AEROSOL GENERATION DEVICE, AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

The invention pertains to the field of smoking devices, and provides an aerosol generation device (10) and a control method thereof. The method comprises: controlling a heater (101) to rise from an initial temperature to a first pre-determined temperature (S11); if the heater (101) has risen from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature, controlling the heater (101) to maintain the first pre-determined temperature for a first pre-determined duration (S12); and controlling a sum of the duration of the heater (101) to rise from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature and the first pre-determined duration to be greater than or equal to a second pre-determined duration (S13).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201911100357.6, entitled “Aerosol generation device and control method thereof” and submitted to China National Intellectual Property Administration on Nov. 12, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of smoking sets, for example, to an aerosol generation device and a control method thereof.

BACKGROUND

Products such as cigarettes and cigars are burning tobaccos to produce tobacco smoke during use. People attempt to make products that release compounds without burning so as to replace the tobacco products burning tobaccos. Examples of this kind of products are so called heating devices, also called tobacco heating products, or tobacco heating devices, or aerosol generation devices, which heat rather than burn a material to release compounds. The material, for example, may be a tobacco product or other non-tobacco products or combinations thereof, for example, mixtures which may contain or not contain nicotine.

During the pre-heating stage of existing aerosol generation devices, when the temperature of a heater rises to a target temperature, the heater generally needs to maintain the target temperature for a period of time. The maintaining time is a pre-determined duration value, that is, it is a fixed value. However, such pre-heating mode may result in a following problem. When the initial temperature of the heater is relatively high (greater than the environment temperature), if the above heating mode is still employed, insufficiency of a pre-heating duration may occur, which would impact the mouthfeel for smoking and reduce user experience.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides an aerosol generation device and a control method thereof, aiming to solve the problem of insufficiency of a pre-heating duration in existing aerosol generation devices.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a control method for an aerosol generation device, the aerosol generation device including a heater configured to heat an aerosol forming matrix to generate an aerosol, the method including:

controlling the heater to rise from an initial temperature to a first pre-determined temperature;

if the heater has risen from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature, controlling the heater to maintain the first pre-determined temperature for a first pre-determined duration; and

controlling a sum of the duration of the heater to rise from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature and the first pre-determined duration to be greater than or equal to a second pre-determined duration.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an aerosol generation device, including a heater and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to execute the control method for the aerosol generation device described in the first aspect.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a nonvolatile computer readable storage medium having stored therein a computer executable instruction that, when executed by an aerosol generation device, causes the aerosol generation device to execute the method above.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a computer program product including a computer program stored in a nonvolatile computer readable storage medium, wherein the computer program includes a program instruction that, when executed by an aerosol generation device, causes the aerosol generation device, to execute the method above.

The control method for the aerosol generation device provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure controls the heater to rise from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature and maintain the first pre-determined temperature for the first pre-determined duration and controls the sum of the duration of the heater to rise from the initial temperature to the first-pre-determined temperature and the first pre-determined duration to be greater than or equal to the second pre-determined duration, thereby preventing insufficiency of a pre-heating duration, ensuring consistent mouthfeel for smoking, and improving user experience.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For a better understanding of the present disclosure, a detailed description is provided to the present disclosure in conjunction with the drawings and specific embodiments. It is to be noted that when an element is described as “fixed on” another element, it may be directly on the another element, or there might be one or more intermediate elements between them. When one element is described as “connected to” another element, it may be directly connected to the another element, or there might be one or more intermediate elements between them. Terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right,” “inner”, “outer” and similar expressions used in this description are merely for illustration.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in the description have the same meaning as those normally understood by the skill in the technical field of the present disclosure. The terms used in the description of the present disclosure are just for describing specific implementations, not to limit the present disclosure. Terms “and/or” used in the description include any and all combinations of one or more listed items.

The Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure provides a control method for an aerosol generation device, as shown inFIG.1.

