JP7830604B2 - Power supply unit for suction device - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a power supply unit for a suction device.

A heated tobacco product or similar inhaler may include a base material containing an aerosol source and a flavor source, and a power unit that houses the base material and supplies power from a power source to a heater to heat the base material. The power unit is the part held by the user during use and may also include an operating section and a display section. Patent Document 1 discloses an aerosol supply system in which a removable component (panel) is attached to the surface of an assembly corresponding to the power unit.

Special Publication No. 2021-500032

It is common practice to restrict the functionality of a device if certain components, such as exterior parts, are removed, from a safety perspective.

However, failing to control function limitations according to the device's functions could impair user convenience.

Therefore, the present invention provides, for example, a power supply unit for a suction device that is advantageous in achieving both safety and user convenience.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a power supply unit for an aspirator is provided, which supplies power from a power source to a heater for heating an aerosol source, comprising: a control unit for controlling the operation of the power supply unit; a housing for housing the power source and the control unit; a panel detachably mounted on the surface of the housing; and a detection unit for detecting the attachment or removal of the panel from the housing, wherein the control unit is configured to impose functional restrictions on a plurality of functions controlled by the control unit when the removal of the panel is detected by the detection unit, the control unit has a plurality of operating modes, the content of the functional restrictions differs according to each operating mode, the plurality of operating modes include a charging mode in which the power source is charged using an external power source, and the control unit, when the panel is removed, does not transition to the charging mode as a functional restriction, and when the removal of the panel is detected by the detection unit in the charging mode, prohibits charging of the power source as a functional restriction.
In the following, some features of the invention described herein, separate from the above invention, will be described. These features are related to the invention described in the original claims of this application, and are not part of the invention described in the claims of this application.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a power supply unit for a suction device is provided, which supplies power from a power source to a heater for heating an aerosol source, comprising: a control unit for controlling the operation of the power supply unit; a housing for housing the power source and the control unit; a panel detachably mounted on the surface of the housing; and a detection unit for detecting the attachment or removal of the panel from the housing, wherein the control unit is configured to impose functional restrictions on a plurality of functions controlled by the control unit when the removal of the panel is detected by the detection unit, and the control unit has a plurality of operating modes, with the content of the functional restrictions differing according to each operating mode.

According to one embodiment, the housing further comprises operation buttons, and the control unit, in any of the multiple operating modes, disables the operation of the operation buttons as a function limitation when the panel is removed.

According to one embodiment, the system further includes a display unit, and the plurality of operating modes include a standby mode in which the display unit displays information and waits for detection of an unlock operation using the operation buttons, and an aerosol generation mode in which power is supplied to the heater to generate aerosols. The control unit, in the standby mode, does not transition to the aerosol generation mode when the unlock operation is detected while the panel is removed, as a functional limitation.

According to one embodiment, in the aerosol generation mode, if the detection unit detects that the panel has been removed, the control unit prohibits the supply of power to the heater as a function restriction.

According to one embodiment, after prohibiting the supply of power to the heater, the control unit releases the prohibition on power supply to the heater if the detection unit detects the installation of the panel within a predetermined time.

According to one embodiment, the plurality of operating modes further include a sleep mode in which the display unit stops displaying and the unit remains in a power-saving state when no user operation is performed on the power supply unit for a predetermined period of time in the standby mode, and a pairing mode in which pairing can be performed to associate the power supply unit with an external communication device. In the sleep mode, when the control unit detects a pairing operation using the operation buttons while the panel is removed, the control unit, as a functional limitation, does not transition to the pairing mode.

According to one embodiment, in the pairing mode, if the detection unit detects that the panel has been removed, the control unit prohibits the execution of the pairing as a function restriction.

According to one embodiment, the plurality of operating modes further include an unlock setting mode in which the unlock setting operation can be performed in response to an unlock setting operation using the operation button. When the control unit detects an unlock setting operation using the operation button while the panel is removed, it does not transition to the unlock setting mode as a functional limitation.

According to one embodiment, in the unlock setting mode, if the detection unit detects the removal of the panel, the control unit prohibits the execution of the unlock operation setting as a function restriction.

According to one embodiment, the plurality of operating modes further include a charging mode in which the power supply is charged using an external power supply, and the control unit continues charging the power supply even if the removal of the panel is detected by the detection unit in the charging mode.

According to one embodiment, in operating modes other than sleep mode, in which the display unit stops displaying and remains in a power-saving state, the control unit continues displaying even if the panel is detected to have been removed by the detection unit.

According to one embodiment, the system further includes a setting unit for setting the content of the functional restrictions on the aforementioned plurality of functions.

According to the present invention, for example, it is possible to provide a power supply unit for a suction device that is advantageous in achieving both safety and user convenience.

External perspective view of the suction device. Internal diagram of a suction device. A diagram showing an example configuration for mounting the outer panel. A diagram showing an example configuration for mounting the outer panel. A block diagram showing the functional configuration of the power supply unit. A diagram showing an example of the state transitions of a power supply unit. A flowchart illustrating an example of the power supply unit's operation in sleep mode. A flowchart illustrating an example of power supply unit operation in active mode. A flowchart illustrating an example of the power supply unit's operation in aerosol generation mode. A flowchart illustrating an example of the power supply unit's operation in pairing mode. A flowchart illustrating an example of the power supply unit's operation in charging mode. A flowchart illustrating an example of the power supply unit's operation in unlock setting mode. This diagram shows an example of a settings screen where you can select the operation of each function when the outer panel is removed.

The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention as defined in the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, identical or similar configurations will be given the same reference numeral, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

<Components of the suction device>
Figure 1 shows an example of the appearance of the suction device 100 according to the embodiment. The suction device 100 provides the user with a flavored aerosol, or a gas containing an aerosol and a flavoring substance, or an aerosol or an aerosol containing a flavoring substance, through the stick 110 in response to an action requesting an aerosol, such as a suction operation by the user (hereinafter also referred to as an "aerosol generation request"). Therefore, the suction device 100 may be understood as an aerosol generating device.

The inhaler 100 may consist of a power supply unit 101 and a stick 110. The stick 110 is, for example, a base material containing an aerosol source and a flavor source. The aerosol source may be a liquid, such as glycerin or a polyhydric alcohol such as propylene glycol. Alternatively, the aerosol source may contain a drug. The aerosol source may be a liquid, a solid, or a mixture of liquid and solid. A vapor source such as water may be used instead of the aerosol source. The flavor source may be, for example, a molded body made from tobacco material. Alternatively, the flavor source may consist of plants other than tobacco (e.g., mint, herbs, Chinese medicine, coffee beans, etc.). The flavor source may be flavored with menthol or other fragrances. The flavor source may be added to the aerosol source.

