Patents by Inventor Takeshi Akao

Takeshi Akao has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11969023
    Abstract: Control device for aerosol inhalation device, includes operational amplifier including output terminal configured to generate voltage according to voltage applied to load configured to heat aerosol source and having correlation between temperature and electrical resistance value, control unit including input terminal and configured to perform processing based on voltage applied to the input terminal, and voltage dividing circuit configured to electrically connect the output terminal of the operational amplifier and the input terminal of the control unit. Power supply voltage of the operational amplifier is higher than power supply voltage of the control unit, and equals voltage applied to aerosol generation circuit including the load, and one of inverting input terminal and noninverting input terminal of the operational amplifier is electrically connected to the aerosol generation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Kazuma Mizuguchi, Takeshi Akao
  • Patent number: 11944126
    Abstract: An inhalation component generation device includes a load configured to vaporize or atomize an inhalation component source with electric power from a power supply, and a control unit configured to be capable of acquiring a voltage value of the power supply. The control unit is configured to be capable of estimating or detecting at least one of degradation and failure of the power supply based on a time period required for the voltage value of the power supply to reach an upper limit from a lower limit of a predetermined voltage range during charging of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi Akao, Hajime Fujita, Manabu Yamada
  • Patent number: 11916421
    Abstract: A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a power supply able to discharge power to a load for generating an aerosol from an aerosol source; a first control device and a second control device which are configured to control at least one of charging and discharging of the power supply; a circuit board on which the first control device and the second control device are provided; a first capacitor which is provided on an input side of the first control device so as to be connected in parallel with the first control device; and a second capacitor which is provided on an input side of the second control device so as to be connected in parallel with the second control device, wherein a capacity of the first capacitor is different from a capacity of the second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Akao
  • Patent number: 11862997
    Abstract: A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a power supply that is able to discharge power to a load for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generation source; and a control unit that is configured to control at least one of charging and discharging of the power supply such that the power supply does not become one or both of a fully charged state and a discharging termination state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Takeshi Akao
  • Patent number: 11824379
    Abstract: A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a power supply that is able to discharge power to a load for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generation source; and a control unit that is configured to control at least one of charging and discharging of the power supply such that the power supply does not become one or both of a fully charged state and a discharging termination state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Takeshi Akao
  • Patent number: 11800899
    Abstract: An aerosol generating apparatus comprises: a power source; a load configured to have an electric resistance value that varies according to a temperature and atomize an aerosol source or heat a flavor source when supplied with power from the power source; a feed circuit that is electrically connected to the power source and the load and includes a voltage conversion unit capable of converting an output voltage of the power source and outputting the converted output voltage to the load; and a control unit configured to acquire a measurement value corresponding to a current value of a current flowing through the load and control power supply to the load, wherein, in accordance with the measurement value, the control unit controls the feed circuit such that the measurement value becomes smaller than the target value or values included in the target range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Takeshi Akao, Kazuma Mizuguchi
  • Patent number: 11771140
    Abstract: An inhalation component generation device includes a load configured to vaporize or atomize an inhalation component source with electric power from a power supply, and a control unit configured to be capable of acquiring a value related to an operation amount of the load and a voltage value of the power supply. The control unit is configured to be capable of estimating or detecting at least one of degradation and failure of the power supply based on the value related to the operation amount of the load operated in a period in which the acquired voltage value of the power supply is in a predetermined voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi Akao, Takuma Nakano, Hajime Fujita, Manabu Yamada
  • Patent number: 11744291
    Abstract: An inhalation component generating device includes: a power supply; a load group including a load configured to evaporate or atomize an inhalation component source by power from the power supply; and a control circuit configured to be able to acquire a voltage value of the power supply. The control circuit performs: a process (a1) of acquiring a closed circuit voltage value of the power supply in a closed circuit state in which the power supply and the load group are electrically connected; and a process (a2) of comparing the acquired closed circuit voltage value and a first reference voltage value, and determining that the power supply is in a small residual amount state in a case where the closed circuit voltage value is smaller than or is equal to or smaller than the reference voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi Akao, Manabu Yamada, Hajime Fujita
  • Publication number: 20230240379
    Abstract: An inhalation component generating device includes: a power supply; a load group including a load configured to evaporate or atomize an inhalation component source by power from the power supply; and a control circuit configured to be able to acquire a voltage value of the power supply. The control circuit performs: a process (al) of acquiring a closed circuit voltage value of the power supply in a closed circuit state in which the power supply and the load group are electrically connected; and a process (a2) of comparing the acquired closed circuit voltage value and a first reference voltage value, and determining that the power supply is in a small residual amount state in a case where the closed circuit voltage value is smaller than or is equal to or smaller than the reference voltage value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi AKAO, Manabu YAMADA, Hajime FUJITA
  • Patent number: 11705744
    Abstract: A battery unit for a favor inhaler includes a chargeable and dischargeable power supply, a connection part capable of electrically connecting to an external charger, and a controller configured to perform control regarding at least the power supply, wherein when an accumulated value of a connection time period to the charger exceeds a first predetermined time period, the controller determines that the power supply has been degraded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Takeshi Akao
  • Patent number: 11696988