As an example, the aerosol generation device may refer toFIG.4. The aerosol generation device10shown inFIG.4includes a heater101configured to heat an aerosol forming matrix20to generate an aerosol, a controller102, and a power supply103configured to provide power to the heater101and the controller102. For ease of illustration, the following content is described taking the aerosol generation device10shown inFIG.4as an example.

It is to be noted that the heater101may adopt a central heating mode (in which a periphery of a heating body is in direct contact with an aerosol forming matrix) or a peripheral heating mode (in which a tubular heating body encloses an aerosol forming matrix). The heater101can also heat the aerosol forming matrix to generate an inhalable aerosol, through one or more modes among heat conduction, electromagnetic induction, chemical reaction, infrared action, resonance, photoelectric conversion and photothermal conversion.

The aerosol forming matrix refers to a matrix capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. The volatile compounds can be released by heating the aerosol forming matrix. The aerosol forming matrix preferably is an aerosol forming liquid matrix and may contain nicotine. The aerosol forming matrix may contain plant based materials. The aerosol forming matrix may include a tobacco-containing material that contains volatile tobacco flavor compounds, and the volatile tobacco flavor compounds, when heated, are released from the aerosol forming matrix. The aerosol forming matrix, alternatively, may include a tobacco-free material.

The aerosol forming matrix may include an aerosol forming agent, and the aerosol forming agent may be any appropriate known compound or mixture of compounds. The compound or mixture of compounds, during usage, are beneficial for densification and stable formation of aerosol, and are resistant to thermal degradation at the operating temperature of the aerosol generating system. Appropriate aerosol forming agents are well known in relevant fields, including but not limited to: polyols, e.g., triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol and glycerol; esters of polyols, e.g., glycerol monoacetate, diacetate or triacetate; and fatty acid esters of monocarboxylic, dicarboxylic or polycarboxylic acids, e.g., dimethyldodecane diacid ester and dimethyl tetradecane diacetate. A preferable aerosol forming agent is polyhydroxy alcohols or a mixture thereof, for example, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, and the most preferable is glycerol.

As shown inFIG.1, the control method for the aerosol generation device provided in the Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure includes:

S11: controlling the heater to rise from an initial temperature to a first pre-determined temperature.

In the present embodiment, when the aerosol generation device10is turned on, if the controller102detects that the aerosol generation device10has been started by a user, the controller102controls a heating power provided to the heater101by the power supply103, thereby controlling the heater101to operate at a first pre-determined heating power.

During the heating process of the aerosol generation device10, the heating power of the heater101may be a dynamically changing value, which means the heating power of the heater101may not be a fixed value and decreases as the increase of the temperature of the heater101. As an example, in the beginning, the heating power of the heater101uses the full power of the power supply103or other pre-determined heating powers to heat, and then it decreases as the increase of the temperature of the heater101. Specifically, when the aerosol generation device10is started, the controller102controls the heating power of the heater101to use the full power of the power supply103or other pre-determined heating powers to heat, and detects a real-time temperature of the heater101; and after the real-time temperature of the heater101reaches a target temperature, the controller adjusts the heating power provided to the heater101by the power supply103. The full power of the power supply103may be the maximum power of the power supply, and the specific data may be determined on the basis of the properties of the power supply103. No further limitation is needed here.

The heating power provided to the heater101by the power supply103may be provided to the heater101in a pulse signal mode, and the controller102may control the heating power provided to the heater101by the power supply103by controlling the width or duty ratio of the pulse signal.

In one embodiment, the process of controlling the heater to rise from an initial temperature to a first pre-determined temperature includes:

acquiring a real-time temperature of the heater within a pre-determined time interval, and comparing the real-time temperature of the heater with the first pre-determined temperature.

In the present embodiment, the controller102may acquire the real-time temperature of the heater101according to the pre-determined time interval, and the pre-determined time interval may be 10 milliseconds to 5000 milliseconds. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, preferably, the employed time interval is 30 milliseconds to 100 milliseconds.

After the real-time temperature of the heater101is acquired, the real-time temperature of the heater101is compared with the first pre-determined temperature, for judging whether the real-time temperature of the heater101rises to the first pre-determined temperature.

