A heating-not-burning smoking set and a detection method thereof

Abstract

The application provides a heating non-combustion smoking set and a detection method thereof, and relates to the technical field of smoking sets. The smoking set comprises a smoking cup, which is in a cylindrical shape with one end closed and the other end open, and is used for accommodating a smoking rod inserted in an axial direction; a heating body, which is arranged at the center of the bottom of the smoking cup, is in a needle shape or a sheet shape, and extends in the axial direction, and is used for piercing into the inside of the smoking rod when the smoking rod is inserted to heat the smoking rod; a photoelectric sensor, which is arranged on the wall of the smoking cup, has a photosensitive surface facing the heating body; and a control module, which is electrically connected with the heating body and the photoelectric sensor, is used for applying a detection pulse to the heating body after the smoking set is started, making the heating body generate an infrared radiation pulse, and judging whether the smoking rod is inserted in place and shields the heating body according to whether the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse of the heating body. The application only sets an infrared sensing end, uses the central heating body as a detection signal source, does not need to additionally set an infrared emitting end, can realize the no-load detection of the smoking set, simplifies the internal structure of the smoking set, and is beneficial to the miniaturization of the smoking set.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of smoking accessories technology, and in particular to a heated non-combustible smoking accessory and its testing method. Background Technology

[0002] Heated tobacco products heat cigarettes at a relatively low temperature (e.g., around 300°C), releasing the flavor compounds in the tobacco to create smoke. Compared to traditional open flame combustion, low-temperature heating significantly reduces harmful substances produced by high-temperature pyrolysis and combustion. These products typically include a cigarette holder and a heating element (such as a wire, electromagnetic eddy current assembly, or microwave generator). To use, the user inserts the cigarette into the holder, and the heating element heats it. To ensure effective heating, safety, and the lifespan of the product, it is crucial to accurately determine that the cigarette is correctly inserted and in place before starting the heating process (i.e., no-load detection). Starting heating when the cigarette is not inserted or is not properly inserted may result in wasted energy, abnormal heating of the heating element, or even damage.

[0003] Currently, common methods for detecting cigarette status mainly include the following: mechanical triggering method, temperature recognition method, and photoelectric pairing method. The photoelectric pairing method involves placing infrared or laser emitters and receivers on both sides of the cigarette container, forming an optical path between them. Detection is achieved by determining whether the cigarette is blocking the optical path. Although this method is non-contact, it requires placement on both sides of the cigarette path, occupying additional space and limiting the miniaturization of smoking devices. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a heated non-combustible smoke appliance and its detection method to solve the problems of complex structure and large size of existing no-load detection methods for heated non-combustible smoke appliances.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a heated non-combustible smoking device, comprising: a cigarette cup, which is cylindrical with one end closed and the other end open, for accommodating an axially inserted cigarette; a heating element, disposed at the bottom center of the cigarette cup, which is needle-shaped or plate-shaped and extends axially, for penetrating the interior of the cigarette to heat the cigarette when it is inserted; a photoelectric sensor, disposed on the wall of the cigarette cup, with its photosensitive surface facing the heating element; and a control module, electrically connected to the heating element and the photoelectric sensor, for applying a detection pulse to the heating element after the smoking device is started, causing the heating element to generate an infrared radiation pulse, and then determining whether the cigarette is inserted in place and blocking the heating element based on whether the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse of the heating element.

[0006] In one possible implementation, the control module is also used to control the smoking device to terminate the heating process and issue an alarm when it is detected that the cigarette is not inserted in place.

[0007] In one possible implementation, the detection pulse applied to the heating element has a heating power less than that of the heating pulse applied when the cigarette is properly inserted and the cigarette is being heated normally.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the control module uses pulse width modulation to control the heating element; wherein the period of the detection pulse is the same as that of the heating pulse, and the duty cycle of the detection pulse is less than that of the heating pulse.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the detection pulse is a pulse sequence with a preset encoding pattern; the control module is used to determine whether the cigarette is inserted correctly based on whether the photoelectric sensor detects an infrared radiation pulse signal corresponding to the preset encoding pattern.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the photoelectric sensor is disposed on the side wall of the cigarette cup; the photosensitive surface of the photoelectric sensor faces the end of the heating element near the bottom of the cigarette cup.

[0011] In one possible implementation, a filter window is also included; the photosensitive surface of the filter window corresponding to the photoelectric sensor is located on the side wall of the cigarette cup and is positioned between the photoelectric sensor and the heating element.

[0012] Secondly, embodiments of the present invention provide a method for detecting a heated non-combustible smoking device, applied to detecting a heated non-combustible smoking device as described in any possible implementation of the first aspect; the smoking device includes a smoking cup, a needle-shaped or sheet-shaped heating element disposed at the center of the bottom of the smoking cup, and a photoelectric sensor disposed on the wall of the smoking cup with its photosensitive surface facing the heating element; the method includes: after the smoking device is started, a control module applies a detection pulse to the heating element to cause the heating element to generate an infrared radiation pulse; determining whether the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse generated by the heating element; if the photoelectric sensor does not detect the infrared radiation pulse, it is determined that the cigarette is inserted in place; if the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse, it is determined that the cigarette is not inserted or is not inserted in place.

