Aerosol generation system

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a configuration capable of improving usability related to wireless charging. [Solution] Provided is an aerosol generation system comprising an aerosol generation device and a first panel. The aerosol generation device has: a generation unit that generates an aerosol from an aerosol source; a control unit that controls the operation of the generation unit; a battery that supplies power to the generation unit and the control unit; and a housing. The first panel has a power reception coil for receiving power for charging the battery, and is detachably connected to the housing so as to cover a portion of the housing. The aerosol generation device and the first panel are provided with terminals for electrically connecting the power reception coil and the battery, and the power reception coil and the battery are electrically connected via the terminals in a state in which the first panel is connected to the housing.

Description

Aerosol generation system

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

[0002] Suction devices that generate substances to be inhaled by users are widely spread. For example, a suction device uses a base material including an aerosol source for generating an aerosol and a flavor source for imparting a flavor component to the generated aerosol, etc., to generate an aerosol to which a flavor component is imparted. A user can enjoy the flavor by inhaling the aerosol to which the flavor component is imparted, which is generated by the suction device. The operation of the user inhaling the aerosol is hereinafter also referred to as puff or puff operation. Examples of devices classified as suction devices include those used in place of so-called cigarettes, such as heated tobacco and e-cigarettes, and nebulizers used for medical purposes. Note that a heated tobacco is a type of suction device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source. An e-cigarette is a type of suction device that generates an aerosol by atomizing a liquid aerosol source.

[0003] In recent years, charging a suction device by so-called wireless charging using a coil has been studied. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique in which a charging case having a power receiving coil receives power transmitted from a power transmitting coil by the power receiving coil and charges a suction device connected to the charging case.

[0004] Japanese Patent Translation No. 2023-535014

[0005] The techniques disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like have not been long since developed, and there is still room for improvement from various viewpoints.

[0006] Therefore, the present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a mechanism capable of improving the usability regarding wireless charging.

[0007] To solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generation system is provided comprising an aerosol generator and a first panel, wherein the aerosol generator has a generating unit that generates an aerosol from an aerosol source, a control unit that controls the operation of the generating unit, a battery that supplies power to the generating unit and the control unit, and a housing, the first panel has a power receiving coil that receives power for charging the battery and is detachably connected to the housing so as to cover a part of the housing, the aerosol generator and the first panel have terminals for electrically connecting the power receiving coil and the battery, and the power receiving coil and the battery are electrically connected via the terminals when the first panel is connected to the housing.

[0008] The aerosol generation system may further include a power receiving circuit that converts the AC voltage output from the power receiving coil into a DC voltage and outputs it, a resonant capacitor connected between the power receiving coil and the power receiving circuit, and a first ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection element connected between the terminal and the power receiving circuit.

[0009] The power receiving circuit, the resonant capacitor, and the first ESD protection element may be mounted on the aerosol generating device.

[0010] The first ESD protection element may be connected between one end of the power receiving coil and ground, and between the other end of the power receiving coil (different from the one end) and ground.

[0011] The capacitance of the first ESD protection element may be smaller than the capacitance of the resonant capacitor.

[0012] The power receiving circuit, the resonant capacitor, and the first ESD protection element may be mounted on the first panel.

[0013] The aerosol generation system may further include a charge control unit electrically connected between the terminal and the battery to control the charging of the battery, and a second ESD protection element electrically connected between the terminal and the charge control unit.

[0014] The housing has a first and second surface facing each other, and a third and fourth surface facing each other, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth surfaces are parallel or substantially parallel to the flow direction of the generated aerosol, the areas of the first and second surfaces are larger than the areas of the third and fourth surfaces, and the first panel may be configured to be fixable to the aerosol generator so as to cover at least a portion of the first surface.

[0015] The aerosol generating apparatus further includes a sensor for detecting the attachment / detachment state of the first panel, and the control unit may prohibit the operation of the generating unit when the first panel is removed.

[0016] The housing and the first panel may be connected using magnetism.

[0017] The housing and the first panel may be connected by a fitting mechanism.

[0018] The housing and the first panel may be connected by a snap-fit ​​mechanism.

[0019] The terminals located on at least one of the first panel or the aerosol generating apparatus may be pressed against the other terminal by elastic force.

[0020] The aerosol generation system further comprises a second panel, the second panel being detachably connected to the housing so as to cover a portion of the housing that is not covered by the first panel.

[0021] The first panel and the second panel may be connected to the housing at a position that sandwiches the aerosol generating device.

[0022] As explained above, this disclosure provides a mechanism that can improve the usability of wireless charging.

[0023] This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a suction device. This is a diagram showing the suction device 100 according to this embodiment in a disassembled state. This is a diagram showing the outer shell of the front panel 160 of the suction device 100 according to this embodiment. This is a diagram showing an example of a snap-fit ​​mechanism used to connect the front panel 160 and the housing 102 of the main body 101. This is a diagram schematically showing the circuit in the first connection configuration. This is a diagram schematically showing the circuit in the second connection configuration. This is a diagram showing a specific example of the circuit configuration of the suction device 100 implementing the first connection configuration. This is a diagram showing a specific example of the circuit configuration of the suction device 100 implementing the second connection configuration. This is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow performed by the suction device 100 according to this embodiment.

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

[0025] Furthermore, in this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functional configuration may be distinguished by adding an index consisting of the same reference numeral followed by a different alphabet or number. However, if there is no need to particularly distinguish between multiple elements having substantially the same functional configuration, only the same reference numeral shall be used.