If the real-time temperature of the heater101is lower than the first pre-determined temperature, the controller102continues controlling the heating power provided to the heater101by the power supply103, so as to increase the temperature of the heater101.

The first pre-determined temperature may be the optimum temperature of the aerosol forming matrix to generate an aerosol, that is, at this optimum temperature the aerosol forming matrix can provide a smoke volume and temperature most suitable for inhalation and of good mouthfeel. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, preferably, the employed first pre-determined temperature is 220° C. to 260° C.

In the present embodiment, the process of acquiring a real-time temperature of the heater includes:

detecting the real-time temperature of the heater through a temperature detection device; or,

determining a real-time resistance value of the heater, and determining, according to a relationship between a resistance value and a temperature of the heater, the real-time temperature corresponding to the real-time resistance value.

Specifically, the real-time temperature of the heater101may be detected through a temperature detection device (not shown) connected to the controller102. The temperature detection device includes but not limited to a temperature sensor and/or a digital temperature detection module. The temperature sensor may be Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC), Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) and the like sensors.

The relationship between a resistance value and a temperature of the heater101may be stored in the controller102in the form of a relation table, or in the form of a curve. Therefore, after determining the real-time resistance value of the heater101, the controller102may obtain the real-time temperature of the heater101by looking up the table or searching in the curve.

In another embodiment, the process of controlling the heater to rise from an initial temperature to a first pre-determined temperature includes:

controlling the heater to heat at a first pre-determined heating power, so that the heater rises from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature.

In the present embodiment, the process of controlling the heater to heat at a first pre-determined heating power, so that the heater rises from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature includes:

determining a real-time resistance value of the heater; and

adjusting a voltage output to the heater, according to the real-time resistance value of the heater and the first pre-determined heating power.

Specifically, during the heating process of the heater101, the resistance value of the heater101changes with temperature, that is, a relationship is formed between the resistance value and the temperature of the heater101, and different temperatures correspond to different resistance values. Therefore, it is needed to adjust the voltage output to the heater.

The real-time resistance value of the heater101may be determined by connecting a standard resistor to the heater101in series and then detecting the voltage at two ends of the standard resistor and the heater101. After the real-time resistance value of the heater101and the first pre-determined heating power are determined, the voltage of the heater101may be calculated through the formula U=√(P×R), where U represents the voltage of the heater101, P represents the first pre-determined heating power, and R represents the real-time resistance value of the heater101. The controller102maintains the heating power of the heater101by adjusting the voltage output to the heater101, thereby ensuring the consistent mouthfeel for smoking.

It is to be noted that the embodiments of the present disclosure make no limitation to the determination of the real-time resistance value of the heater101.

S12: if the heater has risen from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature, controlling the heater to maintain the first pre-determined temperature for a first pre-determined duration.

In the present embodiment, the controller102may perform judgment by comparing the real-time temperature of the heater101with the first pre-determined temperature. If the real-time temperature of the heater101is equal to the first pre-determined temperature, it is determined that the real-time temperature of the heater101has risen to the first pre-determined temperature. Then, the controller102can control the heating power provided to the heater101by the power supply103, thereby controlling the heater101to maintain the first pre-determined temperature for a period of time (that is, the first pre-determined duration), and ensuring the aerosol forming matrix to be fully heated to guarantee the mouthfeel of the first puff.

S13: controlling a sum of the duration of the heater to rise from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature and the first pre-determined duration to be greater than or equal to a second pre-determined duration.

From the foregoing content, when the initial temperature of the heater101is relatively high (for example, in the case of smoking two cigarettes successively), insufficiency of a pre-heating duration may occur, which would impact the mouthfeel for smoking and reduce user experience.

To prevent insufficiency of a pre-heating duration, the present disclosure controls the sum of the duration of the heater101to rise from the initial temperature to the first-pre-determined temperature and the first pre-determined duration to be greater than or equal to the second pre-determined duration.

