JP7730367B2 - Suction device controller - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a controller for an aspirator.

Patent document 1 discloses an inhalation device equipped with a display (GUI).

US Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0304567

In an aerosol generating device (inhaler controller), when displaying information indicating a low remaining amount for each of the multiple elements used in the atomization process of the aerosol source, it is desirable from the perspective of user convenience to reduce power consumption while improving visibility.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an inhaler controller that is advantageous for achieving both reduced power consumption and improved visibility when displaying information indicating low remaining amount on a display.

To achieve the above objective, one embodiment of the present invention provides an inhaler controller for performing an atomization process in which an aerosol source is heated and atomized in response to a request to atomize the aerosol source, and includes a processor that determines whether each of multiple elements used in the atomization process is low in amount, and a display that can display information to notify each of the multiple elements that is low in amount, and the display is configured to display the information for one selected of the two or more elements, even if the processor determines that two or more of the multiple elements are low in amount.

In one embodiment, when the processor determines that two or more of the plurality of elements are low on charge, it selects one of the two or more elements in accordance with predetermined conditions regarding the priority of displaying the information on the display.

In one embodiment, the specified condition includes a condition that the element that takes the longest time to restore the remaining amount among the two or more elements is preferentially selected as the one element.

In one embodiment, the specified condition includes a condition that an element that is not visible to the user among the two or more elements is preferentially selected as the one element.

In one embodiment, the specified condition includes a condition that, among the two or more elements, an element that has a greater impact on the flavor of the gas generated by the atomization process is preferentially selected as the one element.

In one embodiment, the specified condition includes a condition that the element that was determined to be insufficient at the earliest timing among the two or more elements is preferentially selected as the one element.

In one embodiment, when the remaining capacity of one of the elements is restored, the processor displays on the display the information about another of the two or more elements instead of the information about the one element.

In one embodiment, the processor determines whether there is a shortage of remaining amount for each of the plurality of elements based on whether the number of times the atomization request can be satisfied with the current remaining amount is greater than or equal to a threshold.

In one embodiment, the threshold is set to different values for at least two of the plurality of elements.

In one embodiment, an atomizer is removably attached to the inhaler controller, the atomizer comprising a container for holding the aerosol source and a heater for heating the aerosol source in the container, and the plurality of elements include a first element which is a power source for supplying power to the heater and a second element which is the aerosol source in the container, and the second threshold, which is the threshold for determining whether the second element is low in amount, is set to a value smaller than the first threshold, which is the threshold for determining whether the first element is low in amount.

In one embodiment, a capsule containing a flavor source is removably attached to the inhaler controller, the plurality of elements further includes a third element which is the flavor source within the capsule, and the third threshold, which is the threshold for determining whether the third element is low in amount, is set to a value smaller than the second threshold.

In one embodiment, the inhaler controller has removably attached thereto an atomizer having a container for holding the aerosol source and a heater for heating the aerosol source in the container, and a capsule containing a flavor source, and the plurality of elements include at least two of a first element which is a power source for supplying power to the heater, a second element which is the aerosol source in the container, and a third element which is the flavor source in the capsule.

In one embodiment, the display is electronic paper.

The present invention provides an inhaler controller that is advantageous for achieving both reduced power consumption and improved visibility when displaying information indicating low remaining amount on a display.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar components are designated by the same reference numerals.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a configuration example of an aspirator according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of the configuration of an aspirator according to an embodiment; Schematic diagram showing a configuration example of an aspirator according to an embodiment. Schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the controller's electrical components FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of display of remaining capacity shortage information on the second display; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a processor operation mode. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display control process related to display control of a second display; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display control process related to display control of a second display; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display control process related to display control of a second display; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the number of times suction can be performed and the threshold value for each element. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of rewrite process #1 (exchange); FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of rewriting process #2 (charging); FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of rewrite process #3 (remaining amount); FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of rewrite process #3 (remaining amount); A diagram showing an example of the characteristics of each element A diagram showing an example of conditions for selecting one element FIG. 10 shows a first embodiment of rewriting the display content of the second display. FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of rewriting the display content of the second display.

The following embodiments are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention as claimed, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be combined in any desired manner. Furthermore, identical or similar configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.

An aspirator 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will now be described. Figures 1 to 3 show an example configuration of the aspirator 100. Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the aspirator 100, and Figure 2 shows an external view of the aspirator 100. Figure 2 shows a front view, a side view, and a perspective view of the aspirator 100. Figure 3 also shows a schematic diagram of the aspirator 100.

Inhaler 100 may be configured to provide a gas containing an aerosol, a gas containing an aerosol and a flavoring substance, or an aerosol, or an aerosol containing a flavoring substance, to a user through mouthpiece 130 in response to an action requesting atomization of the aerosol source, such as a user inhaling (hereinafter also referred to as an atomization request). Inhaler 100 may include an inhaler controller 102 and an atomizer 104. The atomizer 104 is removably held by a holder 103 provided on inhaler controller 102 and may be configured to atomize the aerosol source under the control of inhaler controller 102. The aerosol source may be a liquid, such as a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerin or propylene glycol. Alternatively, the aerosol source may contain a drug. The aerosol source may be a liquid, a solid, or a mixture of a liquid and a solid. A vapor source such as water may be used instead of the aerosol source. In the following description, the inhaler controller 102 may be simply referred to as the controller 102, and the atomizer 104 may be simply referred to as the cartridge 104.

The inhaler 100 may include a capsule holder 105 that removably holds a capsule 106 containing a flavor source 131. The capsule holder 105 is configured to engage (screw) with a cylindrical holding portion 103, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and is attached to the holding portion 103 with a cartridge 104 inserted therein. This prevents the cartridge 104 from falling out of the holding portion 103 of the controller 102 and maintains contact between the electrical contacts of the controller 102 and the cartridge 104. In other words, the capsule holder 105 may function as a locking mechanism for securing the cartridge 104 to the holding portion 103 of the controller 102. The flavor source 131 may be, for example, a molded product made from tobacco material. Alternatively, the flavor source 131 may be made from a plant other than tobacco (e.g., mint, herbs, Chinese medicine, coffee beans, etc.). The flavor source 131 may be provided with a flavoring such as menthol. The flavor source 131 may be added to the aerosol source. In this embodiment, the cartridge 104 and the capsule holder 105 are configured as separate bodies, but they may also be configured as an integrated body.