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

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

[0028] The power supply unit 111 includes a battery for storing power (for example, a battery 242 described later). The power supply unit 111 supplies power to each component of the suction device 100 based on control by the control unit 116. The battery is configured to be rechargeable, and the power supply unit 111 may further include a charge control unit (for example, a charge IC 241 described later) for controlling the charging of the battery. The battery of the power supply unit 111 may be composed of a rechargeable battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery. The charge control unit of the power supply unit 111 may be composed of a circuit such as an IC (Integrated Circuit) or SoC (System on Chip). The battery and charge control unit of the power supply unit 111 may be packaged together, or they may be housed separately in the housing 102. For example, the charge control unit may be mounted on the same board on which the control unit 116 etc. are mounted. In that case, the battery and charge control unit of the power supply unit 111 are electrically connected by wires, FPCs, etc.

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

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

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

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

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

[0034] The housing section 140 has an internal space 141 and holds the stick-shaped base material 150 while housing a portion of the stick-shaped base material 150 in the internal space 141. The housing section 140 has an opening 142 that communicates the internal space 141 with the outside and houses the stick-shaped base material 150 inserted into the internal space 141 from the opening 142. For example, the housing section 140 is a cylindrical body with the opening 142 and bottom 143 as its base, defining a columnar internal space 141.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0042] The heating unit 121 is an example of a generation unit that generates aerosols from an aerosol source, and the control unit 116 controls the operation of the heating unit 121, which is the generation unit. The power supply unit 111 is an example of a battery that supplies power to various components in the suction device 100, such as the heating unit 121 and the control unit 116.

[0043] The suction device 100 is an example of an aerosol generation system. The aerosol generation system may include a stick-type substrate 150.

[0044] <2. Configuration examples related to the panel> Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, configuration examples related to the panel constituting the suction device 100 will be described.

[0045] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a state where the suction device 100 according to the present embodiment is disassembled. As shown in FIG. 2, the suction device 100 may be configured to be disassembled into a main body 101, a front panel 160, and a back panel 170. The suction device 100 is configured by connecting the front panel 160 and the back panel 170 to the main body 101, respectively. The main body 101 of the suction device 100 is an example of an aerosol generating device. The front panel 160 is an example of a first panel. The back panel 170 is an example of a second panel.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 2, the suction device 100 may be configured in a longitudinal shape, and its corners may be rounded. The longitudinal direction of the suction device 100 is also referred to as the vertical direction. And among the directions orthogonal to the vertical direction, the direction with the longer dimension is also referred to as the left-right direction, and the direction with the shorter dimension is also referred to as the depth direction. The front panel 160 is connected to the front side of the main body 101, and the back panel 170 is connected to the back side of the main body 101.

[0047] The main body 101 houses the main components of the suction device 100. Typically, all the components described above while referring to FIG. 1 are housed inside a housing 102 that constitutes the outer shell of the main body 101. The main body 101 may also have components exposed on the housing 102 in the portion covered by the front panel 160 or the back panel 170, but they are omitted in FIG. 2.

[0048] An opening 142 is provided on the upper surface 102a of the housing 102 of the main body 101. And a lid 145 that can slide left and right is provided on the upper surface 102a of the housing 102 of the main body 101, and can open and close the opening 142. In FIG. 2, the opening 142 is closed by the lid 145, and a state where it cannot be visually recognized from the outside is shown. The lid 145 opens the opening 142 by sliding to the right and closes the opening 142 by sliding to the left.

[0049] The housing section 140 is configured as a cylindrical body with its longitudinal direction in the vertical direction, and its upper end is formed as an opening 142 on the upper surface 102a of the housing 102. Therefore, the stick-shaped base material 150 is inserted into and removed from the housing section 140 in the vertical direction through the opening 142.

[0050] The containment section 140 may be configured as a bottomed cylindrical body, and so-called counterflow may be realized. That is, when the user performs puffing, air flowing in from the opening 142 may pass through the gap between the containment section 140 and the stick-type base material 150 and flow into the interior from the tip (lower end) of the stick-type base material 150, and reach the user's mouth together with the aerosol.

[0051] Of course, the housing section 140 may be configured as a cylindrical body with openings at both ends. In that case, the opening 142 becomes an aerosol outflow hole, and an opening (not shown) that serves as an air inflow hole is positioned at any location on the housing 102.

[0052] In any case, the containment section 140 constitutes a flow path for transporting the generated aerosol. The opening 142 functions as the downstream end of the suction device 100 in the direction of aerosol flow. The vertical direction corresponds to the longitudinal and axial directions of the containment section 140, and also to the direction of aerosol flow (at least the direction of aerosol flow on the downstream side (i.e., near the opening 142)).

[0053] Figure 3 shows the view of the front panel 160 of the suction device 100 according to this embodiment, with light passing through the outer shell 169. As shown in Figure 3, the front panel 160 has a power receiving coil 161, a coil base material 162, a circuit board 163, a fixing member 166, and a conductor 167 inside the outer shell 169. In addition, two magnets 103 are arranged on the front surface 102c of the main body 101. These are positioned between the outer shell 169 of the front panel 160 and the main body 101, and are not visible from the outside when the front panel 160 is connected to the main body 101.

[0054] The receiving coil 161 is a coil that receives power to charge the power supply unit 111. The power received by the receiving coil 161 is supplied to the power supply unit 111, and the power supply unit 111 is charged. A current is induced in the receiving coil 161 by the magnetic field generated by the transmitting coil of the wireless charger. In other words, the receiving coil 161 may receive power by electromagnetic induction. Furthermore, the receiving coil 161 may receive power by electromagnetic resonance.

