Patent Application
20240277075
The present disclosure relates to a notification control device for an aerosol generating apparatus, a notification control method for the aerosol generating apparatus, and a storage medium storing a control program for the aerosol generating apparatus.
In recent years, a non-combustion type aerosol generating apparatus (an inhaler) that delivers an aerosol generated by atomizing an aerosol source with a heater to a user is known. Since the heater is heated by electric power stored in a battery, the aerosol generating apparatus is required to appropriately control a heating profile and electric power consumption of the battery.
A rechargeable secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery can be used as the battery of the aerosol generating apparatus. It is known that a charging capacity of the secondary battery decreases (the battery deteriorates) by repeating charging and discharging, or leaving a fully charged state or a battery exhaustion state.
The aerosol generating apparatus performs heating control of the heater by assuming a state in which the charging capacity of the battery is not deteriorated. However, when the capacity of the battery decreases, the precondition is violated, and thus there is a possibility that the assumed heating control cannot be performed according to the capacity of the battery. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the battery depending on the degree of deterioration of the battery.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 6681963 discloses a technique of diagnosing deterioration of a battery and notifying a timing for battery replacement based on a result of the diagnosis of the battery when the deterioration of the battery has progressed to a certain level or higher.
However, if the user can know the degree of deterioration of the battery before the timing for the battery replacement comes, the convenience of the aerosol generating apparatus is improved.
As a parameter indicating the deterioration of the battery, the charging capacity is generally used. In a case of notifying the user of the degree of deterioration or the replacement of the battery, the convenience of the aerosol generating apparatus increases when expressions such as an inhalation time, the number of times of inhalation, and the like in addition to the charging capacity are familiar to the user of the aerosol generating apparatus.
The present disclosure provides a notification control device for an aerosol generating apparatus, a notification control method for the aerosol generating apparatus, and a storage medium storing a control program for the aerosol generating apparatus that are capable of notifying a user of deterioration information on a battery by a highly-convenient method.
A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to a notification control device for an aerosol generating apparatus that generates an aerosol from an aerosol source by using electric power from a power supply, in which
A second aspect of the present disclosure relates to a notification control method for an aerosol generating apparatus that generates an aerosol from an aerosol source by using electric power from a power supply, the notification control method including:
A third aspect of the present disclosure relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for an aerosol generating apparatus that generates an aerosol from an aerosol source by using electric power from a power supply, the control program causing a computer to perform a process including:
A fourth aspect of the present disclosure relates to a notification control device for an aerosol generating apparatus that generates an aerosol from an aerosol source by using electric power from a power supply, in which
A fifth aspect of the present disclosure relates to a notification control method for an aerosol generating apparatus that generates an aerosol from an aerosol source by using electric power from a power supply, the notification control method including:
A sixth aspect of the present disclosure relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for an aerosol generating apparatus that generates an aerosol from an aerosol source by using electric power from a power supply, the control program causing a computer to perform a process including:
Exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
The electronic device 30 is configured to communicate with the aerosol generating apparatus 100 in a wired or wireless manner. Various kinds of information can be exchanged between the electronic device 30 and the aerosol generating apparatus 100.
The aerosol generating apparatus 100 is an apparatus that atomizes an aerosol source to generate an aerosol by consuming electric power, and makes the generated aerosol inhalable. Although a configuration of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 includes various configurations and is not particularly limited, a typical configuration example of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 will be described below with reference to
The power supply portion 111 stores the electric power. Further, the power supply portion 111 supplies the electric power to each constituent component of the aerosol generating apparatus 100A under the control of the control portion 116. The power supply portion 111 may be implemented by, for example, a rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery.
The sensor portion 112 obtains various kinds of information regarding the aerosol generating apparatus 100A. As an example, the sensor portion 112 is implemented by a pressure sensor such as a condenser microphone, a flow rate sensor, a temperature sensor, or the like, and obtains a value associated with inhalation by the user. As another example, the sensor portion 112 is implemented by an input device that receives information input from the user, such as a button or a switch.