The power supply unit 101 may have, for example, a rounded, roughly rectangular shape that is elongated in the vertical direction of the page in Figure 1, and may be sized to be easily held in one hand by a user. The power supply unit 101 may include an outer panel (panel) 102, an action button B, and a slider 105.

The outer panel 102 is a flexible panel member that covers at least a portion of the front of the power supply unit 101. The outer panel 102 is a removable exterior component of the power supply unit 101 for replacement, and may be understood as a decorative panel. For example, multiple outer panels with different colors and patterns may be provided, allowing the user to replace it with their preferred outer panel. Furthermore, the outer panel 102 may be understood as an insulating panel that blocks heat generated inside the power supply unit 101, and may also be understood as a protective panel that protects the inside of the power supply unit 101 from impacts and compression during drops, etc.

The outer panel 102 has a display window 103. The display window 103 may be a strip-shaped window extending along the longitudinal direction (vertical direction within the paper) approximately in the center of the outer panel 102. The power supply unit 101 has a display D (display unit) (see Figure 2). The display D may include, for example, one or more LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes). The light emitted by these LEDs passes through the display window 103. The display D can, for example, display the battery level in a bar graph format.

Action button B is an operation button composed of a physical push button. Action button B is covered by the outer panel 102, but because the outer panel 102 is flexible, the user can operate action button B via the outer panel 102. When the user presses action button B via the outer panel 102, a corresponding signal is transmitted to the control unit, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the case where action button B, composed of a physical button, is covered by the outer panel 102 is described as an example, but other configurations are possible as long as user operation can be received. For example, instead of action button B, any other type of input device, such as a touch-sensitive surface or switch exposed from the outer panel 102, may be provided.

Furthermore, the outer panel 102 may be made rigid enough so that the user needs to use multiple fingers to press down on it in order to operate the action button B through the outer panel 102. This prevents, for example, accidental pressing of the action button B in a bag or unintentional user error. It also offers advantages in terms of preventing child tampering (child resistance).

The slider 105 is a cover member (shutter) slidably mounted on the top surface of the power supply unit 101 along the direction 105a indicated by the arrow. The slider 105 is configured to open and close the opening into which the stick 110 is inserted. Figure 1(a) shows the opening 106 covered by the slider 105. This state will also be referred to as "shutter closed" below. Figure 1(b) shows the opening 106 exposed when the slider 105 is slid forward. This state will also be referred to as "shutter open" below.

When the user uses the suction device 100 to aspirate an aerosol, they operate the slider 105 to open the shutter. Then, the user inserts the stick 110 into the opening 106. The inserted stick 110 is held by a tubular holding part 107 that communicates with the opening 106. The cross-section of the holding part 107 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction may be, for example, circular, elliptical, or polygonal, and its cross-sectional area may be configured to gradually decrease as it approaches the bottom surface. With this configuration, the outer surface of the stick 110 inserted into the holding part 107 is pressed from the inner surface of the holding part 107, and the stick 110 can be prevented from falling out by frictional force. The user can then perform an unlock operation using the action button B. When the unlock operation is performed, the lock on the power unit 101 is released, heating of the stick 110 begins, and it may become ready for aspirating. Once the device is ready for inhalation, the user can hold the mouthpiece at the tip of the stick 110 in their mouth and inhale the flavored aerosol. After finishing inhaling the aerosol, the user removes the stick 110 from the holder 107 and closes the slider 105 (shutter close).

Figure 2 shows an internal configuration diagram of the suction device 100. Note that the outer panel 102 is omitted in Figure 2. As described above, the power supply unit 101 communicates with the opening 106 and has a holding portion 107 for holding the stick 110. The power supply unit 101 may also include a heater H, electrical components E, and a user interface 116. The user interface 116 may be understood as being included in the electrical components E. The heater H constitutes a heating portion for heating the stick 110. The heater H may include, for example, a resistive heating component that heats the aerosol source within the stick 110 to generate an aerosol. As the resistive heating material for the resistive heating component, for example, a mixture of one or more of copper, nickel alloy, chromium alloy, stainless steel, and platinum-rhodium may be used. The heater H is positioned to surround the holding portion 107 and generates heat from the power supplied by the electrical components E. The heat from the heater H is transferred to the stick 110 via the holding portion 107, and the stick 110 is heated. The stick 110 may generate an aerosol when it is heated. The user interface 116 may include an action button B, a display D, and a vibration generating unit V. The vibration generating unit V may consist of a vibration motor (vibrator) for vibrating the housing of the power supply unit 101. By vibrating the housing with the vibration motor, the status of the power supply unit 101 can be notified to the user holding it.

When a user holds the mouthpiece at the tip of the stick 110 in their mouth and performs a suction action, air flows into the stick through an opening (not shown), as illustrated by the dashed arrow A. The heater H heats the stick 110, causing the vaporized and/or aerosolized aerosol source to be transported toward the mouthpiece by this air. During the process of transporting the aerosol source toward the mouthpiece, the vaporized and/or aerosolized aerosol source cools, forming tiny droplets, which can accelerate aerosolization. Furthermore, in configurations where the stick 110 also contains a flavoring source, flavoring substances generated from the flavoring source are added to the aerosol, thereby transporting the flavored aerosol to the mouthpiece and into the user's mouth.

In the above example, the heater H is shown to be built into the power supply unit 101. However, instead of the stick 110, the heater (atomizer), aerosol source, and flavor source may be provided in the form of a cartridge.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, an example configuration for attaching the outer panel 102 to the power supply unit 101 will be described.

Figure 3(a) shows the inner surface of the outer panel 102. Figure 3(b) shows the portion exposed on the front of the power supply unit 101 when the outer panel 102 is removed. The power supply unit 101 has a housing 101a that houses the power supply and electrical components (including the control unit described later), and an inner panel 202. In Figure 3(b), the inner panel 202 is positioned around the action button B so that the action button B is exposed, and is positioned to cover the front of the housing 101a. When the outer panel 102 is attached to the power supply unit 101, the inner surface of the outer panel 102 and the outer surface of the inner panel 202 face each other.