    Abstract: To provide a control device for an aerosol inhalator capable of compensating changes in temperature of a heater due to inhalation. A control device for an aerosol inhalator includes a first sensor for obtaining a first value relating to a temperature of a load which atomizes an aerosol source stored in a reservoir or retained by an aerosol base using heat generated by supply of electric power, a second sensor configured to detect an inhalation, and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to determine, based on a second value based on the first value and a threshold, whether the aerosol source in the reservoir or the aerosol base is depleted or insufficient (850A), and correct at least one of the second value and the threshold when detecting the inhalation (840) and, in the determination, compare the second value and the threshold, at least one of the second value and the threshold being corrected (842).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Kazuma Mizuguchi, Takeshi Akao, Takuma Nakano, Masayuki Tsuji, Hajime Fujita
  • Patent number: 11699914
    Abstract: A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a power supply able to discharge power to a load for generating an aerosol from an aerosol source; a connector able to be electrically connected to an external power supply; a control device configured to control at least one of charging and discharging of the power supply or configured to be able to convert power which is input from the connector into charging power for the power supply; and a zener diode provided between the connector and the control device so as to be connected in parallel with the control device. A maximum value of zener voltage of the zener diode is lower than a maximum operation guarantee voltage of the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Takeshi Akao
  • Publication number: 20230187956
    Abstract: A power supply unit includes: a power supply configured to discharge power to a load for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generation source; a charger configured to convert inputted power into charging power; a temperature measuring unit configured to measure a temperature of the power supply; and a charging controller configured to perform a first control for stopping the charger from supplying the charging power to the power supply and a second control for causing the charger to supply the charging power to the power supply, the charging controller setting a duty ratio to a value greater than 0 and smaller than 100 in a case where the temperature of the power supply is within a predetermined range, and the duty ratio being obtained by dividing a time during which the charging controller performs the first control by a unit time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Takeshi Akao
  • Patent number: 11658500
    Abstract: A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a power supply able to discharge power to a load for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generation source; and a charger including an information input part, and configured to be able to supply one of a first charging voltage and a second charging voltage lower than the first charging voltage to the power supply, based on an input value which is input from the information input part. A fixed value which is predetermined as one input value can be input to the information input part, and the fixed value is a value for supplying the second charging voltage to the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Akao
  • Patent number: 11638447
    Abstract: A battery unit is installed in a flavor inhaler with an atomizing unit that atomizes an aerosol-generating material according to a puffing action of inhaling air through an air passage leading from an air inlet to an air outlet. The battery unit includes a battery, an electronic component configured to control the atomizing unit, and a housing configured to accommodate the battery and the electronic component. The electronic component is located in a predetermined portion of the battery unit. The predetermined portion includes a water detection member configured to detect water that enters the predetermined portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Takeshi Akao
  • Patent number: 11632988
    Abstract: An aerosol generating apparatus comprises: a power source; a load configured to have a resistance value that varies according to a temperature and generate an aerosol by atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source when supplied with power from the power source; a sensor configured to include a resistor connected in series to the load and output a measurement value that is a current value of a current flowing through the resistor or a voltage value of a voltage applied to the resistor; and a control unit configured to control power supply from the power source to the load and receive output from the sensor, wherein the resistor has a resistance value that is set such that responsiveness of a change in the measurement value to a change in a temperature of the resistance value belongs to a prescribed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Takeshi Akao, Kazuma Mizuguchi, Masayuki Tsuji, Hajime Fujita
  • Patent number: 11627763
    Abstract: An aerosol generating apparatus comprises: a power source; a load configured to have an electric resistance value that varies according to a temperature and atomize an aerosol source or heat a flavor source when supplied with power from the power source; a sensor configured to output a measurement value corresponding to a current value of a current flowing through the load; and a control unit configured to control power supply from the power source to the load and perform a determination operation for determining that there is an abnormality if the measurement value becomes smaller than a threshold value within a determination period, on a time axis, in a feeding sequence during which power is supplied from the power source to the load, wherein the control unit adjusts a length of the determination period based on the measurement value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Takeshi Akao, Kazuma Mizuguchi, Hajime Fujita
  • Publication number: 20230096488
    Abstract: Provided is a terminal device including a communication unit for communicating with an inhalation device that generates an aerosol by heating a substrate including an aerosol source and a control unit for controlling operation of the communication unit, wherein, in a time section from the start to the end of aerosol generation processing carried out by the inhalation device using the substrate, the control unit prohibits transmission of setting information for changing a setting pertaining to the operation of the inhalation device among information transmitted by the communication unit and permits transmission of another information and reception of information from the inhalation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi AKAO, Tatsunari AOYAMA, Toru NAGAHAMA
  • Patent number: 11611227
    Abstract: A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a power supply that is able to discharge power to a load for generating an aerosol from an aerosol source; and a control unit that is configured to control the power supply. The control unit acquires a deteriorated state or a failure state of the power supply based on an internal resistance of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Takeshi Akao, Hajime Fujita
  • Publication number: 20230084282
    Abstract: An inhalation device including a communication unit that communicates with other devices, a heating unit that heats an aerosol-source-containing base material to generate an aerosol, and a control unit that controls the communication unit such that a plurality of types of information transmitted and received by the communication unit are transmitted and received in the order starting with the highest-priority information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi AKAO, Tatsunari AOYAMA, Toru NAGAHAMA