Inhaler power source unit

Abstract

An inhaler power source unit, that supplies electric power from a power supply to a heater configured to heat an aerosol source is provided. The power source unit includes a control unit configured to control an operation of the power source unit, a housing configured to accommodate the power supply and the control unit, a panel configured to be detachably attached to a surface of the housing, and a detection unit configured to detect attachment or detachment of the panel to or from the housing. The control unit is configured to impose, in a case where the detection unit detects the detachment of the panel, a function restriction on a plurality of functions controlled by the control unit. The control unit has a plurality of operation modes, and contents of the function restriction are different for each operation mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inhaler power source unit, that supplies electric power from a power supply to a heater configured to heat an aerosol source, the power source unit comprising:
 a control unit configured to control an operation of the power source unit;   a housing configured to accommodate the power supply and the control unit;   a panel configured to be detachably attached to a surface of the housing; and   a detection unit configured to detect attachment or detachment of the panel to or from the housing,   wherein the control unit is configured to impose, in a case where the detection unit detects the detachment of the panel, a function restriction on a plurality of functions controlled by the control unit, and   the control unit has a plurality of operation modes, and contents of the function restriction are different for each operation mode.   
     
     
         2 . The power source unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising an operation button arranged in the housing,
 wherein in any of the plurality of operation modes, in a state in which the panel is detached, the control unit disables an operation of the operation button as the function restriction.   
     
     
         3 . The power source unit according to  claim 2 , further comprising a display unit,
 wherein the plurality of operation modes include a standby mode of standing by for detection of an unlock operation using the operation button while performing display by the display unit, and an aerosol generation mode of supplying electric power to the heater to generate aerosol, and   in a case where the unlock operation is detected in the state in which the panel is detached in the standby mode, the control unit does not transition to the aerosol generation mode as the function restriction.   
     
     
         4 . The power source unit according to  claim 3 , wherein in a case where the detection unit detects the detachment of the panel in the aerosol generation mode, the control unit prohibits supplying the electric power to the heater as the function restriction. 
     
     
         5 . The power source unit according to  claim 4 , wherein in a case where the detection unit detects the attachment of the panel within a predetermined time after prohibiting supplying the electric power to the heater, the control unit cancels the prohibition of supplying the electric power to the heater. 
     
     
         6 . The power source unit according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the plurality of operation modes further include a sleep mode of stopping the display by the display unit and standing by in a power saving state in a case where a non-operation state in which no user operation is performed on the power source unit continues in the standby mode for a predetermined time, and a pairing mode capable of executing paring for associating the power source unit with an external communication device, and   in a case where a pairing operation using the operation button is detected in the sleep mode in the state in which the panel is detached, the control unit does not transition to the pairing mode as the function restriction.   
     
     
         7 . The power source unit according to  claim 6 , wherein in a case where the detection unit detects the detachment of the panel in the paring mode, the control unit prohibits executing the pairing as the function restriction. 
     
     
         8 . The power source unit according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the plurality of operation modes further include an unlock setting mode capable of executing, in response to execution of an unlock setting operation using the operation button, setting of the unlock operation, and   in a case where the unlock setting operation using the operation button is detected in the state in which the panel is detached, the control unit does not transition to the unlock setting mode as the function restriction.   
     
     
         9 . The power source unit according to  claim 8 , wherein in a case where the detection unit detects the detachment of the panel in the unlock setting mode, the control unit prohibits executing the setting of the unlock operation. 
     
     
         10 . The power source unit according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the plurality of operation modes further include a charging mode of charging the power supply using an external power supply, and   even in a case where the detection unit detects the detachment of the panel in the charging mode, the control unit continues charging the power supply.   
     
     
         11 . The power source unit according to  claim 10 , wherein in the operation modes other than a sleep mode of stopping the display by the display unit and standing by in a power saving state, even in a case where the detection unit detects the detachment of the panel, the control unit continues the display by the display unit. 
     
     
         12 . The power source unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a setting unit configured to set contents of the function restriction on the plurality of functions.