Double-path Buck control circuit and system of atomizer

Abstract

The invention discloses a double-path Buck control circuit and system of an atomizer, and the system comprises a power supply which is electrically connected with a Buck drive controller; the Buck driving controller is electrically connected with a first Buck half-bridge and a second Buck half-bridge, the first Buck half-bridge is electrically connected with a first heating wire, and the second Buck half-bridge is electrically connected with a second heating wire; wherein the power supply, the Buck driving controller, the first Buck half-bridge and the first heating wire form a first heating circuit, and the power supply, the Buck driving controller, the second Buck half-bridge and the second heating wire form a second heating circuit. The system adopts the double heating circuits to realize alternate or parallel work of the two heating wires, the heating wires obtain sufficient cooling time during alternation, the working load of a single heating wire is dispersed during parallel, the two working modes can reduce the carbon deposition phenomenon on the surfaces of the heating wires, the loss of the heating wires can be obviously reduced, and the service life of the heating wires can be effectively prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electronic product technology, specifically to a dual-channel Buck control circuit and system for an atomizer. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional atomizers (electronic cigarettes) typically employ a single-channel Boost-Buck or PWM drive control module to match the battery voltage with the operating voltage of the heating element. While this type of drive system can handle voltage conversion and meet the basic power supply requirements of the atomizer, supporting the heating element's atomization function, it has significant shortcomings in terms of heating element temperature control and long-term stable operation.

[0003] In this type of single-drive system, the heating element enters a new round of heating and warming process before it has been completely cooled down. After long-term operation, the heat accumulation can easily cause a layer of carbon deposits to adhere to the surface of the heating element, which not only affects the atomization effect but also damages the service life of the heating element, rendering the atomizer unusable. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a dual-channel Buck control circuit and system for an atomizer.

[0005] The objective of this invention is mainly achieved through the following technical solutions: A dual-channel Buck control circuit for an atomizer includes: The power supply, Buck drive controller, and heating circuit are connected in series. The heating circuit includes a first heating circuit and a second heating circuit, which are connected in parallel and then connected in series with the Buck drive controller. The first heating circuit includes a first Buck half-bridge and a first heating wire connected in series, and the second heating circuit includes a second Buck half-bridge and a second heating wire connected in series.

[0006] Furthermore, the first heating circuit also includes a first inductor, and the first inductor, a first Buck half-bridge, and a first heating wire are connected in series.

[0007] Furthermore, the second heating circuit also includes a second inductor, a second Buck half-bridge, and a second heating wire connected in series.

[0008] Furthermore, it also includes a protector, a power supply, a Buck drive controller, and a heating circuit connected in series.

[0009] A dual-channel Buck control system for an atomizer includes: The power supply is connected to a Buck drive controller. The Buck drive controller is electrically connected to a first Buck half-bridge and a second Buck half-bridge respectively. The first Buck half-bridge is electrically connected to a first heating wire, and the second Buck half-bridge is electrically connected to a second heating wire. The power supply, Buck drive controller, first Buck half-bridge and first heating wire form a first heating circuit, and the power supply, Buck drive controller, second Buck half-bridge and second heating wire form a second heating circuit.

[0010] Furthermore, the first Buck half-bridge is electrically connected to the first inductor and the first heating wire, and the second Buck half-bridge is electrically connected to the second inductor and the second heating wire.

[0011] Furthermore, a protector is electrically connected between the power supply and the Buck drive controller.

[0012] Furthermore, the protector is also electrically connected to an I2C controller.

[0013] Furthermore, the I2C controller, protector, Buck drive controller, first Buck half-bridge, second Buck half-bridge, first inductor, second inductor, first heating wire and second heating wire are disposed on the same chip.

[0014] Furthermore, an MCU chip is also located on the outside of the chip, and the MCU chip is electrically connected to the chip through an I2C controller.

[0015] In summary, the present invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art: This invention adopts a dual-path Buck control structure, which enables the two heating circuits to work independently. This allows the first heating wire and the second heating wire to operate alternately or in parallel, reducing the cumulative working time and power of a single heating wire, significantly reducing the rate of carbon buildup on the surface of the heating wire, extending the service life of the heating wire, and avoiding the bitter taste of smoke caused by carbon buildup, thus improving the stability of atomization effect.

