[0031] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer, the following further describes the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention, but not to limit the present invention.
[0032] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the technical field of the present invention. The terms used in the specification of the present invention herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. It can be understood that the terms "first", "second", etc. used in the present invention can be used herein to describe various elements, but these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish the first element from another element. For example, without departing from the scope of the present application, the first element may be referred to as the second element, and similarly, the second element may be referred to as the first element. Both the first element and the second element are elements, but they are not the same element.
[0033] In order to solve the disadvantages of traditional e-cigarettes that the cartridge detection mainly relies on detecting whether the cover is closed or relying on independent sensor detection, a cartridge state detection system and corresponding methods are specially proposed, which are mainly based on the thermal conductivity of different heating media. The difference in rate is judged.
[0034] When the cartridge is empty, the heating element is surrounded by air; after the cartridge is inserted, the heating element is surrounded by tobacco leaves; after smoking, the heating element is surrounded by scorched flakes or powder.
[0035] According to Fourier's law, the definition of thermal conductivity is:
[0036]
[0037] Where x is the direction of heat flow, q x "Is the heat flux density in this direction, W/m 2 , Is the temperature gradient in this direction, in K/m.
[0038] For isotropic materials, the thermal conductivity in all directions is the same. Through the calculation formula, the thermal conductivity of air can be calculated to be about 0.026W/(m·K). Due to the different moisture content of tobacco leaves, its thermal conductivity is about 0.17W/(m K).
[0039] Such as figure 1 with figure 2 As shown, the thermal conductivity difference between the two is more than 6 times. In theory, there is a big difference in the rate of temperature change of the heating element with and without the cartridge. After being baked, the smoked cartridges are in the form of burnt flakes or powder, and almost contain no water. The thermal conductivity of the smoked cartridges is larger than that of the new cartridges, which is between air and new cartridges. The rate of temperature change of the heating element can be used to determine whether the heating element is surrounded by air or a new cartridge or an old cartridge.
[0040] Based on the above principles, the present invention proposes a system for detecting the status of a cartridge, such as image 3 As shown, (algorithm and system are described together), it mainly includes a heating element for heating the cartridge, a temperature detection unit, connected to the heating unit, temperature detection of the heating element, obtaining the temperature of the heating element and the main control unit , Acquire the temperature of the heating element output by the temperature detection unit in real time, calculate the temperature change rate of the heating element per unit time, compare the current temperature change rate with the set temperature change rate threshold interval, and determine whether there is in the current electronic cigarette Smoke bomb.
[0041] As an optional embodiment, the heating element can use the existing electronic cigarette heating element, such as a ring or tube heating element surrounding the cartridge, or other heating element forms, that is, there is no need to supply power and heating parts of the electronic cigarette. Any improvement will further control the cost of e-cigarettes.
[0042] In order to be able to effectively distinguish the thermal conductivity of different media from air and tobacco, as a preferred embodiment, the threshold or threshold interval of the temperature change rate includes at least the first threshold interval, and the preferred range is that the temperature change exceeds 100°C within 2 seconds And the second threshold interval, the preferred numerical range is that the temperature change does not exceed 80°C within 2 seconds. As the time interval of 2 seconds, sufficient detection time can be guaranteed and measurement errors caused by too short detection time can be avoided. As an optional method, a temperature increase of 120° C. or more in 3 seconds can also be selected as the range of the first threshold interval.
[0043] When the change rate is within the first threshold interval, the main control unit determines that the current electronic cigarette is not inserted into the cartridge; when the change rate is within the second threshold interval, it is determined that the current electronic cigarette contains a cartridge.
[0044] The first threshold interval corresponds to the no-load smokeless bomb state. In this state, since the bomb is not inserted, the heating element is mainly heated by air. Since the three heat transmission methods of convective radiation transmission are all suitable for air, the thermal efficiency of air is very high. High, the air thermal conductivity is significantly higher than that of the cartridge in the second threshold range (after the cartridge is inserted, the densely packed tobacco in the cartridge absorbs heat significantly higher than air per unit time). In heating engineering, the effective air unit time The internal heat absorption of the heating body is very limited, which makes the heating body heat up faster than when the cartridge is not inserted.