[0013] In one possible implementation, determining whether the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse generated by the heating element includes: acquiring the infrared radiation intensity detected by the photoelectric sensor; if the infrared radiation intensity is higher than or equal to a preset threshold, then determining that the infrared radiation pulse has been detected; if the infrared radiation intensity is lower than the preset threshold, then determining that the infrared radiation pulse has not been detected.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the detection pulse is a pulse sequence of a preset encoding pattern; determining whether the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse generated by the heating element includes: acquiring the infrared radiation signal detected by the photoelectric sensor; if an infrared radiation pulse signal corresponding to the preset encoding pattern is identified, it is determined that the infrared radiation pulse has been detected; if no infrared radiation pulse signal corresponding to the preset encoding pattern is identified, it is determined that the infrared radiation pulse has not been detected.

[0015] This invention provides a heated non-combustible tobacco device and its detection method. A heating element, needle-shaped or plate-shaped, is positioned at the center of the bottom of the tobacco cup and extends axially. When a cigarette is inserted, it penetrates the interior of the cigarette, ensuring that the inserted cigarette blocks the infrared radiation emitted by the heating element. A photoelectric sensor is installed on the wall of the tobacco cup, with its photosensitive surface facing the heating element at the center of the cup. The infrared radiation generated by the heating element itself is used as the detection signal source, and this signal is detected by a single photoelectric sensor to determine the degree to which the cigarette blocks the infrared radiation from the heating element, thus determining whether the cigarette is inserted correctly. This invention only requires an infrared sensing end, using the central heating element as the detection signal source, eliminating the need for an additional infrared emitter. This allows for no-load detection of the tobacco device, simplifying its internal structure and facilitating miniaturization. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the heated non-combustible smoke device provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the implementation of the detection method for heated non-combustible smoke appliances provided in this embodiment of the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand this solution, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this solution will be clearly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this solution, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this solution, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of this solution.

[0018] The term "comprising" and any other variations thereof in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention mean "including but not limited to," and are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, not limited to the examples listed herein. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second," etc., are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order.

[0019] The implementation of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings: Low-temperature heated tobacco products are made from traditional tobacco leaves through a special process. Because they have a lower smoke generation and operating temperature (approximately 300°C) compared to open-flame lit tobacco, they significantly reduce the release of harmful substances from the tobacco and avoid the complex chemical reactions of tobacco substances caused by high-temperature combustion at open flame temperatures (approximately 700°C). Therefore, the types and absolute amounts of harmful substances in the smoke are extremely low, and the release of effective substances in the tobacco can still be stimulated under low-temperature conditions, satisfying the sensory experience of smoking.

[0020] Currently, low-temperature heated non-combustible smoking devices are categorized into several types based on their heating principles, including wire heating, eddy current heating, and microwave heating. In all of these types of devices, the cigarette must be correctly inserted before the heating process can begin. Incorrect placement of the cigarette—not inserted at all, or improperly inserted—will severely affect the heating effect, potentially impacting the device's performance and even causing damage. Therefore, accurately determining the correct placement of the cigarette is the primary condition for the device to begin operating.

[0021] Traditional methods for detecting the condition of cigarettes in smoking devices include mechanical triggering, photoelectric pairing, and temperature recognition.

[0022] 1. Mechanical triggering method: This method detects the cigarette by triggering a mechanical switch or microswitch when it is inserted. While this method is reasonably reliable, the mechanical structure is complex, hindering the miniaturization and thinning of the overall cigarette device design. Furthermore, prolonged use can lead to contamination from e-liquid, causing jamming or poor contact.

[0023] 2. Temperature Recognition Method: After powering on, a brief test heating pulse is applied, and then the temperature rise rate of the heating element or the surrounding environment is monitored by a temperature sensor. The difference in heat conduction under no-load and load conditions is used for judgment. This method is greatly affected by factors such as ambient temperature and the heat capacity of the smoking device, resulting in relatively low detection accuracy and a high risk of false positives.

[0024] 3. The photoelectric transceiver method utilizes infrared or laser transceivers to identify whether the light path is blocked. This non-contact method determines continuity by physically blocking the light path with the cigarette. It is simple in principle, has a stable response, and is highly resistant to ambient light interference. However, this method requires placing the transmitter and receiver on both sides of the cigarette container, which is detrimental to the miniaturization of smoking devices.

[0025] Another existing solution is the same-side mirror reflection type, which places the infrared transmitting and receiving devices on the same side and the reflective mirror on the other side of the smoke device. The wiring structure is concentrated and compact, which can effectively reduce the size of the smoke device. However, in this method, the reflective mirror is easily contaminated by smoke oil and dust, which leads to a decrease in reflection efficiency and thus affects the detection accuracy, and has obvious limitations.

