# US 2021/0274852 A1 · Power supply unit for aerosol inhaler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0274852 A1 - Document ID: US20210274852A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/191,711 - Filed: 2021-03-04 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-05 - Assignees: Japan Tobacco Inc. - Applicants: Japan Tobacco Inc. - Inventors: Keiji MARUBASHI; Hajime FUJITA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210274852A1 ## CPC - A24F 40/57: Temperature control - H05B 1/0227: {Applications} - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A24F 40/20: Devices using solid inhalable precursors - A24F 40/30: Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges - A24F 40/51: Arrangement of sensors - A61M 15/009: {using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08)} - G05F 1/56: using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices (G05F1/461 takes precedence) - H02J 7/855: {with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery} - H05B 3/0019: {Circuit arrangements} - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - H05B 2203/035: Electrical circuits used in resistive heating apparatus - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## Abstract A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a first series circuit; a second series circuit connected in parallel with the first series circuit; a first operational amplifier including a non-inversion input terminal connected to one of a first node and a second node, and an inversion input terminal connected to the other of the first node and the second node; and an adjustment circuit connected to the first operational amplifier and configured to prevent a differential input value of the first operational amplifier from being equal to a potential of a negative power supply terminal of the first operational amplifier or a minimum value acquirable by the first operational amplifier, in a state where a potential of the node connected to the non-inversion input terminal is less than a potential of the node connected to the inversion input terminal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler, the aerosol inhaler including a power supply configured to discharge electricity to a load which is configured to heat an aerosol generation source and has a correlation between temperature and electric resistance values, the power supply unit comprising: a first element connected in series to the load and having a first electric resistance value; a second series circuit which includes a second element having a second electric resistance value, and a third element connected in series to the second element and having a third electric resistance value, the second series circuit being connected in parallel with a first series circuit including the load and the first element; a first operational amplifier which includes a non-inversion input terminal connected to one of a first connection node between the load and the first element and a second connection node between the second element and the third element, and an inversion input terminal connected to the other of the first connection node and the second connection node; and a potential adjustment circuit connected to the first operational amplifier and configured to prevent a differential input value of the first operational amplifier from being equal to a potential of a negative power supply terminal of the first operational amplifier or a minimum value acquirable by the first operational amplifier, in a state where a first potential of the first connection node or the second connection node which is connected to the non-inversion input terminal is less than a second potential of the first connection node or the second connection node which is connected to the inversion input terminal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the potential adjustment circuit includes a second operational amplifier, and the second operational amplifier includes: a non-inversion input terminal which is connected to the first connection node or the second connection node which is connected to the inversion input terminal; an inversion input terminal to which a positive predetermined potential is input; and an output terminal connected to the inversion input terminal of the first operational amplifier. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 2, wherein a value of the predetermined potential is equal to a value of a potential input to a positive power supply terminal of the first operational amplifier, or a value of a voltage applied to the first series circuit and the second series circuit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined potential is obtained by dividing or stepping down a potential input to a positive power supply terminal of the first operational amplifier, or a voltage applied to the first series circuit and the second series circuit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined potential has a value at which the differential input value of the first operational amplifier is larger than the potential of the negative power supply terminal of the first operational amplifier or the minimum value acquirable by the first operational amplifier, in a state where the temperature of the load is equal to or lower than an upper limit temperature while the first potential is less than the second potential, or a state where the temperature of the load is equal to or higher than a lower limit temperature while the first potential is less than the second potential, the upper limit temperature is an upper limit value of a temperature range in which discharge to the load is performed, and the lower limit temperature is a lower limit value of the temperature range. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined potential has a value at which the differential input value of the first operational amplifier is larger than the potential of the negative power supply terminal of the first operational amplifier or the minimum value acquirable by the first operational amplifier, in a state where: the electric resistance value of the load has an error of −10% as compared with an assumed electric resistance value of the load assumed in a case where the temperature of the load is equal to a lower limit temperature or an upper limit temperature while the first potential and the second potential are equal, the electric resistance value of the load has an error of +10% as compared with the assumed electric resistance value of the load assumed in a case where the temperature of the load is equal to or higher than the lower limit temperature or equal to or lower than the upper limit temperature while the first potential is lower than the second potential or in the case where the temperature of the load is equal to the upper limit temperature or the lower limit temperature while the first potential and the second potential are equal, and the temperature of the load is equal to or lower than the upper limit temperature or equal to or higher than the lower limit temperature, and the first potential is less than the second potential, the upper limit temperature is an upper limit value of a temperature range in which discharge to the load, and the lower limit temperature is a lower limit value of the temperature range. