Heating control method of aerosol supply system and aerosol supply system
By real-time judgment and dynamic adjustment of the heating mode in the aerosol supply system, the problem of aerosol volume changes caused by the unpredictability of user puffing is solved, the aerosol is replenished in time, and the consistency of the puffing experience is improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202410288250.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-13
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-16
AI Technical Summary
The existing aerosol supply system has unpredictable changes in aerosol volume due to the unpredictability of user puffing, making it difficult to replenish it in a timely and rapid manner, resulting in inconsistent puffing experience.
By determining in real time whether aerosol needs to be replenished in the aerosol supply system and adopting a second heating mode to increase the replenishment speed when necessary, the second heating mode is faster than the first heating mode and includes dynamic adjustment based on heater power and temperature.
It realizes heating control according to the actual needs of the aerosol supply system, quickly replenishes the aerosol, and improves the consistency of the user's puffing experience.
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Figure CN120642982A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present application relates to the field of aerosol supply, and in particular to a heating control method of an aerosol supply system and an aerosol supply system. Background Art
[0002] An aerosol supply system refers to a system that contains a product containing an aerosol-generating material and heats the product to generate aerosol.
[0003] Maintaining a consistent aerosol volume within the aerosol supply system with each puff is crucial for a consistent user experience. This requires timely replenishment whenever the aerosol volume decreases. However, existing aerosol supply systems utilize fixed heating profiles, such as constant-temperature heating profiles or step-by-step heating profiles with fixed time intervals. This means that aerosol replenishment follows a fixed time pattern.
[0004] However, the changes in aerosol volume within the system are unpredictable. For example, user puffing is the primary cause of aerosol volume changes, and this unpredictable puffing leads to unpredictable changes in aerosol volume. The fixed heating curve currently used in the system is difficult to match with the actual changes in aerosol volume, making it difficult to quickly replenish the aerosol within the system, which in turn leads to inconsistent user puffing experiences.
[0005] How to provide a heating control solution in the aerosol supply system to replenish the aerosol in time and thus improve the consistency of the puffing experience is an urgent problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention
[0006] This application aims to address at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this application discloses a heating control method for an aerosol supply system and an aerosol supply system, thereby achieving timely aerosol replenishment in the aerosol supply system and improving the consistency of the user's puffing experience.
[0007] In a first aspect, the present application discloses a heating control method for an aerosol supply system, the method comprising:
[0008] The method is used to control the heating temperature of the heater of the system to adjust the aerosol replenishment rate of the aerosol-generating material contained in the system, characterized in that the method comprises:
[0009] During the heating process, determining in real time whether the aerosol in the heating chamber of the system needs to be replenished;
[0010] If yes, controlling the heater to operate in the second heating mode;
[0011] If not, controlling the heater to operate in the first heating mode;
[0012] The second heating mode enables the aerosol-generating material to be atomized to generate the aerosol; the second heating mode increases the replenishment speed of the aerosol compared to the first heating mode.
[0013] In one embodiment of the above-mentioned puff detection method of the aerosol supply system, in the first heating mode, the heater operates at a first power;
[0014] In the second heating mode, the heater operates at a second power;
[0015] The first power is less than the second power.
[0016] In one embodiment of the puff detection method of the aerosol supply system, the first heating mode maintains the heater at a first target temperature, and the aerosol-generating material can be atomized to generate an aerosol at the first target temperature;
[0017] In the second heating mode, the heater operates at a second power to increase its actual temperature to the first target temperature at a faster speed than in the first heating mode.
[0018] The embodiment of the present application provides a heating method. In the two heating modes, the target temperature is the same, but by providing a higher second power, the target temperature can be reached faster than the first power for atomization, thereby increasing the aerosol replenishment speed.
[0019] In one embodiment of the above-described puff detection method for an aerosol supply system, the first heating mode causes the heater to be maintained at a first target temperature;
[0020] The second heating mode enables the heater to be maintained at a second target temperature; the aerosol-generating material can be atomized to generate an aerosol at the second target temperature;
[0021] The first target temperature is lower than the second target temperature, and the aerosol atomization rate at the first target temperature is lower than the aerosol atomization rate at the second target temperature.
[0022] The embodiment of the present application provides another heating method. The target temperatures corresponding to the two heating modes are different. By providing a higher second target temperature, a higher atomization rate is provided to replenish the aerosol compared to the first target temperature, thereby increasing the aerosol replenishment speed.
[0023] In one embodiment of the above-mentioned puff detection method of the aerosol supply system, the aerosol-generating material may be atomized to generate the aerosol at the first target temperature.
[0024] In one embodiment of the puff detection method for the aerosol supply system, the first target temperature is a preheating temperature and is lower than an atomization temperature of the aerosol generating material, and the aerosol atomization rate at the first target temperature is zero.
[0025] In one embodiment of the above-mentioned puff detection method of the aerosol supply system, determining whether the aerosol in the heating chamber of the system needs to be replenished includes:
[0026] During the heating process, determining whether the user has taken a puff;
[0027] If so, it is determined that the aerosol in the heating chamber needs to be replenished.
[0028] In one embodiment of the puff detection method of the aerosol supply system, determining whether the user has taken a puff comprises:
[0029] During the heating process, the current actual temperature of the heater is detected and it is determined whether the user has taken a puff based on a change in the actual temperature.
[0030] In one embodiment of the puff detection method of the aerosol supply system, determining whether the user has taken a puff based on the actual temperature change of the heater includes:
[0031] When the actual temperature is lower than the target temperature of the heater by a preset difference, it is determined that the user has taken a puff.
[0032] In one embodiment of the puff detection method of the aerosol supply system, determining whether the user has taken a puff comprises:
[0033] During the heating process, detecting the current actual temperature of the heater, and when the actual temperature deviates from the target temperature, adjusting the power applied to the heater to maintain the target temperature;
[0034] A determination is made based on the power adjustment whether the user has taken a puff.
[0035] In one embodiment of the puff detection method of the aerosol supply system, determining whether the aerosol in the heating chamber needs to be replenished includes:
[0036] During the heating process, an airflow sensor is used to detect the aerosol concentration or aerosol amount in the heating chamber;
[0037] When it is detected that the aerosol concentration or the aerosol amount is lower than a first preset threshold, it is determined that the aerosol in the heating chamber needs to be replenished.
[0038] In one embodiment of the above-mentioned puff detection method of the aerosol supply system, the method further comprises:
[0039] When the heater operates in the second heating mode, determining whether the aerosol in the heating chamber is fully replenished;
[0040] If so, the heater is controlled to change from the current second heating mode to the first heating mode.
[0041] In one embodiment of the above-mentioned puff detection method of the aerosol supply system,
[0042] The determining whether the aerosol in the heating chamber has been replenished includes:
[0043] An airflow sensor is used to detect the aerosol concentration value or the aerosol amount in the heating chamber. When the detected aerosol concentration value or the aerosol amount reaches a second preset threshold, it is determined that the aerosol in the heating chamber has been replenished.
[0044] In one embodiment of the above-mentioned puff detection method of the aerosol supply system,
[0045] The determining whether the aerosol in the heating chamber has been replenished includes:
[0046] If the consumption of the aerosol generating material reaches a third preset threshold, it is determined that the aerosol in the heating chamber has been fully replenished.
