 to the battery pack 170. In this case, the charging circuit 181 can control the voltage and current of the power supplied to the battery pack 170.

[0058] As shown in Figures 2, 3, 6, and 7, the suction device 100 has a charging terminal 182. 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 housing portion 164. The charging terminal 182 receives power for charging the battery pack 170 supplied from the external power source. 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.

[0059] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the charging terminal 182 is disposed on the upper side of the right side of the suction device 100. As such, the charging terminal 182 is preferably disposed above the battery housing 164 and offset from the heating unit 121 to the right, i.e., from the opening 162 a of the cleaning hole 162 toward the opening 164 a of the battery housing 164. Here, an offset position refers to a separate or non-overlapping position. As long as this positional relationship is satisfied, the charging terminal 182 may be disposed on the top surface 102 of the suction device 100, or on the front or rear surface of the suction device 100, in addition to the positions shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 . This configuration can suppress heat transfer from the heating unit 121 to the charging terminal 182. As a result, damage to the charging terminal 182 due to temperature rise can be prevented. Furthermore, with this configuration, the wiring distance from the charging terminal 182 to the battery pack 170 can be shortened, thereby suppressing power loss in the wiring and improving the charging efficiency of the battery pack 170.

[0060] 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.

[0061] In the modifications described below, the description of the same points as in the above embodiment will be omitted, and the description will focus on the points that are different from the above embodiment.

[0062] (1) First Modification Figures 8 to 10 are diagrams that schematically show an example of the configuration of the area around the cleaning hole cover 163 on the bottom surface 103 of the suction device 100 according to the first modification. Figure 8 shows a state in which the cleaning hole cover 163 is engaged with the housing 160 while closing the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162. Figure 9 shows a state in which the cleaning hole cover 163 is disengaged from the housing 160 while closing the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162. Figure 10 shows a state in which the cleaning hole cover 163 opens the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162.

[0063] As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the cleaning hole cover 163 has a rotation shaft 163a rotatably attached to the right side of the edge of the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162 inside the right end of the cleaning hole cover 163. Therefore, the cleaning hole cover 163 can rotate around the rotation shaft 163a. ​​The rotation shaft 163a is part of a hinge mechanism that opens and closes the cleaning hole cover 163. A convex claw portion 163b is provided on the end of the cleaning hole cover 163 farther from the rotation shaft 163a, i.e., the left end. Meanwhile, a recess 162b into which the claw portion 163b can be inserted is provided near the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162 of the housing 160, at a position corresponding to the claw portion 163b of the cleaning hole cover 163.

[0064] 8 to 10, the cleaning hole cover 163 and the rotation shaft 163a are connected via a spring 163c. The spring 163c is arranged to expand and contract in a direction that increases or decreases the distance between the claw portion 163b and the rotation shaft 163a. ​​The expansion and contraction of the spring 163c enables the claw portion 163b to be inserted into the recess 162b as shown in FIG. 8 and the claw portion 163b to be removed from the recess 162b as shown in FIG. 9.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 8 , when the cleaning hole cover 163 closes the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162, the claw 163b is inserted into the recess 162b. The elastic force of the spring 163c acting in the direction of extension maintains the claw 163b inserted into the recess 162b. As a result, the cleaning hole cover 163 can be locked in a state in which it closes the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162 and is engaged with the housing 160. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9 , by applying a force to the cleaning hole cover 163 in the direction of contracting the spring 163c, the claw 163b can be removed from the recess 162b, thereby unlocking the cleaning hole cover 163. As a result, the cleaning hole 162 can be made rotatable, as shown in FIG. 10 .

[0066] As described above, the suction device 100 may have a locking mechanism that locks the cleaning hole cover 163, which opens and closes the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162, in a closed state. The rotating shaft 163a, claw 163b, spring 163c, and recess 162b shown in Figures 8 to 10 are an example of the locking mechanism. Of course, the locking mechanism is not limited to the example shown in Figures 8 to 10. For example, the housing 160 may have a claw 163b instead of the recess 162b, and the cleaning hole cover 163 may have a recess 162b instead of the claw 163b.

[0067] Furthermore, the suction device 100 may have a locking mechanism for the heater cover 161 and / or a locking mechanism for the battery cover 165, in addition to or instead of the locking mechanism for the cleaning hole cover 163. That is, the suction device 100 may have a locking mechanism that locks the heater cover 161 with the opening 142 of the substrate accommodating section 140 closed. The suction device 100 may also have a locking mechanism that locks the battery cover 165 with the opening 164a of the battery accommodating section 164 closed.