[0055] The coil base material 162 is a plate-shaped member on which the power receiving coil 161 is arranged. The power receiving coil 161 can be constructed by winding a conductor on the coil base material 162. The power receiving coil 161 may be constructed, for example, as a thin pattern coil. The coil base material 162 may also serve as a magnetic shield.

[0056] Specifically, the power receiving coil 161 may be configured as an air coil. The coil base material 162 may be constructed by sandwiching both sides of a ferrite sheet between protective sheets made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or the like. The power receiving coil 161 and the coil base material 162 may be bonded to each other by laminating them with an adhesive sheet in between. The coil base material 162 can fix the power receiving coil 161 and prevent winding misalignment of the power receiving coil 161. In addition, by having a ferrite sheet, the coil base material 162 can increase the magnetic flux and L value, prevent interference with surrounding components or surrounding metals, and prevent noise radiation and intrusion.

[0057] The circuit board 163 is a plate-shaped component on which various circuits for wireless charging are arranged. The power receiving coil 161 is electrically connected to the circuit inside the main body 101 via the circuit board 163.

[0058] The fixing member 166 is a member that fixes the coil base material 162 on which the power receiving coil 161 is arranged, and the circuit board 163. For example, the fixing member 166 may be a rib having a space in which the coil base material 162 and the circuit board 163 can be embedded.

[0059] The conductor 167 electrically connects the power receiving coil 161 and the circuit board 163.

[0060] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the housing 102 has an upper surface 102a and a lower surface 102b facing each other, a front hand surface 102c and a back surface 102d facing each other, and a left surface 102e and a right surface 102f facing each other. At least a part of the housing 102 may be rounded, and the boundaries of these six surfaces may be set as appropriate. The front hand surface 102c is an example of the first surface. The back surface 102d is an example of the second surface. The left surface 102e is an example of the third surface. The right surface 102f is an example of the fourth surface. These four surfaces are parallel or substantially parallel in the vertical direction (i.e., the aerosol flow direction) and are expected to be covered by the user's hand when using the suction device 100. Here, substantially parallel means at least not perpendicular, for example, the angle with respect to the vertical direction is 10 degrees or less.

[0061] Here, the area of ​​the front surface 102c and the back surface 102d is the largest among these six surfaces, the area of ​​the left surface 102e and the right surface 102f is the next largest, and the area of ​​the top surface 102a and the bottom surface 102b is the smallest. Of course, the area and shape of the front surface 102c and the back surface 102d may be the same or different. The same applies to the other surfaces.

[0062] The front panel 160 is detachably connected to the housing 102 of the main body 101 so as to cover at least a portion of the housing 102. More specifically, the front panel 160 is configured to be fixable to the main body 101 so as to cover at least a portion of the front surface 102c of the housing 102. For example, the front panel 160 may cover only a portion of the center of the front surface 102c, or the front surface 102c may be exposed from the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the front panel 160. In this case, the outer shell 169 of the front panel 160 may be configured as a plate-like member such as a flat plate or a curved plate that curves in an arch shape toward the front. As another example, the front panel 160 may cover the entire front surface 102c, and further cover a portion of the front side of the top surface 102a, bottom surface 102b, left surface 102e, and right surface 102f. In this case, the outer shell 169 of the front panel 160 can be configured as a so-called cover, which is a plate-like member such as a flat plate or a curved plate that curves in an arch shape toward the front, with an edge provided. In particular, it is desirable that the outer shell 169 of the front panel 160 be curved so that when the front panel 160 is attached to the main body 101, the suction device 100 has an overall rounded shape so that it is easy to hold in the hand.

[0063] The direction of attachment and detachment between the front panel 160 and the housing 102 of the main body 101 coincides with or approximately coincides with the axial direction of the power receiving coil 161. Here, approximately coincidence means that the angle between the two directions is, for example, 10 degrees or less. For example, the front panel 160 is attached to and detached from the front surface 102c of the main body 101 in the depth direction. The power receiving coil 161 is positioned with the depth direction as its axial direction. With this configuration, a large installation area for the power receiving coil 161 can be secured on the front panel 160 which is positioned on the wide side of the suction device 100, making it possible to place a large power receiving coil 161 and improve the power receiving efficiency.

[0064] A magnet 103 is positioned on the front surface 102c of the main body 101. The magnet 103 is used to connect the front panel 160 to the housing 102 of the main body 101. That is, the housing 102 of the main body 101 and the front panel 160 are connected using magnetism. On the front panel 160, a ferromagnetic material or magnet is positioned at the location corresponding to the magnet 103 when connected to the housing 102 of the main body 101.

[0065] It is preferable that the two magnets 103 be positioned spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the front panel 160 (i.e., the longitudinal direction of the suction device 100), as shown in Figure 3. With this configuration, the front panel 160 can be fixed to the main body 101 more stably.

