EA041132B1 - AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a device that generates a user-inhaled or flavored aerosol, a method for controlling such an aerosol generating device, and a program.

State of the art

Glass fiber is widely used as a wick to hold a source of aerosol around an electronic cigarette heater. However, instead of glass fiber for the wick, the use of ceramics is being considered, which can be expected to simplify the manufacturing process and improve aerosol yield.

An electronic cigarette in which a glass fiber is used for the wick is controlled to deliver an aerosol to the user's mouth, the aerosol is generated by an atomizing aerosol source with a heater immediately after inhalation is started, and to stop generation of this aerosol immediately after inhalation stops. so that the user is not given an unnatural feeling of inhalation. When a wick made of ceramic, such as alumina, is used, it is necessary to advance the time at which the power supply to the heater is started and the time at which the power supply to the heater is interrupted in one puff (inhalation cycle) in order to enjoy smoking using electronic cigarette, with the same experience as before, since the typical heat capacity of an alumina wick is approximately 0.008 J/K, which is higher than the typical heat capacity of approximately 0.003 J/K in a glass fiber wick.

In this regard, a technique has been proposed in which the threshold for determining the puff start time is less than the threshold for determining the puff end time (for example, see PTL 1).

However, when the threshold for determining the puff start time is made small, it is easy to pick up noise, so that unnecessary power supply easily occurs.

When the threshold for determining the puff end time is larger than the threshold for determining the puff start time, in the determination performed only by comparing the signal and the threshold, the puff end condition is executed substantially at the same time as the time when the start condition is met. puff, or immediately after it.

In addition, a suitable value as a threshold associated with the determination differs depending on the nature of the breath, and the nature of the breath has differences among individuals.

List of cited literature.

Patent Literature.

PTL 1: National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2013-541373.

PTL 2: National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2014-534814.

PTL 3: International Publication No. WO 2016/118645.

PTL 4: International Publication No. WO 2016/175320.

The essence of the invention

Technical problem

The present disclosure has been made in view of the problems described above.

The first object of the present disclosure is to provide an aerosol generating device capable of generating an aerosol at an appropriate time while reducing unnecessary energy input.

The second object of the present disclosure is to provide an aerosol generating device capable of generating an aerosol at an appropriate time.

A third object of the present disclosure is to provide an aerosol generating device capable of optimizing the point in time at which aerosol generation is stopped for each user.

Solution

To achieve the described objectives, an aerosol generating device is provided, which comprises: a power source configured to supply power in order to spray the aerosol source and/or heat the flavor source; a sensor configured to output a measured value for controlling the supplied power; and a controller configured to control the power supplied from the power source based on the measured value, the controller being configured to increase the amount of power supplied per unit time when the first condition that the measured value is equal to or greater than the first threshold is met, and to decrease the amount of power supplied by unit of time when the second condition is met that the measured value is less than the second threshold, and the third condition, wherein the second threshold is greater than the first threshold, and the third condition is the condition that the time derivative of the measured value is less than or equal to zero, or less than or equal to the third a threshold that is less than zero; or a condition that the measured value falls below the second threshold after the measured value exceeds the fourth threshold, which is equal to or greater than the second threshold; or a condition that the predetermined dead period has elapsed since the first condition is met; or

- 1 041132 condition that the preset time has elapsed since the measured value output signal became maximum.

The controller may be configured to increase the amount of power applied per unit time when the time derivative of the measured value exceeds zero within a predetermined return period from when the second condition and the third condition are met.

The controller may be configured to gradually increase the amount of power delivered per unit of time from zero to a second amount of power delivered per unit of time, and from a second amount of power delivered per unit of time to a third amount of power delivered per unit of time that is greater than the second amount of power delivered per unit of time. per unit time when the first condition is met, and increasing the amount of applied power per unit time from zero to a third amount of applied power per unit time when the derivative of the measured value with respect to time exceeds zero within a predetermined return period from when the second condition is met and the third condition.

The controller may be configured to reduce the amount of power supplied per unit of time when the condition that the measured value is less than the first threshold is met in case the third condition is not met within a predetermined determination period from when the first condition is met.

The controller may be configured to calculate the maximum value of the measured value every period from when power is started to when power is stopped, and update the fourth threshold based on the plurality of computed maximum values.

The controller may be configured to update the fourth threshold based on an average value of a plurality of calculated maximum values.

The controller may be configured to update the fourth threshold based on a weighted average value of a plurality of calculated maximum values, and in calculating the weighted average value, more weight is given to the maximum value calculated for a more recent period from when power is started to when power is stopped. power started in this way.

The controller may be configured to calculate the maximum value of the measured value every period from when power is started to when power is stopped, updating the second threshold based on the plurality of calculated maximum values, and updating the fourth threshold to be equal to or greater than updated second threshold.

The controller may be configured to store changes in the measured value every period from when power is started to when power is stopped, updating the second threshold based on the plurality of stored measured values, and updating the fourth threshold to be equal to or greater than updated second threshold.

The controller may be configured to update the second threshold based on changes in the plurality of stored measured values and based on a value obtained by subtracting the set value from an average value of the change durations in the measured values.

The controller may be configured to calculate at least one of a first required time from when the first condition is met to when the measured value reaches a maximum value and a second required time from when the first condition is met until the first condition will be met, each period from when the power supply is started to the time when the power supply is stopped, and updating the dead period based on at least one of the plurality of first required times and the plurality of second required times.

The controller may be configured to update the dead period based on at least one of an average of a plurality of first required times and an average of a plurality of second required times.

The controller may be configured to update the dead period based on at least one of a weighted average of a plurality of first required times and a weighted average of a plurality of second required times, and when calculating the weighted average, more weight is assigned to at least one of the first required times, and second required times, which are calculated for a more recent period from the moment when the power supply is started to the moment when the power supply thus started is stopped.

The controller may be configured to calculate a maximum value of the measured value every period from when power is started to when power is stopped and update the second threshold based on the plurality of computed maximum values.

The controller may be configured to store a change in the measured value every period from the moment power is started to the time power is stopped.

- 2 041132 power, and updating the second threshold based on many changes in the stored measured value.

The controller may be configured to implement a selection mode in which one or more third conditions may be selected from a group of third conditions comprising a plurality of third conditions.

The controller may be configured, in a selection mode, to store measured values and select one or more third conditions from a group of third conditions based on the stored measured values.

The controller may be configured, in a selection mode, to select one or more third conditions from a group of third conditions based on the time derivative of the stored measured values.

The controller may be configured, in a selection mode, to select one or more third conditions from a group of third conditions based on the maximum value of the stored measured values.

The controller may be configured, in a selection mode, to select one or more third conditions from a group of third conditions based on the durations of changes in stored measured values.

The controller may be configured, in a selection mode, to select one or more third conditions from a group of third conditions based on operation with the aerosol generating device.

The controller may be configured to store a group of third conditions in advance.

The controller may be configured to obtain a selectable one or more third conditions from a group of third conditions stored outside the aerosol generating device.

The controller may be configured to increase the amount of power delivered per unit time from zero to a first amount of power delivered per unit time when the first condition is met.

The controller may be configured to reduce the amount of supplied power per unit time from the first amount of supplied power per unit time to zero when the second condition and the third condition are met.

Useful effects of the invention

According to the invention, it is possible to provide an aerosol generating device that can generate an aerosol at an appropriate time while reducing unnecessary power supply.

According to the invention, it is possible to provide an aerosol generating device that can stop aerosol generation at an appropriate time.

According to the invention, it is possible to provide an aerosol generating device that can optimize the point in time when aerosol generation is stopped for each user.

Brief description of the figures

In FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary aerosol generating device 100 in accordance with one embodiment.

In FIG. 2 is a block diagram 200 illustrating first exemplary operations of controller 130.

In FIG. 3A is a graph showing the relationship between the first threshold Thre1, the second threshold Thre2 and the third threshold Thre3.

In FIG. 3B is a graph showing the relationship between the first threshold Thre1, the second threshold Thre2 and the third threshold Thre3.

In FIG. 4 is a graph showing changes in measured values 310 of breath sensor 106 over a period of time and changes in power 320 delivered over a period of time.

In FIG. 5A is a block diagram 500 illustrating second exemplary operations of controller 130.

In FIG. 5B is a portion of a block diagram to illustrate a variation of block diagram 500.

In FIG. 6A is a graph showing an example of receiving an update of the third threshold Thre3.

In FIG. 6B is a graph showing an example of receiving a dead period update.

In FIG. 7 is a graph showing different tightening profiles.

In FIG. 8 is a flowchart 800 illustrating exemplary operations for selecting a third condition from a group of third conditions.

In FIG. 9 is a block diagram 900 illustrating third exemplary operations of controller 130.

In FIG. 10 is a block diagram 1000 illustrating fourth exemplary operations of controller 130.