[0016] In addition, by using Buck step-down control to output pure DC voltage to drive the heating wire, compared with the traditional PWM drive control method or Boost-Buck drive control method, the temperature of the heating wire can be kept constant, and there will be no drastic temperature fluctuations caused by switching on and off. This effectively optimizes the atomized flavor and ensures the consistency of the atomization experience in different usage scenarios.

[0017] Furthermore, the integrated protector in the system can monitor abnormal conditions such as overcurrent, overtemperature, and short circuit in the output of the two heating circuits in real time. Once a problem occurs, it can directly disconnect the output to avoid safety risks to the atomizer and the user caused by abnormal operating conditions.

[0018] Meanwhile, with the help of the I2C controller, the power parameters, protection current, start-up speed and shut-down speed of each heating circuit can be flexibly set through the MCU chip. It can also read the abnormal status of electrical components on the chip in real time, improving the system's adaptability and operability.

[0019] Furthermore, by integrating the I2C controller, protector, Buck drive controller, and electrical components related to the two heating circuits onto the same chip, the overall circuit area is significantly reduced compared to traditional discrete circuit solutions. This simplifies the internal structure design of the atomizer and reduces material and assembly costs, giving the atomizer a greater competitive advantage in miniaturization and low cost. The integrated design also reduces circuit connection nodes, lowers the risk of contact failures, and improves the long-term stability of the system. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the invention and form part of this application, do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings: Figure 1 A circuit diagram of the dual-channel Buck control circuit provided in this application; Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the dual-channel Buck control system provided in this application; Figure 3 Voltage-temperature waveform diagram of a conventional drive system provided in this application; Figure 4 Voltage-temperature waveform diagram of the dual-channel Buck control system provided in this application.

[0021] Figure Labels

[0022] 1-Power supply; 2-Buck drive controller; 3-First Buck half-bridge; 4-Second Buck half-bridge; 5-First heating wire; 6-Second heating wire; 7-First inductor; 8-Second inductor; 9-Protector; 10-Chip; 11-I2C controller; 12-MCU chip. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of the present invention are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0024] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0025] 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 technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0026] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0027] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0028] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of the present invention.

[0029] In the following description, suffixes such as "module," "part," "component," or "unit" are used only for the purpose of illustrative purposes and have no specific meaning in themselves. Therefore, they can be used interchangeably.

[0030] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0031] Firstly, please refer to the following: Figure 1 This application provides a dual-channel Buck control circuit for an atomizer, including: Power supply 1, Buck drive controller 2 and heating circuit are connected in series; The heating circuit includes a first heating circuit and a second heating circuit, which are connected in parallel and then connected in series with the Buck drive controller 2. The first heating circuit includes a first Buck half-bridge 3 and a first heating wire 5 connected in series, and the second heating circuit includes a second Buck half-bridge 4 and a second heating wire 6 connected in series.

[0032] In this embodiment, the traditional single-channel Boost-Buck drive control module first boosts the power output voltage through the front-end Boost module, and then reduces the boosted voltage to the voltage value adapted to the single heating wire through the rear-end Buck module. The voltage adjustment range is wide throughout the process, but it can only power a single heating wire. Taking the commonly used 4.2V power supply voltage in e-cigarettes as an example, to meet the operating requirements of a single heating wire, the Boost-Buck drive control module boosts the 4.2V voltage through the Boost controller, then reduces the voltage to the target value through the Buck controller, and then delivers the target voltage to the heating wire. This single-channel power supply method requires a single heating wire to operate continuously for a long time.

[0033] Traditional single-channel PWM drive control modules achieve voltage reduction by controlling the switching of MOSFETs via an MCU, with an output frequency between 50Hz and 500Hz. During the cycle, the power supply voltage is directly applied to a single heating element. The voltage is 0V during the cycle. Taking the commonly used power supply voltage of 4.2V for electronic cigarettes as an example, when the resistance of a single heating wire is 0.6Ω, The power of a single heating element during the cycle is 29.4W, corresponding to a peak temperature of 907℃. Before the temperature of the heating wire has completely dropped to the ambient temperature during the cycle, a new cycle begins. During the heating cycle, although the average temperature of the heating wire remained at the normal operating temperature of 325℃ throughout the entire cycle, the voltage and temperature fluctuated drastically throughout the entire cycle.