[0066] In addition to or instead of magnetism, the housing 102 of the main body 101 and the front panel 160 may be connected by a mating mechanism. When magnetism and a mating mechanism are used in combination, magnetism may be used for alignment of the mating. An example of a mating mechanism is a snap-fit ​​mechanism. A snap-fit ​​mechanism is a mechanism that uses the elasticity of the parts to fix the parts together. Other mechanisms such as screw-fitting mechanisms or latching mechanisms may also be used. By employing such a mating mechanism, the connection between the front panel 160 and the main body 101 can be made stronger, and the electrical connection between the circuit of the front panel 160 and the circuit of the main body 101 at the terminal 230, which will be described later, can be made stronger. In some cases, it may be difficult to connect the heavy front panel 160, which has components for wireless charging such as the power receiving coil 161, to the main body 101 with sufficient strength using magnetism alone. In this respect, a mating mechanism makes it possible to connect even a heavy front panel 160 to the main body 101 with sufficient strength.

[0067] The following describes an example configuration when a snap-fit ​​mechanism is used, with reference to Figure 4.

[0068] Figure 4 shows an example of a snap-fit ​​mechanism used to connect the front panel 160 to the housing 102 of the main body 101. As shown in the upper part of Figure 4, snap-fit ​​mechanisms may be provided at two locations on the upper end and two locations on the lower end of the suction device 100. As shown in the lower left part of Figure 4, near the upper end of the suction device 100, a claw portion 164 provided on the front panel 160, which protrudes inward and then downward, is fitted into and hooked into a recess 104 provided on the front surface 102c of the main body 101. As shown in the lower right part of Figure 4, at the lower end of the suction device 100, a claw portion 165 provided near the lower end 160b of the front panel 160, which protrudes downward, is fitted into and hooked into a through hole 106 that penetrates vertically through a leg portion 105 that protrudes downward from the front surface 102c of the main body 101. These hooks fix the front panel 160 to the main body 101.

[0069] The claw portion 165 is elastic. The user can connect the front panel 160 to the main body 101 by fitting the claw portion 165 into the through hole 106 while elastically deforming it, with the claw portion 164 fitted into the recess 104.

[0070] As shown in the lower right of Figure 4, a through hole 107 is provided on the lower surface 102b of the main body 101 at a position that overlaps with the through hole 106 in the vertical direction. The user can then insert the pin 9 through the through hole 107 and push the claw portion 165 upward through the through hole 106, causing elastic deformation, thereby removing the claw portion 165 from the through hole 106 and removing the front panel 160 from the main body 101.

[0071] Furthermore, the engagement of the claw portion 164 with the recess 104, and the engagement of the claw portion 165 with the through hole 106, restricts the movement of the front panel 160 in the depth direction relative to the main body 101. In addition, any mechanism to restrict the vertical and horizontal movement of the front panel 160 relative to the main body 101 may be provided on the main body 101 and the front panel 160. For example, a vertical wall may be provided at the joint between the outer circumference of the outer shell 169 of the front panel 160 and the housing 102 of the main body 101.

[0072] The connection mechanism of the front panel 160 to the main unit 101 has been described above.

[0073] The back panel 170 is a plate-shaped member that is detachably connected to the housing 102 of the main body 101 so as to cover at least a portion of the housing 102 of the main body 101 that is not covered by the front panel 160. In particular, the front panel 160 and the back panel 170 are connected to the housing 102 of the main body 101 at a position that sandwiches the main body 101. That is, the back panel 170 is configured to be fixable to the main body 101 so as to cover at least a portion of the back surface 102d of the housing 102.

[0074] The back panel 170 may consist only of an outer shell, and its shape may be the same as the outer shell 169 of the front panel 160. Furthermore, the connection mechanism of the back panel 170 to the main body 101 may be the same as the connection mechanism of the front panel 160 to the main body 101.

[0075] The back panel 170 may be flexible. A button may be provided on the rear surface 102d of the main body 101. In this case, the user can press down on the back panel 170 to make it flexible and press the button provided on the rear surface 102d of the main body 101.

[0076] The back panel 170 may be provided with a light-transmitting section. Furthermore, a light-emitting device such as an LED (light-emitting diode) may be provided on the back surface 102d of the main body 101 at a position overlapping the light-transmitting section. In this case, the user can visually perceive the light emitted by the light-emitting device through the light-transmitting section.

[0077] The panels constituting the suction device 100 according to this embodiment (i.e., the front panel 160 and the back panel 170) have been described above.

[0078] The main unit 101 can be connected to a front panel 160 having a power receiving coil 161, and a back panel 170 having flexibility and transparency, as well as various other types of panels. For example, the main unit 101 can be connected to a panel equipped with various devices such as a wireless communication device, a display device, or a storage medium. As another example, the main unit 101 can be connected to a panel with various variations in material, texture, and color. The user can change the front panel 160 and back panel 170 to their liking.

[0079] In this environment, the user can enable wireless charging functionality for the suction device 100 by connecting a front panel 160 having a power receiving coil 161 to the main unit 101. Furthermore, if, for example, the wireless charging standard changes, the wireless charging functionality of the suction device 100 can be easily updated by replacing the front panel 160 with one that complies with the updated standard. Thus, this configuration makes it possible to improve the usability of wireless charging.

[0080] The suction device 100 does not necessarily have a back panel 170. In that case, the front panel 160 may be flexible, and a button may be provided on the front surface 102c of the main body 101. The user can press down on the front panel 160 to make it flexible and then press the button provided on the front surface 102c of the main body 101.

[0081] <3. Circuit Connection Configurations> There are various possible connection configurations between the circuit mounted on the front panel 160 and the circuit mounted on the main unit 101. One example is described below. In this specification, the term "connection" between components on a circuit includes not only direct connections where no other components are present in between, but also indirect connections where other components are present in between.