- 3 041132

In FIG. 11 is a block diagram 1100 illustrating fifth exemplary operations of controller 130.

In FIG. 12 is a block diagram 1200 illustrating sixth exemplary operations of controller 130.

In FIG. 13 is a graph showing an example in which a time point is set when power supply is stopped or a time period in which power is continued to be supplied.

Description of Embodiments

Further in the present description, embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the figures.

In particular, in the following description, ordinal terms such as first, second, third, etc. are used only for convenience to distinguish one element having a specific name from another element having the same name. For example, an element modified by serial number first described in the specification and figures and the same element modified by serial number first described in the claims do not identify the same purpose in some cases. On the contrary, for example, the element modified by the ordinal term second, described in the description and in the figures, and the same element, modified by the ordinal term first, described in the claims, identify the same purpose in some cases. Accordingly, it should be noted that the target identified by such a term should be identified by a name other than the ordinal term.

The following description is merely illustrative of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the following description, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1. An exemplary aerosol generating device 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. It should be noted that FIG. 1 schematically and conceptually illustrates each element included in the aerosol generating device 100, but is not intended to indicate the exact layout, geometry, dimensions, relative position, or the like. each element and the aerosol generating device 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 100 includes a reservoir 102, an atomizer 104, a breath sensor 106, an intake air flow path 108, an aerosol flow path 110, a wick 112, a battery 114, and a mouthpiece element 116. Among these elements in the aerosol generating device 100, some elements may be collectively provided in the form of a removable cartridge. For example, a cartridge provided by integrating reservoir 102 and atomizer 104 can be removable in aerosol generating device 100.

Reservoir 102 may store an aerosol source. For example, reservoir 102 may be formed from a fibrous or porous material and may store a liquid aerosol source in the interstices or pores of the porous material. The reservoir 102 may be in the form of a container for holding liquid. The source of the aerosol may be a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerol and propylene glycol, an extract-containing liquid such as a nicotine component derived from tobacco raw materials, a liquid containing any agent, or the like. In particular, the present invention can be applied to a medical nebulizer or the like, in which case the aerosol source may contain a medical agent. The reservoir 102 has a configuration in which the aerosol source can be replenished or replaceable when the aerosol source is used up. It should be noted that the source of the aerosol may indicate a source of fragrance or may contain a source of fragrance. Furthermore, it should be noted that a plurality of reservoirs 102 may be provided, each containing a different aerosol source. It should be noted that the aerosol source may be in the solid state.

The nebulizer 104 is configured to nebulize the aerosol source in order to generate an aerosol. The nebulizer 104 generates aerosol when a respiratory action is detected by a breath sensor 106 (eg, a pressure or flow sensor that detects a pressure or flow rate in the intake air flow path 108 or the aerosol flow path 110). It should be noted that, in addition to a pressure or flow sensor, an actuation button may be provided that can be operated by a user to actuate the atomizer 104.

More specifically, in the aerosol generating device 100, the wick portions 112 are configured to extend into the reservoir 102 and the atomizer 104, respectively, so that the wick portion 112 makes the connection between the reservoir 102 and the atomizer 104. The aerosol source is transferred from the reservoir 102 to the atomizer 104 by means of a capillary effect (action) created in the wick, and at least temporarily held in the wick. Atomizer 104 includes a heater (load) (not illustrated) that is electrically coupled to battery 114 to control the power supplied to the heater by power controller 130 and power controller 135, which are described below. A heater is positioned in contact with or near wick 112 and is configured to heat and spray an aerosol source carried through wick 112. It should be noted that although glass fiber has been conventionally used as wick 112, controller 130 can in order to supply the aerosol at the time corresponding to the feeling of the smoker, even when a porous body such as a ceramic which has a high specific heat is used as the wick 112. Here, the porous body has pores in a network, the pores are capable of carrying out source transfer aerosol to a position where the heater can heat the aerosol source and/or hold the aerosol source in that position by means of capillary action.

The intake air flow path 108 and the aerosol flow path 110 are connected to the nebulizer 104. The intake air flow path 108 communicates with the external environment of the aerosol generating device 100. The aerosol generated in the nebulizer 104 is mixed with the air drawn through the intake air flow path 108 and delivered in the path 110 flow of aerosol. It should be noted that in this exemplary operation, the mixed fluid from the aerosol generated in the nebulizer 104 and air can simply be referred to as aerosol.

The mouthpiece element 116 is positioned at the end of the aerosol flow path 110 (i.e., on the downstream side of the atomizer 104) and is an element configured to open the aerosol flow path 110 to the outside of the aerosol generating device 100. The user holds the mouthpiece element 116 to inhale the air containing the aerosol, to carry the air containing the aerosol into the user's mouth.

The aerosol generating device 100 further includes a controller 130, a power controller 135, and a memory 140. FIG. 1, the line connecting the battery 114 and the power controller 135, and the line connecting the power controller 135 and the atomizer 104 represent the power supplied from the battery 114 to the atomizer 104 through the power controller 135. In FIG. 1, a double-headed arrow connecting two elements indicates that a signal, data, or information is being passed between the two elements. It should be noted that the aerosol generating device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is exemplary, and in another aerosol generating device, for at least one set of two elements connected by a double-headed arrow in FIG. 1, a signal, data, or information may not be transferred between two elements. In addition, in another aerosol generating device, for at least one set of two elements connected by a double-headed arrow in FIG. 1, a signal, data, or information can be transmitted from one element to another element.

The controller 130 is an electronic circuit module configured as a microprocessor or microcomputer. The controller 130 is programmed to control the operation of the aerosol generating device 100 in accordance with a computer executable instruction stored in the memory 140. The controller 130 receives a signal from the sensor 106 and obtains the pressure or flow rate described above from the signal. In addition, the controller 130 receives a signal from the atomizer 104 and the battery 114, and obtains the heater temperature and the remaining battery power from the signal. In addition, the controller 130 instructs the power controller 135 to control the power supplied from the battery 114 to the atomizer 104 by controlling the amount of at least one of voltage, current, and power over a certain period of time. It should be noted that controlling the power input by the controller 130 includes providing instructions to the power controller 135 by the controller 130 in order to control the power input.

As described above, the power controller 135 controls the power supplied from the battery 114 to the atomizer 104 by controlling the amount of at least one of voltage, current, and power over a certain period of time.

For example, a switch, DC/DC converter, or the like may be used as the power controller 135, and the power controller 135 may control any one of the voltage, current, and power supplied from the battery 114 to the nebulizer 104 using or pulse width modulation control. (PWM, Pulse Width Modulation) or Pulse Frequency Modulation Control (PFM, Pulse Frequency Modulation). It should be noted that, in some cases, power controller 135 is integrated with at least one of atomizer 104, battery 114, and controller 130.

Memory 140 is an information storage medium such as ROM, RAM, or flash memory. The memory 140 stores setting data necessary to control the aerosol generating device 100 in addition to the computer-executable instruction. The controller 130 may be configured to store, in the memory 140, measured value data from the breath sensor 106 or the like.

Schematically, the controller 130 controls the power applied to heat the aerosol source and/or the flavor source, that is, the power that is applied to at least the atomizer heater 104 in accordance with at least the detection result of the breath sensor 106. The operation of the controller 130 will now be described in detail in this description.

- 5 041132

2. The first exemplary operations of the 130 controller.

In FIG. 2 is a block diagram 200 illustrating first exemplary operations of controller 130.

2-1. Block diagram plan 200.

First, an outline of flowchart 200 is described.

In step S202, the controller 130 determines whether the measured value from the breath sensor 106 exceeds the first threshold Thre1. If the measured value exceeds the first threshold Thre1, the process proceeds to step S204, and if not, the process returns to step S202.

In step S204, the controller 130 starts the timer, and in step S206, the controller 130 controls to supply power P1 to the atomizer heater 104 from the power source.

In step S208, the controller 130 determines whether the elapsed time of the timer reaches the predetermined time At1. If the elapsed timer does not reach At1, the process proceeds to step S210, and if so, the process proceeds to step S216.

In step S210, the controller 130 determines whether the measured value from the breath sensor 106 exceeds the second threshold Thre2 greater than the first threshold Thre1. If the measured value exceeds the second threshold Thre2, the process proceeds to step S212, and if not, the process returns to step S208.

In step S212, the controller 130 controls to supply power P2 greater than power P1 to the atomizer heater 104 from the power source.

In step S214, the controller 130 determines whether the power stop condition is met. If the power supply stop condition is met, the process proceeds to step S216, and if not, the process returns to step S214.

In step S216, the controller 130 stops the power supply.

2-2. Detailed description of block diagram 200.

The following describes in detail the operations of flowchart 200.

2-2-1. Measured value.