[0047] In one embodiment of the above-mentioned puff detection method of the aerosol supply system,
[0048] The determining whether the aerosol in the heating chamber has been replenished includes:
[0049] The aerosol supply system determines that the aerosol in the heating chamber has been fully replenished when the duration of the second heating mode reaches a first preset time.
[0050] In one embodiment of the above-mentioned puff detection method of the aerosol supply system,
[0051] The aerosol-generating material has at least two puffing stages along the consumption process, and the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating material corresponding to different puffing stages is different;
[0052] Corresponding to different inhalation stages, the second heating mode corresponds to different aerosol replenishment speeds, or the second heating mode has different durations.
[0053] In one embodiment of the above-mentioned puff detection method of the aerosol supply system,
[0054] The puffing stage includes a first puffing stage and a second puffing stage, and the remaining amount of aerosol-generating material corresponding to the first puffing stage is greater than the remaining amount of aerosol-generating material corresponding to the second puffing stage;
[0055] The second heating mode corresponding to the second puff stage increases the aerosol replenishment speed compared to the second heating mode corresponding to the first puff stage; or the duration of the second heating mode corresponding to the second puff stage is longer than the duration of the second heating mode corresponding to the first puff stage.
[0056] The amount of aerosol-generating material decreases as the consumption process progresses, resulting in a lower amount of aerosol generated at the same temperature and time. To this end, in the embodiments of the present application, the aerosol-generating material is divided into at least two puffing stages along the consumption process, and the second heating mode provided for the puffing stage with less remaining aerosol-generating material provides a higher aerosol replenishment rate than the second heating mode provided for the puffing stage with less remaining aerosol-generating material.
[0057] In one embodiment of the above-mentioned puff detection method of the aerosol supply system, the method further comprises:
[0058] When the heating process starts, the heater is controlled to heat the temperature from room temperature to a preset temperature in the third heating mode to perform the first atomization, and enters the first heating mode after the first atomization generates a predetermined amount of aerosol.
[0059] In one embodiment of the above-mentioned puff detection method of the aerosol supply system, the method further comprises:
[0060] During the heating process, the start of the puffing session is determined;
[0061] During the puff session, when it is determined that the user has taken a puff, the number of puffs is recorded;
[0062] When the number of puffs reaches a preset puff number threshold, it is determined that the puff session is ended.
[0063] In one embodiment of the above-mentioned puff detection method of the aerosol supply system, the method further comprises:
[0064] During the heating process, the start of the puffing session is determined;
[0065] During the puffing session, recording a number of adjustments that the heater is changed to the second heating mode;
[0066] When the number of adjustments reaches a preset adjustment number threshold, it is determined that the puffing session is ended.
[0067] In a second aspect, the present application provides an aerosol supply system, comprising:
[0068] a heater configured to heat aerosol-generating material within the aerosol supply system;
[0069] a heating chamber for containing aerosol generated by atomization of aerosol-generating materials;
[0070] The controller is configured to execute the heating control method of the aerosol supply system described in the first aspect.
[0071] This application abandons the fixed heating curve heating mode used in the prior art and creatively proposes a heating method that determines whether aerosol replenishment is needed. If not, a first heating mode is used. If aerosol replenishment is determined to be necessary, a second heating mode, different from the first, is used. This second heating mode provides a faster aerosol replenishment speed than the first. This allows heating control based on the system's actual aerosol demand, enabling rapid aerosol replenishment and improving the consistency of the user's puffing experience.
[0072] In a third aspect, the present application discloses a computer device comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program that can be run on the processor, and when the computer program is executed by the processor, the above-mentioned heating control method for the aerosol supply system is implemented.
[0073] In a fourth aspect, the present application discloses a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed, the above-mentioned heating control method for an aerosol supply system is implemented.
[0074] Additional aspects and advantages of the present application will be given in part in the description below, and in part will become apparent from the description below, or will be learned through practice of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0075] The disclosure of this application will be more easily understood with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that these drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Furthermore, similar numbers in the figures represent similar components, where:
[0076] Figure 1 A structural diagram of the aerosol supply system for this application;
[0077] Figure 2 Flowchart of the heating control method implemented in the aerosol supply system in this application;
[0078] Figure 3A schematic diagram of a temperature-time curve for heating control based on the first method in this application is shown;
[0079] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a temperature-time curve for heating control based on the second method in this application is shown;
[0080] Figure 5 It is a structural diagram of the computer device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0081] Some embodiments of the present application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are only used to explain the technical principles of the present application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.
[0082] the term
[0083] Conveying system
[0084] As used herein, the term "delivery system" is intended to encompass a system that, in use, delivers at least one substance to a user, and includes:
[0085] Combustible aerosol delivery systems, such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, and tobacco for pipe smoking or for rolling or making your own cigarettes (based on or not on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokeable materials);
[0086] Non-flammable aerosol delivery systems that release compounds from an aerosol-generating material without burning the aerosol-generating material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate an aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials; and
[0087] Non-aerosol delivery systems that deliver at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally, or otherwise without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to lozenges, chewing gum, patches, products including inhalable powders, and oral products (e.g., oral tobacco including snuff or moist snuff), wherein the at least one substance may or may not include nicotine.
[0088] Combustible aerosol supply system
[0089] According to the present disclosure, a "combustible" aerosol supply system is an aerosol supply system in which the constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol supply system (or components thereof) burns or ignites during use to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.
[0090] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a combustible aerosol supply system, such as a system selected from the group consisting of a cigarette, a cigarillo, and a cigar.
[0091] In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a component for use in a combustible aerosol delivery system, such as a filter, a filter rod, a filter segment, a tobacco rod, an overflow, an aerosol modifier release component (such as a capsule, a thread, or a bead), or a paper (such as a plug wrap, a tipping paper, or a cigarette paper).
[0092] Non-flammable aerosol supply system
[0093] According to the present disclosure, a "non-flammable" aerosol supply system is an aerosol supply system in which the constituent aerosol-generating materials of the aerosol supply system (or components thereof) do not burn or ignite to deliver at least one substance to a user.
[0094] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-flammable aerosol supply system, for example, a powered non-flammable aerosol supply system.
[0095] In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vapor device or an electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not required.
[0096] In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply system is an aerosol generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.
[0097] In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system is a hybrid system that uses a combination of aerosol-generating materials to generate an aerosol, wherein one or more of the aerosol-generating materials can be heated. Each aerosol-generating material can be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system includes a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material can include, for example, tobacco or non-tobacco products.
[0098] Generally, a non-flammable aerosol supply system may include a non-flammable aerosol supply device and consumables for use with the non-flammable aerosol supply device.
[0099] In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to consumables that include an aerosol-generating material and are configured for use with a non-flammable aerosol supply device. These consumables are sometimes referred to in this disclosure as articles of manufacture.
[0100] In some embodiments, a non-flammable aerosol supply system, such as a non-flammable aerosol supply device thereof, can include a power source and a controller. The power source can be, for example, an electrical source or an exothermic source. In some embodiments, the exothermic source comprises a carbon matrix that can be powered to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or a heat transfer material proximate to the exothermic source.
[0101] In some embodiments, a non-flammable aerosol supply system may include an area for receiving a consumable product, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating region, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.
[0102] In some embodiments, consumables for use with a non-flammable aerosol supply device may include an aerosol generating material, an aerosol generating material storage area, an aerosol generating material delivery component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and / or an aerosol modifier.
