Power supply assembly, non-combustion-type flavor inhaler, and non-combustion-type flavor inhalation system

1. A non-combustion-type flavor inhaler comprising:

an atomization assembly including an atomizer configured to atomize an aerosol source without combustion; and

a power supply assembly including a power supply for supplying power to the atomizer,

wherein the power supply assembly includes:

paired electrodes for electrical connection with the atomizer; and

a first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected with the power supply,

wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is electrically connectable to a charger for charging the power supply,

wherein the non-combustion-type flavor inhaler is provided with a control circuit configured to detect an opposite current that flows through the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode in a direction opposite to a charging current, the charging current flowing through the first electrode or the second electrode when the charger charges the power supply, and

wherein the control circuit is configured to perform a predetermined control if a number of times where the opposite current is detected within a predetermined period exceeds a predetermined threshold that is larger than one.

2. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein the opposite current is generated from the power supply.

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

the power supply assembly includes a first case housing the power supply, the first case including first paired electrodes being the paired electrodes,

the atomization assembly includes a second case housing the atomizer, the second case including second paired electrodes, the second case being detachably attachable to the first case, and

the first paired electrodes and the second paired electrodes are configured to electrically connect together when the first paired electrodes and the second paired electrodes are in contact with each other.

4. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first case and the second case includes an engagement for engaging the first case and the second case together.

5. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 3 , wherein, with the first paired electrodes and the second paired electrodes electrically connected together, the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed at positions at which an external element different from constituent elements of the non-combustion-type flavor inhaler enables the first electrode and the second electrode to be in conduction.

6. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 3 , wherein, with the first paired electrodes and the second paired electrodes electrically connected together, each of the first electrode and the second electrode have a portion exposed on a surface of the first case.

7. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 6 , wherein an exposed portion of the first electrode and an exposed portion of the second electrode are disposed on faces facing mutually different directions in the first case.

8. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 6 , wherein an exposed portion of the first electrode and an exposed portion of the second electrode are disposed on faces facing identical directions in the first case, and

a difference in level is provided between an end face of the exposed portion of the first electrode and an end face of the exposed portion of the second electrode.

9. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 3 , wherein, with the first paired electrodes and the second paired electrodes electrically connected together, the first paired electrodes are disposed at positions at which conduction of an external element different from constituent elements of the non-combustion-type flavor inhaler, is not allowed between the first paired electrodes.

10. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 9 , wherein, with the first paired electrodes and the second paired electrodes electrically connected together, at least one of the first paired electrodes is not exposed on a surface of the non-combustion-type flavor inhaler.

11. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein both of the first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connectable to the charger for charging the power supply, and

the power supply is configured to be charged by the charger through the first electrode and the second electrode.

12. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit includes:

a detector configured to detect the opposite current; and

a rectifying element configured to prevent a charging current from flowing in the detector.

13. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 12 , wherein the rectifying element includes an anode and a cathode,

the anode is electrically connected with the detector, and

the cathode is electrically connected with an electrode positive during the charging by the charger, among the first electrode and the second electrode.

14. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein the power supply is configured to be charged by the charger through one of the first electrode and the second electrode.

15. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein the power supply assembly includes a third electrode different from the first electrode and the second electrode, and

wherein a charging current is configured to be supplied from the charger to the power supply through the third electrode and only one of the first electrode and the second electrode.

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

an electrode that does not contribute to supply of the charging current supplied from the charger to the power supply, among the first electrode and the second electrode is:

provided at a position at which the electrode is physically out of contact with the charger;

physically in contact with the charger through an insulator preventing electrical connection with the charger; or

electrically connected with the charger and does not contribute to the supply of the charging current from the charger to the power supply.

17. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to control a power from the power supply to the atomizer.

18. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 17 , wherein the control circuit detects whether the power supply is being charged, and

the control circuit does not perform the predetermined control regardless of a detected result of the opposite current when detecting the charging of the power supply.

19. A non-combustion-type flavor inhalation system comprising:

the non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 ; and

a charger detachably attachable to the non-combustion-type flavor inhaler, the charger being capable of supplying a charging current to the non-combustion-type flavor inhaler.

20. The non-combustion-type flavor inhalation system according to claim 19 , wherein the charger includes third paired electrodes for electrical connection between the charger and the non-combustion-type flavor inhaler,

the third paired electrodes are electrically connected with the first electrode and the second electrode when the charger and the non-combustion-type flavor inhaler are attached to each other, and

the opposite current is supplied to the control circuit by a conduction between the electrodes included in the third paired electrodes.

21. The non-combustion-type flavor inhalation system according to claim 20 , wherein the charger includes switching means capable of switching between a conduction state and a non-conduction state of the electrodes included in the third paired electrodes.

22. A power supply assembly comprising:

a power supply for supplying power to an atomizer configured to atomize an aerosol source without combustion;

paired electrodes for electrical connection with the atomizer;

a first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected with the power supply, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is electrically connectable to a charger for charging the power supply; and

a controller configured to detect an opposite current that flows through the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode in a direction opposite to a charging current flowing through the first electrode or the second electrode when the charger charges the power supply,

wherein the controller is configured to perform a predetermined control if a number of times where the opposite current is detected within a predetermined period exceeds a predetermined threshold that is larger than one.