Electronic atomizer

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model discloses an electronic atomizer which comprises a sleeve, a heating assembly, a metal plate and a detection processing circuit, the detection processing circuit is connected with the heating assembly, and the metal plate is connected with the ground end. Wherein the sleeve is used for accommodating a cigarette, the heating assembly is arranged on the side wall of the sleeve, and a gap exists between the metal plate and the heating assembly, so that a to-be-tested capacitor is formed between the metal plate and the heating assembly; and the detection processing circuit is configured to receive a voltage signal between the metal plate and the heating assembly, and the voltage signal has an association relationship with the plugging state of the cigarette in the sleeve. The cigarette plugging detection can be realized under the condition of saving extra detection components, the structural design of the product is optimized, and the cost is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automated detection technology, and in particular to an electronic atomizer. Background Technology

[0002] Heated not burned (HNB) products, also known as low-temperature cigarettes, are a new type of tobacco product that combines a heating device and a cigarette stick. HNB products do not burn tobacco; instead, they use heating to cause the nicotine in the cigarette stick to evaporate, thus producing smoke similar to that of traditional tobacco.

[0003] In related technologies, the insertion and removal detection function of cigarettes can be realized by adding an additional detection component to HNB products. However, the additional detection component will limit the structural design of the product and increase the cost. Utility Model Content

[0004] This utility model mainly provides a circuit structure for an electronic atomizer, which can realize the insertion and removal detection of cigarettes while saving additional detection components, thus optimizing the product's structural design and reducing costs.

[0005] The technical solution of this utility model is implemented as follows:

[0006] In a first aspect, this utility model provides an electronic atomizer, which includes a sleeve, a heating assembly, a metal plate, and a detection and processing circuit. The detection and processing circuit is connected to the heating assembly, and the metal plate is connected to ground.

[0007] The sleeve is used to hold the cigarette, and the heating element is set on the side wall of the sleeve. There is a gap between the metal plate and the heating element so that the capacitance to be measured is formed between the metal plate and the heating element.

[0008] The detection and processing circuit is configured to receive a voltage signal between the metal plate and the heating component, and the voltage signal is related to the insertion and removal status of the cigarette in the sleeve.

[0009] In some embodiments, the detection processing circuit includes a processing circuit and a capacitance detection circuit; wherein: a first terminal of the capacitance detection circuit is connected to the heating component, and a second terminal of the capacitance detection circuit is connected to the processing circuit; the capacitance detection circuit is configured to receive a voltage signal between the metal plate and the heating component, generate a capacitance signal based on the voltage signal, and send the capacitance signal to the processing circuit; the processing circuit is configured to determine and output the insertion / removal status of the cigarette stick in the sleeve based on the capacitance signal.

[0010] In some embodiments, the processing circuit is a microcontroller unit.

[0011] In some embodiments, the detection processing circuit further includes a first switch branch and a second switch branch, wherein: a first end of the first switch branch is connected to a power supply, a second end of the first switch branch is connected to a first end of the heating component, and a control terminal of the first switch branch is connected to the processing circuit; a first end of the second switch branch is connected to a second end of the heating component, a second end of the second switch branch is connected to ground, and a control terminal of the second switch branch is connected to the processing circuit.

[0012] In some embodiments, the heating assembly includes at least one heating element, and the at least one heating element is interconnected.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first switch branch includes a first switch, and the second switch branch includes at least one second switch; wherein: the first terminal of the first switch is connected to a power supply, the second terminal of the first switch is connected to at least one heating element, and the control terminal of the first switch is connected to a processing circuit; the first terminal of each second switch is connected to a corresponding heating element, the second terminal of each second switch is grounded, and the control terminal of each second switch is connected to a processing circuit.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first switch branch includes at least one first switch, and the second switch branch includes at least one second switch; wherein: the first terminal of each first switch is connected to a power supply, the second terminal of each first switch is connected to a corresponding heating element, and the control terminal of each first switch is connected to a processing circuit; the first terminal of each second switch is connected to a corresponding heating element, the second terminal of each second switch is grounded, and the control terminal of each second switch is connected to a processing circuit.