[0082] (1) First connection configuration Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the circuit configuration in the first connection configuration. As shown in Figure 5, the suction device 100 has a power receiving circuit 200, a resonant capacitor 210, ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection elements 220 (220A and 220B), terminals 230 (230A and 230B), and a power supply unit 111. Note that the control unit 116 and other components are omitted here.

[0083] The power receiving circuit 200 converts the AC voltage output from the power receiving coil 161 into a DC voltage and outputs it. Specifically, the power receiving circuit 200 includes a rectifier unit 201, a voltage and current adjustment unit 202, and a power receiving control unit 203. The rectifier unit 201 converts the input AC voltage into a DC voltage. The voltage and current adjustment unit 202 adjusts the voltage and current of the DC voltage output from the rectifier unit 201. The power receiving control unit 203 controls the operation of the rectifier unit 201 and the voltage and current adjustment unit 202.

[0084] The power output from the power receiving circuit 200 is input to the power supply unit 111. As described above, the power supply unit 111 includes the charging IC 241 and the battery 242.

[0085] The charging IC 241 is connected between the power receiving coil 161 and the power receiving circuit 200 and the battery 242, electrically connecting them to each other. The charging IC 241 then charges the battery 242 by adjusting the current and voltage output from the power receiving circuit 200 and supplying them to the battery 242. At that time, the charging IC 241 can adjust the voltage applied to the battery 242 or start or stop the power supply to the battery 242 based on various information such as the voltage and temperature of the battery 242.

[0086] A protection IC (not shown) may be connected between the charging IC 241 and the battery 242. The protection IC is a circuit that stops charging or discharging the battery 242 when the current or voltage becomes excessive.

[0087] The power received by the receiving coil 161 and output from the receiving circuit 200 is input to the battery 242 via the charging IC 241. This charges the battery 242.

[0088] The resonant capacitor 210 is connected between the power receiving coil 161 and the power receiving circuit 200. The resonant capacitor 210 and the power receiving coil 161 then form a resonant circuit 290. With this configuration, it is possible to improve the power transmission and reception efficiency by making the resonant circuit 290 resonate. Although Figure 5 shows an example where the resonant circuit 290 is a parallel resonant circuit, it may also be a series resonant circuit.

[0089] In this connection configuration, the power receiving coil 161 is mounted on the front panel 160. On the other hand, the power receiving circuit 200, the resonant capacitor 210, the ESD protection element 220, and the power supply unit 111 are mounted on the main body 101.

[0090] Each of the main unit 101 and the front panel 160 has a terminal 230 for electrically connecting the power receiving coil 161 and the power supply unit 111. More specifically, the terminal 230 is electrically connected to the circuit between the power receiving coil 161 and the power receiving circuit 200, or more precisely, to the circuit between the power receiving coil 161 and the resonant capacitor 210. With the front panel 160 connected to the housing 102 of the main unit 101, the power receiving coil 161 and the power supply unit 111 are electrically connected via the terminal 230. With this configuration, by connecting the front panel 160 equipped with the power receiving coil 161 to the main unit 101, the power receiving coil 161 and the power supply unit 111 are electrically connected, and the battery 242 of the power supply unit 111 can be wirelessly charged.

[0091] Terminals 230 located on at least one of the main body 101 or the front panel 160 may be pressed against the other terminal 230 by elastic force. For example, terminals 230 located on at least one of the main body 101 or the front panel 160 may be pogo pins or spring pins. A pogo pin is a terminal that exerts elastic force in the direction of extending the pin by an elastic member such as a spring built into the pin. A spring pin is a terminal made of an elastic member such as a leaf spring. Of course, the elastic member may be provided separately from the terminal 230, and elastic force may be applied to the terminal 230 from the outside. With such a configuration, it is possible to maintain a stronger electrical connection at the terminal 230.

[0092] If the front panel 160 is removed from the main unit 101, the terminals 230 will be exposed. As a result, there is a risk that static electricity may enter the main unit 101, causing malfunctions such as circuit damage.

[0093] To address such malfunctions, an ESD protection element 220 is electrically connected between the terminal 230 and the power receiving circuit 200. The ESD protection element 220 is an example of a first ESD protection element. With this configuration, even if static electricity enters the circuit on the main body 101 side from the terminal 230, the ESD protection element 220 can protect the circuit on the main body 101 side.

[0094] Here, the ESD protection element 220A is connected between one end of the receiving coil 161 and the ground, that is, between terminal 230A and the ground. On the other hand, the ESD protection element 220B is connected between the other end of the receiving coil 161 (different from the end to which the ESD protection element 220A is connected) and the ground, that is, between terminal 230B and the ground. Even if static electricity enters from either terminal 230A or terminal 230B, these ESD protection elements 220 can channel the static electricity to the ground, thereby protecting the receiving circuit 200.

[0095] The ESD protection element 220 may be a bidirectional diode or a varistor, etc. It is desirable that the capacitance of the ESD protection element 220 be smaller than the capacitance of the resonant capacitor 210. The power receiving coil 161 and the resonant capacitor 210 can be designed such that the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit 290 formed by them is, for example, 80 to 360 kHz. In this case, for example, the capacitance of the resonant capacitor 210 may be 100 [pF] or more, and the capacitance of the ESD protection element 220 may be a few pF or less. That is, it is desirable that the capacitance of the ESD protection element 220 be 1 / 100th or less of the capacitance of the resonant capacitor 210, and even more preferably 1 / 1000th or less. With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the influence of the ESD protection element 220 on the resonant frequency and prevent a decrease in charging efficiency.

