# US 11,451,144 B2 · Power supply unit for aerosol inhaler

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- Number: US 11,451,144 B2
- Document ID: US11451144B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/371,107
- Filed: 2021-07-09
- Published: 2022-01-13
- Granted: 2022-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 2020-07-09
- Assignees: Japan Tobacco Inc.
- Applicants: Japan Tobacco Inc.
- Inventors: Yasuhiro Ono; Minoru Kitahara; Shujiro Tanaka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451144B2

## CPC

- H02J 7/855: {with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery}
- H02M 3/156: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
- A24F 40/30: Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges
- A24F 40/40: Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
- A24F 40/50: Control or monitoring
- H02J 7/70: characterised by the mechanical construction
- A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
- H02J 2207/20: Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P)
- A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06)

## Abstract

A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a power supply; a first DC/DC converter; a second DC/DC converter; and a circuit board. As viewed from a first direction perpendicular to a surface of the circuit board on which the first DC/DC converter and the second DC/DC converter are mounted, at least a portion of the circuit board includes: a connection portion; a first portion extending from the connection portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a second portion extending from the connection portion in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The first DC/DC converter is mounted on the first portion, and the second DC/DC converter is mounted on the second portion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler comprising:
a power supply configured to supply power to a load that atomizes an aerosol source;
a first DC/DC converter connected to the power supply;
a second DC/DC converter connected to the power supply and different from the first DC/DC converter; and
a circuit board on which the first DC/DC converter and the second DC r DC converter are mounted, wherein
the circuit board is substantially L-shaped and as viewed from a first direction perpendicular to a surface of the circuit board on which the first DC/DC converter and the second DC/DC converter are mounted, at least a portion of the circuit board includes: a connection portion, a first portion of the connection portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a second portion of the connection portion extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction,
the first DC/DC converter is mounted on the first portion, and
the second DC/DC converter is mounted on the second portion,
wherein the power supply unit further comprises a cartridge holder configured to hold a cartridge including an aerosol source and a load to heat the aerosol source using power supplied from the power supply, wherein the cartridge holder is arranged where the first portion and the second portion meet to form a right angle and on a same side of the L-shaped circuit board as the extension of the first portion in the second direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein
the circuit board is mounted with or connected with
a first connector connected to a first load which functions by consuming power output from the first DC/DC converter, and
a second connector connected to a second load which functions by consuming power output from the second DC/DC converter,
the first connector is mounted on or connected to the first portion, and
the second connector is mounted on or connected to the second portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein
an output current of the first DC/DC converter is larger than an output current of the second DC/DC converter,
a switching frequency of the first DC/DC converter is lower than a switching frequency of the second DC/DC converter, and
a size of an inductor of the first DC/DC converter is larger than a size of an inductor of the second DC/DC converter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein
an output current of the first DC/DC converter is larger than an output current of the second DC/DC converter, and
conversion efficiency of the first DC/DC converter is higher than conversion efficiency of the second DC/DC converter.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein
the circuit board includes a first surface and a second surface which is a reverse surface from the first surface or is located on a side opposite from the first surface, and
the first DC/DC converter and the second DC/DC converter are mounted on the first surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein
the circuit board includes a first surface and a second surface which is a reverse surface from the first surface or is located on a side opposite from the first surface,
the first DC/DC converter is mounted on the first surface, and
the second DC/DC converter is mounted on the second surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit according to claim 1 further comprising:
a controller configured to control the first DC/DC converter and the second DC DC converter, wherein
a condition under which the controller activates the first DC/DC converter is different from a condition under which the controller activates the second DC/DC converter.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit according to claim 1, further comprising:
a controller configured to control the first DC/DC converter and the second DC/DC converter, wherein
a condition under which the controller stops the first DC/DC converter is different from a condition under which the controller stops the second DC/DC converter.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit according to claim 1, further comprising:
a controller configured to control the first DC/DC converter and the second DC/DC converter, wherein
the controller is configured to perform control such that the first DC/DC converter and the second DC/DC converter do not function simultaneously.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit according to claim 1, further comprising:
a charger configured to control charging of the power supply; and
a controller configured to control the first DC/DC converter, the second DC/DC converter, and the charger, wherein
the controller is configured to perform control such that the first DC/DC converter and the second DC/DC converter do not function simultaneously with the charger.