The controller 102 may include electrical components 110, including a battery (power source) BAT. The battery BAT may be a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery, or an electric double-layer capacitor such as a lithium-ion capacitor. The electrical components 110 may include a user interface 116. Alternatively, the controller 102 may be understood as including the electrical components 110 and the user interface 116. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the controller 102 has a window W on its outer surface, which is made of a light-transmitting material. This allows the user to visually check (confirm visually) the remaining amount of aerosol source in the cartridge 104 held by the holding portion 103 from the exterior of the controller 102 through the window W.

The user interface 116 may include, for example, an operation unit B that accepts user operations and provision units D1-D2 that provide information to the user. Operation unit B is, for example, a button switch (hereinafter sometimes referred to as button B), but other switches, touch displays, etc. may also be used.

The providing unit D1 is a display (display unit) for gradually displaying remaining charge information for the battery BAT, cartridge 104, and/or capsule 106, and may be referred to below as the first display D1. An OLED (organic light emitting diode, organic EL) may be used as the first display D1. In this embodiment, the first display D1 is provided between button B and the holding unit 103 on the outer surface of the controller 102, as shown in FIG. 2, but is not limited thereto and may be provided at any position on the controller 102. Furthermore, the controller 102 does not necessarily have to have the first display D1.

The providing unit D2 is a display (display unit) for displaying information to notify the user of low remaining capacity of the battery BAT, cartridge 104, and/or capsule 106, and may be referred to as the second display D2 below. The second display D2 may be a display that consumes power only to rewrite the displayed content, such as electronic paper (e.g., e-ink (registered trademark)). In this embodiment, the second display D2 is provided on the front of the controller 102 as shown in FIG. 2, but is not limited thereto and may be provided in any position on the controller 102.

The holding portion 103 of the controller 102 may include a first electrical contact 111 and a second electrical contact 112. When the cartridge 104 is held by the holding portion 103, the first electrical contact 111 of the holding portion 103 may contact a third electrical contact 113 of the cartridge 104, and the second electrical contact 112 of the holding portion 103 may contact a fourth electrical contact 114 of the cartridge 104. The controller 102 may supply power to the heater HT of the cartridge 104 through the first electrical contact 111 and the second electrical contact 112.

As described above, the cartridge 104 may include the third electrical contact 113 and the fourth electrical contact 114. The cartridge 104 may also include a heater HT for heating and atomizing the aerosol source, a container 125 for holding (accommodating) the aerosol source, and a transport portion (wick) 126 for transporting the aerosol source held by the container 125 to a region heated by the heater HT and for retaining the aerosol source in the heated region. At least a portion of the heated region may be disposed in a flow path 128 provided within the cartridge 104. The first electrical contact 111, the third electrical contact 113, the heater HT, the fourth electrical contact 114, and the second electrical contact 112 form a current path for passing current through the heater HT. The transport portion 126 may be composed of, for example, a fibrous material such as glass fiber, a porous material such as ceramic, or a combination of these. The means for transporting the aerosol source held in the container 125 to the heating region is not limited to a wick, and a spraying device such as a spray or a transporting means such as a pump may be used instead.

The capsule 106 is attached to the controller 102 (or cartridge 104) so that a portion of it is housed in a capsule holder 105 attached to the holding portion 103 of the controller 102, and another portion, including the mouthpiece 130, is exposed. A user can hold the mouthpiece 130 in their mouth and inhale the aerosol-containing gas or aerosol. By providing the mouthpiece 130 in this manner on a removable capsule 106, the inhaler 100 can be kept clean.

When a user holds the mouthpiece 130 in their mouth and inhales, air flows into the flow path 128 of the cartridge 104 through an opening (not shown), as illustrated by the dashed arrow in FIG. 3 . The heater HT heats the aerosol source, vaporizing and/or aerosolizing the aerosol source, which is then transported by the air toward the mouthpiece 130. During transport toward the mouthpiece 130, the vaporized and/or aerosolized aerosol source cools, forming minute droplets, which can promote aerosolization. In a configuration in which a flavor source 131 is provided, a flavor substance generated by the flavor source 131 is added to the aerosol, transported to the mouthpiece 130, and inhaled into the user's mouth. Because the flavor substance generated by the flavor source 131 is added to the aerosol, the flavor substance is efficiently transported to the user's lungs rather than remaining in the user's oral cavity.

Next, the configuration of the electrical components 110 of the controller 102 will be described. FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example configuration of the electrical components 110 of the controller 102. FIG. 4 also illustrates the heater HT of the cartridge 104 attached to the controller 102, with the connection between the first electrical contact 111 of the controller 102 and the third electrical contact 113 of the cartridge 104 indicated as "R _C+ " and the connection between the second electrical contact 112 of the controller 102 and the fourth electrical contact 114 of the cartridge 104 indicated as "R _C- ". FIG. 4 also illustrates the V _BUS terminal and GND terminal of a connector (e.g., a USB port) that is connected to an external power source (e.g., a charger), not shown. The V _BUS terminal and GND terminal are indicated as "V _BUS " and "GND," respectively, in the figure.

The electrical component 110 may include, for example, a battery BAT, a power supply unit that supplies power to the cartridge 104 (heater HT), a detection unit that detects the resistance value of the heater HT, and a current control unit that controls current flow to the heater HT in accordance with information obtained using the detection unit. The electrical component 110 may also include a detection unit that detects a user's operation and an atomization request, and a notification control unit that controls notification of information to the user. The heater HT has a resistance value R _HTR that changes depending on the temperature of the heater HT. The resistance value R _HTR may have a positive temperature coefficient characteristic (so-called PTC characteristic) that increases as the temperature of the heater HT increases, or a negative temperature coefficient characteristic (so-called NTC characteristic) that increases as the temperature of the heater HT decreases.