[0096] In this connection configuration, the ESD protection element 220 only needs to be mounted on the main unit 101. The front panel 160 only has a passive component, the power receiving coil 161, so the ESD protection element 220 does not need to be mounted on the front panel 160.

[0097] (2) Second connection configuration Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the circuit configuration in the second connection configuration. As shown in Figure 6, the suction device 100 in this connection configuration has a power receiving circuit 200, a resonant capacitor 210, ESD protection elements 220 (220c and 220d), terminals 230 (230c and 230d), and a power supply unit 111, similar to the first connection configuration. Note that the description of the control unit 116 and the like is omitted here. The description of the features of the second connection configuration that are the same as those of the first connection configuration may be omitted as appropriate.

[0098] In this connection configuration, the power receiving coil 161, power receiving circuit 200, resonant capacitor 210, and ESD protection element 220C are mounted on the front panel 160. On the other hand, the ESD protection element 220D and power supply unit 111 are mounted on the main body 101.

[0099] In this connection configuration, terminal 230 is electrically connected to the circuit between the power receiving circuit 200 and the power supply unit 111 (particularly the charging IC 241). Since terminal 230 is exposed to the circuit between the ESD protection element 220 and the power supply unit 111, it is desirable that the ESD protection element 220 be connected near terminal 230.

[0100] In other words, the ESD protection element 220C is electrically connected between the terminal 230 and the power receiving circuit 200. The ESD protection element 220C is an example of a first ESD protection element. With this configuration, even if static electricity enters the circuit on the front panel 160 side from the terminal 230, the power receiving circuit 200 can be protected by the ESD protection element 220C.

[0101] Furthermore, the ESD protection element 220D is electrically connected between the terminal 230 and the power supply unit 111 (particularly the charging IC 241). The ESD protection element 220D is an example of a second ESD protection element. With this configuration, even if static electricity enters the circuit on the main unit 101 side from the terminal 230, the charging IC 241 can be protected by the ESD protection element 220D.

[0102] (3) Specific Examples of Circuit Configurations Specific examples of the circuit configuration of the suction device 100 will be described below with reference to Figures 7 and 8.

[0103] Figure 7 shows a specific example of the circuit configuration of the suction device 100 implementing the first connection configuration. The thick lines in Figure 7 indicate the ground wire. The power supply unit 111 is connected to connectors CN1 and CN2 shown at the right end of the circuit shown in Figure 7.

[0104] As shown in Figure 7, the front panel 160 is equipped with a power receiving coil 161. The main body 101 is equipped with a power receiving circuit 200, a resonant capacitor 210, and ESD protection elements 220A and 220B. Terminals 230A and 230B are connected between the circuit on the front panel 160 and the circuit on the main body 101, electrically connecting these circuits.

[0105] The resonant capacitor 210 includes capacitors C1 to C3 connected in series with the power receiving coil 161, and capacitors C4 to C6 connected in parallel with the power receiving coil 161. The power receiving coil 161 and these capacitors C1 to C6 form a resonant circuit 290.

[0106] ESD protection elements 220A and 220B are connected between capacitor C6 and power receiving circuit 200.

[0107] The inductance of the power receiving coil 161 may be, for example, 12.3 [μH]. The capacitances of capacitors C1 to C6 may be, for example, 0.082 [μF], 0.082 [μF], 0.01 [μF], 1000 [pF], and 100 [pF]. The capacitances of the ESD protection elements 220A and 202B may be a few pF or less.

[0108] The suction device 100 also includes capacitors C7 to C22, diode D1, and resistors R1 to R4, but a detailed explanation of these components will be omitted.

[0109] Figure 8 shows a specific example of the circuit configuration of the suction device 100 implementing the second connection configuration. The thick line in Figure 8 indicates the ground line.

[0110] As shown in Figure 8, the front panel 160 is equipped with a power receiving coil 161, a power receiving circuit 200, a resonant capacitor 210, and an ESD protection element 220C. The main body 101 has an ESD protection element 220D and a power supply unit 111, as shown in Figure 6, but these are not shown in Figure 8. Terminals 230C and 230D are connected between the circuit mounted on the front panel 160 and the circuit mounted on the main body 101, electrically connecting these circuits.

[0111] An ESD protection element 220C is connected between terminals 230C and 230D and the power receiving circuit 200.

[0112] <4. Operation Processing> The control unit 116 can perform processing in response to the attachment and detachment of the front panel 160. This point will be explained in detail below.

[0113] The main unit 101 may have a sensor for detecting the attachment / detachment status of the front panel 160. Such a sensor may be implemented by any type of proximity sensor, such as a capacitive type or an infrared type. Alternatively, such a sensor may detect the attachment / detachment status of the front panel 160 by determining whether or not power is supplied to the power receiving coil 161.

[0114] Furthermore, the control unit 116 may control the operation of the heating unit 121 according to the attachment / detachment status of the front panel 160. For example, the control unit 116 may prohibit the operation of the heating unit 121 (i.e., heating) when the front panel 160 is removed. On the other hand, the control unit 116 may allow the operation of the heating unit 121 when the front panel 160 is connected. With this configuration, heating by the heating unit 121 is performed only when the front panel 160 is connected to the main body 101. Considering that the front panel 160 may have a function to protect the user from the heat of the heating unit 121, this configuration makes it possible to improve user safety.