In these exemplary operations, each of the measured values in steps S202 and S204 is not a raw signal value from the breath sensor 106, such as a voltage value, but a pressure (Pa) or flow rate (m ³ /s) value obtained from the raw signal value signal, and should be a positive value when inhaling. The measured value may be a value obtained after the raw signal is filtered with a low pass filter or the like, or a smoothed value such as a simple average value and a moving average value. It should be noted that it is needless to say that the raw signal value from the breath sensor 106 can be used as a measured value. In this respect, the same is true for the other exemplary operations below. It should be noted that, for example, systems of arbitrary units can be used as the dimensions of pressure and flow rate, for example, (mmN ₂ O) and (l/min), respectively.

2-2-2. Threshold.

The first threshold Thre1 in step S202 and the second threshold Thre2 in step S210 are described in detail with reference to FIG. 3A and 3B.

Position number 310 indicates the actual measured values from the breath sensor 106 for a certain period of time when no breath is taken. When no breath is taken, the ideal measured values from the breath sensor 106 over a period of time should be constant at zero, but the actual measured values 310 include variations around zero. These variations are due to air vibration due to people talking or the like in the environment of the aerosol generating device 100 or background noise generated by thermal disturbances or the like in the circuit. This background noise is additionally generated by changes in the atmospheric pressure of the environment of the aerosol generating device 100 or by the effects exerted on the aerosol generating device 100. In addition, when using an electrostatic sensor of an electrical capacitance type MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) as the breath sensor 106, the output values from the sensor to as long as the electrode plate vibration does not converge can also cause this background noise. The first threshold Thre1 can be set to a value at which some background noise can be collected in order to preheat with good sensitivity. For example, in FIG. 3A, part 311 of measured values 310 is slightly above the first threshold Thre1. That is, one can expect it in the form

Thre1-0~Np _max (1), where N _pmax represents the positive maximum value of the background noise over a certain period of time.

Position number 320 indicates the actual measured values containing background noise when a breath is taken, by which a measured value is obtained near the first threshold Thre1. The first threshold Thre1 is initially the value for inspiratory detection at that level. The second threshold Thre2 can be set so as not to collect noise even when a breath is taken at this level. That is, it can be expressed as

- 6 041132

Thre1+N _pmax <Thre2 (2).

Further, assuming Thre1-0=N _pmax (3) as a special case of expression (1), expression (2) can be transformed as follows:

Thre1+Thre1-0<Thre2

Thre1<Thre2-Thre1 (4)

Expression (4) shows that the difference between the second threshold Thre2 and the first threshold Thre1 is greater than the first threshold Thre1 makes it possible to clearly distinguish the situation when preheating is to be carried out without generating an aerosol, from the situation when an aerosol is to be generated without determining the amount of background noise. In other words, this means that misidentification between the first threshold Thre1 and the second threshold Thre2 can be prevented, and when the powers P1 and powers P2 are set to appropriate values, aerosol generation can be started at the correct time, the power P1 is the amount of power supplied when the measured the value is greater than the first threshold Thre1 and less than or equal to the second threshold Thre2, and the power P2 is the amount of power supplied when the measured value is greater than the second threshold Thre2.

2-2-3. Power stop condition.

An example of the power stop condition in step S214 is the condition that the measured value from the breath sensor 106 falls below the third threshold Thre3, which is equal to or greater than the second threshold Thre2. Such a relationship between the third threshold Thre3, the second threshold Thre2 and the first threshold Thre1 is also described in detail with reference to FIG. 3A and 3B.

As shown in FIG. 3A and 3B, the second threshold Thre2 may be set closer to the first threshold Thre1 than to the third threshold Thre3. Setting the second threshold Thre2 in this way allows the aerosol generation to start earlier so that the power supply can be stopped earlier. The aerosol can also be generated with less unnatural sensations before the user inhales.

Unlike FIG. 3A and 3B, the second threshold Thre2 may be set closer to the third threshold Thre3 than the first threshold Thre1 or equal to the third threshold Thre3. Setting the second threshold Thre2 in this way makes it easier to avoid forced interruption of aerosol generation even when the power stop condition is a simple condition that the measured value is less than or equal to the third threshold Thre3, since the possibility that the measured value is less than or equal to the third threshold Thre3 when the process in step S214 is carried out for the first time, is reduced on the assumption that the measured value is gradually increasing.

2-2-4. Power source and power.

In steps S206 and steps S212, it is provided that the power source at least includes a battery 114 and a power controller 135. In this regard, the same is true for other exemplary operations presented below.

In step S206 and step S212, the power supplied to the heater may be constant over a certain period of time, or may change over a certain period of time so that the amount of power supplied per unit time is constant. In these exemplary operations, it is assumed that each of the power values P1 and P2 represents the amount of power supplied (energy) per unit time. However, the length of the time unit is meant to be any length including 1 s, and for example, the length of the time unit may be the length of one PWM cycle when the PWM control is used to supply power. It should be noted that when the unit time length is not 1 s, the physical quantities of powers P1 and P2 are not (electrical) powers, but are expressed as powers for convenience. In this regard, the same is true for the other exemplary operations presented below.

The powers P1 and P2 are described in detail with reference to FIG. 4. In FIG. 4 is a graph showing changes in the measured value 410 (solid line) of the breath sensor 106 over a period of time (hereinafter also referred to as the puff profile or measured value profile) and changes in the power 420 (dashed line) supplied to the nebulizer heater. 104 for a certain period of time. In FIG. 4 shows that the power supply P1 is started at the time t1 when the measured value 410 exceeds the first threshold Thre1, the measured value 410 exceeds the second threshold Thre2 before the predetermined time At1 expires after the start of power supply P1, which leads to the supply powers P2 are started at time t2 when the measured value 410 exceeds the second threshold Thre2, and power supply is stopped at time t3 when the measured value 410 falls below the third threshold Thre3. Note that the determination at time t1 corresponds to the determination in step S202 in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the determination at time t2 corresponds to the determination in step S210 in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the determination at time t3 corresponds to the determination in step S214 in the flowchart of FIG. 2, and the predetermined time At1 corresponds to At1 in step S208 in the flowchart of FIG. 2.

It should be noted that the tightening profile shown in FIG. 4 presents a simplified example for illustrative purposes. The controller 130 may control the supplied power based on

- 7 041132 tightening profiles based on measured values obtained during one cycle period, for example, in one cycle of the power source, tightening profile based on averaged measured values obtained over periods of several cycles, tightening profile based on regression analysis of measured values, obtained over periods of several cycles, or the like. It should be noted that the power source cycle includes the period from the beginning to the end of the power supply, and may be the period from the moment when the measured value exceeds zero or a predetermined small value, until the moment when the measured value returns to zero or falls below a predetermined small value. values, or a period in which a predetermined time is added to the beginning and/or end of such a period. The period from the left end to the right end of the time axis of the graph shown in FIG. 4 represents an example of a power source cycle. In this regard, the same is true for other exemplary operations presented below.

The power P1 is the delivered power for the period during which the measured value 410 is greater than the first threshold Thre1 and less than or equal to the second threshold Thre2. When the power P1 supplied during this period is used as the preheater of the atomizer heater 104, the power P1 must meet the following expression:

Jatomize/At1>P1/Atunit (5), where J _atomize represents the minimum energy required to cause atomization in the nebulizer 104. It should be noted that J _atomize can be derived theoretically or experimentally based on the composition of the aerosol source and the heater configuration of the nebulizer 104 At _unit represents the length of the time unit, and when the length of the time unit is 1 s, At _unit can be omitted. It should be noted that J _atomize may not necessarily be a fixed value and may be a variable that varies depending on conditions and another variable. As an example, controller 130 may adjust J _atomize based on the amount of aerosol source remaining.

The power P2 is the power delivered when the measured value 410 exceeds the second threshold Thre2, thereby causing the atomizer 104 to spray. for overheating, and may fulfill at least the following condition:

P2>P1 (6)

When expression (5) is executed, the power P1 can be made as large as possible, thereby reducing the predetermined time period At1. Accordingly, the power P1 corresponding to the zero value <P1 <P2 can be set closer to P2 than to the zero value.

2-2-5. Processing in flowchart 200.

The series of steps included in the flowchart 200 shows a processing example in which the amount of power supplied from the power source, when the measured value from the breath sensor 106 is greater than the first threshold Thre1 and less than or equal to the second threshold Thre2, is greater than a predetermined value (power P1 x predefined time At1).

According to such processing, when the amount of power supplied from the power source when the measured value from the breath sensor 106 is greater than the first threshold Thre1 and less than or equal to the second threshold Thre2 is the first value, the first value inevitably becomes less than or equal to the predetermined value and therefore, the power supplied can be controlled so that the amount of power supplied when the measured value is greater than the second threshold Thre2 is greater than the first value. Accordingly, such processing leads to a reduction in wasted power consumption and wasted consumption of the aerosol source, even when the first threshold Thre1 is set to a value that is often unintentionally exceeded by the measured value due to the influence of background noise, for example.