[0045] As another embodiment, the slope of the heating curve of the heating element at a certain time can be calculated (according to the characteristics of the heating element of different materials, it can also be the slope of the curve), and the threshold interval of the slope can be set at the same time to determine whether the current electronic cigarette Loading, and whether the current cartridge has been used or is too dry.
[0046] Furthermore, considering that the water-containing unused brand new cartridges and the used or long-term dried (after baking, less water remains, and the specific heat capacity of water is the largest, the two cartridges absorb heat per unit time, that is, heat The change rate has a significant difference), because the difference in water content is also large (there are two data in the foregoing principles), so as a preferred embodiment, the temperature change rate threshold interval also includes a third In the threshold interval, the temperature rises above 100°C within 3 seconds; when the change rate is within the third threshold interval, the main control unit determines that the current cartridge is used.
[0047] Furthermore, in order to ensure the safety of use and the sense of the user (to prevent overheating and scalding), as a preferred embodiment, when the main control unit determines that the current heating element temperature change rate is within the first threshold interval and the third threshold In the interval, that is, the electronic cigarette is empty or the inserted cartridge is dry and used (expired cartridge), the power supply is cut off, and the heating element is controlled to stop working.
[0048] An electronic cigarette includes the aforementioned cartridge state detection system, and the electronic cigarette adopts the cartridge state detection system to detect the cartridge state in the initial stage of the use process. As an optional implementation, the electronic cigarette can also integrate a prompt unit, which can be connected to the main control unit, and make corresponding prompts according to the judgment structure of the main control unit;
[0049] In optional scenarios, the prompt unit can use optical prompts. When the main control unit determines that it is currently in the first threshold range, it emits a red light. After the main control unit cuts off the heating, it prompts the user that the current electronic cigarette is in an empty state , The cartridge should be loaded; when the main control unit determines that it is currently in the second threshold range, it emits a green light to inform the user that it is currently in a normal working state; when the main control unit determines that it is currently in the third threshold range, it emits a yellow light to notify The user, the current cartridge has insufficient water content, is too dry, and continues to use, and the taste is poor.
[0050] In addition to optical prompts, vibration prompts can also be preferred. When the temperature change rate of the heating element is within the first threshold interval, the electronic cigarette is controlled to continue to vibrate (the most advanced warning), prompting the user to fill the cartridge as soon as possible to prevent the electronic cigarette from drying out Burn; when it is in the third threshold interval, the electronic cigarette can be controlled to vibrate in time to remind the user that the current cartridge is dry or has been used.
[0051] In other optional scenarios, such as an electronic cigarette with a cartridge ejection mechanism, linkage can be realized. For example, when it is determined that it is in the third threshold interval, the main control unit controls the ejection mechanism to eject the currently dry or used electronic cigarette.
[0052] Implementing the embodiments of the present invention will have the following beneficial effects:
[0053] The cartridge detection system using the above electronic cigarette can quickly and effectively identify whether the current electronic cigarette is loaded with cartridges and whether the cartridges are used or expired and too dry cartridges, and give instructions to continue using and interrupt heating respectively , To ensure the taste of the cartridge, at the same time, it mainly depends on the program to achieve, eliminating the complicated circuit structure and mechanical structure, and can be directly applied to the existing electronic cigarette.
[0054] A person of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or part of the processes in the above-mentioned embodiment methods can be implemented by instructing relevant hardware through a computer program. The program can be stored in a non-volatile computer readable storage medium. Here, when the program is executed, it may include the procedures of the above-mentioned method embodiments. Wherein, any reference to memory, storage, database or other media used in the embodiments provided in this application may include non-volatile and/or volatile memory. Non-volatile memory may include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory may include random access memory (RAM) or external cache memory. As an illustration and not a limitation, RAM is available in many forms, such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDRSDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchronous chain Channel (Synchlink) DRAM (SLDRAM), memory bus (Rambus) direct RAM (RDRAM), direct memory bus dynamic RAM (DRDRAM), and memory bus dynamic RAM (RDRAM), etc.
[0055] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are not described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should It is considered as the range described in this specification.
[0056] The above-mentioned embodiments only express several implementation manners of the present application, and their description is relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be understood as a limitation to the patent scope of the present application. It should be pointed out that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of this application, several modifications and improvements can be made, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the patent of this application shall be subject to the appended claims.