[0068] 11 and 12 are diagrams schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of the vicinity of the battery cover 165 on the bottom surface 103 of the suction device 100 according to the second modification. Fig. 11 illustrates a state in which the battery cover 165 is engaged with the housing 160 while closing the opening 164a of the battery accommodating section 164. Fig. 12 illustrates a state in which the battery cover 165 opens the opening 164a of the battery accommodating section 164.

[0069] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , the battery cover 165 has a rotation shaft 165a rotatably attached to the left side of the edge of the opening 164a of the battery housing portion 164, inside the left end of the battery cover 165. Therefore, the battery cover 165 can rotate around the rotation shaft 165a. The rotation shaft 165a is part of a hinge mechanism that opens and closes the battery cover 165. The suction device 100 has a fastener 165b that can slide left and right on the right side of the edge of the opening 164a of the battery housing portion 164. As shown in FIG. 11 , the fastener 165b can be moved to the left with the battery cover 165 closing the opening 164a of the battery housing portion 164, thereby locking the battery cover 165 in an engaged state with the housing 160. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12 , the fastener 165b can be moved to the right to unlock the battery cover 165 and allow the battery cover 165 to rotate.

[0070] The fastener 165b is an example of a locking mechanism that locks the opening 164a of the battery housing portion 164 in a closed state. Of course, the locking mechanism is not limited to the example shown in Figures 11 and 12. As an example, the fastener 165b may be configured to be rotatable, and may lock or unlock the battery cover 165 depending on the rotation angle. As another example, the locking mechanism of the battery cover 165 may be configured similarly to the locking mechanism of the cleaning hole cover 163 shown in the first modified example.

[0071] The control circuit 180 may control the operation of the fastener 165b based on the operating state of the suction device 100. As an example, the control circuit 180 may prohibit the fastener 165b from unlocking the battery pack 170 while the heating unit 121 is heating the battery pack 170 or while the battery pack 170 is charging. On the other hand, the control circuit 180 may permit the fastener 165b to unlock the battery pack 170 only during a period when neither the heating unit 121 nor the battery pack 170 is being heated. Prohibition and permission of unlocking the battery pack 170 while the fastener 165b is fixed or movable are achieved by making the fastener 165b movable. The battery pack 170 may become hot while the heating unit 121 is heating the battery pack 170 or while the battery pack 170 is charging the battery pack 170. In this regard, this configuration prevents the user from touching the hot battery pack 170, thereby improving safety. Additionally, the control circuit 180 may control the operation of the fastener 165b based on instructions from a user terminal such as a smartphone that is wirelessly connected to the suction device 100 via Bluetooth or the like.

[0072] 11 and 12 , the suction device 100 has an open / close sensor 184. The open / close sensor 184 detects whether the battery cover 165 opens or closes the opening 164a of the battery housing portion 164. For example, the open / close sensor 184 may be configured as a magnetic detection proximity sensor such as a Hall sensor, and may detect whether the battery cover 165 opens or closes based on whether or not a magnetism corresponding to the battery cover 165 is detected. Alternatively, the open / close sensor 184 may detect whether or not the battery cover 165 is open or closed based on whether or not electricity is flowing or whether or not light is detected. Furthermore, the suction device 100 may be provided with a physical button that is pressed when the battery cover 165 is closed, and whether or not the battery cover 165 is open or closed may be detected based on the pressed state of the physical button.

[0073] Control circuit 180 may control the operation of heating unit 121 based on the detection result of open / close sensor 184. For example, control circuit 180 may permit heating by heating unit 121 only when battery cover 165 is closed. This configuration prevents the user from directly touching battery pack 170 that has been heated by heating unit 121, thereby improving safety.

[0074] The charging circuit 181 may control charging of the battery pack 170 based on the detection result of the open / close sensor 184. For example, the charging circuit 181 may permit charging of the battery pack 170 only when the battery cover 165 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.