[0015] In some embodiments, a first switch is configured to be in an on state in response to a first control signal sent by the processing circuit, or in an off state in response to a second control signal sent by the processing circuit; a second switch is configured to be in an on state in response to a third control signal sent by the processing circuit, or in an off state in response to a fourth control signal sent by the processing circuit; when both the first and second switches are in an on state, a heating element connected in series between the first and second switches is configured to provide heat energy to the cigarette; when both the first and second switches are in an off state, the heating element connected in series between the first and second switches forms a capacitor with the metal plate; wherein the capacitance value of the capacitor is used to indicate the insertion and removal state of the cigarette in the sleeve.

[0016] In some embodiments, the electronic atomizer further includes a power supply connected to a first end of a first switch branch; wherein the power supply is configured to supply power to a heating element connected in series between the first switch and the second switch when both the first switch and the second switch are in the ON state.

[0017] In some embodiments, the processing circuit, the first switch branch, the second switch branch, and the capacitance detection circuit are all integrated on a circuit board.

[0018] This utility model embodiment provides a circuit structure for an electronic atomizer. The atomizer consists of a heating element and a metal plate forming a test capacitor. The capacitance value of the test capacitor changes during the insertion or removal of a cigarette. A detection and processing circuit determines the insertion / removal status of the cigarette based on the collected capacitance value. Thus, cigarette insertion / removal detection can be achieved without adding additional detection components, thereby saving internal space in the electronic atomizer, optimizing the product's structural design, and reducing costs. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the composition structure of an electronic atomizer provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 1 ;

[0020] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the composition structure of an electronic atomizer provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 2 ;

[0021] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the composition structure of an electronic atomizer provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 3 ;

[0022] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the composition structure of an electronic atomizer provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 4 ;

[0023] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the composition structure of an electronic atomizer provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 5 ;

[0024] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the composition structure of an electronic atomizer provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 6 ;

[0025] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the composition structure of an electronic atomizer provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 7 . Detailed Implementation

[0026] To gain a more detailed understanding of the features and technical content of the embodiments of this utility model, the implementation of the embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are for reference and illustration only and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this utility model.

[0027] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments of the invention only and is not intended to limit the invention.

[0028] In the following description, references are made to “some embodiments,” which describe a subset of all possible embodiments. However, it is understood that “some embodiments” may be the same subset or different subsets of all possible embodiments and may be combined with each other without conflict.

[0029] It should also be noted that the terms "first, second, third" used in the embodiments of this utility model are only used to distinguish similar objects and do not represent a specific order of objects. It is understood that "first, second, third" can be interchanged in a specific order or sequence where permitted, so that the embodiments of this utility model described herein can be implemented in an order other than that illustrated or described herein.

[0030] Furthermore, the reference to "embodiment" herein means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0031] The following is a description of the relevant technologies of this utility model.

[0032] HNB (Heated Tobacco Products) are alternatives to cigarettes, possessing a similar appearance and taste. They are a new type of tobacco product combining a heating device and a cigarette cartridge. HNB products use a heating device to heat a treated cigarette cartridge (cartridge) to a specific temperature, causing the nicotine in the cartridge to evaporate and produce smoke similar to traditional tobacco. Because HNB products avoid the combustion process of traditional tobacco, they reduce the production of harmful substances. Use is achieved by inserting a specially designed cigarette cartridge into the corresponding device within the HNB product and inhaling.

[0033] HNB (Heated Tobacco Buffer) products can reach heating temperatures of around 350 degrees Celsius. Therefore, to ensure the safety of HNB products during use, it is necessary to detect the insertion and removal of cigarettes. In related technologies, most HNB products require the addition of additional detection components to realize the function of detecting cigarette insertion and removal. However, additional detection components will limit the product's structural design and increase costs.

[0034] Based on this, this utility model embodiment provides an electronic atomizer, in which a heating component and a metal plate form a test capacitor. The capacitance value of the test capacitor changes during the insertion or removal of the cigarette. The detection and processing circuit determines the insertion or removal status of the cigarette based on the collected capacitance value. Thus, cigarette insertion and removal detection can be achieved without adding additional detection components, thereby saving internal space in the electronic atomizer, optimizing the product's structural design, and reducing costs.

[0035] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0036] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the composition structure of an electronic atomizer provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 1 .like Figure 1 As shown, the electronic atomizer includes a sleeve 104, a heating element 101, a metal plate 102, and a detection and processing circuit 103. The detection and processing circuit 103 is connected to the heating element 101, and the metal plate 102 is connected to ground.