Specifically, supposing the duration of the heater101to rise from the initial temperature to the first-pre-determined temperature is t1, the first pre-determined duration is t2and the second pre-determined duration is t3, then the t1+t2and the t3need to meet the following relationship: t1+t2≥t3.

In the present embodiment, the value of the first pre-determined duration and/or the second pre-determined duration may be set according to the properties of the aerosol forming matrix, and the value of the second pre-determined duration may be set as twice the value of the first pre-determined duration. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, preferably, the employed first pre-determined duration is 7 seconds to 15 seconds and the second pre-determined duration is 15 seconds to 30 seconds.

In one embodiment, the process of controlling a sum of the duration of the heater to rise from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature and the first pre-determined duration to be greater than or equal to a second pre-determined duration includes:

judging whether the sum of the duration of the heater to rise from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature and the first pre-determined duration is greater than or equal to the second pre-determined duration; and

if the sum of the duration of the heater to rise from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature and the first pre-determined duration is greater than or equal to the second pre-determined duration, outputting a prompt signal for inhaling aerosol.

In the present embodiment, after the sum of the duration and the first pre-determined duration is compared with the second pre-determined duration, if the sum of the duration and the first pre-determined duration is greater than or equal to the second pre-determined duration, a prompt signal for inhaling aerosol may be output.

Specifically, a prompt device (not shown) connected to the controller102may be employed to perform a prompt operation according to the prompt signal for inhaling aerosol output by the controller102. For example, the prompt device is a vibration motor, which vibrates to prompt a user that aerosol is ready for inhalation, according to the prompt signal for inhaling aerosol output by the controller102(including a start signal to control the vibration motor to operate); alternatively, the prompt device is an LED lamp, which keeps on or flashes to prompt a user that aerosol is ready for inhalation, according to the prompt signal for inhaling aerosol output by the controller102.

In another embodiment, after judging whether the sum of the duration of the heater to rise from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature and the first pre-determined duration is greater than or equal to the second pre-determined duration, the method further includes:

controlling the heater to maintain a pre-determined temperature range for a third pre-determined duration; or, controlling the heater to maintain a second pre-determined temperature for a third pre-determined duration; wherein both of an upper limit value of the pre-determined temperature range and the value of the second pre-determined temperature are less than the value of the first pre-determined temperature.

In the present embodiment, after the sum of the duration and the first pre-determined duration is compared with the second pre-determined duration, if the sum of the duration and the first pre-determined duration is greater than or equal to the second pre-determined duration, the controller102controls the power supply103to provide a second pre-determined heating power (the second pre-determined heating power is less than the first pre-determined heating power) to the heater101, to control the heater101to maintain the pre-determined temperature range or the second pre-determined temperature for a period of time (the third pre-determined duration); wherein both of an upper limit value of the pre-determined temperature range and the value of the second pre-determined temperature are less than the value of the first pre-determined temperature. The pre-determined temperature range and the second pre-determined temperature may be determined by collecting a large amount of user data. In specifical settings, a lower limit value of the pre-determined temperature range may be close to or slightly greater than a critical temperature of the aerosol forming matrix being heated to volatilize and generate an aerosol, and may fluctuate around the critical temperature in different smoking stages. The second pre-determined temperature may be the critical temperature of the aerosol forming matrix being heated to volatilize and generate an aerosol.

In the present embodiment, the third pre-determined duration may be set to 180 seconds, or set to a duration of a pre-determined number of puffs, for example, a duration of 15 puffs.

The pre-heating process of the aerosol generation device will become better understood through the following description taken in conjunction with the temperature curves shown inFIG.2andFIG.3(in which the horizontal axis t represents time and the vertical axis T represents temperature).

As shown inFIG.2, the duration t0˜t3refers to a duration of smoking of one cigarette, wherein

at t0time, the temperature of the heater101is T0. From the figure, the initial temperature of the heater101is relatively high, exceeding the environment temperature.

In the duration t0˜t1, the controller102controls the heating power of the heater101to use the full power of the power supply103to heat, for example, the full power of the power supply103is 36 W. At t1time, the heater101rises to the target temperature T1, for example, 220° C.