The predetermined value described above may be less than the amount of power supplied when aerosol generation is started in the atomizer 104. The amount of power supplied as the first value does not cause atomization in the atomizer 104, but the heater of the atomizer 104 is preheated using such a value. Preheating allows the intended aerosol generation to be started with good sensitivity without causing waste of the aerosol source and without impacting the environment due to unintentional aerosol generation. From another point of view, at least one of the power for supplying a certain amount of supplied power in the form of a first value or an amount of power P1 per unit time and a predetermined time At1 can be set such that the first value is less than or equal to the amount of supplied power when start generating an aerosol from an aerosol source. Note that the predetermined time At1 can be set between the predetermined upper limit and the lower limit. Examples of the upper limit of the predetermined time At1 include 500 ms, 300 ms, and 100 ms. Examples of the lower limit before

- 8 041132 variable time At1 includes 10 ms and 30 ms.

The series of steps included in flowchart 200 shows a processing example in which power supply is stopped when the measured value does not exceed the second threshold Thre2 within a predetermined time At1 after the measured value exceeds the first threshold Thre1 or power supply P1 is started. . According to such processing, the noise does not lead to a situation in which the power supply is practically continued even when the first threshold Thre1 associated with the start of power supply is set to a sensitive value that may cause noise interference, and therefore it is possible to prevent the decrease in the amount of charge stored in the power source.

2-3. Flowchart variation 200.

In addition, a variation of block diagram 200 is described.

As described above, both a pressure or flow sensor and an actuation button can be used as the breath sensor 106 . When the actuation button is provided as the breath sensor 106, in step S202, the controller 130 may determine whether the measured value exceeds the first threshold Thre1 and whether the actuation button is pressed.

Step S206 may be performed before step S204, or step S204 and step S206 may be performed simultaneously (in parallel).

Another example of the power supply stop condition in step S214 is the condition that the measured value from the breath sensor 106 falls below the third threshold Thre3 after the power source supplies the power of the second value. The second value is the minimum amount of power supplied from the power source when the measured value exceeds the second threshold Thre2, and may be greater than the first value described above, which is the amount of power supplied before the measured value exceeds the second Thre2. In this case, the amount of power supplied before the measured value exceeds the second threshold Thre2 is less than the second value.

In addition, the flowchart 200 can be modified to remove step S204 and modify step S208 to a step in which the controller 130 determines whether the total amount of power supplied at the time of the step is less than or equal to a predetermined value. The series of steps included in the modified flowchart 200 shows another processing example in which the amount of power supplied from the power source, when the measured value of the breath sensor 106 is greater than the first threshold Thre1 and less than or equal to the second threshold Thre2, is greater than a predetermined value (power P1 x predefined time At1). It should be noted that the processing is not limited to the above two examples.

3. Second exemplary operations of the controller 130.

Fig. 5A is a block diagram 500 illustrating second exemplary operations of controller 130.

3-1. Flowchart plan 500.

First, an outline of flowchart 500 is described.

In step S502, the controller 130 determines whether the first condition is met. If the first condition is met, the process proceeds to step S504, and if not, the process returns to step S502. In step S504, the controller 130 controls to increase the power supply value (the amount of power supplied per unit time as described above. Hereinafter referred to as unit power supply) to the atomizer heater 104.

In step S506, the controller 130 determines whether the second condition is met. If the second condition is met, the process proceeds to step S508, and if not, the process returns to step S506. In step S508, the controller 130 determines whether the third condition is met. If the third condition is met, the process proceeds to step S510, and if not, the process returns to step S506. In step S510, the controller 130 performs control to lower the unit power supply amount.

In step S512, the controller 130 determines whether the fourth condition is met. If the fourth condition is met, the process proceeds to step S514, where the controller 130 executes control to increase the unit power supply amount, and if not, the processing in the flowchart 500 ends.

3-2. Detailed description of block diagram 500.

The following describes in detail the operations of flowchart 500.

3-2-1. First condition.

The first condition in step S502 may be a condition that the measured value from the breath sensor 106 exceeds the first threshold Thre1 or the second threshold Thre2.

3-2-2. Second condition.

The second condition in step S506 may be the condition that the measured value from the breath sensor 106 falls below the third threshold Thre3. Here the third threshold Thre3 can be updated.

As a first example of receiving an update of the third threshold Thre3, the controller 130 may calculate and store the maximum value of the measured values each period from when power is started to when power is stopped, or every cycle of the power source, and update a third threshold Thre3 based on a plurality of calculated maximum values using the controller 130.

More specifically, controller 130 may update the third threshold Thre3 based on an average v _{max ave} that is obtained from a plurality of computed maximum values by controller 130. An example of calculating a simple average is described below.

Formula 1

An example of calculating the weighted average is also described below.

Formula 2

where in expressions (7) and (8) N represents the number of periods in which the maximum value is calculated, and v _max (i) represents the maximum value in the i-th period (the larger the value of i, the newer the maximum value). Such an average calculation can be used when the aerosol generating device 100 is used for a long period of time. In particular, in accordance with the calculation of the weighted average, more weight can be assigned to the maximum value calculated in the more recent period from the moment when the power supply is started to the moment when the power supply is stopped, started in such a way as to thereby accommodate changes in the puff profiles, when the aerosol generating device 100 is used for a long period of time.

An example of an expression used to get a value for updating the third Thre3 threshold is described below:

Thre3=Vmax_ave X ^χ " (9), where α is a value greater than zero and less than or equal to 1, and the third threshold Thre3 is preferably a value greater than the second threshold Thre2.

As a second example of receiving an update of the third threshold Thre3, controller 130 may store changes in measured values, i.e. profile every period from when power is started to when power is stopped, or every cycle of the power source, and update the third threshold Thre3 based on changes in the plurality of measured values stored by the controller 130. In particular, the third threshold Thre3 can be update based on the value obtained by subtracting the predetermined value Δt2 from the average value Δtd _{uration ave} the duration during which the measured value changes (for example, the length of time from when the measured value exceeds zero or a predetermined small value, until the time when the measured value returns to zero or falls below a predefined low value). An example of an expression used to get a value for updating the third Thre3 threshold is described below:

Thre3=V(Δtduration_ave-Δt2) where, with reference to FIG. 6A, v(t) is a function that represents the puff profile 610, and Δtd _{uration ave} and Δ12 correspond to the times shown in FIG. 6A. It should be noted that the tightening profile shown in FIG. 6A is supposedly based on averaged measured values obtained over several cycles, but is a simplified example for illustrative purposes.

It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the length of time from when the measured value exceeds zero or the predetermined small value to the time when the measured value returns to zero or falls below the predetermined small value is used to determine the duration of the measured values. . Alternatively, the length of time until the measured value falls below zero or a predetermined small value may be used consecutively a plurality of times. In addition to this, you can use the derivative of the measured values with respect to time.

3-2-3. Comparison between the first condition and the second condition.

When the heat capacity of the wick 112 is large, the controller 130 preferably performs control to advance the time at which the unit power supply amount is increased and the time at which the unit power supply amount is reduced so as to generate an aerosol without unnatural feeling when the user's breath. That is, considering the ideal user profile in which the measured value sequentially increases and reaches the maximum value, and then sequentially decreases and reaches zero, the first threshold Thre1 or the second threshold Thre2 used in the first condition in step S502 of FIG. 5A is preferably less than the third threshold Thre3 used in the second condition in step S506 of FIG. 5A.

However, when the controller 130 increases or decreases the unit power supply amount using only the first condition and the second condition without using the third condition described later, the following problem may occur. Since the first threshold Thre1 or the second threshold Thre2 used in the first condition is smaller than the third threshold Thre3 used in the second condition, the second condition is executed immediately after the first condition is met, and therefore, the unit amount of power supplied is reduced before the generation aerosol is carried out using an increased unit amount of power supplied. More specifically, in step S506, it is determined whether the measured value which has exceeded the first threshold Thre1 or the second threshold Thre2 used in the first condition in step S502 falls below the third threshold Thre3. Considering that the measured values change ideally sequentially, as well as the control period and the calculation rate of the controller 130, the measured value immediately after the measured value exceeded the first threshold Thre1 or the second threshold Thre2 is highly likely to be less than the third threshold.

If the user profile changes ideally, the maximum value of the user profile has the same value as the maximum value. For example, the problem can be easily solved by calculating changes in measured values in a real-time changing user profile and determining if the measured value falls below the third threshold after the measured value reaches the maximum value. However, since the actual user profile varies greatly among individuals and background noise is included in the measured values shown in FIG. 3A and 3B, there are multiple peaks. Therefore, the problem cannot be solved. In the present embodiment, the third condition is introduced in order to solve this problem.