[0037] The sleeve 104 is used to hold the cigarette, the heating component 101 is disposed on the side wall of the sleeve 104, and there is a gap between the metal plate 102 and the heating component 101 so that the capacitance to be tested is formed between the metal plate 102 and the heating component 101.

[0038] The detection processing circuit 103 is configured to receive a voltage signal between the metal plate 102 and the heating component 101, the voltage signal being related to the insertion and removal status of the cigarette in the sleeve 104.

[0039] In this embodiment of the invention, the electronic atomizer 10 can refer to an HNB (Heated Tobacco Product) product or other novel tobacco products that heat tobacco to achieve an atomization effect. Currently, the heating methods for the electronic atomizer 10 include infrared and electromagnetic methods. In this embodiment of the invention, the electronic atomizer 10 can be heated by the heating component 101. Additionally, the cigarette stick can be, for example, a tobacco cartridge, a cylindrical object containing tobacco, with a diameter slightly smaller than the sleeve 104, which can be inserted into the sleeve 104 and heated by the heating component 101 to achieve its function.

[0040] In this embodiment of the invention, the heating component 101 can refer to the heating wire or heating core in the electronic atomizer 10, used to heat the inserted cigarette to generate smoke. Exemplarily, the heating component 101 can be made of a metal sheet, and can be attached to the outer wall of the sleeve 104 along its longitudinal direction. Thus, after the cigarette is inserted into the sleeve 104, the heating component 101 can be heated, and the heat can be transferred to the cigarette through the sleeve 104, achieving the purpose of heating the cigarette. It should be understood that the heating component 101 can also be disposed on the outer wall of the sleeve 104 in other forms, as long as it can form a capacitor with the metal plate 102. Its specific arrangement, shape, and volume on the outer wall of the sleeve 104 are not specifically limited here.

[0041] In this embodiment of the invention, the metal plate 102 may refer to the copper plating of the printed circuit board (PCB) in the electronic atomizer 10, that is, the metal plate 102 formed by filling the unwired or idle areas of the PCB with solid copper foil. Alternatively, it may refer to the metal plate 102 formed by conductors stacked or laid flat on different layers of the PCB, or a metal plate-shaped device composed of metal layers on other components in the electronic atomizer 10.

[0042] It should be understood that when two conductors are close to each other and there is a non-conductive insulating medium between them, applying a voltage between the two plates can form a capacitor, storing charge. The amount of charge can be detected as the voltage or capacitance value of the capacitor. In this embodiment of the invention, the larger metal plate 102 is positioned relative to the heating component 101 at the far end, or the metal plate 102 is connected to the ground. When the heating component 101 is not energized, it acts as a suspended conductor. Due to the small internal space of the electronic atomizer 10, even if the metal plate 102 and the heating component 101 are placed at the farthest point within the electronic atomizer 10, an electric field can still be generated because there is a gap between them. Therefore, the heating component 101 is used as one plate of the capacitor under test, and the metal plate 102 is used as the other plate, forming the capacitor under test. The non-conductive insulating medium between the two plates of the capacitor under test is air, including the air in the sleeve 104. Since the dielectric constant of the cigarette is greater than that of air, the capacitance of the capacitor under test increases when the cigarette is inserted compared to the previous moment; and decreases when the cigarette is removed. This change in capacitance can be reflected by the change in voltage value determined by the voltage signal collected between the metal plate 102 and the heating component 101. In this embodiment, the detection processing circuit 103 can collect the voltage signal between the metal plate 102 and the heating component 101, determine the change in voltage value based on the voltage signal, and then calculate the change in capacitance value of the capacitor under test formed by the metal plate 102 and the heating component 101 based on the change in voltage value. The detection processing circuit 103 can determine the insertion and removal status of the cigarette based on the influence of the insertion and removal of the cigarette on the capacitance value of the capacitor under test. For example, the detection processing circuit 103 determines that when the voltage change trend between the metal plate 102 and the heating component 101 is increasing, it determines that the cigarette is in the inserted sleeve 104 state; when the voltage change trend between the metal plate 102 and the heating component 101 is decreasing, it determines that the cigarette is in the pulled-out sleeve 104 state; when the voltage value does not change, it determines whether there is a cigarette in the sleeve 104 based on the previous operation.

