WO2022230078A1 - Aerosol generation device and control method - Google Patents

Aerosol generation device and control method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022230078A1
WO2022230078A1 PCT/JP2021/016885 JP2021016885W WO2022230078A1 WO 2022230078 A1 WO2022230078 A1 WO 2022230078A1 JP 2021016885 W JP2021016885 W JP 2021016885W WO 2022230078 A1 WO2022230078 A1 WO 2022230078A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
temperature
section
control
heating unit
value
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PCT/JP2021/016885
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French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
健太郎 山田
達也 青山
拓嗣 川中子
徹 長浜
貴司 藤木
亮 吉田
Original Assignee
日本たばこ産業株式会社
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Application filed by 日本たばこ産業株式会社 filed Critical 日本たばこ産業株式会社
Priority to JP2023516924A priority Critical patent/JPWO2022230078A1/ja
Priority to EP21939239.6A priority patent/EP4331415A1/en
Priority to PCT/JP2021/016885 priority patent/WO2022230078A1/en
Publication of WO2022230078A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022230078A1/en

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A24F40/57—Temperature control
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to an aerosol generator and control method.
  • An electrically heated aerosol generator that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source and delivers the generated aerosol to a user.
  • electronic cigarettes are one type of such aerosol-generating devices that add flavoring components to the generated aerosol for inhalation by the user.
  • the amount of aerosol generated from the aerosol source per unit time varies depending on the properties and shape of the substrate containing the aerosol source as well as the temperature at which the substrate is heated.
  • the aerosol generating device controls the heating temperature such that the desired amount of aerosol is delivered to the user.
  • a representation of temperature change over time is called a temperature profile
  • a temperature profile defined in chronological order for realizing a desired temperature profile is called a heating profile.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,900,000 raises the temperature of the heating element to a high value in a first step, lowers the temperature of the heating element to a lower value in a second step, and lowers the temperature of the heating element in a third step. It discloses a temperature profile with a gradual increase. This temperature profile flattens the amount of aerosol generation to some extent over time. In order to realize this temperature profile, Patent Document 1 also discloses that the temperature of the heating element is led to the target temperature by PID control, which is typical feedback control. Patent Literature 2 discloses a method of temporarily stopping power supply to a heating element when the temperature of the heating element, which has been raised once, is lowered.
  • JP 2020-74797 A Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-531049
  • the timing of the progress varies depending on the conditions, and the user may end the session early or, conversely, reduce the amount of aerosol generated due to prolonged sessions. It can lead to loss of experience.
  • the technology according to the present disclosure seeks to at least partially eliminate or alleviate the above-described disadvantages and achieve improved temperature control for aerosol generation.
  • a heating unit that heats an aerosol source to generate an aerosol, a power source that supplies power to the heating unit, a thermistor that outputs a value dependent on the temperature of the heating unit, Power is supplied to the heating unit in a first section in which a target value for temperature control of the heating section is set to a value corresponding to a first temperature and power is supplied from the power source to the heating section. a subsequent second interval in which the supply of power from the power supply to the heating unit is stopped so that the temperature of the heating unit decreases toward a second temperature lower than the first temperature; and the second interval.
  • a first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit is used to control the supply of power from the power supply, and a second temperature index based on the output value from the thermistor is used to determine the timing for ending the second interval.
  • An aerosol generating device is provided that determines using.
  • the control unit may end the second interval when it is determined from the second temperature index that the temperature of the heating unit has reached the second temperature.
  • the control unit corrects the second temperature index in the second interval based on the relationship between the first temperature index and the second temperature index, and uses the corrected second temperature index to It may be determined whether the temperature of the heating unit has reached the second temperature.
  • the control unit acquires the first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit and the second temperature index based on the output value from the thermistor in a section preceding the second section, The relationship between the obtained first temperature indicator and the obtained second temperature indicator may be determined.
  • the relationship between the first temperature indicator and the second temperature indicator may include a difference in temperature change rate between the first temperature indicator and the second temperature indicator.
  • the control unit supplies power from the power source in the third interval using a different set of control parameters depending on the temperature of the heating unit indicated by the first temperature indicator when starting the third interval. may be controlled.
  • the control unit performs first control for restoring the temperature of the heating unit to the second temperature when the temperature of the heating unit is lower than the second temperature when the third interval is started. using a parameter set, if the temperature of the heating unit at the start of the third interval is a third temperature that is greater than or equal to the second temperature, maintaining the temperature of the heating unit at the third temperature; A second set of control parameters for may be used.
  • the first control parameter set includes a feedback control proportional gain first value
  • the second control parameter set includes a feedback control proportional gain second value
  • the first value is It may be greater than the second value
  • the first value of the proportional gain of feedback control included in the first set of control parameters may be equal to the value of the proportional gain used when preheating the heating unit.
  • the control unit may end the second interval even before the temperature of the heating unit reaches the second temperature, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the second interval. .
  • a control method for controlling the generation of aerosol in an aerosol generator.
  • the control method may include processing steps corresponding to any combination of the above-described features of the aerosol generating device.
  • FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining insertion of a tobacco stick into the aerosol generating device of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic circuit configuration of the aerosol generator of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a measurement circuit used to measure the temperature of the heating section;
  • FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a measurement period and a PWM control period during a heating period;
  • FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the positional relationship between the heating unit and the thermistor; Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the temperature profile and heating profile which concern on one Embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining insertion of a tobacco stick into the aerosol generating device of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic circuit configuration of the aerosol generator of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a measurement circuit used to measure
  • FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a temperature profile when a remaining time is added to the time length of the subsequent section because the temperature drop section ends earlier than the predetermined time;
  • FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the first temperature index and the second temperature index;
  • FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing two examples of temperature profiles when the target temperature of the subsequent interval is reset to the temperature at the end of the temperature drop interval.
  • FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a temperature profile in a case where the subsequent section is shortened because the temperature drop section ends later than the predetermined time in the first modification;
  • FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a temperature profile in a case where the subsequent section is shortened because the temperature drop section ends later than the predetermined time in the second modification;
  • FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a temperature profile in a case where the end of the temperature drop section is significantly delayed from the predetermined time, so that the subsequent section is skipped and the further subsequent section is shortened in the first modified example;
  • FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a temperature profile in a case where the subsequent section is shortened because the temperature drop section ends later than the predetermined time in the second modification
  • FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a temperature profile in a case where the end of the temperature drop section is significantly delayed from the predetermined time, so that the subsequent section is skipped and the further subsequent section is shortened in the second modification; Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the temperature profile in the case of resetting the target temperature of the temperature maintenance area before completion
  • FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a temperature profile including a recovery section according to a third modified example;
  • FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a first example of the configuration of profile data describing a heating profile;
  • FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a second example of the configuration of profile data describing a heating profile; 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the overall flow of aerosol generation processing according to one embodiment;
  • FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing an example of a temperature control process flow for the PID control section of FIG. 18;
  • FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a first example of the flow of temperature control processing for the off period of FIG. 18;
  • FIG. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a second example of the flow of temperature control processing for the off period of FIG. 18;
  • FIG. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a third example of the flow of temperature control processing for the off period of FIG. 18;
  • 4 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of a process for judging the end of a preheating period.
  • 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a process for determining the end of a temperature drop section;
  • 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of control parameter selection processing after the end of the temperature drop section;
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an aerosol generator 10 according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining insertion of a tobacco stick into the aerosol generating device 10 shown in FIG.
  • the aerosol generating device 10 comprises a main body 101, a front panel 102, a viewing window 103 and a slider 104.
  • the main body 101 is a housing that supports one or more circuit boards of the aerosol generating device 10 inside.
  • the main body 101 has a substantially rounded rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the vertical direction in the figure.
  • the size of the main body 101 may be, for example, a size that allows the user to hold it with one hand.
  • the front panel 102 is a flexible panel member that covers the front surface of the main body 101 . Front panel 102 may be removable from body 101 .
  • the front panel 102 also functions as an input unit for accepting user input. For example, when the user presses the center of the front panel 102, a button (not shown) disposed between the main body 101 and the front panel 102 is pressed, and user input can be detected.
  • the display window 103 is a strip-shaped window extending in the longitudinal direction at substantially the center of the front panel 102 .
  • the display window 103 transmits light emitted by one or more LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes) arranged between the main body 101 and the front panel 102 to the outside.
  • LEDs Light-Emitting Diodes
  • the slider 104 is a cover member slidably disposed on the upper surface of the main body 101 along the direction 104a. As shown in FIG. 2, when the slider 104 is slid forward in the drawing (that is, the slider 104 is opened), the opening 106 on the upper surface of the main body 101 is exposed. When inhaling aerosol using the aerosol generator 10, the user inserts the tobacco stick 15 from the opening 106 exposed by opening the slider 104 into the tubular insertion hole 107 along the direction 106a.
  • the cross-section perpendicular to the axial direction of the insertion hole 107 may be circular, elliptical, or polygonal, for example, and the cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the bottom surface.
  • the outer surface of the tobacco stick 15 inserted into the insertion hole 107 is pressed from the inner surface of the insertion hole 107, preventing the tobacco stick 15 from falling off due to the frictional force, and preventing the tobacco stick 15 from falling off from the heating unit 130, which will be described later.
  • the transfer efficiency of heat transfer to is enhanced.
  • a tobacco stick 15 is a tobacco article that holds a filler inside a tubular wrapping paper.
  • the filling of tobacco sticks 15 may be, for example, a mixture of an aerosol-generating substrate and tobacco cuts.
  • aerosol-generating substrates substrates containing any type of aerosol source may be used, such as glycerin, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, or mixtures thereof.
  • Tobacco shreds are so-called flavor sources. Tobacco shredded material may be, for example, laminae or backbones.
  • a non-tobacco-derived flavor source may be used instead of tobacco shreds.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic circuit configuration of the aerosol generator 10.
  • the aerosol generating device 10 includes a control unit 120, a storage unit 121, an input detection unit 122, a state detection unit 123, an suction detection unit 124, a light emission unit 125, a vibration unit 126, and a communication interface (I/F). 127 , connection I/F 128 , heating unit 130 , first switch 131 , second switch 132 , battery 140 , booster circuit 141 , fuel gauge 142 , measuring circuit 150 , and thermistor 155 .
  • I/F communication interface
  • the control unit 120 may be a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microcontroller.
  • the control unit 120 controls all functions of the aerosol generation device 10 by executing computer programs (also referred to as software or firmware) stored in the storage unit 121 .
  • the storage unit 121 may be, for example, a semiconductor memory.
  • the storage unit 121 stores one or more computer programs and various data (for example, profile data 51 describing the heating profile 50) used for heating control, which will be described later.
  • the input detection unit 122 is a detection circuit for detecting user input.
  • the input detection unit 122 detects, for example, pressing of the front panel 102 by the user (that is, pressing of a button), and outputs an input signal indicating the detected state to the control unit 120 .
  • the aerosol generating device 10 may comprise any kind of input device, such as buttons, switches or touch-sensitive surfaces.
  • the state detection unit 123 is a detection circuit for detecting the open/closed state of the slider 104 . State detection unit 123 outputs a state detection signal indicating whether slider 104 is open or closed to control unit 120 .
  • the suction detection unit 124 is a detection circuit for detecting suction (puffing) of the tobacco stick 15 by the user.
  • suction detection unit 124 may include a thermistor (not shown) disposed near opening 106 . In this case, the suction detection unit 124 can detect suction based on a change in the resistance value of the thermistor caused by a temperature change caused by the user's suction.
  • the suction detection unit 124 may include a pressure sensor (not shown) arranged at the bottom of the insertion hole 107 . In this case, the suction detection unit 124 can detect suction based on a decrease in air pressure caused by airflow caused by suction.
  • the suction detection unit 124 outputs, for example, a suction detection signal indicating whether or not suction is being performed to the control unit 120 .
  • the light emitting unit 125 includes one or more LEDs and a driver for driving the LEDs.
  • Light emitting unit 125 causes each of the LEDs to emit light according to an instruction signal input from control unit 120 .
  • Vibrating section 126 includes a vibrator (eg, an eccentric motor) and a driver for driving the vibrator. Vibrating section 126 vibrates the vibrator according to an instruction signal input from control section 120 .
  • the control unit 120 may use one or both of the light emitting unit 125 and the vibrating unit 126 in any pattern, for example, to notify the user of some status of the aerosol generating device 10 (eg progress of a session). .
  • the light emission pattern of the light emitting unit 125 can be distinguished by factors such as the light emission state of each LED (constant light emission/blinking/non-light emission), blinking period, and emission color.
  • the vibration pattern of the vibrating section 126 can be distinguished by factors such as the vibration state (vibration/stop) of the vibrator and the strength of the vibration.
  • the wireless I/F 127 is a communication interface for the aerosol generating device 10 to wirelessly communicate with other devices (for example, a PC (Personal Computer) or smartphone owned by the user).
  • the wireless I/F 127 may be an interface conforming to any wireless communication protocol such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), NFC (Near Field Communication), or wireless LAN (Local Area Network).
  • the connection I/F 128 is a wired interface having terminals for connecting the aerosol generating device 10 to other devices.
  • the connection I/F 128 may be, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface. Connection I/F 128 may be used to charge battery 140 from an external power supply (via a power supply line not shown).
  • the heating unit 130 is a resistance heating component that heats the aerosol source contained in the aerosol-generating substrate of the tobacco stick 15 to generate an aerosol.
  • the resistance heating material of the heating part 130 for example, one or a mixture of two or more of copper, nickel alloy, chromium alloy, stainless steel, and platinum-rhodium may be used.
  • One end of the heating unit 130 is connected to the positive electrode of the battery 140 via the first switch 131 and the booster circuit 141 , and the other end of the heating unit 130 is connected to the negative electrode of the battery 140 via the second switch 132 .
  • the first switch 131 is a switching element provided on the feeder line between the heating section 130 and the booster circuit 141 .
  • Second switch 132 is a switching element provided in the ground line between heating unit 130 and battery 140 .
  • the first switch 131 and the second switch 132 may be FETs (Field Effect Transistors), for example.
  • the battery 140 is a power source for supplying power to the heating unit 130 and other components of the aerosol generating device 10. In FIG. 3, power supply lines from the battery 140 to components other than the heating unit 130 are omitted.
  • Battery 140 may be, for example, a lithium-ion battery.
  • a booster circuit (DC/DC converter) 141 is a voltage conversion circuit that amplifies the voltage of the battery 140 to supply power to the heating unit 130 .
  • the remaining amount gauge 142 is an IC chip for monitoring the remaining amount of power of the battery 140 and other statuses. The fuel gauge 142 periodically measures the status values of the battery 140, for example, the state of charge (SOC), the state of health (SOH), the relative state of charge (RSOC), and the power supply voltage, A measurement result can be output to the control unit 120 .
  • SOC state of charge
  • SOH state of health
  • RSOC relative state of charge
  • the control unit 120 starts supplying power from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130 when a user input requesting the start of heating is detected.
  • the user input here may be, for example, a long press of a button detected by the input detection unit 122 .
  • the control unit 120 outputs a control signal to the first switch 131 and the second switch 132 to turn on both switches, thereby supplying power from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130 with the voltage amplified by the booster circuit 141. be able to.
  • the first switch 131 and the second switch 132 are FETs
  • the control signal output from the control section 120 to both switches is a control pulse applied to each gate.
  • the control unit 120 adjusts the duty ratio of this control pulse by pulse width modulation (PWM) in temperature control, which will be described later.
  • PWM pulse width modulation
  • the control unit 120 may use pulse frequency modulation (PFM) instead of PWM.
  • the control unit 120 controls the power supply from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130 throughout the heating period, including the preheating period and the suckable period, according to a desired temperature profile to provide a good user experience.
  • control to achieve The control may be mainly feedback control in which the temperature index having a correlation with the temperature of the heating unit 130 is used as a control amount, and the PWM duty ratio is used as an operation amount.
  • PID control shall be adopted as feedback control.
  • the aerosol generating device 10 has two types of measurement units for measuring the temperature index of the heating unit 130 .
  • the measurement circuit 150 shown in FIG. 3 is one of these two types of measurement units, and measures the first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit 130 .
  • Another measuring unit is a thermistor 155, which will be described later.
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of measurement circuit 150 shown in FIG.
  • measurement circuit 150 includes voltage dividing resistors 151 , 152 , 153 and operational amplifier 154 .
  • One end of the voltage dividing resistor 151 is connected to the power supply voltage V TEMP and the other end is connected to one end of the voltage dividing resistor 152 .
  • the other end of voltage dividing resistor 152 is grounded.
  • a contact point between the voltage dividing resistor 151 and the voltage dividing resistor 152 is connected to the terminal ADC_VTEMP of the control section 120 .
  • An input to terminal ADC_VTEMP indicates a reference value for resistance measurements.
  • One end of the voltage dividing resistor 153 is connected to the power supply voltage V TEMP and the other end is connected to the power supply line of the heating unit 130 .
  • a contact point between the voltage dividing resistor 153 and the power supply line of the heating unit 130 is connected to a first input terminal of an operational amplifier 154 .
  • a second input terminal of the operational amplifier 154 is grounded.
  • the output terminal of operational amplifier 154 is connected to terminal ADC_HEAT_TEMP of control section 120 .
  • the input to the terminal ADC_HEAT_TEMP indicates a value that varies with the electrical resistance value Rh that depends on the temperature of the heating unit 130 .
  • the control unit 120 can calculate the electrical resistance value Rh of the heating unit 130 based on the ratio of the input value to the terminal ADC_HEAT_TEMP to the input value (reference value) to the terminal ADC_VTEMP.
  • the electrical resistance value of the heating unit 130 has a characteristic that it monotonically increases (that is, has a correlation with the temperature) as the temperature rises, for example. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 120 uses the electrical resistance value of the heating unit 130 calculated using the measurement circuit 150 as a temperature index (first temperature index) as a controlled variable for PID control. Of course, the controller 120 may further convert the calculated electrical resistance value into temperature using the temperature coefficient of resistance, and use the derived measured temperature as the controlled variable for PID control.
  • the temperature control of the heating unit 130 is performed mainly by determining the PWM duty ratio of power supplied to the heating unit 130 by PID control.
  • the PID control target value resistance value corresponding to the target temperature
  • R TGT [ ⁇ ] the index value (measured resistance value) of the first temperature index in the current control cycle n (n is an integer)
  • R (n) ⁇ ] the duty ratio D(n) of the control cycle n can be derived, for example, according to the following equation (1):
  • K p , K i and K d represent proportional, integral and derivative gains, respectively.
  • saturation control may be applied to the cumulative value of the deviation of the index value from the target value in the second term on the right side, which is the integral term.
  • the cumulative value is replaced with the upper limit value when the cumulative value exceeds the predetermined upper limit value, and the cumulative value is replaced with the lower limit value when the cumulative value is below the predetermined lower limit value.
  • the control unit 120 makes part of the repeated control cycle a measurement period for measuring the first temperature index, and the rest of the control cycle This is a PWM control period for performing PWM control.
  • FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the measurement period and the PWM control period during the heating period.
  • the horizontal axis in the drawing represents time, and the vertical axis represents voltage applied to the heating unit 130 .
  • One control cycle during the heating period consists of an initial measurement period 20 and a remaining PWM control period 30 .
  • the period from t0 to t1 is the measurement period 20 of one control cycle
  • the period from t1 to t2 is the PWM control period 30 of the control cycle.
  • the period from t2 to t3 is the measurement period 20 of the next one control cycle
  • the period from t3 to t4 is the PWM control period 30 of the control cycle.
  • the length of one control cycle corresponds to the period of measurement of the first temperature index, and may be several tens of milliseconds, for example.
  • the control unit 120 applies a very short pulse 21 (for example, a pulse width of 2 ms) to the heating unit 130 a plurality of times (for example, 8 times) during the measurement period 20, and in one measurement period 20,
  • the average value of the resistance values calculated multiple times using the measurement circuit 150 is set as the measured value R(n) of the first temperature index.
  • the control unit 120 uses the measured value R(n), calculates the PWM duty ratio D(n) of the control cycle n according to the above control formula.
  • the control unit 120 applies a pulse 31 having a pulse width W1 corresponding to the product of the length W0 of the period and the duty ratio D(n) to the heating unit 130 (with the same pulse width output a control pulse with W1 to the first switch 131 and the second switch 132).
  • the temperature of the heating unit 130 is controlled so as to approach the target value.
  • the control cycle described above can continue to be repeated.
  • the method of applying a pulse to the heating unit 130 during the measurement period 20 raises the temperature of the heating unit 130 and consumes the remaining battery power, even if the pulse width is short.
  • the desired temperature profile of heating unit 130 may include a period during which the temperature of heating unit 130, once raised to a high value, is lowered to a lower value. It is advantageous not to apply any pulse to the heating unit 130 during this period, in order to efficiently lower the temperature of the heating unit 130 .
  • the measurement circuit 150 cannot be used to measure the first temperature index if no pulse is applied to the heating unit 130 .
  • the aerosol generator 10 further includes a thermistor 155, as schematically shown in FIG.
  • Thermistor 155 is arranged near heating unit 130 and outputs a value dependent on the temperature of heating unit 130 to control unit 120 .
  • Control unit 120 uses the second temperature index based on the output value from thermistor 155 (for example, by comparing the index value with the target value) in the interval in which the temperature of heating unit 130 is lowered, and terminates the interval. Determine when to let On the other hand, control unit 120 controls power supply from battery 140 to heating unit 130 using the first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of heating unit 130 as described above in other sections.
  • a period of measurement of the second temperature index may be, for example, several tens to several hundreds of milliseconds.
  • FIG. 6 shows an example of the positional relationship between the heating part 130 and the thermistor 155 viewed from the direction 106a (the axial direction of the insertion hole 107) in FIG.
  • tubular member 130a is a member that defines the space of insertion hole 107 for receiving tobacco stick 15 .
  • the cylindrical member 130a is made of a material with high thermal conductivity such as stainless steel (SUS) or aluminum.
  • the film heater 130b is wound around the outer periphery of the cylindrical member 130a.
  • the film heater 130b consists of a pair of films with high heat resistance and insulation, and a resistance heating material sandwiched between the films.
  • the heating unit 130 is composed of the tubular member 130a and the film heater 130b.
  • the heat insulating member 108 is wound so as to surround the outer periphery of the film heater 130b.
  • the heat insulating member 108 is made of glass wool, for example, and protects other components of the aerosol generating device 10 from the heat of the heating unit 130 .
  • the thermistor 155 is arranged outside the heat insulating member 108 .
  • the surface of the film heater 130b is usually smooth, and if the thermistor 155 is arranged on the outer surface of the film heater 130b, positioning tends to be difficult.
  • the provision facilitates the positioning of the thermistor 155 and also achieves good protection of the control circuit connected to the thermistor 155 .
  • the second temperature index based on the output value from the thermistor 155 is displayed with some delay. It will follow changes in temperature.
  • Control unit 120 performs temperature control of heating unit 130 according to a heating profile, which is a control sequence that defines the temporal transition of control conditions for realizing a desired temperature profile.
  • a heating profile is a control sequence that defines the temporal transition of control conditions for realizing a desired temperature profile.
  • the heating profile consists of a plurality of sections that divide the heating period in terms of time, and designates the temperature control specifications for each section using target values and other control parameters.
  • FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the temperature profile and heating profile that can be employed in this embodiment.
  • the horizontal axis in the drawing represents the elapsed time from the start of power supply to the heating unit 130
  • the vertical axis represents the temperature of the heating unit 130 .
  • a thick polygonal line represents a temperature profile 40 as an example.
  • the temperature profile 40 consists of a preheating period (T0-T2) at the beginning and a suckable period (T2-T8) following the preheating period.
  • T0-T2 preheating period
  • T2-T8 suckable period
  • the length of the entire aspirable period may be about 5 minutes, and the user can aspirate a dozen or so times during the aspirable period.
  • the preheating period includes a temperature rising section (T0 to T1) in which the temperature of the heating unit 130 is rapidly increased from the environmental temperature H0 to the first temperature H1, and a maintenance section (T1) in which the temperature of the heating section 130 is maintained at the first temperature H1. ⁇ T2).
  • T0 to T1 a temperature rising section
  • T1 a maintenance section
  • T2 the temperature of the heating section 130 is maintained at the first temperature H1.
  • the suckable period includes a maintenance interval (T2 to T3) in which the temperature of the heating unit 130 is maintained at the first temperature H1, a temperature decrease interval (T3 to T4) in which the temperature of the heating unit 130 is decreased toward the second temperature H2, and A maintenance interval (T4-T5) is included to maintain the temperature of the heating unit 130 at the second temperature H2.
  • T2 to T3 a maintenance interval in which the temperature of the heating unit 130 is maintained at the first temperature H1
  • T3 to T4 in which the temperature of the heating unit 130 is decreased toward the second temperature H2
  • a maintenance interval (T4-T5) is included to maintain the temperature of the heating unit 130 at the second temperature H2.
  • the temperature of the heating unit 130 is further increased gradually from the second temperature H2 to the third temperature H3 (T5 to T6), and the temperature of the heating unit 130 is maintained at the third temperature H3. It includes a maintenance interval (T6-T7) and a temperature-decreasing interval (T7-T8) in which the temperature of the heating unit 130 is lowered toward the environmental temperature H0.
  • T6-T7 maintenance interval
  • T7-T8 temperature-decreasing interval
  • the first temperature H1 may be 295°C
  • the second temperature H2 may be 230°C
  • the third temperature H3 may be 260°C.
  • different temperature profiles may be designed, for example, depending on the design guidelines of the manufacturer, user preferences, or characteristics of each type of tobacco article.
  • the heating profile 50 consists of eight sections S0 to S7 bounded by T1 to T7. However, as will be explained later, the timing of the transition between the two intervals does not necessarily coincide with one of the times T1-T7 shown, but rather according to the termination conditions specified for each interval.
  • the heating profile 50 defines one or more of the control parameters listed below for each of the intervals S0-S7: ⁇ "Section type" ⁇ "Target temperature” ⁇ "Target temperature resistance value” ⁇ "PID control type” ⁇ "gain" ⁇ "Length” ⁇ "Exit conditions"
  • “Section type” is a parameter that specifies whether the section is a PID control section or an OFF section.
  • the PID control section is a section in which PID control is performed based on the first temperature index calculated by the control section 120 using the measurement circuit 150 .
  • the OFF section is a section in which the control unit 120 does not perform PID control and stops power supply to the heating unit 130 .
  • Target temperature is a parameter that specifies the temperature of the heating unit 130 that should be reached at the end of the section.
  • “Target temperature resistance value” is a parameter that designates a value obtained by converting the value of "target temperature” into a resistance value. For example, the target temperature H TGT [°C] can be converted to the target temperature resistance value R TGT [ ⁇ ] according to the following equation (2):
  • H ENV represents the standard environmental temperature
  • ⁇ represents the temperature resistance coefficient of the resistance heating material of the heating unit 130
  • R ENV represents the electrical resistance value at the standard environmental temperature.
  • the values of H ENV , ⁇ and R ENV are all measured or derived in a preliminary evaluation test and stored in the storage unit 121 in advance.
  • PID control type is a parameter that specifies whether the target value is maintained constant at the value of "target temperature resistance value” over the PID control section, or whether the target value is changed linearly by linear interpolation. is. If the “PID control type” is “constant”, the control unit 120 performs feedback control while keeping the target value of temperature control constant in the section. If the “PID control type” is “linear interpolation”, the control unit 120 performs feedback control while changing the target value of temperature control step by step in the section.
  • the control target value in “linear interpolation” is set to a specific start value (e.g., the current measurement value or the target value of the previous interval) at the beginning of the interval, and becomes the "target temperature resistance value” at the end of the interval. can be raised or lowered substantially linearly (actually in steps per control cycle).
  • "PID control type” may be considered, together with “interval type”, to be parameters that specify the control strategy to be applied to temperature control in each interval.
  • Gains is a set of parameters that specify the values of proportional gain K p , integral gain K i , and derivative gain K d for a PID control interval. Note that when a gain value different from the gain value specified in the preceding interval is specified for a certain PID control interval, the cumulative deviation of the integral term of feedback control (the second term on the right side of equation (1)) may be reset. .
  • “Length of time” is a parameter that specifies the length of time defined in advance for each section.
  • “Termination condition” is a parameter that designates a condition for terminating temperature control for each section (that is, a condition for transitioning temperature control to the next section).
  • a “termination condition” may be, for example, any of the following C1, C2 and C3: C1: Elapsed time specified by “time length” C2: Temperature index reaches resistance value specified by "target temperature resistance value” C3: Whichever is earlier of C1 and C2 An internal timer circuit may be provided for determination of C1 and C3.
  • the control unit 120 calculates the coefficient ⁇ ( ⁇ is a positive number slightly smaller than 1) representing the allowable deviation between the temperature index and the target value RTGT when determining the conditions C2 and C3 in the temperature rising section.
  • N COUNT the number of measurement periods 20
  • M is an integer greater than 1
  • Section S0 is the beginning section of the heating profile 50 .
  • the "section type” of the section S0 is the “PID control section", and the “target temperature” is the first temperature H1.
  • the "target temperature resistance value” is a resistance value (hereinafter referred to as R1) corresponding to the first temperature H1.
  • the "PID control type” in section S0 may be "constant”, and in “gain”, the proportional gain Kp is set to a higher value than in other sections, so that the time required for temperature rise is reduced as much as possible. shortened.
  • the “end condition” of section S0 is condition C2, specifically, reaching the resistance value R1 of the first temperature index.
  • the control unit 120 further divides the section S0 into the first half section and the second half section. may be supplied. Thereby, the preheating period can be effectively shortened and delivery of the aerosol to the user can be started quickly.
  • the "section type” of the section S1 is the "PID control section", and the “target temperature” is the first temperature H1.
  • the "target temperature resistance value” is the resistance value R1 corresponding to the first temperature H1.
  • the "PID control type” of section S1 may be “constant”.
  • the “gain” in the section S1 can be set to a value that stabilizes the temperature of the heating unit 130 near the first temperature H1, unlike the case of a rapid temperature rise in the section S0 (for example, in the section S0 A proportional gain with a smaller value than the specified proportional gain may be specified for interval S1).
  • the "length of time” of section S1 can be set to a value within a range of several seconds, for example.
  • the 'end condition' of the section S1 is the condition C1, specifically, the passage of time indicated by the 'length of time'.
  • the control unit 120 activates the timer at the start of the section S1, and when determining that the time indicated by the "length of time" has elapsed, notifies the user of the end of the preheating period.
  • the notification here may be performed by one or both of light emission of the light emitting unit 125 in a predetermined light emission pattern and vibration of the vibrating unit 126 in a predetermined vibration pattern. By sensing this notification, the user recognizes that preparation for suctioning is complete and that suctioning can be started.
  • Start session (S2)> The "section type” of the section S2 is the “PID control section", and the “target temperature” is the first temperature H1.
  • the "target temperature resistance value” is the resistance value R1 corresponding to the first temperature H1.
  • the "PID control type” of section S2 may be “constant”.
  • the "gain” of interval S2 may be the same as interval S1.
  • the "time length” of the section S2 can be set to a value within the range of several seconds to ten and several seconds, for example.
  • the 'end condition' of the section S2 is the condition C1, specifically, the passage of time indicated by the 'length of time'.
  • the user normally starts inhaling the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating device 10 from section S2.
  • the control unit 120 Based on the suction detection signal input from the suction detection unit 124, the control unit 120 measures one or more of the number of times of suction, the frequency of suction, the suction time for each suction, and the cumulative suction time, and obtains the measurement result. may be stored in the storage unit 121 . This measurement can be continuously performed after the section S3.