The power supply unit that supplies power to the heater HT may include a power supply circuit 11, a voltage converter 12, and a switch SW arranged on a power supply line from the positive terminal of the battery BAT to the heater HT. The power supply circuit 11 may include, for example, a charge IC, and outputs a voltage supplied from the positive terminal of the battery BAT from an output terminal. When an external power supply is connected, the power supply circuit 11 may also be configured to supply a voltage supplied from the external power supply via a V _BUS terminal to the battery BAT. The voltage converter 12 may include, for example, a DC/DC converter, and converts the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply circuit 11 into a heater drive voltage and outputs it. The heater drive voltage output from the voltage converter 12 is supplied to the connection portion R _C+ (first electrical contact 111, third electrical contact 113). On the other hand, since the connection portion R _C− (second electrical contact 112, fourth electrical contact 114) is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the battery BAT, a current path for flowing current to the heater HT can be formed between the output terminal of the voltage converter 12 and the negative terminal of the battery BAT. The switch SW includes, for example, a field-effect transistor (FET), and the opening and closing (off/on) of the switch SW can be controlled by the processor 10. The switch SW can be disposed on a line (current path) connecting the output terminal of the voltage converter 12 and the heater HT (connection portion R _C+ ), but is not limited thereto, and may also be disposed on a line connecting the heater HT (connection portion R _C− ) and the negative terminal of the battery BAT. The diode attached to the switch SW in FIG. 4 represents a body (parasitic) diode of the field-effect transistor.

The detection unit for detecting the resistance value R _HTR of the heater HT may include a shunt resistor R _shunt and an amplifier 13. The shunt resistor R _shunt has a characteristic that its resistance value hardly changes even when the temperature of the shunt resistor R _shunt changes. The amplifier 13 may include, for example, an operational amplifier having a non-inverting input terminal, an inverting input terminal, and an output terminal. The positive power supply terminal of the amplifier 13 may be connected to the output terminal of the voltage converter 12 via a switch SW and the shunt resistor R _shunt , and the negative power supply terminal may be connected to a ground line. The non-inverting input terminal of the amplifier 13 is connected to the connection portion R _C+ (first electrical contact 111), and the inverting input terminal is connected to the connection portion R _C- (second electrical contact 112). Therefore, the amplifier 13 may amplify the potential difference between the connection portion R _C+ and the connection portion R _C- , i.e., the voltage V _HTR generated across the heater HT, and output it as an output voltage V _AMP . This allows the processor 10 to calculate the temperature T _HTR of the heater HT based on the output voltage V _AMP of the amplifier 13. Specifically, the processor 10 calculates the resistance value R _HTR of the heater HT based on the output voltage V _AMP of the amplifier 13 and the amplification factor of the amplifier 13, and converts the resistance value R _HTR into the temperature T _HTR of the heater HT based on the temperature coefficient [ppm/°C] of the heater HT.

The power supply control unit that controls the power supply to the heater HT may include a processor 10. The processor 10 may be configured, for example, by an MCU (Micro Controller Unit), but may also be configured by an MCU and an analog circuit. The power supply terminal of the processor 10 is supplied with the output voltage of a voltage conversion circuit 14, such as an LDO (Low Dropout) regulator. The voltage conversion circuit 14 is a circuit that converts the output voltage of the power supply circuit 11 into a power supply voltage for the processor 10, etc. As described above, the processor 10 may calculate the temperature T _HTR of the heater HT based on the output voltage V _AMP of the amplifier 13, and may control the power supply to the heater HT by controlling the opening and closing of the switch SW based on the calculated temperature T _HTR of the heater HT.

The detection unit that detects user operation and atomization requests may include button B and puff sensor 15. Button B and puff sensor 15 are supplied with the output voltage of voltage conversion circuit 14. As described above, button B is provided on the outer surface of controller 102 as part of user interface 116, and when it detects a user operation (pressing button B), it supplies a detection signal to processor 10. Furthermore, puff sensor 15 includes, for example, a pressure sensor and a microphone capacitor, and when it detects a user puffing action (inhalation action), it supplies a detection signal to processor 10. Detection of a user operation (pressing action) using button B and/or detection of a puffing action using puff sensor 15 is a specific example of the above-mentioned atomization request.

The detection unit may also include a first sensor 26 that detects the presence or absence of the cartridge 104 and a second sensor 27 that detects the presence or absence of the capsule 106. The first sensor 26 and the second sensor 27 may be supplied with the output voltage of the voltage conversion circuit 14. The first sensor 26 and the second sensor 27 may be, for example, a photointerrupter, a proximity sensor, an RFID system, or a switch. The switch that detects the presence or absence of the cartridge 104 may be turned on (or off) by insertion of the cartridge 104 into the holding unit 103, and turned off (or on) by removal of the cartridge 104 from the holding unit 103. The switch that detects the presence or absence of the capsule 106 may be turned on (or off) by insertion of the capsule 106 into the holding unit 103 (capsule holder 105), and turned off (or on) by removal of the capsule 106 from the holding unit 103 (capsule holder 105).

The notification control unit, which controls the notification of information to the user, may include a first display D1, a second display D2, a vibration motor 16, and a light-emitting element 17. As described above, the first display D1 is, for example, an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) and displays information about the remaining charge of the battery BAT, cartridge 104, and/or capsule 106 in stages. The first display D1 is supplied with the output voltage of a voltage converter 18, such as a DC/DC converter. As described above, the second display D2 is, for example, an electronic paper display that consumes power only to rewrite the displayed content and displays information to notify the user that the battery BAT, cartridge 104, and/or capsule 106 is low in charge. The vibration motor 16 vibrates the controller 102 by rotating the shaft to which the vibrator is attached. The light-emitting element 17 is, for example, an LED (light-emitting diode) and notifies the user of information by lighting up or flashing. The light-emitting element 17 may be provided, for example, around the button B or in the window W. The notification control unit may include a first drive circuit 21 (first driver) that drives the first display D1, a second drive circuit 22 (second driver) that drives the second display D2, a third drive circuit 23 (third driver) that drives the vibration motor 16, and a fourth drive circuit 24 (fourth driver) that drives the light-emitting element 17. The first drive circuit 21 to the fourth drive circuit 24 operate using the output voltage of the voltage conversion circuit 14 and may be controlled by the processor 10.