[0034] Therefore, both single-channel Boost-Buck and single-channel PWM drive control modules can only power a single heating wire, causing that individual heating wire to continuously withstand drastic temperature changes and prolonged workload. After long-term operation, during repeated heating and cooling processes, substances produced by e-liquid atomization will continuously adhere to the surface of the heating wire, forming carbon deposits. As the amount of carbon deposits increases, it not only affects the atomization effect, causing the vapor to taste bitter, but also accelerates the wear and tear on the heating wire, shortening its lifespan.

[0035] This application adopts a dual-path design, which supplies power to the first heating wire 5 through the first Buck half-bridge 3 and the second heating wire 6 through the second Buck half-bridge 4, which can flexibly realize the alternating or parallel operation of the two heating wires.

[0036] When the alternating working mode is selected, the first heating wire 5 can switch to the second heating wire 6 after working for a period of time, allowing the first heating wire 5 sufficient time to cool down. When the parallel working mode is selected, the two heating wires run simultaneously, which can meet higher atomization requirements while dispersing the workload of a single heating wire, avoiding a single heating wire being under high load for a long time. Both working modes can reduce the generation and accumulation of carbon deposits, thereby extending the overall service life of the two heating wires.

[0037] In one possible implementation, the first heating circuit further includes a first inductor 7, and the first inductor 7, the first Buck half-bridge 3, and the first heating wire 5 are connected in series.

[0038] In this embodiment, the first inductor 7 is connected in series with the first Buck half-bridge 3 and the first heating wire 5. When the first heating circuit is working, the first inductor 7 can effectively smooth the current, making the voltage across the first heating wire 5 more stable and avoiding the drastic voltage fluctuations similar to PWM control. Simultaneously, combining the flexibility of the dual-path design, the first heating wire 5 and the second heating wire 6 can be selected to work alternately or in parallel according to actual needs. When alternating operation is selected, the first inductor 7 ensures a stable power supply to the first heating wire 5 during its operation, and the first heating wire 5 cools down after operation, reducing carbon buildup. When parallel operation is selected, both heating wires operate simultaneously. The first inductor 7, in conjunction with the first Buck half-bridge 3, provides a stable current to the first heating wire 5, preventing localized overheating due to unstable current, further reducing the rate of carbon buildup formation, and extending the service life of the first heating wire 5.

[0039] In one possible implementation, the second heating circuit also includes a second inductor 8, the second Buck half-bridge 4, and the second heating wire 6 connected in series.

[0040] In this embodiment, the second inductor 8 is connected in series with the second Buck half-bridge 4 and the second heating wire 6. When the second heating circuit is working, the second inductor 8 can act as an energy storage and filter, making the current across the second heating wire 6 more stable and the voltage output more stable, avoiding voltage spikes and drops similar to PWM control. Simultaneously, the dual-path design supports alternating or parallel operation of the first heating wire 5 and the second heating wire 6. When operating alternately, the second heating wire 6 starts during the cooling period of the first heating wire 5, and the second inductor 8 ensures its stable operation, reducing continuous operating time. When operating in parallel, both heating wires share the atomization task, and the second inductor 8 ensures stable current to the second heating wire 6, preventing rapid carbon buildup due to concentrated load, thereby extending the service life of the second heating wire 6 and ensuring long-term atomization effect.

[0041] In one possible implementation, a protector 9 is also included, and the protector 9, power supply 1, Buck drive controller 2, and heating circuit are connected in series.

[0042] In this embodiment, the protector 9 is connected in series with the power supply 1, the Buck drive controller 2, and the heating circuit. It can monitor the entire circuit's operating status in real time. Regardless of whether the two heating wires are operating alternately or in parallel, if the first or second heating circuit experiences overcurrent, overtemperature, or short circuit abnormalities, the protector 9 can directly disconnect the circuit without relying on external software control, resulting in a faster response. This rapid protection mechanism prevents the first heating wire 5 and the second heating wire 6 from continuing to operate under abnormal conditions, reducing damage to the heating wires caused by abnormal high temperatures or excessive current, and lowering the risk of rapid carbon buildup. Simultaneously, the dual-circuit heating circuit design ensures that even if one circuit malfunctions, the other can still operate normally, further reducing the workload of a single heating wire and extending the overall lifespan of the heating wires.

