Inhalation device, power supply unit, and method

Abstract

An inhalation device appropriately ascertains the state of a power supply part and, in particular, quickly and reliably detects the state when a power supply abnormality has occurred during battery discharge. An inhalation device generates an aerosol and includes a heating part that atomizes an aerosol source, a power supply part that performs an operation that supplies power to the heating part, a sensor that detects a voltage value for the power supply part, a control part that determines the state of the power supply part on the basis of a total power supply count and a normal power supply count that are tallied in accordance with the power supply operation, the normal power supply count being tallied when the voltage value for the power supply part is at or above a prescribed voltage threshold value throughout the power supply operation, and a notification part that gives notification of the state of the power supply part.

1 . An inhaler for generating aerosol, comprising:
 a heater for atomizing an aerosol source;   an electric power source part for performing operation for supplying electric power to the heater;   a sensor for detecting a voltage value of the electric power source part;   a controller for judging the state of the electric power source part based on the total number of times of supply of electric power and the number of times of normal supply of electric power that are counted according to the electric power supplying operation, wherein the number of times of normal supply of electric power is counted in the case that the voltage value of the electric power source part is maintained to be that equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage threshold value through the electric power supplying operation; and   a notifier for notifying the state of the electric power source part.   
     
     
         2 . The inhaler as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the notifier notifies, based on the total number of times of supply of electric power, the states of the electric power source part in different modes. 
     
     
         3 . The inhaler as recited in  claim 1 , wherein, in the case that the total number of times of supply of electric power and the number of times of normal supply of electric power do not coincide with each other as a result that the number of times of normal supply of electric power was not counted, the controller judges the state of the electric power source part as electric-power-source abnormality. 
     
     
         4 . The inhaler as recited in  claim 1 , wherein, in the case that a difference between the total number of times of supply of electric power and the number of times of normal supply of electric power has reached a predetermined threshold number of times as a result that the number of times of normal supply of electric power was not counted plural times, the controller judges the state of the electric power source part as electric-power-source abnormality. 
     
     
         5 . The inhaler as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 the total number of times of supply of electric power and the number of times of normal supply of electric power are associated with each other, and   in the case that a difference between the total number of times of supply of electric power and the number of times of normal supply of electric power has reached a predetermined threshold number of times as a result that the number of times of normal supply of electric power was not counted plural times consecutively, the controller judges the state of the electric power source part as electric-power-source abnormality.   
     
     
         6 . The inhaler as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controller stores electric-power-source abnormality information in a memory in the case that the state of the electric power source part is judged as electric-power-source abnormality, and, in response to storing of the electric-power-source abnormality information, prohibits the electric power supplying operation of the electric power source part. 
     
     
         7 . The inhaler as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the controller further deletes the electric-power-source abnormality information stored in the memory, and, in response to deleting of the electric-power-source abnormality information, allows the electric power supplying operation that has been prohibited. 
     
     
         8 . The inhaler as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the controller deletes the electric-power-source abnormality information in response to an instruction from an external device connected to the inhaler. 
     
     
         9 . The inhaler as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the electric power supplying operation of the electric power source part is started in response to pressing of a power source switch by a user, and performed for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         10 . An electric power source unit used for an inhaler for generating aerosol, comprising:
 a heater for atomizing an aerosol source;   an electric power source part for performing operation for supplying electric power to the heater;   a sensor for detecting a voltage value of the electric power source part;   a controller for judging the state of the electric power source part based on the total number of times of supply of electric power and the number of times of normal supply of electric power that are counted according to the electric power supplying operation, wherein the number of times of normal supply of electric power is counted in the case that the voltage value of the electric power source part is maintained to be that equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage threshold value through the electric power supplying operation; and   a notifier for notifying the state of the electric power source part.   
     
     
         11 . The electric power source unit as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the notifier notifies, based on the total number of times of supply of electric power, the states of the electric power source part in different modes. 
     
     
         12 . The electric power source unit as recited in  claim 10 , wherein, in the case that the total number of times of supply of electric power and the number of times of normal supply of electric power do not coincide with each other as a result that the number of times of normal supply of electric power was not counted, the controller judges the state of the electric power source part as electric-power-source abnormality. 
     
     
         13 . The electric power source unit as recited in  claim 10 , wherein, in the case that a difference between the total number of times of supply of electric power and the number of times of normal supply of electric power has reached a predetermined threshold number of times as a result that the number of times of normal supply of electric power was not counted plural times, the controller judges the state of the electric power source part as electric-power-source abnormality. 
     
     
         14 . The electric power source unit as recited in  claim 10 , wherein
 the total number of times of supply of electric power and the number of times of normal supply of electric power are associated with each other, and   in the case that a difference between the total number of times of supply of electric power and the number of times of normal supply of electric power has reached a predetermined threshold number of times as a result that the number of times of normal supply of electric power was not counted plural times consecutively, the controller judges the state of the electric power source part as electric-power-source abnormality.   
     
     
         15 . The electric power source unit as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the controller stores electric-power-source abnormality information in a memory in the case that the state of the electric power source part is judged as electric-power-source abnormality, and, in response to storing of the electric-power-source abnormality information, prohibits the electric power supplying operation of the electric power source part. 
     
     
         16 . The electric power source unit as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the controller further deletes the electric-power-source abnormality information stored in the memory, in response to an instruction from an external device connected to the electric power source unit, and, in response to deleting of the electric-power-source abnormality information, allows the electric power supplying operation that has been prohibited. 
     
     
         17 . The electric power source unit as recited in  claim 10 , wherein
 the sensor comprises a puff sensor, and   the electric power supplying operation of the electric power source part is started in response to a start of a series of puff actions of a user, that is detected by the puff sensor, and continued until an end of the series of puff actions.   
     
     
         18 . A method for operating an inhaler for generating aerosol, comprising:
 a step for making an electric power source part perform operation for supplying electric power to a heater which atomizes an aerosol source;   a step for making a sensor detect a voltage value of the electric power source part;   a step for judging the state of the electric power source part based on the total number of times of supply of electric power and the number of times of normal supply of electric power that are counted according to the electric power supplying operation, wherein the number of times of normal supply of electric power is counted in the case that the voltage value of the electric power source part is maintained to be that equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage threshold value through the electric power supplying operation; and   a step for notifying the state of the electric power source part.   
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the step for notifying comprises notifying, based on the total number of times of supply of electric power, the states of the electric power source part in different modes. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the step for judging comprises judging the state of the electric power source part as electric-power-source abnormality, in the case that the total number of times of supply of electric power and the number of times of normal supply of electric power do not coincide with each other as a result that the number of times of normal supply of electric power was not counted.