[0103] Aerosol-free delivery system
[0104] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-aerosol delivery system that delivers at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally, or in another manner without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to lozenges, chewing gum, patches, products including inhalable powders, and oral products (e.g., oral tobacco including snuff or moist snuff), wherein the at least one substance may or may not include nicotine.
[0105] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered can be an aerosol-generating material or a material not intended to be aerosolized. Either material can include one or more active ingredients, one or more flavoring agents, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and / or one or more other functional materials, as appropriate.
[0106] Active substances
[0107] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered includes an active substance. As used herein, the active substance can be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance physiological reactions. The active substance can, for example, be selected from a nutrient, a nootropic, a psychoactive substance. The active substance can be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance can include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, caffeine, vitamins (such as B6 or B12 or C), melatonin, or components, derivatives or combinations thereof. The active substance can include one or more components, derivatives or extracts of tobacco or other plants.
[0108] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin, or vitamin B12.
[0109] As described herein, active substances may include or be derived from one or more plants or components, derivatives, or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term "plant" includes any material derived from a plant, including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fibers, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, husks, shells, and the like. Alternatively, the material may include an active compound naturally occurring in a plant, obtained synthetically. The material may be in the form of a liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, chips, strips, sheets, and the like.
[0110] Examples of plants are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, fennel, lemongrass, mint, spearmint, red tea tree, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo, hazelnut, hibiscus, bay, licorice, matcha, mate, orange peel, papaya, rose, sage, tea (e.g., green or black), thyme, cloves, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed (fennel), basil, bay leaf, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, Grass, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderberry, vanilla, wintergreen, perilla plant, turmeric, turmeric root powder, sandalwood, coriander leaf, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, black currant, valerian, Spanish bell pepper, nutmeg, damson, marjoram, olive, lemon mint, lemon basil, chives, parsley, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, tetramethyluric acid, maca, Indian ginseng, damson, guana tea, chlorophyll, baobab tree or any combination thereof. Mint can be selected from the following mint varieties: wild mint, mint cv, Egyptian mint, peppermint, basil mint cv, peppermint cv, spearmint, heartleaf spearmint, longleaf mint, pineapple mint, lip calyx mint, spearmint cv, and apple mint.
[0111] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plants or components, derivatives or extracts thereof, and the plant is tobacco. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plants or components, derivatives or extracts thereof, and the plant is selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa.
[0112] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plants or components, derivatives, or extracts thereof, and the plants are selected from the group consisting of Camellia sinensis and Fennel.
[0113] flavoring
[0114] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered includes a flavoring. As used herein, the terms "flavoring" and "flavoring" refer to materials that can be used to produce a taste, fragrance, or other physical sensation desired by adult consumers in a product, where permitted by local regulations. It can include naturally occurring flavoring materials, plants, extracts of plants, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, licorice, hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese magnolia leaves, chamomile, fenugreek, cloves, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (fennel), cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berry, cranberry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, tangerine, lemon, lime, tropical fruits, papaya, rhubarb, grape Durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Durling, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, mint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, bitter bean peel, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, sorghum, betel leaf, coriander, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cinnamon, coriander, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel , mustard, green pepper, ginger, cilantro, coffee, mint oil from any species of the mint family, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, red beans, flax, ginkgo biloba, hazelnuts, hibiscus, laurel, yerba mate, orange peel, rose, tea (e.g., green or black), thyme, juniper, elderberry, basil, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, chili pepper, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak, turmeric, coriander, myrtle, black currant, valerian, Spanish bell pepper, mace, dami The present invention also provides a kind of beverage that can be used to treat a variety of skin conditions, such as skin inflammation, rash ...
[0115] In some embodiments, flavorings include menthol, spearmint and / or peppermint. In some embodiments, flavorings include flavoring components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruit and / or cranberry. In some embodiments, flavorings include eugenol. In some embodiments, flavorings include flavoring components extracted from tobacco.
[0116] In some embodiments, in addition to or in place of aroma or taste nerves, flavoring agents may include sensates intended to achieve somatic sensations typically chemically induced and perceived by stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), and these may include agents that provide heating, cooling, tingling, or numbing effects. Suitable thermal effect agents may be, but are not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether, and suitable cooling agents may be, but are not limited to, eucalyptol, WS-3.
[0117] Aerosol-generating materials
[0118] An aerosol generating material is a material that is capable of generating an aerosol when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. The aerosol generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel, which may or may not contain active substances and / or fragrances. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material may include an "amorphous solid", which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that can retain some fluid (e.g., liquid) within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material may, for example, include from about 50 wt%, 60 wt% or 70 wt% amorphous solid to about 90 wt%, 95 wt% or 100 wt% amorphous solid.
[0119] The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and / or flavouring agents, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.
[0120] Aerosol-forming material
[0121] The aerosol-forming material may include one or more components capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming material may include one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a mixture of diacetic glycerides, benzyl benzoate, benzylphenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.
[0122] functional materials
[0123] The one or more other functional materials may include one or more of a pH adjuster, a colorant, a preservative, a binder, a filler, a stabilizer, and / or an antioxidant.
[0124] matrix
[0125] The material may be present on or within a carrier to form a substrate. The carrier may be or include, for example, paper, cardboard, paperboard, reconstituted material, plastic material, ceramic material, composite material, glass, metal, or metal alloy. In some embodiments, the carrier includes the susceptor. In some embodiments, the susceptor is embedded within the material. In some alternative embodiments, the susceptor is on one or either side of the material.
[0126] Consumables
[0127] A consumable is an article comprising or consisting of an aerosol-generating material, some or all of which is intended to be consumed by a user during use. A consumable may include one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material delivery component, an aerosol-generating region, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier. A consumable may also include an aerosol generator, such as a heater, which releases heat during use to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate an aerosol. The heater may, for example, comprise a combustible material, a material that can be heated by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.
[0128] receptors
[0129] A susceptor is a material that can be heated by penetrating it with a varying magnetic field (e.g., an alternating magnetic field). The susceptor can be a conductive material, such that penetration by the varying magnetic field results in inductive heating of the heated material. The heated material can be a magnetic material, such that penetration by the varying magnetic field results in hysteresis heating of the heated material. A susceptor can be both conductive and magnetic, allowing it to be heated by both heating mechanisms. A device configured to generate a varying magnetic field is referred to herein as a magnetic field generator.
[0130] Aerosol modifiers
[0131] An aerosol modifier is a substance typically located downstream of an aerosol generation region that is configured to modify the generated aerosol, for example, by changing the taste, flavor, acidity, or another characteristic of the aerosol. The aerosol modifier can be disposed in an aerosol modifier release component that is operable to selectively release the aerosol modifier. For example, the aerosol modifier can be an additive or an adsorbent. For example, the aerosol modifier can include one or more of a flavoring, a colorant, water, and a carbon adsorbent. For example, the aerosol modifier can be a solid, a liquid, or a gel. The aerosol modifier can be in the form of a powder, string, or granules. The aerosol modifier can be free of filter material.
[0132] Aerosol generator
[0133] An aerosol generator is a device configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from an aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to thermal energy to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator can be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.
