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).

  • Publication number: 20200237006
    Abstract: This inhalation component generation device comprises: a load which vaporizes or atomizes an inhalation component source using power from a power supply; and a control unit. The control unit comprises: a voltage sensor which uses a predefined correlation to convert the analog voltage value of a power supply to a digital voltage value and outputs the digital voltage value; and a power control unit which controls the supply of power from the power supply to the load on the basis of the digital voltage value. The control unit is configured to be capable of calibrating the correlation on the basis of changes in the digital voltage value or the analog voltage value obtained during charging of the power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi AKAO, Hajime FUJITA, Manabu YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20200237013
    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: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Takeshi AKAO, Kazuma MIZUGUCHI, Masayuki TSUJI, Hajime FUJITA
  • Publication number: 20200237010
    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: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Takeshi AKAO, Kazuma MIZUGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200237011
    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: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi AKAO, Hajime FUJITA, Manabu YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20200235599
    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: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventor: Takeshi AKAO
  • Publication number: 20200229503
    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: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventor: Takeshi AKAO
  • Publication number: 20200229505
    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; a temperature measuring unit configured to measure temperature of the power supply; and a control device configured to control first power or a first amount of power to be supplied to the power supply in a case where a measurement value of the temperature measuring unit is equal to or higher than a first threshold, to a value smaller than second power or a second amount of power to be supplied to the power supply in a case where the measurement value is lower than the first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Takeshi Akao
  • Publication number: 20200229502
    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; and a control device. The power supply unit further includes: a conductor which electrically connects the connector and the control device; a capacitor provided between the connector and the control device so as to be connected in parallel with the control device; a first circuit board on which the connector is provided; a second circuit board which is apart from the first circuit board and on which the capacitor and the control device are provided; and a conductive member which electrically connects the first circuit board and the second circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventor: Takeshi AKAO
  • Publication number: 20200235600
    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; a first circuit board including a resistor; and a second circuit board disposed apart from the first circuit board, and electrically connected to the first circuit board. The second circuit board includes at least one of: a control device configured to be able to control at least one of discharging and charging of the power supply; and a charging device configured to convert power which is input, into charging power for the power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventor: Takeshi AKAO
  • Publication number: 20200229504
    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; and 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. The power supply unit further includes a zener diode which is provided between the connector and the control device so as to be connected in parallel with the control device, and a maximum value of zener voltage of the zener diode is lower than a maximum operation guarantee voltage of the control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Takeshi Akao
  • Publication number: 20200233444
    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; and a charger configured to be able to convert power which is input from the connector into charging power for the power supply. The power supply unit further includes a first zener diode which is provided between the connector and the charger so as to be connected in parallel with the charger, and the first zener diode is connected so as to be closer to an input terminal of the charger than to an output terminal of the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Takeshi Akao
  • Publication number: 20200212516
    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; and a control unit configured to perform a plurality of types of processes for diagnosing a state of the power supply. The plurality of types of processes are different in at least one of time which is required to obtain a result of diagnosis and information which is used to obtain a result of diagnosis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi AKAO, Manabu YAMADA, Hajime FUJITA
  • Publication number: 20200212517
    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 control unit configured to control the power supply; and a sensor configured to output a value related to a remaining amount of the power supply. The control unit detects a short circuit of the power supply based on an output value of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi AKAO, Manabu YAMADA, Hajime FUJITA
  • Publication number: 20200197634
    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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Kazuma MIZUGUCHI, Takeshi AKAO, Takuma NAKANO, Masayuki TSUJI, Hajime FUJITA
  • Publication number: 20200196672
    Abstract: To provide a control device for an aerosol inhalator capable of determining a residual amount of an aerosol source without being influenced by changes in temperature of a heater due to inhalation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Kazuma MIZUGUCHI, Takeshi AKAO, Takuma NAKANO, Masayuki TSUJI, Hajime FUJITA
  • Publication number: 20200194758
    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: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Takeshi AKAO
  • Publication number: 20200136415
    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 determine whether the power supply which is being charged has reached a predetermined charge state lower than a fully charged state, and complete charging of the power supply in a case of determining that the power supply has reached the predetermined charge state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Takeshi AKAO
  • Publication number: 20200128884
    Abstract: A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a power supply unit; a charging terminal electrically connected to an external power supply charging the power supply; a discharging terminal electrically connected to a load generating an aerosol from an aerosol source; and a control unit detecting a request for aerosol generation and controlling discharging of the power supply through the discharging terminal and charging of the power supply through the charging terminal. The external power supply can be electrically connected to the charging terminal in a state where discharging of the power supply through the discharging terminal is possible. The control unit performs control such that the charging and the discharging are not performed at the same time in a case where the control unit detects the request in a state where the charging terminal and the external power supply are electrically connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Takeshi AKAO, Hajime FUJITA
  • Publication number: 20200128883
    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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Takeshi AKAO, Hajime FUJITA
  • Publication number: 20200136398
    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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Takeshi AKAO