  • the "section type” of section S3 is “off section", and the "target temperature” is the second temperature H2.
  • the "target temperature resistance value” is a resistance value (hereinafter referred to as R2) corresponding to the second temperature H2. That is, in section S3, control unit 120 stops power supply from battery 140 to heating unit 130 so that the temperature of heating unit 130 decreases toward second temperature H2, which is lower than first temperature H1. . Since section S3 is an off section, "PID control type” and “gain” are not set.
  • the "length of time” of section S3 can be set to a value within the range of several tens of seconds, for example.
  • the "terminating condition” of section S3 is condition C3.
  • the control unit 120 terminates the section S3. However, even before the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the second temperature H2, the control unit 120 ends the section S3 when the time indicated by the "time length" has elapsed from the start of the section S3. . In other words, the control unit 120 terminates the section S3 and transitions the temperature control to the section S4 at the earlier of the arrival of the second temperature index to the target value and the elapse of a predetermined time from the start of the section. .
  • the interval S3 ends when the second temperature index reaches the target value earlier than the time (for example, T3 in FIG. 7) at which the time indicated by the “length of time” elapses from the start of the interval S3, the following If the time length of the section is not changed, the total time of the session will be shortened. Premature termination of the session may itself cause user dissatisfaction, or may lead to the inconvenience that the aerosol source contained in the aerosol-generating substrate is not fully depleted. Therefore, if the control unit 120 ends the section S3 earlier than the time indicated by the "time length" of the section S3, the remaining time up to that time is transferred to the subsequent section (for example, the section S4). in addition to the "length of time" specified for FIG.
  • FIG. 8 shows a temperature profile 40a when the remaining time is added to the time length of the subsequent section S4 because the section S3 ends earlier than the predetermined time, in contrast with the temperature profile 40 of FIG. there is
  • the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the second temperature H2 at T3a preceding T4.
  • the time length of section S4 is added by the remaining time (T4-T3a).
  • the rate of decrease in the temperature of the heating unit 130 differs depending on the environmental conditions. Beneficial for efficient consumption of resources and improved user satisfaction.
  • the second temperature index based on the output value from thermistor 155 follows the change in temperature of heating unit 130 with some delay. Therefore, if the control unit 120 compares the second temperature index as it is with the target value to determine the end of the section S3, the temperature of the heating unit 130 may be further decreased from the target temperature at the end of the section S3. There is If the temperature of the heating section 130 is too low, the amount of aerosol generated from the aerosol-generating substrate will be small, and the smoking taste will deteriorate. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 120 corrects the second temperature index so as to compensate for the delay in change of the second temperature index in the interval S3, and compares the corrected index value with the target value.
  • the controller 120 determines whether the temperature of the heating unit 130 has reached the second temperature H2. For the correction of the second temperature indicator, the controller 120 uses a pre-determined relationship between the first temperature indicator and the second temperature indicator. For example, in a section preceding section S3 (for example, section S0), control unit 120 sets the second temperature index based on the output value from thermistor 155 in addition to the first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of heating unit 130. also get Then, the control unit 120 determines the relationship between the acquired first temperature index and the acquired second temperature index prior to the start of the section S3.
  • a section preceding section S3 for example, section S0
  • control unit 120 sets the second temperature index based on the output value from thermistor 155 in addition to the first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of heating unit 130. also get Then, the control unit 120 determines the relationship between the acquired first temperature index and the acquired second temperature index prior to the start of the section S3.
  • FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the first temperature index and the second temperature index.
  • a solid line graph 61 represents an example of temporal change in the value of the first temperature index when temperature control is performed up to T4 according to the heating profile 50 described using FIG.
  • a dashed-dotted line graph 62 represents an example of temporal changes in the value of the second temperature index when temperature control is performed up to T4 according to the same heating profile 50 .
  • the first temperature index and the second temperature index draw substantially linear trajectories, but the first temperature index
  • the temperature change rate indicated by the second temperature index (slope g 2 in the figure) is relatively small with respect to the temperature change rate indicated by (slope g 1 in the figure), and the first temperature index reaches the target value at T1. Even if it reaches, the second temperature index does not reach the target value.
  • the difference from the target value of the second temperature index gradually decreases from section S1 to section S2 (as the heat of heating unit 130 is transmitted to thermistor 155 via heat insulating member 108), but even at T3, the difference from the target value The difference d1 remains.
  • the section S3, that is, the OFF section starts at T3 the first temperature index and the second temperature index draw a substantially linear graph again while descending.
  • the difference in slope between the two temperature indicators when the temperature of the heating unit 130 is decreased is equal to the difference in slope between the two temperature indicators when the temperature is increased (g 1 ⁇ g 2 ). (However, the sign is reversed). Then, the control unit 120 calculates the second A correction value to be applied to the temperature index can be calculated.
  • the second temperature index is The correction value ⁇ h(t) to be added to the value.
  • the control unit 120 instead of obtaining the slope g1 of the first temperature index and the slope g2 of the second temperature index individually, the control unit 120 causes the value of the second temperature index to reach a value corresponding to the second temperature H2, for example.
  • the difference between the two slopes (g 1 ⁇ g 2 ) may be obtained by dividing the index value difference (d 2 in FIG. 9) at the point in time by the elapsed time up to that point.
  • the above-described relationship between the first temperature index and the second temperature index is acquired and stored in the storage unit 121 before heating is started, not in the interval S0 to the interval S2 immediately before the interval S3. good too.
  • the relationship between the first temperature index and the second temperature index may be obtained in an evaluation test before shipping the aerosol generating device 10 .
  • the control unit 120 may acquire and record the values of the first temperature index and the second temperature index at the start and end of the section S3 in each session. In this case, the control unit 120 corrects the above-described second temperature index based on the difference in the rate of change of the two temperature index values recorded in the past in order to determine the conditions for ending the section S3 of the new session.
  • the values of the two temperature indicators may be recorded in association with the environmental temperature measured by the temperature sensor, and the control unit 120 stores the record corresponding to the environmental temperature at the time of the new session.
  • a correction value for the second temperature index may be calculated based on.
  • the aerosol generating device 10 may have a temperature sensor for measuring the environmental temperature, or may receive environmental temperature data from another device via the wireless I/F 127 or the connection I/F 128. .
  • control unit 120 uses the index value corrected to compensate for the delay in the change of the second temperature index to determine the end condition, so that the temperature of the heating unit 130 in the section S3 is the second temperature index. It is possible to prevent deterioration of the smoking taste by avoiding an excessive decrease exceeding the second temperature H2.
  • the "section type” of section S4 is "PID control section". That is, the control unit 120 restarts the supply of electric power from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130 in response to the transition of the temperature control from the section S3 to the section S4.
  • the "target temperature” of the section S4 is the second temperature H2.
  • the "target temperature resistance value” is the resistance value R2 corresponding to the second temperature H2.
  • the "PID control type” of section S4 may be "constant”.
  • the "gain” of section S4 may be the same as that set in sections S1 and S2.
  • the “length of time” of section S4 can be set, for example, from several tens of seconds to several minutes.
  • the "end condition" of the section S4 is the condition C1, specifically, the passage of time indicated by the “length of time”.
  • the control unit 120 determines that the time indicated by the “length of time” has elapsed, it terminates the section S4 and shifts the temperature control to the section S5.
  • the temperature of the heating unit 130 at the end point may be significantly higher than the second temperature H2.
  • the "gain" of section S4 has a value tuned for the purpose of keeping the temperature constant. Therefore, when the target temperature is set to the second temperature H2 in the section S4 and the PID control is restarted, the temperature of the heating unit 130 becomes unstable due to the deviation of the temperature at the start of the section S4 from the second temperature H2. behavior. Therefore, when the temperature of the heating unit 130 at the end of the section S3 is higher than the second temperature H2, the control unit 120 may treat the temperature at that time as the target temperature of the section S4.
  • FIG. 10 shows two examples of temperature profiles (temperature profiles 41a and 41b) when the target temperature resistance value corresponding to the temperature at the end of section S3 is reset as the target value for PID control in section S4. 7 in contrast to the temperature profile 40 of FIG.
  • a temperature profile 41a is an example in which the temperature H2a at the end of the section S3 is lower than the third temperature H3.
  • a temperature profile 41b is an example in which the temperature H2b at the end of the section S3 is higher than the third temperature H3.
  • the "end condition" of section S3 may be condition C2 as a first modification.
  • the control unit 120 maintains the temperature control of the section S3 until the temperature indicated by the second temperature index reaches the second temperature H2 regardless of the elapsed time from the start of the section S3. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the temperature of the heating unit 130 deviates from the second temperature H2 at the start of the section S4.
  • the target temperature H2 later than the time (for example, T4 in FIG.
  • FIG. 11 shows the temperature profile 42 in the first modification when the section S4 is shortened as a result of the lengthening of the section S3, in comparison with the temperature profile 40 of FIG.
  • the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the second temperature H2 at T4a after T4.
  • the time length of section S4 is reduced by the excess time (T4a-T4).
  • the "end condition" of the section S3 is the condition C2, provided that the control unit 120 sets the target temperature of the section S3 when the time indicated by the "time length” of the section S3 has elapsed.
  • the second temperature H2 may be reset to the third temperature H3.
  • the control unit 120 may be subtracted from the "length of time” of section S4 (that is, section S4 may be shortened). As a result, it is possible to avoid excessively increasing the time length of the entire heating period.
  • the "section type” of section S5 is "PID control section”.
  • the "target temperature” of the section S5 is the third temperature H3.
  • the "target temperature resistance value” is a resistance value (hereinafter referred to as R3) corresponding to the third temperature H3.
  • the "PID control type” of section S5 is "linear interpolation". That is, the control unit 120 raises the target value of PID control step by step from the target value (for example, the resistance value R2) of the section S4 to the resistance value R3 from the start to the end of the section.
  • the "gain" of interval S5 may be the same as or different from that set in interval S4.
  • the “length of time” of section S5 can be set, for example, from several tens of seconds to several minutes.
  • the "terminating condition” of section S5 is condition C1. Specifically, the control unit 120 terminates the section S5 and transitions the temperature control to the section S6 when the time indicated by the "length of time” has elapsed since the start of the section S5.
  • the control unit 120 sets the time (for example, T5 in FIG. 7) at which the total time of the "time length” of the section S3 and the "time length” of the section S4 has elapsed from the start of the section S3.
  • T5 time
  • the control unit 120 sets the time (for example, T5 in FIG. 7) at which the total time of the "time length” of the section S3 and the "time length” of the section S4 has elapsed from the start of the section S3.
  • the excess time from that time may be subtracted from the "time length" of the section S5 (that is, the section S5 is shortened).
  • section S4 is skipped.
  • FIG. 13 shows the temperature profile 44 in the first modification when the section S4 is skipped and the section S5 is shortened as a result of the lengthening of the section S3, in comparison with the temperature profile 40 of FIG. there is In the temperature profile 44, the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the second temperature H2 at T5a after T5. As a result, the time length of section S5 is reduced by the excess time (T5a-T5).
  • FIG. 14 shows a temperature profile 45 in the second modification when the interval S4 is skipped and the interval S5 is shortened as a result of lengthening the interval S3, in comparison with the temperature profile 40 of FIG. there is In the temperature profile 45, the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the third temperature H3 (which is the reset target temperature) at T5b after T5. As a result, the time length of section S5 is reduced by the excess time (T5b-T5).
  • the "section type” of section S6 is "PID control section".
  • the "target temperature” of the section S6 is the third temperature H3.
  • the "target temperature resistance value” is the resistance value R3 corresponding to the third temperature H3.
  • the "PID control type” of section S6 may be “constant”.
  • the "gain” of section S6 may be the same as that set in sections S1, S2 and S4.
  • the "length of time” of section S6 can be set to a value within the range of several tens of seconds, for example.
  • the "end condition” of the section S6 is the condition C1, specifically, the passage of time indicated by the "length of time”. When the control unit 120 determines that the time indicated by the “length of time” has elapsed, it terminates the section S6 and shifts the temperature control to the section S7.
  • the "gain" of section S6 has a value tuned for the purpose of keeping the temperature constant.
  • the target temperature of the section S6 is the third temperature H3, if the temperature at the start of the section S6 deviates significantly from the third temperature H3, the target value of the section S6 is set to the resistance value R3.
  • the temperature of heating unit 130 may exhibit unstable behavior. Therefore, when the temperature of the heating unit 130 at a certain reference point in time (for example, the start point of the interval S6) deviates significantly from the third temperature H3 (for example, higher than the third temperature H3), the temperature at that time may be treated as the target temperature for the section S6.
  • the control unit 120 may reset the target temperature resistance value corresponding to the current temperature at the reference time as the target value of the PID control in the section S6.
  • the temperature of the heating unit 130 in the section S6 can be stabilized.
  • FIG. 15 compares the temperature profile 46 with the temperature profile 40 of FIG. 7 when the target temperature resistance value corresponding to the current temperature at the start of the section S6 is reset as the target value of the PID control in the section S6. is shown.
  • the target temperature is reset to the current temperature H3a higher than the third temperature at T6, and the temperature of the heating unit 130 is maintained at the temperature H3a throughout the interval S6.
  • section S7 The "section type" of section S7 is “off section”. In section S7, the temperature of heating unit 130 decreases toward environmental temperature H0. The "target temperature”, “target temperature resistance value” and “gain” in section S7 may not be set. The "time length” of the section S7 can be set to a value within the range of several seconds to several tens of seconds, for example.
  • the 'end condition' of the section S7 is the condition C1, specifically, the passage of time indicated by the 'length of time'. When the control unit 120 determines that the time indicated by the “length of time” has passed, it ends the heating period.
  • the control unit 120 may notify the user that the end of the suckable period is approaching by the light emission of the light emitting unit 125 or the vibration of the vibrating unit 126 at the start of the section S7. Further, the control unit 120 may notify the user that the suckable period has ended by emitting light from the light emitting unit 125 or vibrating the vibrating unit 126 at the end of the section S7.
  • the corrected second temperature index also contains a certain amount of error, and the temperature of the heating unit 130 deviates significantly from the second temperature H2 at the transition to the section S4 (for example, a lower temperature). It is possible that the Therefore, as a third modification, the control unit 120 acquires the first temperature index when starting the interval S4, and in the interval S4, depending on the temperature of the heating unit 130 indicated by the acquired first temperature index, Different sets of control parameters may be used to control the power supply from battery 140 to heating unit 130 .
  • the temperature of the heating unit 130 indicated by the first temperature index when the section S4 is started is assumed to be H2C .
  • the control unit 120 restores (increases) the temperature of the heating unit 130 to the second temperature H2. using the first set of control parameters of
  • the control unit 120 uses the second control parameter set for maintaining the temperature of the heating unit 130 at the temperature H2C. do.
  • the first control parameter set includes a feedback control proportional gain value K p1
  • the second control parameter set includes a feedback control proportional gain value K p2
  • K p1 is greater than K p2
  • the values of one or both of the integral gain and the derivative gain may differ between the first control parameter set and the second control parameter set. In this way, by switching the control parameter set for feedback control depending on the temperature of the heating unit 130 at the start of the section S4, the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the desired temperature (for example, the second temperature H2) in the middle of the session. It is possible to suppress the deviation from and reduce the deterioration of the smoking taste.
  • control unit 120 changes the control parameter set from the first control parameter set to the second temperature. may be switched to the control parameter set of Typically, it is assumed that an excessive temperature drop of the heating unit 130 due to the error of the corrected second temperature index, if any, is small. Therefore, by switching the control parameter set to the second control parameter set after recovering the temperature of heating unit 130 in a short time, the stability of the temperature of heating unit 130 in section S4 can be improved.
  • FIG. 16 shows an example of the temperature profile when the section S4 includes the recovery section in the third modification.
  • the temperature H2c at the start of the section S4 is lower than the second temperature H2. Therefore, the control unit 120 sets the recovery interval S4a at the beginning of the interval S4, and performs PID control using the first control parameter set including the larger proportional gain value Kp1 .
  • the target value for PID control may be the resistance value R2 corresponding to the second temperature H2. Through this PID control, the temperature of the heating unit 130 recovers to the second temperature H2 at T4c.
  • control unit 120 causes the temperature control to transition from the recovery interval S4a to the maintenance interval S4b , and switches the control parameter set for PID control to the second control parameter set including the proportional gain value Kp2. Thereby, the temperature of the heating unit 130 is maintained near the second temperature H2 until reaching T5.
  • control unit 120 may also perform threshold determination in consideration of the above-described coefficient ⁇ representing the allowable deviation when determining whether the first temperature index has reached the target value R2 in the recovery section S4a. Further, the condition for ending the recovery section S4a (transition to the maintenance section S4b) may be that the first temperature index reaches the threshold value M times.
  • the first control parameter set used in the recovery section S4a may be the same as the control parameter set used during the initial temperature increase of the heating unit 130 in the section S0.
  • the proportional gain value Kp1 of the first control parameter set may be equal to the proportional gain value used during the initial heating.
  • Configuration example of profile data> It is beneficial to define a structured, canonical data format that can describe the operational specifications of each section of the heating profile 50 described thus far.
  • the standard data format changes the temperature control contents by switching the heating profile 50 in various situations such as upgrading the operation specifications, changing the type of tobacco article, and selecting a temperature profile that matches the user's preference. make things easier.
  • FIG. 17A is an explanatory diagram showing a first example of the configuration of the profile data 51.
  • the profile data 51 includes seven information elements such as section number 52, control method 53, target temperature 54, target temperature resistance value 55, gain 56, time length 57 and end condition 58.
  • the section number 52 is a number (identifier) for identifying each section.
  • the control method 53 is an information element that designates a control method to be applied to temperature control in each section among a plurality of control methods.
  • the control method 53 corresponds to a combination of the control parameters "section type” and "PID control type” described above, and can take any value of "0", "1" and "2". can.
  • the control method 53 of section S n indicates the value "1", which indicates that the control method to be applied to the section is PID control and the control target value is kept constant in the section. Represents what to do.
  • the control method 53 of the section S n+1 indicates a value of “0”, which means that the control method to be applied to the section is to stop the power supply to the heating unit 130 . That is, section Sn+1 in this example is an OFF section.
  • the control method 53 of the section Sn+2 indicates the value "2", which indicates that the control method to be applied to the section is PID control and the control target value should be changed linearly in the section.
  • the target temperature 54 and target temperature resistance value 55 are information elements that specify the above-described control parameters "target temperature” and “target temperature resistance value”, respectively. Note that the target temperature resistance value 55 may be omitted from the profile data 51 when temperature control is performed using the temperature itself as a control amount.
  • a gain 56 is an information element that specifies the control parameter set "gain" described above. For off intervals, gain 56 may be blank.
  • a time length 57 and an end condition 58 are information elements that specify the above-described control parameters "time length" and "end condition", respectively.
  • FIG. 17B is an explanatory diagram showing a second example of the configuration of the profile data 51.
  • the profile data 51 includes a common area 51a and section-specific areas 51b.
  • the common area 51a is a data area in which common information is described over a plurality of sections.
  • common area 51a includes three information elements 59a, 59b and 59c.
  • the information element 59a designates a number (identifier) for uniquely identifying the control profile described by the profile data.
  • Information element 59b specifies the first gain set K1 and information element 59c specifies the second gain set K2.
  • Gain set K 1 includes proportional gain value K p1 , integral gain value K i1 and derivative gain value K d1
  • gain set K 2 includes proportional gain value K p2 , integral gain value K i2 and derivative gain value K d2 .
  • the section-specific area 51b is a data area in which information unique to each section is described.
  • the section-specific area 51 b includes six information elements: section number 52 , target temperature 54 , target temperature resistance value 55 , gain 56 , time length 57 and end condition 58 .
  • the control scheme 53 shown in FIG. 17A is omitted. Instead, a target temperature 54 value greater than zero indicates that the PID control scheme should be applied to that interval.
  • the value of the target temperature 54 indicates zero, it means that the section is the OFF section.
  • the target temperature 54 indicates zero for the interval Sn + 1, so the interval Sn+1 is an OFF interval.
  • the gain 56 designates either the gain set K1 or the gain set K2 instead of the specific values of the three types of gains as in the example of FIG . 17A.
  • gain set K1 is designated for section Sn
  • gain set K2 is designated for section Sn+2 and section Sn + 3 .
  • one of the limited number of options defined in the common area 51a can be designated in the section-specific area 51b, thereby avoiding redundant definition of values and defining the profile data 51.
  • Data size can be reduced.
  • other control parameters such as temperature or resistance may also be specified in this manner using common area 51a.
  • a structured standard data format like the profile data 51 described above may be allocated to a predetermined data area in the storage unit 121, and the data in the data area may be rewritable. This makes it possible to change the contents of the temperature control executed by the control unit 120 simply by rewriting the profile data 51 without changing the control program. At this time, control unit 120 simply reads the latest content from the same data area of storage unit 121 and uses it.
  • profile data 51 is not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B.
  • Profile data 51 may include additional information elements, or some of the illustrated information elements may be omitted.
  • profile data 51 may include one or more of the following as common information across multiple intervals: ⁇ Name of heating profile ⁇ Version number of heating profile ⁇ Number of sections constituting heating profile ⁇ Calibration value to be added to temperature or resistance value to absorb manufacturing tolerance of resistance-temperature characteristics of heating part for each product (Can be written based on test results before product shipment)
  • the profile data 51 may additionally include one or more of the following as information that can be specified for each section: ⁇ Whether to determine the duty ratio of power supply to the heating part by PID control or use the maximum duty ratio ⁇ Whether to reset the cumulative deviation of the integral term of PID control at the start of the section ⁇ Whether to detect an abnormality kinds
  • control methods that can be specified by the profile data 51 include a method in which power supply (for heating) to the heating unit 130 is stopped, but pulses for measuring temperature or resistance are applied to the heating unit 130. It's okay.
  • a section in which such a control method is designated may be referred to as an "off section".
  • the profile data 51 may be capable of designating end conditions other than the conditions C1 to C3 described above for each section.
  • specifiable termination conditions may include conditions based on the number of aspirations detected or the total time of aspiration.
  • control parameters of the heating profile 50 described in this section may be described in a separate storage area instead of being described in the profile data 51, or may be described in the program code of the control program.
  • control unit 120 While the control unit 120 performs temperature control according to the heating profile 50 described in the profile data 51, it monitors whether the operation of the aerosol generator 10 is normal. When detecting an abnormality, the control unit 120 stops the supply of power from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130, stores an error code indicating the type of the detected abnormality in the storage unit 121, and notifies the user of the occurrence of the abnormality. .
  • Several types of anomalies that may be detected by control unit 120 in relation to temperature control of heating unit 130 will now be described.
  • control unit 120 monitors the amount of change in the first temperature index per predetermined time interval while power is being supplied to heating unit 130 in interval S0. Then, when the amount of change in the first temperature index is below the threshold, the control unit 120 determines that there is a possibility that a malfunction has occurred in the measurement circuit 150, and stops power supply from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130.
  • the threshold here may be, for example, a temperature change of 10° C. (change in resistance value corresponding to 10° C.) during a time interval of 3 seconds.
  • the control unit 120 determines that the temperature of the heating unit 130 has not reached the target temperature when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of heating in the section S0. When determined from the temperature index, power supply from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130 is stopped.
  • the predetermined time here may be equal to the length of time specified by the heating profile 50 for the section S0 (or may be defined separately from the heating profile 50), for example 60 seconds.
  • control unit 120 sets the temperature of heating unit 130 indicated by the first temperature index to is compared with the first temperature H1.
  • the control unit 120 determines that the heating unit 130 is overheated, and controls the temperature according to the heating profile 50. exit. Overheating detection based on the first temperature index may be performed not only when heating is restarted, but also periodically during sections other than the OFF section.
  • the control unit 120 may compare the temperature of the heating unit 130 indicated by the second temperature index with the first temperature H1 in the interval S3 so that the overheating state of the heating unit 130 can be detected even in the OFF interval. In this case as well, the control unit 120 determines that the heating unit 130 is overheated when it is determined that the temperature of the heating unit 130 is higher than the first temperature H1, and follows the heating profile 50. end the temperature control. As a result, it is possible to increase the possibility of early detection of an overheating state caused by some problem during the off period.
  • Abnormality detection may be performed periodically as part of the normal control routine of the control unit 120, or may be performed at specific timing such as the start of heating or the transition of sections.
  • a detection circuit separate from the control unit 120 may detect an anomaly and notify the control unit 120 of the detected anomaly (for example, by an interrupt signal).
  • FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing an example of the overall flow of aerosol generation processing according to one embodiment.
  • control unit 120 monitors an input signal from the input detection unit 122 and waits for a user input requesting the start of heating (for example, a long press of a button).
  • a user input requesting the start of heating for example, a long press of a button.
  • the controller 120 checks the state of the aerosol generator 10 to start heating.
  • the state check here may include arbitrary check conditions, such as whether the remaining power of the battery 140 is sufficient and whether the front panel 102 has fallen off. If one or more check conditions are not met, heating is not initiated and processing returns to S101. If all check conditions are satisfied, the process proceeds to S105.
  • control unit 120 reads the profile data 51 from a predetermined storage area of the storage unit 121. Subsequent steps S107 to S133 are repeated for each of a plurality of sections included in heating profile 50 described in profile data 51 .
  • control unit 120 determines whether the current section is a PID control section or an OFF section based on the "section type" that specifies the control method to be applied to the current section. If the current section is the PID control section, the process proceeds to S110. On the other hand, if the current section is an OFF section, the process proceeds to S120.
  • control unit 120 performs temperature control processing for the PID control section so that the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the temperature specified for the current section. A more specific flow of the temperature control process executed here will be further described later.
  • control unit 120 performs temperature control processing for the off period so that the temperature of the heating unit 130 decreases toward the temperature specified for the current period. A more specific flow of the temperature control process executed here will be further described later.
  • the control unit 120 determines whether the heating profile 50 has the next section in S131. If there is a next section in the heating profile 50, the temperature control transitions to the next section in S131, and the above-described S107 to S133 are repeated with the next section as the current section. If there is no next section, the aerosol generation process of FIG. 18 ends.
  • FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of temperature control processing for the PID control section executed in S110 of FIG.
  • the control unit 120 acquires the target temperature and time length specified in the heating profile 50 for the current section, and sets end conditions for the current section. For example, when the termination condition is condition C1 or C3, the control unit 120 sets the specified length of time in the timer and starts the timer. If the end condition is condition C2 or C3, the control unit 120 sets a control threshold (for example, a threshold considering the allowable deviation) to be compared with the first temperature index based on the designated target temperature. .
  • a control threshold for example, a threshold considering the allowable deviation
  • the control unit 120 sets the PID control parameters for the current section. For example, the control unit 120 sets the target temperature resistance value, the proportional gain, the integral gain, and the differential gain as target values for PID control to the values specified in the heating profile 50 for the current section.
  • S113 to S118 are repeated for each control cycle.
  • the control unit 120 determines whether or not to linearly interpolate the target value of PID control.
  • linear interpolation is specified as the "PID control type" of the heating profile 50 for the current section
  • the control unit 120 changes the target value of the PID control step by step in each control cycle in S114. Reset by linear interpolation. If “constant” is specified as the "PID control type" for the current section, S114 is skipped.
  • the control unit 120 uses the measurement circuit 150 to obtain a first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit 130 .
  • the index value acquired here may be, for example, the average value of the results of multiple resistance value measurements, as described with reference to FIG.
  • control unit 120 determines whether or not the conditions for ending the current section set in S111 are satisfied. If it is determined that the end condition of the current section is not satisfied, the process proceeds to S117.
  • the control unit 120 calculates the PWM duty ratio for the latest control cycle according to the PID control formula described using formula (1).
  • the control unit 120 supplies power from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130 by outputting a control pulse having a pulse width based on the calculated duty ratio to the first switch 131 and the second switch 132 .
  • FIG. 20A is a flow chart showing a first example of the flow of the temperature control process for the off period executed in S120 of FIG.
  • control unit 120 acquires the target temperature and time length specified in the heating profile 50 for the current section, and sets end conditions for the current section.
  • An example of setting for each termination condition here may be the same as that described in relation to S111 of FIG.
  • control unit 120 acquires a second temperature index based on the output value from the thermistor 155.
  • control unit 120 sets the value of the second temperature index obtained in S122 to a value that is previously determined between the first temperature index and the second temperature index so as to compensate for the delay in change of the value. are corrected using the relationship
  • the control unit 120 determines whether or not the condition for ending the current section set in S121 is satisfied based on the value of the second temperature index corrected in S123. If it is determined that the end condition of the current section is not satisfied, the process returns to S122, and the above-described S122 to S124 are repeated. If it is determined that the end condition of the current section is satisfied, the temperature control process of FIG. 20A ends.
  • FIG. 20B is a flow chart showing a second example of the flow of the temperature control process for the off period executed in S120 of FIG.
  • S121 to S124 in FIG. 20B may be the same processing steps as S121 to S124 in FIG. 20A, description thereof will be omitted here.
  • the control unit 120 determines in S125 whether or not the current section will end earlier than the predetermined time.
  • the predetermined time is the time at which the length of time acquired in S121 elapses from the start time of the current section. If the current section ends earlier than the predetermined time, the control unit 120 adds the remaining time until the predetermined time to the length of time specified by the heating profile 50 for the subsequent section of the current section in S126.
  • FIG. 20C is a flow chart showing a third example of the flow of the temperature control process for the off period executed in S120 of FIG.
  • S121 to S126 of FIG. 20C may be the same processing steps as S121 to S126 of FIG. 20B, except that the process proceeds to S127 when it is determined in S125 that the current section does not end earlier than the predetermined time. Therefore, their description is omitted here.
  • control unit 120 determines whether the current section ends later than the predetermined time. If the current section ends later than the predetermined time, the controller 120 subtracts the excess time from the predetermined time from the length of time specified by the heating profile 50 for the subsequent section of the current section in S128.
  • control unit 120 skips the temperature control for the subsequent section, and Deductions of hours from the length of time specified may be made.
  • FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of end determination processing corresponding to S116 of FIG. 19 that can be applied to section S0.
  • the end determination process shown in FIG. 21 may be applied to the recovery segment S4a.
  • control unit 120 acquires a control threshold value equal to the product of the target temperature control value for the current section and the coefficient representing the allowable deviation. Note that this processing step need only be performed once at the beginning of each interval.
  • the control unit 120 determines whether or not the index value of the first temperature index exceeds the control threshold acquired in S141.
  • the process proceeds to S143.
  • the index value of the first temperature index does not exceed the determination threshold, the process proceeds to S145.
  • the control unit 120 adds 1 to (increments) a counter N COUNT for counting the number of times the threshold is satisfied. Note that the counter N COUNT is initialized to zero at the beginning of each interval.
  • the control unit 120 determines whether or not the counter N COUNT has reached the determination threshold value M. Here, if the counter N COUNT has reached the determination threshold value M, the process proceeds to S146. On the other hand, if the counter N COUNT has not reached the determination threshold value M, the process proceeds to S145.
  • control unit 120 determines that the termination condition has not yet been satisfied for the current section. On the other hand, in S146, control unit 120 determines that the end condition is satisfied for the current section. Then, the end determination process of FIG. 21 ends.
  • FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of end determination processing corresponding to S124 in FIG. 20A or 20B that can be applied to section S3.
  • control unit 120 acquires the value currently indicated by the timer started at the start of the current section.
  • control unit 120 determines whether or not a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of the current section based on the acquired timer value.