[0134] The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery systems (which may also be referred to as vapor delivery systems), such as atomizers or electronic cigarettes. In the following description, the term "electronic cigarette" or "electronic cigarette" may sometimes be used, but it will be understood that this term can be used interchangeably with aerosol delivery systems / devices and electronic aerosol delivery systems / devices. In addition, as is common in the art, the terms "aerosol" and "vapor" and related terms such as "evaporation," "atomization," and "aerosolization" are often used interchangeably.
[0135] Aerosol delivery systems (electronic cigarettes) typically (although not always) include modular components that include a reusable device portion and a replaceable (disposable / consumable) cartridge component. Typically, the replaceable cartridge component will include an aerosol generating material and a vaporizer (which can be collectively referred to as an "atomizer"), and the reusable device portion will include a power supply (e.g., a rechargeable power supply) and a control circuit. It will be understood that these different parts may include additional elements depending on their function. For example, the reusable device portion will typically include a user interface for receiving user input and displaying operating status features, and the replaceable cartridge device portion in some cases includes a temperature sensor for helping to control temperature. The cartridge is electrically and mechanically connected to the control unit for use, for example, using a thread, a bayonet, or a magnetic connection with appropriately arranged electrical contacts. When the aerosol generating material in the cartridge is exhausted, or when the user wishes to switch to a different cartridge with a different aerosol generating material, the cartridge can be removed from the reusable component and a replacement cartridge attached to its appropriate position. Systems and devices that conform to this type of two-piece modular configuration may generally be referred to as two-piece systems / devices.
[0136] Electronic cigarettes typically have a generally elongated shape. To provide a specific example, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be considered to include such a generally elongated two-piece system employing a disposable cartridge. However, it will be understood that the basic principles described herein can be equally applicable to different configurations, such as a one-piece system or a modular system comprising more than two components, refillable devices and single-use disposables, as well as other overall shapes, such as high-performance devices based on so-called box-shaped models that typically have a box shape. More generally, it will be understood that certain embodiments of the present disclosure are based on an aerosol delivery system that is operatively configured to provide functionality according to the principles described herein, and that the structural aspects of the system configured to provide functionality according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure are not primarily important.
[0137] As described in the background, timely replenishment of aerosol according to demand in an aerosol supply system is a key factor in improving the consistency of the user's puffing experience. Based on this, this application abandons the existing heating mode that uses a fixed heating curve and creatively proposes a new heating method: a first heating mode is used to determine whether aerosol replenishment is necessary, and a second heating mode is used when aerosol replenishment is determined to be necessary. This second heating mode can provide a faster aerosol replenishment speed than the first heating mode. This allows heating control based on the system's actual demand for aerosol to quickly replenish aerosol, thereby improving the consistency of the user's puffing experience.
[0138] Example 1
[0139] Embodiment 1 of the present application provides an aerosol supply system. Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the aerosol supply system of the present application, which shows the composition of the aerosol supply system 100 in a simplified manner, wherein the components are not drawn to scale, and components that are not relevant to the understanding of the present application are omitted.
[0140] like Figure 1 As shown, the aerosol supply system 100 includes a housing 10 and a product 20 (such as a cigarette or e-liquid) at least partially located in the housing 10 , wherein the product 20 includes an aerosol generating material that can be atomized to generate an aerosol.
[0141] In addition, the aerosol supply system 100 includes a power source 40 disposed in the housing 10 , such as a rechargeable battery.
[0142] The aerosol supply system 100 includes a heater 30 for generating heat when powered to heat and atomize the product 20 .
[0143] The aerosol supply system 100 further includes a controller 60 connected to the heater 30 and the power source 40 and configured to control the heating temperature of the heater 30 to adjust the aerosol replenishment rate of the aerosol generating material contained in the system 100 .
[0144] The controller 60 is specifically configured to determine in real time during the heating process whether the aerosol in the heating chamber of the system 100 needs to be replenished; if so, the heater 30 is controlled to operate in the second heating mode; if not, the heater 30 is controlled to operate in the first heating mode; the second heating mode can cause the aerosol-generating material to be atomized to generate aerosol; the second heating mode increases the aerosol replenishment speed compared to the first heating mode.
[0145] The heating chamber is used to contain the generated aerosol, and can be set independently of the heater 30 or defined by the heater 30.
[0146] The aerosol supply system 100 may also include a sensor 50 connected to the controller 60. The sensor 50 may be configured as an airflow sensor to detect the amount of aerosol in the heating chamber; it may also be configured as a temperature sensor to detect the actual temperature of the heater 30. The amount of aerosol detected by the sensor 50 or the actual temperature of the heater 30 detected by the sensor 50 is transmitted to the controller 60 to assist the controller 60 in determining whether the aerosol needs to be replenished. Taking the temperature sensor as an example, in an embodiment of the present application, the temperature sensor 50 may be configured as a dedicated temperature sensor. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the temperature sensor 50 is configured to detect the resistance value of the heater 30 to ultimately determine the temperature based on the resistance value.
[0147] Example 2
[0148] The second embodiment of the present application provides a heating control method implemented in an aerosol supply system. The aerosol supply system can be particularly Figure 1 The aerosol supply system described in . Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a heating control method implemented in an aerosol supply system in this application. The method is applied in a controller of the aerosol supply system. Figure 2 As shown, the method includes:
[0149] S21. During the heating process, determine in real time whether the aerosol in the heating chamber of the system needs to be replenished.
[0150] In the present application, the judgment of whether supplementation is needed is performed in real time according to the actual situation of the system, which is different from the prior art in which supplementation is determined to be needed at fixed time intervals.
[0151] In the embodiment of the present application, whether the aerosol in the heating chamber of the system needs to be replenished can be determined in real time based on a variety of appropriate methods.
[0152] In one approach, an airflow sensor is installed within the system. During the heating process, it detects the aerosol concentration or volume in the heating chamber. When the controller detects that the aerosol concentration or volume falls below a first preset threshold, it determines that the aerosol in the heating chamber needs to be replenished. This approach is relatively direct and accurate, allowing for direct detection of aerosol concentration or volume.
[0153] Considering that the reduction in aerosol volume is primarily caused by the user's puffs, another alternative approach is to determine whether the user has taken a puff during the heating process. If so, it is determined that the aerosol in the heating chamber needs to be replenished. The method for determining whether the user has taken a puff will be described in detail below.
[0154] S22: If yes, control the heater to operate in the second heating mode.
[0155] S23: If not, control the heater to operate in the first heating mode.
[0156] The second heating mode enables the aerosol-generating material to be atomized to generate the aerosol; and the second heating mode increases the replenishment speed of the aerosol compared to the first heating mode.
[0157] In the present application, the second heating mode increases the aerosol replenishment speed compared to the first heating mode. Therefore, when the aerosol needs to be replenished, the second heating mode is used instead of the first heating mode, which can replenish the aerosol in a timely and rapid manner, so that the user can inhale the desired amount of aerosol each time, thereby improving the consistency of the user's puffing experience.
[0158] The aerosol will be atomized when it reaches the atomization temperature. The aerosol atomization rate varies at different temperatures. The higher the temperature, the faster the aerosol atomization rate. Based on this, quickly reaching the desired atomization temperature or increasing the atomization rate can be used to increase the aerosol replenishment rate. Based on this, the present application provides two methods for increasing the aerosol replenishment rate:
[0159] In the first method, the first heating mode corresponds to the first power, and the second heating mode corresponds to the second power, with the second power being greater than the first power. Under the same conditions, the second power provides a faster temperature increase than the first power, thereby reaching the desired atomization temperature more quickly. In other words, the second heating mode shortens the time it takes to reach the desired atomization temperature from the current temperature compared to the first heating mode, thereby increasing the replenishment rate.