[0115] The control unit 116 starts heating only when the front panel 160 is connected and the operation of the heating unit 121 is permitted, and only when a user operation to instruct the start of heating is performed. User operations to instruct the start of heating include pressing a button, as well as inserting the stick-type substrate 150 into the housing 140. The suction device 100 may have a sensor to detect the insertion of the stick-type substrate 150, and may automatically start heating when the insertion of the stick-type substrate 150 is detected while the operation of the heating unit 121 is permitted. Here, the detection of the insertion of the stick-type substrate 150 may be performed only when the operation of the heating unit 121 is permitted, that is, when the front panel 160 is connected to the main body 101. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the power consumption for insertion detection.

[0116] The following describes an example of the processing flow corresponding to the attachment and detachment of the front panel 160, with reference to Figure 9. Figure 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow performed by the suction device 100 according to this embodiment.

[0117] As shown in Figure 9, first, the control unit 116 determines whether or not the front panel 160 is connected to the main unit 101 (step S102).

[0118] If it is determined that the front panel 160 is connected to the main unit 101 (step S102: YES), the control unit 116 permits heating (step S104). At this time, the control unit 116 may start or continue detecting the insertion of the stick-type substrate 150.

[0119] On the other hand, if it is determined that the front panel 160 has been removed from the main body 101 (step S102: NO), the control unit 116 prohibits heating (step S106). At this time, the control unit 116 may stop or continue the stopped state of detecting the insertion of the stick-type substrate 150.

[0120] Next, the control unit 116 determines whether or not heating has been instructed to begin (step S108). For example, the control unit 116 determines whether or not a stick-shaped substrate 150 has been inserted into the housing unit 140 as a user operation to instruct heating to begin.

[0121] If it is determined that heating has not been instructed to begin (step S108: NO), the process returns to step S102.

[0122] If it is determined that heating should be started (step S108: YES), and heating is permitted (step S110: YES), the control unit 116 performs heating (step S112).

[0123] On the other hand, if it is determined that heating has been instructed to begin (step S108: YES), and heating is prohibited (step S110: NO), the control unit 116 does not perform heating and controls the notification unit 113 to notify information prompting the installation of the front panel 160 (step S114). For example, the control unit 116 controls the notification unit 113 to emit light, vibrate, or produce sound in a predetermined manner.

[0124] <5. Supplementary Information> Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the attached drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs may conceive of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and these will naturally be understood to fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0125] For example, although the above embodiment describes processing according to the attachment / detachment state of the front panel 160, this disclosure is not limited to such examples. Processing similar to that according to the attachment / detachment state of the front panel 160 may be performed according to the attachment / detachment state of the back panel 170.

[0126] For example, the above embodiments described heated tobacco products, but this disclosure is not limited to such examples. The techniques described above can also be applied to e-cigarettes. In e-cigarettes, the opening portion of the mouthpiece may correspond to the opening of the aerosol flow path.

[0127] For example, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which the suction device 100 has a magnet 103, but this disclosure is not limited to such an example. The suction device 100 may not have a magnet 103, and the main body 101 and the front panel 160 may be connected by other mechanisms such as a fitting mechanism. In this case, it is possible to prevent interference from the magnet 103 to wireless charging, various sensors, operation buttons, etc.

[0128] The series of processes performed by each device described herein may be implemented using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The programs constituting the software are pre-stored in a recording medium (more specifically, a non-temporary storage medium readable by a computer) provided inside or outside each device. Each program is then loaded into RAM (Random Access Memory) when executed by a computer controlling each device described herein, and executed by a processing circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The recording medium is, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or flash memory. The computer program may also be distributed via a network, for example, without using a recording medium. The computer may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a general-purpose processor that performs functions by loading software programs, or a computer on a server used for cloud computing. Furthermore, the series of processes performed by each device described herein may be centrally processed by a single computer or distributed among multiple computers. In addition, in each of the above embodiments, two or more communication means present in a single device may be physically implemented in a single medium.

[0129] Furthermore, the processes described herein using flowcharts or sequence diagrams do not necessarily have to be executed in the order shown. Some processing steps may be executed in parallel. Additional processing steps may be adopted, and some processing steps may be omitted.