  • the predetermined length of time here may be the length of time specified by the heating profile 50 for the current segment. If it is determined that the predetermined time has passed, the process proceeds to S157. On the other hand, if it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to S153.
  • control unit 120 determines whether or not the corrected index value of the second temperature index has reached the target value. Here, if the corrected index value reaches the target value, the process proceeds to S154. On the other hand, if the corrected index value has not reached the target value, the process proceeds to S156.
  • control unit 120 adds 1 to (increments) counter N COUNT .
  • the control unit 120 determines whether or not the counter N COUNT has reached the determination threshold value M.
  • the process proceeds to S157.
  • the process proceeds to S156.
  • control unit 120 determines that the termination condition has not yet been satisfied for the current section. On the other hand, in S157, control unit 120 determines that the termination condition is satisfied for the current section. Then, the end determination process of FIG. 22 ends.
  • FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of control parameter selection processing that can be executed at the beginning of section S4 (for example, S112 in FIG. 19) in the third modified example described above.
  • control unit 120 uses the measurement circuit 150 to acquire a first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit 130 .
  • the control unit 120 obtains a control threshold value equal to the product of the target temperature control value for the current section and the coefficient representing the allowable deviation.
  • the control unit 120 determines whether or not the index value of the first temperature index is greater than or equal to the control threshold. If the index value of the first temperature index is below the control threshold, in S164, the control unit 120 sets the control parameters for PID control in the current section to the first control parameter set for recovering the temperature of the heating unit 130. set based on On the other hand, if the index value of the first temperature index is greater than or equal to the control threshold, in S165 the control unit 120 changes the control parameter for PID control in the current section to the second control parameter for maintaining the temperature of the heating unit 130. Set based on control parameter set. At this time, the control unit 120 may reset the current temperature of the heating unit 130 as the target value of the temperature control for the current section.
  • FIG. An aerosol generating device comprises: a heating unit that heats an aerosol source to generate an aerosol; - a power source that supplies power to the heating unit; - a thermistor that outputs a value dependent on the temperature of the heating unit; - supplying power from the power source to the heating unit, - a first section in which a target value for temperature control of the heating unit is set to a value corresponding to a first temperature and power is supplied from the power source to the heating unit; - a second section, following the first section, in which the supply of power from the power supply to the heating unit is stopped so that the temperature of the heating unit decreases toward a second temperature lower than the first temperature; as well as, - a third section, following the second section, in which power is supplied from the power source to the heating unit; a control unit that controls according to a control sequence that includes
  • the second section in which the temperature of the heating section is lowered toward the second temperature, it becomes unnecessary to apply a pulse to the heating section for measuring the temperature, and the power supply from the power supply to the heating section is reduced.
  • the temperature of the heating unit can be efficiently reached to the second temperature. Since the arrival of the target temperature in the second section is determined based on the output value from the thermistor, the transition timing from the second section to the third section is not missed even if the pulse is not applied to the heating unit. .
  • the power supply is controlled using the temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating part, so the measured temperature keeps good followability to the actual temperature for temperature control. be able to.
  • An aerosol generating device comprises: a heating unit that heats an aerosol source to generate an aerosol; - a power source that supplies power to the heating unit; a control unit that controls the supply of power from the power source to the heating unit using a temperature index related to the temperature of the heating unit according to a control sequence consisting of a plurality of intervals; with - the control sequence is described by structured data including a first information element specifying a control method to be applied to temperature control in each section from among a plurality of control methods; - The plurality of control methods include a first method of performing feedback control using the temperature index, and a second method of stopping power supply from the power source to the heating unit.
  • An aerosol generating device comprises: a heating unit that heats an aerosol source to generate an aerosol; - a power source that supplies power to the heating unit; - supplying power from the power source to the heating unit, - a first section for changing the temperature of the heating section from a first temperature towards a second temperature; and - a second section following the first section for maintaining the temperature of the heating section.
  • a control unit that controls according to a control sequence consisting of a plurality of sections including with - the control sequence specifies a first length of time for the first section and a second length of time for the second section; - The control unit terminates the first section when the temperature of the heating unit reaches the second temperature, When the first section ends earlier than a first time when the first time length elapses from the start of the first section, the control unit controls the remaining time until the first time and the second time. Let the second interval continue for a total length of time.
  • the time during which the user can enjoy sucking is the first. Only the remaining time of one section is compensated. As such, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the user experience is compromised due to an early termination of the session, while maintaining proper temperature control.

Abstract

This aerosol generation device comprises: a heating unit that heats an aerosol source; a power supply that supplies electric power to the heating unit; a thermistor that outputs a value dependent on the temperature of the heating unit; and a control unit that controls the supply of electric power from the power supply to the heating unit in accordance with a control sequence that includes a first interval in which a target value in temperature control is set to a value corresponding to a first temperature and electric power is supplied to the heating unit, a second interval in which the supply of electric power is stopped such that the temperature of the heating unit falls toward a second temperature lower than the first temperature, and a third interval in which electric power is supplied to the heating unit. The control unit controls the supply of electric power from the power supply in the first and third intervals using a first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit, and determines a timing at which to end the second interval using a second temperature index based on an output value from the thermistor.

Description

エアロゾル生成装置及び制御方法Aerosol generator and control method
　本開示は、エアロゾル生成装置及び制御方法に関する。 The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generator and control method.
　エアロゾル源を加熱することによりエアロゾルを生成し、生成したエアロゾルをユーザへ送達する電気加熱式のエアロゾル生成装置が知られている。例えば、電子タバコは、そうしたエアロゾル生成装置の一種であり、生成されるエアロゾルに香味成分を付与してユーザに吸引させる。 An electrically heated aerosol generator is known that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol source and delivers the generated aerosol to a user. For example, electronic cigarettes are one type of such aerosol-generating devices that add flavoring components to the generated aerosol for inhalation by the user.
　エアロゾル源から発生する単位時間当たりのエアロゾルの量は、エアロゾル源を含有する基体の性質及び形状に加えて、基体を加熱する際の温度に依存して変動する。そのため、エアロゾル生成装置は、ユーザへ送達されるエアロゾルの量が所望の量となるように加熱温度を制御する。概して、温度の時間的変化を表現したものを温度プロファイルといい、所望の温度プロファイルを実現するための温度制御の仕様を時系列で定義したものを加熱プロファイルという。 The amount of aerosol generated from the aerosol source per unit time varies depending on the properties and shape of the substrate containing the aerosol source as well as the temperature at which the substrate is heated. As such, the aerosol generating device controls the heating temperature such that the desired amount of aerosol is delivered to the user. In general, a representation of temperature change over time is called a temperature profile, and a temperature profile defined in chronological order for realizing a desired temperature profile is called a heating profile.
　例えば、特許文献１は、第１段階で加熱要素の温度をある高い値まで上昇させ、続く第２段階で加熱要素の温度をより低い値へ下降させ、続く第３段階で加熱要素の温度を徐々に上昇させる、という温度プロファイルを開示している。この温度プロファイルによって、エアロゾルの発生量が時間的にある程度平坦化される。特許文献１は、この温度プロファイルを実現するために、典型的なフィードバック制御であるＰＩＤ制御によって加熱要素の温度を目標温度へ導くことも開示している。特許文献２は、一旦上昇させた加熱要素の温度を下降させる際に、加熱要素への電力の給電を一時的に停止する方式を開示している。 For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,900,000 raises the temperature of the heating element to a high value in a first step, lowers the temperature of the heating element to a lower value in a second step, and lowers the temperature of the heating element in a third step. It discloses a temperature profile with a gradual increase. This temperature profile flattens the amount of aerosol generation to some extent over time. In order to realize this temperature profile, Patent Document 1 also discloses that the temperature of the heating element is led to the target temperature by PID control, which is typical feedback control. Patent Literature 2 discloses a method of temporarily stopping power supply to a heating element when the temperature of the heating element, which has been raised once, is lowered.
特開２０２０－７４７９７号公報JP 2020-74797 A 特表２０１９－５３１０４９号公報Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-531049
　しかしながら、既存のエアロゾル生成装置には、加熱期間にわたって加熱温度をどのように制御するかに関し、未だ改善の余地が残されている。例えば、温度を測定して制御へフィードバックするために実温度に対する測定温度の追従性が十分であることが求められるが、温度制御の局面によっては温度制御の効率性と測定温度の追従性の双方を両立させることは容易ではない。また、一般に、温度制御の制御内容は、設計時の試行錯誤を通じてチューニングされるが、実際にエアロゾルが吸引される機会における環境条件は一定ではなく、基体の性質にも種別によって差がある。そのため、チューニングが一度終了した後でも制御を柔軟に変更できなければ、環境の変化や種別の変更といった場面で最適ではない制御を適用せざるを得ない状況に陥る。また、加熱プロファイルの進行を目標温度の達成によって制御しようとすると、条件に依存して進行のタイミングが前後し、セッションの早期終了、あるいは逆に長期化に起因するエアロゾル発生量の低下が、ユーザ体験の毀損につながる虞がある。 However, existing aerosol generators still have room for improvement regarding how to control the heating temperature over the heating period. For example, in order to measure the temperature and feed it back to the control, it is required that the measured temperature follows the actual temperature sufficiently. It is not easy to reconcile In general, the details of temperature control are tuned through trial and error during design, but the environmental conditions are not constant when the aerosol is actually inhaled, and the properties of the substrate also differ depending on the type. Therefore, if the control cannot be flexibly changed even after the tuning is completed, it will be forced to apply sub-optimal control when the environment changes or the type changes. In addition, when trying to control the progress of the heating profile by achieving the target temperature, the timing of the progress varies depending on the conditions, and the user may end the session early or, conversely, reduce the amount of aerosol generated due to prolonged sessions. It can lead to loss of experience.
　本開示に係る技術は、上述した不都合を少なくとも部分的に解消し又は軽減し、エアロゾル生成のための改善された温度制御を実現しようとするものである。 The technology according to the present disclosure seeks to at least partially eliminate or alleviate the above-described disadvantages and achieve improved temperature control for aerosol generation.
　ある観点によれば、エアロゾル源を加熱してエアロゾルを発生させる加熱部と、前記加熱部へ電力を供給する電源と、前記加熱部の温度に依存する値を出力するサーミスタと、前記電源から前記加熱部への電力の供給を、前記加熱部の温度制御の目標値を第１温度に対応する値に設定して前記電源から前記加熱部へ電力を供給させる第１区間、前記第１区間に後続する、前記加熱部の温度が前記第１温度よりも低い第２温度へ向けて下降するように前記電源から前記加熱部への電力の供給を停止させる第２区間、及び、前記第２区間に後続する、前記電源から前記加熱部へ電力を供給させる第３区間、を少なくとも含む制御シーケンスに従って制御する制御部と、を備え、前記制御部は、前記第１区間及び前記第３区間において、前記加熱部の電気抵抗値に基づく第１温度指標を用いて、前記電源からの電力の供給を制御し、前記第２区間を終了させるタイミングを前記サーミスタからの出力値に基づく第２温度指標を用いて判定する、エアロゾル生成装置が提供される。 According to one aspect, a heating unit that heats an aerosol source to generate an aerosol, a power source that supplies power to the heating unit, a thermistor that outputs a value dependent on the temperature of the heating unit, Power is supplied to the heating unit in a first section in which a target value for temperature control of the heating section is set to a value corresponding to a first temperature and power is supplied from the power source to the heating section. a subsequent second interval in which the supply of power from the power supply to the heating unit is stopped so that the temperature of the heating unit decreases toward a second temperature lower than the first temperature; and the second interval. and a control unit that controls according to a control sequence including at least a third interval in which power is supplied from the power source to the heating unit, and the control unit controls in the first interval and the third interval, A first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit is used to control the supply of power from the power supply, and a second temperature index based on the output value from the thermistor is used to determine the timing for ending the second interval. An aerosol generating device is provided that determines using.
　前記制御部は、前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度に到達したと前記第２温度指標から判定される場合に、前記第２区間を終了させてもよい。 The control unit may end the second interval when it is determined from the second temperature index that the temperature of the heating unit has reached the second temperature.
　前記制御部は、前記第１温度指標と前記第２温度指標との間の関係性に基づいて前記第２区間において前記第２温度指標を補正し、補正後の前記第２温度指標を用いて前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度に到達したかを判定してもよい。 The control unit corrects the second temperature index in the second interval based on the relationship between the first temperature index and the second temperature index, and uses the corrected second temperature index to It may be determined whether the temperature of the heating unit has reached the second temperature.
　前記制御部は、前記第２区間に先行する区間において、前記加熱部の前記電気抵抗値に基づく前記第１温度指標、及び前記サーミスタからの前記出力値に基づく前記第２温度指標を取得し、取得した前記第１温度指標と取得した前記第２温度指標との間の前記関係性を判定してもよい。 The control unit acquires the first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit and the second temperature index based on the output value from the thermistor in a section preceding the second section, The relationship between the obtained first temperature indicator and the obtained second temperature indicator may be determined.
　前記第１温度指標と前記第２温度指標との間の前記関係性は、前記第１温度指標と前記第２温度指標との間の温度変化率における差を含んでもよい。 The relationship between the first temperature indicator and the second temperature indicator may include a difference in temperature change rate between the first temperature indicator and the second temperature indicator.
　前記制御部は、前記第３区間を開始する際に前記第１温度指標が示す前記加熱部の温度に依存して異なる制御パラメータ集合を用いて、前記第３区間における前記電源からの電力の供給を制御してもよい。 The control unit supplies power from the power source in the third interval using a different set of control parameters depending on the temperature of the heating unit indicated by the first temperature indicator when starting the third interval. may be controlled.
　前記制御部は、前記第３区間を開始する際の前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度よりも低い場合には、前記加熱部の温度を前記第２温度に回復させるための第１の制御パラメータ集合を使用し、前記第３区間を開始する際の前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度以上である第３温度である場合には、前記加熱部の温度を前記第３温度に維持するための第２の制御パラメータ集合を使用してもよい。 The control unit performs first control for restoring the temperature of the heating unit to the second temperature when the temperature of the heating unit is lower than the second temperature when the third interval is started. using a parameter set, if the temperature of the heating unit at the start of the third interval is a third temperature that is greater than or equal to the second temperature, maintaining the temperature of the heating unit at the third temperature; A second set of control parameters for may be used.
　前記第１の制御パラメータ集合は、フィードバック制御の比例ゲインの第１の値を含み、前記第２の制御パラメータ集合は、フィードバック制御の比例ゲインの第２の値を含み、前記第１の値は前記第２の値よりも大きくてもよい。 The first control parameter set includes a feedback control proportional gain first value, the second control parameter set includes a feedback control proportional gain second value, the first value is It may be greater than the second value.
　前記第１の制御パラメータ集合に含まれるフィードバック制御の比例ゲインの前記第１の値は、前記加熱部の予熱の際に使用される比例ゲインの値に等しくてもよい。 The first value of the proportional gain of feedback control included in the first set of control parameters may be equal to the value of the proportional gain used when preheating the heating unit.
　前記制御部は、前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度に到達する前であっても、前記第２区間の開始から所定の時間が経過した場合に、前記第２区間を終了させてもよい。 The control unit may end the second interval even before the temperature of the heating unit reaches the second temperature, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the second interval. .
　他の観点によれば、エアロゾル生成装置におけるエアロゾルの生成を制御するための制御方法が提供される。当該制御方法は、エアロゾル生成装置の上述した特徴のうちの任意の組合せに対応する処理ステップを含んでよい。 According to another aspect, a control method is provided for controlling the generation of aerosol in an aerosol generator. The control method may include processing steps corresponding to any combination of the above-described features of the aerosol generating device.
　本開示に係る技術によれば、エアロゾル生成のための改善された温度制御を実現することができる。 According to the technology according to the present disclosure, improved temperature control for aerosol generation can be achieved.
一実施形態に係るエアロゾル生成装置の外観を示す斜視図。The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the aerosol generation apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. 図１のエアロゾル生成装置へのたばこスティックの挿入について説明するための説明図。FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining insertion of a tobacco stick into the aerosol generating device of FIG. 1; 図１のエアロゾル生成装置の概略的な回路構成の一例を示すブロック図。FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic circuit configuration of the aerosol generator of FIG. 1; 加熱部の温度の測定に使用される測定回路の構成の一例を示すブロック図。FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a measurement circuit used to measure the temperature of the heating section; 加熱期間中の測定期間及びＰＷＭ制御期間について説明するための説明図。FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a measurement period and a PWM control period during a heating period; 加熱部とサーミスタとの間の位置関係の一例について説明するための説明図。FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the positional relationship between the heating unit and the thermistor; 一実施形態に係る温度プロファイル及び加熱プロファイルについて説明するための説明図。Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the temperature profile and heating profile which concern on one Embodiment. 降温区間の終了が所定時刻よりも早いために後続区間の時間長に残余時間が追加される場合の温度プロファイルの一例を示す説明図。FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a temperature profile when a remaining time is added to the time length of the subsequent section because the temperature drop section ends earlier than the predetermined time; 第１温度指標と第２温度指標との間の関係性について説明するための説明図。FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the first temperature index and the second temperature index; 降温区間の終了時点の温度に後続区間の目標温度を再設定する場合の温度プロファイルの２つの例を示す説明図。FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing two examples of temperature profiles when the target temperature of the subsequent interval is reset to the temperature at the end of the temperature drop interval. 第１の変形例において降温区間の終了が所定時刻よりも遅いために後続区間が短縮される場合の温度プロファイルの一例を示す説明図。FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a temperature profile in a case where the subsequent section is shortened because the temperature drop section ends later than the predetermined time in the first modification; 第２の変形例において降温区間の終了が所定時刻よりも遅いために後続区間が短縮される場合の温度プロファイルの一例を示す説明図。FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a temperature profile in a case where the subsequent section is shortened because the temperature drop section ends later than the predetermined time in the second modification; 第１の変形例において降温区間の終了が所定時刻よりも大きく遅れるために後続区間がスキップされ且つさらなる後続区間が短縮される場合の温度プロファイルの一例を示す説明図。FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a temperature profile in a case where the end of the temperature drop section is significantly delayed from the predetermined time, so that the subsequent section is skipped and the further subsequent section is shortened in the first modified example; 第２の変形例において降温区間の終了が所定時刻よりも大きく遅れるために後続区間がスキップされ且つさらなる後続区間が短縮される場合の温度プロファイルの一例を示す説明図。FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a temperature profile in a case where the end of the temperature drop section is significantly delayed from the predetermined time, so that the subsequent section is skipped and the further subsequent section is shortened in the second modification; 終了前の温度維持区間の目標温度を基準時点の温度に再設定する場合の温度プロファイルの一例を示す説明図。Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the temperature profile in the case of resetting the target temperature of the temperature maintenance area before completion|finish to the temperature of a reference time. 第３の変形例に係る回復区間を含む温度プロファイルの一例を示す説明図。FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a temperature profile including a recovery section according to a third modified example; 加熱プロファイルを記述するプロファイルデータの構成の第１の例を示す説明図。FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a first example of the configuration of profile data describing a heating profile; 加熱プロファイルを記述するプロファイルデータの構成の第２の例を示す説明図。FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a second example of the configuration of profile data describing a heating profile; 一実施形態に係るエアロゾル生成処理の全体的な流れの一例を示すフローチャート。4 is a flowchart showing an example of the overall flow of aerosol generation processing according to one embodiment; 図１８のＰＩＤ制御区間のための温度制御処理の流れの一例を示すフローチャート。FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing an example of a temperature control process flow for the PID control section of FIG. 18; FIG. 図１８のオフ区間のための温度制御処理の流れの第１の例を示すフローチャート。FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a first example of the flow of temperature control processing for the off period of FIG. 18; FIG. 図１８のオフ区間のための温度制御処理の流れの第２の例を示すフローチャート。FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a second example of the flow of temperature control processing for the off period of FIG. 18; FIG. 図１８のオフ区間のための温度制御処理の流れの第３の例を示すフローチャート。FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a third example of the flow of temperature control processing for the off period of FIG. 18; FIG. 予熱昇温区間の終了判定処理の流れの一例を示すフローチャート。4 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of a process for judging the end of a preheating period. 降温区間の終了判定処理の流れの一例を示すフローチャート。4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a process for determining the end of a temperature drop section; 降温区間の終了後の制御パラメータ選択処理の流れの一例を示すフローチャート。4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of control parameter selection processing after the end of the temperature drop section;
　以下、添付図面を参照して実施形態を詳しく説明する。なお、以下の実施形態は特許請求の範囲に係る発明を限定するものではなく、また実施形態で説明されている特徴の組み合わせの全てが発明に必須のものとは限らない。実施形態で説明されている複数の特徴のうち二つ以上の特徴は任意に組み合わされてもよい。また、同一若しくは同様の構成には同一の参照番号を付し、重複した説明は省略する。 Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be combined arbitrarily. Also, the same or similar configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.
＜＜１．装置の構成例＞＞
　本明細書では、本開示に係る技術が、燃焼を伴うことなくエアロゾル源を加熱することにより霧化させてエアロゾルを生成する非燃焼型の装置に適用される例を主に説明する。そうした装置は、リスク低減製品（ＲＲＰ）、又は単に電子タバコとも呼ばれ得る。なお、かかる例に限定されず、本開示に係る技術は、例えば燃焼型の装置又は医療用のネブライザなど、いかなる種類のエアロゾル生成装置に適用されてもよい。 <<1. Device configuration example >>
In this specification, examples in which the technology according to the present disclosure is applied to a non-combustion type device that generates aerosol by atomization by heating an aerosol source without combustion will be mainly described. Such devices may also be referred to as reduced risk products (RRPs), or simply e-cigarettes. Note that the technology according to the present disclosure is not limited to such examples, and may be applied to any type of aerosol generating device, such as a combustion type device or a medical nebulizer.
　＜１－１．外観＞
　図１は、一実施形態に係るエアロゾル生成装置１０の外観を示す斜視図である。図２は、図１に示したエアロゾル生成装置１０へのたばこスティックの挿入について説明するための説明図である。図１を参照すると、エアロゾル生成装置１０は、本体１０１、前面パネル１０２、表示窓１０３、及びスライダ１０４を備える。 <1-1. Appearance>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an aerosol generator 10 according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining insertion of a tobacco stick into the aerosol generating device 10 shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 10 comprises a main body 101, a front panel 102, a viewing window 103 and a slider 104.
　本体１０１は、エアロゾル生成装置１０の１つ以上の回路基板を内部に支持する筐体である。本実施形態において、本体１０１は、図中の上下方向に長い、丸みを帯びた略直方体の形状を有する。本体１０１のサイズは、例えばユーザが片手で把持できる程度のサイズであってよい。前面パネル１０２は、本体１０１の前面を覆う可撓性のパネル部材である。前面パネル１０２は、本体１０１から取外し可能であってもよい。前面パネル１０２は、ユーザ入力を受け付ける入力部としても機能する。例えば、ユーザが前面パネル１０２の中央を押し込むと、本体１０１と前面パネル１０２との間に配設されるボタン（図示せず）が押下され、ユーザ入力が検知され得る。表示窓１０３は、前面パネル１０２の略中央で長手方向に沿って延在する帯状の窓である。表示窓１０３は、本体１０１と前面パネル１０２との間に配設される１つ以上のＬＥＤ（Light-Emitting Diode）が発する光を外部へ透過させる。 The main body 101 is a housing that supports one or more circuit boards of the aerosol generating device 10 inside. In this embodiment, the main body 101 has a substantially rounded rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the vertical direction in the figure. The size of the main body 101 may be, for example, a size that allows the user to hold it with one hand. The front panel 102 is a flexible panel member that covers the front surface of the main body 101 . Front panel 102 may be removable from body 101 . The front panel 102 also functions as an input unit for accepting user input. For example, when the user presses the center of the front panel 102, a button (not shown) disposed between the main body 101 and the front panel 102 is pressed, and user input can be detected. The display window 103 is a strip-shaped window extending in the longitudinal direction at substantially the center of the front panel 102 . The display window 103 transmits light emitted by one or more LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes) arranged between the main body 101 and the front panel 102 to the outside.
　スライダ１０４は、本体１０１の上面に方向１０４ａに沿ってスライド可能に配設されるカバー部材である。図２に示したように、スライダ１０４を図中手前へスライドさせる（即ち、スライダ１０４を開ける）と、本体１０１の上面の開口１０６が露出する。ユーザは、エアロゾル生成装置１０を使用してエアロゾルを吸引する際、スライダ１０４を開けて露出させた開口１０６から、方向１０６ａに沿って管状の挿入孔１０７へ、たばこスティック１５を挿入する。挿入孔１０７の軸方向に直交する断面は、例えば円形、楕円形又は多角形であってよく、その断面積は底面に近付くにつれて徐々に減少する。それにより、挿入孔１０７へ挿入されたたばこスティック１５の外側面が挿入孔１０７の内側面から押圧され、たばこスティック１５の脱落が摩擦力によって防止されると共に、後述する加熱部１３０からたばこスティック１５への熱伝達の伝達効率が高められる。ユーザは、エアロゾルの吸引を終了すると、たばこスティック１５を挿入孔１０７から引抜き、スライダ１０４を閉じる。 The slider 104 is a cover member slidably disposed on the upper surface of the main body 101 along the direction 104a. As shown in FIG. 2, when the slider 104 is slid forward in the drawing (that is, the slider 104 is opened), the opening 106 on the upper surface of the main body 101 is exposed. When inhaling aerosol using the aerosol generator 10, the user inserts the tobacco stick 15 from the opening 106 exposed by opening the slider 104 into the tubular insertion hole 107 along the direction 106a. The cross-section perpendicular to the axial direction of the insertion hole 107 may be circular, elliptical, or polygonal, for example, and the cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the bottom surface. As a result, the outer surface of the tobacco stick 15 inserted into the insertion hole 107 is pressed from the inner surface of the insertion hole 107, preventing the tobacco stick 15 from falling off due to the frictional force, and preventing the tobacco stick 15 from falling off from the heating unit 130, which will be described later. The transfer efficiency of heat transfer to is enhanced. When the user finishes inhaling the aerosol, the user pulls out the tobacco stick 15 from the insertion hole 107 and closes the slider 104 .
　たばこスティック１５は、筒状の巻紙の内側に充填物を保持するたばこ物品である。たばこスティック１５の充填物は、例えば、エアロゾル生成基体とたばこ刻みとの混合物であってよい。エアロゾル生成基体として、例えばグリセリン、プロピレングリコール、トリアセチン、１，３－ブタンジオール、又はこれらの混合物といった、いかなる種類のエアロゾル源を含有する基体が使用されてもよい。たばこ刻みは、いわゆる香味源である。たばこ刻みの材料は、例えばラミナ又は中骨などであってよい。なお、たばこ刻みの代わりに、非たばこ由来の香味源が使用されてもよい。 A tobacco stick 15 is a tobacco article that holds a filler inside a tubular wrapping paper. The filling of tobacco sticks 15 may be, for example, a mixture of an aerosol-generating substrate and tobacco cuts. As aerosol-generating substrates, substrates containing any type of aerosol source may be used, such as glycerin, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, or mixtures thereof. Tobacco shreds are so-called flavor sources. Tobacco shredded material may be, for example, laminae or backbones. A non-tobacco-derived flavor source may be used instead of tobacco shreds.
　＜１－２．回路構成＞
　図３は、エアロゾル生成装置１０の概略的な回路構成の一例を示すブロック図である。図３を参照すると、エアロゾル生成装置１０は、制御部１２０、記憶部１２１、入力検知部１２２、状態検知部１２３、吸引検知部１２４、発光部１２５、振動部１２６、通信インタフェース（Ｉ／Ｆ）１２７、接続Ｉ／Ｆ１２８、加熱部１３０、第１スイッチ１３１、第２スイッチ１３２、バッテリ１４０、昇圧回路１４１、残量計１４２、測定回路１５０、及びサーミスタ１５５を備える。 <1-2. Circuit configuration>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic circuit configuration of the aerosol generator 10. As shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 3, the aerosol generating device 10 includes a control unit 120, a storage unit 121, an input detection unit 122, a state detection unit 123, an suction detection unit 124, a light emission unit 125, a vibration unit 126, and a communication interface (I/F). 127 , connection I/F 128 , heating unit 130 , first switch 131 , second switch 132 , battery 140 , booster circuit 141 , fuel gauge 142 , measuring circuit 150 , and thermistor 155 .
　制御部１２０は、例えばＣＰＵ（Central Processing Unit）又はマイクロコントローラといったプロセッサであってよい。制御部１２０は、記憶部１２１に記憶されるコンピュータプログラム（ソフトウェア又はファームウェアともいう）を実行することにより、エアロゾル生成装置１０の機能全般を制御する。記憶部１２１は、例えば半導体メモリであってよい。記憶部１２１は、１つ以上のコンピュータプログラムと、後述する加熱制御のために利用される様々なデータ（例えば、加熱プロファイル５０を記述するプロファイルデータ５１）とを記憶する。 The control unit 120 may be a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microcontroller. The control unit 120 controls all functions of the aerosol generation device 10 by executing computer programs (also referred to as software or firmware) stored in the storage unit 121 . The storage unit 121 may be, for example, a semiconductor memory. The storage unit 121 stores one or more computer programs and various data (for example, profile data 51 describing the heating profile 50) used for heating control, which will be described later.
　入力検知部１２２は、ユーザ入力を検知するための検知回路である。入力検知部１２２は、例えば、ユーザによる前面パネル１０２の押し込み（即ち、ボタンの押下）を検知し、検知した状態を示す入力信号を制御部１２０へ出力する。なお、エアロゾル生成装置１０は、前面パネル１０２の代わりに（又はそれに加えて）、例えばボタン、スイッチ又はタッチ感応面など、いかなる種類の入力デバイスを備えていてもよい。状態検知部１２３は、スライダ１０４の開閉状態を検知するための検知回路である。状態検知部１２３は、スライダ１０４が開かれているか又は閉じられているかを示す状態検知信号を制御部１２０へ出力する。吸引検知部１２４は、ユーザによるたばこスティック１５の吸引（パフ）を検知するための検知回路である。一例として、吸引検知部１２４は、開口１０６の近傍に配設されるサーミスタ（図示せず）を含んでもよい。この場合、吸引検知部１２４は、ユーザによる吸引に起因する温度変化がもたらすサーミスタの抵抗値の変化に基づいて吸引を検知し得る。他の例として、吸引検知部１２４は、挿入孔１０７の底部に配設される圧力センサ（図示せず）を含んでもよい。この場合、吸引検知部１２４は、吸引により引き起こされる気流がもたらす気圧の減少に基づいて吸引を検知し得る。吸引検知部１２４は、例えば、吸引が行われているか否かを示す吸引検知信号を制御部１２０へ出力する。 The input detection unit 122 is a detection circuit for detecting user input. The input detection unit 122 detects, for example, pressing of the front panel 102 by the user (that is, pressing of a button), and outputs an input signal indicating the detected state to the control unit 120 . It should be noted that instead of (or in addition to) the front panel 102, the aerosol generating device 10 may comprise any kind of input device, such as buttons, switches or touch-sensitive surfaces. The state detection unit 123 is a detection circuit for detecting the open/closed state of the slider 104 . State detection unit 123 outputs a state detection signal indicating whether slider 104 is open or closed to control unit 120 . The suction detection unit 124 is a detection circuit for detecting suction (puffing) of the tobacco stick 15 by the user. As an example, suction detection unit 124 may include a thermistor (not shown) disposed near opening 106 . In this case, the suction detection unit 124 can detect suction based on a change in the resistance value of the thermistor caused by a temperature change caused by the user's suction. As another example, the suction detection unit 124 may include a pressure sensor (not shown) arranged at the bottom of the insertion hole 107 . In this case, the suction detection unit 124 can detect suction based on a decrease in air pressure caused by airflow caused by suction. The suction detection unit 124 outputs, for example, a suction detection signal indicating whether or not suction is being performed to the control unit 120 .