As shown in Figure 3(a), on the inner surface of the outer panel 102, a magnet 11 is positioned above the display window 103, a projection 12 is positioned below the display window 103, and further below that, magnets 13A and 14 are positioned. When the outer panel 102 is brought close to the inner panel 202 to be attached, the outer panel 102 is attracted to the inner panel 202 by the magnetic force (magnetic attraction) of magnets 11 and 14. This holds the outer panel 102 in place on the inner panel 202. The projection 12 is positioned opposite the action button B when the outer panel 102 is held on the inner panel 202, allowing the action button B to be pressed. A magnetic sensor 23A is positioned on the back side of the inner panel 202. Magnet 13A is configured as a magnetic field application part for the magnetic sensor 23A. The magnetic sensor 23A can detect the attachment of the outer panel 102 by detecting the magnetic force caused by the magnetic field applied from the magnet 13A.

As shown in Figure 3(b), a display window 25 is formed on the outer surface of the inner panel 202 above the action button B. A magnet 21A is positioned above the display window 25, and a magnet 24 is positioned below the action button B. A magnetic sensor 23A is positioned on the inner surface of the inner panel 202 (more precisely, on the substrate at approximately zero distance from the inner surface) between the action button B and the magnet 24. The magnetic sensor 23A forms a magnetic force detection area 26A, indicated by the dashed line, on the outer surface of the inner panel 202. The magnet 21A, display window 25, action button B, magnetic sensor 23A, and magnet 24 on the inner panel 202 correspond to the magnet 11, display window 103, projection 12, magnet 13A, and magnet 14 on the outer panel 102, respectively. In other words, when the outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 202, they are aligned and face each other.

The magnets 21A and 24 of the inner panel 202 can attract the magnets 11 and 14 of the outer panel 102, respectively, through their magnetic force (magnetic attraction). In other words, the inner panel 202 can hold the outer panel 102 because the magnets 11 and 21A, and the magnets 14 and 24, attract each other. Note that the magnets 11 and 14 of the outer panel 102 and the magnets 21A and 24 of the inner panel 202 may be made of permanent magnets.

The action button B, located in the center of the inner panel 202, is covered by the outer panel 102 when the outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 202. The user can press the action button B via the projection 12 on the outer panel 102 by pressing near the center of the outer panel 102. This allows, for example, switching the power of the suction device 100 on or off.

The magnetic sensor 23A detects the magnetic force based on the magnetic field applied from the magnet 13A on the outer panel 102. For example, the magnetic sensor 23A may be a Hall sensor using a Hall element. This allows for the detection of the outer panel 102 being attached to the inner panel 202. When the outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 202, light from the display D passes through the display window 25 of the inner panel 202 and the display window 103 of the outer panel 102.

The magnetic sensor 23A of the inner panel 202 is positioned to face the magnet 13A of the outer panel 102 via the inner surface of the inner panel 202 when the outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 202. In other words, the distance between the magnetic sensor 23A of the inner panel 202 and the magnet 13A of the outer panel 102 is minimized when the outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 202.

Furthermore, the magnetic sensor 23A of the inner panel 202 is configured not to detect the magnetic fields generated by the two magnets 21A and 24 of the inner panel 202. For example, the magnetic sensor 23A is positioned on the inner surface of the inner panel 202 at a distance from the two magnets 21A and 24 on the outer surface of the inner panel 202. This makes it possible to reduce the influence of the magnetic fields from these two magnets 21A and 24 on the magnetic sensor 23A to almost zero.

The distance between the magnetic sensor 23A and the magnet 24 (or magnet 21A) on the inner panel 202 may be configured to be greater than the distance between the magnet 13A and the magnetic sensor 23A when the outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 202. This allows the magnetic sensor 23A to appropriately consider only the magnetic field applied by the magnet 13A, without considering the influence of the magnetic field of the magnet 24, when detecting the attachment of the outer panel 102 to the inner panel 202.

In one example, the outer panel 102 may be configured such that the data measured by the magnetic sensor 23A differs depending on the type of outer panel 102 when it is attached to the inner panel 202. More specifically, the outer panel 102 is configured such that the magnitude of the magnetic force related to the magnet 13A in the magnetic field application section, as detected by the magnetic sensor 23A of the inner panel 202, differs depending on the type of panel.

For example, the outer panel 102 may be configured such that, when the outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 202, the distance between the magnet 13A, which is the magnetic field application part, and the opposing magnetic sensor 23A differs depending on the type of outer panel. In other words, the curved shape of the outer panel may be adjusted for each type of outer panel so that the height of the inner surface of the outer panel 102 differs depending on the type. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, generally, the magnitude of the magnetic force differs depending on the distance from the magnet (specifically, it is inversely proportional to the square of the distance). This allows for the use of a common magnet 13A in any type of outer panel 102, which is advantageous from a manufacturing perspective.

In other examples, the position of the magnet 13A may be offset along the inner surface of the opposing outer panel 102, depending on the type of outer panel. This allows the distance between the magnet 13A and the magnetic sensor 23A to vary depending on the type of outer panel. That is, the magnitude of the magnetic force detected by the magnetic sensor 23A can vary depending on the type of panel.

In further examples, the outer panel 102 may be configured such that the type of magnet 13A, which is the magnetic field application part, differs depending on the type of outer panel. The magnet 13A is, for example, a permanent magnet. More specifically, one of the following magnets—ferrite magnet, alnico magnet, cobalt magnet, and neodymium magnet—is selected depending on the type of outer panel. This allows the magnitude of the magnetic force detected by the magnetic sensor 23A to differ depending on the type of outer panel.

Figures 4(a) and 4(b) show configuration examples different from those in Figures 3(a) and 3(b). Figure 4(a) shows the inner surface of the outer panel 102. Figure 4(b) shows the portion exposed to the front of the power supply unit 101 when the outer panel 102 is removed. It is an external view of the outer surface of the inner panel 202. When the outer panel 102 is attached to the power supply unit 101, the inner surface of the outer panel 102 and the outer surface of the inner panel 202 face each other.

As shown in Figure 4(a), on the inner surface of the outer panel 102, a magnetic material 13B is positioned above the display window 103, a projection 12 is positioned below the display window 103, and a magnet 15 is positioned further below. The magnetic material 13B includes a circular base 11B and legs 12B extending linearly in the substantially longitudinal direction from the base 11B. The magnetic material 13B is made of a material that, when an external magnetic field is applied, becomes magnetized by the action of the magnetic field and applies a magnetic field. The magnetic material 13B is configured as a magnetic field application part for the magnetic sensor 23B (described later) of the inner panel 202. The magnetic material 13B may be made of, for example, a metal. More specifically, the magnetic material 13B may be made of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material that is a non-permanent magnet. Here, ferromagnetism refers to the property that, when an external magnetic field is applied, it becomes strongly magnetized in the same direction as the magnetic field, and a strong magnetism remains even when the external magnetic field is reduced to zero. Examples of ferromagnetic materials include iron, cobalt, and nickel. Paramagnetism, on the other hand, refers to the property of a material that, when subjected to an external magnetic field, becomes weakly magnetized in the same direction as the field, and loses its magnetism when the external magnetic field is removed. An example of paramagnetism is aluminum.