[0026] In summary, existing cigarette empty-load detection solutions have shortcomings in terms of reliability, structural complexity and miniaturization adaptability, and detection accuracy, making it difficult to simultaneously meet the requirements of modern heated tobacco products for compact structure, accurate and reliable detection.

[0027] This invention solves the problem of complex structure and large size of existing no-load detection methods for heated non-combustible smoke appliances by setting only an infrared sensing end and using the central heating element as a detection signal source, without the need for an additional infrared emitting end.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a heated non-combustible smoke appliance provided in an embodiment of the present invention. (Refer to...) Figure 1 The smoking device includes: a cigarette cup 1, which is cylindrical with one end closed and the other end open, for accommodating an axially inserted cigarette; a heating element 2, located at the center of the bottom of the cigarette cup, which is needle-shaped or plate-shaped and extends axially, for inserting into the inside of the cigarette to heat it when it is inserted; a photoelectric sensor 3, located on the wall of the cigarette cup, with its photosensitive surface facing the heating element; and a control module 4, electrically connected to the heating element and the photoelectric sensor, for applying a detection pulse to the heating element after the smoking device is started, causing the heating element to generate an infrared radiation pulse, and then determining whether the cigarette is inserted in place and blocking the heating element based on whether the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse of the heating element.

[0029] The hardware structure configuration of the heated non-combustible smoke appliance according to the embodiments of the present invention is described below: In some embodiments, the smoking device includes a cigarette cup. The cigarette cup has a cylindrical structure that is closed at one end and open at the other end, serving as a container for the cigarette. The cigarette can be inserted along the axial direction of the cigarette cup, providing a spatial basis for subsequent insertion of the heating element and photoelectric detection. It should be noted that the cigarette can be inserted into the cigarette cup through the opening, and the closed end of the cigarette cup can limit the insertion position of the cigarette. The closed end of the cigarette cup is not completely sealed; it is provided with an air intake channel. To allow the user to inhale the volatiles from the cigarette, the closed end of the cigarette cup can be made into a mesh, which can both limit the cigarette and allow the volatiles from the cigarette to pass through.

[0030] In some embodiments, the smoking device includes a heating element. The heating element is located at the center of the closed end of the cigarette cup, and is generally needle-shaped or sheet-shaped, extending along the axial direction of the cigarette cup. In this embodiment of the invention, the heating element serves both as a heating function and a detection signal source function. When the cigarette is inserted, the heating element can penetrate into the inside of the cigarette, achieving low-temperature heating of the cigarette through its own heat generation; simultaneously, during the detection phase, the heating element can generate infrared radiation through heating, replacing the traditional external infrared emitter, eliminating the need for an additional independent emitting device.

[0031] It should be noted that when the cigarette is inserted, the heating element can be completely inserted into the inside of the cigarette. At this time, there is tobacco and cigarette paper blocking the connection between the heating element and the photoelectric sensor.

[0032] For example, the heating element may be a center pin heater, an electromagnetic induction center heater, or a ceramic base center heater.

[0033] The center needle heating element is a needle-shaped or plate-shaped heating element made of ceramic skeleton and metal alloy, which is vertically set in the center of the bottom of the tobacco cup. After being powered on, it directly heats up and radiates infrared rays.

[0034] Electromagnetic induction center heating uses electromagnetic eddy current center heating. A magnetic metal heating needle is placed at the center of the bottom of the cigarette cup, and an induction coil is wound around it. The heating needle is heated by the eddy current effect.

[0035] Ceramic-based center heating uses a ceramic-based center heating needle with a thick-film circuit printed on the needle surface. When powered on, the entire needle heats up uniformly and radiates infrared energy outward.

[0036] It should be noted that center heating uses needle-shaped or plate-shaped heating elements inserted into the interior of the cigarette. Energy is conducted from the core of the cigarette to the surrounding area, directly acting on the effective components of the tobacco. This avoids the drawback of peripheral heating, where the outer layer of tobacco overheats first while the interior remains insufficiently heated. In addition, peripheral heating requires a ring-shaped heating element to surround the inner wall of the cigarette cup, which takes up a lot of space and is not conducive to miniaturization.

[0037] In some embodiments, the smoking device includes a photoelectric sensor. The photoelectric sensor is mounted on the wall of the cigarette holder, with its photosensitive surface facing the heating element. It functions solely as an infrared sensing end and does not require an infrared emitting end. This sensor receives infrared radiation signals generated by the heating element, and its core function is to determine whether the cigarette is obstructing the heating element based on the presence or absence of the signal.

[0038] It should be noted that the photosensitive surface is arranged facing the heating element so that the infrared radiation radiated by the heating element can form a detection path to the infrared photoelectric sensor.