The second display D2 of this embodiment is configured to display information (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "low remaining amount information") notifying a user of a low remaining amount of a selected one of multiple elements used in the atomization process of the aerosol source. Specifically, even if two or more of the multiple elements are determined to be low remaining amounts, the second display D2 is configured to display only the low remaining amount information for the selected one of the two or more elements. This configuration allows the area of the second display D2 to be reduced (suppressed), thereby reducing the power consumption of the second display D2 when rewriting (changing) the display content. Furthermore, because only the low remaining amount information for the selected one element is displayed large on the second display D2, user visibility can be ensured even if the area of the second display D2 is reduced. In other words, the configuration of the second display D2 of this embodiment achieves both reduced power consumption and improved visibility when displaying the low remaining amount information, thereby improving user convenience.

Here, the multiple elements used in the atomization process may include at least two of the following: a first element, which is the battery BAT (remaining charge) for powering the heater HT; a second element, which is the aerosol source (remaining charge) in the container 125 of the cartridge 104; and a third element, which is the flavor source (remaining charge) in the capsule 106. Below, the multiple elements will be described as including the first to third elements. Below, the first element may be referred to as the battery remaining charge, the second element may be referred to as the cartridge remaining charge, and the third element may be referred to as the capsule remaining charge.

Figure 5 shows an example of the display of low remaining amount information on the second display D2. The display on the second display D2 can be rewritten by the second drive circuit 22 under the control of the processor 10. Display example 5a in Figure 5 shows an example of the display when the remaining amounts of all of the multiple elements are sufficient (above a threshold). In this case, nothing is displayed on the second display D2. Display example 5b in Figure 5 shows an example of the display of low remaining amount information for the capsule 106 (flavor source). Display example 5c in Figure 5 shows an example of the display of low remaining amount information for the cartridge 104 (aerosol source). Display example 5d in Figure 5 shows an example of the display of low remaining amount information for the battery BAT. The second display D2 may also be configured to display information that the battery BAT is being charged by an external power source. Display example 5e in Figure 5 shows an example of the display of information indicating that the battery BAT is being charged.

Next, the operating modes of the processor 10 will be described. Figure 6 shows examples of the operating modes of the processor 10. The processor 10 may include, for example, an active mode 31, a sleep mode 32, an aerosol generation mode 33, and a charging mode 34 as its operating modes. Active mode 31 is a mode in which, in response to a user's atomization request, the heater HT can perform an atomization process (also called a heating process) to heat and atomize the aerosol source. Specifically, active mode 31 may be a mode in which the processor waits until an atomization request is received so that the atomization process can begin when the user's atomization request begins. In the active mode 31 state, for example, when the user begins inhaling through the suction mouthpiece 130 and begins receiving a detection signal from the puff sensor 15, the processor 10 transitions from active mode 31 to aerosol generation mode 33, assuming that an atomization request has begun. Aerosol generation mode 33 is a mode in which the heater HT is powered to perform an atomization process to generate aerosol. When the user's inhalation operation ends and the reception of the detection signal from the puff sensor 15 ends, the processor 10 determines that the atomization request has ended and transitions from the aerosol generation mode 33 to the active mode 31 .

When a period of no operation in active mode 31 reaches a predetermined time (e.g., 6 minutes), processor 10 transitions from active mode 31 to sleep mode 32. Sleep mode 32 is a mode that consumes less power than active mode 31. For example, when a user operation (pressing) of button B is detected, processor 10 transitions from sleep mode 32 to active mode 31. Furthermore, when connection of an external power source (charger) is detected in active mode 31 and/or sleep mode 32, processor 10 transitions to charging mode 34. Charging mode 34 is a mode in which battery BAT is charged. When removal of the external power source is detected, processor 10 transitions from charging mode 34 to sleep mode 32. Note that processor 10 may also transition from charging mode 34 to sleep mode 32 when charging of battery BAT is complete.

Next, display control of the second display D2 will be described in relation to the operating modes of the processor 10. Figures 7, 8A, and 8B show display control processing related to display control of the second display D2. The display control processing shown in Figures 7, 8A, and 8B is assumed to be initiated when the processor 10 is in sleep mode 32, and can be executed by the processor 10.

In step S101 of FIG. 7 , the processor 10 determines whether charging of the battery BAT from an external power source (charger) is to begin. For example, the processor 10 can determine that charging of the battery BAT is to begin when an external power source is connected to the connector (V _BUS terminal, GND terminal) of the controller 102. If the processor 10 determines that charging is to begin, the processor 10 proceeds to step S102, transitions from sleep mode 32 to charging mode 34, and begins charging of the battery BAT. Then, in step S103, the processor 10 executes rewrite process #2 (charging). Then, in step S104, the processor 10 transitions from charging mode 34 to sleep mode 32, and then proceeds to step S101. The rewrite process #2 (charging) is a process of rewriting the display content of the second display D2, and details of this process will be described later.

If it is determined in step S101 that charging will not be initiated, the process proceeds to step S105. In step S105, the processor 10 determines whether to perform startup in response to a user operation (manual). For example, the processor 10 can determine that startup will be performed when the user operates (presses) button B. If it is determined that startup will be performed, the process proceeds to step S106, where the process transitions from sleep mode 32 to active mode 31, and then the process proceeds to step S201 in FIG. 8A. On the other hand, if it is determined that manual startup will not be performed, the process proceeds to step S107.

In step S107, the processor 10 determines whether to automatically start the device. For example, the processor 10 may determine to automatically start the device at a predetermined interval, such as every few hours or every day, or may determine to automatically start the device when a predetermined time has passed since the last startup (manual or automatic). If it determines to automatically start the device, the process proceeds to step S108, where the device transitions from sleep mode 32 to active mode 31. The processor 10 then executes rewrite process #1 (replacement) in step S109, rewrite process #3 (remaining amount) in step S110, transitions from active mode 31 to sleep mode 32 in step S111, and then proceeds to step S101. Rewrite process #1 (replacement) and rewrite process #3 (remaining amount) each rewrite the display content on the second display D2, and their details will be described later. The order of steps S109 and S110 may be reversed.