The notification portion 113 notifies the user of information. The notification portion 113 is implemented by, for example, a light emitting device that emits light, a display device that displays an image, a sound output device that outputs sound, a vibration device that vibrates, or the like.
The storage portion 114 stores various kinds of information for an operation of the aerosol generating apparatus 100A. The storage portion 114 is implemented by, for example, a nonvolatile storage medium such as a flash memory.
The communication portion 115 is a communication interface that can perform communication in accordance with any wired or wireless communication standard. As such a communication standard, for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be adopted.
The charging portion 117 steps up or steps down electric power supplied from an external power supply to control charging of the power supply portion 111. The charging portion 117 may be configured to receive the electric power when the external power supply such as an outlet or a mobile battery is connected to a charging terminal, or may be configured to receive the electric power supplied from the external power supply in a non-contact manner.
The control portion 116 functions as an arithmetic processing device and a control device, and controls overall operations in the aerosol generating apparatus 100A according to various programs. The control portion 116 is implemented by, for example, an electronic circuit such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor.
The liquid storage portion 123 stores the aerosol source. The aerosol source is atomized to generate the aerosol. The aerosol source is, for example, a liquid such as water or a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerin and propylene glycol. The aerosol source may include a flavor ingredient derived from tobacco or non-tobacco. When the aerosol generating apparatus 100A is a medical inhaler such as a nebulizer, the aerosol source may contain a drug.
The liquid guiding portion 122 guides, from the liquid storage portion 123, the aerosol source which is a liquid stored in the liquid storage portion 123, and holds the aerosol source. The liquid guiding portion 122 is, for example, a wick formed by twisting a fiber material such as glass fiber or a porous material such as porous ceramic. In that case, the aerosol source stored in the liquid storage portion 123 is guided by a capillary effect of the wick.
The heating portion 121A heats the aerosol source to atomize the aerosol source to generate the aerosol. In the example illustrated in
The flavor source 131 is a constituent component for imparting a flavor ingredient to the aerosol. The flavor source 131 may include a flavor ingredient derived from tobacco or non-tobacco.
The air flow path 180 is a flow path for air inhaled by the user. The air flow path 180 has a tubular structure in which an air inlet hole 181 that is an inlet of the air into the air flow path 180 and an air outlet hole 182 that is an outlet of the air from the air flow path 180 are set as both ends. In the middle of the air flow path 180, the liquid guiding portion 122 is disposed on an upstream side (a side closer to the air inlet hole 181), and the flavor source 131 is disposed on a downstream side (a side closer to the air outlet hole 182). The air flowing from the air inlet hole 181 as a result of the inhalation by the user is mixed with the aerosol generated by the heating portion 121A, and is transported to the air outlet hole 182 through the flavor source 131 as shown by an arrow 190. When the mixed fluid of the aerosol and the air passes through the flavor source 131, the flavor ingredient contained in the flavor source 131 is imparted to the aerosol.
The mouthpiece 124 is a member that is held in the mouth of the user during inhalation. The air outlet hole 182 is disposed in the mouthpiece 124. The user can take the mixed fluid of the aerosol and the air into the oral cavity by holding the mouthpiece 124 in the mouth and inhaling.
The configuration example of the aerosol generating apparatus 100A has been described above. It is needless to say that the configuration of the aerosol generating apparatus 100A is not limited to the above, and may adopt various configurations as exemplified below.
As an example, the aerosol generating apparatus 100A may not include the flavor imparting cartridge 130. In that case, the cartridge 120 is provided with the mouthpiece 124.
As another example, the aerosol generating apparatus 100A may include a plurality of types of aerosol sources. Further, other types of the aerosol may be generated by mixing a plurality of types of aerosol generated from the plurality of types of aerosol sources in the air flow path 180 and causing a chemical reaction.
A method for atomizing the aerosol source is not limited to heating by the heating portion 121A. For example, the method of atomizing the aerosol source may be vibratory atomization or induction heating.