[0075] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , the suction device 100 includes a liquid leak detection unit 166. The liquid leak detection unit 166 is made of a liquid-absorbent material and changes its appearance when it absorbs liquid. Examples of the liquid-absorbent material include paper, cloth, nonwoven fabric, a porous resin sheet, a coating film, and combinations thereof. The appearance change may be a color change, a shape change, swelling, or unevenness, or a combination of these. As an example, the liquid leak detection unit 166 may be formed by printing a predetermined print pattern of liquid-absorbent soluble ink on a liquid-absorbent sheet made of a highly absorbent material such as a water-absorbent polymer. The liquid-absorbent soluble ink can be printed in the same way as regular ink, but dissolves after printing when it absorbs liquid, causing color change, bleeding, deformation of the outer shape, or penetration and diffusion into the liquid-absorbent sheet. The liquid leak detection unit 166 is positioned so as to contact the battery pack 170 housed in the battery housing 164. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , the leakage detection unit 166 may be disposed on the back side of the battery cover 165. In this case, the user can easily visually check the leakage detection unit 166 by opening the battery cover 165. As another example, the leakage detection unit 166 may be disposed on the inner wall of the battery housing portion 164. As yet another example, the leakage detection unit 166 may be disposed on the surface of the battery pack 170. With this configuration, even if electrolyte leaks from the battery pack 170 due to aging or other factors, the leakage detection unit 166 can absorb the leak and prevent it from leaking outside the suction device 100. Furthermore, the change in the appearance of the leakage detection unit 166 allows the user to easily visually check whether or not there is leakage from the battery pack 170 and safely replace the battery pack 170.

[0076] Although this modification has been described as an example in which the opening / closing sensor 184 is provided to detect the opening / closing of the battery cover 165, the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. In addition to or instead of the opening / closing sensor 184 that detects the opening / closing of the battery cover 165, an opening / closing sensor that detects the opening / closing of the heater cover 161 and / or the cleaning hole cover 163 may be provided.

[0077] The control circuit 180 may permit or prohibit the unlocking of some of the heater cover 161, cleaning hole cover 163, and battery cover 165 based on the open / closed state of the other parts.

[0078] As an example, the control circuit 180 may control the operation of the fastener 165b to prohibit unlocking of the battery cover 165 when the heater cover 161 opens the opening 142 of the substrate accommodating section 140 and the cleaning hole cover 163 closes the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162. More simply, the control circuit 180 may fix the fastener 165b in a state in which the battery cover 165 is locked when the heater cover 161 is open and the cleaning hole cover 163 is closed. When the heater cover 161 is open and the cleaning hole cover 163 is closed, the stick-shaped substrate 150 may be inserted into the substrate accommodating section 140 and heating may be performed by the heating section 121. In this regard, this configuration prevents the user from directly touching the battery pack 170, which has been heated by the heating section 121, thereby improving safety.

[0079] As another example, the control circuit 180 may control the operation of the fastener 165b to permit unlocking of the battery cover 165 when the heater cover 161 opens the opening 142 of the base material accommodating portion 140 and the cleaning hole cover 163 opens the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162. More simply, the control circuit 180 may make the fastener 165b movable to permit unlocking of the battery cover 165 when both the heater cover 161 and the cleaning hole cover 163 are open. When both the heater cover 161 and the cleaning hole cover 163 are open, cleaning can be performed using a cleaning tool. In this regard, with this configuration, cleaning and battery pack 170 replacement can be performed simultaneously, thereby improving maintainability.

[0080] (3) Third Modification Example FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the internal configuration of the suction device 100 according to a third modification example. As shown in FIG. 13 , the suction device 100 may include a bottom cover 167 that opens and closes the opening 162 a of the cleaning hole 162 and the opening 164 a of the battery housing portion 164, instead of the cleaning hole cover 163 and the battery cover 165. The bottom cover 167 opens and closes the opening 164 a of the battery housing portion 164, as well as the opening 162 a of the cleaning hole 162. Therefore, the user can open and close the opening 162 a of the cleaning hole 162 and the opening 164 a of the battery housing portion 164 together by opening and closing the bottom cover 167. This configuration improves usability compared to the above embodiment, in which the cleaning hole cover 163 and the battery cover 165 are configured separately.

[0081] In this modification, the suction device 100 may further include a locking mechanism that locks the bottom cover 167. The suction device 100 may further include an opening / closing sensor that detects the opening / closing of the bottom cover 167. Control of components such as the heating unit 121 based on the opening / closing of the bottom cover 167, and permission and prohibition of unlocking of the bottom cover 167 may be performed in the same manner as in the modification described above.

[0082] The bottom cover 167 may be capable of selectively opening only either the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162 or the opening 164a of the battery housing portion 164. For example, the bottom cover 167 may be configured as a slider that can slide left and right on the bottom surface 103 of the suction device 100. In this case, the bottom cover 167 closes the openings 162a and 164a when positioned at the center in the left and right direction, and opens both the openings 162a and 164a when moved fully to the right or fully to the left. The bottom cover 167 opens the opening 162a when moved halfway to the right, and opens the opening 164a when moved halfway to the left. In this case, the locking mechanism described above may limit the range within which the bottom cover 167 can slide so as to keep the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162 and / or the opening 164a of the battery housing portion 164 closed. The above-described open / close sensor may detect the open / close states of the opening 162 a of the cleaning hole 162 and the opening 164 a of the battery housing section 164 based on the sliding position of the bottom cover 167 .

