US-20260123676-A1 - INHALATION DEVICE, METHOD, AND PROGRAM

US20260123676A1US 20260123676 A1US20260123676 A1US 20260123676A1US-20260123676-A1

Abstract

The present invention provides an inhalation device with which it is possible to improve usability and promote users' safety and satisfaction with the inhalation device. An inhalation device according to the present invention is provided with a first member and a second member which is configured to be capable of being attached to and detached from the first member. This inhalation device includes: an active functional part which is provided to the first member; a passive functional part which is provided to the second member and which is capable of changing the state thereof according to the working of the active functional part; a sensor part which is provided to the first member and which detects a changed state of the passive functional part; and a control part which, on the basis of the detected state, determines whether the second member has been attached to the first member.

Inventors

Takashi Fujiki
Tatsunari AOYAMA
Hiroshi Kawanago
Ryo Yoshida
Manabu Yamada

Assignees

JAPAN TOBACCO INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20260105

Claims (7)

1 . A panel constructed to be attachable to/detachable from a main-body housing of an inhaler, the panel comprising: a magnetic field applicator comprising a magnetic substance which is configured to be magnetized due to effect of a first magnetic field applied by a magnet included in the main-body housing, said magnetic field applicator being configured to apply a second magnetic field, wherein the panel is configured in such a manner that attaching of the panel to the main-body housing is detectable by a magnetic sensor in the main-body housing via a magnetic force generated by the second magnetic field applied by the magnetic substance of the panel.
2 . The panel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the panel is configured to be held by the main-body housing by magnetic attraction between the magnet in the main-body housing and the magnetized magnetic field applicator.
3 . A method of using the panel as recited in claim 1 , the method comprising the step of: detecting attaching of the panel to a main-body housing of an inhaler, including: detecting magnetic force, that is based on a magnetic field, by a magnetic sensor installed in the main-body housing, wherein the magnetic substance of the panel is magnetized due to effect of a magnet included in the main-body housing, and applies the second magnetic field to the main-body housing; and judging, in response to detection of the magnetic force based on the second magnetic field, a state that the panel is being attached to the main-body housing.
4 . The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the panel is held by the main-body housing by magnetic attraction between the magnet in the main-body housing and the magnetized magnetic substance.
5 . The method as recited in claim 3 further including inhibiting activation of the inhaler in the case that the attaching is not detected.
6 . The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the inhaler comprises a heater for heating an inhaled component source for generating inhaled components; and a manipulation button, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of: accepting pressing of the manipulation button; and allowing supplying of electric power to the heater in response to pressing of the manipulation button, in the case that a value of the detected magnetic force is within a predetermined range of values.
7 . An inhaler, comprising: a first member; and a second member configured to be attachable to/detachable from the first member, wherein the first member comprises: a heater for heating an inhaled component source for generating inhaled components, and a controller for creating a state where heating operation by the heater is allowed, in the case that attaching of the second member to the first member is detected; and the second member insulates heat generated from the heater.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a Divisional of copending application Ser. No. 18/073,940, filed on Dec. 2, 2022, which is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2020/039099, filed on Oct. 16, 2020, all of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to an inhaler, a method, and a program. BACKGROUND ART As one of electronic devices, an inhaler which generates an inhaled component, such as flavor-added aerosol, has been known. Usually, in such an inhaler, a flavor-added inhalation article is attached thereto, and a suction action is performed by a user. In such inhalers, some inhalers which can be customized to fit it to preference of respective users have been known. Specifically, there is an inhaler which allows a user to set an operation mode of the inhaler, for providing operability and experience that fits preference of the user. In addition to the above, there is an inhaler which allows a user to select a panel member, which a user prefers, and attach it to a main body, for making the inhaler have external appearance that fits preference of the user. CITATION LIST Patent Literature PTL 1: Japanese Patent Application Public Disclosure No. 2012-513750 PTL2: PCT international publication No. WO 2019-084161 PTL3: PCT international publication No. WO 2016-194882 SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem Usually, for allowing a user to set an operation mode of an inhaler, it is necessary to have a construction that requires the user to perform setting via manual inputting manipulation, such as manipulation of a button or the like. In more detail, every time when an inhaler is powered up, a user is required to perform button input and/or command input corresponding to contents of manipulation. For example, a user can switch a light emission mode of an LED (Light Emitting Diode) to the other by pressing predetermined plural buttons a predetermined number of times in a predetermined order. In this regard, user is required to grasp contents of manipulation corresponding to a predetermined setting, by referring to a manual or the like in advance. On the other hand, since an inhaler heats an inhaled component source for generating inhaled components, safety with respect to generation of heat in the inhaler should be taken into consideration. For example, in the case that an inhaler is downsized to have a body which can be held by a hand of a user, it is necessary to have a measure for preventing a user from a burn due to heat leaked from the inhaler, such as a measure for enhancing thermal insulation by attaching a panel to an outer side of a main body of the inhaler, or the like. An object of the present disclosure is to provide an inhaler which can improve usability, and improve user's satisfaction and safety with respect to the inhaler. More specifically, one of the objects is to provide an inhaler which can be operated, in accordance with set contents that fit preference of a user, by performing simple and intuitive manipulation, without requiring a user to perform complicated manual input manipulation. Further, one of the objects is to provide an inhaler which takes safety with respect to heat generation into consideration by attaching a panel to a main body thereof, and is able to detect appropriate attaching of the panel. Further, one of the objects is to provide an inhaler in which set contents are changed according to each panel. Solution to Problem According to the present disclosure, in a first aspect, an inhaler which comprises a first member and a second member which is constructed to be attachable/detachable to/from the first member is provided. The inhaler comprises: an active functional part constructed in the first member; a passive functional part which is constructed in the second member, and changes its state in response to effect applied by the active functional part; a sensor which is installed in the first member, and detects a state, that is changed, of the passive functional part; and a controller which judges, based on the detected state, attaching of the second member to the first member. According to the inhaler, a novel method comprising detecting of change in the state of the passive functional in the second member, that is due to effect of the active functional part in the first member, can be used when performing judgment as to whether the second member is being attached to the first member. By the above construction, appropriate attaching of the second member to the first member can be judged, and safety with respect to the inhaler when it is used can be improved. An inhaler according to a second aspect comprises the inhaler according to the first aspect, wherein: the active functional part comprises a permanent magnet for generating a first magnetic field; the passive functional part comprises a magnetic substance which is magnetized by the firs