The power supply portion 111, the sensor portion 112, the notification portion 113, the storage portion 114, the communication portion 115, the control portion 116, and the charging portion 117 are substantially the same as the respective corresponding constituent components included in the aerosol generating apparatus 100A according to the first configuration example.
The holding portion 140 has an internal space 141, and holds a stick-type base material 150 while accommodating a part of the stick-type base material 150 in the internal space 141. The holding portion 140 has an opening 142 through which the internal space 141 communicates with the outside, and holds the stick-type base material 150 inserted into the internal space 141 from the opening 142. For example, the holding portion 140 is a cylindrical body having the opening 142 and a bottom portion 143 as a bottom surface, and defines the columnar internal space 141. The holding portion 140 also has a function of defining a flow path of air supplied to the stick-type base material 150. An air inlet hole, which is an inlet of the air to the flow path, is disposed, for example, in the bottom portion 143. On the other hand, an air outlet hole, which is an outlet of the air from the flow path, is the opening 142.
The stick-type base material 150 includes a base material portion 151 and an inhalation port portion 152. The base material portion 151 includes an aerosol source and a flavor source. In this configuration example, the aerosol source is not limited to a liquid, and may be a solid. The flavor source is a constituent component for imparting a flavor ingredient to the aerosol. The flavor source may include a flavor ingredient derived from tobacco or non-tobacco. In a state in which the stick-type base material 150 is held by the holding portion 140, at least a part of the base material portion 151 is accommodated in the internal space 141, and at least a part of the inhalation port portion 152 protrudes from the opening 142. When the user holds the inhalation port portion 152 protruding from the opening 142 in the mouth and inhales, the air flows into the internal space 141 from the air inlet hole (not shown), and reaches the mouth of the user together with the aerosol generated from the base material portion 151 and imparted with the flavor ingredient.
In the example illustrated in
The heat insulation portion 144 prevents heat transfer from the heating portion 121B to other constituent components. For example, the heat insulation portion 144 is made of a vacuum heat insulating material or an aerogel heat insulating material.
The configuration example of the aerosol generating apparatus 100B has been described above. It is needless to say that the configuration of the aerosol generating apparatus 100B is not limited to the above, and may adopt various configurations as exemplified below.
As an example, the heating portion 121B may be formed in a blade shape and disposed to protrude from the bottom portion 143 of the holding portion 140 into the internal space 141. In this case, the blade-shaped heating portion 121B is inserted into the base material portion 151 of the stick-type base material 150, and heats the base material portion 151 of the stick-type base material 150 from the inside. As another example, the heating portion 121B may be disposed to cover the bottom portion 143 of the holding portion 140. In addition, the heating portion 121B may be implemented by a combination of two or more of a first heating portion covering the outer periphery of the holding portion 140, a blade-shaped second heating portion, and a third heating portion covering the bottom portion 143 of the holding portion 140. As still another example, the heating portion 121B may include an induction coil to which high-frequency electric power is supplied, and a susceptor through which an induction current (an eddy current) flows due to a magnetic flux generated by the induction coil and which converts the induction current into Joule heat (heat generation due to electric resistance), and may heat the stick-type base material 150 by so-called induction heating.
As another example, the holding portion 140 may include an opening and closing mechanism such as a hinge that opens and closes a part of an outer shell forming the internal space 141. The holding portion 140 may open and close the outer shell to sandwich and hold the stick-type base material 150 inserted into the internal space 141. In that case, the heating portion 121B may be provided at a sandwiching and holding place in the holding portion 140 and heat the stick-type base material 150 while pressing the stick-type base material 150.
The method for atomizing the aerosol source is not limited to heating by the heating portion 121B. For example, the method for atomizing the aerosol source may be induction heating.
The aerosol generating apparatus 100B may further include the heating portion 121A, the liquid guiding portion 122, the liquid storage portion 123, and the air flow path 180 according to the first configuration example, and the air outlet hole 182 of the air flow path 180 may also serve as the air inlet hole through which the air flows into the internal space 141. In this case, the mixed fluid of the aerosol generated by the heating portion 121A and the air flows into the internal space 141, is further mixed with the aerosol generated by the heating portion 121B, and reaches the oral cavity of the user.