[0083] (4) 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 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.

[0084] 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 substrate housing unit 140 using power supplied from the battery pack 170 housed in the battery housing unit 164. The load may be a resistance heating type heating unit 121 that generates heat by resistance, as described above. 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.

[0085] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the diameter of the opening 164a of the battery housing portion 164 is larger than the diameter of the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. The diameter of the opening 164a of the battery housing portion 164 may be the same as or smaller than the diameter of the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162.

[0086] The mechanism by which the heater cover 161 opens and closes the opening 142 of the base material accommodating portion 140 is not limited to a slider. As an example, the heater cover 161 may open and close the opening 142 using a hinge mechanism. As another example, the heater cover 161 may be configured to be detachable from the housing 160. Similarly, the mechanism by which the cleaning hole cover 163 opens and closes the opening 162a of the cleaning hole 162 is not limited to a hinge mechanism. As an example, the cleaning hole cover 163 may be configured as a slider. As another example, the cleaning hole cover 163 may be configured to be detachable from the housing 160. Similarly, the mechanism by which the battery cover 165 opens and closes the opening 164a of the battery accommodating portion 164 is not limited to a hinge mechanism. As an example, the battery cover 165 may be configured as a slider. As another example, the battery cover 165 may be configured to be detachable from the housing 160. The same applies to the bottom cover 167.

[0087] The suction device 100 may have an additional configuration to prevent the battery pack 170 from falling off from the battery housing portion 164. As one example, the opening 164a of the battery housing portion 164 may be sealed with an inner lid made of an elastic material such as rubber. As another example, a screw thread may be provided on the side of the battery pack 170 and a screw groove may be provided on the inner wall of the battery housing portion 164, so that the battery pack 170 may be screwed into the battery housing portion 164.

[0088] The series of processes performed by each device described herein may be implemented using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The software programs may be stored in advance, for example, on a recording medium (more specifically, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium) internal or external to each device. Each program is then loaded into a random access memory (RAM) and executed by a processing circuit such as a central processing unit (CPU). The recording medium may be, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory. The computer program may also be distributed, for example, via a network, without using a recording medium. The computer may be, for example, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a general-purpose processor that executes functions by loading a software program, or a computer on a server used in cloud computing. The series of processes performed by each device described herein may 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.

[0089] Note that the following configurations also fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure. (1) An aerosol generation system comprising: a housing; a substrate accommodating section having a first opening and accommodating a substrate so as to be insertable and removable via the first opening; a tubular member having a second opening and open at both ends and connected to the substrate accommodating section; a battery accommodating section having a third opening and accommodating a battery pack so as to be insertable and removable via the third opening; a load that generates energy for heating the aerosol source contained in the substrate accommodated in the substrate accommodating section using power supplied from the battery pack accommodated in the battery accommodating section; and a control section that controls the operation of the load, wherein the first opening is provided on a surface of the housing facing a first direction, and the second opening and the third opening are provided on a surface of the housing facing a second direction opposite the first direction. (2) The aerosol generation system according to (1), further comprising a lid that opens and closes the second opening and a lid that opens and closes the third opening. (3) The aerosol generation system according to (2), further comprising: a locking mechanism that locks the lid that opens and closes the second opening in a closed state, the locking mechanism having a recess and a claw that locks the lid that opens and closes the second opening by inserting the claw into the recess and unlocks the lid that opens and closes the second opening by removing the claw from the recess; the claw being provided on one of the lid that opens and closes the second opening and the housing, and the recess being provided on the other. (4) The aerosol generation system according to (1), further comprising: a lid that opens and closes the third opening, the lid that opens and closes the third opening and the second opening. (5) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (2) to (4), wherein the lid that opens and closes the third opening is detachable from the housing. (6) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (2) to (5), further comprising a locking mechanism that locks the lid portion that opens and closes the third opening in a state in which the third opening is closed.(7) The aerosol generation system according to (6), wherein the control unit controls operation of the locking mechanism that locks the lid unit that opens and closes the third opening based on an operating state of the aerosol generation system. (8) The aerosol generation system according to (6) or (7), wherein the aerosol generation system further includes a lid unit that opens and closes the first opening, and the control unit controls operation of the locking mechanism that locks the lid unit that opens and closes the third opening so as to prohibit unlocking of the lid unit that opens and closes the third opening when the lid unit that opens and closes the first opening opens the first opening and the second opening is closed. (9) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (2) to (8), wherein the aerosol generation system further includes an opening / closing sensor that detects whether the lid unit that opens and closes the third opening closes the third opening, and the control unit controls operation of the load based on a detection result by the opening / closing sensor. (10) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (9), further comprising a liquid leakage detection unit made of a liquid-absorbing material and whose appearance changes when it absorbs liquid, and arranged in a position where it contacts the battery pack housed in the battery housing section. (11) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (10), further comprising a charging terminal that receives power for charging the battery pack supplied from an external power source, and the charging terminal is arranged on the first direction side of the battery housing section and at a position offset from the load in a direction from the second opening to the third opening. (12) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (11), further comprising the substrate.