[0043] It should also be noted that when the heating component 101 is not in operation, i.e., when it is not connected to a power source, the heating component 101 is a suspended conductor, which allows a capacitor to be formed between it and the metal plate 102. In addition, in some embodiments, the detection and processing circuit 103 can also receive the capacitance value of the capacitor to be tested even when the electronic atomizer 10 is in a dormant state, and further determine the insertion or removal status of the cigarette.

[0044] This invention provides an electronic atomizer in which a heating component and a metal plate form a test capacitor. The capacitance value of this capacitor changes during the insertion or removal of a cigarette. A detection and processing circuit determines the insertion / removal status of the cigarette based on the collected capacitance value. This eliminates the need for additional detection components, thus saving internal space in the electronic atomizer, optimizing the product's structural design, and reducing costs.

[0045] In another embodiment of this utility model, Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the composition structure of an electronic atomizer provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 2 .like Figure 2 As shown, the detection processing circuit 103 includes a processing circuit 105 and a capacitance detection circuit 106; wherein:

[0046] The first terminal of the capacitance detection circuit 106 is connected to the heating component 101, and the second terminal of the capacitance detection circuit 106 is connected to the processing circuit 105.

[0047] The capacitance detection circuit 106 is configured to receive the voltage signal between the metal plate 102 and the heating component 101, generate a capacitance signal based on the voltage signal, and send the capacitance signal to the processing circuit 105.

[0048] The processing circuit 105 is configured to determine and output the insertion / removal status of the cigarette stick in the sleeve 104 based on the capacitor signal.

[0049] In this embodiment of the invention, the capacitance detection circuit 106 may be a device integrating a DC bridge, resistors, etc., used to determine the capacitance value based on the DC bridge method, or it may be other integrated circuits or devices, without specific limitations. The capacitance detection circuit 106 can receive the voltage signal between the heating component 101 and the metal plate 102, determine the voltage value between the heating component 101 and the metal plate 102 based on the voltage signal, further determine the capacitance value of the capacitor to be tested formed by the heating component 101 and the metal plate 102 based on the voltage value, generate a capacitance signal based on the capacitance value, and send it to the processing circuit 105. Furthermore, the capacitance detection circuit 106 can acquire the voltage signal at preset intervals or in real time, depending on actual needs.

[0050] As mentioned above, when the heating component is not powered, the heating component 101 is in a suspended state and can serve as the upper electrode of the capacitor under test, while the metal plate 102 can serve as the lower electrode of the capacitor under test. Therefore, the capacitance detection circuit 106 can be connected to the heating component 101. The capacitance detection circuit 106 generates a capacitance signal corresponding to the capacitance value of the capacitor under test formed by the heating component 101 and the metal plate 102, and sends it to the processing circuit 105.

[0051] In this embodiment of the invention, the detection and processing circuit 103 may include a hardware module for acquiring the capacitance value of the capacitor under test, namely the capacitance detection circuit 106, and a hardware module for storing and processing the changes in capacitance value, namely the processing circuit 105. It should be understood that, based on the aforementioned impact of inserting and removing the cigarette on the capacitance value of the capacitor under test, and the fact that the voltage value and capacitance value of the capacitor under test have the same trend of change, the processing circuit 105 can determine the capacitance value of the capacitor under test based on the received capacitance signal, and compare it with the previously received capacitance value of the capacitor under test. When the trend of capacitance value change is increasing, it is determined that the cigarette is in the inserted sleeve 104 state; when the trend of capacitance value change is decreasing, it is determined that the cigarette is in the removed sleeve 104 state; when the capacitance value does not change, based on previous operations, it is determined whether a cigarette is currently in the sleeve 104.

[0052] It should be noted that the capacitance detection circuit 106 can detect the voltage value of the capacitor under test in real time or at preset intervals, and its detection frequency is not specifically limited here.

[0053] This invention provides an electronic atomizer that uses a capacitance detection circuit to detect the capacitance value of a capacitor under test and sends the result to a processing circuit. This allows the processing circuit to obtain the capacitance value of the capacitor under test in real time and perform corresponding operations based on the obtained capacitance value, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the electronic atomizer.

[0054] In some embodiments, the processing circuit 105 is a microcontroller unit (MCU).

[0055] In this embodiment of the utility model, the processing circuit 105 may refer to a microcontroller unit or other circuits with simple size judgment logic and switch control functions.