A predetermined application program (a notification program) provided by a system administrator is installed in the electronic device 30 illustrated in
The notification of the deterioration information may be performed according to the degree of deterioration, or may be performed based on a predetermined criterion such as a predetermined time, the predetermined cumulative number of times of charging, and the predetermined cumulative number of times of inhalation. Further, the notification of the deterioration information may be performed in response to a request operation by the user.
The processor of the electronic device 30 receives the deterioration information on the power supply portion 111 from the control portion 116 of the aerosol generating apparatus 100, and displays the deterioration information on the power supply portion 111 on the display device of the electronic device 30.
The control portion 116 of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 may diagnose a deterioration state based on the ratio of a full charging capacity at the time of deterioration to a full charging capacity at the time of new product of the power supply portion 111, may diagnose the deterioration state based on internal resistance of the power supply portion 111, and may diagnose the deterioration state by another method.
The processor of the electronic device 30 notifies the user of the obtained deterioration state by using a parameter different from the charging capacity. The user can easily grasp the deterioration information by notifying the deterioration information on the power supply portion 111 with the parameter that is easy to understand for the user, and the convenience of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 is improved. The parameter is preferably a parameter that is familiar to the user of the aerosol generating apparatus 100, and is, for example, the number of times of inhalation, an inhalation time, the number of times of charging, or the number of times of replacement of the aerosol source.
When the parameter is the number of times of inhalation, the processor of the electronic device 30 displays that the power supply portion 111 is deteriorated by an amount corresponding to one puff (one inhalation), for example.
When the parameter is the inhalation time, the processor of the electronic device 30 displays that the power supply portion 111 is deteriorated by an amount corresponding to one minute, for example. The inhalation time can be converted based on the number of times of inhalation by estimating a time per puff.
When the parameter is the number of times of charging, the processor of the electronic device 30 displays that the power supply portion 111 is deteriorated by an amount corresponding to a case in which the number of times of charging is ten, for example.
Generally, in the aerosol generating apparatus, the number of flavor imparting cartridges that can be used, and the number of stick-type base materials are determined by one charging. When the parameter is the number of flavor imparting cartridges or the number of stick-type base materials, the processor of the electronic device 30 displays that the power supply portion 111 is deteriorated by an amount corresponding to one flavor imparting cartridge (stick-type base material), for example.
In addition, the processor of the electronic device 30 may visualize the deterioration state of the power supply portion 111 by using a graph including a charging capacity at a time point when the power supply portion 111 is not deteriorated, a charging capacity at a time point when the notification is performed, and a charging capacity at a time point when replacement of the power supply portion 111 is notified. In this case, the processor of the electronic device 30 can display a parameter different from the charging capacity in the graph.
In this case, the parameter includes, for example, the cumulative inhalation time, the cumulative number of times of inhalation, and the cumulative number of times of charging. In other words, the graph includes any one of the cumulative inhalation time, the cumulative number of times of inhalation, and the cumulative number of times of charging.
In the graph of
The processor of the electronic device 30 displays, on the graph, the cumulative number of times of charging N1 and the cumulative number of times of charging N2 assumed at the time of the charging capacity Wmin. The processor of the electronic device 30 may display the number of times of executable charging N3 until the replacement, which is a difference of N2-N1, instead of the cumulative number of times of charging N2 or together with the cumulative number of times of charging N2. The number of times of executable charging N3 may be displayed in the graph, or may be displayed in the form of a text message such as “when the aerosol generating apparatus 100 continues to be used at the current frequency, the battery needs to be replaced after being charged N3 times”. When the displayed parameter is a familiar expression for the user of the aerosol generating apparatus 100, the user can specifically grasp a timing for battery replacement.
In the example of
In addition, the processor of the electronic device 30 may display the number of days predicted for the replacement based on a log stored in the storage portion 114, the number of days that have passed from a start date of use to the present, and the like, regardless of the parameter of the horizontal axis of the graph.