The magnetic material 13B is configured as a target part whose state changes (i.e., becomes magnetized) in response to the action of an externally applied magnetic field. In addition, the magnetic material 13B is configured as a magnetic field applying part that applies a magnetic field to the inner panel 202. Specifically, when the outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 202, the magnetic material 13B functions as a target part that receives the action from the magnet 21B of the inner panel 202. As a result, the magnetic material 13B becomes magnetized and then functions as a magnetic field applying part to the magnet 21B and magnetic sensor 23B of the inner panel 202. More specifically, the magnetic force based on the magnetic field generated and applied by the magnetic material 13B (especially the base portion 11B) allows the outer panel 102 to be attracted to and held by the inner panel 202. Furthermore, the magnetic sensor 23B of the inner panel 202 can detect the state of the leg portion 12B (i.e., the magnetic force based on the magnetic field from the leg portion 12B) in response to the magnetic field generated and applied by the magnetic material 13B (especially the leg portion 12B). This allows the power supply unit 101 to detect the installation of the outer panel 102.

As shown in Figure 4(b), a display window 25 is formed on the outer surface of the inner panel 202 above the action button B, a magnet 21B is positioned above the display window 25, and a magnet 27 is positioned below the action button B. A magnetic sensor 23B is also positioned on the inner surface of the inner panel 202 (more precisely, on the substrate at approximately zero distance from the inner surface) to the side of the display window 25. The magnetic sensor 23B forms a magnetic force detection area 26B, indicated by a dashed line, on the outer surface of the inner panel 202. The magnet 21B, magnetic sensor 23B, display window 25, action button B, and magnet 27 on the inner panel 202 correspond to the base 11B, leg 12B, display window 103, projection 12, and magnet 15 of the magnetic material 13B on the outer panel 102, respectively. In other words, when the outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 202, they are aligned and face each other. When the outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 202, the magnetic material 13B of the outer panel 102 is positioned to align with both the magnet 21B and the magnetic sensor 23B of the inner panel 202. More specifically, the base 11B of the magnetic material 13B of the outer panel 102 is positioned to align with the magnet 21B of the inner panel 202, and the legs 12B of the magnetic material 13B of the outer panel 102 are positioned to align with the magnetic sensor 23B of the inner panel 202. In particular, when the outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 202, the magnetic sensor 23B faces the legs 12B of the magnetic material 13B via the inner surface of the inner panel 202, minimizing the distance between the magnetic sensor 23B and the legs 12B of the magnetic material 13B.

The magnet 21B of the inner panel 202 is configured as an action part that generates a magnetic field. The magnetic force based on this field acts to magnetize the magnetic material 13B in the outer panel 102, thereby attracting the base 11B of the magnetic material. In other words, the base 11B of the magnetic material 13B and the magnet 21B attract each other through magnetic attraction, allowing the inner panel 202 to hold the outer panel 102.

The magnetic sensor 23B detects the magnetic force of the legs 12B of the magnetized magnetic material 13B on the outer panel 102. For example, the magnetic sensor 23B may be a Hall sensor, similar to the magnetic sensor 23A, using a Hall element. This allows for the detection of the outer panel 102 being attached to the inner panel 202.

The magnetic sensor 23B of the inner panel 202 is configured not to detect the magnetic fields generated by the two magnets 21B and 27 of the inner panel 202. For example, the magnetic sensor 23B is positioned on the inner surface of the inner panel 202 at a distance from the two magnets 21B and 27 on the outer surface of the inner panel 202. This allows the magnetic sensor 23B to be virtually unaffected by the magnetic fields from these two magnets 21B and 27.

The distance between the magnetic sensor 23B and the magnet 21B (or magnet 27) on the inner panel 202 may be configured to be greater than the distance between the magnetic material 13B and the magnetic sensor 23B when the outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 202. This allows the magnetic sensor 23B to appropriately consider only the magnetic field applied from the legs 12B of the magnetic material 13B, without considering the influence of the magnetic fields of the two magnets 21B and 27, when detecting the attachment of the outer panel 102 to the inner panel 202.

In one example, the outer panel 102 may be configured such that the data measured by the magnetic sensor 23B differs depending on the type of outer panel 102 when it is attached to the inner panel 202. More specifically, the outer panel 102 is configured such that the data regarding the magnetized magnetic material 13B detected by the magnetic sensor 23B of the inner panel 202 (i.e., the magnitude of the magnetic force detected by the magnetic sensor 23B) differs depending on the type of panel.

For example, when the outer panel 102 is attached to the inner panel 202, the distance between the legs 12B of the magnetic material 13B and the opposing magnetic sensor 23B differs depending on the type of outer panel 102. In other words, the curved shape may be adjusted for each type of panel so that the height of the inner surface of the outer panel 102 differs depending on the type. This allows for the use of a common magnetic material 13B in all types of outer panels 102, which is advantageous from a manufacturing perspective.

In other examples, the position of the magnetic material 13B may be offset along the inner surface of the opposing outer panel 102, depending on the type of panel. This allows the distance between the magnetic material 13B and the magnetic sensor 23B to vary depending on the panel type. In other words, the magnitude of the magnetic force detected by the magnetic sensor 23B can vary depending on the panel type.

The above describes an example configuration for attaching the outer panel 102 to the inner panel 202 using magnets, but it is not limited to this. Other configurations may be used as long as the outer panel 102 can be detachably attached to the inner panel 202 and the detachment/attachment status can be detected.

Next, with reference to Figure 5, an example of the functional configuration of the power supply unit 101 will be described. Note that each of the functional blocks described may be integrated or separated, and the functions described may be implemented in other blocks. Furthermore, what is described as hardware may be implemented in software, and vice versa.

The control unit 120 controls the operation of the power supply unit 101. The control unit 120 includes one or more processors and volatile memory; the processor may be, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microcontroller. The control unit 120 controls the overall functions of the suction device 100 by loading computer programs (also called software or firmware) stored in the memory into the memory and executing them. The memory unit 121 may be, for example, non-volatile memory. The memory unit 121 stores one or more computer programs, data describing control sequences (heating profiles) for controlling the heating unit 130, etc. The heating unit 130 is a functional unit that heats the stick 110 and is composed of the heater H described above.