3-2-4. Third condition.

The third condition in step S508 is a condition that is different from the first condition and the second condition. Accordingly, the third condition may be any condition that is not met simultaneously with the first condition. Such a third condition makes it possible to eliminate such a situation that the unit power supply amount is reduced immediately after the first condition is met and the unit power supply amount is increased. The third condition is any condition that can be executed after the second condition is met (in other words, the second condition is executed before the third condition). According to such a third condition, the unit amount of power supplied is not rapidly reduced even when the measured value from the breath sensor 106 is less than or equal to the third threshold Thre3, whereby power can be continued to be supplied.

3-2-4-1. The third condition is based on measured values.

The third condition may be based on measured values from the breath sensor 106 . Such a third condition avoids a situation in which the unit amount of power supplied is reduced immediately after the unit amount of power supplied is increased while taking into account the inhalation intensity.

More specifically, the first example of the third condition is a condition based on the derivative of measured values with respect to time. According to such a condition, taking into account changes in the inhalation intensity, it can be determined whether the unit amount of power supplied is reduced according to the feeling of the user. More specifically, the third condition may be a condition that the time derivative of the measured values is less than or equal to zero or a fourth threshold Thre4 that is less than zero. Under such a condition, the unit amount of power supplied is not reduced during the period in which the inspiratory intensity continues to increase.

It should be noted that, as described above, background noise is included in the measured values. Accordingly, strictly speaking, even when the inspiratory rate continues to increase, the time derivative of the measured values may be less than zero.

The third condition may be the condition that the time derivative of the measured values is less than or equal to the fourth threshold Thre4 which is less than zero, whereby the unit amount of power supplied is not reduced even when the time derivative of the measured values momentarily becomes negative. It should be noted that the absolute value of the fourth threshold Thre4, which is excessively high, leads to the inability to recognize that the inspiratory intensity continues to decrease and the end of the puff is approaching. Accordingly, the fourth threshold Thre4 can be set in view of the amount of background noise in order to increase the accuracy.

When the amount of background noise is considered, a fixed value considering the amount of background noise when the aerosol generating device 100 is manufactured can be stored as the fourth threshold Thre4 in the memory 140. continue to be stored in memory 140 in the form of a calibration, and the fourth threshold Thre4 may be set based on a maximum value or an average value that is obtained from the change in background noise.

In the present embodiment, the condition that the time derivative of the measured values is less than or equal to zero or the fourth threshold Thre4 which is less than zero is used as the third condition. Alternatively, the condition that the time derivative of the measured values is less than or equal to zero, or the fourth threshold Thre4, which is less than zero, is met for a predetermined time can be successively used as the third condition. This is because when the background noise changes as shown in FIG. 3A and 3B, the time derivative of the measured values is not continuously equal to zero or less than or equal to the fourth threshold Thre4, which is less than zero, although the inspiratory rate continues to increase.

The second example of the third condition is the condition that the measured value falls below the second threshold Thre2 after exceeding the fifth threshold Thre5 which is equal to or greater than the second threshold Thre2. According to such a condition, the fifth threshold Thre5 is set close to the expected maximum value, whereby the unit amount of supplied power cannot be controlled to be lowered as long as the measured value reaches at least close to the maximum value.

Here you can update the fifth threshold Thre5.

As a first example of receiving an update of the fifth threshold Thre5, the controller 130 may calculate and store the maximum value of the measured values every period from when power is started to when power is stopped, or every cycle of the power source, and update the fifth threshold Thre5 by based on the set of calculated maximum values by the controller 130. More specifically, the controller 130 may update the fifth threshold Thre5 based on the average value of the set of calculated maximum values by the controller 130. The average calculation described above in connection with updating the third threshold Thre3 can be used as the average calculation to get the average value, the value for updating the fifth threshold Thre5 can be obtained as follows:

Thre5=Vmaχ_ave-Δv1 (10), where Av1 is a set value that is equal to or greater than zero. By updating the fifth threshold Thre5, a suitable magnitude value is set to the fifth threshold Thre5, thereby reducing the possibility that the unit amount of supplied power is reduced at an inappropriate time.

As a second example of receiving an update of the fifth threshold Thre5, the controller 130 may first update the third threshold Thre3 and then update the fifth threshold Thre5 to be equal to or greater than the updated third threshold Thre3. An example expression used to get the value to update the fifth Thre5 threshold is described below:

Thre5=Thre3+Av2 (11) where Av2 is a set value that is equal to or greater than zero.

3-2-4-2. The third condition is based on the dead period.

The dead period can be used as a third condition. That is, the third example of the third condition is the condition that the predetermined dead period Δt _dead has elapsed since the first condition is satisfied. Such a third condition makes it possible to prevent a situation where the unit power supply amount is reduced immediately after the unit power supply amount is increased, since the unit power supply amount is not reduced at least until the dead period has elapsed.

Dead period Δt _dead can be updated. For example, controller 130 may calculate at least one of a first required time from when the first condition is met to when the measured value reaches a maximum value and a second required time from when the first condition is met to when the first condition is not performing each cycle of the power source and updating the dead period At _dead based on at least one of the plurality of first required times and the plurality of second required times.

More specifically, controller 130 may update the dead period At _dead based on at least one of an average of a plurality of first required times and an average of a plurality of second required times. An example of calculating a simple average is described below.

Formula 3

N

Σ^ο

AG = ----- (12)

- 12 041132

An example of calculating a weighted average is also described below.

Formula 4

It should be noted that in expressions (12) and (13), N represents the number of periods in which the first required time or the second required time is calculated, and Δt(i) represents the first required period or the second required period in the i-th period (the more value of i, the newer the first required time or the second required time). Such an average calculation can be used when the aerosol generating device 100 is used for a long period of time. In particular, in accordance with the weighted average calculation, more weight can be assigned to the first required period or the second required period, which is calculated in a more recent period from the moment when the power supply is started to the moment when the power supply is stopped, started in such a way that thereby cover changes in puff profiles when the aerosol generating device 100 is used for an extended period of time.

Three examples of the expression used to get the value for updating the dead period Δt _dead are described below:

^Formula 5

A/ _ ^max me + Sunder Thre\_ave , dead - 2 ^r over_7hrei_me ~

Here, regarding the dependence of each variable in the above expressions, see FIG. 6B. In particular, in the expressions t _{over Thre1, ave} represents the average value of the period from when the measured value exceeds zero or a predefined small value until the first condition is met. Accordingly, in the expression t _max _ _ave -t _over _Th _re1 _ _ave corresponds to the average value of the first required times described above. In tunder expressions _{, Thre1 ave} represents the average value of the period from when the measured value exceeds zero or a predefined small value until the first condition is met. Accordingly, in the expression t _under _Th _re1 _ _ave - t _over _Th _re1 _ _ave corresponds to the average value of the second required times described above. The values of Δt3, Δt4, and Δt5 are predetermined values that are equal to or greater than zero, and are preferably set so that the value shown at 640 in FIG. 6B became the third threshold Thre3. By updating the dead period At _dead , a suitable magnitude value is set for the dead period At _dead , thereby reducing the possibility that a unit amount of supplied power will decrease at an unexpected time.

3-2-4-3. Another third condition.

The fourth example of the third condition is the condition that at the time of the determination of the third condition, a predetermined time or more has elapsed since the measured value output before the determination of the third condition has become the maximum.

3-2-4-4. Choice of the third condition.

The third condition may be selected from a plurality of third conditions. In FIG. 7 is a graph showing different tightening profiles. As can be seen in FIG. 7, suitable third conditions vary according to the tightening profile. For example, since the tightening profile shown at 710 has a maximum value before reaching the maximum value, in other words, the derivative of the measured values with respect to time becomes a negative value before the profile reaches the maximum value, the third condition using the derived value (first example) is difficult to use. . Since the tightening profile shown by numeral 720 generally has small measurable values, the third condition using a plurality of thresholds (second example) is difficult to provide a meaningful difference among the measured values with respect to the plurality of thresholds, and is difficult to use. In addition, since the tightening profile indicated as 730 requires a long period until the profile reaches the maximum value, the third condition using the dead period (third example) is difficult to use. Accordingly, the controller 130 may implement a selection mode in which the third condition may be selected from a group of third conditions including a plurality of third conditions. In particular, the controller 130 may store measured values from the breath sensor 106 and select a third condition from a group of third conditions based on the stored measured values, such as a puff profile based on the stored measured values.

In FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method 800 for selecting a third condition from a group of third conditions. It should be noted that in FIG. 8, the number of third conditions included in the group of third conditions is taken equal to the three third conditions A, B, and C, but the group of third conditions may include any number of third conditions that is greater than one.