[0043] Secondly, please refer to the following: Figures 2-4 This application also provides a dual-channel Buck control system for an atomizer, including: Power supply 1, which is electrically connected to Buck drive controller 2; Buck drive controller 2 is electrically connected to a first Buck half-bridge 3 and a second Buck half-bridge 4 respectively. The first Buck half-bridge 3 is electrically connected to a first heating wire 5, and the second Buck half-bridge 4 is electrically connected to a second heating wire 6. The power supply 1, Buck drive controller 2, first Buck half-bridge 3 and first heating wire 5 form a first heating circuit, and the power supply 1, Buck drive controller 2, second Buck half-bridge 4 and second heating wire 6 form a second heating circuit.

[0044] When this embodiment is implemented, as follows: Figure 3As shown, the voltage waveform of a traditional single-channel PWM drive control system fluctuates significantly, and the corresponding temperature waveform also fluctuates dramatically. The peak temperature can reach 907℃, and the valley temperature is close to 25℃. Even though the average temperature is about 325℃, the dramatic temperature changes still cause rapid carbon accumulation on the surface of the heating wire, affecting the atomization effect and the lifespan of the heating wire.

[0045] like Figure 2 and 4 As shown, the dual-channel Buck control system of this application outputs pure DC voltage. Taking a power supply voltage of 4.2V and a heating wire resistance of 0.6Ω as an example, by stepping down the voltage of the Buck drive controller 2, only a pure DC voltage of 2.45V is needed to allow the heating wire to reach a stable temperature of 325℃, with almost no temperature waveform fluctuation, maintaining a constant operating temperature. This stable temperature environment not only makes the atomization effect more uniform and the vapor flavor smoother, but also reduces the adhesion of e-liquid atomization products on the surface of the heating wire, slowing down the rate of carbon buildup.

[0046] Meanwhile, the dual-path design of this application supports both alternating and parallel operation modes to adapt to different usage scenarios. In the dual-tank e-cigarette structure, the parallel operation mode can be preferred to control the two heating coils separately, achieving simultaneous atomization of two different flavor tanks (A and B) to achieve a mixed flavor effect. In the single-tank structure, the alternating operation mode can be preferred to extend the cumulative working life of the heating coil and prevent the flavor from becoming bitter and releasing harmful substances due to carbon buildup on a single heating coil.

[0047] In one possible implementation, the first Buck half-bridge 3 is electrically connected to the first inductor 7 and the first heating wire 5, and the second Buck half-bridge 4 is electrically connected to the second inductor 8 and the second heating wire 6.

[0048] In this embodiment, the first Buck half-bridge 3 is electrically connected to the first heating wire 5 through the first inductor 7, and the second Buck half-bridge 4 is electrically connected to the second heating wire 6 through the second inductor 8. When the first heating circuit is working, the first inductor 7 can smooth the current, making the voltage across the first heating wire 5 more stable and avoiding sudden rises and falls in current similar to PWM control; similarly, the second inductor 8 can provide a stable current to the second heating wire 6.

[0049] Meanwhile, the dual-path design supports alternating or parallel operation of the first heating wire 5 and the second heating wire 6. When alternating operation is selected, the continuous working time of a single heating wire is reduced, and the rate of carbon buildup in the first heating wire 5 slows down during the cooling process. When parallel operation is selected, both heating wires operate simultaneously, and the first inductor 7 and the second inductor 8 respectively ensure the stability of the current in both paths, avoiding excessively high local temperatures due to concentrated load, further reducing the probability of carbon buildup, extending the service life of the first heating wire 5 and the second heating wire 6, and ensuring a long-term stable atomization effect.

[0050] In one possible implementation, a protector 9 is also electrically connected between the power supply 1 and the Buck drive controller 2.

[0051] In one possible implementation, the protector 9 is also electrically connected to the I2C controller 11.

[0052] In one possible implementation, the I2C controller 11, protector 9, Buck drive controller 2, first Buck half-bridge 3, second Buck half-bridge 4, first inductor 7, second inductor 8, first heating wire 5 and second heating wire 6 are disposed on the same chip 10.

[0053] In this embodiment, the I2C controller 11, protector 9, Buck drive controller 2, first Buck half-bridge 3, second Buck half-bridge 4, first inductor 7, second inductor 8, first heating wire 5, and second heating wire 6 are integrated onto a single chip 10, significantly reducing the system's size. Compared to traditional single-channel solutions, the integrated chip 10 reduces area and cost by more than 50%, while also reducing external connections between components, lowering signal interference and voltage loss. This allows the first heating wire 5 and second heating wire 6 to receive a more stable power supply, maintaining a stable temperature environment regardless of whether they are operating alternately or in parallel. Stable power supply results in more stable heating wire temperatures, reducing sudden temperature changes caused by voltage fluctuations and thus slowing down carbon buildup. Furthermore, the integrated design improves system reliability; the protector 9 can more quickly monitor the operating status of all electrical components on the chip 10, responding promptly to abnormal situations, further protecting the first heating wire 5 and second heating wire 6, and extending their lifespan.

