Flavor inhaler or aerosol generation device, and operation method and program for same

Abstract

The present invention provides a flavor inhaler or similar configured such that when heating for generating a flavor or similar using power from a power supply is restricted, the restriction is not released if the remaining capacity of the power supply is insufficient. Provided is a device that is a flavor inhaler or an aerosol generation device comprising a heater that is configured to heat one or both of a flavor source and an aerosol source, a power supply that supplies power to the heater, and a control unit that is configured to restrict the heating by the heater when the remaining capacity of the power supply is insufficient, wherein the control unit is further configured such that, when the heating by the heater is restricted, the control unit releases the restriction on the basis of a prescribed condition being fulfilled after the start of charging of the power supply.

1 . A device that is a flavor inhaler or an aerosol generation device, comprising:
 a heater configured to heat a flavor source and/or an aerosol source;   a power supply for supplying electric power to the heater; and   a controller configured to restrict heating performed by the heater if a remaining quantity in the power supply is insufficient, wherein   the controller is further configured to remove, if the heating performed by the heater is restricted, the restriction based on a predetermined condition having been satisfied after a start of charging of the power supply.   
     
     
         2 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to perform, in response to a first predetermined manipulation applied to the device to start heating performed by the heater, a first determination with respect to whether the remaining quantity in the power supply is insufficient. 
     
     
         3 . The device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first determination includes:
 measuring the remaining quantity in the power supply; and/or   temporarily supplying electric power from the power supply to the heater to measure an operating voltage of the power supply.   
     
     
         4 . The device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to perform, in response to a second predetermined manipulation that is different from the first predetermined manipulation and is applied to the device, a second determination with respect to whether the remaining quantity in the power supply is insufficient. 
     
     
         5 . The device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein
 the controller is further configured to set, if it is determined that the remaining quantity in the power supply is insufficient, an insufficient-remaining-quantity state; and   the second determination comprises:
 determining whether the insufficient-remaining-quantity state has been set, 
 performing a measuring process if it is not determined that the insufficient-remaining-quantity state has been set, the measuring process comprising:
 measuring the remaining quantity in the power supply; and/or 
 temporarily supplying electric power from the power supply to the heater to measure an operating voltage of the power supply; and 
 
 omitting the measuring process if it is determined that the insufficient-remaining-quantity state has been set. 
   
     
     
         6 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition is a condition that the remaining quantity in the power supply has increased by a predetermined quantity or more with reference to the remaining quantity in the power supply that was measured before a start of charging of the power supply. 
     
     
         7 . The device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined quantity is a quantity that is sufficient to perform a determination with respect to whether the remaining quantity in the power supply is insufficient. 
     
     
         8 . The device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein
 the device is configured in such a manner that a base material comprising the flavor source and/or the aerosol source can be replaced, and   the predetermined quantity is a quantity that is sufficient for consuming at least one base material.   
     
     
         9 . The device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine, based on temperature of the power supply, the quantity that is sufficient for consuming the at least one base material. 
     
     
         10 . The device as recited in  claim 6 , configured to allow a user to set the predetermined quantity. 
     
     
         11 . The device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine, based on history of use of the device by a user, the predetermined quantity. 
     
     
         12 . The device as recited in  claim 6 , configured in such a manner that the predetermined quantity is rewritable. 
     
     
         13 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition is a condition that the power supply has been fully charged. 
     
     
         14 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition is a condition that a predetermined time or more has elapsed since a start of charging of the power supply. 
     
     
         15 . The device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine a type of an external device connected to the device for charging the power supply; and   determine the predetermined time based on the determined type of the external device.   
     
     
         16 . The device as recited in  claim 14 , configured in such a manner that the predetermined time is rewritable. 
     
     
         17 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein restricting by the controller the heating performed by the heater comprises restricting the heating so as to prevent the heater from starting the heating. 
     
     
         18 . A method performed by a controller in a device, the device being a flavor inhaler or an aerosol generation device, and comprising a heater configured to heat a flavor source and/or an aerosol source, and a power supply for supplying electric power to the heater, wherein the method comprises steps of:
 restricting heating performed by the heater if a remaining quantity in the power supply is insufficient; and   removing the restriction based on a predetermined condition having been satisfied after a start of charging of the power supply.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a controller in a device to perform steps, the device being a flavor inhaler or an aerosol generation device, and comprising a heater configured to heat a flavor source and/or an aerosol source, and a power supply for supplying electric power to the heater, wherein the steps comprises:
 restricting heating performed by the heater if the remaining quantity in the power supply is insufficient; and   removing the restriction based on a predetermined condition having been satisfied after a start of charging of the power supply.