The control unit 120 can control communication with an external communication device (pairing and normal connection). Furthermore, the control unit 120 can control the state transitions of the aspirator 100, as described later, in response to user operations on action button B or slider 105. The control unit 120 controls the supply of power from the battery 132 to the heating unit 130. The control unit 120 can initiate the supply of power from the battery 132 to the heating unit 130 in response to an aerosol generation request. For example, the control unit 120 controls the temperature of the heating unit 130 by adjusting the duty cycle of the control pulse using pulse width modulation (PWM). Note that the control unit 120 may use pulse frequency modulation (PFM) instead of PWM.

The input detection unit 122 detects, for example, an operation input to action button B. The input detection unit 122 also detects, for example, a user operation through pressing the outer panel 102, and outputs an input signal indicating the user operation to the control unit 120. Alternatively, the suction device 100 may detect the pressing of the outer panel 102 itself, instead of detecting the pressing of action button B.

The state detection unit 123 detects the open/closed state of the slider 105. The state detection unit 123 may be composed of, for example, a Hall sensor including a Hall element. The state detection unit 123 outputs a state detection signal to the control unit 120 indicating whether the slider 105 is open or closed. Furthermore, the state detection unit 123 may also detect the attachment/detachment state of the outer panel 102. Therefore, the state detection unit 123 may include, for example, the aforementioned magnetic sensor 23A or 23B. The state detection unit 123 may also output a state detection signal to the control unit 120 indicating the attachment/detachment state of the outer panel 102.

The suction detection unit 124 (puff sensor) can detect suction (puffing) of the stick 110 by the user. For example, the suction detection unit 124 may include a thermistor disposed near the opening 106. In this case, the suction detection unit 124 can detect suction based on the change in the thermistor's resistance caused by the temperature change resulting from the user's suction. Alternatively, the suction detection unit 124 may include a pressure sensor disposed at the bottom of the holding unit 107. In this case, the suction detection unit 124 can detect suction based on the decrease in air pressure caused by the airflow induced by the suction. The suction detection unit 124 outputs a suction detection signal to the control unit 120 indicating, for example, whether or not suction is occurring.

The light-emitting unit 125 includes one or more LEDs and a driver for driving the LEDs, and constitutes the display D. The light-emitting unit 125 causes each of the LEDs to light up according to instruction signals input from the control unit 120. The vibration unit 126 constitutes the vibration generating unit V described above. The vibration unit 126 may include a vibrator (e.g., an eccentric motor) and a driver for driving the vibrator. The vibration unit 126 vibrates the vibrator according to instruction signals input from the control unit 120. The control unit 120 may control at least one of the light-emitting unit 125 and the vibration unit 126 in any pattern to inform the user of some status of the suction device 100 (e.g., pairing status or removal of the outer panel 102). For example, the light-emitting patterns of the light-emitting unit 125 can be distinguished by elements such as the light-emitting state of each LED (always lit/flashing/off), flashing period, and light-emitting color. The vibration patterns of the vibrating unit 126 can be distinguished by factors such as the vibration state (vibration/stop) and the intensity of the vibration.

The communication interface 127 includes, for example, a communication circuit and an antenna, and is a communication interface for the suction device 100 to communicate wirelessly with an external communication device (e.g., a smartphone, personal computer, or tablet terminal owned by the user). The communication interface 127 may be an interface compliant with any wireless communication protocol, such as Bluetooth®, NFC (Near Field Communication), or wireless LAN (Local Area Network).

The connection interface 128 is a wired interface having terminals for connecting the suction device 100 to other external devices. The connection interface 128 may be a rechargeable interface, such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface. The connection interface 128 may also be used to charge the battery 132 from an external power source (charger) (via a power supply line not shown).

Battery 132 is a rechargeable battery (secondary battery), such as a lithium-ion battery. Alternatively, battery 132 may be composed of an electric double-layer capacitor, such as a lithium-ion capacitor. The charge indicator 133 may include an IC chip for monitoring the remaining power and other status of battery 132. The charge indicator 133 can periodically measure status values of battery 132, such as State of Charge (SOC), State of Health (SOH), Relative State of Charge (RSOC), and power supply voltage, and output the measurement results to the control unit 120.

<About the operating mode>
Referring to Figure 6, an example of the state transitions of the power supply unit 101 will be described. The control unit 120 has multiple operating modes. These multiple operating modes may include, for example, a sleep mode 61, an active mode 62, an aerosol generation mode 63, a charging mode 64, an unlock setting mode 65, and a pairing mode 66.

Sleep mode 61 is a state in which the operation of the control unit 120 is temporarily stopped, and the device is in a power-saving state with reduced power consumption. In sleep mode, the aspirator 100 is in a state where its main operations are suspended, and no power is supplied to the heater H. No display is shown on the display D. In other words, in sleep mode 61, the power supply unit 101 is locked, and the user cannot aspirate aerosols. In sleep mode 61, the control unit 120 can accept predetermined user inputs, and upon receiving the corresponding user input, it can transition to another mode corresponding to that user input. In the following description, sleep mode may also be referred to as the standby state. In this embodiment, sleep mode 61 may be entered by a "suspend" or "standby" method that maintains the contents of the memory of the control unit 120, or by a "hibernation" method that copies the contents of the memory of the control unit 120 to the storage unit 121 and enters a standby state. In sleep mode 61, other functions may be disabled, except for the function that detects user operation to the slider 105 or action button B, and the function that monitors the battery level.

In sleep mode 61, if, for example, the slider 105 is opened (the shutter is opened), the control unit 120 may transition to active mode 62. Active mode 62 may be a standby mode in which at least the display D is displayed and the system waits for detection of an unlock operation using the action button B. In active mode 62, if the slider 105 is closed (the shutter is closed) or if there is no user operation on the power supply unit 101 for a predetermined period of time, the control unit 120 may return to sleep mode 61, stopping the display D and remaining in a power-saving standby state.

In active mode 62, when an unlock operation is detected, the control unit 120 may release the lock state of the power supply unit 101 and transition to aerosol generation mode 63, which generates aerosols. The unlock operation may be, for example, a single press of action button B. However, as will be described later, the unlock operation can be changed by setting. For example, the unlock operation can be an operation in which action button B is repeatedly pressed a predetermined number of times (e.g., 3 times) within a predetermined time, an operation in which action button B is pressed and held for a predetermined time (e.g., 3 seconds), or a combination thereof. In aerosol generation mode 63, heating is performed by the heating unit 130 (i.e., power is supplied to the heater H), and the user can inhale the aerosol. Alternatively, the setting for the unlock operation may be disabled, and the system may transition to aerosol generation mode 63 in response to the detection of inhalation (puffing) by the user by the inhalation detection unit 124 (puff sensor). When suction is completed, or when the suction time reaches the specified upper limit (MaxLoadingTime), the control unit 120 may return to active mode 62.