In step S810, the controller 130 determines whether the exclusion condition of the third condition A is met. The exclusion condition of the third condition A may be a condition based on a derivative of the stored measured values with respect to time, for example, the measured values have a maximum value. When the exclusion condition of the third condition A is met, the process proceeds to step S815, the third condition A is excluded from the candidates in step S815, and the process proceeds to step S820. When the exclusion condition of the third condition A is not met in step S810, the process proceeds to step S820, and therefore, in this case, the third condition A is not excluded from the candidates.

Steps S820 and S830 are steps corresponding to step S810 in which determinations are made regarding third conditions B and C, respectively, the third conditions B and C are different from the third condition A. Here, the exclusion condition of the third condition B may be a condition based on the maximum measured value values, e.g. measured values are generally small. The exclusion condition of the third condition C may be a condition based on the duration during which the measured value changes, for example, a long period is needed until the measured value reaches the maximum value. Steps S825 and S835 are steps corresponding to step S815, where the third conditions B and C are excluded from the candidates, respectively, the third conditions B and C are different from the third condition A.

In step S840, the controller 130 selects a third condition from among the third conditions remaining as candidates. It should be noted that when a plurality of candidates remain, the controller 130 may select one third condition from the remaining candidates. If no candidates remain, the controller 130 may select any third condition included in the group of third conditions. Possible examples of the method in which the controller 130 selects one or more third conditions from a plurality of third conditions include random selection, selection according to a predetermined priority order, user selection, and the like. It should be noted that the aerosol generating device 100 includes an input means (not illustrated) for receiving a user selection. The aerosol generating device 100 may include communication means (not illustrated) for connecting to a computer, such as a smartphone, via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or the like, to receive user selections from the connected computer.

In step S850, the controller 130 receives the selected third condition. Obtaining the selected third condition includes deriving a program according to an algorithm for determining such a condition. The one or more third conditions that may be obtained from the group of third conditions may be stored in the memory 140 in advance, may be obtained externally, for example from a computer such as a smartphone as described above, or may be downloaded from the Internet via the communication means described above. When the third condition is obtained externally or from the Internet, advantages can be obtained in that it is not necessary to store all the third conditions included in the third condition group in the memory 140, thereby allowing free space in the memory 140 to be reserved for other uses, there is no need to mount the memory 140 is of high capacity, whereby the cost of the aerosol generating device 100 can be reduced, and it is not necessary to install a large memory 140, whereby the aerosol generating device 100 can be miniaturized.

In step S860, the controller 130 configures itself to determine whether the selected third condition is met.

3-2-5. Fourth condition.

The fourth condition in step S512 is the condition that the time derivative of the measured values from the breath sensor 106 exceeds zero within a predetermined return period from when the second condition and the third condition are met. According to such a fourth condition, when the unit amount of power supplied is reduced due to noise or a slight decrease in inspiratory intensity, the unit amount of power supplied can be rapidly increased, thereby improving the usability of the aerosol generating device 100.

3-2-6. Increasing the unit amount of power supplied.

In step S504, the unit power supply amount increase may be an increase from zero to a unit power supply amount having a certain amount. This increase may be gradual, and for example, the unit power delivered can be gradually increased from zero to the first unit power delivered, and then from the first unit power delivered to a second unit power delivered that is greater than the first unit power delivered.

The increase in the unit amount of power supplied in step S514 may be an increase from zero to a unit amount of power supplied, which has the amount that is increased in step S504.

- 14 041132

3-2-7. Reducing the unit amount of power supplied.

In step S510, the reduction of the unit power supply amount may be a decrease to zero from the unit power supply amount having a certain value.

3-3. Flowchart variation 500.

In addition, a variation of block diagram 500 is described.

Step S508 may be performed before step S506, or step S506 and step S508 may be performed simultaneously (in parallel).

Step S508 can be modified so that when the third condition is not met within a predetermined determination period from when the first condition is met, the process proceeds to step S510. This makes it possible to lower the unit amount of power supplied even when the third condition is not met, thereby avoiding a situation in which the power supply is not stopped.

Steps S504 to S510 may be replaced by steps S504' to S510' illustrated in FIG. 5V respectively. That is, the controller 130 may increase the unit power supply amount in step S504' and then determine in step S508' whether the third condition is met. If the third condition is met, the process proceeds to step S506', and if not, the process returns to step S508'. In addition, the controller 130 determines, in step S506', whether the second condition is met. If the second condition is met, the process may proceed to step S510' in order to lower the unit amount of power supplied, and if not, the process may return to step S506'. According to the variation illustrated in FIG. 5B, the controller 130 performs control to decrease the unit power supply amount when the second condition is met after the third condition is met, the third condition is different from the first condition and the second condition.

4. Third exemplary controller operations 130.

In FIG. 9 is a block diagram 900 illustrating third exemplary operations of controller 130.

4-1. Block diagram plan 900.

First, an outline of flowchart 900 is described.

In step S902, the controller 130 determines whether the fifth condition is met. If the fifth condition is met, the process proceeds to step S904, and if not, the process returns to step S902. In step S904, the controller 130 controls to increase the unit power supply amount.

In step S906, the controller 130 determines whether the sixth condition is met, the sixth condition is not met in a predetermined adjustment period from when the fifth condition is met. If the sixth condition is met, the process proceeds to step S908, and if not, the process returns to step S906. In step S908, the controller 130 performs control to lower the unit power supply amount.

4-2. Detailed description of block diagram 900.

The operations of flowchart 900 are described in detail below.

The example of the fifth condition in step S902 corresponds to the first condition described above, and the example of the sixth condition in step S906 corresponds to the dead period based condition described above with reference to the third condition. The predetermined adjustment period in step S906 is preferably equal to or longer than the control period (one stage is carried out for each one control period) of the controller 130. According to such a sixth condition, the condition for reducing the unit power supply amount is executed immediately after the condition for increasing the unit amount of power supplied, which avoids a situation in which power cannot be substantially infinitely supplied.

Steps S904 and S908 correspond to steps S504 and S510 of flowchart 500, respectively.

5. Fourth exemplary operations of the controller 130.

In FIG. 10 is a block diagram 1000 illustrating fourth exemplary operations of controller 130.

5-1. Flowchart plan 1000.

First, an outline of flowchart 1000 is described.

In step S1002, the controller 130 determines whether all of one or more of the conditions included in the first condition group are fulfilled. If all of one or more of the conditions are met, the process proceeds to step S1004, and if not, the process returns to step S1002. In step S1004, the controller 130 controls to increase the unit power supply amount.

In step S1006, the controller 130 determines whether all of one or more of the conditions included in the second condition group are met. If all of one or more of the conditions are met, the process proceeds to step S1008, and if not, the process returns to step S1006. In step S1008, the controller 130 performs control to decrease the unit power supply amount.

- 15 041132

5-2. Detailed description of block diagram 1000.

The following describes in detail the operations of flowchart 1000.

The number of conditions included in the first condition group may be less than the number of conditions included in the second condition group. This makes it more difficult to fulfill the conditions for reducing the unit power supply amount than the conditions for increasing the unit power supply amount, whereby the unit power supply amount is not easily reduced.

More specifically, each first condition group and second condition group may include at least one condition containing a common variable. This makes it possible to guarantee the certainty of increasing and decreasing a unit amount of power supplied. For example, the global variables may be based on the measured values of the breath sensor 106, allowing the power to be delivered to be controlled to reflect the user's intent in them. The condition including the common variable may be the condition that the absolute value of the common variable is equal to or greater than the threshold, greater than the threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, or less than the threshold, and the threshold in the condition including the common variable, which is included in the first condition group may be different from the threshold in the condition including the common variable that is included in the second condition group. At this point, the former threshold may be less than the later threshold. This allows the time point to be advanced from an increase in a unit amount of supplied power to a decrease in a unit amount of supplied power.

It should be noted that examples of one or more conditions included in the first condition group are the first conditions described above, and examples of one or more conditions that are included in the second condition group are the second conditions and third conditions described above. Steps S1004 and S1008 correspond to steps S504 and S510 of flowchart 500, respectively. One or more of the conditions included in the group of first conditions is not limited to the first conditions described above, and other conditions can be used in place of or in addition to the first conditions. Likewise, one or more of the conditions included in the group of second conditions is not limited to the second conditions and third conditions described above, and other conditions may be used instead of or in addition to these conditions.

6. Fifth exemplary controller operations 130.

In FIG. 11 is a block diagram 1100 illustrating fifth exemplary operations of controller 130.

6-1. Block diagram plan 1100.

First, an outline of flowchart 1100 is described.

In step S1102, the controller 130 determines whether the seventh condition is met. If the seventh condition is met, the process proceeds to step S1104, and if not, the process returns to step S1102. In step S1104, the controller 130 controls to increase the unit power supply amount.