　発光部１２５は、１つ以上のＬＥＤと、ＬＥＤを駆動するためのドライバとを含む。発光部１２５は、制御部１２０から入力される指示信号に従ってＬＥＤの各々を発光させる。振動部１２６は、バイブレータ（例えば、偏心モータ）と、バイブレータを駆動するためのドライバとを含む。振動部１２６は、制御部１２０から入力される指示信号に従ってバイブレータを振動させる。制御部１２０は、例えば、エアロゾル生成装置１０の何らかのステータス（例えば、セッションの進行状況）をユーザに報知するために、発光部１２５及び振動部１２６の一方又は双方を任意のパターンで使用してよい。例えば、発光部１２５の発光パターンは、各ＬＥＤの発光状態（常時発光／点滅／非発光）、点滅周期、及び発光色といった要素で区別され得る。振動部１２６の振動パターンは、バイブレータの振動状態（振動／停止）及び振動の強さといった要素で区別され得る。 The light emitting unit 125 includes one or more LEDs and a driver for driving the LEDs. Light emitting unit 125 causes each of the LEDs to emit light according to an instruction signal input from control unit 120 . Vibrating section 126 includes a vibrator (eg, an eccentric motor) and a driver for driving the vibrator. Vibrating section 126 vibrates the vibrator according to an instruction signal input from control section 120 . The control unit 120 may use one or both of the light emitting unit 125 and the vibrating unit 126 in any pattern, for example, to notify the user of some status of the aerosol generating device 10 (eg progress of a session). . For example, the light emission pattern of the light emitting unit 125 can be distinguished by factors such as the light emission state of each LED (constant light emission/blinking/non-light emission), blinking period, and emission color. The vibration pattern of the vibrating section 126 can be distinguished by factors such as the vibration state (vibration/stop) of the vibrator and the strength of the vibration.
　無線Ｉ／Ｆ１２７は、エアロゾル生成装置１０が他の装置（例えば、ユーザが所持するＰＣ（Personal Computer）又はスマートフォン）と無線で通信するための通信インタフェースである。無線Ｉ／Ｆ１２７は、例えばＢｌｕｅｔｏｏｔｈ（登録商標）、ＮＦＣ（Near Field Communication）、又は無線ＬＡＮ（Local Area Network）といった任意の無線通信プロトコルに準拠するインタフェースであってよい。接続Ｉ／Ｆ１２８は、エアロゾル生成装置１０を他の装置へ接続するための端子を有する有線インタフェースである。接続Ｉ／Ｆ１２８は、例えばＵＳＢ（Universal Serial Bus）インタフェースであってよい。接続Ｉ／Ｆ１２８は、外部電源から（図示しない給電線を介して）バッテリ１４０を充電するために利用されてもよい。 The wireless I/F 127 is a communication interface for the aerosol generating device 10 to wirelessly communicate with other devices (for example, a PC (Personal Computer) or smartphone owned by the user). The wireless I/F 127 may be an interface conforming to any wireless communication protocol such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), NFC (Near Field Communication), or wireless LAN (Local Area Network). The connection I/F 128 is a wired interface having terminals for connecting the aerosol generating device 10 to other devices. The connection I/F 128 may be, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface. Connection I/F 128 may be used to charge battery 140 from an external power supply (via a power supply line not shown).
　加熱部１３０は、たばこスティック１５のエアロゾル生成基体に含まれるエアロゾル源を加熱してエアロゾルを発生させる抵抗発熱性の部品である。加熱部１３０の抵抗発熱材料として、例えば、銅、ニッケル合金、クロム合金、ステンレス、及び白金ロジウムのうちの１つ、又は２つ以上の混合物が使用されてよい。加熱部１３０の一端は第１スイッチ１３１及び昇圧回路１４１を介してバッテリ１４０の正極へ接続され、加熱部１３０の他端は第２スイッチ１３２を介してバッテリ１４０の負極へ接続される。第１スイッチ１３１は、加熱部１３０と昇圧回路１４１との間の給電線に設けられるスイッチング素子である。第２スイッチ１３２は、加熱部１３０とバッテリ１４０との間の接地線に設けられるスイッチング素子である。第１スイッチ１３１及び第２スイッチ１３２は、例えばＦＥＴ（Field Effect Transistor）であってよい。 The heating unit 130 is a resistance heating component that heats the aerosol source contained in the aerosol-generating substrate of the tobacco stick 15 to generate an aerosol. As the resistance heating material of the heating part 130, for example, one or a mixture of two or more of copper, nickel alloy, chromium alloy, stainless steel, and platinum-rhodium may be used. One end of the heating unit 130 is connected to the positive electrode of the battery 140 via the first switch 131 and the booster circuit 141 , and the other end of the heating unit 130 is connected to the negative electrode of the battery 140 via the second switch 132 . The first switch 131 is a switching element provided on the feeder line between the heating section 130 and the booster circuit 141 . Second switch 132 is a switching element provided in the ground line between heating unit 130 and battery 140 . The first switch 131 and the second switch 132 may be FETs (Field Effect Transistors), for example.
　バッテリ１４０は、加熱部１３０及びエアロゾル生成装置１０の他の構成要素へ電力を供給するための電源である。図３では、バッテリ１４０から加熱部１３０以外の構成要素への給電線は省略されている。バッテリ１４０は、例えばリチウムイオンバッテリであってよい。昇圧回路（ＤＣ／ＤＣコンバータ）１４１は、加熱部１３０への給電のためにバッテリ１４０の電圧を増幅する電圧変換回路である。残量計１４２は、バッテリ１４０の電力の残量その他のステータスを監視するためのＩＣチップである。残量計１４２は、例えば、充電率（ＳＯＣ：State Of Charge）、劣化度（ＳＯＨ：State Of Health）、相対充電率（ＲＳＯＣ）及び電源電圧といったバッテリ１４０のステータス値を周期的に計測し、計測結果を制御部１２０へ出力し得る。 The battery 140 is a power source for supplying power to the heating unit 130 and other components of the aerosol generating device 10. In FIG. 3, power supply lines from the battery 140 to components other than the heating unit 130 are omitted. Battery 140 may be, for example, a lithium-ion battery. A booster circuit (DC/DC converter) 141 is a voltage conversion circuit that amplifies the voltage of the battery 140 to supply power to the heating unit 130 . The remaining amount gauge 142 is an IC chip for monitoring the remaining amount of power of the battery 140 and other statuses. The fuel gauge 142 periodically measures the status values of the battery 140, for example, the state of charge (SOC), the state of health (SOH), the relative state of charge (RSOC), and the power supply voltage, A measurement result can be output to the control unit 120 .
　制御部１２０は、加熱の開始を求めるユーザ入力が検知された場合に、バッテリ１４０から加熱部１３０への電力の供給を開始させる。ここでのユーザ入力は、例えば、入力検知部１２２により検知されるボタンの長押しであってよい。制御部１２０は、第１スイッチ１３１及び第２スイッチ１３２へ制御信号を出力して両スイッチをオンすることにより、昇圧回路１４１で増幅された電圧で、バッテリ１４０から加熱部１３０へ電力を供給させることができる。第１スイッチ１３１及び第２スイッチ１３２がＦＥＴである場合には、制御部１２０から両スイッチへ出力される制御信号は、それぞれのゲートへ印加される制御パルスである。制御部１２０は、後述する温度制御において、この制御パルスのデューティ比をパルス幅変調（ＰＷＭ）によって調整する。なお、制御部１２０は、ＰＷＭの代わりにパルス周波数変調（ＰＦＭ）を利用してもよい。 The control unit 120 starts supplying power from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130 when a user input requesting the start of heating is detected. The user input here may be, for example, a long press of a button detected by the input detection unit 122 . The control unit 120 outputs a control signal to the first switch 131 and the second switch 132 to turn on both switches, thereby supplying power from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130 with the voltage amplified by the booster circuit 141. be able to. When the first switch 131 and the second switch 132 are FETs, the control signal output from the control section 120 to both switches is a control pulse applied to each gate. The control unit 120 adjusts the duty ratio of this control pulse by pulse width modulation (PWM) in temperature control, which will be described later. Note that the control unit 120 may use pulse frequency modulation (PFM) instead of PWM.
　＜１－３．ヒータ温度の測定＞
　本実施形態において、制御部１２０は、バッテリ１４０から加熱部１３０への電力の供給を、予熱期間及び吸引可能期間を含む加熱期間の全体を通じて、良好なユーザ体験を提供するための所望の温度プロファイルを実現するように制御する。その制御は、主として、加熱部１３０の温度との相関を有する温度指標を制御量、ＰＷＭのデューティ比を操作量とするフィードバック制御であってよい。ここでは、フィードバック制御としてＰＩＤ制御が採用されるものとする。本実施形態において、エアロゾル生成装置１０は、加熱部１３０の温度指標を測定するための２種類の測定部を有する。図３に示した測定回路１５０は、それら２種類の測定部のうちの１つであり、加熱部１３０の電気抵抗値に基づく第１温度指標を測定する。他の測定部は、後に説明するサーミスタ１５５である。 <1-3. Measurement of heater temperature>
In this embodiment, the control unit 120 controls the power supply from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130 throughout the heating period, including the preheating period and the suckable period, according to a desired temperature profile to provide a good user experience. control to achieve The control may be mainly feedback control in which the temperature index having a correlation with the temperature of the heating unit 130 is used as a control amount, and the PWM duty ratio is used as an operation amount. Here, PID control shall be adopted as feedback control. In this embodiment, the aerosol generating device 10 has two types of measurement units for measuring the temperature index of the heating unit 130 . The measurement circuit 150 shown in FIG. 3 is one of these two types of measurement units, and measures the first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit 130 . Another measuring unit is a thermistor 155, which will be described later.
　図４は、図３に示した測定回路１５０の構成の一例を示すブロック図である。図４を参照すると、測定回路１５０は、分圧抵抗１５１、１５２、１５３及びオペアンプ１５４を含む。分圧抵抗１５１の一端は電源電圧ＶＴＥＭＰへ接続され、他端は分圧抵抗１５２の一端へ接続される。分圧抵抗１５２の他端は接地される。分圧抵抗１５１と分圧抵抗１５２との間の接点は、制御部１２０の端子ＡＤＣ＿ＶＴＥＭＰへ接続される。端子ＡＤＣ＿ＶＴＥＭＰへの入力は、抵抗値測定のための基準値を示す。分圧抵抗１５３の一端は電源電圧ＶＴＥＭＰへ接続され、他端は加熱部１３０の給電線へ接続される。分圧抵抗１５３と加熱部１３０の給電線との間の接点は、オペアンプ１５４の第１入力端子へ接続される。オペアンプ１５４の第２入力端子は、接地される。オペアンプ１５４の出力端子は、制御部１２０の端子ＡＤＣ＿ＨＥＡＴ＿ＴＥＭＰへ接続される。端子ＡＤＣ＿ＨＥＡＴ＿ＴＥＭＰへの入力は、加熱部１３０の温度に依存する電気抵抗値Ｒｈによって変化する値を示す。制御部１２０は、端子ＡＤＣ＿ＶＴＥＭＰへの入力値（基準値）に対する端子ＡＤＣ＿ＨＥＡＴ＿ＴＥＭＰへの入力値の比に基づいて、加熱部１３０の電気抵抗値Ｒｈを算出することができる。 FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of measurement circuit 150 shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 4, measurement circuit 150 includes voltage dividing resistors 151 , 152 , 153 and operational amplifier 154 . One end of the voltage dividing resistor 151 is connected to the power supply voltage V TEMP and the other end is connected to one end of the voltage dividing resistor 152 . The other end of voltage dividing resistor 152 is grounded. A contact point between the voltage dividing resistor 151 and the voltage dividing resistor 152 is connected to the terminal ADC_VTEMP of the control section 120 . An input to terminal ADC_VTEMP indicates a reference value for resistance measurements. One end of the voltage dividing resistor 153 is connected to the power supply voltage V TEMP and the other end is connected to the power supply line of the heating unit 130 . A contact point between the voltage dividing resistor 153 and the power supply line of the heating unit 130 is connected to a first input terminal of an operational amplifier 154 . A second input terminal of the operational amplifier 154 is grounded. The output terminal of operational amplifier 154 is connected to terminal ADC_HEAT_TEMP of control section 120 . The input to the terminal ADC_HEAT_TEMP indicates a value that varies with the electrical resistance value Rh that depends on the temperature of the heating unit 130 . The control unit 120 can calculate the electrical resistance value Rh of the heating unit 130 based on the ratio of the input value to the terminal ADC_HEAT_TEMP to the input value (reference value) to the terminal ADC_VTEMP.
　ここで、加熱部１３０の電気抵抗値は、例えば温度が上昇するにつれて単調に増加する（即ち、温度との相関を有する）という特性を有する。そのため、本実施形態では、制御部１２０は、測定回路１５０を用いて算出される加熱部１３０の電気抵抗値を、ＰＩＤ制御の制御量としての温度指標（第１温度指標）として利用する。なお、当然ながら、制御部１２０は、算出した電気抵抗値を抵抗温度係数を用いてさらに温度へ換算し、それにより導出される測定温度をＰＩＤ制御の制御量として用いてもよい。 Here, the electrical resistance value of the heating unit 130 has a characteristic that it monotonically increases (that is, has a correlation with the temperature) as the temperature rises, for example. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 120 uses the electrical resistance value of the heating unit 130 calculated using the measurement circuit 150 as a temperature index (first temperature index) as a controlled variable for PID control. Of course, the controller 120 may further convert the calculated electrical resistance value into temperature using the temperature coefficient of resistance, and use the derived measured temperature as the controlled variable for PID control.
　＜１－４．温度制御＞
　上述したように、本実施形態において、加熱部１３０の温度制御は、主として加熱部１３０へ提供される電力のＰＷＭのデューティ比をＰＩＤ制御によって決定する方式で行われる。ＰＩＤ制御の目標値（目標温度に対応する抵抗値）をＲＴＧＴ［Ω］、現在の制御サイクルｎ（ｎは整数）における第１温度指標の指標値（測定抵抗値）をＲ（ｎ）［Ω］とすると、制御サイクルｎのデューティ比Ｄ（ｎ）を、例えば次の式（１）に従って導出することができる：
Figure JPOXMLDOC01-appb-M000001
 <1-4. Temperature control>
As described above, in the present embodiment, the temperature control of the heating unit 130 is performed mainly by determining the PWM duty ratio of power supplied to the heating unit 130 by PID control. The PID control target value (resistance value corresponding to the target temperature) is R TGT [Ω], and the index value (measured resistance value) of the first temperature index in the current control cycle n (n is an integer) is R (n) Ω], the duty ratio D(n) of the control cycle n can be derived, for example, according to the following equation (1):
Figure JPOXMLDOC01-appb-M000001
　式（１）において、Ｋｐ、Ｋｉ及びＫｄはそれぞれ比例ゲイン、積分ゲイン及び微分ゲインを表す。なお、積分項である右辺第２項において、目標値に対する指標値の偏差の累積値には飽和制御が適用されてもよい。この場合、累積値が所定の上限値を上回る場合には累積値が上限値に置換され、累積値が所定の下限値を下回る場合には累積値が下限値に置換される。 In equation (1), K p , K i and K d represent proportional, integral and derivative gains, respectively. Note that saturation control may be applied to the cumulative value of the deviation of the index value from the target value in the second term on the right side, which is the integral term. In this case, the cumulative value is replaced with the upper limit value when the cumulative value exceeds the predetermined upper limit value, and the cumulative value is replaced with the lower limit value when the cumulative value is below the predetermined lower limit value.
　加熱期間中のフィードバック制御を可能にするために、本実施形態において、制御部１２０は、反復される制御サイクルの一部を第１温度指標を測定するための測定期間とし、制御サイクルの残りをＰＷＭ制御を行うためのＰＷＭ制御期間とする。図５は、加熱期間中の測定期間及びＰＷＭ制御期間について説明するための説明図である。図中の横軸は時間を表し、縦軸は加熱部１３０へ印加される電圧を表す。加熱期間中の１回の制御サイクルは、冒頭の測定期間２０及び残りのＰＷＭ制御期間３０からなる。図５の例では、ｔ０からｔ１までの期間が１つの制御サイクルの測定期間２０、ｔ１からｔ２までの期間が当該制御サイクルのＰＷＭ制御期間３０である。同様に、ｔ２からｔ３までの期間が次の１つの制御サイクルの測定期間２０、ｔ３からｔ４までの期間が当該制御サイクルのＰＷＭ制御期間３０である。１つの制御サイクルの長さは、第１温度指標の測定の周期に相当し、例えば数十ミリ秒であってよい。 In order to enable feedback control during the heating period, in this embodiment, the control unit 120 makes part of the repeated control cycle a measurement period for measuring the first temperature index, and the rest of the control cycle This is a PWM control period for performing PWM control. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the measurement period and the PWM control period during the heating period. The horizontal axis in the drawing represents time, and the vertical axis represents voltage applied to the heating unit 130 . One control cycle during the heating period consists of an initial measurement period 20 and a remaining PWM control period 30 . In the example of FIG. 5, the period from t0 to t1 is the measurement period 20 of one control cycle, and the period from t1 to t2 is the PWM control period 30 of the control cycle. Similarly, the period from t2 to t3 is the measurement period 20 of the next one control cycle, and the period from t3 to t4 is the PWM control period 30 of the control cycle. The length of one control cycle corresponds to the period of measurement of the first temperature index, and may be several tens of milliseconds, for example.
　制御部１２０は、制御サイクルｎにおいて、測定期間２０の間にごく短いパルス２１（例えば２ｍｓのパルス幅）を複数回（例えば、８回）加熱部１３０へ印加させ、１つの測定期間２０内に測定回路１５０を用いて複数回算出した抵抗値の平均値を第１温度指標の測定値Ｒ（ｎ）とする。制御部１２０は、測定値Ｒ（ｎ）を用いて、上の制御式に従って制御サイクルｎのＰＷＭのデューティ比Ｄ（ｎ）を算出する。そして、制御部１２０は、ＰＷＭ制御期間３０において、当該期間の長さＷ０とデューティ比Ｄ（ｎ）との積に相当するパルス幅Ｗ１を有するパルス３１を加熱部１３０へ印加させる（同じパルス幅Ｗ１を有する制御パルスを第１スイッチ１３１及び第２スイッチ１３２へ出力する）。このようなフィードバック制御の反復を通じて、加熱部１３０の温度は目標値に近付くように制御される。 In the control cycle n, the control unit 120 applies a very short pulse 21 (for example, a pulse width of 2 ms) to the heating unit 130 a plurality of times (for example, 8 times) during the measurement period 20, and in one measurement period 20, The average value of the resistance values calculated multiple times using the measurement circuit 150 is set as the measured value R(n) of the first temperature index. Using the measured value R(n), the control unit 120 calculates the PWM duty ratio D(n) of the control cycle n according to the above control formula. Then, in the PWM control period 30, the control unit 120 applies a pulse 31 having a pulse width W1 corresponding to the product of the length W0 of the period and the duty ratio D(n) to the heating unit 130 (with the same pulse width output a control pulse with W1 to the first switch 131 and the second switch 132). Through repetition of such feedback control, the temperature of the heating unit 130 is controlled so as to approach the target value.
　＜１－５．補助的なサーミスタの導入＞
　加熱期間の全体を通じて測定期間２０を周期的に設定すれば上述した制御サイクルを反復し続けることができる。しかし、測定期間２０中に加熱部１３０へパルスを印加する手法は、パルス幅は短いとしても、それ自体が加熱部１３０の温度を上昇させ、バッテリ残量を消費する。一方で、加熱部１３０の所望の温度プロファイルは、一旦高い値まで上昇させた加熱部１３０の温度をより低い値へ下降させる期間を含み得る。この期間中には、加熱部１３０へパルスを全く印加しない方が、加熱部１３０の温度を効率的に下降させるために有利である。しかし、加熱部１３０へパルスを全く印加しなければ測定回路１５０を用いて第１温度指標を測定することができない。そこで、本実施形態に係るエアロゾル生成装置１０は、図３に概略的に示したように、サーミスタ１５５をさらに備える。サーミスタ１５５は、加熱部１３０の近傍に配設され、加熱部１３０の温度に依存する値を制御部１２０へ出力する。制御部１２０は、加熱部１３０の温度を下降させる区間では、サーミスタ１５５からの出力値に基づく第２温度指標を用いて（例えば、指標値を目標値と比較することにより）、当該区間を終了させるタイミングを判定する。一方、制御部１２０は、それ以外の区間では、上述したように、加熱部１３０の電気抵抗値に基づく第１温度指標を用いて、バッテリ１４０から加熱部１３０への電力の供給を制御する。第２温度指標の測定の周期は、例えば数十～数百ミリ秒であってよい。 <1-5. Introduction of an auxiliary thermistor>
By periodically setting the measurement period 20 throughout the heating period, the control cycle described above can continue to be repeated. However, the method of applying a pulse to the heating unit 130 during the measurement period 20 raises the temperature of the heating unit 130 and consumes the remaining battery power, even if the pulse width is short. On the other hand, the desired temperature profile of heating unit 130 may include a period during which the temperature of heating unit 130, once raised to a high value, is lowered to a lower value. It is advantageous not to apply any pulse to the heating unit 130 during this period, in order to efficiently lower the temperature of the heating unit 130 . However, the measurement circuit 150 cannot be used to measure the first temperature index if no pulse is applied to the heating unit 130 . Therefore, the aerosol generator 10 according to this embodiment further includes a thermistor 155, as schematically shown in FIG. Thermistor 155 is arranged near heating unit 130 and outputs a value dependent on the temperature of heating unit 130 to control unit 120 . Control unit 120 uses the second temperature index based on the output value from thermistor 155 (for example, by comparing the index value with the target value) in the interval in which the temperature of heating unit 130 is lowered, and terminates the interval. Determine when to let On the other hand, control unit 120 controls power supply from battery 140 to heating unit 130 using the first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of heating unit 130 as described above in other sections. A period of measurement of the second temperature index may be, for example, several tens to several hundreds of milliseconds.
　図６は、図２の方向１０６ａ（挿入孔１０７の軸方向）から見た、加熱部１３０とサーミスタ１５５との間の位置関係の一例を示している。図６の例において、筒状部材１３０ａは、たばこスティック１５を受け入れるための挿入孔１０７の空間を規定する部材である。筒状部材１３０ａは、例えばステンレス鋼（ＳＵＳ）又はアルミニウムなど、熱伝導率の高い材料で形成される。フィルムヒータ１３０ｂは、筒状部材１３０ａの外周を囲むように巻回される。フィルムヒータ１３０ｂは、耐熱性及び絶縁性の高い一対のフィルム、及びそれらフィルムの間に挟まれる抵抗発熱材料からなる。加熱部１３０は、これら筒状部材１３０ａ及びフィルムヒータ１３０ｂから構成され、フィルムヒータ１３０ｂに流れる電流によって発生するジュール熱が、挿入孔１０７に挿入されたたばこスティック１５を、筒状部材１３０ａを介して加熱する。さらに、フィルムヒータ１３０ｂの外周を囲むように断熱部材１０８が巻回される。断熱部材１０８は、例えばガラスウールで構成され、加熱部１３０の熱からエアロゾル生成装置１０の他の構成要素を保護する。サーミスタ１５５は、断熱部材１０８の外側に配設される。フィルムヒータ１３０ｂの表面は通常滑らかであり、フィルムヒータ１３０ｂの外側面にサーミスタ１５５を配設すると位置決めが困難になりがちであるが、ガラスウールで構成される断熱部材１０８の外側面にサーミスタ１５５を配設すれば、サーミスタ１５５の位置決めが容易となり、サーミスタ１５５と接続される制御回路の良好な保護も達成される。しかし、加熱部１３０とサーミスタ１５５との間に断熱部材１０８が配設されるという位置関係に起因して、サーミスタ１５５からの出力値に基づく第２温度指標は、いくらかの遅延をもって加熱部１３０の温度の変化に追従することになる。 FIG. 6 shows an example of the positional relationship between the heating part 130 and the thermistor 155 viewed from the direction 106a (the axial direction of the insertion hole 107) in FIG. In the example of FIG. 6 , tubular member 130a is a member that defines the space of insertion hole 107 for receiving tobacco stick 15 . The cylindrical member 130a is made of a material with high thermal conductivity such as stainless steel (SUS) or aluminum. The film heater 130b is wound around the outer periphery of the cylindrical member 130a. The film heater 130b consists of a pair of films with high heat resistance and insulation, and a resistance heating material sandwiched between the films. The heating unit 130 is composed of the tubular member 130a and the film heater 130b. Joule heat generated by the current flowing through the film heater 130b heats the tobacco stick 15 inserted into the insertion hole 107 through the tubular member 130a. heat up. Furthermore, the heat insulating member 108 is wound so as to surround the outer periphery of the film heater 130b. The heat insulating member 108 is made of glass wool, for example, and protects other components of the aerosol generating device 10 from the heat of the heating unit 130 . The thermistor 155 is arranged outside the heat insulating member 108 . The surface of the film heater 130b is usually smooth, and if the thermistor 155 is arranged on the outer surface of the film heater 130b, positioning tends to be difficult. The provision facilitates the positioning of the thermistor 155 and also achieves good protection of the control circuit connected to the thermistor 155 . However, due to the positional relationship in which the heat insulating member 108 is arranged between the heating unit 130 and the thermistor 155, the second temperature index based on the output value from the thermistor 155 is displayed with some delay. It will follow changes in temperature.
　＜１－６．温度プロファイル及び加熱プロファイル＞
　制御部１２０は、所望の温度プロファイルを実現するための制御条件の時間的な推移を定義した制御シーケンスである加熱プロファイルに従って、加熱部１３０の温度制御を実行する。本実施形態において、加熱プロファイルは、加熱期間を時間的に区分する複数の区間からなり、各区間の温度制御の仕様を目標値その他の制御パラメータで指定する。 <1-6. Temperature Profile and Heating Profile>
Control unit 120 performs temperature control of heating unit 130 according to a heating profile, which is a control sequence that defines the temporal transition of control conditions for realizing a desired temperature profile. In the present embodiment, the heating profile consists of a plurality of sections that divide the heating period in terms of time, and designates the temperature control specifications for each section using target values and other control parameters.
　図７は、本実施形態において採用され得る温度プロファイル及び加熱プロファイルについて説明するための説明図である。図中の横軸は、加熱部１３０への給電開始からの経過時間を表し、縦軸は加熱部１３０の温度を表す。太い折れ線は、一例としての温度プロファイル４０を表す。温度プロファイル４０は、冒頭の予熱期間（Ｔ０～Ｔ２）、及び予熱期間に後続する吸引可能期間（Ｔ２～Ｔ８）からなる。一例として、吸引可能期間全体の長さは５分程度であってよく、吸引可能期間の間にユーザは十数回の吸引を行うことができる。 FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the temperature profile and heating profile that can be employed in this embodiment. The horizontal axis in the drawing represents the elapsed time from the start of power supply to the heating unit 130 , and the vertical axis represents the temperature of the heating unit 130 . A thick polygonal line represents a temperature profile 40 as an example. The temperature profile 40 consists of a preheating period (T0-T2) at the beginning and a suckable period (T2-T8) following the preheating period. As an example, the length of the entire aspirable period may be about 5 minutes, and the user can aspirate a dozen or so times during the aspirable period.
　予熱期間は、加熱部１３０の温度を環境温度Ｈ０から第１温度Ｈ１へ急速に上昇させる昇温区間（Ｔ０～Ｔ１）、及び加熱部１３０の温度を第１温度Ｈ１に維持する維持区間（Ｔ１～Ｔ２）を含む。このように、最初に加熱部１３０を急速に第１温度Ｈ１まで加熱することで、たばこスティック１５のエアロゾル生成基体の全体に早期に十分に熱を行き渡らせて、良好な品質のエアロゾルをより早くユーザに提供開始することができる。 The preheating period includes a temperature rising section (T0 to T1) in which the temperature of the heating unit 130 is rapidly increased from the environmental temperature H0 to the first temperature H1, and a maintenance section (T1) in which the temperature of the heating section 130 is maintained at the first temperature H1. ~T2). In this way, by first rapidly heating the heating unit 130 to the first temperature H1, sufficient heat can be quickly distributed throughout the aerosol-generating substrate of the tobacco stick 15, and good quality aerosol can be produced more quickly. You can start providing it to users.
　吸引可能期間は、加熱部１３０の温度を第１温度Ｈ１に維持する維持区間（Ｔ２～Ｔ３）、加熱部１３０の温度を第２温度Ｈ２へ向けて下降させる降温区間（Ｔ３～Ｔ４）、及び加熱部１３０の温度を第２温度Ｈ２に維持する維持区間（Ｔ４～Ｔ５）を含む。このように、一旦第１温度Ｈ１まで上昇した加熱部１３０の温度を第２温度Ｈ２まで下降させることで、程よい喫味での吸引をより長く安定的にユーザに提供することができる。吸引可能期間は、さらに、加熱部１３０の温度を第２温度Ｈ２から第３温度Ｈ３へ徐々に昇温させる昇温区間（Ｔ５～Ｔ６）、加熱部１３０の温度を第３温度Ｈ３に維持する維持区間（Ｔ６～Ｔ７）、及び加熱部１３０の温度を環境温度Ｈ０へ向けて下降させる降温区間（Ｔ７～Ｔ８）を含む。このように、吸引可能期間の後半で加熱部１３０の温度を再度上昇させることで、たばこスティック１５に含まれるエアロゾル源の量が低下していく状況において喫味の低下を抑制して、吸引可能期間の最後まで満足度の高い体験をユーザに提供することができる。 The suckable period includes a maintenance interval (T2 to T3) in which the temperature of the heating unit 130 is maintained at the first temperature H1, a temperature decrease interval (T3 to T4) in which the temperature of the heating unit 130 is decreased toward the second temperature H2, and A maintenance interval (T4-T5) is included to maintain the temperature of the heating unit 130 at the second temperature H2. In this way, by lowering the temperature of the heating unit 130, which has once risen to the first temperature H1, to the second temperature H2, it is possible to provide the user with a longer and more stable suction with a moderate flavor. In the suckable period, the temperature of the heating unit 130 is further increased gradually from the second temperature H2 to the third temperature H3 (T5 to T6), and the temperature of the heating unit 130 is maintained at the third temperature H3. It includes a maintenance interval (T6-T7) and a temperature-decreasing interval (T7-T8) in which the temperature of the heating unit 130 is lowered toward the environmental temperature H0. In this way, by raising the temperature of the heating unit 130 again in the second half of the suckable period, the deterioration of the smoking taste is suppressed in a situation where the amount of the aerosol source contained in the tobacco stick 15 is decreasing, and the suckable period is It is possible to provide the user with a highly satisfying experience until the end of the game.
　一例として、第１温度Ｈ１は２９５℃、第２温度Ｈ２は２３０℃、第３温度Ｈ３は２６０℃であってよい。しかしながら、例えば製造者の設計指針、ユーザの好み、又はたばこ物品の種別ごとの特性に応じて、異なる温度プロファイルが設計されてもよい。 For example, the first temperature H1 may be 295°C, the second temperature H2 may be 230°C, and the third temperature H3 may be 260°C. However, different temperature profiles may be designed, for example, depending on the design guidelines of the manufacturer, user preferences, or characteristics of each type of tobacco article.