[0039] In some embodiments, the smoking device includes a control module. The control module is electrically connected to the heating element and the photoelectric sensor, respectively, and serves as the control core of the entire smoking device, responsible for applying detection pulses, receiving infrared signals, determining status, and controlling the process.

[0040] The control module 4 may include a microcontroller (MCU) and a drive circuit. The MCU integrates a pulse width modulation (PWM) module and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). During the detection phase, the MCU outputs a low-duty-cycle PWM signal as a detection pulse to the drive circuit via the PWM module, causing the heating element 2 to heat up at a low power and radiate infrared radiation. The photoelectric sensor 3 converts the received infrared radiation into an electrical signal, which is amplified and sampled by the MCU's ADC. The MCU compares the sampled value with a preset voltage threshold. If the sampled value is lower than the threshold, it indicates that the infrared signal is blocked, and the cigarette is determined to be in place.

[0041] The core of this embodiment lies in single-ended sensing, with the heating element also serving as a signal source, thus overcoming the structural limitations of traditional through-beam (requiring both transmitting and receiving ends) and same-side reflective (requiring mirror assistance) types. The specific workflow and logic are as follows: 1. Detection Trigger Phase: After the smoking device is started, the control module first applies a detection pulse to the heating element. At this time, the heating element briefly generates infrared radiation under the action of the pulse. The infrared radiation at this time is only used for detection, and the power is much lower than the power of the cigarette during normal heating. This will not cause actual heating to the cigarette, and will also avoid the safety risk of the heating element continuously heating up under no-load conditions.

[0042] 2. Signal detection and judgment stage: The photoelectric sensor receives the infrared signal radiated by the heating element in real time. The control module judges the status of the cigarette based on whether the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared signal.

[0043] For example, if the cigarette is already inserted: the cigarette will completely block the optical path between the heating element and the photoelectric sensor, the infrared radiation generated by the heating element cannot penetrate the cigarette, the photoelectric sensor cannot receive the infrared signal, and the control module determines that the cigarette is inserted in place and blocks the heating element, allowing the normal heating process to start subsequently.

[0044] For example, if the cigarette is not inserted or is not inserted properly: there is no effective shielding between the heating element and the photoelectric sensor, and the infrared radiation can be directly transmitted to the photoelectric sensor. When the sensor receives the infrared signal, the control module determines that the cigarette is not inserted or is not in place, and then terminates the subsequent heating process to avoid problems such as poor heating effect and damage to the smoking device due to no load or abnormal insertion.

[0045] The entire detection process requires no additional auxiliary structures such as infrared emitters or reflectors. It achieves detection in an unloaded state solely through a combination of a single photoelectric sensor and a central heating element that also serves as a signal source. This design simplifies the internal structure of the smoking device, significantly reduces its volume, and avoids the shortcomings of existing solutions such as mirror contamination and space-consuming dual-end layouts, resulting in a compact structure.

[0046] This embodiment, through the aforementioned structural configuration and working logic, uses a central needle-shaped or sheet-shaped heating element as its core. This element serves both to heat the cigarette and as an infrared signal source, eliminating the need for an additional transmitting device. Only a single photoelectric sensor is used, forming a detection optical path with the heating element. This solves the problems of complex structure and large size in existing no-load detection methods for heated non-combustible cigarette devices. By retaining only a single infrared sensing end and utilizing the heating element itself as the detection signal source, the structure is simplified and adapted to the design requirements of miniaturized cigarette devices.

[0047] It is important to note that the parameters of the detection pulse signal must be set appropriately, meeting two key conditions to ensure the accuracy of no-load detection. Firstly, the power and duration of the pulse signal must ensure that the infrared radiation intensity generated by the central heating element is sufficiently high to clearly distinguish it from infrared interference signals in the environment, preventing environmental infrared radiation from interfering with the detection results and ensuring the effectiveness of the detection signal. Secondly, the attenuation of the infrared radiation after being blocked by the tobacco and cigarette paper must be sufficiently large, resulting in a significant difference in the intensity of infrared radiation received by the photoelectric sensor between the blocked and unblocked (no-load) states. Furthermore, this intensity change must be within the detection range of the photoelectric sensor to ensure that the sensor can accurately capture the difference between the two states, thereby accurately determining whether the cigarette is inserted correctly.

[0048] This invention employs a short-duration detection pulse for instantaneous heating, avoiding prolonged power-on heating of the heating element. During the initial heating phase, the cigarette temperature is low, and the infrared radiation generated by the heating element is significantly attenuated after being blocked by the tobacco and cigarette paper. The signal difference between an empty cigarette and a cigarette in place is significant, facilitating reliable differentiation by the photoelectric sensor. However, if the heating time is too long, the cigarette is continuously heated to a high temperature, significantly enhancing its own infrared radiation. This would greatly smooth out the signal strength difference between unobstructed and unobstructed states, making it difficult for the sensor to effectively distinguish between empty and inserted states, leading to detection failure. Therefore, using a short-duration pulse ensures detection discrimination while avoiding interference from overheated cigarettes.