[0160] In one embodiment of the first approach, the first heating mode and the second heating mode correspond to the same desired atomization temperature, referred to herein as the first target temperature. The first power and the second power are both used to bring the heater as close to the first target temperature as possible. The first power may also be the power required to maintain the first target temperature. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the actual temperature-time curve of the heater under the first mode in one embodiment of the present application. Prior to time t0, the first heating mode, i.e., the first power, is used to maintain the first target temperature T1. Due to the amount of aerosol drawn by the user, the actual temperature T0 at time t0 falls below the first target temperature T1. At this point, it is determined that aerosol replenishment is needed, so the heater switches from time t0 to the second heating mode, i.e., the second power, and the temperature is raised to the first target temperature T1 at time t1. Figure 3 The dotted line in FIG indicates that if the first heating mode is adopted, the heater will heat up to the first target temperature T1 at time t2. As can be seen from the figure, the first target temperature T1 is reached faster using the second heating mode than using the first heating mode.
[0161] The first target temperature can be any temperature that can generate aerosol by atomization. Preferably, the temperature is selected from 250°C to 400°C.
[0162] It should be noted that the first target temperature may be the starting temperature for aerosol generation. That is, if the temperature is lower than the first target temperature, aerosol generation will not occur. In this case, no aerosol is generated during the heating process using the first power and the second power. Aerosol generation begins after the first target temperature is reached.
[0163] Alternatively, the first target temperature may be higher than the starting temperature for aerosol generation. That is, aerosol generation may also be achieved at a temperature lower than the first target temperature, but the aerosol atomization rate may be lower, failing to achieve the desired aerosol replenishment rate. Aerosol generation also occurs during the heating process using the first and second powers.
[0164] It should be noted that the first power and the second power may be fixed values or variable values. When the second power is a variable value, the average value of the second power is higher than the average value of the first power.
[0165] In the second method, the first heating mode corresponds to a first target temperature, and the second heating mode corresponds to a second target temperature, which is higher than the first target temperature. At the second target temperature, the aerosol-generating material can be atomized to produce an aerosol. In this method, the higher second target temperature provides a higher aerosol atomization rate relative to the first target temperature, thereby replenishing the aerosol more quickly.
[0166] The second target temperature can be any temperature that can generate aerosol by atomization. Preferably, the temperature is selected from 250°C to 400°C.
[0167] In one embodiment of the second mode, the aerosol-generating material can be atomized to generate an aerosol at a first target temperature. The first target temperature can be any temperature lower than the second target temperature and capable of atomizing to generate an aerosol, preferably, the temperature is selected from 250°C to 400°C.
[0168] In an alternative embodiment, the first target temperature is a preheating temperature and is lower than the atomization temperature of the aerosol-generating material, and the aerosol atomization rate at the first target temperature is zero or close to zero.
[0169] In this application, different target temperatures can be achieved by providing different power supplies.
[0170] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the actual heater temperature-time curve under the second mode in one embodiment of the present application. Before time t1, no aerosol replenishment is required, and the controller uses the first heating mode, maintaining the heater temperature as close to the first target temperature T1 as possible. At time t1, aerosol replenishment is detected, so the second heating mode is used to maintain the heater temperature as close to the second target temperature T2 as possible, allowing for rapid aerosol replenishment at the second target temperature T2. At time t2, aerosol replenishment is complete, and the controller switches back to the first heating mode.
[0171] It should be noted that the judgment of whether the aerosol needs to be replenished in this application can be performed at any time when the first heating mode and the second heating mode are used. If it is judged that the aerosol needs to be replenished when the first heating mode is used, the second heating mode is switched. If it is judged that the aerosol needs to be replenished when the second heating mode is used, the second heating mode is maintained. Figure 4 In the last second heating mode, the second heating mode is maintained because it is determined that aerosol needs to be replenished during the second heating mode (for example, the user took a puff during the second heating mode). Compared with the previous second heating modes, the duration of the second heating mode is longer.
[0172] In one embodiment of the present application, before the aerosol is replenished, the process of generating aerosol for the first time after the system is activated is also included. Figure 4 As shown, at time 0, when the heating process starts, the heater is controlled to heat from room temperature T 常 The temperature is raised to a preset temperature (T3 shown in the figure) for the first atomization, and after the first atomization produces a predetermined amount of aerosol (time t1 shown in the figure), the first heating mode is entered. The third heating mode can be the same as or different from the second heating mode.
[0173] In a preferred embodiment of the present application, as the aerosol generating material is continuously consumed, the remaining amount of the aerosol generating material gradually decreases, and under the same second heating mode, the amount of aerosol generated continues to decrease. In order to try to make the amount of aerosol replenished each time during the consumption process the same, the second heating mode can be adaptively adjusted. Specifically, the aerosol generating material has at least two puffing stages along the consumption process, and the remaining amount of aerosol generating material corresponding to different puffing stages is different; corresponding to different puffing stages, the aerosol replenishment speed corresponding to the second heating mode is different, or the duration of the second heating mode is different. By different replenishment speeds or different durations, the amount of replenished aerosol tends to be consistent. The different aerosol replenishment speeds corresponding to the second heating mode may include different second powers corresponding to the second heating mode or different second target temperatures corresponding to the second heating mode.
[0174] In a specific embodiment of the present application, the puffing stage includes a first puffing stage and a second puffing stage, and the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating material corresponding to the first puffing stage is greater than the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating material corresponding to the second puffing stage;
[0175] The second heating mode corresponding to the second puffing stage increases the aerosol replenishment speed compared to the second heating mode corresponding to the first puffing stage;
[0176] Alternatively, the duration of the second heating mode corresponding to the second inhalation stage is longer than the duration of the second heating mode corresponding to the first inhalation stage.
[0177] like Figure 2 As shown, in a preferred embodiment of the present application, when the heater operates in the second heating mode, the method further includes:
[0178] S24. Determine whether the aerosol in the heating chamber has been replenished.
[0179] S25: If yes, control the heater to change from the current second heating mode to the first heating mode.
[0180] Any method that can be used to determine whether the aerosol in the heating chamber has been replenished is within the scope of protection of this application. In one embodiment of the present application, an airflow sensor can be used to detect the aerosol concentration value or aerosol amount in the heating chamber. When the detected aerosol concentration value or aerosol amount reaches a second preset threshold value, it is determined that the aerosol in the heating chamber has been replenished. In an alternative embodiment, the amount of aerosol replenished can be inferred based on the consumption of the aerosol generating material, that is, when the consumption of the aerosol generating material reaches a third preset threshold value, it is determined that the aerosol in the heating chamber has been replenished. In another alternative embodiment of the present application, when it is determined that the duration of the aerosol supply system in the second heating mode reaches a first preset time, it is determined that the aerosol in the heating chamber has been replenished.
[0181] As mentioned in step S21 above, it can be determined that the aerosol needs to be replenished when the user puffs. In this application, any method that can be used for puff detection is within the scope of protection of this application.