　加熱プロファイル５０は、Ｔ１～Ｔ７を境界とする８個の区間Ｓ０～Ｓ７からなる。但し、後に説明するように、２つの区間の間の遷移のタイミングは、必ずしも図示した時点Ｔ１～Ｔ７のうちの１つに一致せず、むしろ各区間について指定される終了条件に従う。加熱プロファイル５０は、区間Ｓ０～Ｓ７の各々について、以下に列挙する制御パラメータのうちの１つ以上を定義する：
　・「区間タイプ」
　・「目標温度」
　・「目標温度抵抗値」
　・「ＰＩＤ制御タイプ」
　・「ゲイン」
　・「時間長」
　・「終了条件」 The heating profile 50 consists of eight sections S0 to S7 bounded by T1 to T7. However, as will be explained later, the timing of the transition between the two intervals does not necessarily coincide with one of the times T1-T7 shown, but rather according to the termination conditions specified for each interval. The heating profile 50 defines one or more of the control parameters listed below for each of the intervals S0-S7:
・"Section type"
・"Target temperature"
・"Target temperature resistance value"
・"PID control type"
·"gain"
・"Length"
·"Exit conditions"
　「区間タイプ」は、当該区間がＰＩＤ制御区間であるか又はオフ区間であるかを指定するパラメータである。ここで、ＰＩＤ制御区間とは、制御部１２０が測定回路１５０を用いて算出する第１温度指標に基づいてＰＩＤ制御を行う区間である。オフ区間とは、制御部１２０がＰＩＤ制御を行わずに加熱部１３０への給電を停止する区間である。 "Section type" is a parameter that specifies whether the section is a PID control section or an OFF section. Here, the PID control section is a section in which PID control is performed based on the first temperature index calculated by the control section 120 using the measurement circuit 150 . The OFF section is a section in which the control unit 120 does not perform PID control and stops power supply to the heating unit 130 .
　「目標温度」は、当該区間の最後に到達しているべき加熱部１３０の温度を指定するパラメータである。「目標温度抵抗値」は、「目標温度」の値を抵抗値に変換した値を指定するパラメータである。例えば、次の式（２）に従って、目標温度ＨＴＧＴ［℃］を目標温度抵抗値ＲＴＧＴ［Ω］へ変換することができる：
Figure JPOXMLDOC01-appb-M000002
 “Target temperature” is a parameter that specifies the temperature of the heating unit 130 that should be reached at the end of the section. "Target temperature resistance value" is a parameter that designates a value obtained by converting the value of "target temperature" into a resistance value. For example, the target temperature H TGT [°C] can be converted to the target temperature resistance value R TGT [Ω] according to the following equation (2):
Figure JPOXMLDOC01-appb-M000002
　式（２）において、ＨＥＮＶは基準環境温度、αは加熱部１３０の抵抗発熱材料の温度抵抗係数、ＲＥＮＶは基準環境温度における電気抵抗値を表す。ＨＥＮＶ、α及びＲＥＮＶの値は、いずれも事前の評価試験において測定され又は導出され、予め記憶部１２１に記憶される。 In equation (2), H ENV represents the standard environmental temperature, α represents the temperature resistance coefficient of the resistance heating material of the heating unit 130, and R ENV represents the electrical resistance value at the standard environmental temperature. The values of H ENV , α and R ENV are all measured or derived in a preliminary evaluation test and stored in the storage unit 121 in advance.
　「ＰＩＤ制御タイプ」は、ＰＩＤ制御区間について、目標値を当該区間にわたって「目標温度抵抗値」の値に一定に維持するか、又は目標値を線形補間によって線形的に変化させるかを指定するパラメータである。「ＰＩＤ制御タイプ」が「一定」であれば、制御部１２０は、当該区間において温度制御の目標値を一定に保ちながらフィードバック制御を行う。「ＰＩＤ制御タイプ」が「線形補間」であれば、制御部１２０は、当該区間において温度制御の目標値を段階的に変化させながらフィードバック制御を行う。「線形補間」における制御目標値は、区間の最初に特定の開始値（例えば、現在の測定値、又は直前の区間の目標値）に設定され、区間の最後に「目標温度抵抗値」となるように実質的に線形的に（実際には制御サイクルごとに段階的に）引き上げられ又は引き下げられ得る。「ＰＩＤ制御タイプ」は、「区間タイプ」と共に、各区間の温度制御に適用すべき制御方式を指定するパラメータであると見なされてもよい。 "PID control type" is a parameter that specifies whether the target value is maintained constant at the value of "target temperature resistance value" over the PID control section, or whether the target value is changed linearly by linear interpolation. is. If the “PID control type” is “constant”, the control unit 120 performs feedback control while keeping the target value of temperature control constant in the section. If the “PID control type” is “linear interpolation”, the control unit 120 performs feedback control while changing the target value of temperature control step by step in the section. The control target value in "linear interpolation" is set to a specific start value (e.g., the current measurement value or the target value of the previous interval) at the beginning of the interval, and becomes the "target temperature resistance value" at the end of the interval. can be raised or lowered substantially linearly (actually in steps per control cycle). "PID control type" may be considered, together with "interval type", to be parameters that specify the control strategy to be applied to temperature control in each interval.
　「ゲイン」は、ＰＩＤ制御区間について、比例ゲインＫｐ、積分ゲインＫｉ、及び微分ゲインＫｄの値を指定するパラメータの集合である。なお、あるＰＩＤ制御区間について先行区間で指定されたゲイン値とは異なるゲイン値が指定される場合、フィードバック制御の積分項（式（１）の右辺第２項）の累積偏差はリセットされてよい。 "Gains" is a set of parameters that specify the values of proportional gain K p , integral gain K i , and derivative gain K d for a PID control interval. Note that when a gain value different from the gain value specified in the preceding interval is specified for a certain PID control interval, the cumulative deviation of the integral term of feedback control (the second term on the right side of equation (1)) may be reset. .
　「時間長」は、各区間について予め定義される時間的な長さを指定するパラメータである。「終了条件」は、各区間について当該区間の温度制御を終了させるための条件（即ち、次の区間へ温度制御を遷移させるための条件）を指定するパラメータである。「終了条件」は、例えば、次のＣ１、Ｃ２及びＣ３のいずれかであってよい：
　　Ｃ１：「時間長」で指定される時間の経過
　　Ｃ２：「目標温度抵抗値」で指定される抵抗値への温度指標の到達
　　Ｃ３：Ｃ１及びＣ２のいずれか早い方
制御部１２０は、終了条件Ｃ１及びＣ３の判定のために、内部にタイマ回路を有してよい。 “Length of time” is a parameter that specifies the length of time defined in advance for each section. "Termination condition" is a parameter that designates a condition for terminating temperature control for each section (that is, a condition for transitioning temperature control to the next section). A "termination condition" may be, for example, any of the following C1, C2 and C3:
C1: Elapsed time specified by "time length" C2: Temperature index reaches resistance value specified by "target temperature resistance value" C3: Whichever is earlier of C1 and C2 An internal timer circuit may be provided for determination of C1 and C3.
　本実施形態において、制御部１２０は、昇温区間における条件Ｃ２及びＣ３の判定の際に、温度指標が目標値ＲＴＧＴと許容偏差を表す係数β（βは１より僅かに小さい正の数。例えばβ＝０．９９７５）との積に等しい制御閾値ＲＴＧＴ´（＝β・ＲＴＧＴ）を上回った場合に、温度指標が目標値へ到達したと見なしてもよい。このように、目標値そのものに代えて目標値のある割合への到達を区間の終了条件とすることで、目標値に対する残留偏差が完全にはゼロとならない状況でも温度制御を適切に次の区間へ進行させることができる。また、制御部１２０は、温度指標が目標値ＲＴＧＴ又は制御閾値ＲＴＧＴ´を上回った測定期間２０の数（ＮＣＯＵＮＴ）を計数し、カウンタＮＣＯＵＮＴが判定閾値Ｍ（Ｍは１より大きい整数。例えば、Ｍ＝３）に等しくなった場合に、温度指標が目標値へ到達したと見なしてもよい。このように、温度指標が閾値へ複数回到達したことを区間の終了条件とすることで、抵抗値測定の誤差に起因する誤判定の結果として温度制御が早過ぎるタイミングで次の区間へ進行してしまう可能性を低減することができる。これは、測定回路１５０がノイズの影響（例えば、瞬間的な電流値の変動）を受ける虞のある状況においてロバストな条件判定を実現するために有益である。 In the present embodiment, the control unit 120 calculates the coefficient β (β is a positive number slightly smaller than 1) representing the allowable deviation between the temperature index and the target value RTGT when determining the conditions C2 and C3 in the temperature rising section. For example, the temperature index may be considered to have reached its target value when a control threshold R TGT ′ (=β·R TGT ) equal to the product of β=0.9975) is exceeded. In this way, by using the achievement of a certain percentage of the target value instead of the target value itself as the end condition of the interval, temperature control can be properly performed in the next interval even in situations where the residual deviation from the target value does not become completely zero. can proceed to In addition, the control unit 120 counts the number of measurement periods 20 (N COUNT ) in which the temperature index exceeds the target value R TGT or the control threshold R TGT ', and the counter N COUNT sets the determination threshold value M (M is an integer greater than 1 For example, the temperature index may be considered to have reached its target value when M=3). In this way, by setting the condition that the temperature index reaches the threshold value multiple times as the end condition of the interval, temperature control proceeds to the next interval too early as a result of an erroneous determination due to an error in resistance value measurement. It is possible to reduce the possibility of This is useful for achieving robust condition determination in situations where the measurement circuit 150 may be affected by noise (for example, instantaneous fluctuations in current value).
　次節において、加熱プロファイル５０のより具体的な構成の例を区間ごとに順に説明する。 In the next section, an example of a more specific configuration of the heating profile 50 will be explained in order for each section.
＜＜２．加熱プロファイルの構成例＞＞
　＜２－１．初期昇温（Ｓ０）＞
　区間Ｓ０は、加熱プロファイル５０の冒頭の区間である。区間Ｓ０の「区間タイプ」は"ＰＩＤ制御区間"であり、「目標温度」は第１温度Ｈ１である。「目標温度抵抗値」は第１温度Ｈ１に対応する抵抗値（以下、Ｒ１とする）である。区間Ｓ０の「ＰＩＤ制御タイプ」は"一定"であってよく、「ゲイン」において比例ゲインＫｐを他の区間と比較してより高い値に設定することで昇温に要する時間が可能な限り短縮される。区間Ｓ０の「終了条件」は、条件Ｃ２であり、具体的には第１温度指標の抵抗値Ｒ１への到達である。 <<2. Configuration example of heating profile>>
<2-1. Initial temperature rise (S0)>
Section S0 is the beginning section of the heating profile 50 . The "section type" of the section S0 is the "PID control section", and the "target temperature" is the first temperature H1. The "target temperature resistance value" is a resistance value (hereinafter referred to as R1) corresponding to the first temperature H1. The "PID control type" in section S0 may be "constant", and in "gain", the proportional gain Kp is set to a higher value than in other sections, so that the time required for temperature rise is reduced as much as possible. shortened. The “end condition” of section S0 is condition C2, specifically, reaching the resistance value R1 of the first temperature index.
　制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ０をさらに前半区間及び後半区間に再区分し、前半区間においては、ゲイン値及び温度指標値に関わらず、設定可能な最大のデューティ比でバッテリ１４０から加熱部１３０へ電力を供給させてもよい。それにより、予熱期間を効率的に短縮して、ユーザへのエアロゾルの送達を迅速に開始することができる。 The control unit 120 further divides the section S0 into the first half section and the second half section. may be supplied. Thereby, the preheating period can be effectively shortened and delivery of the aerosol to the user can be started quickly.
　＜２－２．予熱中の温度維持（Ｓ１）＞
　区間Ｓ１の「区間タイプ」は"ＰＩＤ制御区間"であり、「目標温度」は第１温度Ｈ１である。「目標温度抵抗値」は第１温度Ｈ１に対応する抵抗値Ｒ１である。区間Ｓ１の「ＰＩＤ制御タイプ」は"一定"であってよい。区間Ｓ１の「ゲイン」は、区間Ｓ０における急速な昇温の場合とは異なり、加熱部１３０の温度を第１温度Ｈ１の近傍で安定化させるような値へ設定され得る（例えば、区間Ｓ０について指定される比例ゲインよりも値の小さい比例ゲインが区間Ｓ１について指定され得る）。区間Ｓ１の「時間長」は、例えば数秒の範囲内の値に設定され得る。区間Ｓ１の「終了条件」は、条件Ｃ１であり、具体的には「時間長」により示される時間の経過である。制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ１の開始時にタイマを起動し、「時間長」により示される時間が経過したと判定すると、ユーザに予熱期間の終了を報知する。ここでの報知は、所定の発光パターンでの発光部１２５の発光及び所定の振動パターンでの振動部１２６の振動の一方又は双方により行われてよい。ユーザは、この報知を感知することで、吸引の準備が整い吸引を開始できることを認識する。 <2-2. Temperature maintenance during preheating (S1)>
The "section type" of the section S1 is the "PID control section", and the "target temperature" is the first temperature H1. The "target temperature resistance value" is the resistance value R1 corresponding to the first temperature H1. The "PID control type" of section S1 may be "constant". The “gain” in the section S1 can be set to a value that stabilizes the temperature of the heating unit 130 near the first temperature H1, unlike the case of a rapid temperature rise in the section S0 (for example, in the section S0 A proportional gain with a smaller value than the specified proportional gain may be specified for interval S1). The "length of time" of section S1 can be set to a value within a range of several seconds, for example. The 'end condition' of the section S1 is the condition C1, specifically, the passage of time indicated by the 'length of time'. The control unit 120 activates the timer at the start of the section S1, and when determining that the time indicated by the "length of time" has elapsed, notifies the user of the end of the preheating period. The notification here may be performed by one or both of light emission of the light emitting unit 125 in a predetermined light emission pattern and vibration of the vibrating unit 126 in a predetermined vibration pattern. By sensing this notification, the user recognizes that preparation for suctioning is complete and that suctioning can be started.
　＜２－３．セッション開始（Ｓ２）＞
　区間Ｓ２の「区間タイプ」は"ＰＩＤ制御区間"であり、「目標温度」は第１温度Ｈ１である。「目標温度抵抗値」は第１温度Ｈ１に対応する抵抗値Ｒ１である。区間Ｓ２の「ＰＩＤ制御タイプ」は"一定"であってよい。区間Ｓ２の「ゲイン」は、区間Ｓ１と同一であってよい。区間Ｓ２の「時間長」は、例えば数秒～十数秒の範囲内の値に設定され得る。区間Ｓ２の「終了条件」は、条件Ｃ１であり、具体的には「時間長」により示される時間の経過である。制御部１２０は、「時間長」により示される時間が経過したと判定すると、区間Ｓ２を終了させ、温度制御を区間Ｓ３へ遷移させる。 <2-3. Start session (S2)>
The "section type" of the section S2 is the "PID control section", and the "target temperature" is the first temperature H1. The "target temperature resistance value" is the resistance value R1 corresponding to the first temperature H1. The "PID control type" of section S2 may be "constant". The "gain" of interval S2 may be the same as interval S1. The "time length" of the section S2 can be set to a value within the range of several seconds to ten and several seconds, for example. The 'end condition' of the section S2 is the condition C1, specifically, the passage of time indicated by the 'length of time'. When the control unit 120 determines that the time indicated by the “length of time” has elapsed, it terminates the section S2 and shifts the temperature control to the section S3.
　ユーザは、通常、区間Ｓ２から、エアロゾル生成装置１０により生成されるエアロゾルの吸引を開始する。制御部１２０は、吸引検知部１２４から入力される吸引検知信号に基づいて、吸引の回数、吸引の頻度、吸引ごとの吸引時間、及び累積吸引時間のうちの１つ以上を計測し、計測結果を記憶部１２１に記憶させてもよい。この計測は、区間Ｓ３以降も継続して行われ得る。 The user normally starts inhaling the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating device 10 from section S2. Based on the suction detection signal input from the suction detection unit 124, the control unit 120 measures one or more of the number of times of suction, the frequency of suction, the suction time for each suction, and the cumulative suction time, and obtains the measurement result. may be stored in the storage unit 121 . This measurement can be continuously performed after the section S3.
　＜２－４．降温（Ｓ３）＞
　区間Ｓ３の「区間タイプ」は"オフ区間"であり、「目標温度」は第２温度Ｈ２である。「目標温度抵抗値」は第２温度Ｈ２に対応する抵抗値（以下、Ｒ２とする）である。即ち、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ３において、加熱部１３０の温度が第１温度Ｈ１よりも低い第２温度Ｈ２へ向けて下降するように、バッテリ１４０から加熱部１３０への電力の供給を停止させる。区間Ｓ３はオフ区間であるため、「ＰＩＤ制御タイプ」及び「ゲイン」は設定されない。区間Ｓ３の「時間長」は、例えば数十秒の範囲内の値に設定され得る。区間Ｓ３の「終了条件」は、条件Ｃ３である。具体的には、制御部１２０は、加熱部１３０の温度が第２温度Ｈ２に到達したとサーミスタ１５５からの出力値に基づく第２温度指標から判定される場合に、区間Ｓ３を終了させる。但し、制御部１２０は、加熱部１３０の温度が第２温度Ｈ２に到達する前であっても、区間Ｓ３の開始から「時間長」により示される時間が経過した場合に、区間Ｓ３を終了させる。換言すると、制御部１２０は、第２温度指標の目標値への到達及び区間の開始からの所定の時間の経過のうちの早い方で、区間Ｓ３を終了させ、温度制御を区間Ｓ４へ遷移させる。 <2-4. Temperature drop (S3)>
The "section type" of section S3 is "off section", and the "target temperature" is the second temperature H2. The "target temperature resistance value" is a resistance value (hereinafter referred to as R2) corresponding to the second temperature H2. That is, in section S3, control unit 120 stops power supply from battery 140 to heating unit 130 so that the temperature of heating unit 130 decreases toward second temperature H2, which is lower than first temperature H1. . Since section S3 is an off section, "PID control type" and "gain" are not set. The "length of time" of section S3 can be set to a value within the range of several tens of seconds, for example. The "terminating condition" of section S3 is condition C3. Specifically, when it is determined from the second temperature index based on the output value from the thermistor 155 that the temperature of the heating unit 130 has reached the second temperature H2, the control unit 120 terminates the section S3. However, even before the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the second temperature H2, the control unit 120 ends the section S3 when the time indicated by the "time length" has elapsed from the start of the section S3. . In other words, the control unit 120 terminates the section S3 and transitions the temperature control to the section S4 at the earlier of the arrival of the second temperature index to the target value and the elapse of a predetermined time from the start of the section. .
　なお、区間Ｓ３の開始から「時間長」により示される時間が経過する時刻（例えば、図７のＴ３）よりも早く、第２温度指標の目標値への到達によって区間Ｓ３が終了する場合、後続の区間の時間長が変わらなければセッションの合計時間が短くなってしまう。セッションの早期終了は、それ自体がユーザに不満を感じさせ、あるいはエアロゾル生成基体に含まれるエアロゾル源が十分に使い尽くされないという不都合をもたらしかねない。そこで、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ３の「時間長」により示される時間が経過する時刻よりも早く区間Ｓ３を終了させる場合に、当該時刻までの残余時間を、後続の区間（例えば、区間Ｓ４）について指定される「時間長」に追加する。図８は、区間Ｓ３の終了が所定時刻よりも早いために後続する区間Ｓ４の時間長に残余時間が追加される場合の温度プロファイル４０ａを、図７の温度プロファイル４０と対比する形で示している。温度プロファイル４０ａでは、Ｔ４に先立つＴ３ａにおいて加熱部１３０の温度が第２温度Ｈ２へ到達する。その結果、区間Ｓ４の時間長は残余時間（Ｔ４－Ｔ３ａ）の分だけ追加されている。とりわけ、区間Ｓ３のようなオフ区間においては、環境条件に依存して加熱部１３０の温度の下降の速さが相違することから、セッションの時間長を補償するこうした手法を採用することが、エアロゾル源の効果的な消費及びユーザの満足度の向上のために有益である。 Note that if the interval S3 ends when the second temperature index reaches the target value earlier than the time (for example, T3 in FIG. 7) at which the time indicated by the “length of time” elapses from the start of the interval S3, the following If the time length of the section is not changed, the total time of the session will be shortened. Premature termination of the session may itself cause user dissatisfaction, or may lead to the inconvenience that the aerosol source contained in the aerosol-generating substrate is not fully depleted. Therefore, if the control unit 120 ends the section S3 earlier than the time indicated by the "time length" of the section S3, the remaining time up to that time is transferred to the subsequent section (for example, the section S4). in addition to the "length of time" specified for FIG. 8 shows a temperature profile 40a when the remaining time is added to the time length of the subsequent section S4 because the section S3 ends earlier than the predetermined time, in contrast with the temperature profile 40 of FIG. there is In the temperature profile 40a, the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the second temperature H2 at T3a preceding T4. As a result, the time length of section S4 is added by the remaining time (T4-T3a). In particular, in an OFF section such as the section S3, the rate of decrease in the temperature of the heating unit 130 differs depending on the environmental conditions. Beneficial for efficient consumption of resources and improved user satisfaction.
　＜２－５．第２温度指標の補正＞
　上述したように、サーミスタ１５５からの出力値に基づく第２温度指標は、いくらかの遅延をもって加熱部１３０の温度の変化に追従する。そのため、制御部１２０が第２温度指標をそのまま区間Ｓ３の終了判定のために目標値と比較するとすれば、区間Ｓ３の終了時には加熱部１３０の温度は目標温度からさらに下降してしまっている虞がある。加熱部１３０の温度が低過ぎると、エアロゾル生成基体から生成されるエアロゾルの量が少なくなり、喫味が低下する。そこで、本実施形態において、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ３において、第２温度指標の変化の遅延を補償するように第２温度指標を補正して、補正後の指標値を目標値と比較することにより、加熱部１３０の温度が第２温度Ｈ２に到達したか否かを判定する。第２温度指標の補正のために、制御部１２０は、第１温度指標と第２温度指標との間の事前に判定される関係性を用いる。例えば、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ３に先行する区間（例えば、区間Ｓ０）において、加熱部１３０の電気抵抗値に基づく第１温度指標に加えて、サーミスタ１５５からの出力値に基づく第２温度指標をも取得する。そして、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ３の開始に先立って、取得した第１温度指標と取得した第２温度指標との間の関係性を判定する。 <2-5. Correction of Second Temperature Index>
As described above, the second temperature index based on the output value from thermistor 155 follows the change in temperature of heating unit 130 with some delay. Therefore, if the control unit 120 compares the second temperature index as it is with the target value to determine the end of the section S3, the temperature of the heating unit 130 may be further decreased from the target temperature at the end of the section S3. There is If the temperature of the heating section 130 is too low, the amount of aerosol generated from the aerosol-generating substrate will be small, and the smoking taste will deteriorate. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 120 corrects the second temperature index so as to compensate for the delay in change of the second temperature index in the interval S3, and compares the corrected index value with the target value. determines whether the temperature of the heating unit 130 has reached the second temperature H2. For the correction of the second temperature indicator, the controller 120 uses a pre-determined relationship between the first temperature indicator and the second temperature indicator. For example, in a section preceding section S3 (for example, section S0), control unit 120 sets the second temperature index based on the output value from thermistor 155 in addition to the first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of heating unit 130. also get Then, the control unit 120 determines the relationship between the acquired first temperature index and the acquired second temperature index prior to the start of the section S3.
　図９は、第１温度指標と第２温度指標との間の関係性について説明するための説明図である。実線のグラフ６１は、図７を用いて説明した加熱プロファイル５０に従ってＴ４まで温度制御を行った場合の、第１温度指標の値の時間的な変化の一例を表す。一点鎖線のグラフ６２は、同じ加熱プロファイル５０に従ってＴ４まで温度制御を行った場合の、第２温度指標の値の時間的な変化の一例を表す。２つのグラフ６１、６２の比較から理解されるように、特に予熱期間の当初（例えば、区間Ｓ０）において、第１温度指標及び第２温度指標は略線形の軌跡を描くが、第１温度指標が示す温度変化率（図中の傾きｇ１）に対して、第２温度指標が示す温度変化率（図中の傾きｇ２）は相対的に小さく、Ｔ１において第１温度指標が目標値に到達しても第２温度指標は目標値に到達しない。第２温度指標の目標値との差は区間Ｓ１から区間Ｓ２にかけて（加熱部１３０の熱が断熱部材１０８を介してサーミスタ１５５へ伝わることで）徐々に小さくなるが、Ｔ３においても目標値との差ｄ１が残されたままである。Ｔ３において区間Ｓ３、即ちオフ区間が始まると、第１温度指標及び第２温度指標は下降しながら再び略線形のグラフを描く。 FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the first temperature index and the second temperature index. A solid line graph 61 represents an example of temporal change in the value of the first temperature index when temperature control is performed up to T4 according to the heating profile 50 described using FIG. A dashed-dotted line graph 62 represents an example of temporal changes in the value of the second temperature index when temperature control is performed up to T4 according to the same heating profile 50 . As can be understood from the comparison of the two graphs 61 and 62, especially at the beginning of the preheating period (for example, section S0), the first temperature index and the second temperature index draw substantially linear trajectories, but the first temperature index The temperature change rate indicated by the second temperature index (slope g 2 in the figure) is relatively small with respect to the temperature change rate indicated by (slope g 1 in the figure), and the first temperature index reaches the target value at T1. Even if it reaches, the second temperature index does not reach the target value. The difference from the target value of the second temperature index gradually decreases from section S1 to section S2 (as the heat of heating unit 130 is transmitted to thermistor 155 via heat insulating member 108), but even at T3, the difference from the target value The difference d1 remains. When the section S3, that is, the OFF section starts at T3, the first temperature index and the second temperature index draw a substantially linear graph again while descending.
　ここで、単純なモデルとして、加熱部１３０の降温時の２つの温度指標の間の傾きの差は、昇温時の２つの温度指標の間の傾きの差（ｇ１－ｇ２）に等しいものとする（但し、符号は反転する）。すると、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ３の開始時点の２つの指標が示す温度差ｄ１と、区間Ｓ０で取得した温度変化率の差（ｇ１－ｇ２）に基づいて、区間Ｓ３において第２温度指標に適用すべき補正値を算出することができる。説明の簡明さのために、抵抗値の代わりに温度の値が区間Ｓ３の終了条件の判定のために用いられるものとすると、区間Ｓ３の開始から時間ｔが経過した時点で第２温度指標の値に加算すべき補正値Δｈ（ｔ）は、次式のように算出され得る：
Figure JPOXMLDOC01-appb-M000003
 Here, as a simple model, the difference in slope between the two temperature indicators when the temperature of the heating unit 130 is decreased is equal to the difference in slope between the two temperature indicators when the temperature is increased (g 1 −g 2 ). (However, the sign is reversed). Then, the control unit 120 calculates the second A correction value to be applied to the temperature index can be calculated. For simplicity of explanation, if the temperature value is used instead of the resistance value to determine the end condition of the section S3, the second temperature index is The correction value Δh(t) to be added to the value can be calculated as follows:
Figure JPOXMLDOC01-appb-M000003
　なお、制御部１２０は、第１温度指標の傾きｇ１及び第２温度指標の傾きｇ２を個別に取得する代わりに、例えば第２温度指標の値が第２温度Ｈ２に対応する値に到達した時点の指標値の差（図９におけるｄ２）を当該時点までの経過時間で除算することにより、２つの傾きの差（ｇ１－ｇ２）を取得してもよい。 Note that instead of obtaining the slope g1 of the first temperature index and the slope g2 of the second temperature index individually, the control unit 120 causes the value of the second temperature index to reach a value corresponding to the second temperature H2, for example. The difference between the two slopes (g 1 −g 2 ) may be obtained by dividing the index value difference (d 2 in FIG. 9) at the point in time by the elapsed time up to that point.
　第１温度指標と第２温度指標との間の上述した関係性は、区間Ｓ３の直前の区間Ｓ０～区間Ｓ２ではなく、加熱が開始される以前に取得され、記憶部１２１に記憶されていてもよい。第１の例として、第１温度指標と第２温度指標との間の関係性は、エアロゾル生成装置１０の出荷前の評価試験において取得されてもよい。第２の例として、制御部１２０は、各セッションにおいて、区間Ｓ３の開始時及び終了時に、第１温度指標の値及び第２温度指標の値を取得して記録してもよい。この場合、制御部１２０は、新たなセッションの区間Ｓ３の終了条件の判定のために、過去に記録済みの２つの温度指標の値の変化率の差に基づいて上述した第２温度指標の補正値Δｈ（ｔ）を算出して、その算出結果を利用することができる。第２の例の派生として、２つの温度指標の値は、温度センサにより測定される環境温度に関連付けて記録されてもよく、制御部１２０は、新たなセッションの時点の環境温度に対応する記録に基づいて第２温度指標の補正値を算出してもよい。エアロゾル生成装置１０は、環境温度を測定するための温度センサを有していてもよく、又は、他の装置から無線Ｉ／Ｆ１２７若しくは接続Ｉ／Ｆ１２８を介して環境温度データを受信してもよい。 The above-described relationship between the first temperature index and the second temperature index is acquired and stored in the storage unit 121 before heating is started, not in the interval S0 to the interval S2 immediately before the interval S3. good too. As a first example, the relationship between the first temperature index and the second temperature index may be obtained in an evaluation test before shipping the aerosol generating device 10 . As a second example, the control unit 120 may acquire and record the values of the first temperature index and the second temperature index at the start and end of the section S3 in each session. In this case, the control unit 120 corrects the above-described second temperature index based on the difference in the rate of change of the two temperature index values recorded in the past in order to determine the conditions for ending the section S3 of the new session. It is possible to calculate the value Δh(t) and use the calculation result. As a derivation of the second example, the values of the two temperature indicators may be recorded in association with the environmental temperature measured by the temperature sensor, and the control unit 120 stores the record corresponding to the environmental temperature at the time of the new session. A correction value for the second temperature index may be calculated based on. The aerosol generating device 10 may have a temperature sensor for measuring the environmental temperature, or may receive environmental temperature data from another device via the wireless I/F 127 or the connection I/F 128. .
　上述したように、制御部１２０が終了条件の判定のために第２温度指標の変化の遅延を補償するように補正された指標値を使用することで、区間Ｓ３において加熱部１３０の温度が第２温度Ｈ２を超えて過度に低下することを回避して、喫味の低下を防ぐことができる。 As described above, the control unit 120 uses the index value corrected to compensate for the delay in the change of the second temperature index to determine the end condition, so that the temperature of the heating unit 130 in the section S3 is the second temperature index. It is possible to prevent deterioration of the smoking taste by avoiding an excessive decrease exceeding the second temperature H2.