[0130] The following configurations also fall within the technical scope of this disclosure: (1) An aerosol generation system comprising an aerosol generating device and a first panel, wherein the aerosol generating device comprises: a generating unit that generates an aerosol from an aerosol source; a control unit that controls the operation of the generating unit; a battery that supplies power to the generating unit and the control unit; and a housing, wherein the first panel has a power receiving coil that receives power for charging the battery, and is detachably connected to the housing so as to cover a part of the housing, the aerosol generating device and the first panel are provided with terminals for electrically connecting the power receiving coil and the battery, and the power receiving coil and the battery are electrically connected via the terminals when the first panel is connected to the housing. (2) The aerosol generation system according to (1), further comprising: a power receiving circuit that converts the AC voltage output from the power receiving coil into a DC voltage and outputs it; a resonant capacitor connected between the power receiving coil and the power receiving circuit; and a first ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection element connected between the terminal and the power receiving circuit. (3) The aerosol generation system according to (2), wherein the power receiving circuit, the resonant capacitor and the first ESD protection element are mounted on the aerosol generation device. (4) The aerosol generation system according to (3), wherein the first ESD protection element is connected between one end of the power receiving coil and ground, and between the other end of the power receiving coil different from the one end and ground. (5) The aerosol generation system according to (3) or (4), wherein the capacitance of the first ESD protection element is smaller than the capacitance of the resonant capacitor. (6) The aerosol generation system according to (2), wherein the power receiving circuit, the resonant capacitor, and the first ESD protection element are mounted on the first panel.(7) The aerosol generation system according to (6), further comprising: a charge control unit electrically connected between the terminal and the battery for controlling the charging of the battery; and a second ESD protection element electrically connected between the terminal and the charge control unit. (8) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the housing has a first surface and a second surface facing each other, and a third surface and a fourth surface facing each other, the first surface, the second surface, the third surface and the fourth surface being parallel or substantially parallel to the flow direction of the generated aerosol, the areas of the first surface and the second surface being larger than the areas of the third surface and the fourth surface, and the first panel being configured to be fixably attached to the aerosol generation device so as to cover at least a portion of the first surface. (9) The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the aerosol generation device further comprises a sensor for detecting the attachment / detachment state of the first panel, and the control unit prohibits the operation of the generation unit when the first panel is removed. (10) The aerosol generating system according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein the housing and the first panel are connected by magnetism. (11) The aerosol generating system according to any one of (1) to (10), wherein the housing and the first panel are connected by a fitting mechanism. (12) The aerosol generating system according to (11), wherein the housing and the first panel are connected by a snap-fit ​​mechanism. (13) The aerosol generating system according to any one of (1) to (12), wherein the terminals located on at least one of the first panel or the aerosol generating device are pressed against the other terminal by elastic force. (14) The aerosol generating system according to any one of (1) to (13), wherein the aerosol generating system further comprises a second panel, the second panel being detachably connected to the housing so as to cover a portion of the housing not covered by the first panel.(15) The aerosol generating system according to (14), wherein the first panel and the second panel are connected to the housing at a position that sandwiches the aerosol generating device.

[0131] 100 Suction device 101 Main body 102 Housing 103 Magnet 104 Recess 105 Leg portion 106 Through hole 107 Through hole 111 Power supply unit 112 Sensor unit 113 Notification unit 114 Memory unit 115 Communication unit 116 Control unit 121 Heating unit 140 Housing unit 141 Internal space 142 Opening 143 Bottom portion 144 Heat insulation unit 145 Lid 150 Stick-type base material 151 Base material portion 152 Suction nozzle portion 160 Front panel 161 Power receiving coil 162 Coil base material 163 Circuit board 164 Claw portion 165 Claw portion 166 Fixing member 167 Conductor wire 169 Outer shell 170 Back panel 200 Power receiving circuit 201 Rectifier section 202 Voltage / current adjustment section 203 Power receiving control section 210 Resonant capacitor 220 ESD protection element 230 Terminal 241 Charging IC 242 Battery 290 Resonant circuit 9 pins

Claims

1. An aerosol generation system comprising an aerosol generating device and a first panel, wherein the aerosol generating device comprises: a generating unit that generates an aerosol from an aerosol source; a control unit that controls the operation of the generating unit; a battery that supplies power to the generating unit and the control unit; and a housing, the first panel having a power receiving coil that receives power for charging the battery, and being detachably connected to the housing so as to cover a part of the housing, the aerosol generating device and the first panel having terminals for electrically connecting the power receiving coil and the battery, and the power receiving coil and the battery being electrically connected via the terminals when the first panel is connected to the housing.

2. The aerosol generation system according to claim 1, further comprising: a power receiving circuit that converts the AC voltage output from the power receiving coil into a DC voltage and outputs it; a resonant capacitor connected between the power receiving coil and the power receiving circuit; and a first ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection element connected between the terminal and the power receiving circuit.

3. The aerosol generation system according to claim 2, wherein the power receiving circuit, the resonant capacitor, and the first ESD protection element are mounted on the aerosol generation device.

4. The aerosol generation system according to claim 3, wherein the first ESD protection element is connected between one end of the power receiving coil and ground, and between the other end of the power receiving coil, different from the one end, and ground.

5. The aerosol generation system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the capacitance of the first ESD protection element is smaller than the capacitance of the resonant capacitor.

6. The aerosol generation system according to claim 2, wherein the power receiving circuit, the resonant capacitor, and the first ESD protection element are mounted on the first panel.

7. The aerosol generation system according to claim 6, further comprising: a charge control unit electrically connected between the terminal and the battery for controlling the charging of the battery; and a second ESD protection element electrically connected between the terminal and the charge control unit.

8. The aerosol generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the housing has a first and second surface facing each other, and a third and fourth surface facing each other, the first, second, third, and fourth surfaces being parallel or substantially parallel to the flow direction of the generated aerosol, the areas of the first and second surfaces being larger than the areas of the third and fourth surfaces, and the first panel being configured to be fixable to the aerosol generating device so as to cover at least a portion of the first surface.

9. The aerosol generating device further comprises a sensor for detecting the attachment / detachment state of the first panel, and the control unit prohibits the operation of the generating unit when the first panel is removed, according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the housing and the first panel are connected by magnetism.

11. The aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the housing and the first panel are connected by a fitting mechanism.

12. The aerosol generating system according to claim 11, wherein the housing and the first panel are connected by a snap-fit ​​mechanism.

13. The aerosol generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the terminals located on at least one of the first panel or the aerosol generating apparatus are pressed against the other terminal by elastic force.

14. The aerosol generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a second panel, the second panel being detachably connected to the housing so as to cover a portion of the housing not covered by the first panel.

15. The aerosol generating system according to claim 14, wherein the first panel and the second panel are connected to the housing at a position that sandwiches the aerosol generating device.

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