[0182] During the heating process, the heater has a target temperature. This is the temperature the heater is expected to reach. Considering the heat removed by the pump, the actual heater temperature may differ from the target temperature. Therefore, a temperature sensor can be provided to detect the actual heater temperature and determine whether the pumping is appropriate based on whether the actual heater temperature deviates from the target temperature.
[0183] During the heating process, if the actual temperature deviates from the target temperature, the controller will adjust the power applied to the heater to keep the actual temperature as close to the target temperature as possible. Based on this, the relevant data of the power adjustment can also be used to determine the suction.
[0184] The following is a specific implementation process of the puffing judgment based on temperature and power provided in some embodiments of this application:
[0185] S31. Detect the actual temperature of the system's heater at set intervals.
[0186] In the embodiments of the present application, the interval time can be a fixed value or a variable value. The interval time can be pre-set in the system controller or set based on user input. In one embodiment, the interval time is 15-25 ms, preferably 20 ms. The shorter the interval time, the more timely the heater temperature tracking.
[0187] S32 . When the actual temperature deviates from the target temperature of the heater by a predetermined difference, adjust the power applied to the heater according to a set rule so that the actual temperature of the heater approaches the target temperature.
[0188] The predetermined difference can be pre-set in the system controller or set based on user input. By setting the predetermined difference, situations where the actual temperature is close to the target temperature can be filtered out to eliminate deviations caused by temperature sensor detection errors or normal fluctuations in heater temperature.
[0189] In the embodiment of the present application, the power applied to the heater is adjusted according to the following set rules:
[0190] The controller periodically monitors the actual heater temperature. If it detects that the actual heater temperature deviates (i.e., differs from) the target temperature, it adjusts the power supplied to the heater to ensure that the heater reaches the target temperature as quickly as possible. If the actual temperature is lower than the target temperature, the controller increases the power supplied to the heater, raising the heater temperature to or near the target temperature. If the actual temperature is higher than the target temperature, the controller decreases the power supplied to the heater, lowering the heater temperature to or near the target temperature.
[0191] In one embodiment of the present application, when making specific adjustments to the power, the controller will determine the power adjustment coefficient (also known as the power change rate) based on the number of temperature deviations, the number of power adjustments, etc., and combine the power adjustment coefficient and the previous power value to calculate and determine the current power adjustment value, so that the heater can approach or reach the target temperature as quickly as possible.
[0192] If the actual heater temperature deviates from the target temperature due to some factors, the controller will adjust the power supplied to the heater according to the system's heating control rules so that the actual heater temperature approaches or reaches the target temperature as quickly as possible. The system can usually raise the actual heater temperature to the target temperature with one or two power adjustments. Considering that the controller's detection interval for the actual heater temperature is generally 20ms, the heater temperature adjustment can generally be completed in about 20-40ms. However, as mentioned above, the user's puff is continuous (generally lasting 3-5 seconds), resulting in a continuous change in the heater's temperature. This continuity is manifested by the controller detecting that the actual heater temperature deviates from the target temperature multiple times or over a longer period of time. Accordingly, the controller will adjust the power supplied to the heater multiple times, and the power adjustment coefficient will also exhibit certain characteristics. That is, the temperature deviation, power adjustment, and power adjustment coefficient caused by the user's puff all have certain characteristics. The controller of this application detects the user's puff based on this characteristic.
[0193] S33. When it is determined that the number of deviations of the actual temperature from the target temperature that reaches a predetermined difference and / or the cumulative deviation time of the actual temperature from the target temperature that reaches a predetermined difference and / or the number of power adjustments and / or the power adjustment coefficient meet a first preset condition, it is determined that the user has performed a puff action.
[0194] In this application, the actual temperature deviation from the target temperature refers to the difference between the actual temperature and the target temperature. The number of deviations refers to the number of times the actual temperature differs from the target temperature. Correspondingly, the cumulative deviation time refers to the cumulative time that the actual temperature differs from the target temperature.
[0195] In conjunction with the foregoing, parameters such as the number of deviations caused by a user's puffs, the accumulated time of deviations, the number of power adjustments, and the power adjustment coefficient have certain characteristics. Therefore, these parameters can be recorded or acquired, and when at least one of these parameters meets a first preset condition, it can be determined that the user has taken a puff. The first preset condition can be determined based on empirical values.
[0196] The deviation between the actual temperature and the target temperature includes two types of temperature deviation: the actual temperature is greater than the target temperature and the actual temperature is less than the target temperature. In one embodiment of the present application, the number of deviations refers to the number of consecutive deviations under the same temperature deviation mode. The specific calculation method is as follows:
[0197] In a detection cycle, if the current temperature deviation pattern is the same as the previous temperature deviation pattern, the deviation counts for the corresponding detection cycle are accumulated and used as the latest deviation count for the detection cycle. Otherwise, a new detection cycle is started and the deviation count is restarted. In other words, if the temperature deviation pattern of a certain time is different from the previous temperature deviation pattern, the deviation count is restarted in the new cycle.
[0198] Correspondingly, the cumulative deviation time is the cumulative time within each detection cycle. The cumulative deviation time can be determined based on the system clock record, or based on the number of deviations and the interval time set in step S31. If the interval time is determined, the greater the number of deviations, the greater the cumulative deviation time.
[0199] Taking into account the temperature drop caused by the user's inhalation of aerosol, in some embodiments of the present application, the number of deviations used to determine the puffing refers to the number of deviations that last when the actual temperature is lower than the target temperature, and the cumulative deviation time refers to the cumulative deviation time when the actual temperature is lower than the target temperature.
[0200] Of course, considering the more specialized heating control rules of some aerosol supply systems, the number of deviations used to determine the puffing in the present embodiment may also refer to the number of times the actual temperature has been above the target temperature, and the cumulative deviation time may refer to the cumulative time the actual temperature has been below the target temperature. For example, if the user puffs away the aerosol and the heater temperature is significantly increased to replenish the aerosol, the controller will detect that the actual heater temperature continues to be above the target temperature.
[0201] In a specific embodiment of the present application, a user's puff can be determined based on whether the number of deviations and / or the cumulative deviation time within a detection cycle meet a first preset condition. When it is detected that the number of deviations and / or the cumulative deviation time within a detection cycle meet the first preset condition, it is determined that the user has taken a puff. In this method, to ensure reliability, the requirements for the number of deviations and / or the cumulative deviation time are relatively strict. For example, the number of deviations must reach 10 and / or the cumulative deviation time must exceed 200ms.
[0202] In an alternative embodiment of the present application, it is set that the user takes a puff when the number of deviations and / or the cumulative deviation time corresponding to more than a first preset number of detection cycles within multiple detection cycles meets a first preset condition, and the deviation mode of the multiple detection cycles is the same.
[0203] In another alternative embodiment of the present application, a user puff is determined when the number of deviations and / or the cumulative time of deviations corresponding to a second predetermined number of consecutive detection cycles meet a first predetermined condition, wherein the deviations corresponding to the second predetermined number of consecutive detection cycles occur in the same manner. This approach integrates multiple detection cycles and considers the continuity between cycles, thereby improving the reliability of puff detection.
[0204] Power adjustment includes two power adjustment modes: power increase and power reduction. In one embodiment of the present application, the number of power adjustment times refers to the number of times power adjustment is continued under the same power adjustment mode, and is specifically calculated in the following manner:
[0205] In a detection cycle, if the current power adjustment method is the same as the previous one, the power adjustment count for that detection cycle is accumulated and used as the latest power adjustment count for that detection cycle. Otherwise, a new detection cycle is started and the power adjustment count is calculated again. Each temperature deviation results in a power adjustment. As you can imagine, the greater the temperature deviation, the more power adjustments will be made.