[0056] In another embodiment of this utility model, Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the composition structure of an electronic atomizer provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 3 .like Figure 3 As shown, the detection processing circuit 103 further includes a first switch branch 1071 and a second switch branch 1072, wherein:

[0057] The first end of the first switch branch 1071 is connected to the power supply 108, the second end of the first switch branch 1071 is connected to the first end of the heating component 101, and the control end of the first switch branch 1071 is connected to the processing circuit 105.

[0058] The first end of the second switch branch 1072 is connected to the second end of the heating component 101, the second end of the second switch branch 1072 is connected to the ground terminal, and the control terminal of the second switch branch 1072 is connected to the processing circuit 105.

[0059] exist Figure 3 and in the following embodiments Figures 5 to 7 The connection between the sleeve and the heating assembly is not shown; their connection relationship is referred to... Figure 4 .

[0060] In this embodiment of the present invention, the first switch branch 1071 is used to control the conduction or cutoff of the circuit between the heating component 101 and the power supply 108, and the second switch branch 1072 is used to control the conduction or cutoff of the circuit between the heating component 101 and the ground terminal.

[0061] The first switch branch 1071 and the second switch branch 1072 may include devices for controlling the circuit to be turned on or off, such as metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), relays or other electronically controlled switches, etc., without specific limitations.

[0062] It should be noted that the processing circuit 105 can control the conduction or cutoff of the first switch branch 1071 and the second switch branch 1072 respectively by sending control signals to the first switch branch 1071 and the second switch branch 1072 respectively.

[0063] It should also be noted that when both the first switch branch 1071 and the second switch branch 1072 are in the conducting state, the power supply 108, the first switch branch 1071, the heating component 101, the second switch branch 1072 and the ground terminal form a power supply circuit. The power supply 108 supplies power to the heating component 101 so that the heating component 101 converts electrical energy into heat energy and transfers heat to the cigarette through the sleeve to heat the cigarette.

[0064] Alternatively, when at least one of the first switch branch 1071 and the second switch branch 1072 is turned off, the aforementioned multiple devices do not form a complete power supply circuit. The heating component 101 is equivalent to a suspended conductor, forming a capacitor under test with the metal plate 102. The processing circuit 105 acquires the capacitance signal of the capacitor under test in real time and determines the insertion / removal state of the cigarette based on the change in capacitance value. Furthermore, after determining that the cigarette is in the inserted state, the processing circuit 105 can perform corresponding operations, controlling the first switch branch 1071 and the second switch branch 1072 to conduct at preset intervals via pulse width modulation (PWM) signals, causing the heating component 101 to heat up and heat the cigarette; or, after determining that the cigarette is in the removed state, the processing circuit 105 can perform corresponding operations, controlling at least one of the first switch branch 1071 and the second switch branch 1072 to disconnect, causing the heating component 101 to stop heating.

[0065] It should also be noted that regardless of whether the first switch branch 1071 or the second switch branch 1072 is in the on or off state, the aforementioned capacitance detection circuit 106 detects and determines the capacitance value of the capacitor under test. However, it should be understood that the capacitor under test can only be formed by the heating component 101 and the metal plate 102 when both the first switch branch 1071 and the second switch branch 1072 are in the off state, and the capacitance detection circuit 106 can collect and determine the capacitance value of the capacitor under test. When both the first switch branch 1071 and the second switch branch 1072 are in the on state, the power supply circuit is formed, and the capacitance detection circuit 106 may not be able to collect and determine a valid capacitance value.

[0066] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the invention, when the cigarette is inserted, the processing circuit 105 can control the switching on and off of the first switch branch 1071 and the second switch branch 1072 based on different level states of the PWM signal. It should be understood that the switching between the two different level states of the PWM signal can be on the order of milliseconds, avoiding the safety hazard that would arise if the heating component 101 continued heating the cigarette while both the first switch branch 1071 and the second switch branch 1072 were conducting and the cigarette removal was not detected.

[0067] This utility model embodiment provides an electronic atomizer. The processing circuit controls the heating component to switch between heating function and plate as a capacitor under test by controlling the conduction or cutoff of the first and second switch branches. The switching frequency is high, which not only realizes the function of cigarette insertion and removal detection without adding additional detection components, but also avoids safety hazards.

