US 11,986,019 B2
Inhaler device, and method and program for operating the same
Manabu Yamada, Tokyo (JP); Manabu Takeuchi, Tokyo (JP); and Hirofumi Matsumoto, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to JAPAN TOBACCO INC., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by JAPAN TOBACCO INC., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jan. 9, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/737,933.
Application 16/737,933 is a continuation of application No. 16/395,657, filed on Apr. 26, 2019, granted, now 10,561,807, issued on Feb. 18, 2020.
Application 16/395,657 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2017/002214, filed on Jan. 24, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0338284 A1, Oct. 29, 2020
Prior Publication US 2024/0074510 A9, Mar. 7, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61M 15/00 (2006.01); A24B 15/167 (2020.01); A24B 15/28 (2006.01); A24F 40/53 (2020.01); A24F 40/60 (2020.01); A61M 11/04 (2006.01); A61M 15/06 (2006.01); A24F 40/10 (2020.01); A24F 40/50 (2020.01); A24F 40/51 (2020.01)
CPC A24F 40/53 (2020.01) [A24B 15/167 (2016.11); A24B 15/283 (2013.01); A24F 40/60 (2020.01); A61M 11/042 (2014.02); A61M 15/0065 (2013.01); A61M 15/06 (2013.01); A24F 40/10 (2020.01); A24F 40/50 (2020.01); A24F 40/51 (2020.01); A61M 15/009 (2013.01); A61M 2205/8206 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inhaler device comprising:
a battery;
an atomizer configured to consume a capacity of the battery to generate aerosol;
a button;
a sensor configured to detect an input received at the button; and
circuitry configured to
determine, based on a signal output by the sensor, that a criterion for triggering generation of the aerosol by the atomizer has been satisfied;
detect or estimate a capacity of the battery upon determining that the criterion for triggering generation of the aerosol by the atomizer has been satisfied;
in a case that the detected or estimated capacity of the battery is less than a first threshold value and the criterion for triggering generation of the aerosol by the atomizer has been satisfied, control the LED to function in a first mode and not supply power from the battery to the atomizer;
in a case that the detected or estimated capacity of the battery is greater than the first threshold and the criterion for triggering generation of the aerosol by the atomizer has been satisfied, control the LED to function in a second mode, which is different from the first mode, and supply power from the battery to the atomizer;
detect or estimate the capacity of the battery while performing control to supply power from the battery to the atomizer to generate aerosol; and
in a case that the detected or estimated capacity of the battery while performing control to supply power from the battery to the atomizer to generate aerosol is less than the first threshold, control the LED to function in a third mode and stop the supply of power from the battery to the atomizer.