[0206] Considering that the user's inhalation of aerosol causes a decrease in temperature, which in turn leads to an increase in power, in some embodiments of the present application, the number of power adjustments used to determine the puff refers to the number of adjustments for power increase.
[0207] Regarding the power adjustment coefficient, in one embodiment of the present application, within the same detection cycle, when the actual temperature is lower than the target temperature, the power is increased. The power adjustment coefficient increases with the number of power adjustments (or the number of temperature deviations). If the actual temperature of the heater remains lower than the target temperature after the previous power increase adjustment, this indicates that the previous power adjustment was insufficient. In this case, the controller will increase the power adjustment coefficient, adjusting the power more forcefully to bring the heater temperature closer to or even to the target temperature as quickly as possible.
[0208] As can be seen, under the above-described power adjustment coefficient determination rules, the power adjustment coefficient is related to the number of power adjustments and the number of temperature deviations. When the actual temperature is lower than the target temperature, a larger power adjustment coefficient indicates a greater number of power adjustments and a greater number of temperature deviations. Therefore, the user's puff can be determined based on whether the power adjustment coefficient is greater than a set threshold.
[0209] In a specific embodiment of the present application, the determination of puffing can be made based on whether the number of power adjustments and / or the power adjustment coefficient within a detection cycle meet a first preset condition. In this approach, to ensure reliability, the requirements for the number of power adjustments and / or the power adjustment coefficient are relatively strict. For example, the number of power adjustments must reach 10.
[0210] In an alternative embodiment of the present application, it is set that the user takes a puff if the number of power adjustments corresponding to more than a first preset number of detection cycles and / or the power adjustment coefficient meet a first preset condition within multiple detection cycles, wherein the power adjustment method of the multiple detection cycles is the same.
[0211] In another alternative embodiment of the present application, a user puff is determined when the number of power adjustments and / or the power adjustment coefficient corresponding to a second predetermined number of consecutive detection cycles meet a first predetermined condition, wherein the deviation pattern corresponding to the second predetermined number of consecutive detection cycles is the same. This approach integrates multiple detection cycles and considers the continuity between cycles, thereby improving the reliability of puff detection.
[0212] Example 3
[0213] Traditional cigarettes can provide users with a puffing session experience. For example, a puffing session begins when a traditional cigarette is lit; the user knows the puffing session has ended when the cigarette burns to the boundary between the tobacco and the filter. In other words, traditional cigarettes have signs or signals that indicate the start and end of a puffing session. This puffing session experience allows users to gain insight into their smoking status, allowing them to take breaks as needed and avoid the unhealthy effects of prolonged smoking. This information can also be used to inform other actions, such as purchasing new cigarettes.
[0214] Unlike traditional cigarettes, aerosol delivery systems such as e-cigarettes do not provide clear demarcations to indicate a puff session. However, based on puff experience, the number of puffs in a puff session is usually below the threshold of one. Accordingly, this application provides the following method:
[0215] During the heating process, the start of the puffing session is determined;
[0216] During the puff session, when it is determined that the user has taken a puff, the number of puffs is recorded;
[0217] When the number of puffs reaches a preset puff number threshold, it is determined that the puff session is ended.
[0218] Based on the monitored puffs, the device counts the number of puffs and determines whether the puff session has ended based on the number of puffs and a preset puff threshold. Based on the puff session determination, an indication can be output to facilitate further user feedback, or the heater can be put into hibernation to allow the user to rest.
[0219] The number of aerosol refills (i.e., the number of times the heater is adjusted to the second heating mode) can also be used to reflect the number of puffs taken by the user. Accordingly, in an alternative embodiment of the present application, the following method is provided:
[0220] During the heating process, the start of the puffing session is determined;
[0221] During the puffing session, recording the number of times the heater is changed to the second heating mode, i.e., recording the number of times the aerosol is replenished;
[0222] When the number of adjustments reaches a preset adjustment number threshold, the puff session is determined to be over. The number of adjustments reaching the threshold reflects that the number of puffs of the user has reached a certain threshold, based on which it can be determined whether the puff session is over.
[0223] It should be noted that the controller in the system of the first embodiment is configured to execute the heating control methods of the second and third embodiments.
[0224] Example 4
[0225] Corresponding to the above-mentioned embodiments 2 and 3, the present application also provides a computer device, including: a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a computer program that can be run on the processor. When the computer program is executed by the processor, the puff detection method for the aerosol supply system provided in any one of the above-mentioned embodiments is executed.
[0226] in, Figure 5The computer device 1500 is shown as an example and may include a processor 1510, a video display adapter 1511, a disk drive 1512, an input / output interface 1513, a network interface 1514, and a memory 1520. The processor 1510, the video display adapter 1511, the disk drive 1512, the input / output interface 1513, the network interface 1514, and the memory 1520 may be communicatively connected via a communication bus 1530.
[0227] Among them, the processor 1510 can be implemented by a general-purpose CPU (Central Processing Unit), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits, etc., to execute relevant programs to implement the technical solutions provided in this application.
[0228] The memory 1520 can be implemented in the form of ROM (Read On ly Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), static storage device, dynamic storage device, etc. The memory 1520 can store an operating system 1521 for controlling the operation of the electronic device, and a basic input and output system (BIOS) for controlling the low-level operation of the electronic device. In addition, a web browser 1523, a data storage management system 1524, and a device identification information processing system 1525, etc. can also be stored. The above-mentioned device identification information processing system 1525 can be an application program that specifically implements the operations of the aforementioned steps in the embodiment of the present application. In short, when the technical solution provided by the present application is implemented by software or firmware, the relevant program code is stored in the memory 1520 and is called and executed by the processor 1510.
[0229] The input / output interface 1513 is used to connect input / output modules to implement information input and output. The input / output modules can be configured as components in the device (not shown in the figure) or can be externally connected to the device to provide corresponding functions. Input devices may include a keyboard, mouse, touch screen, microphone, various sensors, etc., and output devices may include a display, speaker, vibrator, indicator light, etc.
[0230] The network interface 1514 is used to connect to a communication module (not shown) to enable communication between the device and other devices. The communication module can communicate via a wired method (such as USB, network cable, etc.) or a wireless method (such as mobile network, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.).
[0231] The bus comprises a pathway that transmits information between the various components of the device (eg, processor 1510 , video display adapter 1511 , disk drive 1512 , input / output interface 1513 , network interface 1514 , and memory 1520 ).
[0232] In addition, the electronic device can also obtain information on specific collection conditions from the virtual resource object collection condition information database for use in condition judgment, etc.
[0233] It should be noted that although the above device only shows a processor 1510, a video display adapter 1511, a disk drive 1512, an input / output interface 1513, a network interface 1514, a memory 1520, a bus, etc., in a specific implementation, the device may also include other components necessary for normal operation. In addition, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the above device may also include only the components necessary to implement the solution of the present application, and does not necessarily include all the components shown in the figure.
[0234] Example 5
[0235] Corresponding to the above-mentioned embodiments one to four, the embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium. In this embodiment, the same or similar contents as those of the above-mentioned embodiments one to three can be referred to the above introduction and will not be repeated later.