In step S201 of Fig. 8A, the processor 10 determines whether charging of the battery BAT by an external power source (charger) will begin. For example, the processor 10 can determine that charging of the battery BAT will begin when an external power source is connected to the connector (V _BUS terminal, GND terminal) of the controller 102. If the processor 10 determines that charging will begin, the processor 10 proceeds to step S202, transitions from active mode 31 to charging mode 34, begins charging of the battery BAT, and then executes rewrite process #2 (charging). On the other hand, if the processor 10 determines that charging will not begin, the processor 10 proceeds to step S203.

In step S203, the processor 10 determines whether replacement of the cartridge 104 and/or capsule 106 has been detected. For example, the processor 10 can detect replacement of the cartridge 104 and/or capsule 106 based on the detection results of the first sensor 26 and/or the second sensor 27. The processor 10 can also detect replacement of the cartridge 104 and/or capsule 106 based on the output voltage _VAMP of the amplifier 13. When the cartridge 104 is removed or installed, the output voltage _VAMP of the amplifier 13 exhibits a predetermined fluctuation. Therefore, the processor 10 can detect that the cartridge 104 has been replaced when the output voltage _VAMP of the amplifier 13 exhibits a predetermined fluctuation. More specifically, when the cartridge 104 is installed, the amplifier 13 outputs the heater drive voltage divided by the shunt resistor _Rshunt and the heater HT as the output voltage _VAMP . When the cartridge 104 is removed, the amplifier 13 outputs the heater drive voltage as the output voltage _VAMP . The replacement of the capsule 106 can be detected in a similar manner. Specifically, when the capsule 106 is replaced, stress is generated between the first electrical contact 111 and the third electrical contact 113 and between the second electrical contact 112 and the fourth electrical contact 114, causing a change in the electrical resistance between the connection RC ₊ and the connection _RC- . This change in electrical resistance causes a predetermined change in the output voltage _VAMP of the amplifier 13. If replacement of the cartridge 104 and/or capsule 106 is detected, rewrite process #1 (replacement) is executed in step S204, and rewrite process #3 (remaining amount) is executed in step S205, after which the process proceeds to step S201. The order of steps S204 and S205 may be reversed. On the other hand, if replacement of the cartridge 104 and/or capsule 106 is not detected, the process proceeds to step S206.

In step S206, processor 10 acquires the remaining charge of each element used in the atomization process (remaining battery charge, remaining cartridge charge, remaining capsule charge). For example, processor 10 can determine the remaining battery charge, remaining cartridge charge, and remaining capsule charge as the number of times a puffing action (inhalation action) can be performed with each remaining charge (hereinafter, the number of inhalations possible). The number of inhalations possible may be understood as the number of times an atomization request can be satisfied with the current remaining charge. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, processor 10 can set the number of inhalations possible with the remaining charge of a fully charged battery BAT (100% remaining battery charge) as a reference number (e.g., 250 times), and subtract the number of puffing actions performed from that value to calculate the number of inhalations possible with the current remaining battery charge. The processor 10 can also calculate the number of puffs that can be performed with the remaining amount of the cartridge 104 immediately after replacement (100% remaining amount of cartridge) as a reference number (e.g., 250 puffs), and subtract the number of puffs from that number to determine the number of puffs that can be performed with the current remaining amount of cartridge. Similarly, the processor 10 can calculate the number of puffs that can be performed with the remaining amount of the capsule 106 immediately after replacement (100% remaining amount of capsule) as a reference number (e.g., 50 puffs), and subtract the number of puffs from that number to determine the number of puffs that can be performed with the current remaining amount of capsule. Next, in step S207, the processor 10 executes rewrite process #3 (remaining amount).

In step S208, the processor 10 acquires the remaining charge of the battery BAT as a voltage value using a power management circuit (not shown). Next, in step S209, the processor 10 determines whether the remaining charge (voltage value) of the battery BAT acquired in step S208 exceeds a lower limit. The lower limit is, for example, the lower limit of the voltage at which the battery BAT can be discharged (dischargeable voltage) or the lower limit of the voltage at which the heater HT can be heated, and is sometimes called the discharge end voltage. If the remaining charge (voltage value) of the battery BAT is equal to or less than the lower limit, the process proceeds to step S210, transitions to sleep mode 32, and then proceeds to step S101 in FIG. 7. On the other hand, if the remaining charge (voltage value) of the battery BAT exceeds the lower limit, the process proceeds to step S211.

In step S211, the processor 10 determines whether a user's atomization request has been initiated based on the detection of a user operation using button B and/or the detection of a puffing operation (inhalation operation) using the puff sensor 15. One atomization request may correspond to one press of button B. In this case, the request begins when the user starts pressing button B and ends when the user stops pressing button B. Alternatively, one atomization request may end when a certain amount of time has elapsed since the user started pressing button B. Alternatively, one atomization request may correspond to one puffing operation (inhalation operation). In this case, the request begins when the user starts puffing and ends when the puffing operation stops. If an atomization request has not been initiated, the process proceeds to step S212, where the processor 10 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the transition to sleep mode 32, i.e., whether the non-operation period has reached a predetermined time (e.g., six minutes). If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S210 . If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S211. On the other hand, if the atomization request is started in step S211, the process proceeds to step S213 in FIG. 8B.

In step S213, the processor 10 starts supplying power to the heater HT by controlling the opening and closing of the switch SW. In step S214, the processor 10 determines whether the user's atomization request has ended. If the atomization request has not ended, step S214 is repeated, and if the atomization request has ended, the process proceeds to step S215. Note that while step S214 is being repeated, power supply to the heater HT continues. In step S215, the processor 10 stops (ends) power supply to the heater HT by controlling the opening and closing of the switch SW. Next, in step S216, the processor 10 obtains the remaining amount of each element used in the atomization process (remaining battery amount, remaining cartridge amount, remaining capsule amount), and in step S217, executes rewrite process #3 (remaining amount). Step S216 is the same process as step S206, and therefore will not be described here.