　＜２－６．降温後の温度維持（Ｓ４）＞
　区間Ｓ４の「区間タイプ」は"ＰＩＤ制御区間"である。即ち、制御部１２０は、温度制御が区間Ｓ３から区間Ｓ４へ遷移したことに応じて、バッテリ１４０から加熱部１３０への電力の供給を再開させる。区間Ｓ４の「目標温度」は第２温度Ｈ２である。「目標温度抵抗値」は第２温度Ｈ２に対応する抵抗値Ｒ２である。区間Ｓ４の「ＰＩＤ制御タイプ」は"一定"であってよい。区間Ｓ４の「ゲイン」は、区間Ｓ１及び区間Ｓ２で設定されるものと同一であってよい。区間Ｓ４の「時間長」は、例えば数十秒～数分に設定され得る。区間Ｓ４の「終了条件」は、条件Ｃ１であり、具体的には「時間長」により示される時間の経過である。制御部１２０は、「時間長」により示される時間が経過したと判定すると、区間Ｓ４を終了させ、温度制御を区間Ｓ５へ遷移させる。 <2-6. Temperature maintenance after temperature drop (S4)>
The "section type" of section S4 is "PID control section". That is, the control unit 120 restarts the supply of electric power from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130 in response to the transition of the temperature control from the section S3 to the section S4. The "target temperature" of the section S4 is the second temperature H2. The "target temperature resistance value" is the resistance value R2 corresponding to the second temperature H2. The "PID control type" of section S4 may be "constant". The "gain" of section S4 may be the same as that set in sections S1 and S2. The “length of time” of section S4 can be set, for example, from several tens of seconds to several minutes. The "end condition" of the section S4 is the condition C1, specifically, the passage of time indicated by the "length of time". When the control unit 120 determines that the time indicated by the “length of time” has elapsed, it terminates the section S4 and shifts the temperature control to the section S5.
　ここで、区間Ｓ３が区間Ｓ３の「時間長」により示される時間が経過したことにより終了する場合、その終了時点の加熱部１３０の温度が第２温度Ｈ２よりも有意に高い可能性がある。一方で、区間Ｓ４の「ゲイン」は温度を一定に維持する目的でチューニングされた値を有する。そのため、区間Ｓ４において目標温度を第２温度Ｈ２に設定してＰＩＤ制御を再開すると、区間Ｓ４の開始時の温度の第２温度Ｈ２からの乖離に起因して、加熱部１３０の温度が不安定な挙動を示すことがあり得る。そこで、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ３の終了時点の加熱部１３０の温度が第２温度Ｈ２よりも高い場合に、その時点の温度を区間Ｓ４の目標温度として扱ってもよい。即ち、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ３の終了時点の温度に対応する目標温度抵抗値を区間Ｓ４におけるＰＩＤ制御の目標値として再設定してもよい。それにより、区間Ｓ４における加熱部１３０の温度を安定化することができる。図１０は、区間Ｓ３の終了時点の温度に対応する目標温度抵抗値が区間Ｓ４におけるＰＩＤ制御の目標値として再設定される場合の温度プロファイルの２つの例（温度プロファイル４１ａ、４１ｂ）を、図７の温度プロファイル４０と対比する形で示している。温度プロファイル４１ａは、区間Ｓ３の終了時点の温度Ｈ２ａが第３温度Ｈ３よりも低い場合の例である。温度プロファイル４１ｂは、区間Ｓ３の終了時点の温度Ｈ２ｂが第３温度Ｈ３よりも高い場合の例である。 Here, when the section S3 ends due to the elapse of the time indicated by the "time length" of the section S3, the temperature of the heating unit 130 at the end point may be significantly higher than the second temperature H2. On the other hand, the "gain" of section S4 has a value tuned for the purpose of keeping the temperature constant. Therefore, when the target temperature is set to the second temperature H2 in the section S4 and the PID control is restarted, the temperature of the heating unit 130 becomes unstable due to the deviation of the temperature at the start of the section S4 from the second temperature H2. behavior. Therefore, when the temperature of the heating unit 130 at the end of the section S3 is higher than the second temperature H2, the control unit 120 may treat the temperature at that time as the target temperature of the section S4. That is, the control unit 120 may reset the target temperature resistance value corresponding to the temperature at the end of the section S3 as the target value of the PID control in the section S4. Thereby, the temperature of the heating unit 130 in the section S4 can be stabilized. FIG. 10 shows two examples of temperature profiles ( temperature profiles 41a and 41b) when the target temperature resistance value corresponding to the temperature at the end of section S3 is reset as the target value for PID control in section S4. 7 in contrast to the temperature profile 40 of FIG. A temperature profile 41a is an example in which the temperature H2a at the end of the section S3 is lower than the third temperature H3. A temperature profile 41b is an example in which the temperature H2b at the end of the section S3 is higher than the third temperature H3.
　上では区間Ｓ３の「終了条件」が条件Ｃ３である例を説明したが、第１の変形例として、区間Ｓ３の「終了条件」は条件Ｃ２であってもよい。この場合、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ３の開始からの経過時間に関わらず、第２温度指標により示される温度が第２温度Ｈ２に到達するまで、区間Ｓ３の温度制御を維持する。それにより、区間Ｓ４の開始時に加熱部１３０の温度が第２温度Ｈ２から乖離している事態を回避することができる。この変形例において、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ３の開始から区間Ｓ３の「時間長」が経過する時刻（例えば、図７のＴ４）よりも遅く加熱部１３０の温度が目標温度Ｈ２に到達した場合に、当該時刻からの超過時間を区間Ｓ４の「時間長」から控除（即ち、区間Ｓ４を短縮）してもよい。それにより、加熱期間全体の時間長が過度に長くなることを回避して、エアロゾル源の枯渇に起因する喫味の低下を防止することができる。図１１は、第１の変形例において区間Ｓ４が区間Ｓ３の長期化の結果として短縮される場合の温度プロファイル４２を、図７の温度プロファイル４０と対比する形で示している。温度プロファイル４２では、Ｔ４を過ぎてＴ４ａにおいて加熱部１３０の温度が第２温度Ｈ２へ到達する。その結果、区間Ｓ４の時間長は超過時間（Ｔ４ａ－Ｔ４）の分だけ控除されている。 Although an example in which the "end condition" of section S3 is condition C3 has been described above, the "end condition" of section S3 may be condition C2 as a first modification. In this case, the control unit 120 maintains the temperature control of the section S3 until the temperature indicated by the second temperature index reaches the second temperature H2 regardless of the elapsed time from the start of the section S3. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the temperature of the heating unit 130 deviates from the second temperature H2 at the start of the section S4. In this modification, when the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the target temperature H2 later than the time (for example, T4 in FIG. 7) at which the “time length” of the section S3 elapses from the start of the section S3, the control unit 120 In addition, the excess time from the current time may be subtracted from the "time length" of the section S4 (that is, the section S4 may be shortened). As a result, it is possible to prevent the length of the entire heating period from becoming excessively long, and to prevent the deterioration of the smoking taste due to the depletion of the aerosol source. FIG. 11 shows the temperature profile 42 in the first modification when the section S4 is shortened as a result of the lengthening of the section S3, in comparison with the temperature profile 40 of FIG. In the temperature profile 42, the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the second temperature H2 at T4a after T4. As a result, the time length of section S4 is reduced by the excess time (T4a-T4).
　第２の変形例として、区間Ｓ３の「終了条件」は条件Ｃ２であって、但し、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ３の「時間長」により示される時間が経過した時点で区間Ｓ３の目標温度を第２温度Ｈ２から第３温度Ｈ３へ再設定してもよい。この変形例においても、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ３の「時間長」が経過する時刻（例えば、図７のＴ４）よりも遅く加熱部１３０の温度が目標温度Ｈ３に到達した場合に、当該時刻からの超過時間を区間Ｓ４の「時間長」から控除（即ち、区間Ｓ４を短縮）してもよい。それにより、加熱期間全体の時間長が過度に長くなることを回避することができる。図１２は、第２の変形例において区間Ｓ４が区間Ｓ３の長期化の結果として短縮される場合の温度プロファイル４３を、図７の温度プロファイル４０と対比する形で示している。温度プロファイル４３では、Ｔ４において目標温度が第３温度Ｈ３へ再設定され、Ｔ４ｂにおいて加熱部１３０の温度が第３温度Ｈ３へ到達する。その結果、区間Ｓ４の時間長は超過時間（Ｔ４ｂ－Ｔ４）の分だけ控除されている。 As a second modification, the "end condition" of the section S3 is the condition C2, provided that the control unit 120 sets the target temperature of the section S3 when the time indicated by the "time length" of the section S3 has elapsed. The second temperature H2 may be reset to the third temperature H3. In this modification as well, when the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the target temperature H3 later than the time (for example, T4 in FIG. 7) at which the “time length” of the section S3 elapses, the control unit 120 may be subtracted from the "length of time" of section S4 (that is, section S4 may be shortened). As a result, it is possible to avoid excessively increasing the time length of the entire heating period. FIG. 12 shows a temperature profile 43 in the second modification in which the interval S4 is shortened as a result of the lengthening of the interval S3, in comparison with the temperature profile 40 of FIG. In the temperature profile 43, the target temperature is reset to the third temperature H3 at T4, and the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the third temperature H3 at T4b. As a result, the time length of section S4 is reduced by the excess time (T4b-T4).
　＜２－７．再昇温（Ｓ５）＞
　区間Ｓ５の「区間タイプ」は"ＰＩＤ制御区間"である。区間Ｓ５の「目標温度」は第３温度Ｈ３である。「目標温度抵抗値」は第３温度Ｈ３に対応する抵抗値（以下、Ｒ３とする）である。区間Ｓ５の「ＰＩＤ制御タイプ」は"線形補間"である。即ち、制御部１２０は、ＰＩＤ制御の目標値を、当該区間の開始から終了まで、区間Ｓ４の目標値（例えば、抵抗値Ｒ２）から抵抗値Ｒ３まで段階的に引き上げる。区間Ｓ５の「ゲイン」は、区間Ｓ４で設定されるものとは同一であってよく又は異なってもよい。区間Ｓ５の「時間長」は、例えば数十秒～数分に設定され得る。区間Ｓ５の「終了条件」は、条件Ｃ１である。具体的には、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ５の開始から「時間長」により示される時間が経過した場合に、区間Ｓ５を終了させ、温度制御を区間Ｓ６へ遷移させる。 <2-7. Reheating (S5)>
The "section type" of section S5 is "PID control section". The "target temperature" of the section S5 is the third temperature H3. The "target temperature resistance value" is a resistance value (hereinafter referred to as R3) corresponding to the third temperature H3. The "PID control type" of section S5 is "linear interpolation". That is, the control unit 120 raises the target value of PID control step by step from the target value (for example, the resistance value R2) of the section S4 to the resistance value R3 from the start to the end of the section. The "gain" of interval S5 may be the same as or different from that set in interval S4. The “length of time” of section S5 can be set, for example, from several tens of seconds to several minutes. The "terminating condition" of section S5 is condition C1. Specifically, the control unit 120 terminates the section S5 and transitions the temperature control to the section S6 when the time indicated by the "length of time" has elapsed since the start of the section S5.
　なお、区間Ｓ４に関連して説明した第１の変形例のように、区間Ｓ３の「終了条件」が条件Ｃ２である場合、区間Ｓ３の終了が大きく遅れる結果として、区間Ｓ４について予め定義される「時間長」よりも控除されるべき超過時間が大きくなる可能性がある。そこで、当該変形例において、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ３の開始から区間Ｓ３の「時間長」と区間Ｓ４の「時間長」との合計時間が経過する時刻（例えば、図７のＴ５）よりも遅く加熱部１３０の温度が目標温度Ｈ２に到達した場合に、当該時刻からの超過時間を区間Ｓ５の「時間長」から控除（即ち、区間Ｓ５を短縮）してもよい。このとき、区間Ｓ４はスキップされる。図１３は、第１の変形例において、区間Ｓ３の長期化の結果として区間Ｓ４がスキップされ区間Ｓ５が短縮される場合の温度プロファイル４４を、図７の温度プロファイル４０と対比する形で示している。温度プロファイル４４では、Ｔ５を過ぎてＴ５ａにおいて加熱部１３０の温度が第２温度Ｈ２へ到達する。その結果、区間Ｓ５の時間長は超過時間（Ｔ５ａ－Ｔ５）の分だけ控除されている。 Note that, as in the first modification described in relation to the section S4, when the "end condition" of the section S3 is the condition C2, the end of the section S3 is greatly delayed. Excess time to be deducted may be greater than "Length of Time". Therefore, in the modification, the control unit 120 sets the time (for example, T5 in FIG. 7) at which the total time of the "time length" of the section S3 and the "time length" of the section S4 has elapsed from the start of the section S3. When the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the target temperature H2 later, the excess time from that time may be subtracted from the "time length" of the section S5 (that is, the section S5 is shortened). At this time, section S4 is skipped. FIG. 13 shows the temperature profile 44 in the first modification when the section S4 is skipped and the section S5 is shortened as a result of the lengthening of the section S3, in comparison with the temperature profile 40 of FIG. there is In the temperature profile 44, the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the second temperature H2 at T5a after T5. As a result, the time length of section S5 is reduced by the excess time (T5a-T5).
　図１３に示した区間Ｓ５の短縮の手法は、区間Ｓ４に関連して説明した第２の変形例と組合せられてもよい。図１４は、第２の変形例において、区間Ｓ３の長期化の結果として区間Ｓ４がスキップされ区間Ｓ５が短縮される場合の温度プロファイル４５を、図７の温度プロファイル４０と対比する形で示している。温度プロファイル４５では、Ｔ５を過ぎてＴ５ｂにおいて加熱部１３０の温度が（再設定された目標温度である）第３温度Ｈ３へ到達する。その結果、区間Ｓ５の時間長は超過時間（Ｔ５ｂ－Ｔ５）の分だけ控除されている。 The method of shortening the section S5 shown in FIG. 13 may be combined with the second modified example described in relation to the section S4. FIG. 14 shows a temperature profile 45 in the second modification when the interval S4 is skipped and the interval S5 is shortened as a result of lengthening the interval S3, in comparison with the temperature profile 40 of FIG. there is In the temperature profile 45, the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the third temperature H3 (which is the reset target temperature) at T5b after T5. As a result, the time length of section S5 is reduced by the excess time (T5b-T5).
　＜２－８．再昇温後の温度維持（Ｓ６）＞
　区間Ｓ６の「区間タイプ」は"ＰＩＤ制御区間"である。区間Ｓ６の「目標温度」は第３温度Ｈ３である。「目標温度抵抗値」は第３温度Ｈ３に対応する抵抗値Ｒ３である。区間Ｓ６の「ＰＩＤ制御タイプ」は"一定"であってよい。区間Ｓ６の「ゲイン」は、区間Ｓ１、区間Ｓ２及び区間Ｓ４で設定されるものと同一であってよい。区間Ｓ６の「時間長」は、例えば数十秒の範囲内の値に設定され得る。区間Ｓ６の「終了条件」は、条件Ｃ１であり、具体的には「時間長」により示される時間の経過である。制御部１２０は、「時間長」により示される時間が経過したと判定すると、区間Ｓ６を終了させ、温度制御を区間Ｓ７へ遷移させる。 <2-8. Temperature maintenance after reheating (S6)>
The "section type" of section S6 is "PID control section". The "target temperature" of the section S6 is the third temperature H3. The "target temperature resistance value" is the resistance value R3 corresponding to the third temperature H3. The "PID control type" of section S6 may be "constant". The "gain" of section S6 may be the same as that set in sections S1, S2 and S4. The "length of time" of section S6 can be set to a value within the range of several tens of seconds, for example. The "end condition" of the section S6 is the condition C1, specifically, the passage of time indicated by the "length of time". When the control unit 120 determines that the time indicated by the “length of time” has elapsed, it terminates the section S6 and shifts the temperature control to the section S7.
　区間Ｓ４と同様に、区間Ｓ６の「ゲイン」は温度を一定に維持する目的でチューニングされた値を有する。区間Ｓ６の目標温度は第３温度Ｈ３であるものの、区間Ｓ６の開始時の温度が第３温度Ｈ３から有意に乖離している場合には、区間Ｓ６の目標値を抵抗値Ｒ３に設定してＰＩＤ制御を再開すると、加熱部１３０の温度が不安定な挙動を示すことがあり得る。そこで、制御部１２０は、ある基準時点（例えば、区間Ｓ６の開始時点）の加熱部１３０の温度が第３温度Ｈ３から有意に乖離している（例えば、第３温度Ｈ３よりも高い）場合に、その時点の温度を区間Ｓ６の目標温度として扱ってもよい。即ち、制御部１２０は、基準時点の現在温度に対応する目標温度抵抗値を区間Ｓ６におけるＰＩＤ制御の目標値として再設定してもよい。それにより、区間Ｓ６における加熱部１３０の温度を安定化することができる。図１５は、区間Ｓ６の開始時点の現在温度に対応する目標温度抵抗値が区間Ｓ６におけるＰＩＤ制御の目標値として再設定される場合の温度プロファイル４６を、図７の温度プロファイル４０と対比する形で示している。温度プロファイル４６では、Ｔ６において目標温度が第３温度よりも高い現在温度Ｈ３ａに再設定され、区間Ｓ６を通じて加熱部１３０の温度が温度Ｈ３ａに維持されている。 As with section S4, the "gain" of section S6 has a value tuned for the purpose of keeping the temperature constant. Although the target temperature of the section S6 is the third temperature H3, if the temperature at the start of the section S6 deviates significantly from the third temperature H3, the target value of the section S6 is set to the resistance value R3. When PID control is restarted, the temperature of heating unit 130 may exhibit unstable behavior. Therefore, when the temperature of the heating unit 130 at a certain reference point in time (for example, the start point of the interval S6) deviates significantly from the third temperature H3 (for example, higher than the third temperature H3), , the temperature at that time may be treated as the target temperature for the section S6. That is, the control unit 120 may reset the target temperature resistance value corresponding to the current temperature at the reference time as the target value of the PID control in the section S6. Thereby, the temperature of the heating unit 130 in the section S6 can be stabilized. FIG. 15 compares the temperature profile 46 with the temperature profile 40 of FIG. 7 when the target temperature resistance value corresponding to the current temperature at the start of the section S6 is reset as the target value of the PID control in the section S6. is shown. In the temperature profile 46, the target temperature is reset to the current temperature H3a higher than the third temperature at T6, and the temperature of the heating unit 130 is maintained at the temperature H3a throughout the interval S6.
　＜２－９．終了（Ｓ７）＞
　区間Ｓ７の「区間タイプ」は"オフ区間"である。区間Ｓ７では、加熱部１３０の温度は環境温度Ｈ０へ向けて下降する。区間Ｓ７の「目標温度」、「目標温度抵抗値」及び「ゲイン」は設定されなくてよい。区間Ｓ７の「時間長」は、例えば数秒～数十秒の範囲内の値に設定され得る。区間Ｓ７の「終了条件」は、条件Ｃ１であり、具体的には「時間長」により示される時間の経過である。制御部１２０は、「時間長」により示される時間が経過したと判定すると、加熱期間を終了する。制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ７の開始時にユーザに吸引可能期間の終了が近付いていることを発光部１２５の発光又は振動部１２６の振動で報知してもよい。また、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ７の終了時にユーザに吸引可能期間が終了したことを発光部１２５の発光又は振動部１２６の振動で報知してもよい。 <2-9. End (S7)>
The "section type" of section S7 is "off section". In section S7, the temperature of heating unit 130 decreases toward environmental temperature H0. The "target temperature", "target temperature resistance value" and "gain" in section S7 may not be set. The "time length" of the section S7 can be set to a value within the range of several seconds to several tens of seconds, for example. The 'end condition' of the section S7 is the condition C1, specifically, the passage of time indicated by the 'length of time'. When the control unit 120 determines that the time indicated by the “length of time” has passed, it ends the heating period. The control unit 120 may notify the user that the end of the suckable period is approaching by the light emission of the light emitting unit 125 or the vibration of the vibrating unit 126 at the start of the section S7. Further, the control unit 120 may notify the user that the suckable period has ended by emitting light from the light emitting unit 125 or vibrating the vibrating unit 126 at the end of the section S7.
　＜２－１０．過剰降温後の回復（Ｓ４ａ）／維持（Ｓ４ｂ）＞
　上で、第２温度指標が第２温度Ｈ２に対応する抵抗値Ｒ２へ到達した場合に区間Ｓ３を終了して温度制御を区間Ｓ４へ遷移させる例を説明した。この場合、第２温度指標の補正が高い精度で行われていれば、区間Ｓ４への遷移時の加熱部１３０の温度は第２温度Ｈ２に略等しいはずである。しかし、実際には補正後の第２温度指標もある程度の誤差を含んでおり、区間Ｓ４への遷移時に加熱部１３０の温度が第２温度Ｈ２から有意に乖離している（例えば、より低い温度まで下降している）可能性がある。そこで、第３の変形例として、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ４を開始する際に第１温度指標を取得し、区間Ｓ４において、取得した第１温度指標が示す加熱部１３０の温度に依存して異なる制御パラメータ集合を用いて、バッテリ１４０から加熱部１３０への電力の供給を制御してもよい。 <2-10. Recovery after excessive temperature drop (S4a)/maintenance (S4b)>
An example has been described above in which, when the second temperature index reaches the resistance value R2 corresponding to the second temperature H2, the section S3 is ended and the temperature control is shifted to the section S4. In this case, if the correction of the second temperature index is performed with high accuracy, the temperature of the heating unit 130 at the transition to the section S4 should be substantially equal to the second temperature H2. However, in reality, the corrected second temperature index also contains a certain amount of error, and the temperature of the heating unit 130 deviates significantly from the second temperature H2 at the transition to the section S4 (for example, a lower temperature It is possible that the Therefore, as a third modification, the control unit 120 acquires the first temperature index when starting the interval S4, and in the interval S4, depending on the temperature of the heating unit 130 indicated by the acquired first temperature index, Different sets of control parameters may be used to control the power supply from battery 140 to heating unit 130 .
　ここで、区間Ｓ４を開始する際に第１温度指標が示す加熱部１３０の温度をＨ２Ｃとする。第３の変形例において、制御部１２０は、温度Ｈ２Ｃが第２温度Ｈ２よりも低い場合（Ｈ２Ｃ＜Ｈ２）には、加熱部１３０の温度を第２温度Ｈ２に回復（上昇）させるための第１の制御パラメータ集合を使用する。一方、制御部１２０は、温度Ｈ２Ｃが第２温度Ｈ２以上である場合（Ｈ２Ｃ≧Ｈ２）には、加熱部１３０の温度を温度Ｈ２Ｃに維持するための第２の制御パラメータ集合を使用する。例えば、第１の制御パラメータ集合はフィードバック制御の比例ゲインの値Ｋｐ１を含み、第２の制御パラメータ集合はフィードバック制御の比例ゲインの値Ｋｐ２を含み、Ｋｐ１はＫｐ２よりも大きい。これに加えて、第１の制御パラメータ集合と第２の制御パラメータ集合との間で積分ゲイン及び微分ゲインの一方又は双方の値が相違してもよい。このように、区間Ｓ４の開始時に加熱部１３０の温度に依存してフィードバック制御の制御パラメータ集合を切替えることで、セッションの中盤で加熱部１３０の温度が所望の温度（例えば、第２温度Ｈ２）から逸脱することを抑制して、喫味の低下を軽減することができる。 Here, the temperature of the heating unit 130 indicated by the first temperature index when the section S4 is started is assumed to be H2C . In the third modification, when the temperature H2C is lower than the second temperature H2 ( H2C <H2), the control unit 120 restores (increases) the temperature of the heating unit 130 to the second temperature H2. using the first set of control parameters of On the other hand, when the temperature H2C is equal to or higher than the second temperature H2 ( H2C ≧ H2), the control unit 120 uses the second control parameter set for maintaining the temperature of the heating unit 130 at the temperature H2C. do. For example, the first control parameter set includes a feedback control proportional gain value K p1 , the second control parameter set includes a feedback control proportional gain value K p2 , and K p1 is greater than K p2 . In addition, the values of one or both of the integral gain and the derivative gain may differ between the first control parameter set and the second control parameter set. In this way, by switching the control parameter set for feedback control depending on the temperature of the heating unit 130 at the start of the section S4, the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the desired temperature (for example, the second temperature H2) in the middle of the session. It is possible to suppress the deviation from and reduce the deterioration of the smoking taste.
　制御部１２０は、第１の制御パラメータ集合を用いた温度制御によって加熱部１３０の温度が第２温度Ｈ２に回復したと判定される場合に、制御パラメータ集合を第１の制御パラメータ集合から第２の制御パラメータ集合へ切替えてもよい。典型的には、補正後の第２温度指標の誤差に起因する加熱部１３０の過剰な降温は、発生してもその程度は小さいと想定される。そのため、短時間で加熱部１３０の温度を回復させた後に制御パラメータ集合を第２の制御パラメータ集合に切替えることで、区間Ｓ４における加熱部１３０の温度の安定性を高めることができる。 When it is determined that the temperature of heating unit 130 has recovered to second temperature H2 by temperature control using the first control parameter set, control unit 120 changes the control parameter set from the first control parameter set to the second temperature. may be switched to the control parameter set of Typically, it is assumed that an excessive temperature drop of the heating unit 130 due to the error of the corrected second temperature index, if any, is small. Therefore, by switching the control parameter set to the second control parameter set after recovering the temperature of heating unit 130 in a short time, the stability of the temperature of heating unit 130 in section S4 can be improved.
　図１６は、第３の変形例において区間Ｓ４が回復区間を含む場合の温度プロファイルの一例を示している。図１６の例では、区間Ｓ４の開始時の温度Ｈ２ｃは、第２温度Ｈ２よりも低い。そのため、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ４の冒頭に回復区間Ｓ４ａを設定し、より大きい比例ゲインの値Ｋｐ１を含む第１の制御パラメータ集合を使用してＰＩＤ制御を行う。ＰＩＤ制御の目標値は、第２温度Ｈ２に対応する抵抗値Ｒ２であってよい。このＰＩＤ制御によって、加熱部１３０の温度は、Ｔ４ｃにおいて第２温度Ｈ２に回復する。すると、制御部１２０は、温度制御を回復区間Ｓ４ａから維持区間Ｓ４ｂへ遷移させ、ＰＩＤ制御のための制御パラメータ集合を比例ゲインの値Ｋｐ２を含む第２の制御パラメータ集合へ切替える。それにより、加熱部１３０の温度は、Ｔ５に至るまで第２温度Ｈ２の近傍に維持される。 FIG. 16 shows an example of the temperature profile when the section S4 includes the recovery section in the third modification. In the example of FIG . 16, the temperature H2c at the start of the section S4 is lower than the second temperature H2. Therefore, the control unit 120 sets the recovery interval S4a at the beginning of the interval S4, and performs PID control using the first control parameter set including the larger proportional gain value Kp1 . The target value for PID control may be the resistance value R2 corresponding to the second temperature H2. Through this PID control, the temperature of the heating unit 130 recovers to the second temperature H2 at T4c. Then, the control unit 120 causes the temperature control to transition from the recovery interval S4a to the maintenance interval S4b , and switches the control parameter set for PID control to the second control parameter set including the proportional gain value Kp2. Thereby, the temperature of the heating unit 130 is maintained near the second temperature H2 until reaching T5.
　なお、制御部１２０は、回復区間Ｓ４ａにおいて第１温度指標の目標値Ｒ２への到達を判定する際にも、上述した許容偏差を表す係数βを考慮した閾値判定を行ってもよい。また、第１温度指標が閾値へＭ回到達したことを、回復区間Ｓ４ａの終了（維持区間Ｓ４ｂへの遷移）の条件としてもよい。 Note that the control unit 120 may also perform threshold determination in consideration of the above-described coefficient β representing the allowable deviation when determining whether the first temperature index has reached the target value R2 in the recovery section S4a. Further, the condition for ending the recovery section S4a (transition to the maintenance section S4b) may be that the first temperature index reaches the threshold value M times.
　回復区間Ｓ４ａにおいて使用される第１の制御パラメータ集合は、区間Ｓ０における加熱部１３０の初期昇温の際に使用される制御パラメータ集合と同一であってもよい。例えば、第１の制御パラメータ集合の比例ゲインの値Ｋｐ１が初期昇温の際に使用される比例ゲインの値に等しくてもよい。このように、制御目的（例えば、急速な昇温、緩慢な昇温、又は温度維持など）の類似する区間の間で制御パラメータ集合を再利用することで、加熱プロファイルを記述するプロファイルデータの大規模化を回避し、データを記憶するためのメモリリソース（及び、データを通信する場合の通信リソース）を節約することができる。 The first control parameter set used in the recovery section S4a may be the same as the control parameter set used during the initial temperature increase of the heating unit 130 in the section S0. For example, the proportional gain value Kp1 of the first control parameter set may be equal to the proportional gain value used during the initial heating. In this way, the reuse of control parameter sets between similar intervals of control objectives (e.g., rapid heating, slow heating, or temperature maintenance, etc.) results in a large volume of profile data describing the heating profile. Scaling can be avoided and memory resources for storing data (and communication resources when communicating data) can be saved.
　＜２－１１．プロファイルデータの構成例＞
　ここまでに説明した加熱プロファイル５０の各区間の動作仕様を記述できる構造化された定型的なデータフォーマットを定義しておくことが有益である。定型的なデータフォーマットは、動作仕様のバージョンアップ、たばこ物品の種別の変更、及びユーザの嗜好に合わせた温度プロファイルの選択といった様々な場面で、加熱プロファイル５０を切替えて温度制御の内容を変更することを容易にする。ここでは、そうした加熱プロファイル５０を記述するプロファイルデータ５１の構成のいくつかの例を説明する。 <2-11. Configuration example of profile data>
It is beneficial to define a structured, canonical data format that can describe the operational specifications of each section of the heating profile 50 described thus far. The standard data format changes the temperature control contents by switching the heating profile 50 in various situations such as upgrading the operation specifications, changing the type of tobacco article, and selecting a temperature profile that matches the user's preference. make things easier. Some examples of the configuration of profile data 51 describing such heating profiles 50 are now described.
　図１７Ａは、プロファイルデータ５１の構成の第１の例を示す説明図である。図１７Ａを参照すると、プロファイルデータ５１は、区間番号５２、制御方式５３、目標温度５４、目標温度抵抗値５５、ゲイン５６、時間長５７及び終了条件５８という、７個の情報要素を含む。 FIG. 17A is an explanatory diagram showing a first example of the configuration of the profile data 51. FIG. Referring to FIG. 17A, the profile data 51 includes seven information elements such as section number 52, control method 53, target temperature 54, target temperature resistance value 55, gain 56, time length 57 and end condition 58.
　区間番号５２は、各区間を識別するための番号（識別子）である。制御方式５３は、複数の制御方式のうち各区間の温度制御に適用すべき制御方式を指定する情報要素である。ここでは、制御方式５３は、上述した制御パラメータ「区間タイプ」及び「ＰＩＤ制御タイプ」の組合せに相当し、「０」、「１」及び「２」のうちのいずれかの値をとることができる。図１７Ａの例では、区間Ｓｎの制御方式５３は値「１」を示し、これは、当該区間に適用すべき制御方式がＰＩＤ制御であって、当該区間において制御目標値を一定に維持すべきことを表す。区間Ｓｎ＋１の制御方式５３は値「０」を示し、これは、当該区間に適用すべき制御方式が加熱部１３０への給電の停止であることを表す。即ち、この例における区間Ｓｎ＋１はオフ区間となる。区間Ｓｎ＋２の制御方式５３は値「２」を示し、これは、当該区間に適用すべき制御方式がＰＩＤ制御であって、当該区間において制御目標値を線形的に変化させるべきことを表す。 The section number 52 is a number (identifier) for identifying each section. The control method 53 is an information element that designates a control method to be applied to temperature control in each section among a plurality of control methods. Here, the control method 53 corresponds to a combination of the control parameters "section type" and "PID control type" described above, and can take any value of "0", "1" and "2". can. In the example of FIG. 17A, the control method 53 of section S n indicates the value "1", which indicates that the control method to be applied to the section is PID control and the control target value is kept constant in the section. Represents what to do. The control method 53 of the section S n+1 indicates a value of “0”, which means that the control method to be applied to the section is to stop the power supply to the heating unit 130 . That is, section Sn+1 in this example is an OFF section. The control method 53 of the section Sn+2 indicates the value "2", which indicates that the control method to be applied to the section is PID control and the control target value should be changed linearly in the section.