[0054] In one possible implementation, an MCU chip 12 is also disposed outside the chip 10, and the MCU chip 12 is electrically connected to the chip 10 through an I2C controller 11.

[0055] In this embodiment, the MCU chip 12 is electrically connected to the chip 10 via the I2C controller 11. It can flexibly set the parameters of the first and second heating circuits within the chip 10 via I2C communication, easily switching between alternating and parallel operation modes of the two heating wires. For example, in a dual-tank scenario, the MCU chip 12 sends instructions to the I2C controller 11 to set the parallel operation mode and adjust the output voltages of the first heating wire 5 and the second heating wire 6 respectively, achieving precise atomization of different flavored e-liquids. In a single-tank scenario, it switches to alternating operation mode, setting a reasonable switching interval to extend the overall lifespan of the heating wires. Simultaneously, the MCU chip 12 can also set the on / off speeds and respective protection currents of the two heating wires via the I2C controller 11 to meet the needs of different atomization scenarios. When the protector 9 inside the chip 10 detects an abnormal state, it feeds back the abnormal information to the MCU chip 12 via the I2C controller 11. The MCU chip 12 can then promptly read the abnormal state and perform corresponding processing. This communication method not only makes parameter setting more convenient but also enables real-time monitoring of the system status, preventing the first heating wire 5 and the second heating wire 6 from continuing to operate under abnormal conditions, reducing carbon buildup and heating wire wear, and extending their service life. Simultaneously, the indirect connection between the MCU chip 12 and the chip 10 also reduces the impact of external interference on the internal circuitry of the chip 10, improving system stability.

[0056] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dual-channel Buck control circuit for an atomizer, characterized in that, include: The power supply, Buck drive controller, and heating circuit are connected in series. The heating circuit includes a first heating circuit and a second heating circuit, which are connected in parallel and then connected in series with the Buck drive controller. The first heating circuit includes a first Buck half-bridge and a first heating wire connected in series, and the second heating circuit includes a second Buck half-bridge and a second heating wire connected in series.

2. The dual-channel Buck control circuit for an atomizer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first heating circuit also includes a first inductor, and the first inductor, a first Buck half-bridge, and a first heating wire are connected in series.

3. The dual-channel Buck control circuit for an atomizer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second heating circuit also includes a second inductor, and the second inductor, the second Buck half-bridge, and the second heating wire are connected in series.

4. The dual-channel Buck control circuit for an atomizer according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a protector, which, along with the power supply, Buck drive controller, and heating circuit, is connected in series.

5. A dual-channel Buck control system for an atomizer, characterized in that, include: The power supply is electrically connected to the Buck drive controller; The Buck drive controller is electrically connected to a first Buck half-bridge and a second Buck half-bridge respectively. The first Buck half-bridge is electrically connected to a first heating wire, and the second Buck half-bridge is electrically connected to a second heating wire. The power supply, Buck drive controller, first Buck half-bridge, and first heating wire form a first heating circuit, and the power supply, Buck drive controller, second Buck half-bridge, and second heating wire form a second heating circuit.

6. The dual-channel Buck control system for an atomizer according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first Buck half-bridge is electrically connected to the first inductor and the first heating wire, and the second Buck half-bridge is electrically connected to the second inductor and the second heating wire.

7. The dual-channel Buck control system for an atomizer according to claim 5, characterized in that, A protector is also electrically connected between the power supply and the Buck drive controller.

8. The dual-channel Buck control system for an atomizer according to claim 7, characterized in that, The protector is also electrically connected to an I2C controller.

9. A dual-channel Buck control system for an atomizer according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that, The I2C controller, protector, Buck drive controller, first Buck half-bridge, second Buck half-bridge, first inductor, second inductor, first heating wire, and second heating wire are all mounted on the same chip.

10. A dual-channel Buck control system for an atomizer according to claim 9, characterized in that, An MCU chip is also disposed on the outside of the chip, and the MCU chip is electrically connected to the chip through an I2C controller.

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