[0068] In yet another embodiment of this utility model, Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the composition structure of an electronic atomizer provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 4 .like Figure 4 As shown, the heating assembly includes at least one heating element, and the at least one heating element is interconnected.

[0069] In this embodiment of the invention, the heating assembly may include at least one heating element, such as a first heating element 1011, a second heating element 1012, a third heating element 1013, a fourth heating element 1014, ..., an nth heating element 1015. The n heating elements are longitudinally distributed along the outer wall of the sleeve 104, so that when the cigarette 201 is inserted or removed from the cavity in the sleeve 104, the dielectric between the heating element and the PCB copper pour can be changed, thereby causing a change in the capacitance value of the capacitor to be measured formed between the n heating elements and the PCB copper pour. Here, n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0070] It should be noted that the n heating elements can be connected in series with wires to form a conductor of equal potential. Thus, the n heating elements can be considered as a conductor, forming a capacitance to be measured with the metal plate 102. It should be understood that the capacitance between the sleeve 104 and the metal plate 102 is a schematic representation of the capacitance to be measured, and not an actual capacitor.

[0071] It should also be noted that, Figure 4 This is just one embodiment of the n-segment heating element arrangement. The multiple heating elements can be powered by a power supply, and their heating status can be controlled by the first switch branch and the second switch branch respectively. This vertical arrangement can provide multiple heating levels for the cigarette 201 according to different heating requirements. In actual implementation, the arrangement method can be determined according to the device arrangement requirements on the outside of the sleeve 104, but the n-segment heating elements need to be interconnected.

[0072] This invention provides an electronic atomizer, wherein the heating component includes at least one heating element, and the at least one heating element is interconnected. This improves the heating flexibility of the electronic atomizer by enabling the heating component and a metal plate to form a test capacitor, thus facilitating the insertion and removal detection of the cigarette.

[0073] In another embodiment of this utility model, Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the composition structure of an electronic atomizer provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 5 .like Figure 5 As shown, the first switch branch includes a first switch c1, and the second switch branch includes at least one second switch; wherein:

[0074] The first end of the first switch c1 is connected to the power supply 108, the second end of the first switch c1 is connected to at least one heating element, and the control end of the first switch c1 is connected to the processing circuit 105.

[0075] The first terminal of each second switch is connected to the corresponding heating element, the second terminal of each second switch is grounded, and the control terminal of each second switch is connected to the processing circuit 105.

[0076] As mentioned above, the heating assembly includes at least one heating element. In this embodiment of the invention, the first switch branch includes a first switch c1, and the second switch branch includes at least one second switch. The first ends of at least one heating element can be interconnected and then connected to the first end of the first switch c1. The other end of each heating element is connected to a second switch and then grounded. That is, the first ends of at least one heating element share a first switch c1, and the second ends of at least one heating element are each connected to a second switch. Thus, when one or more heating elements need to work, the processing circuit 105 can control the first switch c1 to turn on based on the control signal, and the second switch corresponding to the heating element that needs to work will turn on. The electrical energy provided by the power supply 108 forms a circuit through the first switch c1, the heating element that needs to be heated, the second switch corresponding to the heating element that needs to be heated, and the ground terminal, so that the heating element that needs to be heated heats the cigarette.

[0077] For example, such as Figure 5 As shown, the first ends of heating elements 1a1, ..., mac2 are connected to the first switch c1. Heating element 1a1 is connected to the second switch 1b1 and then grounded; heating element mac2 is connected to the second switch mb2 and then grounded. Heating elements 1a1 to mac2 are interconnected. Thus, if heating element mac2 needs to be turned on, the processing circuit 105 can send control signals to the first switch c1 and the second switch mb2 to turn them on, while the other second switches are turned off. This connects the power supply circuit 108 to supply power to heating element mb2, allowing heating element mb2 to operate normally and heat the cigarette. Here, m is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0078] It should also be noted that in some embodiments, the first switch branch may include at least one first switch, and the second switch branch may include one second switch. Thus, the second ends of at least one segment of the heating element can be interconnected and then connected to the second switch. The first end of each segment of the heating element is connected to a first switch. Therefore, when it is necessary to control one or more segments of the heating element to operate, the second switch and the first switch connected to the heating element that needs to operate can be controlled to conduct, thereby turning on the power supply circuit 108, which is grounded via the first switch, the heating element, and the second switch, allowing the heating element that needs heating to operate normally. The at least one segment of the heating element is interconnected, and its connection relationship can be referred to... Figure 5 The example shown.