[0049] The control module controls the heating process and simultaneously controls the detection and determination of whether the device is unloaded. To ensure detection accuracy, an infrared radiation intensity threshold needs to be pre-set. This threshold is based on the infrared radiation intensity when the cigarette completely blocks the heating element. When the infrared radiation intensity detected by the photoelectric sensor is lower than this threshold, it is determined that the cigarette has effectively blocked the heating element (i.e., the cigarette is inserted correctly); when the detected infrared radiation intensity is higher than this threshold, it is determined that there is no blockage (unloaded or not inserted correctly). This threshold can be pre-calibrated through experiments to distinguish between blocked and unblocked states, avoid environmental interference, and ensure that insertion is only determined when the cigarette completely blocks the heating element, thus guaranteeing the reliability of the detection results and adapting to the detection logic of center heating.

[0050] In some embodiments, the detection is triggered when the user presses the start button of the smoking device. By default, when the start button is pressed, the cigarette is already placed in the tobacco cup. The control module then applies a detection pulse and performs an infrared occlusion judgment. Based on the comparison between the infrared intensity and a preset threshold, it is confirmed whether the cigarette is actually in place; if it is in place, normal heating begins; otherwise, heating is terminated and an alarm is triggered.

[0051] This invention provides a heated non-combustible tobacco device and its detection method. A heating element, needle-shaped or plate-shaped, is positioned at the center of the bottom of the tobacco cup and extends axially. When a cigarette is inserted, it penetrates the interior of the cigarette, ensuring that the inserted cigarette blocks the infrared radiation emitted by the heating element. A photoelectric sensor is installed on the wall of the tobacco cup, with its photosensitive surface facing the heating element at the center of the cup. The infrared radiation generated by the heating element itself is used as the detection signal source, and this signal is detected by a single photoelectric sensor to determine the degree to which the cigarette blocks the infrared radiation from the heating element, thus determining whether the cigarette is inserted correctly. This invention only requires an infrared sensing end, using the central heating element as the detection signal source, eliminating the need for an additional infrared emitter. This allows for no-load detection of the tobacco device, simplifying its internal structure and facilitating miniaturization.

[0052] In one possible implementation, the control module is also used to control the smoking device to terminate the heating process and issue an alarm when it is detected that the cigarette is not inserted in place.

[0053] In addition to detecting when the cigarette is properly inserted, the control module also integrates abnormal state protection and alarm control functions. The aim is to avoid the risk of no-load heating when the cigarette is not properly inserted, and to prompt the user to adjust the cigarette position, ensuring the safety and reliability of the smoking device.

[0054] After applying a detection pulse to the heating element and receiving a signal from the photoelectric sensor, the control module immediately triggers a protection mechanism if it determines that the cigarette is not inserted or is not inserted properly (i.e., the photoelectric sensor detects infrared radiation). On one hand, the control module cuts off the subsequent heating signal output to the heating element, terminating the entire heating process and preventing the heating element from continuing to heat up without the cigarette blocking it, thus avoiding damage to the heating element, energy waste, and safety hazards caused by dry burning. On the other hand, the control module controls the alarm device of the smoking device (such as flashing indicator lights and emitting a buzzer) to issue an alarm, conveying a signal to the user that the cigarette is not in place and guiding the user to reinsert the cigarette.

[0055] In one possible implementation, the detection pulse applied to the heating element has a heating power less than that of the heating pulse applied when the cigarette is properly inserted and the cigarette is being heated normally.

[0056] In this embodiment, the detection pulse applied to the heating element and the normal heating pulse are set with different power settings, and the heating power of the detection pulse is significantly lower than that of the normal heating pulse.

[0057] The purpose of this setting is to distinguish between the detection phase and the normal heating phase. The core objective of the detection phase is not to heat the cigarette, but only to ensure that the heating element produces infrared radiation that meets the detection requirements. The low power is sufficient to trigger the infrared signal output without actually heating the cigarette, thus avoiding the losses and safety hazards caused by the heating element continuously heating up under no-load conditions.

[0058] Once the cigarette is confirmed to be properly inserted, the system switches to a high-power normal heating pulse to meet the actual heating needs of the cigarette. This power grading setting ensures both the execution of the no-load test and the adaptation to the subsequent normal heating requirements, while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption during the testing phase, thus improving the safety and energy efficiency of the smoking device.

[0059] In one possible implementation, the control module uses pulse width modulation to control the heating element; wherein the period of the detection pulse is the same as that of the heating pulse, and the duty cycle of the detection pulse is less than that of the heating pulse.

[0060] In this embodiment, the control module uses pulse width modulation to control the power supply of the heating element. The detection pulse and the normal heating pulse have the same working cycle, with the only difference being the duty cycle. Furthermore, the duty cycle of the detection pulse is smaller than that of the heating pulse.