When the aerosol generating apparatus 100 includes a liquid crystal display portion, it is not always necessary to notify the deterioration information on the display device of the electronic device 30, and it may be possible to notify the deterioration information on the liquid crystal display portion of the aerosol generating apparatus 100.
First, the processor of the electronic device 30 obtains the deterioration information of the power supply portion 111 (S11). Subsequently, the processor of the electronic device 30 performs a parameter conversion process for converting the deterioration information into any one of the parameters described above that are familiar to the user (S12).
Subsequently, the processor of the electronic device 30 performs a notification mode determination process for determining a notification mode (S13). In the notification mode determination process, the notification mode is classified into, for example, three stages according to the degree of deterioration after parameter conversion. The appropriate deterioration information can be provided to the user by performing different notifications according to the degree of deterioration.
When the degree of deterioration after the parameter conversion is lower than a first threshold value (a determination A in
When the degree of deterioration is equal to or higher than a second threshold value that is a threshold value higher than the first threshold value (a determination C in
When the degree of deterioration is equal to or higher than the first threshold value and lower than the second threshold value (a determination B in
The processor of the electronic device 30 may perform the notification in a plurality of stages according to the degree of deterioration in the deterioration degree notification process (S16). For example, a case of dividing the notification into three stages will be described. In an initial stage of the deterioration such as a case in which the information indicating that the power supply portion 111 is normal is notified in a previous notification, it is preferable that information indicating that the deterioration of the power supply portion 111 has started. Accordingly, the user can directly grasp that the deterioration of the power supply portion 111 has started.
In addition, in a stage immediately before the replacement such as a case in which a difference between the degree of deterioration of the power supply portion 111 and the second threshold value is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, information indicating that the power supply portion 111 immediately needs to be replaced is preferably included. Accordingly, the user can directly grasp that the power supply portion 111 immediately needs to be replaced.
Between the initial stage and the stage immediately before the replacement, the normal notification in
The charger 200 includes an aerosol generating apparatus-accommodating portion 205 that accommodates at least a part of the power supply unit 110C, a power supply portion 211, a sensor portion 212, a notification portion 213, a storage portion 214, a communication portion 215, a control portion 216, and a charging portion 217.
The power supply portion 211 stores the electric power. Further, the power supply portion 211 supplies the electric power to each constituent component of the charger 200 and supplies the electric power to the power supply portion 111 of the power supply unit 110C under the control of the control portion 216. In addition, the power supply portion 211 is rechargeable by an external power supply (not shown). The power supply portion 211 may be implemented by, for example, a rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery. A power storage capacity of the power supply portion 211 is preferably more than that of the power supply portion 111 of the power supply unit 110C, and for example, the power storage capacity is set to a power storage capacity enough for charging the power supply portion 111 of the power supply unit 110C three times.
The sensor portion 212 obtains various kinds of information related to the charger 200. As an example, the sensor portion 212 obtains a charge amount (SOC) of the power supply portion 211.
The notification portion 213 notifies the user of information. The notification portion 213 is implemented by, for example, a light emitting device that emits light, a display device that displays an image, a sound output device that outputs sound, a vibration device that vibrates, or the like.
The storage portion 214 stores various kinds of information for an operation of the charger 200. The storage portion 214 is implemented by, for example, a nonvolatile storage medium such as a flash memory.
The communication portion 215 is a communication interface that can perform communication in accordance with any wired or wireless communication standard. As such a communication standard, for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be adopted.
The charging portion 217 steps up or steps down the electric power supplied from the external power supply to control charging of the power supply portion 211, and steps up or steps down the electric power supplied from the power supply portion 211 to the power supply portion 111 of the power supply unit 110C to control the charging of the power supply portion 111. The charging portion 217 may be configured to receive the electric power when the external power supply such as an outlet or a mobile battery is connected to a charging terminal, or may be configured to receive the electric power supplied from the external power supply in a non-contact manner.
The control portion 216 functions as an arithmetic processing device and a control device, and controls overall operations in the charger 200 according to various programs. The control portion 216 is implemented by, for example, an electronic circuit such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor.