When an external power supply (charger) is connected to the connection interface 128 in sleep mode 61 or active mode 62 (or aerosol generation mode 63), the control unit 120 transitions to charging mode 64, and the battery 132 is charged. When the external power supply is disconnected from the connection interface 128, or when the battery 132 is fully charged, the control unit 120 transitions to sleep mode 61.

In charging mode 64, when a predetermined operation is performed on, for example, action button B, the control unit 120 can transition to unlock setting mode 65. In unlock setting mode 65, the unlock operation is set. For example, the default unlock operation may be a single press of action button B. In unlock setting mode 65, the user can change this unlock operation to another operation. For example, the unlock operation can be set to any pattern, such as repeatedly pressing action button B a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time, pressing and holding action button B for a predetermined time, or a combination thereof. This makes it possible to enhance the security performance of the power supply unit 101. Once the setting is complete, the control unit 120 returns to charging mode 64. In this embodiment, the transition to unlock setting mode 65 is performed from charging mode 64, but the system may also be configured to allow transition to unlock setting mode 65 from operating modes other than charging mode 64.

When a predetermined pairing operation is performed in sleep mode 61, the control unit 120 may transition to pairing mode 66 for performing pairing with an external communication device. Pairing is a process that associates the power supply unit 101 with the external communication device, and can be performed, for example, in accordance with Bluetooth®. The pairing operation may be, for example, pressing action button B while the slider 105 is closed. In pairing mode 66, if pairing with the external communication device is successful, the control unit 120 registers the identification information of the paired device in the whitelist stored in the memory unit 121. If registration to the whitelist is successful, or if pairing fails, the control unit 120 may transition from pairing mode 66 to sleep mode 61.

<Power supply unit operation in each operating mode>
An example of the operation of the power supply unit 101 will be described with reference to Figures 7 to 12. This operation is controlled by the control unit 120.

Figure 7 shows the control flow in sleep mode 61. In sleep mode 61, the power supply unit 101 is in a standby state. In step S101, the control unit 120 determines whether the external power supply (charger) has been connected to the connection I/F 128 and whether charging of the battery 132 has started. If charging is detected, the control unit 120 proceeds to step S104, exits sleep mode 61, and transitions to active mode 62.

In step S102, the control unit 120 determines the open/closed state of the slider 105 based on the state detection signal from the state detection unit 123. If shutter open is detected, the control unit 120 proceeds to step S103, exiting sleep mode 61 and transitioning to active mode 62.

In step S105, the control unit 120 determines whether a pairing operation was performed by pressing action button B while the shutter was closed (NO in S102). If no pairing operation is detected, the process returns to step S101. On the other hand, if a pairing operation is detected, the control unit 120 transitions to pairing mode (step S107). However, in this embodiment, in step S106, the system confirms that the outer panel 102 is attached to the power supply unit 101 based on the output signal of the state detection unit 123 before proceeding to step S107 and transitioning to pairing mode. If the outer panel 102 is removed from the power supply unit 101 in step S106, the system does not transition to pairing mode as a functional limitation, and the process returns to step S101. The pairing operation in this case may be invalidated.

Figure 8 shows the control flow in active mode 62. Upon entering active mode 62, the control unit 120 acquires the battery level in step S201. For example, the control unit 120 can acquire the battery level based on the output voltage of the battery 132. Alternatively, the control unit 120 can acquire the battery level based on the number of puffs after charging is complete, as obtained from the suction detection unit 124. Alternatively, if the power supply unit 101 includes a management circuit for managing the battery 132, the control unit 120 can acquire the battery level based on the output from the management circuit.

In step S202, the control unit 120 determines whether the battery level exceeds a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold is a threshold used to determine whether operation in active mode 62 is permitted with respect to the battery level. More specifically, the predetermined threshold can be set as a predetermined lower limit of battery level at which even the generation of aerosol corresponding to, for example, N puff operations (e.g., N=1) is impossible. If the battery level is below the predetermined threshold, operation in active mode 62 is not possible. Therefore, in step S203, the control unit 120 provides notification via the display D and/or vibration generator V, and then, in step S204, returns to sleep mode 61.

If the battery level exceeds a predetermined threshold, the process proceeds to step S205. In step S205, the control unit 120 displays the battery level on the display D. Then, in step S206, the control unit 120 determines whether the conditions for returning to sleep mode 61 are met. These conditions may include, for example, the slider 105 being operated to close the shutter, or the period of inactivity exceeding a predetermined time. If these conditions are met, the control unit 120 transitions to sleep mode 61 in step S204.

If the conditions for returning to sleep mode 61 are not met in step S206, in step S207, the control unit 120 determines whether or not an unlock operation has been performed. If an unlock operation is detected, in step S208, the control unit 120 determines whether or not the outer panel 102 is attached to the power supply unit 101. If the outer panel 102 is attached to the power supply unit 101, the control unit 120 transitions to aerosol generation mode 63 in step S209.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the outer panel 102 has been removed from the power supply unit 101, in step S210, the control unit 120 provides notification via the display D and/or vibration generating unit V, and the process returns to step S201. That is, even if an unlock operation is detected while the outer panel 102 is removed, the system does not transition to aerosol generation mode 63 as a functional limitation. The unlock operation in this case may be invalidated. In this case, instead of returning to step S201, the system may transition to sleep mode 61.

The above is an overview of the operation in active mode 62. According to the control flow in Figure 8, if the outer panel 102 is removed, the system cannot transition to aerosol generation mode 63 even if an unlock operation is input. The unlock operation in this case may be invalidated. However, even if the removal of the outer panel 102 is detected in step S208, active mode 62 may be maintained, and the battery level display in step S205 may continue.

Note that the transition to charging mode 64 is omitted in the flow chart of Figure 8. As mentioned above, even in active mode 62, monitoring is performed to ensure that the external power supply (charger) is connected to the connection I/F 128. When the external power supply (charger) is connected to the connection I/F 128 in active mode 62, the battery 132 may also be charged.

Figure 9 shows the control flow in aerosol generation mode 63. Upon transitioning to aerosol generation mode 63, the control unit 120 first confirms in step S301 that the outer panel 102 is mounted on the power supply unit 101 (attached to the inner panel 202). If the outer panel 102 is mounted on the power supply unit 101, in step S302, the control unit 120 begins supplying power to the heater H by the heating unit 130. Power supply to the heater H can be controlled according to a predetermined control sequence (heating profile). After a preheating period in the heating profile, the aspirator 100 becomes ready for suction.