In the duration t1˜t2, the controller102controls the heating power provided to the heater101by the power supply103and controls the heater101to maintain the target temperature T1(220° C.) for a period of time (that is, the duration t1˜t2).

At t2time, if the duration t0˜t2is greater than or equal to a pre-determined duration, the controller102outputs a prompt signal for inhaling aerosol, prompting a user to inhale.

From the figure, a prompt signal for inhaling aerosol may be output, by judging whether the real-time temperature of the heater101rises to the target temperature T1and whether the heating time of the duration t0˜t2is greater than or equal to a pre-determined duration, thereby preventing insufficiency of a pre-heating duration, ensuring consistent mouthfeel for smoking, and improving user experience.

In the duration t2˜t3, after outputting the prompt signal for inhaling aerosol, the controller102controls the heating power provided to the heater101by the power supply103and controls the temperature of the heater101to decrease to T2(for example, 180° C.) from T1(220° C.).

Herein, the duration t2˜t3may be 180 seconds or a duration of 15 puffs.

As shown inFIG.3, the duration t0˜t3refers to a duration of smoking of a first cigarette, the duration t3˜t6refers to a duration of smoking of a second cigarette, that is, smoking two cigarettes successively, wherein

the duration t0˜t3is different from that inFIG.2, on which the temperature of the heater101is the environment temperature at t0time. The remaining duration is the same as theFIG.2, and no further description is needed here.

At t3time, since the user smokes successively, the heater101has residual heat and the residual heat has a temperature far greater than the environment temperature.

In the duration t3˜′t4, the controller102controls the heating power of the heater101to use the full power of the power supply103to heat, for example, the full power of the power supply103is 36 W. At t4time, the heater101rises to the target temperature T1, for example, 220° C.

In the duration t4˜′t5, the controller102controls the heating power provided to the heater101by the power supply103and controls the heater101to maintain the target temperature T1(220° C.) for a period of time (that is, the duration t4˜t5).

From the figure, the duration t3˜t4is shorter than the duration t0˜t1inFIG.3, while the duration t4˜t5is longer than the duration t1˜t2inFIG.3, that is to say, the heating time is dynamically adjusted, ensuring the aerosol forming matrix to be fully heated to guarantee the mouthfeel of the first puff.

At t5time, if the duration t3˜′t5is greater than or equal to a pre-determined duration, the controller102outputs a prompt signal for inhaling aerosol, prompting a user to inhale.

In the duration t5˜′t6, after outputting the prompt signal for inhaling aerosol, the controller102controls the heating power provided to the heater101by the power supply103and controls the temperature of the heater101to decrease to T2(for example, 180° C.) from T1(220° C.).

Herein, the duration t5˜′t6may be 180 seconds or a duration of 15 puffs.

FIG.4is an aerosol generation device provided in Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. The aerosol generation device can be used to implement the control method for the aerosol generation device illustrated in the forgoing embodiment.

As shown inFIG.4, the aerosol generation device10includes a heater101, a controller102and a power supply103.

The heater101is configured to generate relevant heat according to a heating power provided by the power supply103, thereby heating an aerosol forming matrix placed in the aerosol generation device10, so that the aerosol forming matrix generates a relevant aerosol (smoke) for a user to inhale.

The heater101may adopt a central heating mode (in which a periphery of a heating body is in direct contact with an aerosol forming matrix) or a peripheral heating mode (in which a tubular heating body encloses an aerosol forming matrix). The heater101can also heat the aerosol forming matrix to generate an inhalable aerosol, through one or more modes among heat conduction, electromagnetic induction, chemical reaction, infrared action, resonance, photoelectric conversion and photothermal conversion.

The controller102is connected to the heater101and the power supply103respectively and is configured to control the heating power provided to the heater101by the power supply103, thereby controlling the heating temperature of the heater101, so that the aerosol forming matrix is heated to generate a relevant aerosol. The controller102is configured to implement the control method for the aerosol generation device illustrated in Embodiment 1.