The configuration example of the charger 200 has been described above. It is needless to say that the configuration of the charger 200 is not limited to the above, and may adopt various configurations as exemplified below.
As an example, the charger 200 may be a stand-type charger that can be placed on a desk or the like, and may be a pocket-type charger by which the user can carry the aerosol generating apparatus 100C in an accommodated state.
The processor of the electronic device 30 may notify, on the display device of the electronic device 30, the deterioration information on the power supply portion 111 of the power supply unit 110C and/or deterioration information on the power supply portion 211 of the charger 200. When the deterioration information on the power supply portion 211 of the charger 200 is notified, the processor of the electronic device 30 receives the deterioration information on the power supply portion 211 from the control portion 216 of the charger 200, and displays the deterioration information on the power supply portion 211 on the display device of the electronic device 30. The processor of the electronic device 30 is the same as that of the aerosol generating apparatus 100 in that the processor notifies the user of the obtained deterioration state by using the parameter different from the charging capacity.
When the charger 200 includes a liquid crystal display portion, it is not always necessary to notify the deterioration information on the display device of the electronic device 30, and it may be possible to notify the deterioration information on the liquid crystal display portion of the charger 200.
The deterioration notification method described in the above embodiment can be achieved by executing a control program prepared in advance on a computer. The control program is stored in a computer-readable storage medium and is executed by being read from the storage medium. In addition, the control program may be provided in the form of being stored in a non-transitory storage medium such as a flash memory, and may be provided via a network such as the Internet. The computer that executes the control program may be the aerosol generating apparatus 100, may be the electronic device 30 such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal computer that can communicate with the aerosol generating apparatus 100, may be the charger 200, and may be a server device that can communicate with the aerosol generating apparatus 100, the electronic device 30, the charger 200, and the like.
Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, it is needless to say that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be conceived within the scope described in the claims, and it is understood that the changes and the modifications naturally fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the constituent components described in the above embodiment may be optionally combined without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.
In the present description, at least the following matters are described. In parentheses, corresponding constituent components and the like in the embodiment described above are indicated, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
According to (1), the user can easily grasp the deterioration information by notifying the deterioration information on the power supply with the parameter that is easy to understand for the user, and the convenience of the aerosol generating apparatus is improved.
According to (2), the parameter related to the aerosol generating apparatus is used, and thus the user can more directly feel that the power supply portion is deteriorated.
According to (3), it is possible to provide the appropriate deterioration information to the user.
According to (4), by performing the notification in the three stages according to the degree of deterioration, the user can more appropriately grasp the degree of deterioration.
According to (5), the user can directly grasp that the power supply is not deteriorated.
According to (6), the user can directly grasp that the power supply needs to be replaced.
According to (7), the user can directly grasp that the deterioration of the power supply has started.
According to (8), the user can directly grasp that the power supply immediately needs to be replaced.
According to (9), the user can directly grasp that the replacement of the power supply is approaching.
According to (10), the user can easily grasp the deterioration information by notifying the deterioration information on the power supply with the parameter that is easy to understand for the user.
According to (11), the user can easily grasp the deterioration information by notifying the deterioration information on the power supply with the parameter that is easy to understand for the user.
According to (12), the user can easily grasp the deterioration information by notifying the deterioration information on the power supply with the graph that is easy to understand for the user.
According to (13), the deterioration information on the power supply can be visualized, and the user can further understand the deterioration information.
According to (14), the cumulative inhalation time, the cumulative number of times of inhalation, or the cumulative number of times of charging is displayed, and thus the deterioration information is easily understood by the user.
According to (15), the user can directly grasp that the replacement of the power supply is approaching.
According to (16), the user can easily grasp the deterioration information by notifying the deterioration information on the power supply with the graph that is easy to understand for the user.
According to (17), the user can easily grasp the deterioration information by notifying the deterioration information on the power supply with the graph that is easy to understand for the user.
This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2021/040461 filed on Nov. 2, 2021, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/JP2021/040461 | Nov 2021 | WO |
| Child | 18648516 | US |