[0090] 100 Suction device 102 Top surface 103 Bottom surface 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 140 Substrate storage unit 141 Internal space 142 Opening 143 Bottom 144 Heat insulation unit 150 Stick-shaped substrate 151 Substrate unit 152 Suction port 160 Housing 161 Heater cover 162 Cleaning hole 162a Opening 162b Recess 163 Cleaning hole cover 163a Rotation shaft 163b Claw portion 163c Spring 164 Battery storage unit 164a Opening 165 Battery cover 165a Rotation shaft 165b Fastener 165b 166 Leak detection unit 167 Bottom cover 170 Battery pack 171 Electrode 180 Control circuit 181 Charging circuit 182 Charging terminal 183 Battery terminal 184 Open / close sensor

Claims

1. Housing and a substrate accommodating section having a first opening and accommodating a substrate so that the substrate can be inserted and removed through the first opening; a tubular member having a second opening and open at both ends, the tubular member having a second opening and being connected to the substrate accommodating portion; a battery accommodating portion having a third opening and accommodating a battery pack so that the battery pack can be inserted and removed through the third opening; a load that generates energy for heating the aerosol source contained in the substrate accommodated in the substrate accommodating section by using power supplied from the battery pack accommodated in the battery accommodating section; a control unit that controls the operation of the load; Equipped with the first opening is provided on a surface of the housing facing a first direction, The second opening and the third opening are provided on a surface of the housing facing a second direction opposite to the first direction. Aerosol generation systems.

2. The aerosol generation system further includes a lid portion that opens and closes the second opening and a lid portion that opens and closes the third opening.

10. The aerosol generating system of claim 1.

3. The aerosol generation system further includes a locking mechanism that locks the lid portion, which opens and closes the second opening, in a state in which the second opening is closed, the locking mechanism has a recess and a claw, and locks the lid that opens and closes the second opening by inserting the claw into the recess, and unlocks the lid that opens and closes the second opening by removing the claw from the recess; the claw portion is provided on one of the lid portion and the housing that open and close the second opening, and the recess portion is provided on the other.

3. The aerosol generating system according to claim 2.

4. the aerosol generation system further includes a lid that opens and closes the third opening, a cover portion that opens and closes the third opening and also opens and closes the second opening; 10. The aerosol generating system of claim 1.

5. The cover portion that opens and closes the third opening is provided detachably from the housing.

3. The aerosol generating system according to claim 2.

6. The aerosol generation system further includes a locking mechanism that locks the lid portion, which opens and closes the third opening, in a state in which the third opening is closed. An aerosol generating system according to any one of claims 2 to 5.

7. The control unit controls the operation of the locking mechanism that locks the lid unit that opens and closes the third opening based on the operating state of the aerosol generation system.

7. The aerosol generating system according to claim 6.

8. The aerosol generation system further includes a lid that opens and closes the first opening, the control unit controls the operation of the locking mechanism that locks the lid unit that opens and closes the third opening so as to prohibit release of the lock of the lid unit that opens and closes the third opening when the lid unit that opens and closes the first opening opens the first opening and the second opening is closed.

7. The aerosol generating system according to claim 6.

9. The aerosol generation system further includes an opening / closing sensor that detects whether a lid that opens and closes the third opening closes the third opening. The control unit controls the operation of the load based on the detection result of the open / close sensor. An aerosol generating system according to any one of claims 2 to 5.

10. the aerosol generation system further includes a liquid leakage detection unit that is made of a liquid-absorbing material and whose appearance changes when the liquid is absorbed, the liquid leakage detection unit being arranged in a position that makes contact with the battery pack accommodated in the battery accommodating unit; 6. An aerosol generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

11. The aerosol generating system comprises: a charging terminal for receiving power for charging the battery pack supplied from an external power source; the charging terminal is disposed on the first direction side of the battery housing portion and at a position offset from the load in a direction from the second opening toward the third opening.

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

12. The aerosol generating system further comprises the substrate.

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