In step S218, the processor 10 determines whether the remaining battery charge determined in step S216 (i.e., the number of inhalations possible with that remaining battery charge) is less than a threshold value TH _B (first threshold value). If the remaining battery charge is less than the threshold value TH _B , the battery BAT is considered to be insufficient, the process proceeds to step S210, the process shifts to sleep mode 32, and the process proceeds to step S101 in FIG. 7. On the other hand, if the remaining battery charge is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH _B, the process proceeds to step S219. In step S219, the processor 10 determines whether the remaining cartridge charge determined in step S216 (i.e., the number of inhalations possible with that remaining cartridge charge) is less than a threshold value TH _CT (second threshold value). If the remaining cartridge charge is less than the threshold value TH _CT , the aerosol source in the cartridge 104 is considered to be insufficient, the process proceeds to step S210, the process shifts to sleep mode 32, and the process proceeds to step S101 in FIG. 7. On the other hand, if the remaining cartridge charge is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH _CT, the process proceeds to step S220. In step S220, the processor 10 determines whether the remaining capsule amount (i.e., the number of puffs possible with that remaining capsule amount) calculated in step S216 is less than a threshold value TH _CP (third threshold value). If the remaining capsule amount is less than the threshold value TH _CP , the processor 10 determines that the remaining amount of flavor source in the capsule 106 is insufficient, proceeds to step S210, enters sleep mode 32, and then proceeds to step S101 in FIG. 7. On the other hand, if the remaining capsule amount is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH _CP , proceeds to step S201. Note that steps S218 to S220 may be performed in any order.

Here, the battery remaining capacity threshold TH _B , cartridge remaining capacity threshold TH _CT , and capsule remaining capacity threshold TH _CP are each defined as thresholds for the number of puffs that can be taken, and as shown in FIG. 9 , they can be set to values that correspond to their respective characteristics, i.e., different values from each other. Specifically, for the battery BAT, threshold TH _B can be set to a relatively high value (e.g., 30 puffs) because a low remaining battery capacity can accelerate degradation of the battery BAT's performance. For the cartridge 104, it is desirable to use it as much as possible, so threshold TH _CT can be set to a value smaller than the battery remaining capacity threshold TH _B (e.g., 15 puffs). For the capsule 106, it is desirable to use it as much as possible, compared to the cartridge 104, so threshold TH _CP can be set to a value smaller than the cartridge remaining capacity threshold TH _CT (e.g., 10 puffs).

Next, rewrite process #1 (replacement) will be described. Rewrite process #1 (replacement) is shown in Figure 10. As mentioned above, rewrite process #1 (replacement) is a process for rewriting the display content on the second display D2, and can be performed by the processor 10 controlling the second drive circuit 22.

In step S301, the processor 10 determines whether or not the user has started replacing the capsule 106. As described above, the processor 10 may determine whether or not replacement of the capsule 106 has started based on the detection result of the second sensor 27, or may determine this based on the output voltage V _AMP of the amplifier 13. If replacement of the capsule 106 has started, the process proceeds to step S302, and if replacement of the capsule 106 has not started, the process proceeds to step S306.

In step S302, the processor 10 prohibits the supply of power to the heater HT. Next, in step S303, the processor 10 determines whether the user has finished replacing the capsule 106. As described above, the processor 10 may determine whether the replacement of the capsule 106 has finished based on the detection result of the second sensor 27, or may determine this based on the output voltage _VAMP of the amplifier 13. If the processor 10 determines that the replacement of the capsule 106 has finished, the processor 10 proceeds to step S304, where it rewrites the display content of the second display D2 to erase the display notifying the user that the remaining amount of capsule 106 is low, and then in step S305, it cancels the prohibition of the supply of power to the heater HT. Thereafter, the processor 10 ends the flow.

In step S306, the processor 10 determines whether or not the user has started replacing the cartridge 104. As described above, the processor 10 may determine whether or not replacement of the cartridge 104 has started based on the detection result of the first sensor 26, or may determine this based on the output voltage _VAMP of the amplifier 13. If replacement of the cartridge 104 has started, the process proceeds to step S307, and if replacement of the cartridge 104 has not started, the process ends.

In step S307, the processor 10 prohibits the supply of power to the heater HT. Next, in step S308, the processor 10 determines whether or not the user has finished replacing the cartridge 104. As described above, the processor 10 may determine whether or not the replacement of the cartridge 104 has finished based on the detection result of the first sensor 26, or may determine this based on the output voltage _VAMP of the amplifier 13. If the processor 10 determines that the replacement of the cartridge 104 has finished, the processor 10 proceeds to step S309, where it rewrites the display content of the second display D2 to erase the display notifying the user that the cartridge 104 is low in amount, and then in step S310, it cancels the prohibition of the supply of power to the heater HT. Thereafter, the processor 10 ends the flow.

Next, rewrite process #2 (charging) will be described. Rewrite process #2 (charging) is shown in Figure 11. As mentioned above, rewrite process #2 (charging) is a process for rewriting the display content on the second display D2, and can be performed by the processor 10 controlling the second drive circuit 22.

In step S401, the processor 10 rewrites the display content of the second display D2 to notify the user that the battery BAT is being charged, as shown in display example 5e in Fig. 5 . Next, in step S402, the processor 10 determines whether charging of the battery BAT by the external power source (charger) has finished. For example, the processor 10 can determine that charging of the battery BAT has finished when the external power source is removed from the connectors (V _BUS terminal, GND terminal) of the controller 102. If charging of the battery BAT has not finished, step S402 is repeated. If charging of the battery BAT has finished, the processor 10 proceeds to step S403.

In step S403, the processor 10 rewrites the display content of the second display D2 to erase the notification that the battery BAT is being charged. Next, in step S404, the processor 10 acquires the remaining battery charge. The method of acquiring the remaining battery charge is as described above in step S206. In step S405, the processor 10 determines whether the remaining battery charge is less than the threshold value TH _B based on the remaining battery charge acquired in step S404. If the remaining battery charge is less than the threshold value TH _B , the process proceeds to step S406, where the processor 10 rewrites the display content of the second display D2 to notify the user that the battery BAT is low, as shown in display example 5d of FIG. 5, and then ends the process. On the other hand, if the remaining battery charge is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH _B , the process proceeds to step S407, where the processor 10 rewrites the display content of the second display D2 to erase the display notifying the user that the battery BAT is low, and then ends the process. If the notification of the insufficient remaining capacity of the battery BAT is not displayed on the second display D2, step S407 does not need to be performed.