In step S303, the control unit 120 determines whether the aerosol generation termination conditions are met. These conditions may include, for example, the number of puffs since the device became inhalable (as determined by the suction detection unit 124) reaching a predetermined number, or the elapsed time since transitioning to aerosol generation mode 63. If the aerosol generation termination conditions are met, the process proceeds to S304, and the control unit 120 stops supplying power to the heater H. Subsequently, in S305, the control unit 120 transitions to active mode 62.

If, in step S301, it is determined that the outer panel 102 has been removed from the power supply unit 101, then in step S306, the control unit 120 provides notification via the display D and/or vibration generator V, and in step S307, it prohibits power supply to the heater H as a functional restriction. Subsequently, in step S308, the control unit 120 may determine whether the outer panel 102 has been attached to the power supply unit 101. While the outer panel 102 is not attached to the power supply unit 101, the determination in step S308 may be repeated for a predetermined time. If the predetermined time has elapsed (YES in step S310), in S311, the control unit 120 transitions to active mode 62. If it is detected that the outer panel 102 has been attached to the power supply unit 101 within the predetermined time, in step S309, the control unit 120 releases the power supply prohibition to the heater H as a functional restriction. The process then returns to step S301.

Although not shown in the diagram, in aerosol generation mode 63, as in active mode 62, battery level acquisition and display can be performed as needed. Even when the outer panel 102 is removed, the battery level display may continue without being prohibited.

Figure 10 shows the control flow in pairing mode 66. Upon entering pairing mode 66, the control unit 120 acquires the battery level in step S401. For example, the control unit 120 can acquire the battery level based on the output voltage of the battery 132. Alternatively, the control unit 120 can acquire the battery level based on the number of puffs after charging is complete, as obtained from the suction detection unit 124. Or, if the power supply unit 101 includes a management circuit for managing the battery 132, the control unit 120 can acquire the battery level based on the output from the management circuit.

In step S402, the control unit 120 determines whether the battery level exceeds a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold is a threshold used to determine whether operation in pairing mode 66 is permitted based on the battery level. More specifically, the predetermined threshold may be set as a predetermined lower limit of the battery level that prevents power shortage during the pairing process. If the battery level is below the predetermined threshold, operation in pairing mode 66 is not possible. Therefore, in step S403, the control unit 120 provides notification via the display D and/or vibration generator V, proceeds to step S413, and returns to sleep mode 61.

If the battery level exceeds a predetermined threshold, the process proceeds to step S404. In step S404, the control unit 120 displays the battery level on the display D. Then, in step S405, the control unit 120 determines whether the outer panel 102 is attached to the power unit 101. If it is determined that the outer panel 102 has been removed from the power unit 101, in step S406, the control unit 120 provides notification via the display D and/or the vibration generator V, proceeds to step S413, and returns to sleep mode 61. Thus, in this embodiment, if the removal of the outer panel 102 is detected in pairing mode 66, the control unit 120 prohibits the execution of pairing as a functional restriction. In this case, the control unit 120 exits pairing mode 66 and transitions to sleep mode 61. Furthermore, if it is determined that the outer panel 102 has been removed from the power unit 101 in pairing mode 66, the pairing operation that had been performed up to that point may be canceled.

If, in step S405, it is determined that the outer panel 102 is attached to the power supply unit 101, then in step S407, the control unit 120 performs a Bluetooth®-compliant pairing process with the external communication device. In step S408, the control unit 120 determines whether the pairing was successful or unsuccessful. For example, the control unit 120 may determine that pairing failed if a timeout occurred before pairing was completed, an error was notified from the external communication device, or a pairing cancellation operation was detected. Furthermore, if the control unit 120 detects that the outer panel 102 has been removed from the power supply unit 101 during the pairing process, it may interrupt the pairing and determine that pairing failed.

If pairing is determined to be successful in step S408, in step S409, the control unit 120 notifies the user of the successful pairing via the display D and/or vibration generator V. Then, in step S410, the control unit 120 determines whether the pairing cancellation conditions are met. Pairing cancellation conditions may include, for example, the slider 105 being operated to open the shutter, the action button B being pressed, a pairing cancellation request being received from an external communication device, or a predetermined period of inactivity exceeding a certain time. If the pairing cancellation conditions are met, in step S411, the control unit 120 disconnects the Bluetooth connection with the external communication device, and in step S413, transitions to sleep mode 61.

If pairing is determined to have failed in step S408, in step S412, the control unit 120 notifies the user of the pairing failure via the display D and/or vibration generator V. Then, in step S413, the control unit 120 transitions to sleep mode 61.

Figure 11 shows the control flow in charging mode 64. Upon entering charging mode 64, the control unit 120 acquires the battery level in step S501. For example, the control unit 120 can acquire the battery level based on the output voltage of the battery 132. Alternatively, the control unit 120 can acquire the battery level based on the number of puffs after charging is complete, as obtained from the suction detection unit 124. Alternatively, if the power supply unit 101 includes a management circuit for managing the battery 132, the control unit 120 can acquire the battery level based on the output from the management circuit. Then, in step S502, the control unit 120 displays the battery level on the display D.

In step S503, the control unit 120 determines whether an unlock setting operation has been performed. The unlock setting operation may be, for example, a combination of opening and closing the slider 105 and pressing the action button B a predetermined number of times in succession. If no unlock setting operation is detected, the control unit 120 determines in step S504 whether charging has finished. For example, charging may be determined to have finished when the external power supply (charger) is disconnected from the connection I/F 128, or when the battery 132 reaches a fully charged state. If it is determined that charging has not finished, the process returns to step S501. If it is determined that charging has finished, the control unit 120 transitions to sleep mode 61 in step S507.

In step S503, if a lock release setting operation is detected, in step S505, the control unit 120 determines whether the outer panel 102 is attached to the power supply unit 101. If the outer panel 102 is attached to the power supply unit 101, the control unit 120 transitions to the lock release setting mode 65 in step S506. If the outer panel 102 is not attached to the power supply unit 101, the control unit 120 does not transition to the lock release setting mode 65, and the process proceeds to step S504. That is, even if a lock release setting operation is detected while the outer panel 102 is removed, the control unit 120 does not transition to the lock release setting mode 65 as a functional limitation. The lock release setting operation may be invalidated. Furthermore, if the outer panel 102 is not attached to the power supply unit 101, notification to that effect may be provided.

Thus, in this embodiment, even if the removal of the outer panel 102 is detected in charging mode 64, charging of the battery 132 continues. However, transitioning to the unlock setting mode 65 while the outer panel 102 is removed is not permitted. In other embodiments, charging may also be prohibited while the outer panel 102 is removed.