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined potential has a value at which the differential input value of the first operational amplifier is equal to the potential of the negative power supply terminal of the first operational amplifier or the minimum value acquirable by the first operational amplifier, in a state where the temperature of the load exceeds the upper limit temperature while the first potential is less than the second potential, or a state where the temperature of the load is less than the lower limit temperature while the first potential is less than the second potential. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined potential has a value at which the differential input value of the first operational amplifier is lower than a potential of a positive power supply terminal of the first operational amplifier or a maximum value acquirable by the first operational amplifier, in a state where the temperature of the load is equal to or less than the upper limit temperature while the first potential is less than the second potential, or a state where the temperature of the load is equal to or higher than the lower limit temperature while the first potential is less than the second potential. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the potential adjustment circuit includes a rail splitter circuit configured to generate a negative potential from an input voltage and a positive potential having a same absolute value as the negative potential, the positive potential is input to a positive power supply terminal of the first operational amplifier, and the negative potential is input to the negative power supply terminal of the first operational amplifier. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 9, wherein at least one of a value of the input voltage and an electric resistance value of a resistor included in the rail splitter circuit has a value at which the differential input value of the first operational amplifier is larger than the negative potential in a state where the temperature of the load is equal to or lower than an upper limit temperature while the first potential is less than the second potential, or a state where the temperature of the load is equal to or higher than a lower limit temperature while the first potential is less than the second potential, the upper limit temperature is an upper limit value of a temperature range in which discharge to the load is performed, and the lower limit temperature is a lower limit value of the temperature range. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the value of the input voltage and the electric resistance value of the resistor included in the rail splitter circuit has a value at which the differential input value of the first operational amplifier is smaller than the positive potential in a state where the temperature of the load is equal to or lower than an upper limit temperature or a state where the temperature of the load is equal to or higher than a lower limit temperature, the upper limit temperature is an upper limit value of a temperature range in which discharge to the load is performed, and the lower limit temperature is a lower limit value of the temperature range. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the potential adjustment circuit includes a negative power supply configured to generate a negative potential, and the negative power supply is connected to the negative power supply terminal of the first operational amplifier. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 12, wherein the negative potential has a value at which the differential input value of the first operational amplifier is larger than the negative potential in a state where the temperature of the load is equal to or lower than an upper limit temperature while the first potential is less than the second potential, or a state where the temperature of the load is equal to or higher than a lower limit temperature while the first potential is less than the second potential, the upper limit temperature is an upper limit value of a temperature range in which discharge to the load is performed, and the lower limit temperature is a lower limit value of the temperature range. ### Claim 14 A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler, the aerosol inhaler including a power supply configured to discharge electricity to a load which is configured to heat an aerosol generation source and has a correlation between temperature and electric resistance values, the power supply unit comprising: a first element connected in series to the load and having a first electric resistance value; a second series circuit, which includes a second element having a second electric resistance value, and a third element connected in series to the second element and having a third electric resistance value, the second series circuit being connected in parallel with a first series circuit including the load and the first element; a first operational amplifier, which includes a non-inversion input terminal connected to one of a first connection node between the load and the first element and a second connection node between the second element and the third element, and an inversion input terminal connected indirectly to the other of the first connection node and the second connection node; and a second operational amplifier, which includes: a non-inversion input terminal which is connected to the first connection node or the second connection node connected indirectly to the inversion input terminal; an inversion input terminal where a positive predetermined potential is input; and an output terminal connected to the inversion input terminal of the first operational amplifier.