[0061] The purpose of this setup is to maintain the consistency of control logic through a unified cycle, simplify the hardware circuitry and software control process, and avoid control fluctuations caused by cycle switching. The duty cycle directly determines the effective energizing time and output power of the heating element: a small duty cycle for the detection pulse results in a short energizing time for the heating element within a unit cycle, producing only infrared radiation sufficient for detection without actually heating the cigarette; a large duty cycle for the heating pulse provides ample energizing time, allowing for sufficient power output to heat the cigarette properly. This control method eliminates the need for additional power adjustment devices; power grading for detection and heating can be achieved simply through parameter configuration, resulting in a streamlined structure.

[0062] In this embodiment of the invention, the detection pulse can be divided into two forms: one is a single infrared radiation pulse within a single cycle, and the other is a pulse sequence with a preset coding pattern. A single infrared radiation pulse: only a single pulse is output within a detection cycle. It has a simple structure, relies on differences in infrared radiation intensity to determine whether there is obstruction, and is convenient to implement, but is easily affected by ambient infrared interference.

[0063] In one possible implementation, the detection pulse is a pulse sequence with a preset encoding pattern; the control module is used to determine whether the cigarette is inserted correctly based on whether the photoelectric sensor detects an infrared radiation pulse signal corresponding to the preset encoding pattern.

[0064] It should be noted that the pulse sequence of the preset encoding mode is a combination of multiple pulses in a specific pattern within a period, forming a unique encoding feature. The state is judged by identifying the matching degree of the encoded waveform, rather than just looking at the intensity. This can effectively distinguish the heating element signal from the background radiation and has stronger anti-interference capabilities.

[0065] The core purpose of using a pre-coded pulse sequence is to enable the heating element to emit infrared radiation with specific characteristics through a regularly alternating heating drive method, thereby clearly distinguishing it from the messy and continuous background infrared radiation in the environment and avoiding interference that could lead to misjudgment.

[0066] In some embodiments, in the embodiment employing a preset encoding mode, the PWM module of the MCU in the control module can output a preset pulse sequence, such as a 'high-low-high-low' square wave sequence. The MCU's ADC continuously samples the signal from the photoelectric sensor 3 and searches for a characteristic waveform in the signal that matches the aforementioned square wave sequence. If a match is found, it is determined that a valid infrared signal has been detected, i.e., the cigarette is not in place; otherwise, it is determined that the cigarette is in place. The control module alternately drives the heating element according to a preset code, causing the infrared radiation to vary in intensity according to the code pattern. During detection, the module does not simply determine the presence or absence of infrared intensity, but rather identifies whether the sensor signal matches the coded feature. If an infrared signal matching the coded pattern is detected, it indicates that the optical path is not blocked, and the cigarette is determined to be not in place; if no corresponding coded feature is detected, it is determined that the cigarette has been inserted and is obstructing the path. This method relies on signal feature recognition to improve the detection's anti-interference capability and the reliability of the judgment.

[0067] In one possible implementation, the photoelectric sensor is disposed on the side wall of the cigarette cup; the photosensitive surface of the photoelectric sensor faces the end of the heating element near the bottom of the cigarette cup.

[0068] In some embodiments, the photoelectric sensor is installed on the side wall of the cigarette holder, with its photosensitive surface facing the base of the heating element near the bottom of the holder. The core advantage of this arrangement is that the optical path between the photoelectric sensor and the base of the heating element is short; the infrared radiation from the base of the heating element can be perpendicularly incident on the photoelectric sensor. Once the cigarette is inserted, it forms a complete and stable blockage of this optical path, eliminating blind spots and maximizing the accuracy of the infrared signal blocking status determination.

[0069] In some embodiments, the photoelectric sensor is installed at the bottom of the cigarette cup. The bottom of the cigarette cup offers more installation space and is easier to install compared to the sidewalls.

[0070] In one possible implementation, a filter window 5 is also included; the photosensitive surface of the filter window corresponding to the photoelectric sensor is disposed on the side wall of the cigarette cup and is disposed between the photoelectric sensor and the heating element.

[0071] In this embodiment, the smoking device is also equipped with a light filter window. This light filter window is installed on the side wall of the smoking cup, corresponding to the photosensitive surface of the photoelectric sensor, and located between the photoelectric sensor and the heating element. It does not affect the detection light path inside and outside the smoking cup, and can also prevent e-liquid and soot inside the smoking cup from adhering to the sensor surface, ensuring unobstructed light path.

[0072] The filter window can adopt a narrow-band filter structure. It can match and set a dedicated transmission band according to the infrared radiation wavelength corresponding to the temperature rise of the heating element under the action of the detection pulse. Only the infrared radiation of this specific band is allowed to pass through, while filtering out visible light and other irrelevant infrared interference from the environment.