Figure 12 shows the control flow in unlock setting mode 65. Upon entering unlock setting mode 65, the control unit 120 receives an input unlock operation pattern in step S601. As mentioned earlier, the unlock operation is the operation to transition from active mode 62 to aerosol generation mode 63. In step S601, for example, the control unit receives an unlock operation pattern input within a predetermined time (e.g., 20 seconds) after transitioning to unlock setting mode 65.

In step S602, the control unit 120 determines whether the outer panel 102 is attached to the power supply unit 101. If the outer panel 102 is attached to the power supply unit 101, in step S603, the control unit 120 stores the unlock operation pattern received in step S601 in the storage unit 121. Then, in step S605, the control unit 120 returns to charging mode 64.

If the control unit 120 determines in step S602 that the outer panel 102 is not attached to the power supply unit 101, in step S604, the control unit 120 discards the data of the unlock operation pattern entered in step S601. Then, in step S605, the control unit 120 returns to the charging mode 64. Thus, in this embodiment, if the removal of the outer panel 102 is detected in the unlock setting mode 65, the control unit 120 prohibits the execution of the unlock operation setting as a functional restriction, and the unlock operation patterns entered up to that point are canceled.

Although not shown in the diagram, in unlock setting mode 65, battery level acquisition and display can be performed in a timely manner, similar to active mode 62. Even when the outer panel 102 is removed, the battery level display may continue without being prohibited. Thus, in operating modes other than sleep mode 61, the control unit 120 can continue displaying on display D even when the removal of the outer panel 102 is detected.

The operation of the power supply unit 101 in each operating mode has been described above. In the above embodiment, in any of the multiple operating modes, the operation of action button B may be disabled when the outer panel 102 is removed. However, in each operating mode, if the removal of the outer panel 102 is detected, only the functions related to that operating mode may be restricted, and the operation of other functions may continue. For example, in active mode 62 (Figure 8), the battery level display is not stopped even if the outer panel 102 is removed. Also, in charging mode 64 (Figure 11), charging is not stopped even if the outer panel 102 is removed.

Furthermore, for functions that can be left to the user's choice, a tool may be provided to allow the user to make the selection. In this case, the control unit 120 can function as a setting unit for configuring the content of function restrictions for multiple functions. For example, in pairing mode 66, a setting screen as shown in Figure 13 may be displayed on the display unit of the paired external communication device, allowing the user to select whether or not to prohibit the operation of each function when the outer panel 102 is removed. In Figure 13, the shaded area indicates the user's selection results. The selection results for each function are stored in the storage unit 121. The control unit 120 can execute control when the outer panel 102 is removed according to the selection information stored in the storage unit 121.

According to the embodiment described above, the control unit 120 is configured to restrict the functions of multiple functions it controls when the removal of the outer panel 102 is detected. The control unit 120 has multiple operating modes, and the content of the function restrictions differs depending on the operating mode. This ensures user convenience. Furthermore, since heating by supplying power to the heater H is prohibited when the outer panel 102 is removed, safety is also ensured. Therefore, this embodiment provides a power supply unit for a suction device that is advantageous in achieving both safety and user convenience.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the invention's essence.

100: Suction unit, 101: Power unit, 102: Outer panel, 103: Display window, 105: Slider, 110: Stick, B: Action button

Claims (11)

A power supply unit for a suction device that supplies power from a power source to a heater for heating an aerosol source,
A control unit that controls the operation of the power supply unit,
A housing that houses the power supply and the control unit,
A panel that is detachably attached to the surface of the housing,
A detection unit for detecting the attachment or removal of the panel from the housing,
It has,
The control unit is configured to impose functional restrictions on multiple functions controlled by the control unit when the removal of the panel is detected by the detection unit.
The control unit has multiple operating modes, and the content of the function limitations differs depending on each operating mode.
The aforementioned plurality of operating modes include a charging mode in which the power supply is charged using an external power supply,
The control unit, when the panel is removed, will not transition to the charging mode as a functional limitation, and if the panel is detected as removed by the detection unit in the charging mode, it will prohibit charging of the power supply as a functional limitation.
A power supply unit characterized by the following features. The plurality of operating modes further include an aerosol generation mode that supplies power to the heater in order to generate an aerosol,
When the panel is removed, the control unit will not transition to the aerosol generation mode as a functional limitation, and when the removal of the panel is detected by the detection unit in the aerosol generation mode, the control unit will prohibit the supply of power to the heater as a functional limitation.
The power supply unit according to feature 1. The aforementioned housing is further equipped with operation buttons,
In any of the above operating modes, when the panel is removed, the control unit disables the operation of the operation buttons as a function restriction.
The power supply unit according to feature 2 . It also includes a display unit,
The aforementioned plurality of operating modes further include a standby mode in which the display unit displays information and waits for detection of an unlock operation using the operation buttons,
When the unlock operation is detected while the panel is removed in the standby mode, the control unit shall, as a function limitation, not transition to the aerosol generation mode.
The power supply unit according to feature 3 . The power supply unit according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the control unit, after prohibiting the supply of power to the heater, releases the prohibition on the supply of power to the heater if the detection unit detects the installation of the panel within a predetermined time . The aforementioned plurality of operating modes further include a sleep mode in which the display unit stops displaying and the unit remains in a power-saving state when there is no user operation on the power supply unit for a predetermined period of time in the standby mode, and a pairing mode in which pairing can be performed to associate the power supply unit with an external communication device.
When the control unit detects a pairing operation using the operation button while the panel is removed in the sleep mode, it will not transition to the pairing mode as a function restriction.
The power supply unit according to feature 4 . The power supply unit according to claim 6, characterized in that, in the pairing mode, if the detection unit detects the removal of the panel, the control unit prohibits the execution of the pairing as a function restriction. The plurality of operating modes further include an unlock setting mode in which the setting of the unlock operation can be executed in response to the unlock setting operation being performed using the operation button,
When the control unit detects an unlock setting operation using the operation button while the panel is removed, it will not transition to the unlock setting mode as a function restriction.
A power supply unit according to any one of claims 4, 6, or 7. The power supply unit according to claim 8, characterized in that, in the unlock setting mode, if the detection unit detects the removal of the panel, the control unit prohibits the execution of the unlock operation setting as a function restriction. The power supply unit according to any one of claims 4, 6 to 9, characterized in that, in operating modes other than sleep mode in which the display unit stops displaying and remains in a power-saving state, the control unit continues to display on the display unit even if the removal of the panel is detected by the detection unit. The power supply unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , further comprising a setting unit for setting the content of the functional restrictions for the aforementioned plurality of functions.