# US 2021/0274853 A1 · Power supply unit for aerosol inhaler

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- Number: US 2021/0274853 A1
- Document ID: US20210274853A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/191,717
- 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/US20210274853A1

## CPC

- A24F 40/50: Control or monitoring
- A24F 40/57: Temperature control
- A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
- A24F 40/53: Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
- A61M 11/042: {electrical}
- A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
- G05D 23/2401: {using a heating element as a sensing element}
- H02J 7/855: {with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery}
- H05B 1/0227: {Applications}
- A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated
- A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06)
- 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)}
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler, which includes a power supply configured to discharge electricity to a load that is configured to heat an aerosol generation source and has a correlation between temperature and electric resistance values, includes: a first element connected in series to the load and having a first electric resistance value; a second series circuit that 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; and an operational amplifier connected to the first series circuit and the second series circuit. The first electric resistance value is less than an electric resistance value of the load.

## 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 that is configured to heat an aerosol generation source and has a correlation between temperature and electric resistance values, the power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler comprising:
a first element connected in series to the load and having a first electric resistance value;
a second series circuit that 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; and
an operational amplifier connected to the first series circuit and the second series circuit, wherein
the first electric resistance value is less than an electric resistance value of the load.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, wherein
the first element has a lowest electric resistance value among the load, the first element, the second element, and the third element.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, wherein
a combined resistance value of the second electric resistance value and the third electric resistance value is larger than a combined resistance value of the electric resistance value of the load and the first electric resistance value.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, wherein
the first electric resistance value is equal to or larger than 10 mΩ and less than 0.5Ω.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, wherein
the first electric resistance value is equal to or larger than 1 mΩ and less than 10 mΩ.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, wherein
the first electric resistance value is equal to or larger than 0.1 mΩ and less than 1 mΩ.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, wherein
a non-inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the first series circuit,
an inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the second series circuit, and
the first element is connected to a high potential side of the load.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 7, wherein
the first electric resistance value is equal to or less than a value determined based on the second electric resistance value, the third electric resistance value, and the electric resistance value of the load.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 7, wherein
when the first electric resistance value is represented by R1, the second electric resistance value is represented by R2, the third electric resistance value is represented by R3, and the electric resistance value of the load is represented by RHTR,
R
1
≦
R
2
R
3
·
R
HTR
(
I
)
the formula (I) is satisfied.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 7, wherein
a negative default potential is input to a negative power supply terminal of the operational amplifier, or a circuit configured to subtract the default potential from a potential of a node which is electrically connected to the inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier in the second series circuit is provided, and
the first electric resistance value is equal to or less than a value determined based on a voltage applied to the first series circuit and the second series circuit, the default potential, the second electric resistance value, the third electric resistance value, and the electric resistance value of the load.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 7, wherein
a negative default potential is input to a negative power supply terminal of the operational amplifier, or a circuit configured to subtract the default potential from a potential of a node which is electrically connected to the inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier in the second series circuit is provided, and
when the first electric resistance value is represented by R1, the second electric resistance value is represented by R2, the third electric resistance value is represented by R3, the electric resistance value of the load is represented by RHTR, the voltage is represented by VOUT, and the default potential is represented by VPSEUDO,
R
1
≦
(
V
OUT
+
V
PSEUDO
)
·
R
2
+
V
PSEDUDO
·
R
3
(
V
OUT
-
V
PSEUDO
)
·
R
3
-
V
PSEDUDO
·
R
2
·
R
HTR
(
II
)
the formula (II) is satisfied.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, wherein
a non-inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the second series circuit,
an inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the first series circuit, and
the first element is connected to a low potential side of the load.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 12, wherein
the first electric resistance value is equal to or less than a value determined based on the second electric resistance value, the third electric resistance value, and the electric resistance value of the load.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 12, wherein
when the first electric resistance value is represented by R1, the second electric resistance value is represented by R2, the third electric resistance value is represented by R3, and the electric resistance value of the load is represented by RHTR,