In step S1106, the controller 130 determines whether the eighth condition is stricter than the seventh condition. If the eighth condition is met, the process proceeds to step S1108, and if not, the process returns to step S1106. In step S1108, the controller 130 performs control to lower the unit power supply amount.

6-2. Detailed description of block diagram 1100.

The seventh condition in step S1102 may be a condition that is a necessary condition but not a sufficient condition of the eighth condition in step S1106. From another point of view, an example of the seventh condition may be the first condition described above, and an example of the eighth condition may be a combination of the second condition described above and the third condition. In order to fulfill such an eighth condition, it is necessary to fulfill a complex condition containing a combination of the second condition and the third condition. It is more difficult to fulfill the conditions for reducing the unit power supply amount than the conditions for increasing the unit power supply amount, whereby the unit power supply amount is not easily reduced. The difference in severity between the seventh condition and the eighth condition should not be construed as being limited by the description given. For example, when the probability that the eighth condition is met is lower than the probability that the seventh condition is met, the eighth condition can be said to be stricter than the seventh condition. For example, when the eighth condition is not met at the same time even when the seventh condition is met, the eighth condition can be said to be stricter than the seventh condition.

Steps S1104 and S1108 correspond to steps S504 and S510 of flowchart 500, respectively.

7. Sixth exemplary controller operations 130.

In FIG. 12 is a block diagram 1200 illustrating sixth exemplary operations of controller 130.

7-1. Block diagram plan 1200.

First, an outline of flowchart 1200 is described.

In step S1202, the controller 130 obtains the measured values of the breath sensor 106, which

- 16 041132 are the measured values representing the first physical quantities for power supply control. In step S1204, the controller 130 stores the changes in measured values representing the first physical quantities, i.e. profiles. In step S1206, the controller 130 controls the input power by controlling the second physical quantities that are different from the first physical quantities based on the acquired measured values representing the first physical quantities and at least a portion of the stored measured value profiles representing the first physical quantities. Examples of the second physical quantities are current values associated with supplied power, voltage values, current values, and the like.

7-2. Detailed description of block diagram 1200.

The operations of flowchart 1200 are described in detail below.

7-2-1. Saving a measured value profile.

Examples of storing measured value profiles representing the first physical quantities for power supply control in step S1204 include storing, in the memory 140, both measured values representing the first physical quantities obtained in step S1202 and the time when measured values representing the first physical quantities. It should be noted that step S1202 is performed at least more than once. The controller 130 may store a profile of measured values representing the first physical quantities each cycle of the power source, including the period from when power is started to when power is stopped. That is, the controller 130 can store a measured value profile corresponding to the power source cycle.

7-2-2. Control of the power source based on the profile of stored measured values.

The controller 130 may determine a first profile and/or a second profile, the first profile is a measured value profile representing the first physical quantities to control the applied power, the profile corresponds to one power source cycle out of a plurality of recent power source cycles, each including a period from when start power supply until the power supply is stopped, and the second profile is a measured value profile representing the averaged first physical quantities obtained from the plurality of first profiles. The controller 130 may control at least one of stopping and maintaining the power supply based on at least one of the first profile and the second profile.

7-2-3. An example of power source control from the first point of view.

The controller 130 may determine the first required time required from the beginning to the end of changes in measured values representing the first physical quantities to control the applied power based on at least one of the first profile and the second profile. Changes in measured values representing the first physical quantities may start when the measured value representing the first physical quantities exceeds zero or a predetermined small value. Changes in the measured values representing the first physical quantities can be ended when the measured value representing the first physical quantities falls to zero or below a predetermined small value after the start of changes in the measured values representing the first physical quantities. The controller 130 may control the power supply so as to stop the power supply at a time earlier than the first required time has elapsed. In other words, the controller 130 may control the supplied power so as to continue supplying power for a shorter time than the first required time.

Alternatively, controller 130 may determine a second required time required from the onset of changes in measured values representing the first physical quantities until the measured value reaches a maximum value based on at least one of the first profile and the second profile. The controller 130 may control the power supply so as to stop the power supply at a time later than the second required time has elapsed. In other words, the controller 130 can control the power supplied so as to continue to supply power for a longer time than the second required time.

It should be noted that the controller may determine both the first required time and the second required time. In this case, the controller 130 may control the power supply so as to stop the power supply at a time earlier than the first required time elapses and a time later than the second required time elapses. In other words, the controller 130 can control the power supplied so as to continue to supply power for a shorter time than the first required time and for a longer time than the second required time.

7-2-4. An example of power source control from the second point of view.

The controller 130 can be configured to execute a variety of algorithms to set the point in time when the power supply is stopped or the period of time in which

- 17 041132 power continues to be supplied, based on the plurality of feature point types in the first profile or the second profile. With respect to the first feature point, which is one type of feature points from a plurality of types, the first feature point plurality may be obtained from the first profile plurality or the second feature plurality, whereby the controller 130 may execute one of the first algorithm based on the first feature points based on deviations among the plurality of feature points; and a second algorithm based on the second feature point, which is of a different type from the plurality of feature point types. Variances among feature points can be deviations among measured values representing the first physical quantities at feature points, or deviations among times of feature points, i.e., measurement times of measured values at feature points with reference to any time, for example, time when changes begin in the measured values representing the first physical quantities.

More specifically, the controller 130 may execute the first algorithm when the variance-based values among the plurality of first feature points are less than or equal to a threshold. The variance-based values include the mean (standard deviation) of the absolute values of the variance set, the mean of the square of the variance set (variance), and the square root (standard deviation) of the average of the square of the variance set.

An example of a feature point of one type among the plurality of feature point types is the point where the first profile or the second profile ends, that is, the end point. Another example of a feature point of one type among the plurality of feature point types is the point at which the measured value representing the first physical quantity in the first profile or the second profile becomes the maximum. The number of possible measurement times of the measured value (maximum value) representing the first physical quantity in the later feature point type will be greater than that of the possible measurement times of the measured value (zero or a small value) representing the first physical quantity of the former feature point type. The measurement time of the measured value representing the physical quantity in the later characteristic point type is later than the measurement time of the measured value representing the first physical quantity in the former characteristic point type. Also, the former feature point type will be after the later feature point type in the time series.

It should be noted that when the end point of the first profile or the second profile is used for the first feature point, and the point at which the measured value representing the first physical quantity in the first profile or the second profile becomes the maximum, the measured value of the first feature point is used for the second feature point. feature becomes less than the measured value of the second feature point. With respect to the properties of each of the first and second feature points, in the first profile and second profile, the number of points that can correspond to the first feature point (points where the measured value is less than or equal to zero or a small value in the power source cycle; usually occurs set of points) is usually larger than that of points that may correspond to the second feature point (points at which the measured value becomes maximum in the power source cycle; only one point is present in many cases, but many points are present if the maximum measured values are obtained sequentially). In other words, compared to the second feature point, it may be difficult, so to speak, to determine the first feature point in the first profile and the second profile.

7-2-5. An example of power source control from a third point of view.

The controller 130 may receive the current time when the power supply is stopped. The current point in time when the power supply is stopped may be the point in time that was obtained from the first profile or the second profile or stored in the memory 140 in the past when the power supply is stopped. The controller 130 may control the supplied power based on the current time when the power supply is stopped when the difference between the time when the power supply is stopped, which is obtained from the first profile or the second profile, and the current time when the power supply is stopped is less than or equal to threshold. If the controller 130 strictly uses the time when the power supply is stopped obtained from the first profile or the second profile, even when the difference between the time when the power supply is stopped obtained from the first profile or the second profile and the current time when the power supply is stopped , is minimal, the point in time when the power supply is stopped often changes, leading to difficult operation and thus causing an unnatural feeling to the user.

In other words, the controller 130 may receive the current time period in which power continues to be supplied. The current time period in which power continues to be supplied may be the time period that was obtained from the first profile or the second profile or stored in the memory 140 in the past where power is continued to be supplied. The controller 130 may control the supplied power based on the current time period in which power is continued to be supplied, when the difference between the time period which is obtained from the first profile or the second profile where power is continued to be supplied and the current time period in which power is

- 18 041132 must be served less than or equal to the threshold. If the controller 130 strictly uses the time period which is obtained from the first profile or the second profile where power is continued to be supplied, even when the difference between the time period which is obtained from the first profile or the second profile where power is continued to be supplied and the current time period in which the power continues to be supplied is minimal, the period of time in which the power is continued to be supplied often changes, leading to difficult control and thus causes an unnatural feeling to the user.

7-2-6. An example where a time point is set when power supply is stopped or a time period in which power is continued to be supplied.

Hereinafter, in the present description, an example in which a time point is set when power supply is stopped or a time period in which power is continued to be supplied will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, numeral 1310 indicates the tightening profile, numeral 1320 indicates the end point of change, and numeral 1330 indicates the maximum point of change. It should be noted that the tightening profile shown in FIG. 13 is envisaged as being based on the average measured values for input power control that are obtained over periods of several cycles, but is a simplified example for illustrative purposes. Hereinafter, the end point of change is the first feature point, and the maximum change point is the second feature point.