　目標温度５４及び目標温度抵抗値５５は、それぞれ上述した制御パラメータ「目標温度」及び「目標温度抵抗値」を指定する情報要素である。なお、温度制御が温度そのものを制御量として行われる場合には、プロファイルデータ５１において目標温度抵抗値５５は省略されてもよい。ゲイン５６は、上述した制御パラメータ集合「ゲイン」を指定する情報要素である。オフ区間については、ゲイン５６は空欄であってよい。時間長５７及び終了条件５８は、それぞれ上述した制御パラメータ「時間長」及び「終了条件」を指定する情報要素である。 The target temperature 54 and target temperature resistance value 55 are information elements that specify the above-described control parameters "target temperature" and "target temperature resistance value", respectively. Note that the target temperature resistance value 55 may be omitted from the profile data 51 when temperature control is performed using the temperature itself as a control amount. A gain 56 is an information element that specifies the control parameter set "gain" described above. For off intervals, gain 56 may be blank. A time length 57 and an end condition 58 are information elements that specify the above-described control parameters "time length" and "end condition", respectively.
　図１７Ｂは、プロファイルデータ５１の構成の第２の例を示す説明図である。図１７Ｂを参照すると、プロファイルデータ５１は、共通領域５１ａ及び区間別領域５１ｂを含む。 FIG. 17B is an explanatory diagram showing a second example of the configuration of the profile data 51. FIG. Referring to FIG. 17B, the profile data 51 includes a common area 51a and section-specific areas 51b.
　共通領域５１ａは、複数の区間にわたって共通的な情報が記述されるデータ領域である。図１７Ｂの例では、共通領域５１ａは、３つの情報要素５９ａ、５９ｂ及び５９ｃを含む。情報要素５９ａは、当該プロファイルデータにより記述される制御プロファイルを一意に識別するための番号（識別子）を指定する。情報要素５９ｂは第１のゲイン集合Ｋ１を指定し、情報要素５９ｃは第２のゲイン集合Ｋ２を指定する。ゲイン集合Ｋ１は、比例ゲイン値Ｋｐ１、積分ゲイン値Ｋｉ１及び微分ゲイン値Ｋｄ１を含み、ゲイン集合Ｋ２は、比例ゲイン値Ｋｐ２、積分ゲイン値Ｋｉ２及び微分ゲイン値Ｋｄ２を含む。 The common area 51a is a data area in which common information is described over a plurality of sections. In the example of FIG. 17B, common area 51a includes three information elements 59a, 59b and 59c. The information element 59a designates a number (identifier) for uniquely identifying the control profile described by the profile data. Information element 59b specifies the first gain set K1 and information element 59c specifies the second gain set K2. Gain set K 1 includes proportional gain value K p1 , integral gain value K i1 and derivative gain value K d1 , and gain set K 2 includes proportional gain value K p2 , integral gain value K i2 and derivative gain value K d2 . include.
　区間別領域５１ｂは、個々の区間に固有の情報が記述されるデータ領域である。図１７Ｂの例では、区間別領域５１ｂは、区間番号５２、目標温度５４、目標温度抵抗値５５、ゲイン５６、時間長５７及び終了条件５８という、６個の情報要素を含む。ここでは、図１７Ａに示した制御方式５３は省略されている。その代わりに、目標温度５４の値がゼロより大きい値を示すことがその区間にＰＩＤ制御方式が適用されるべきことを表す。また、目標温度５４の値がゼロを示すことがその区間がオフ区間であることを表す。図１７Ｂの例では、区間Ｓｎ＋１について目標温度５４はゼロを示しているため、区間Ｓｎ＋１はオフ区間である。このように、プロファイルデータ５１において１つの情報要素に２つ以上の制御パラメータの意味を持たせることにより、プロファイルデータ５１の情報要素の数を削減することができる。さらに、ゲイン５６は、図１７Ａの例のように３種類のゲインの具体値ではなく、ゲイン集合Ｋ１及びゲイン集合Ｋ２のいずれかを指定する。例えば、区間Ｓｎについてはゲイン集合Ｋ１が指定されており、区間Ｓｎ＋２及び区間Ｓｎ＋３についてはゲイン集合Ｋ２が指定されている。このように、共通領域５１ａにおいて定義される限られた数の選択肢のうちの１つを区間別領域５１ｂにおいて指定可能とすることで、冗長な値の定義の反復を回避してプロファイルデータ５１のデータサイズを削減することができる。ゲインだけでなく、温度又は抵抗値といった他の制御パラメータも、共通領域５１ａを利用するこの手法で指定されてよい。 The section-specific area 51b is a data area in which information unique to each section is described. In the example of FIG. 17B , the section-specific area 51 b includes six information elements: section number 52 , target temperature 54 , target temperature resistance value 55 , gain 56 , time length 57 and end condition 58 . Here, the control scheme 53 shown in FIG. 17A is omitted. Instead, a target temperature 54 value greater than zero indicates that the PID control scheme should be applied to that interval. In addition, when the value of the target temperature 54 indicates zero, it means that the section is the OFF section. In the example of FIG. 17B, the target temperature 54 indicates zero for the interval Sn + 1, so the interval Sn+1 is an OFF interval. In this way, by making one information element in the profile data 51 have the meaning of two or more control parameters, the number of information elements in the profile data 51 can be reduced. Furthermore, the gain 56 designates either the gain set K1 or the gain set K2 instead of the specific values of the three types of gains as in the example of FIG . 17A. For example, gain set K1 is designated for section Sn , and gain set K2 is designated for section Sn+2 and section Sn + 3 . In this way, one of the limited number of options defined in the common area 51a can be designated in the section-specific area 51b, thereby avoiding redundant definition of values and defining the profile data 51. Data size can be reduced. Besides gain, other control parameters such as temperature or resistance may also be specified in this manner using common area 51a.
　上述したプロファイルデータ５１のように構造化された定型的なデータフォーマットを記憶部１２１の所定のデータ領域に割当て、当該データ領域内のデータが書換え可能とされてもよい。それにより、制御プログラムの変更を要することなく、プロファイルデータ５１を書換えるだけで、制御部１２０により実行される温度制御の内容を変更することが可能となる。このとき、制御部１２０は、記憶部１２１の同じデータ領域から最新の内容を読出して使用するだけよい。 A structured standard data format like the profile data 51 described above may be allocated to a predetermined data area in the storage unit 121, and the data in the data area may be rewritable. This makes it possible to change the contents of the temperature control executed by the control unit 120 simply by rewriting the profile data 51 without changing the control program. At this time, control unit 120 simply reads the latest content from the same data area of storage unit 121 and uses it.
　プロファイルデータ５１の構成は、図１７Ａ及び図１７Ｂに示した例に限定されない。プロファイルデータ５１は、追加的な情報要素を含んでもよく、又は図示した情報要素のうちの一部が省略されてもよい。例えば、プロファイルデータ５１は、複数の区間にわたって共通的な情報として、次のうちの１つ以上を含んでもよい：
　　・加熱プロファイルの名称
　　・加熱プロファイルのバージョン番号
　　・加熱プロファイルを構成する区間の数
　　・製品ごとの加熱部の抵抗温度特性の製造公差を吸収するために、温度又は抵抗値に加算されるべき校正値（製品出荷前に試験の結果に基づき書き込まれ得る） The configuration of the profile data 51 is not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B. Profile data 51 may include additional information elements, or some of the illustrated information elements may be omitted. For example, profile data 51 may include one or more of the following as common information across multiple intervals:
・Name of heating profile ・Version number of heating profile ・Number of sections constituting heating profile ・Calibration value to be added to temperature or resistance value to absorb manufacturing tolerance of resistance-temperature characteristics of heating part for each product (Can be written based on test results before product shipment)
　また、プロファイルデータ５１は、区間別に指定され得る情報として、次のうちの１つ以上を追加的に含んでもよい：
　　・加熱部への給電のデューティ比をＰＩＤ制御で決定するか、又は最大のデューティ比を使用するか
　　・区間開始時にＰＩＤ制御の積分項の累積偏差をリセットするか否か
　　・検知すべき異常の種別 In addition, the profile data 51 may additionally include one or more of the following as information that can be specified for each section:
・Whether to determine the duty ratio of power supply to the heating part by PID control or use the maximum duty ratio ・Whether to reset the cumulative deviation of the integral term of PID control at the start of the section ・Whether to detect an abnormality kinds
　本明細書では、オフ区間において、加熱部１３０への給電が停止され、温度又は抵抗値を測定するためのパルスも加熱部１３０へ印加されない例を主に説明している。しかしながら、プロファイルデータ５１により指定可能な制御方式は、加熱部１３０への（加熱のための）給電は停止されものの温度又は抵抗値を測定するためのパルスは加熱部１３０へ印加され得る方式を含んでもよい。このような制御方式が指定される区間が「オフ区間」と称されてもよい。また、プロファイルデータ５１は、各区間について上述した条件Ｃ１～Ｃ３以外の終了条件を指定可能であってもよい。例えば、指定可能な終了条件は、検知された吸引の回数又は吸引の合計時間に基づく条件を含んでもよい。 This specification mainly describes an example in which the power supply to the heating unit 130 is stopped and the pulse for measuring the temperature or resistance value is not applied to the heating unit 130 in the off period. However, control methods that can be specified by the profile data 51 include a method in which power supply (for heating) to the heating unit 130 is stopped, but pulses for measuring temperature or resistance are applied to the heating unit 130. It's okay. A section in which such a control method is designated may be referred to as an "off section". Also, the profile data 51 may be capable of designating end conditions other than the conditions C1 to C3 described above for each section. For example, specifiable termination conditions may include conditions based on the number of aspirations detected or the total time of aspiration.
　本節で説明した加熱プロファイル５０の制御パラメータの一部は、プロファイルデータ５１に記述される代わりに、別個の記憶領域に記述されてもよく、又は制御プログラムのプログラムコードで記述されてもよい。 Some of the control parameters of the heating profile 50 described in this section may be described in a separate storage area instead of being described in the profile data 51, or may be described in the program code of the control program.
＜＜３．異常検知＞＞
　制御部１２０は、プロファイルデータ５１に記述された加熱プロファイル５０に従って温度制御を行っている間、エアロゾル生成装置１０の動作に異常がないかを監視する。制御部１２０は、異常を検知すると、バッテリ１４０から加熱部１３０への電力の供給を停止し、検知した異常の種類を示すエラーコードを記憶部１２１に記憶させ、異常の発生をユーザに報知する。ここでは、加熱部１３０の温度制御に関連して制御部１２０により検知され得るいくつかの種類の異常について説明する。 <<3. Anomaly detection>>
While the control unit 120 performs temperature control according to the heating profile 50 described in the profile data 51, it monitors whether the operation of the aerosol generator 10 is normal. When detecting an abnormality, the control unit 120 stops the supply of power from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130, stores an error code indicating the type of the detected abnormality in the storage unit 121, and notifies the user of the occurrence of the abnormality. . Several types of anomalies that may be detected by control unit 120 in relation to temperature control of heating unit 130 will now be described.
　＜３－１．測定回路の不具合＞
　測定回路１５０に不具合が発生して正確な温度指標を取得できない場合、加熱部１３０が過剰に高温になったとしても制御部１２０がその状態を認識しないことになる。こうした事態を防止するために、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ０において、加熱部１３０に電力を供給している間、所定の時間間隔当たりの第１温度指標の変化量を監視する。そして、制御部１２０は、第１温度指標の変化量が閾値を下回る場合に、測定回路１５０に不具合が発生した可能性があると判定して、バッテリ１４０から加熱部１３０への給電を停止する。ここでの閾値は、例えば、３秒の時間間隔の間に１０℃の温度変化（１０℃に相当する抵抗値の変化）であってよい。 <3-1. Failure of the measurement circuit>
If the measuring circuit 150 malfunctions and an accurate temperature index cannot be obtained, even if the heating unit 130 becomes excessively hot, the control unit 120 will not recognize the state. In order to prevent such a situation, control unit 120 monitors the amount of change in the first temperature index per predetermined time interval while power is being supplied to heating unit 130 in interval S0. Then, when the amount of change in the first temperature index is below the threshold, the control unit 120 determines that there is a possibility that a malfunction has occurred in the measurement circuit 150, and stops power supply from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130. . The threshold here may be, for example, a temperature change of 10° C. (change in resistance value corresponding to 10° C.) during a time interval of 3 seconds.
　＜３－２．予熱失敗＞
　予熱期間において加熱部１３０に十分な時間にわたり電力を供給しても加熱部１３０の温度が目標値（例えば、第１温度Ｈ１）に到達しない場合、バッテリ１４０から加熱部１３０への給電の経路に不具合があるか、環境温度が異常に低いなど環境に異常がある可能性がある。こうした事態を検知して電力の浪費を防ぐために、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ０において、加熱開始からの所定の時間が経過した時点で加熱部１３０の温度が目標温度に到達していないと第１温度指標から判定される場合に、バッテリ１４０から加熱部１３０への給電を停止する。ここでの所定の時間は、区間Ｓ０について加熱プロファイル５０により指定される時間長と等しくてよく（又は加熱プロファイル５０とは別個に定義されてもよく）、例えば６０秒であってよい。 <3-2. Preheat failure>
If the temperature of the heating unit 130 does not reach the target value (for example, the first temperature H1) even if the electric power is supplied to the heating unit 130 for a sufficient time during the preheating period, the power supply path from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130 is changed. There is a possibility that there is a malfunction or an environmental abnormality such as an abnormally low ambient temperature. In order to detect such a situation and prevent power wastage, the control unit 120 determines that the temperature of the heating unit 130 has not reached the target temperature when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of heating in the section S0. When determined from the temperature index, power supply from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130 is stopped. The predetermined time here may be equal to the length of time specified by the heating profile 50 for the section S0 (or may be defined separately from the heating profile 50), for example 60 seconds.
　＜３－３．過熱（加熱再開時）＞
　上述したように、サーミスタ１５５からの出力値に基づく第２温度指標は、遅延又はある程度の誤差を有する。そのため、オフ区間である区間Ｓ３が終了した時点で加熱部１３０が過剰に高温になっていないかを第１温度指標から判定することで、装置の安全性を一層向上させることができる。具体的には、制御部１２０は、区間Ｓ３の開始から加熱プロファイル５０により指定される時間長が経過した場合（区間Ｓ４へ遷移する際）に、第１温度指標により示される加熱部１３０の温度を第１温度Ｈ１と比較する。そして、制御部１２０は、加熱部１３０の温度が第１温度Ｈ１よりも高いと判定されるときに、加熱部１３０が過熱状態に陥っていると判定して、加熱プロファイル５０に従った温度制御を終了する。なお、第１温度指標に基づく過熱の検知は、加熱再開時だけでなく、オフ区間以外の区間において周期的に行われてもよい。 <3-3. Overheating (at the time of resuming heating) >
As noted above, the second temperature indicator based on the output value from thermistor 155 has a delay or some degree of error. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the safety of the apparatus by determining whether the heating unit 130 is excessively hot at the end of the section S3, which is the OFF section, from the first temperature index. Specifically, when the length of time specified by the heating profile 50 has elapsed from the start of section S3 (when transitioning to section S4), control unit 120 sets the temperature of heating unit 130 indicated by the first temperature index to is compared with the first temperature H1. Then, when it is determined that the temperature of the heating unit 130 is higher than the first temperature H1, the control unit 120 determines that the heating unit 130 is overheated, and controls the temperature according to the heating profile 50. exit. Overheating detection based on the first temperature index may be performed not only when heating is restarted, but also periodically during sections other than the OFF section.
　＜３－４．過熱（オフ区間）＞
　制御部１２０は、オフ区間においても加熱部１３０の過熱状態を検知できるように、区間Ｓ３において、第２温度指標により示される加熱部１３０の温度を第１温度Ｈ１と比較してもよい。この場合にも、制御部１２０は、加熱部１３０の温度が第１温度Ｈ１よりも高いと判定されるときに、加熱部１３０が過熱状態に陥っていると判定して、加熱プロファイル５０に従った温度制御を終了する。それにより、オフ区間中の何らかの不具合に起因する過熱状態を早期に検知できる可能性を高めることができる。 <3-4. Overheat (off section)>
The control unit 120 may compare the temperature of the heating unit 130 indicated by the second temperature index with the first temperature H1 in the interval S3 so that the overheating state of the heating unit 130 can be detected even in the OFF interval. In this case as well, the control unit 120 determines that the heating unit 130 is overheated when it is determined that the temperature of the heating unit 130 is higher than the first temperature H1, and follows the heating profile 50. end the temperature control. As a result, it is possible to increase the possibility of early detection of an overheating state caused by some problem during the off period.
＜＜４．処理の流れ＞＞
　本節では、上述したエアロゾル生成装置１０の制御部１２０により実行される制御処理の主要な部分の流れを、いくつかのフローチャートを用いて説明する。以下の説明では、処理ステップをＳ（ステップ）と略記する。 <<4. Process Flow>>
In this section, the flow of main parts of control processing executed by the control unit 120 of the aerosol generating device 10 described above will be described using several flowcharts. In the following description, processing steps are abbreviated as S (steps).
　なお、説明の簡明さのために、各フローチャートにおいて、前節で説明した異常検知のための処理ステップは図示しない。異常検知は、制御部１２０の通常の制御ルーチンの一部で周期的に行われてもよく、又は加熱開始若しくは区間の遷移といった特定のタイミングで行われてもよい。制御部１２０とは別個の検知回路が、異常を検知して、検知した異常を（例えば、割込み信号によって）制御部１２０へ通知してもよい。 For simplicity of explanation, the processing steps for detecting anomalies described in the previous section are not shown in each flowchart. Abnormality detection may be performed periodically as part of the normal control routine of the control unit 120, or may be performed at specific timing such as the start of heating or the transition of sections. A detection circuit separate from the control unit 120 may detect an anomaly and notify the control unit 120 of the detected anomaly (for example, by an interrupt signal).
　＜４－１．エアロゾル生成処理＞
　図１８は、一実施形態に係るエアロゾル生成処理の全体的な流れの一例を示すフローチャートである。 <4-1. Aerosol generation processing>
FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing an example of the overall flow of aerosol generation processing according to one embodiment.
　まず、Ｓ１０１で、制御部１２０は、入力検知部１２２からの入力信号を監視し、加熱の開始を求めるユーザ入力（例えば、ボタンの長押し）を待ち受ける。加熱の開始を求めるユーザ入力が検知されると、処理はＳ１０３へ進む。 First, in S101, the control unit 120 monitors an input signal from the input detection unit 122 and waits for a user input requesting the start of heating (for example, a long press of a button). When a user input requesting the start of heating is detected, the process proceeds to S103.
　Ｓ１０３で、制御部１２０は、加熱を開始するためのエアロゾル生成装置１０の状態のチェックを行う。ここでの状態のチェックは、例えばバッテリ１４０の電力の残量が十分であるか、及び前面パネル１０２が脱落していないかなど、任意のチェック条件を含んでよい。１つ以上のチェック条件が満たされない場合、加熱は開始されず、処理はＳ１０１へ戻る。全てのチェック条件が満たされる場合、処理はＳ１０５へ進む。 At S103, the controller 120 checks the state of the aerosol generator 10 to start heating. The state check here may include arbitrary check conditions, such as whether the remaining power of the battery 140 is sufficient and whether the front panel 102 has fallen off. If one or more check conditions are not met, heating is not initiated and processing returns to S101. If all check conditions are satisfied, the process proceeds to S105.
　Ｓ１０５で、制御部１２０は、記憶部１２１の所定の記憶領域からプロファイルデータ５１を読出す。その後のＳ１０７～Ｓ１３３は、プロファイルデータ５１に記述された加熱プロファイル５０に含まれる複数の区間の各々について繰り返される。 At S105, the control unit 120 reads the profile data 51 from a predetermined storage area of the storage unit 121. Subsequent steps S107 to S133 are repeated for each of a plurality of sections included in heating profile 50 described in profile data 51 .
　Ｓ１０７で、制御部１２０は、現在区間に適用すべき制御方式を指定する「区間タイプ」に基づいて、現在区間がＰＩＤ制御区間であるか又はオフ区間であるかを判定する。現在区間がＰＩＤ制御区間である場合には、処理はＳ１１０へ進む。一方、現在区間がオフ区間である場合には、処理はＳ１２０へ進む。 In S107, the control unit 120 determines whether the current section is a PID control section or an OFF section based on the "section type" that specifies the control method to be applied to the current section. If the current section is the PID control section, the process proceeds to S110. On the other hand, if the current section is an OFF section, the process proceeds to S120.
　Ｓ１１０で、制御部１２０は、加熱部１３０の温度が現在区間について指定された温度となるように、ＰＩＤ制御区間のための温度制御処理を実行する。ここで実行される温度制御処理のより具体的な流れについて、後にさらに説明する。 At S110, the control unit 120 performs temperature control processing for the PID control section so that the temperature of the heating unit 130 reaches the temperature specified for the current section. A more specific flow of the temperature control process executed here will be further described later.
　Ｓ１２０で、制御部１２０は、加熱部１３０の温度が現在区間について指定された温度へ向けて下降するように、オフ区間のための温度制御処理を実行する。ここで実行される温度制御処理のより具体的な流れについて、後にさらに説明する。 At S120, the control unit 120 performs temperature control processing for the off period so that the temperature of the heating unit 130 decreases toward the temperature specified for the current period. A more specific flow of the temperature control process executed here will be further described later.
　終了条件の充足によってＳ１１０又はＳ１２０の温度制御処理が終了すると、Ｓ１３１で、制御部１２０は、加熱プロファイル５０に次の区間があるかを判定する。加熱プロファイル５０に次の区間がある場合、Ｓ１３１で、温度制御は次の区間へ遷移し、次の区間を現在区間として上述したＳ１０７～Ｓ１３３が繰り返される。次の区間が無い場合、図１８のエアロゾル生成処理は終了する。 When the temperature control process of S110 or S120 ends due to the satisfaction of the end condition, the control unit 120 determines whether the heating profile 50 has the next section in S131. If there is a next section in the heating profile 50, the temperature control transitions to the next section in S131, and the above-described S107 to S133 are repeated with the next section as the current section. If there is no next section, the aerosol generation process of FIG. 18 ends.
　＜４－２．ＰＩＤ制御区間の温度制御処理＞
　図１９は、図１８のＳ１１０で実行されるＰＩＤ制御区間のための温度制御処理の流れの一例を示すフローチャートである。 <4-2. Temperature control processing in PID control section>
FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of temperature control processing for the PID control section executed in S110 of FIG.
　まず、Ｓ１１１で、制御部１２０は、現在区間について加熱プロファイル５０で指定されている目標温度及び時間長を取得して、現在区間の終了条件を設定する。例えば、制御部１２０は、終了条件が条件Ｃ１又はＣ３である場合には、指定された時間長をタイマに設定してタイマを起動する。終了条件が条件Ｃ２又はＣ３である場合には、制御部１２０は、指定された目標温度に基づいて、第１温度指標と比較すべき制御閾値（例えば、許容偏差を考慮した閾値）を設定する。 First, in S111, the control unit 120 acquires the target temperature and time length specified in the heating profile 50 for the current section, and sets end conditions for the current section. For example, when the termination condition is condition C1 or C3, the control unit 120 sets the specified length of time in the timer and starts the timer. If the end condition is condition C2 or C3, the control unit 120 sets a control threshold (for example, a threshold considering the allowable deviation) to be compared with the first temperature index based on the designated target temperature. .
　次いで、Ｓ１１２で、制御部１２０は、現在区間のＰＩＤ制御パラメータを設定する。例えば、制御部１２０は、ＰＩＤ制御の目標値としての目標温度抵抗値、比例ゲイン、積分ゲイン及び微分ゲインの値を、現在区間について加熱プロファイル５０で指定されている値に設定する。 Next, in S112, the control unit 120 sets the PID control parameters for the current section. For example, the control unit 120 sets the target temperature resistance value, the proportional gain, the integral gain, and the differential gain as target values for PID control to the values specified in the heating profile 50 for the current section.
　その後のＳ１１３～Ｓ１１８は、制御サイクルごとに繰り返される。まず、Ｓ１１３で、制御部１２０は、ＰＩＤ制御の目標値を線形補間するか否かを判定する。現在区間について加熱プロファイル５０の「ＰＩＤ制御タイプ」として「線形補間」が指定されている場合、制御部１２０は、Ｓ１１４で、ＰＩＤ制御の目標値を、制御サイクルごとに段階的に変化するように線形補間によって再設定する。現在区間について「ＰＩＤ制御タイプ」として「一定」が指定されている場合、Ｓ１１４はスキップされる。 Subsequent S113 to S118 are repeated for each control cycle. First, in S113, the control unit 120 determines whether or not to linearly interpolate the target value of PID control. When "linear interpolation" is specified as the "PID control type" of the heating profile 50 for the current section, the control unit 120 changes the target value of the PID control step by step in each control cycle in S114. Reset by linear interpolation. If "constant" is specified as the "PID control type" for the current section, S114 is skipped.
　次いで、Ｓ１１５で、制御部１２０は、測定回路１５０を用いて、加熱部１３０の電気抵抗値に基づく第１温度指標を取得する。ここで取得される指標値は、例えば、図５を用いて説明したように、複数回の抵抗値測定の結果の平均値であってよい。 Next, in S<b>115 , the control unit 120 uses the measurement circuit 150 to obtain a first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit 130 . The index value acquired here may be, for example, the average value of the results of multiple resistance value measurements, as described with reference to FIG.
　次いで、Ｓ１１６で、制御部１２０は、Ｓ１１１で設定した現在区間の終了条件が満たされたか否かを判定する。現在区間の終了条件が満たされていないと判定される場合、処理はＳ１１７へ進む。 Next, in S116, the control unit 120 determines whether or not the conditions for ending the current section set in S111 are satisfied. If it is determined that the end condition of the current section is not satisfied, the process proceeds to S117.
　Ｓ１１７で、制御部１２０は、式（１）を用いて説明したＰＩＤ制御式に従って、最新の制御サイクルのためのＰＷＭのデューティ比を算出する。次いで、Ｓ１１８で、制御部１２０は、算出したデューティ比に基づくパルス幅を有する制御パルスを第１スイッチ１３１及び第２スイッチ１３２へ出力することにより、バッテリ１４０から加熱部１３０へ電力を供給させる。 At S117, the control unit 120 calculates the PWM duty ratio for the latest control cycle according to the PID control formula described using formula (1). Next, in S<b>118 , the control unit 120 supplies power from the battery 140 to the heating unit 130 by outputting a control pulse having a pulse width based on the calculated duty ratio to the first switch 131 and the second switch 132 .
　このようにして１つの制御サイクルが終了すると、処理は次の制御サイクルへ進行し、上述したＳ１１３～Ｓ１１８が繰り返される。Ｓ１１６で、現在区間の終了条件が満たされたと判定される場合、図１９の温度制御処理は終了する。 When one control cycle ends in this way, the process proceeds to the next control cycle, and the above-described S113 to S118 are repeated. If it is determined in S116 that the condition for ending the current section is satisfied, the temperature control process of FIG. 19 ends.
　＜４－３．オフ区間の温度制御処理＞
　　（１）第１の例
　図２０Ａは、図１８のＳ１２０で実行されるオフ区間のための温度制御処理の流れの第１の例を示すフローチャートである。 <4-3. Temperature Control Processing in Off Period>
(1) First Example FIG. 20A is a flow chart showing a first example of the flow of the temperature control process for the off period executed in S120 of FIG.
　まず、Ｓ１２１で、制御部１２０は、現在区間について加熱プロファイル５０で指定されている目標温度及び時間長を取得して、現在区間の終了条件を設定する。ここでの終了条件ごとの設定の例は、図１９のＳ１１１に関連して説明したものと同様であってよい。 First, in S121, the control unit 120 acquires the target temperature and time length specified in the heating profile 50 for the current section, and sets end conditions for the current section. An example of setting for each termination condition here may be the same as that described in relation to S111 of FIG.
　次いで、Ｓ１２２で、制御部１２０は、サーミスタ１５５からの出力値に基づく第２温度指標を取得する。次いで、Ｓ１２３で、制御部１２０は、Ｓ１２２で取得した第２温度指標の値を、値の変化の遅延を補償するように、第１温度指標と第２温度指標との間の事前に判定された関係性を用いて補正する。 Next, in S122, the control unit 120 acquires a second temperature index based on the output value from the thermistor 155. Next, in S123, the control unit 120 sets the value of the second temperature index obtained in S122 to a value that is previously determined between the first temperature index and the second temperature index so as to compensate for the delay in change of the value. are corrected using the relationship
　次いで、Ｓ１２４で、制御部１２０は、Ｓ１２３で補正した第２温度指標の値に基づき、Ｓ１２１で設定した現在区間の終了条件が満たされたか否かを判定する。現在区間の終了条件が満たされていないと判定される場合、処理はＳ１２２へ戻り、上述したＳ１２２～Ｓ１２４が繰り返される。現在区間の終了条件が満たされたと判定される場合、図２０Ａの温度制御処理は終了する。 Next, in S124, the control unit 120 determines whether or not the condition for ending the current section set in S121 is satisfied based on the value of the second temperature index corrected in S123. If it is determined that the end condition of the current section is not satisfied, the process returns to S122, and the above-described S122 to S124 are repeated. If it is determined that the end condition of the current section is satisfied, the temperature control process of FIG. 20A ends.
　　（２）第２の例
　図２０Ｂは、図１８のＳ１２０で実行されるオフ区間のための温度制御処理の流れの第２の例を示すフローチャートである。 (2) Second Example FIG. 20B is a flow chart showing a second example of the flow of the temperature control process for the off period executed in S120 of FIG.
　図２０ＢのＳ１２１～Ｓ１２４は図２０ＡのＳ１２１～Ｓ１２４と同じ処理ステップであってよいため、ここではそれらの説明を省略する。 Since S121 to S124 in FIG. 20B may be the same processing steps as S121 to S124 in FIG. 20A, description thereof will be omitted here.
　Ｓ１２４で現在区間の終了条件が満たされたと判定される場合、制御部１２０は、Ｓ１２５で、現在区間が所定時刻よりも早く終了するか否かを判定する。ここでの所定時刻とは、現在区間の開始時刻からＳ１２１で取得された時間長が経過する時刻である。現在区間が上記所定時刻よりも早く終了する場合、制御部１２０は、Ｓ１２６で、上記所定時刻までの残余時間を、現在区間の後続区間について加熱プロファイル５０により指定される時間長に追加する。 When it is determined in S124 that the condition for ending the current section is satisfied, the control unit 120 determines in S125 whether or not the current section will end earlier than the predetermined time. The predetermined time here is the time at which the length of time acquired in S121 elapses from the start time of the current section. If the current section ends earlier than the predetermined time, the control unit 120 adds the remaining time until the predetermined time to the length of time specified by the heating profile 50 for the subsequent section of the current section in S126.