In one embodiment, the aerosol generation device10may further include a memory used for storing a pre-heating program corresponding to the control method for the aerosol generation device illustrated in embodiment 1. The controller102can read and execute the pre-heating program stored in the memory, thereby implementing the control method for the aerosol generation device illustrated in embodiment 1.

It is to be noted that the memory may be a separate storage device arranged in the aerosol generation device10, or may be a memory built in the controller102. The memory is a non-volatile memory.

The power supply103is configured to provide power to the heater101and the controller102. The power supply103is further configured to adjust the heating power provided to the heater101according to the control from the controller102, thereby changing the temperature of the heater101. The power supply103may include a battery. The battery may be a rechargeable battery, for example, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, etc.; alternatively, the battery may also be a non-rechargeable battery.

For a better illustration of the control process of the aerosol generation device, description is provided below in conjunction with the flowchart of control shown inFIG.5.

S31: the controller102controls the power supply103to provide a heating power to the heater101, so as to raise the temperature of the heater101.

S32: the controller102acquires a real-time temperature of the heater101.

S33: the controller102compares the real-time temperature of the heater101with a first pre-determined temperature.

S34: if the real-time temperature of the heater101is less than the first pre-determined temperature, the controller102continues controlling the power supply103to provide a heating power to the heater101so as to raise the temperature of the heater101.

S35: if the real-time temperature of the heater101is greater than or equal to the first pre-determined temperature, the controller102controls the power supply103to provide a heating power to the heater101, so that the heater101maintains the first pre-determined temperature for a first pre-determined duration.

S36: the controller102judges whether the sum of the duration of the heater to rise from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature and the first pre-determined duration is greater than or equal to a second pre-determined duration.

S37: if the sum of the duration of the heater to rise from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature and the first pre-determined duration is less than the second pre-determined duration, the controller102controls the power supply103to provide a heating power to the heater101so that the heater101continues maintaining the first pre-determined temperature.

S38: if the sum of the duration of the heater to rise from the initial temperature to the first pre-determined temperature and the first pre-determined duration is greater than or equal to the second pre-determined duration, a prompt signal for inhaling aerosol may be output to a vibration motor or an LED lamp, which then prompts a user to inhale.

S39: the controller102controls the power supply103to provide a heating power to the heater101so that the heater101maintains a second pre-determined temperature or a pre-determined temperature range for a third pre-determined duration.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a nonvolatile computer readable storage medium having stored therein a computer executable instruction that, when executed by one or more processors, for example, one processor in the aerosol generation device10inFIG.4, can cause the one or more processors in above the aerosol generation device10to execute the control method for the aerosol generation device in any method embodiment above, for example, to execute the S11to S13of the method inFIG.1and the S31to S39of the control flow inFIG.5described above, and to implement the function of the controller102inFIG.4.

The above device embodiments are merely for exemplary illustration. The unit described as a separate component may be or may not be physically separated; the component, displayed as a unit, may be or may not be a physical unit, that is, it may be located at one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Part or all modules may be selected to realize the purpose of the embodiment scheme according to actual needs.

Through the description of the above implementations, the ordinary staff in this field can clearly understand that each implementation can be achieved by means of software plus a common hardware platform, of course as well as through hardware. The ordinary staff in this field can understand that all or part of the processes in the above method embodiments may be implemented by instructing related hardware through a computer program which may be stored in a computer readable storage medium and which, when executed, may include, for example, the process of the embodiment of the above methods. The storage medium may be a disk, a compact disk, a Read-Only Memory (ROM) or Random Access Memory (RAM) and the like.

It is to be noted that the description of the present disclosure and the drawings just list preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. The present disclosure may, however, be exemplified in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the specific embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are not intended to form extra limits to the content of the present disclosure, rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete. Moreover, the above technical features may continue to combine with each other to form various embodiments not listed above, and these embodiments are all intended to be covered by the description of the present disclosure. Further, for the ordinary staff in this field, multiple improvements or variations may be made according to the above description, and these improvements or variations are intended to be included within the scope of protection of the claims appended hereinafter.