IP Library Granted Patent US 11,633,555
Granted Patent B2
US 11,633,555 · App. 15/824,584 · Granted Apr 25, 2023

Non-combustion type flavor inhaler and aerosol delivery method

Inventors: Kazuhiko Katayama (Tokyo, JP); Akihiko Suzuki (Tokyo, JP); Manabu Takeuchi (Tokyo, JP); Takuma Nakano (Tokyo, JP); Manabu Yamada (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
A61M15/06A24F40/50A61M11/042F24H9/2014A24F40/10A61M2016/0018A61M2205/3653A61M2205/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,633,555
App. No.
15/824,584
Granted
Apr 25, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A non-combustion type flavor inhaler comprising: an atomizer atomizing an aerosol source without burning; and a controller controlling a power output to the atomizer, wherein the controller is configured to start supply of a power output to the atomizer before start of a user's puffing action, and is configured to stop supply of a power output to the atomizer during a user's puffing action.

Claims (32)

1. A non-combustion type flavor inhaler comprising:

an atomizer atomizing an aerosol source without burning; and

a controller controlling supply of a power output to the atomizer so that aerosol can be supplied to a user during a predetermined time, wherein

the controller is configured, in response to a user's puffing action during the predetermined time, to stop supply of a power output to the atomizer for the remainder of that puffing action, and then, in response to the end of that puffing action, to start the supply of a power output to the atomizer so that an amount of aerosol generated by the atomizer does not fall below a predetermined lower limit,

wherein during generation of the aerosol by the atomizer, a temperature of the atomizer is not changed by the user's puffing action, wherein a particle diameter of particles constituting aerosol is maintained between a plurality of puffing actions.

2. The non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 , further comprising an atomization switch that is switched to a state where supply of a power output to the atomizer is stopped when a user's puffing action is performed.

3. The non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 2 , wherein the atomization switch is switched to a state where supply of a power output to the atomizer is started when a user's puffing action is no longer performed.

4. The non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 2 , wherein the atomization switch is linked with a suction sensor that detects a puffing action, and

the controller stops supply of a power output to the atomizer when a puffing action is detected by the suction sensor.

5. The non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 2 , wherein the atomization switch is linked with a suction sensor that detects a puffing action, and

the controller starts supply of a power output to the atomizer when a puffing action is no longer detected by the suction sensor.

6. The non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 2 , wherein the atomization switch is linked with a user operation on an operation interface, and

the controller stops supply of a power output to the atomizer when a user operation is no longer performed on the operation interface.

7. The non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 2 , wherein the atomization switch is linked with a user operation on an operation interface, and

the controller starts supply of a power output to the atomizer when a user operation is performed on the operation interface.

8. The non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first switch that is switched to an ON state when a user operation is being performed on an operation interface, and that is switched to an OFF state when a user operation is not being performed on the operation interface; and

a second switch that is switched to an ON state by start of a user's puffing action, and is switched to an OFF state by termination of a user's puffing action, wherein

the controller starts supply of a power output to the atomizer when the first switch is switched to the ON state, and

the controller stops supply of a power output to the atomizer when the second switch is switched to the ON state.

9. The non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein the controller stops supply of a power output to the atomizer when a first duration has elapsed after starting of supply of a power output to the atomizer.

10. The non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 9 , wherein the controller restarts supply of a power output to the atomizer when a second duration has elapsed after stopping of the supply of a power output to the atomizer due to the elapse of the first duration.

11. The non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 , further comprising: a notification unit that notifies that a desired amount of aerosol can be supplied, in a period in which the desired amount of aerosol can be supplied.

12. The non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 , further comprising: a notification unit that notifies that a desired amount of aerosol cannot be supplied in a period in which the desired amount of aerosol cannot be supplied.

13. The non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein an absorbing member for absorbing a condensed aerosol is provided on a wall surface exposed to a flow path of aerosol generated by the atomizer.

14. The non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a suction sensor that detects a puffing action, wherein

the controller triggers energization processing for the atomizer when switching is performed from a non-suction state in which a puffing action is not detected by the suction sensor, to a suction state in which a puffing action is detected by the suction sensor, and from the suction state to the non-suction state.

15. The non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller is configured to supply a power output to the atomizer during periods other than periods in which user's puffing action is being detected.

16. The non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 15 , wherein

the controller is configured to stop supply of a power output to the atomizer when a predetermined duration has lapsed without a new user's puffing action being detected since the end of the latest user's puffing action.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: KATAYAMA, KAZUHIKO; SUZUKI, AKIHIKO; TAKEUCHI, MANABU; NAKANO, TAKUMA; YAMADA, MANABU
To: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
Reel/Frame 044248/0707 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2015065657 · May 29, 2015
Related Publication 20180077971A1 · Mar 22, 2018
Cited By (2)
US 12,520,880 US 12,550,942