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Publication Number
US-12433347-B2
Publication Date
2025-10-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention provides an aerosol generation system comprising: a controller for an inhalation device, the controller including a first power supply, a first connector, and a first processor configured to perform energization control of a heater which is used to heat an aerosol source, and a power supply device including a second power supply, a second connector which is connected to the first connector at the time of charging of the first power supply, and a second processor configured to perform control of power supply from the second power supply to the controller via the second connector, wherein a first voltage applied to a power supply terminal of the first processor and a second voltage applied to a power supply terminal of the second processor are different from each other.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an aerosol generation system for an inhalation device that includes an inhalation controller with heater energization control. The heater heats an aerosol source, and the controller performs heater energization control and heater temperature estimation based on heater temperature and heater resistance detection circuitry. The system uses a target heater temperature and feedback control to reach the target heater temperature during energization control.
The aerosol generation system coordinates power delivery between a controller and an external power supply device using different supply voltages for two processors. A first processor of the controller is supplied with a first voltage that enables the first processor to perform energization control, including heater temperature estimation, and a second processor in the power supply device is supplied with a second voltage that enables the second processor to perform control of power supply to the controller.
The system includes a linear regulator and a DC/DC converter arranged on different power paths, and the topology excludes a connection between the DC/DC converter and the second power supply via the linear regulator. The first connector and the second connector are connected at a time of charging, while the power supply architecture applies different voltages to processor power supply terminals depending on connector unconnected or connected states and restoring after over-discharge states.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims. The claims cover an aerosol generation system that performs heater energization control using a controller and a separate power supply device with coordinated connectors, a linear regulator, and a DC/DC converter, with different voltages applied to first and second processors.
Heater energization control with a controller processor
A controller for an inhalation device includes a first power supply, a first connector, and a first processor configured to perform energization control of a heater used to heat an aerosol source.
Power supply control via a charging-time connector link
A power supply device includes a second power supply, a second connector connected to the first connector at the time of charging of the first power supply, and a second processor configured to perform control of power supply from the second power supply to the controller via the second connector.
Linear regulator on a controller-side processor supply line
A linear regulator is on a first line connecting the second power supply and a power supply terminal of the second processor.
DC/DC converter output to the controller-side connector excluding connection via linear regulator
A DC/DC converter converts a voltage supplied from the second power supply and outputs the converted voltage to the second connector, and the DC/DC converter is not connected to the second power supply via the linear regulator.
Different first and second voltages for respective processor energization control capability
A first voltage applied to a power supply terminal of the first processor such that the first processor is capable of performing the energization control and a second voltage applied to a power supply terminal of the second processor such that the second processor is capable of performing the energization control are different from each other.
Charging-time connector relation in the separate-power implementation
The system includes a first connector and a second connector that is connected to the first connector at the time of charging of the first power supply, with power-supply control from the second power supply to the controller via the second connector.
Across both independent claims, the inventive coverage is directed to heater energization control in an aerosol generation system using separate controller and power supply device processors supplied with different voltages, coordinated through first and second connectors at charging, and using a defined power-conditioning topology with a linear regulator and a DC/DC converter where the DC/DC converter is not connected to the second power supply via the linear regulator.
Stated Advantages
Power saving.
Increased usable aerosol per charge.
Documented Applications
Aerosol generation system for an inhalation device.
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