Power supply unit for aerosol generation device

Abstract

A power supply unit for an aerosol generation device that generates a flavored aerosol, the power supply unit including: a heating unit configured to heat an aerosol source; a power supply configured to supply electric power to the heating unit; a temperature sensor for the heating unit in contact with or close to the heating unit, or consisting of the heating unit itself; a switch configured to open and close an electrical connection between the power supply and the temperature sensor; an operation unit configured to allow a user for an operation; and a controller configured to control the switch to be ON state based on the operation on the operation unit causing the heating unit to start heating.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power supply unit for an aerosol generation device that generates a flavored aerosol, the power supply unit comprising:
 a heating unit configured to heat an aerosol source;
 a power supply configured to supply electric power to the heating unit; 
 a temperature sensor for the heating unit in contact with or close to the heating unit, or consisting of the heating unit itself; 
 a switch configured to open and close an electrical connection between the power supply and the temperature sensor; 
 an operation unit configured to allow a user for an operation; and 
 a controller configured to control the switch to be ON state based on the operation on the operation unit causing the heating unit to start heating. 
   
     
     
         2 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a LDO including a first input terminal and a first output terminal, wherein   the LDO is configured to output a first voltage from the first output terminal, the first voltage being obtained by converting a voltage input from the power supply to the first input terminal, and   an output terminal of the controller and the switch are connected to the first output terminal in parallel with each other.   
     
     
         3 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a charging terminal configured to electrically connect to an external power supply, and   a charging IC including a second input terminal electrically connected to the charging terminal, a power supply terminal electrically connected to the power supply, and a second output terminal configured to output a voltage input to the second input terminal or a voltage input to the power supply terminal, wherein   the second output terminal of the charging IC is connected to the first input terminal of the LDO.   
     
     
         4 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 3 , wherein
 when being under the operation, one end of the operation unit is connected to a ground, and another end of the operation unit is connected, in parallel with the switch, to the first output terminal of the LDO via a resistor, and   the charging IC includes a negative logic terminal connected to the another end of the operation unit and is configured to restart when a low level signal is input to the negative logic terminal for a predetermined time.   
     
     
         5 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a voltage dividing circuit consisting of two resistors connected in serial with each other and dividing a voltage applied from the power supply, and   an operational amplifier including a noninverting input terminal, an inverting terminal, and an output terminal, the noninverting input terminal being connected to an output of the voltage dividing circuit, the inverting input terminal being connected with an output of the temperature sensor for the heating unit, the output terminal being connected to the first terminal of the controller, the operational amplifier being configured to change a logical level of an output thereof upon a temperature detected by the temperature sensor for the heating unit getting equal to or greater than a threshold value, wherein   the switch is configured to open and close an electrical connection between the voltage dividing circuit and a positive power supply terminal of the operational amplifier.   
     
     
         6 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the controller is connected with the output of the temperature sensor for the heating unit not via the operational amplifier.   
     
     
         7 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an IC including an input terminal, an output terminal, and an enable terminal, the input terminal being electrically connected to the power supply, the output terminal being configured to output a voltage for heating generated by ON/OFF controlling of an built-in transistor of the IC and connected to the heating unit, and the enable terminal being connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier.   
     
     
         8 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the enable terminal of the IC is a positive logic enable terminal, and   the operational amplifier is configured to output a low level signal from the output terminal upon the temperature detected by the temperature sensor for the heating unit getting equal to or greater than a threshold value.   
     
     
         9 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the heating unit has a positive temperature coefficient characteristic, and   the temperature sensor for the heating unit consists of the heating unit itself.   
     
     
         10 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the heating unit is an induction-heating-type heater.   
     
     
         11 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inhalation sensor configured to provide an output in response to inhalation of the user and constantly electrically connected to the power supply.   
     
     
         12 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first circuit substrate on which the inhalation sensor is mounted; and   a second circuit substrate on which the controller is mounted, the second circuit substrate being disposed apart from the first circuit substrate.   
     
     
         13 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 12 , wherein
 no integrated circuit other than the inhalation sensor is mounted on the first circuit substrate.   
     
     
         14 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first circuit substrate on which the inhalation sensor is mounted and the operation unit is not mounted.   
     
     
         15 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a flexible circuit substrate which is connected to the first circuit substrate and on which the operation unit is mounted.   
     
     
         16 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the positive power supply terminal of the operational amplifier and the output terminal of the operational amplifier are connected to the switch in parallel with each other.   
     
     
         17 . The power supply unit for an aerosol generation device according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an AND gate including a third input terminal connected to the controller, a fourth input terminal connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier, and an third output terminal connected to the input terminal of the IC.