　Ｓ１２５で現在区間が所定時刻よりも早く終了しない（所定時刻に終了する）と判定される場合、後続区間の時間長は変更されず、図２０Ｂの温度制御処理は終了する。 If it is determined in S125 that the current section does not end earlier than the predetermined time (ends at the predetermined time), the time length of the subsequent section is not changed, and the temperature control process in FIG. 20B ends.
　　（３）第３の例
　図２０Ｃは、図１８のＳ１２０で実行されるオフ区間のための温度制御処理の流れの第３の例を示すフローチャートである。 (3) Third Example FIG. 20C is a flow chart showing a third example of the flow of the temperature control process for the off period executed in S120 of FIG.
　図２０ＣのＳ１２１～Ｓ１２６は、Ｓ１２５で現在区間が所定時刻よりも早く終了しないと判定される場合に処理がＳ１２７へ進むことを除いて、図２０ＢのＳ１２１～Ｓ１２６と同じ処理ステップであってよいため、ここではそれらの説明を省略する。 S121 to S126 of FIG. 20C may be the same processing steps as S121 to S126 of FIG. 20B, except that the process proceeds to S127 when it is determined in S125 that the current section does not end earlier than the predetermined time. Therefore, their description is omitted here.
　Ｓ１２７で、制御部１２０は、現在区間が所定時刻よりも遅く終了するか否かを判定する。現在区間が上記所定時刻よりも遅く終了する場合、制御部１２０は、Ｓ１２８で、上記所定時刻からの超過時間を、現在区間の後続区間について加熱プロファイル５０により指定される時間長から控除する。 At S127, the control unit 120 determines whether the current section ends later than the predetermined time. If the current section ends later than the predetermined time, the controller 120 subtracts the excess time from the predetermined time from the length of time specified by the heating profile 50 for the subsequent section of the current section in S128.
　Ｓ１２７で現在区間が所定時刻よりも遅く終了しない（所定時刻に終了する）と判定される場合、後続区間の時間長は変更されず、図２０Ｃの温度制御処理は終了する。 If it is determined in S127 that the current section will not end later than the predetermined time (end at the predetermined time), the time length of the subsequent section is not changed, and the temperature control process in FIG. 20C ends.
　なお、Ｓ１２８で、後続区間について加熱プロファイル５０により指定される時間長が上記所定時刻からの超過時間よりも短い場合、制御部１２０は、当該後続区間の温度制御をスキップし、その次の区間について指定される時間長からの時間の控除を行ってよい。 Note that in S128, if the time length specified by the heating profile 50 for the subsequent section is shorter than the time elapsed from the predetermined time, the control unit 120 skips the temperature control for the subsequent section, and Deductions of hours from the length of time specified may be made.
　＜４－４．終了判定処理（区間Ｓ０）＞
　図２１は、区間Ｓ０に適用され得る、図１９のＳ１１６に対応する終了判定処理の流れの一例を示すフローチャートである。なお、上述した第３の変形例においては、図２１に示した終了判定処理は、回復区間Ｓ４ａに適用されてもよい。 <4-4. End determination processing (section S0)>
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of end determination processing corresponding to S116 of FIG. 19 that can be applied to section S0. In addition, in the above-described third modification, the end determination process shown in FIG. 21 may be applied to the recovery segment S4a.
　まず、Ｓ１４１で、制御部１２０は、現在区間の温度制御の目標値と許容偏差を表す係数との積に等しい制御閾値を取得する。なお、この処理ステップは、各区間の冒頭で一度だけ行われればよい。 First, in S141, the control unit 120 acquires a control threshold value equal to the product of the target temperature control value for the current section and the coefficient representing the allowable deviation. Note that this processing step need only be performed once at the beginning of each interval.
　次いで、Ｓ１４２で、制御部１２０は、第１温度指標の指標値がＳ１４１で取得した制御閾値を上回るか否かを判定する。ここで、第１温度指標の指標値が判定閾値を上回る場合には、処理はＳ１４３へ進む。一方、第１温度指標の指標値が判定閾値を上回らない場合には、処理はＳ１４５へ進む。 Next, in S142, the control unit 120 determines whether or not the index value of the first temperature index exceeds the control threshold acquired in S141. Here, if the index value of the first temperature index exceeds the determination threshold, the process proceeds to S143. On the other hand, if the index value of the first temperature index does not exceed the determination threshold, the process proceeds to S145.
　Ｓ１４３で、制御部１２０は、閾値充足回数を計数するためのカウンタＮＣＯＵＮＴに１を加算（インクリメント）する。なお、カウンタＮＣＯＵＮＴは、各区間の冒頭でゼロへ初期化されるものとする。次いで、Ｓ１４４で、制御部１２０は、カウンタＮＣＯＵＮＴが判定閾値Ｍに到達したか否かを判定する。ここで、カウンタＮＣＯＵＮＴが判定閾値Ｍに到達した場合には、処理はＳ１４６へ進む。一方、カウンタＮＣＯＵＮＴが判定閾値Ｍに到達していない場合には、処理はＳ１４５へ進む。 In S143, the control unit 120 adds 1 to (increments) a counter N COUNT for counting the number of times the threshold is satisfied. Note that the counter N COUNT is initialized to zero at the beginning of each interval. Next, in S144, the control unit 120 determines whether or not the counter N COUNT has reached the determination threshold value M. Here, if the counter N COUNT has reached the determination threshold value M, the process proceeds to S146. On the other hand, if the counter N COUNT has not reached the determination threshold value M, the process proceeds to S145.
　Ｓ１４５で、制御部１２０は、現在区間について終了条件は未だ満たされていないと判定する。一方、Ｓ１４６で、制御部１２０は、現在区間について終了条件は満たされたと判定する。そして、図２１の終了判定処理は終了する。 At S145, the control unit 120 determines that the termination condition has not yet been satisfied for the current section. On the other hand, in S146, control unit 120 determines that the end condition is satisfied for the current section. Then, the end determination process of FIG. 21 ends.
　＜４－５．終了判定処理（区間Ｓ３）＞
　図２２は、区間Ｓ３に適用され得る、図２０Ａ又は図２０ＢのＳ１２４に対応する終了判定処理の流れの一例を示すフローチャートである。 <4-5. End determination processing (section S3)>
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of end determination processing corresponding to S124 in FIG. 20A or 20B that can be applied to section S3.
　まず、Ｓ１５１で、制御部１２０は、現在区間の開始時に起動したタイマが現在示している値を取得する。次いで、Ｓ１５２で、制御部１２０は、取得したタイマの値に基づいて、現在区間の開始から所定時間が経過したか否かを判定する。ここでの所定時間の長さは、現在区間について加熱プロファイル５０により指定された時間長であってよい。所定時間が経過したと判定される場合には、処理はＳ１５７へ進む。一方、所定時間が経過していないと判定される場合には、処理はＳ１５３へ進む。 First, in S151, the control unit 120 acquires the value currently indicated by the timer started at the start of the current section. Next, in S152, control unit 120 determines whether or not a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of the current section based on the acquired timer value. The predetermined length of time here may be the length of time specified by the heating profile 50 for the current segment. If it is determined that the predetermined time has passed, the process proceeds to S157. On the other hand, if it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to S153.
　Ｓ１５３で、制御部１２０は、補正後の第２温度指標の指標値が目標値に到達したか否かを判定する。ここで、補正後の指標値が目標値に到達した場合には、処理はＳ１５４へ進む。一方、補正後の指標値が目標値に到達していない場合には、処理はＳ１５６へ進む。 In S153, the control unit 120 determines whether or not the corrected index value of the second temperature index has reached the target value. Here, if the corrected index value reaches the target value, the process proceeds to S154. On the other hand, if the corrected index value has not reached the target value, the process proceeds to S156.
　Ｓ１５４で、制御部１２０は、カウンタＮＣＯＵＮＴに１を加算（インクリメント）する。次いで、Ｓ１５５で、制御部１２０は、カウンタＮＣＯＵＮＴが判定閾値Ｍに到達したか否かを判定する。ここで、カウンタＮＣＯＵＮＴが判定閾値Ｍに到達した場合には、処理はＳ１５７へ進む。一方、カウンタＮＣＯＵＮＴが判定閾値Ｍに到達していない場合には、処理はＳ１５６へ進む。 In S154, control unit 120 adds 1 to (increments) counter N COUNT . Next, in S155, the control unit 120 determines whether or not the counter N COUNT has reached the determination threshold value M. Here, when the counter N COUNT reaches the determination threshold value M, the process proceeds to S157. On the other hand, if the counter N COUNT has not reached the determination threshold value M, the process proceeds to S156.
　Ｓ１５６で、制御部１２０は、現在区間について終了条件は未だ満たされていないと判定する。一方、Ｓ１５７で、制御部１２０は、現在区間について終了条件は満たされたと判定する。そして、図２２の終了判定処理は終了する。 At S156, the control unit 120 determines that the termination condition has not yet been satisfied for the current section. On the other hand, in S157, control unit 120 determines that the termination condition is satisfied for the current section. Then, the end determination process of FIG. 22 ends.
　＜４－６．制御パラメータ選択処理（区間Ｓ４）＞
　図２３は、上述した第３の変形例において区間Ｓ４の冒頭（例えば、図１９のＳ１１２）で実行され得る制御パラメータ選択処理の流れの一例を示すフローチャートである。 <4-6. Control Parameter Selection Processing (Section S4)>
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of control parameter selection processing that can be executed at the beginning of section S4 (for example, S112 in FIG. 19) in the third modified example described above.
　まず、Ｓ１６１で、制御部１２０は、測定回路１５０を用いて、加熱部１３０の電気抵抗値に基づく第１温度指標を取得する。次いで、Ｓ１６２で、制御部１２０は、現在区間の温度制御の目標値と許容偏差を表す係数との積に等しい制御閾値を取得する。 First, in S<b>161 , the control unit 120 uses the measurement circuit 150 to acquire a first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit 130 . Next, in S162, the control unit 120 obtains a control threshold value equal to the product of the target temperature control value for the current section and the coefficient representing the allowable deviation.
　次いで、Ｓ１６３で、制御部１２０は、第１温度指標の指標値が制御閾値以上であるか否かを判定する。第１温度指標の指標値が制御閾値を下回る場合、Ｓ１６４で、制御部１２０は、現在区間のＰＩＤ制御のための制御パラメータを、加熱部１３０の温度を回復するための第１の制御パラメータ集合に基づいて設定する。一方、第１温度指標の指標値が制御閾値以上である場合、Ｓ１６５で、制御部１２０は、現在区間のＰＩＤ制御のための制御パラメータを、加熱部１３０の温度を維持するための第２の制御パラメータ集合に基づいて設定する。このとき、制御部１２０は、現在区間の温度制御の目標値を加熱部１３０の現在温度に再設定してもよい。 Next, in S163, the control unit 120 determines whether or not the index value of the first temperature index is greater than or equal to the control threshold. If the index value of the first temperature index is below the control threshold, in S164, the control unit 120 sets the control parameters for PID control in the current section to the first control parameter set for recovering the temperature of the heating unit 130. set based on On the other hand, if the index value of the first temperature index is greater than or equal to the control threshold, in S165 the control unit 120 changes the control parameter for PID control in the current section to the second control parameter for maintaining the temperature of the heating unit 130. Set based on control parameter set. At this time, the control unit 120 may reset the current temperature of the heating unit 130 as the target value of the temperature control for the current section.
＜＜５．まとめ＞＞
　ここまで、図１～図２３を用いて、本開示の様々な実施形態及び変形例について説明した。本開示の一実施形態に係るエアロゾル生成装置は、
・エアロゾル源を加熱してエアロゾルを発生させる加熱部と、
・前記加熱部へ電力を供給する電源と、
・前記加熱部の温度に依存する値を出力するサーミスタと、
・前記電源から前記加熱部への電力の供給を、
　－前記加熱部の温度制御の目標値を第１温度に対応する値に設定して前記電源から前記加熱部へ電力を供給させる第１区間、
　－前記第１区間に後続する、前記加熱部の温度が前記第１温度よりも低い第２温度へ向けて下降するように前記電源から前記加熱部への電力の供給を停止させる第２区間、及び、
　－前記第２区間に後続する、前記電源から前記加熱部へ電力を供給させる第３区間、
　を少なくとも含む制御シーケンスに従って制御する制御部と、
　を備え、
・前記制御部は、
　前記第１区間及び前記第３区間において、前記加熱部の電気抵抗値に基づく第１温度指標を用いて、前記電源からの電力の供給を制御し、
　前記制御部は、前記第２区間を終了させるタイミングを前記サーミスタからの出力値に基づく第２温度指標を用いて判定する。 <<5. Summary>>
So far, various embodiments and modifications of the present disclosure have been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 23. FIG. An aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises:
a heating unit that heats an aerosol source to generate an aerosol;
- a power source that supplies power to the heating unit;
- a thermistor that outputs a value dependent on the temperature of the heating unit;
- supplying power from the power source to the heating unit,
- a first section in which a target value for temperature control of the heating unit is set to a value corresponding to a first temperature and power is supplied from the power source to the heating unit;
- a second section, following the first section, in which the supply of power from the power supply to the heating unit is stopped so that the temperature of the heating unit decreases toward a second temperature lower than the first temperature; as well as,
- a third section, following the second section, in which power is supplied from the power source to the heating unit;
a control unit that controls according to a control sequence that includes at least
with
- The control unit
In the first section and the third section, using a first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit, controlling the supply of power from the power supply,
The control unit determines a timing for ending the second interval using a second temperature index based on an output value from the thermistor.
　かかる構成によれば、加熱部の温度を第２温度へ向けて下降させる第２区間において、温度の測定のために加熱部へパルスを印加することが不要となり、電源から加熱部への電力の供給を完全に停止して、効率的に加熱部の温度を第２温度へ到達させることができる。第２区間における目標温度への到達はサーミスタからの出力値に基づいて判定されるため、加熱部へパルスを印加せずとも第２区間から第３区間への遷移のタイミングを逸することはない。また、加熱を停止しない区間においては、加熱部の電気抵抗値に基づく温度指標を用いて電力の供給が制御されるため、温度制御のために、実温度に対する測定温度の追従性を良好に保つことができる。 According to such a configuration, in the second section in which the temperature of the heating section is lowered toward the second temperature, it becomes unnecessary to apply a pulse to the heating section for measuring the temperature, and the power supply from the power supply to the heating section is reduced. By completely stopping the supply, the temperature of the heating unit can be efficiently reached to the second temperature. Since the arrival of the target temperature in the second section is determined based on the output value from the thermistor, the transition timing from the second section to the third section is not missed even if the pulse is not applied to the heating unit. . In addition, in the section where heating is not stopped, the power supply is controlled using the temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating part, so the measured temperature keeps good followability to the actual temperature for temperature control. be able to.
　本開示の他の実施形態に係るエアロゾル生成装置は、
・エアロゾル源を加熱してエアロゾルを発生させる加熱部と、
・前記加熱部へ電力を供給する電源と、
・複数の区間からなる制御シーケンスに従って、前記加熱部の温度に関連する温度指標を用いて前記電源から前記加熱部への電力の供給を制御する制御部と、
　を備え、
・前記制御シーケンスは、複数の制御方式のうち各区間の温度制御に適用すべき制御方式を指定する第１の情報要素を含む構造化されたデータにより記述され、
・前記複数の制御方式は、前記温度指標を用いたフィードバック制御を行う第１方式、及び、前記電源から前記加熱部への電力の供給を停止させる第２方式を含む。 An aerosol generating device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure comprises:
a heating unit that heats an aerosol source to generate an aerosol;
- a power source that supplies power to the heating unit;
a control unit that controls the supply of power from the power source to the heating unit using a temperature index related to the temperature of the heating unit according to a control sequence consisting of a plurality of intervals;
with
- the control sequence is described by structured data including a first information element specifying a control method to be applied to temperature control in each section from among a plurality of control methods;
- The plurality of control methods include a first method of performing feedback control using the temperature index, and a second method of stopping power supply from the power source to the heating unit.
　かかる構成によれば、温度制御の制御内容が一旦チューニングされた後でも、制御シーケンスの内容を書換えて、それぞれの制御方式をいつ温度制御に適用するかを柔軟に変更することが可能となる。それにより、制御シーケンスの設計時の試行錯誤に起因するコストの増大を抑制できると共に、環境の変化やたばこ物品の種別の変更といった場面で温度制御の内容を最適なものに切替えることも容易となる。 According to this configuration, even after the content of temperature control has been tuned, it is possible to flexibly change when to apply each control method to temperature control by rewriting the content of the control sequence. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost due to trial and error when designing the control sequence, and it is also possible to easily switch the contents of the temperature control to the optimum one in situations such as changes in the environment and changes in the type of tobacco article. .
　本開示のまた別の実施形態に係るエアロゾル生成装置は、
・エアロゾル源を加熱してエアロゾルを発生させる加熱部と、
・前記加熱部へ電力を供給する電源と、
・前記電源から前記加熱部への電力の供給を、
　－前記加熱部の温度を第１温度から第２温度へ向けて変化させるための第１区間、及び
　－前記第１区間に後続する、前記加熱部の温度を維持するための第２区間、
　を含む複数の区間からなる制御シーケンスに従って制御する制御部と、
　を備え、
・前記制御シーケンスは、前記第１区間について第１時間長、前記第２区間について第２時間長を指定し、
・前記制御部は、前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度に到達した場合に、前記第１区間を終了させ、
・前記制御部は、前記第１区間の開始から前記第１時間長が経過する第１時刻よりも早く前記第１区間を終了させる場合に、前記第１時刻までの残余時間と前記第２時間長との合計時間にわたって前記第２区間を継続させる。 An aerosol generating device according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure comprises:
a heating unit that heats an aerosol source to generate an aerosol;
- a power source that supplies power to the heating unit;
- supplying power from the power source to the heating unit,
- a first section for changing the temperature of the heating section from a first temperature towards a second temperature; and - a second section following the first section for maintaining the temperature of the heating section.
a control unit that controls according to a control sequence consisting of a plurality of sections including
with
- the control sequence specifies a first length of time for the first section and a second length of time for the second section;
- The control unit terminates the first section when the temperature of the heating unit reaches the second temperature,
When the first section ends earlier than a first time when the first time length elapses from the start of the first section, the control unit controls the remaining time until the first time and the second time. Let the second interval continue for a total length of time.
　かかる構成によれば、第１区間において加熱部の温度を第２温度へ変化させるために第１時間長よりも短い時間しか要しなかったとしても、ユーザが吸引を楽しむことのできる時間が第１区間の残余時間の分だけ補償される。そのため、適正な温度制御を維持しつつ、セッションの早期終了に起因してユーザ体験が損なわれる事態を回避することができる。 According to such a configuration, even if it takes less time than the first time length to change the temperature of the heating unit to the second temperature in the first section, the time during which the user can enjoy sucking is the first. Only the remaining time of one section is compensated. As such, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the user experience is compromised due to an early termination of the session, while maintaining proper temperature control.
　発明は上記の実施形態に制限されるものではなく、発明の要旨の範囲内で、種々の変形・変更が可能である。 The invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims (20)

  1. 　エアロゾル源を加熱してエアロゾルを発生させる加熱部と、
    　前記加熱部へ電力を供給する電源と、
    　前記加熱部の温度に依存する値を出力するサーミスタと、
    　前記電源から前記加熱部への電力の供給を、
    　　前記加熱部の温度制御の目標値を第１温度に対応する値に設定して前記電源から前記加熱部へ電力を供給させる第１区間、
    　　前記第１区間に後続する、前記加熱部の温度が前記第１温度よりも低い第２温度へ向けて下降するように前記電源から前記加熱部への電力の供給を停止させる第２区間、及び、
    　　前記第２区間に後続する、前記電源から前記加熱部へ電力を供給させる第３区間、
    　を少なくとも含む制御シーケンスに従って制御する制御部と、
    　を備え、
    　前記制御部は、
    　前記第１区間及び前記第３区間において、前記加熱部の電気抵抗値に基づく第１温度指標を用いて、前記電源からの電力の供給を制御し、
    　前記第２区間を終了させるタイミングを前記サーミスタからの出力値に基づく第２温度指標を用いて判定する、
    　エアロゾル生成装置。     a heating unit that heats an aerosol source to generate an aerosol;
    a power source that supplies power to the heating unit;
    a thermistor that outputs a value dependent on the temperature of the heating unit;
    supply of power from the power source to the heating unit;
    a first section in which a target value for temperature control of the heating unit is set to a value corresponding to a first temperature and power is supplied from the power source to the heating unit;
    a second section, subsequent to the first section, in which the supply of power from the power source to the heating unit is stopped so that the temperature of the heating unit decreases toward a second temperature lower than the first temperature; ,
    a third section, following the second section, in which power is supplied from the power source to the heating unit;
    a control unit that controls according to a control sequence that includes at least
    with
    The control unit
    In the first section and the third section, using a first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit, controlling the supply of power from the power supply,
    Determining the timing to end the second interval using a second temperature index based on the output value from the thermistor;
    Aerosol generator.
  2. 　前記制御部は、前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度に到達したと前記第２温度指標から判定される場合に、前記第２区間を終了させる、請求項１に記載のエアロゾル生成装置。 The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit terminates the second section when it is determined from the second temperature index that the temperature of the heating unit has reached the second temperature.
  3. 　前記制御部は、前記第１温度指標と前記第２温度指標との間の関係性に基づいて前記第２区間において前記第２温度指標を補正し、補正後の前記第２温度指標を用いて前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度に到達したかを判定する、請求項２に記載のエアロゾル生成装置。 The control unit corrects the second temperature index in the second interval based on the relationship between the first temperature index and the second temperature index, and uses the corrected second temperature index to The aerosol generating device according to claim 2, wherein it is determined whether the temperature of the heating unit has reached the second temperature.
  4. 　前記制御部は、
    　前記第２区間に先行する区間において、前記加熱部の前記電気抵抗値に基づく前記第１温度指標、及び前記サーミスタからの前記出力値に基づく前記第２温度指標を取得し、
    　取得した前記第１温度指標と取得した前記第２温度指標との間の前記関係性を判定する、
    　請求項３に記載のエアロゾル生成装置。     The control unit
    acquiring the first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit and the second temperature index based on the output value from the thermistor in a section preceding the second section;
    determining the relationship between the obtained first temperature indicator and the obtained second temperature indicator;
    4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 3.
  5. 　前記第１温度指標と前記第２温度指標との間の前記関係性は、前記第１温度指標と前記第２温度指標との間の温度変化率における差を含む、請求項３又は４に記載のエアロゾル生成装置。 5. The claim 3 or 4, wherein the relationship between the first temperature indicator and the second temperature indicator comprises a difference in rate of temperature change between the first temperature indicator and the second temperature indicator. aerosol generator.
  6. 　前記制御部は、前記第３区間を開始する際に前記第１温度指標が示す前記加熱部の温度に依存して異なる制御パラメータ集合を用いて、前記第３区間における前記電源からの電力の供給を制御する、請求項１～５のいずれか１項に記載のエアロゾル生成装置。 The control unit supplies power from the power source in the third interval using a different set of control parameters depending on the temperature of the heating unit indicated by the first temperature indicator when starting the third interval. The aerosol generator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which controls the
  7. 　前記制御部は、
    　前記第３区間を開始する際の前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度よりも低い場合には、前記加熱部の温度を前記第２温度に回復させるための第１の制御パラメータ集合を使用し、
    　前記第３区間を開始する際の前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度以上である第３温度である場合には、前記加熱部の温度を前記第３温度に維持するための第２の制御パラメータ集合を使用する、
    　請求項６に記載のエアロゾル生成装置。     The control unit
    using a first set of control parameters for restoring the temperature of the heating unit to the second temperature when the temperature of the heating unit at the start of the third interval is lower than the second temperature; ,
    second control for maintaining the temperature of the heating unit at the third temperature when the temperature of the heating unit at the start of the third interval is a third temperature that is equal to or higher than the second temperature; using a parameter set,
    7. An aerosol generating device according to claim 6.
  8. 　前記第１の制御パラメータ集合は、フィードバック制御の比例ゲインの第１の値を含み、
    　前記第２の制御パラメータ集合は、フィードバック制御の比例ゲインの第２の値を含み、
    　前記第１の値は前記第２の値よりも大きい、
    　請求項７に記載のエアロゾル生成装置。     the first set of control parameters includes a first value of proportional gain for feedback control;
    the second control parameter set includes a second value of proportional gain for feedback control;
    the first value is greater than the second value;
    8. An aerosol generating device according to claim 7.
  9. 　前記第１の制御パラメータ集合に含まれるフィードバック制御の比例ゲインの前記第１の値は、前記加熱部の予熱の際に使用される比例ゲインの値に等しい、請求項８に記載のエアロゾル生成装置。 9. The aerosol generator according to claim 8, wherein the first value of the proportional gain of feedback control included in the first set of control parameters is equal to the value of the proportional gain used during preheating of the heating unit. .
  10. 　前記制御部は、前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度に到達する前であっても、前記第２区間の開始から所定の時間が経過した場合に、前記第２区間を終了させる、請求項１～９のいずれか１項に記載のエアロゾル生成装置。 3. The control unit, even before the temperature of the heating unit reaches the second temperature, terminates the second interval when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the second interval. 10. The aerosol generator according to any one of 1 to 9.
  11. 　エアロゾル生成装置におけるエアロゾルの生成を制御するための制御方法であって、
    　前記エアロゾル生成装置は、エアロゾル源を加熱してエアロゾルを発生させる加熱部と、前記加熱部へ電力を供給する電源と、前記加熱部の温度に依存する値を出力するサーミスタと、を備え、
    　前記制御方法は、
    　制御シーケンスの第１区間において、前記加熱部の温度制御の目標値を第１温度に対応する値に設定して前記電源から前記加熱部へ電力を供給させることと、
    　前記第１区間に後続する第２区間において、前記加熱部の温度が前記第１温度よりも低い第２温度へ向けて下降するように前記電源から前記加熱部への電力の供給を停止させることと、
    　前記第２区間に後続する第３区間において、前記電源から前記加熱部へ電力を供給させることと、
    　を含み、
    　前記制御方法は、
    　前記第１区間及び前記第３区間において、前記加熱部の電気抵抗値に基づく第１温度指標を用いて、前記電源からの電力の供給を制御することと、
    　前記第２区間を終了させるタイミングを前記サーミスタからの出力値に基づく第２温度指標を用いて判定することと、
    　をさらに含む、制御方法。     A control method for controlling aerosol generation in an aerosol generator, comprising:
    The aerosol generating device includes a heating unit that heats an aerosol source to generate an aerosol, a power supply that supplies power to the heating unit, and a thermistor that outputs a value dependent on the temperature of the heating unit,
    The control method is
    setting a target value for temperature control of the heating unit to a value corresponding to a first temperature in a first section of the control sequence, and causing the power source to supply power to the heating unit;
    stopping power supply from the power source to the heating unit so that the temperature of the heating unit decreases toward a second temperature lower than the first temperature in a second interval following the first interval; When,
    supplying power from the power source to the heating unit in a third interval following the second interval;
    including
    The control method is
    controlling power supply from the power supply in the first section and the third section using a first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit;
    determining the timing for ending the second interval using a second temperature index based on the output value from the thermistor;
    A control method, further comprising:
  12. 　前記制御方法は、
    　前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度に到達したと前記第２温度指標から判定される場合に、前記第２区間を終了させること、
    　をさらに含む、請求項１１に記載の制御方法。     The control method is
    terminating the second interval when it is determined from the second temperature indicator that the temperature of the heating unit has reached the second temperature;
    12. The control method of claim 11, further comprising:
  13. 　前記制御方法は、
    　前記第１温度指標と前記第２温度指標との間の関係性に基づいて、前記第２区間において前記第２温度指標を補正すること、
    　をさらに含み、
    　前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度に到達したかの前記判定は、補正後の前記第２温度指標を用いて行われる、
    　請求項１２に記載の制御方法。     The control method is
    correcting the second temperature index in the second section based on the relationship between the first temperature index and the second temperature index;
    further comprising
    The determination of whether the temperature of the heating unit has reached the second temperature is performed using the corrected second temperature index,
    The control method according to claim 12.
  14. 　前記制御方法は、
    　前記第２区間に先行する区間において、前記加熱部の前記電気抵抗値に基づく前記第１温度指標、及び前記サーミスタからの前記出力値に基づく前記第２温度指標を取得することと、
    　取得した前記第１温度指標と取得した前記第２温度指標との間の前記関係性を判定することと、
    　をさらに含む、請求項１３に記載の制御方法。     The control method is
    acquiring the first temperature index based on the electrical resistance value of the heating unit and the second temperature index based on the output value from the thermistor in a section preceding the second section;
    Determining the relationship between the obtained first temperature indicator and the obtained second temperature indicator;
    14. The control method of claim 13, further comprising:
  15. 　前記第１温度指標と前記第２温度指標との間の前記関係性は、前記第１温度指標と前記第２温度指標との間の温度変化率における差を含む、請求項１３又は１４に記載の制御方法。 15. A method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said relationship between said first temperature indicator and said second temperature indicator comprises a difference in rate of temperature change between said first temperature indicator and said second temperature indicator. control method.
  16. 　前記第３区間において前記電源からの電力の供給を制御することは、
    　前記第３区間を開始する際に前記第１温度指標が示す前記加熱部の温度に依存して異なる制御パラメータ集合を使用すること、
    　を含む、請求項１１～１５のいずれか１項に記載の制御方法。     Controlling the supply of power from the power source in the third section includes:
    using a different set of control parameters depending on the temperature of the heating element indicated by the first temperature indicator when starting the third interval;
    The control method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, comprising
  17. 　前記第３区間を開始する際の前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度よりも低い場合には、前記第３区間において前記加熱部の温度を前記第２温度に回復させるための第１の制御パラメータ集合が使用され、
    　前記第３区間を開始する際の前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度以上である第３温度である場合には、前記第３区間において前記加熱部の温度を前記第３温度に維持するための第２の制御パラメータ集合が使用される、
    　請求項１６に記載の制御方法。     a first control for restoring the temperature of the heating unit to the second temperature in the third interval when the temperature of the heating unit is lower than the second temperature when the third interval is started; A parameter set is used,
    To maintain the temperature of the heating unit at the third temperature in the third interval when the temperature of the heating unit at the start of the third interval is a third temperature that is equal to or higher than the second temperature A second control parameter set of is used,
    The control method according to claim 16.
  18. 　前記第１の制御パラメータ集合は、フィードバック制御の比例ゲインの第１の値を含み、
    　前記第２の制御パラメータ集合は、フィードバック制御の比例ゲインの第２の値を含み、
    　前記第１の値は前記第２の値よりも大きい、
    　請求項１７に記載の制御方法。     the first set of control parameters includes a first value of proportional gain for feedback control;
    the second control parameter set includes a second value of proportional gain for feedback control;
    the first value is greater than the second value;
    The control method according to claim 17.
  19. 　前記第１の制御パラメータ集合に含まれるフィードバック制御の比例ゲインの前記第１の値は、前記加熱部の予熱の際に使用される比例ゲインの値に等しい、請求項１８に記載の制御方法。 The control method according to claim 18, wherein the first value of the proportional gain of feedback control included in the first set of control parameters is equal to the value of the proportional gain used during preheating of the heating unit.
  20. 　前記制御方法は、
    　前記加熱部の温度が前記第２温度に到達する前に前記第２区間の開始から所定の時間が経過した場合に、前記第２区間を終了させること、
    　をさらに含む、請求項１１～１９のいずれか１項に記載の制御方法。     The control method is
    ending the second interval when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the second interval before the temperature of the heating unit reaches the second temperature;
    The control method according to any one of claims 11 to 19, further comprising
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