[0073] The purpose of this wavelength filtering is to further remove background interference signals and retain only the effective infrared signal emitted by the heating element, thus significantly improving the anti-interference capability of the detection. This filtering function can be achieved through an external independent filter window or integrated into the photoelectric sensor chip, eliminating the need for additional structural components. This simplifies assembly while achieving the goal of filtering effective infrared signals, meeting the requirements for miniaturization of smoking devices.

[0074] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the implementation of the detection method for heated non-combustible smoke appliances provided in this embodiment of the invention. (Refer to...) Figure 2 This invention provides a method for detecting a heated non-combustible smoking device, applicable to detecting heated non-combustible smoking devices as described in any of the possible implementations above; the smoking device includes a smoking cup, a needle-shaped or sheet-shaped heating element disposed at the center of the bottom of the smoking cup, and a photoelectric sensor disposed on the wall of the smoking cup with its photosensitive surface facing the heating element; the method includes: Step 201: After the smoking device is started, the control module applies a detection pulse to the heating element, causing the heating element to generate an infrared radiation pulse; After the smoking device is started, the control module first applies a special detection pulse to the central heating element, causing the heating element to work briefly and only generate infrared radiation for detection, rather than actually heating the cigarette. This ensures that there is a identifiable signal source while avoiding overheating under no-load conditions.

[0075] Step 202: Determine whether the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse generated by the heating element; The control module reads the signal from the photoelectric sensor to determine whether it has received an infrared radiation pulse from the heating element. The purpose is to identify valid detection signals, distinguish between infrared radiation emitted by the heating element and environmental interference, and provide a basis for subsequent determination of whether the cigarette is inserted correctly.

[0076] Step 203: If the photoelectric sensor does not detect the infrared radiation pulse, it is determined that the cigarette is inserted in place; When the photoelectric sensor does not detect the corresponding infrared radiation pulse, it means that the infrared signal emitted by the heating element has been completely blocked by the cigarette, and the light path is blocked. Therefore, it can be determined that the cigarette has been inserted in place and the conditions for normal heating are met.

[0077] Step 204: If the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse, it is determined that the cigarette is not inserted or is not inserted in place.

[0078] If the sensor can still detect infrared radiation pulses, it indicates that the optical path between the heating element and the sensor is unobstructed and there is no effective blockage, corresponding to an unloaded state where the cigarette is not inserted or is not inserted properly.

[0079] The heating-not-burning tobacco appliance detection method provided in this embodiment relies on the aforementioned appliance structure. Its core principle is to use the infrared radiation from the heating element itself and a single photoelectric sensor to determine the cigarette's position. After the appliance is started, the control module first drives the heating element to emit infrared radiation for detection, and then uses the sensor to receive the signal for status determination. When the cigarette is inserted correctly and blocks the light path, the sensor does not receive infrared radiation, indicating a normal heating state; if the sensor receives radiation, it means the cigarette is not inserted or is not in position. This method eliminates the need for additional infrared emitting devices or reflectors, significantly simplifying the structure and process, and effectively reducing the appliance's volume. Simultaneously, the blocking-based judgment logic directly distinguishes between the unloaded and properly inserted states, preventing dry burning and improving safety and heating accuracy.

[0080] In one possible implementation, determining whether the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse generated by the heating element includes: acquiring the infrared radiation intensity detected by the photoelectric sensor; if the infrared radiation intensity is higher than or equal to a preset threshold, then determining that the infrared radiation pulse has been detected; if the infrared radiation intensity is lower than the preset threshold, then determining that the infrared radiation pulse has not been detected.

[0081] In this embodiment, the infrared radiation pulse is determined by comparing a preset threshold, and the intensity is used to quantify the blocking state. Specifically, the control module first acquires the infrared radiation intensity signal output by the photoelectric sensor, and then compares it with a pre-calibrated threshold. This threshold is set according to the infrared intensity when the cigarette is fully inserted and blocks the heating element, and can distinguish between the two states of blocking and non-blocking.

[0082] When the intensity detected by the sensor is higher than or equal to the threshold, it indicates that the light path is not effectively blocked, and the infrared radiation from the heating element can directly reach the sensor, thus indicating that a valid infrared pulse has been detected. When the detected intensity is lower than the threshold, it indicates that the cigarette has sufficiently blocked the light path, and the infrared signal is significantly attenuated, thus indicating that no valid pulse has been detected.

[0083] This threshold judgment method essentially converts whether or not the cigarette is blocked into a quantifiable electrical signal for comparison. The logic is simple and reliable, and it can effectively eliminate environmental stray infrared interference, ensuring accurate judgment of the cigarette status.

[0084] In one possible implementation, the detection pulse is a pulse sequence of a preset encoding pattern; determining whether the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse generated by the heating element includes: acquiring the infrared radiation signal detected by the photoelectric sensor; if an infrared radiation pulse signal corresponding to the preset encoding pattern is identified, it is determined that the infrared radiation pulse has been detected; if no infrared radiation pulse signal corresponding to the preset encoding pattern is identified, it is determined that the infrared radiation pulse has not been detected.

