Inhalation component generating device, control circuit, and control method and control program of inhalation component generating device
Inventors
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12390606-B2
Publication Date
2025-08-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
An inhalation component generating device includes: a power supply; a load that evaporates or atomizes an inhalation component source by power from the power supply; and a control circuit that performs control based on an output of a temperature sensor. The control circuit performs: a process (a) of calculating power supply temperature on the basis of the output of the temperature sensor; and a process (b1) of determining whether the power supply temperature is in a first temperature range, and performing deterioration diagnosis on the power supply only in a case where the power supply temperature is in the range.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an inhalation component generating device that includes a power supply, a load configured to evaporate or atomize an inhalation component source by power from the power supply, and a controller configured to control the power supply based on an output of a temperature sensor. The controller performs deterioration diagnosis on the power supply when power supply temperature is in a first temperature range in response to detection of a generation request. When deterioration is detected, the controller stops charging or stops discharging the power supply.
The controller further performs quick charging at a rate that is two or more times that for charging of the power supply when the power supply temperature is in a second temperature range. The second temperature range is wider than the first temperature range and includes the first temperature range, while an upper limit temperature of the first temperature range is the same as an upper limit temperature of the second temperature range. This temperature-range arrangement supports faster charging while retaining deterioration diagnosis and protective stopping in response to deterioration detection.
The disclosed temperature-range constraints are also tied to deterioration-related conditions in the power supply, including electrode structure/composition change such as cracked gas and coagulation of an electrolytic solution or ionic liquid. In addition, charging hazards including electrocrystallization and metallic lithium deposition are linked to temperature ranges via upper/lower-limit relationships that constrain allowed charging/discharging. The disclosure also includes SOH-based diagnosis logic using measured or estimated battery voltage such as OCV and CCV at selected timings, and device architecture that includes detachable cartridge/power-supply units and optional charger circuitry with sensors.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes three independent claims (1, 15, and 20) that share the same core temperature-range logic. Across these claims, there are 5 main inventive feature elements that are consistently required: device structure with load/temperature-sensor-based control, deterioration diagnosis within a first temperature range during a generation request, quick charging at a rate at least two times higher within a second wider temperature range that includes the first, a shared upper limit temperature for the first and second ranges, and stopping charging or discharging in response to detected deterioration.
Temperature-sensor-based deterioration diagnosis and protective stopping
Perform deterioration diagnosis on the power supply in a case where power supply temperature is in a first temperature range in response to detection of a generation request of the inhalation component generating device; and in response to deterioration of the power supply being detected, stop charging or stop discharging the power supply.
Quick charging conditioned on a second wider temperature range
Perform quick charging at a rate that is two or more times that for charging of the power supply in a case where the power supply temperature is in a second temperature range that is wider than the first temperature range and that includes the first temperature range.
Shared upper-limit temperature between first and second temperature ranges
Wherein an upper limit temperature of the first temperature range is the same as an upper limit temperature of the second temperature range.
Inhalation component generating device architecture with load evaporating or atomizing
An inhalation component generating device comprising a power supply; a load configured to evaporate or atomize an inhalation component source by power from the power supply; and a controller configured to control the power supply based on an output of a temperature sensor.
The independent claims cover an inhalation component generating device (and a controller method) in which a temperature sensor output is used to diagnose power-supply deterioration when the power-supply temperature is in a first temperature range during a generation request, to enable quick charging when the temperature is in a second wider range that includes the first, while using a common upper limit between ranges and stopping charging or discharging upon detected deterioration.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Generation request operation of an inhalation component generating device using an inhalation component generating device architecture that performs battery deterioration diagnosis and quick charging based on power supply temperature ranges.
Interested in licensing this patent?