[0236] The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program thereon, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the puff detection method for an aerosol supply system as described above is implemented.
[0237] In some implementations, in the embodiments of the present application, when the computer program is executed by the processor, it can also implement steps corresponding to the method described in Example 2. Please refer to the detailed description in Example 2 and will not be repeated here.
[0238] It should be understood that various parts of the present application can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In the above embodiments, multiple steps or methods can be implemented using software or firmware stored in a memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system. For example, if implemented using hardware, as in another embodiment, any one of the following technologies known in the art or a combination thereof can be used to implement: a discrete logic circuit having a logic gate circuit for implementing a logic function on a data signal, an application-specific integrated circuit having a suitable combination of logic gate circuits, a programmable gate array (PGA), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.
[0239] Throughout this specification, reference to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "examples," "specific examples," or "some examples" means that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in conjunction with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.
[0240] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. Throughout the description of this application, "plurality" means at least two, for example, two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.
[0241] In this application, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "connect," "fixed," etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection or electrical connection; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two elements or interaction between two elements, unless otherwise specified. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.
[0242] Although the embodiments of the present application have been shown and described above, it can be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and cannot be understood as limitations on the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can change, modify, replace and modify the above embodiments within the scope of the present application.
Claims
1. A heating control method for an aerosol supply system, for controlling the heating temperature of a heater of the system to adjust the aerosol replenishment rate of an aerosol-generating material contained in the system, characterized in that: The method comprises: During the heating process, determining in real time whether the aerosol in the heating chamber of the system needs to be replenished; If yes, controlling the heater to operate in the second heating mode; If not, controlling the heater to operate in the first heating mode; The second heating mode enables the aerosol-generating material to be atomized to generate the aerosol; the second heating mode increases the replenishment speed of the aerosol compared to the first heating mode.
2. The heating control method of the aerosol supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the first heating mode, the heater operates at a first power; In the second heating mode, the heater operates at a second power; The first power is less than the second power.
3. The heating control method of the aerosol supply system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first heating mode enables the heater to be maintained at a first target temperature, and the aerosol-generating material can be atomized to generate an aerosol at the first target temperature; In the second heating mode, the heater operates at a second power to increase its actual temperature to the first target temperature at a faster speed than in the first heating mode.
4. The heating control method of the aerosol supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first heating mode maintains the heater at a first target temperature; The second heating mode enables the heater to be maintained at a second target temperature; the aerosol-generating material can be atomized to generate an aerosol at the second target temperature; The first target temperature is lower than the second target temperature, and the aerosol atomization rate at the first target temperature is lower than the aerosol atomization rate at the second target temperature.
5. The heating control method of the aerosol supply system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The aerosol-generating material can be atomized to generate an aerosol at the first target temperature.
6. The heating control method of the aerosol supply system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first target temperature is a preheating temperature and is lower than the atomization temperature of the aerosol generating material. The aerosol atomization rate at the first target temperature is zero.
7. The heating control method of the aerosol supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The determining whether the aerosol in the heating chamber of the system needs to be replenished includes: During the heating process, determining whether the user has taken a puff; If so, it is determined that the aerosol in the heating chamber needs to be replenished.
8. The heating control method of the aerosol supply system according to claim 7, characterized in that: Determining whether the user has taken a puff includes: During the heating process, the current actual temperature of the heater is detected and it is determined whether the user has taken a puff based on a change in the actual temperature.
9. The heating control method of the aerosol supply system according to claim 8, characterized in that: The determining whether the user has taken a puff based on the actual temperature change of the heater comprises: When the actual temperature is lower than the target temperature of the heater by a preset difference, it is determined that the user has taken a puff.
10. The heating control method of the aerosol supply system according to claim 7, characterized in that: Determining whether the user has taken a puff includes: During the heating process, detecting the current actual temperature of the heater, and when the actual temperature deviates from the target temperature, adjusting the power applied to the heater to maintain the target temperature; A determination is made based on the power adjustment whether the user has taken a puff.
11. The heating control method of the aerosol supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Determining whether the aerosol in the heating chamber needs to be replenished includes: During the heating process, an airflow sensor is used to detect the aerosol concentration or aerosol amount in the heating chamber; When it is detected that the aerosol concentration or the aerosol amount is lower than a first preset threshold, it is determined that the aerosol in the heating chamber needs to be replenished.
12. The heating control method of the aerosol supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method further comprises: When the heater operates in the second heating mode, determining whether the aerosol in the heating chamber is fully replenished; If so, the heater is controlled to change from the current second heating mode to the first heating mode.
13. The heating control method of the aerosol supply system according to claim 12, characterized in that: The determining whether the aerosol in the heating chamber has been replenished includes: An airflow sensor is used to detect the aerosol concentration value or the aerosol amount in the heating chamber. When the detected aerosol concentration value or the aerosol amount reaches a second preset threshold, it is determined that the aerosol in the heating chamber has been replenished.
14. The heating control method of the aerosol supply system according to claim 12, characterized in that: The determining whether the aerosol in the heating chamber has been replenished includes: If the consumption of the aerosol generating material reaches a third preset threshold, it is determined that the aerosol in the heating chamber has been fully replenished.
15. The heating control method of the aerosol supply system according to claim 12, characterized in that: The determining whether the aerosol in the heating chamber has been replenished includes: The aerosol supply system determines that the aerosol in the heating chamber has been fully replenished when the duration of the second heating mode reaches a first preset time.
16. The heating control method of an aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that: The aerosol-generating material has at least two puffing stages along the consumption process, and the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating material corresponding to different puffing stages is different; Corresponding to different inhalation stages, the second heating mode corresponds to different aerosol replenishment speeds, or the second heating mode has different durations.
17. The heating control method of the aerosol supply system according to claim 16, characterized in that: The puffing stage includes a first puffing stage and a second puffing stage, and the remaining amount of aerosol-generating material corresponding to the first puffing stage is greater than the remaining amount of aerosol-generating material corresponding to the second puffing stage; The second heating mode corresponding to the second puff stage increases the aerosol replenishment speed compared to the second heating mode corresponding to the first puff stage; or the duration of the second heating mode corresponding to the second puff stage is longer than the duration of the second heating mode corresponding to the first puff stage.
18. The heating control method of an aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that: The method further comprises: When the heating process starts, the heater is controlled to heat the temperature from room temperature to a preset temperature in the third heating mode to perform the first atomization, and enters the first heating mode after the first atomization generates a predetermined amount of aerosol.
19. The heating control method of an aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that: The method further comprises: During the heating process, the start of the puffing session is determined; During the puff session, when it is determined that the user has taken a puff, the number of puffs is recorded; When the number of puffs reaches a preset puff number threshold, it is determined that the puff session is ended.
20. The heating control method of an aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that: The method further comprises: During the heating process, the start of the puffing session is determined; During the puffing session, recording a number of adjustments that the heater is changed to the second heating mode; When the number of adjustments reaches a preset adjustment number threshold, it is determined that the puffing session is ended.
21. An aerosol supply system, characterized in that: The aerosol supply system comprises: a heater configured to heat aerosol-generating material within the aerosol supply system; a heating chamber for containing aerosol generated by atomization of aerosol-generating materials; A controller configured to execute the heating control method for an aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 20.