Next, rewrite process #3 (remaining amount) will be described. Rewrite process #3 (remaining amount) is shown in Figures 12A and 12B. As mentioned above, rewrite process #3 (remaining amount) is a process for rewriting the display content on the second display D2, and can be performed by the processor 10 controlling the second drive circuit 22.

In step S501, the processor 10 determines whether the remaining battery charge is less than a threshold value TH _B. If the remaining battery charge is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH _B , the process proceeds to step S502, where the processor 10 sets the value of an element in the notification array for notifying that the remaining charge of the battery BAT is insufficient (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the battery element of the notification array) to "FALSE." On the other hand, if the remaining battery charge is less than the threshold value TH _B , the process proceeds to step S503, where the processor 10 sets the value of the battery element of the notification array to "TRUE."

In step S504, the processor 10 determines whether the remaining capsule amount is less than a threshold value TH _CP . If the remaining capsule amount is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH _CP , the process proceeds to step S505, where the processor 10 sets the value of an element in the notification array for notifying that the remaining amount of flavor source in the capsule 106 is insufficient (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the capsule element of the notification array) to "FALSE." On the other hand, if the remaining capsule amount is less than the threshold value TH _CP , the process proceeds to step S506, where the processor 10 sets the value of the capsule element in the notification array to "TRUE."

In step S507, the processor 10 determines whether the remaining amount in the cartridge is less than the threshold value TH _CT . If the remaining amount in the cartridge is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH _CT , the process proceeds to step S508, where the processor 10 sets the value of the element in the notification array for notifying that the remaining amount of the aerosol source in the cartridge 104 is low (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the cartridge element of the notification array) to "FALSE." On the other hand, if the remaining amount in the cartridge is less than the threshold value TH _CT , the process proceeds to step S509, where the processor 10 sets the value of the cartridge element in the notification array to "TRUE."

In step S510, the processor 10 determines whether one or more of the elements (battery BAT, cartridge 104, capsule 106) used in the atomization process have the value of the notification array set to "TRUE." If there is less than one element with the value "TRUE" set, the process ends; if there is one or more elements, the process proceeds to step S511.

In step S511, the processor 10 determines whether there is one element in the notification array whose value is set to "TRUE." If there is one element whose value is set to "TRUE," the process proceeds to step S512, where the processor 10 rewrites the display content of the second display D2 based on the notification array so as to notify the user of the insufficient remaining amount for the element whose value is set to "TRUE." On the other hand, if there are two or more elements whose value is set to "TRUE," the process proceeds to step S513.

In step S513, the processor 10 selects one element from among two or more elements set to "TRUE" in accordance with a predetermined condition. Next, in step S514, the processor 10 rewrites the display content of the second display D2 based on the notification array so as to notify the user of a low remaining amount for the one element selected in step S513. Here, the predetermined condition used to select one element in step S513 is a condition related to the priority for selecting one element (hereinafter referred to as the "target element") from among multiple elements for which to notify the second display D2 of a low remaining amount. The predetermined condition is explained below with reference to Figures 13 and 14. Figure 13 shows, for each of the battery BAT, cartridge 104, and capsule 106, the "number of puffs possible from 100% remaining," "time required to recover from 0% remaining to 100% remaining," and "whether or not the remaining amount can be visually confirmed." 14 also shows the priority order for each example condition as a predetermined condition among the battery BAT, the cartridge 104, and the capsule 106. Any one of the example conditions listed in FIG. 14 may be used, or two or more of the example conditions may be used in combination.

As shown in Example Condition 1 in FIG. 14, the specified condition may include a condition that, among two or more elements set to "TRUE," the element requiring the longest (longest) time to restore remaining charge is selected as the target element. In the following description, the time required to restore the remaining charge of the battery BAT, cartridge 104, and capsule 106 is used as the standard to compare the time required to restore the remaining charge of each of them. As shown in FIG. 13, the remaining charge of the battery BAT is restored by charging using an external power source, and the time required to restore from 0% to 100% (recovery time) is approximately 90 minutes. Meanwhile, the remaining charge of the cartridge 104 is restored by the user replacing the cartridge 104, which takes approximately one minute. Similarly, the remaining charge of the capsule 106 is restored by the user replacing the capsule 106, which takes approximately one minute. Therefore, in conditions related to the remaining charge restoration time, the priority may be set in the following order: battery BAT, cartridge 104, capsule 106. In condition example 1 of FIG. 14, the cartridge 104 is given a higher priority than the capsule 106 in consideration of ease of replacement.

The predetermined condition may include a condition that, among two or more elements for which the value "TRUE" is set, elements whose remaining charge is not visible to the user from the exterior of the controller 102 are preferentially selected as target elements, as shown in condition example 2 in FIG. 14. As shown in FIG. 13, for the cartridge 104, the user can visually confirm (check) the remaining charge of the aerosol source through a window W provided on the exterior surface of the controller 102. Therefore, in the condition regarding visibility, a higher priority may be set for elements other than the cartridge 104 (battery BAT, capsule 106) whose remaining charge is visible to the user through the window W. The predetermined condition may also be a combination of condition example 1 regarding the recovery time of the remaining charge and condition example 2 regarding visibility. In this case, as shown in condition example 3 in FIG. 14, the priority may be set in the order of battery BAT, capsule 106, and cartridge 104.