[0085] In this embodiment, the detection pulse adopts a pulse sequence with a preset encoding pattern. The corresponding signal judgment no longer relies solely on intensity, but achieves more accurate identification through feature encoding matching.

[0086] The control module first acquires the infrared radiation signal collected by the photoelectric sensor, and then searches the signal for fluctuation characteristics consistent with the preset code. Infrared interference in the environment is usually irregular and without a fixed pattern, while the radiation generated by the heating element under the drive of the coded pulse has a specific alternating pattern, and the characteristics of the two are significantly different.

[0087] If an infrared radiation signal that perfectly matches the preset code is detected, it means that the sensor has received a valid detection signal from the heating element, and it is determined that an infrared radiation pulse has been detected. If no corresponding code feature is matched, regardless of the intensity, it is considered that there is no valid detection signal and it is determined that no detection has been made.

[0088] The feature recognition method in this embodiment eliminates environmental clutter interference, improving the anti-interference capability and judgment reliability of no-load detection.

[0089] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A heated non-combustible smoking appliance, characterized in that, include: A tobacco cup is a cylindrical container that is closed at one end and open at the other, used to hold a cigarette inserted axially. A heating element, located at the center of the bottom of the cigarette cup, is needle-shaped or plate-shaped and extends axially, and is used to penetrate the inside of the cigarette when the cigarette is inserted to heat the cigarette. A photoelectric sensor is disposed on the wall of the cigarette cup, with its photosensitive surface facing the heating element; The control module, which is electrically connected to the heating element and the photoelectric sensor, is used to first apply a detection pulse to the heating element after the smoking device is started, so that the heating element generates an infrared radiation pulse, and then determine whether the cigarette is inserted in place and the heating element is blocked based on whether the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse of the heating element.

2. The heated non-combustible smoke appliance as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The control module is also used to control the smoking device to terminate the heating process and issue an alarm when it is detected that the cigarette is not inserted in place.

3. The heated non-combustible smoke appliance as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The detection pulse applied to the heating element has a heating power less than that of the heating pulse applied when the cigarette is properly inserted and the cigarette is being heated normally.

4. The heated non-combustible smoke appliance as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The control module uses pulse width modulation to control the heating element; The detection pulse and the heating pulse have the same period, and the duty cycle of the detection pulse is less than that of the heating pulse.

5. The heated non-combustible smoking appliance as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The detection pulse is a pulse sequence with a preset encoding pattern; The control module is used to determine whether the cigarette is inserted correctly based on whether the photoelectric sensor detects an infrared radiation pulse signal corresponding to the preset encoding mode.

6. The heated non-combustible smoking appliance as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The photoelectric sensor is located on the side wall of the cigarette cup; The photosensitive surface of the photoelectric sensor faces the end of the heating element near the bottom of the cigarette cup.

7. The heated non-combustible smoke appliance as described in claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes a filter window; the photosensitive surface of the filter window corresponding to the photoelectric sensor is located on the side wall of the cigarette cup and is positioned between the photoelectric sensor and the heating element.

8. A method for testing a heated non-combustible smoking appliance, characterized in that, The method is applied to the detection of a heated non-combustible smoking device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7; the smoking device includes a smoking cup, a needle-shaped or sheet-shaped heating element disposed at the center of the bottom of the smoking cup, and a photoelectric sensor disposed on the wall of the smoking cup with its photosensitive surface facing the heating element; the method includes: After the smoking device is started, the control module applies a detection pulse to the heating element, causing the heating element to generate an infrared radiation pulse; Determine whether the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse generated by the heating element; If the photoelectric sensor does not detect the infrared radiation pulse, it is determined that the cigarette is inserted in place; If the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse, it determines that the cigarette is not inserted or is not inserted properly.

9. The method for detecting heated non-combustible smoke appliances as described in claim 8, characterized in that, Determining whether the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse generated by the heating element includes: The intensity of infrared radiation detected by the photoelectric sensor is obtained; If the infrared radiation intensity is higher than or equal to a preset threshold, it is determined that the infrared radiation pulse has been detected. If the infrared radiation intensity is lower than a preset threshold, it is determined that the infrared radiation pulse has not been detected.

10. The method for detecting heated non-combustible smoke appliances as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The detection pulse is a pulse sequence with a preset encoding pattern; Determining whether the photoelectric sensor detects the infrared radiation pulse generated by the heating element includes: Acquire the infrared radiation signal detected by the photoelectric sensor; If an infrared radiation pulse signal corresponding to the preset encoding pattern is detected, it is determined that the infrared radiation pulse has been detected. If no infrared radiation pulse signal corresponding to the preset encoding mode is identified, it is determined that the infrared radiation pulse has not been detected.

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