The controller 130 calculates the change end time t _end (i) with respect to any time, such as the change start time, for each period from when power is started to when power is stopped. Then, the controller 130 obtains an average value t _end _ _ave of a plurality of end times t _end (i) of changes, and calculates deviations (t _end _ _ave -t _end (i)) among the end times t _end (i) of changes each period. Then, the controller 130 calculates a value based on a plurality of deviations (t _end _ _ave -t _end (i)) and compares the value with a threshold, and when the value is equal to or less than the threshold, the controller 130 considers the value (measurement value for power supply control) 1340 to the puff profile 1310 at the point in time when a given value of At6 that is greater than or equal to zero is subtracted from the average value t _{end ave} of the plurality of end times t _end (i) of changes, as the third threshold Thre3 described above. On the other hand, when the value based on the set of deviations (t _{end ave} -t _end (i)) is not less than or equal to the threshold, the controller 130 considers the value 1360 obtained by subtracting the set value Av3, which is equal to or greater than zero, from the maximum value (maximum value of the measured values for power supply control) 1350, as the third threshold Thre3 described above. By setting the third threshold Thre3 as described above, the time point at which power supply is stopped or the time period at which power is continued to be supplied is indirectly set. It should be noted that examples of value based on the set of deviations (t _end _ _ave -t _end (i)) include standard deviation and mean deviation.

It should be noted that in the present embodiment, to set the point in time when the power supply is stopped or the period of time in which the power is continued to be supplied, the end point 1320 or the maximum point 1330 of the puff profile changes are used. Alternatively, the point in time when power is stopped, or the period of time in which power is continued to be supplied, can be set using both the endpoint 1320 and the maximum point 1330 of the puff profile changes. As an example, the point in time when the power supply is stopped can be provided between the end point 1320 and the maximum point 1330 of the puff profile changes. In other words, power can continue to be applied until any time between the end point 1320 and the maximum point 1330 of the puff profile changes.

8. Seventh exemplary controller operations 130.

Seventh exemplary operations are provided in the controller 130, which performs operations similar to the fifth exemplary operations. However, in the seventh exemplary operations, the seventh condition is the condition that the measured value from the power supply control breath sensor 106 is equal to or greater than the sixth threshold Thre6. In the seventh exemplary operations, the eighth condition is not necessarily stricter than the seventh condition, but the eighth condition contains a plurality of conditions, including the condition that the measured value for power supply control is less than the seventh threshold Thre7, which is greater than the sixth threshold Thre6. When all of the plurality of conditions are met, the process proceeds to step S1108.

In the seventh exemplary operations, the controller 130 stores the measured value profile for the input power control and updates one of the sixth threshold Thre6 and the seventh threshold Thre7 based on the stored measured value profile for the input power control. In other words, in the seventh exemplary operations, one of the sixth threshold Thre6 and the seventh threshold Thre7 is a constant value, and the other is an update value.

It should be noted that the sixth threshold Thre6 may correspond to the above-described first threshold Thre1 or the second threshold Thre2 as a constant value, and the seventh threshold Thre7 may correspond to the above-described third threshold Thre30 which is updated based on the saved

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Claims (14)

measured value profile to control the input power. 9. Eighth exemplary controller operations 130. The eighth exemplary operations are provided in the controller 130, which performs operations similar to the seventh exemplary operations. However, in the seventh exemplary operations, it is not necessary to store the measurement value profile for the input power control, and it is not necessary that one of the sixth threshold Thre6 and the seventh threshold Thre7 is a constant value. In the eighth exemplary operations, the controller 130 updates one of the sixth threshold Thre6 and the seventh threshold Thre7 with different rates than the other. In other words, in the eighth exemplary operations, the update rate of the sixth threshold Thre6 is different from that of the seventh threshold Thre7. It should be noted that the update rate of the sixth threshold Thre6 may be lower than that of the seventh threshold Thre7. The update rate of the sixth threshold Thre6, which is lower than that of the seventh threshold Thre7, includes a situation in which, while the sixth threshold Thre6 is a constant that is not updated, the seventh threshold Thre7 is updated. 10. Ninth exemplary operations of the controller 130. The ninth exemplary operations are provided in the controller 130, which performs operations similar to the sixth exemplary operations. In the ninth exemplary operation, the controller 130 stores a profile of measured values representing the first physical quantities to control the input power, the profile corresponds to a power source cycle including the period from when the power source starts to supply power to the time when the power supply is stopped, and controls the input power. in the Nth power source cycle based on the measured value profile, the profile corresponds to one or more power source cycles of the N-1st power source cycle and power source cycles before the N-1st power source cycle. It should be noted that N is a natural number of 2 or more. List of reference items: 100 - aerosol generating device, 102 - tank, 104 - atomizer, 106 - breath sensor, 108 - intake air flow path, 110 - aerosol flow path, 112 - wick, 114 - battery, 116 - mouthpiece element, 130 - controller, 135 - power controller, 140 - memory. CLAIM 1. Generating aerosol device that contains a power source configured to supply power in order to spray the aerosol source and/or heat the flavor source; a sensor configured to output a measured value for controlling the supplied power; and a controller configured to control the power supplied from the power source based on the measured value, the controller being configured to increase the amount of power supplied per unit time when the first condition that the measured value is equal to or greater than the first threshold is met, and to decrease the amount of power supplied by unit of time when the second condition is met that the measured value is less than the second threshold, and the third condition, wherein the second threshold is greater than the first threshold, and the third condition is the condition that the time derivative of the measured value is less than or equal to zero or less than or equal to the third a threshold that is less than zero; or a condition that the measured value falls below the second threshold after the measured value exceeds the fourth threshold, which is equal to or greater than the second threshold; or a condition that the predetermined dead period has elapsed since the first condition is met; or the condition that a predetermined time has elapsed since the output of the measured value becomes the maximum. 2. An aerosol generating device according to claim 1, in which the controller is configured to increase - 20 041132 Decreasing the amount of power supplied per unit of time when the time derivative of the measured value exceeds zero within a predetermined return period from the moment when the second condition and the third condition are met. 3. The aerosol-generating device of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to gradually increase the amount of power delivered per unit time from zero to a second amount of power delivered per unit time, and from the second amount of power delivered per unit time to a third amount of power delivered per unit time. unit of time that is greater than the second amount of applied power per unit time when the first condition is met, and increasing the amount of applied power per unit time from zero to the third amount of applied power per unit time when the time derivative of the measured value exceeds zero within a predetermined return period from the moment when the second condition and the third condition are met. 4. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the controller is configured to reduce the amount of power supplied per unit time when the condition that the measured value is less than the first threshold is met in the case where the third condition is not met within a predetermined determination period from when the first condition is met. 5. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the maximum value of the measured value every period from the moment when the power supply is started to the moment when the power supply is stopped, and update the fourth threshold based on the set calculated maximum values. 6. The aerosol generating device of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to update the fourth threshold based on an average value of a plurality of calculated maximum values. 7. The aerosol-generating device of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to update the fourth threshold based on a weighted average value of the plurality of calculated maximum values, and in calculating the weighted average value, more weight is assigned to the maximum value calculated for a more recent period from when the power supply is started until the moment when the power supply started in this way is stopped. 8. An aerosol-generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the maximum value of the measured value every period from the moment when the power supply is started to the moment when the power supply is stopped, updating the second threshold based on a plurality of calculated maximum values and updating the fourth threshold to be equal to or greater than the updated second threshold. 9. An aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the controller is configured to store changes in the measured value every period from when power is started to when power is stopped, updating the second threshold based on a plurality of stored measured values and updating the fourth threshold to be equal to or greater than the updated second threshold. 10. The aerosol generating device of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to update the second threshold based on changes in the plurality of stored measured values and based on a value obtained by subtracting the set value from an average value of the durations of changes in the measured values. 11. An aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the controller is configured to calculate at least one of a first required time from when the first condition is met to when the measured value reaches a maximum value and a second required time. time from when the first condition is met until the first condition is met, each period from when power is started to when power is stopped, and updating the dead period based on at least one of the plurality first required times and a set of second required times. 12. The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to update the dead period based on at least one of an average of a plurality of first required times and an average of a plurality of second required times. 13. The aerosol-generating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to update the dead period based on at least one of a weighted average of a plurality of first required times and a weighted average of a plurality of second required times, and when calculating the weighted average, a greater weight assigning at least one of the first required times and the second required times, which are calculated for a more recent period from the time when the power supply is started to the time when the power supply thus started is stopped. 14. An aerosol-generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the maximum value of the measured value every period from when power is started to when power is stopped, and updates -