As shown in Condition Example 4 of FIG. 14, the predetermined condition may include a condition that, among two or more elements set to "TRUE," the element that has the highest (highest) impact on the flavor of the gas generated by the nebulization process is selected as the target element. For example, the impact on the flavor of the gas generated by the nebulization process is greatest for a lack of aerosol source in the cartridge 104, followed by a lack of flavor source in the capsule 106. Therefore, in the condition regarding the impact on the flavor, the priority may be set in the following order: cartridge 104, capsule 106, and battery BAT. Furthermore, as shown in Condition Example 5 of FIG. 14, the predetermined condition may include a condition that, among two or more elements set to "TRUE," the element that is determined to be low in remaining amount earliest (earliest) is selected as the target element. In Condition Example 5, the priority changes depending on the timing of the determination that the remaining amount is low, so the order of the elements is indicated by "?" in FIG. 14 for convenience. For example, if a shortage of the aerosol source in the cartridge 104 is determined first, a shortage of the flavor source in the capsule 106 is determined next, and a shortage of the battery BAT is determined last, and further, at the time when a shortage of the battery BAT is determined, a shortage of the aerosol source in the cartridge 104 and a shortage of the flavor source in the capsule 106 continue to be determined, the priority can be set in the order of cartridge 104, capsule 106, and battery BAT.

FIG. 15 shows Example 1 regarding rewriting of the display content of the second display D2. In Example 1 shown in FIG. 15, the initial state shows a state in which all elements (battery BAT, cartridge 104, capsule 106) have sufficient remaining amounts, i.e., a state in which the remaining amounts of each element are equal to or greater than a threshold value. In this initial state, the values of the notification array for all elements are set to "FALSE," and nothing is displayed on the second display D2. Subsequently, when only the remaining amount of the capsule 106 is insufficient, i.e., when the remaining amount of the capsule falls below the threshold value TH _CP , the value of the capsule element in the notification array is set to "TRUE," and the display content of the second display D2 is rewritten to notify the user that the remaining amount of the capsule 106 is insufficient.

When the remaining charge of the capsule 106 becomes sufficient (greater than or equal to the threshold TH _CP ) after replacing the capsule 106, the flag of the capsule element in the notification array is set to "FALSE," and the display content of the second display D2 is rewritten to erase the notification of the insufficient remaining charge of the capsule 106. Thereafter, when only the remaining charge of the battery BAT becomes insufficient, that is, when the remaining charge of the battery becomes less than the threshold TH _B , the value of the battery element in the notification array is set to "TRUE," and the display content of the second display D2 is rewritten to notify that the remaining charge of the battery BAT is insufficient.

FIG. 16 illustrates a second example of rewriting the display content of the second display D2. In the second example illustrated in FIG. 16, the initial state shows a state in which all elements (battery BAT, cartridge 104, capsule 106) have sufficient remaining charge, i.e., the remaining charge of each element is equal to or greater than the threshold value. In this initial state, the values of the notification array for all elements are set to "FALSE," and nothing is displayed on the second display D2. Subsequently, if the remaining charge of the battery BAT and the remaining charge of the capsule 106 become insufficient, i.e., if the remaining charge of the battery falls below the threshold value TH _B and the remaining charge of the capsule falls below the threshold value TH _CP , the values of both the battery element and the capsule element in the notification array are set to "TRUE." In this case, one of the battery BAT and the capsule 106 is selected as the target element according to the predetermined condition described above. As an example, when a condition regarding the recovery time of the remaining charge (condition example 1 in Figure 14) is adopted, the battery BAT is selected as the target element, and the display content of the second display D2 is rewritten to notify that the remaining charge of the battery BAT is low.

When the battery BAT is charged and the remaining battery charge becomes sufficient (greater than or equal to the threshold TH _B ), the value of the battery element in the notification array is set to "FALSE," so that the notification of the low remaining charge of the battery BAT is erased and the display content of the second display D2 is rewritten to notify of the low remaining charge of the capsule 106. After that, when the remaining charge of the capsule 106 becomes sufficient (greater than or equal to the threshold TH _CP ) by replacing the capsule 106, the value of the capsule element in the notification array is set to "FALSE," so that the display content of the second display D2 is rewritten to erase the notification of the low remaining charge of the capsule 106.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

a controller for an inhaler for performing an atomization process of heating and atomizing an aerosol source in response to receiving a request to atomize the aerosol source, the controller comprising:
a processor that determines whether or not each of a plurality of different elements used in the atomization process is insufficient;
a display capable of displaying information for notifying a user of a shortage of remaining amounts of each of the plurality of elements;
Equipped with
The inhaler controller is provided with an atomizer including a container for holding the aerosol source and a heater for heating the aerosol source in the container, and a capsule containing a flavor source is detachably attached thereto;
the plurality of elements includes at least two of a first element being a power source for powering the heater, a second element being the aerosol source within the container, and a third element being the flavor source within the capsule;
the display is configured to display the information about one selected element from the two or more elements even when the processor determines that two or more elements from the plurality of elements are low in amount. The inhaler controller of claim 1, wherein, when the processor determines that two or more of the plurality of elements are low in amount, it selects one of the two or more elements in accordance with predetermined conditions regarding the priority of displaying the information on the display. The inhaler controller of claim 2, wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition that, of the two or more elements, the element that takes the longest time to restore the remaining amount is preferentially selected as the single element. The inhaler controller according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition that an element that is not visible to the user is preferentially selected as the one element from among the two or more elements. The inhaler controller of any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the predetermined condition includes a condition that, of the two or more elements, an element that has a greater impact on the flavor of the gas generated by the atomization process is preferentially selected as the single element. A controller for an inhaler according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition that, of the two or more elements, the element that was determined to be low in remaining amount at the earliest timing is preferentially selected as the single element. The inhaler controller of any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that, when the remaining amount in one of the elements is recovered, the processor displays on the display the information about another element of the two or more elements instead of the information about the one element. The inhaler controller of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the processor determines whether the remaining amount is insufficient for each of the plurality of elements based on whether the number of times the atomization request can be satisfied with the current remaining amount is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The inhaler controller of claim 8, wherein the thresholds are set to different values for at least two of the multiple elements. 10. The inhaler controller according to claim 9, wherein the second threshold value, which is the threshold value for determining whether or not the second element is insufficient, is set to a value smaller than the first threshold value, which is the threshold value for determining whether or not the first element is insufficient. The inhaler controller according to claim 10, wherein a third threshold value, which is the threshold value for determining whether or not the remaining amount of the third element is insufficient, is set to a value smaller than the second threshold value. The inhaler controller according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the display is electronic paper.