R
1
≦
R
3
R
2
·
R
HTR
(
III
)
the formula (III) is satisfied.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 12, wherein
a negative default potential is input to a negative power supply terminal of the operational amplifier, or a circuit configured to subtract the default potential from a potential of a node which is electrically connected to the inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier in the first series circuit is provided, and
the first electric resistance value is equal to or less than a value determined based on a voltage applied to the first series circuit and the second series circuit, the default potential, the second electric resistance value, the third electric resistance value, and the electric resistance value of the load.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 12, wherein
a negative default potential is input to a negative power supply terminal of the operational amplifier, or a circuit configured to subtract the default potential from a potential of a node which is electrically connected to the inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier in the first series circuit is provided, and
when the first electric resistance value is represented by R1, the second electric resistance value is represented by R2, the third electric resistance value is represented by R3, the electric resistance value of the load is represented by RHTR, the voltage is represented by VOUT, and the default potential is represented by VPSEUDO,
R
1
≦
(
V
OUT
-
V
PSEUDO
)
·
R
3
+
V
PSEDUDO
·
R
2
(
V
OUT
+
V
PSEUDO
)
·
R
2
+
V
PSEDUDO
·
R
3
·
R
HTR
(
IV
)
the formula (IV) is satisfied.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, wherein
a non-inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the second series circuit,
an inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the first series circuit,
the first element is connected to a high potential side of the load, and
when the first electric resistance value is represented by R1, the second electric resistance value is represented by R2, the third electric resistance value is represented by R3, and the electric resistance value of the load is represented by RHTR,
R
1
≧
R
2
R
3
·
R
HTR
(
V
)
the formula (V) is satisfied.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 17, wherein
a relationship of R3>R2 is satisfied.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, wherein
a non-inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the second series circuit,
an inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the first series circuit,
the first element is connected to a high potential side of the load,
a negative default potential is input to a negative power supply terminal of the operational amplifier, or a circuit configured to subtract the default potential from a potential of a node which is electrically connected to the inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier in the first series circuit is provided, and
when the first electric resistance value is represented by R1, the second electric resistance value is represented by R2, the third electric resistance value is represented by R3, the electric resistance value of the load is represented by RHTR, a voltage applied to the first series circuit and the second series circuit is represented by VOUT, and the default potential is represented by VPSEUDO,
R
1
≧
(
V
OUT
+
V
PSEUDO
)
·
R
2
+
V
PSEDUDO
·
R
3
(
V
OUT
-
V
PSEUDO
)
·
R
3
-
V
PSEDUDO
·
R
2
·
R
HTR
(
VI
)
the formula (VI) is satisfied.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 19, wherein
R
3
>
V
OUT
+
2
⁢
V
PSEUDO
V
OUT
-
2
⁢
V
PSEUDO
·
R
2
(
VII
)
the formula (VII) is satisfied.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, wherein a non-inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the first series circuit,
an inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the second series circuit,
the first element is connected to a low potential side of the load, and
when the first electric resistance value is represented by R1, the second electric resistance value is represented by R2, the third electric resistance value is represented by R3, and the electric resistance value of the load is represented by RHTR,
R
1
≧
R
3
R
2
·
R
HTR
(
VIII
)
the formula (VIII) is satisfied.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 21, wherein a relationship of R2>R3 is satisfied.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, wherein
a non-inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the first series circuit,
an inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to the second series circuit,
the first element is connected to a low potential side of the load,
a negative default potential is input to a negative power supply terminal of the operational amplifier, or a circuit configured to subtract the default potential from a potential of a node which is electrically connected to the inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier in the second series circuit is provided, and
when the first electric resistance value is represented by R1, the second electric resistance value is represented by R2, the third electric resistance value is represented by R3, the electric resistance value of the load is represented by RHTR, a voltage applied to the first series circuit and the second series circuit is represented by VOUT, and the default potential is represented by VPSEUDO,
R
1
≧
(
V
OUT
-
V
PSEUDO
)
·
R
3
-
V
PSEDUDO
·
R
2
(
V
OUT
+
V
PSEUDO
)
·
R
2
+
V
PSEDUDO
·
R
3
·
R
HTR
(
IX
)
the formula (IX) is satisfied.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 23, wherein
R
3
<
V
OUT
+
2
⁢
V
PSEUDO
V
OUT
-
2
⁢
V
PSEUDO
·
R
2
(
X
)
the formula (X) is satisfied.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising:
a control device configured to supply power to the first series circuit and the second series circuit such that the load generates aerosol from the aerosol generation source based on an aerosol generation request.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The power supply unit for the aerosol inhaler according to claim 25, wherein
the control device is configured to acquire a temperature of the load based on an output of the operational amplifier while supplying the power to the first series circuit and the second series circuit such that the load generates the aerosol from the aerosol generation source.