[0079] In addition, the capacitance detection circuit 106 can be connected to any end of the heating element. To facilitate circuit wiring, when the first switch branch includes a first switch and at least one section of the heating element is connected to the first switch to form a common terminal, the capacitance detection circuit 106 can be connected between the first switch and the common terminal of the at least one section of the heating element. Alternatively, when the second switch branch includes a second switch, the capacitance detection circuit 106 can be connected between the second switch and the common terminal of the at least one section of the heating element.

[0080] This utility model embodiment provides an electronic atomizer, wherein the first ends of at least one heating element are connected to each other and then connected to a first switch, and the other ends of at least one heating element are respectively connected to corresponding second switches. In this way, the use of the first switch can be reduced, saving components, thereby reducing costs and optimizing the internal space of the electronic atomizer.

[0081] In another embodiment of this utility model, Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the composition structure of an electronic atomizer provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 6 .like Figure 6 As shown, the first switch branch includes at least one first switch, and the second switch branch includes at least one second switch; wherein:

[0082] The first terminal of each first switch is connected to the power supply 108, the second terminal of each first switch is connected to the corresponding heating element, and the control terminal of each first switch is connected to the processing circuit 105.

[0083] The first terminal of each second switch is connected to the corresponding heating element, the second terminal of each second switch is grounded, and the control terminal of each second switch is connected to the processing circuit 105.

[0084] In this embodiment of the invention, each heating element is grouped with a corresponding first switch and a corresponding second switch, and the heating element is connected in series between the corresponding first switch and the corresponding second switch. Thus, when one or more segments of the heating element need to operate, the processing circuit 105 can control both the first and second switches corresponding to the heating element requiring heating to be turned on. The electrical energy provided by the power supply 108 forms a power supply circuit through the first switch corresponding to the heating element requiring heating, the heating element itself, the second switch corresponding to the heating element requiring heating, and ground, enabling the heating element requiring heating to operate normally.

[0085] For example, such as Figure 6As shown, the first switch 1c2 is connected to the first end of the heating element 1a1, and the other end of the heating element 1a1 is connected to the second switch 1b1 and then grounded; the first switch kc3 is connected to the first end of the heating element ka3, and the other end of the heating element ka3 is connected to the second switch kb3 and then grounded. The connection relationship between at least one segment of the heating element between the heating element 1a1 and the heating element ka3 and the corresponding first and second switches is the same as the connection relationship of the heating element 1. Figure 6 The details are not shown in the diagram. Heating elements 1a1 to ka3 are interconnected, where k is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1. When heating element ka3 needs to operate, the processing circuit 105 controls the first switch kc3 and the second switch kb3 to be turned on, while other switches are turned off. The electrical energy provided by the power supply 108 forms a loop along the first switch kc3, heating element ka3, second switch kb3, and ground, enabling heating element ka3 to operate normally. Here, k is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0086] It should be noted that the capacitance detection circuit 106 can be connected to any end of the heating element, and at least one section of the heating element can be interconnected as a common terminal of the heating assembly and connected to the capacitance detection circuit 106.

[0087] This invention provides an electronic atomizer in which each heating element is controlled by a corresponding first switch and a second switch. This reduces the impact of switch failure on the electronic atomizer and improves its compatibility and stability.

[0088] In some embodiments, see continue to see Figure 5 and Figure 6 The first switch is configured to be in an on state in response to a first control signal sent by the processing circuit 105, or to be in an off state in response to a second control signal sent by the processing circuit 105.

[0089] The second switch is configured to be in an on state in response to a third control signal sent by the processing circuit 105, or to be in an off state in response to a fourth control signal sent by the processing circuit 105.

[0090] When both the first switch and the second switch are in the ON state, the heating element connected in series between the first switch and the second switch is configured to provide heat energy to the cigarette.

[0091] When both the first and second switches are in the off state, the heating element connected in series between the first and second switches forms a capacitor with the metal plate 102; wherein, the capacitance value of the capacitor is used to indicate the insertion and removal status of the cigarette in the sleeve.

[0092] In this embodiment of the invention, after the electronic atomizer 10 is powered on, if the cigarette is detected to be inserted, the processing circuit 105 can control the first and second switches to conduct at preset intervals by sending PWM signals to the first and second switches. For example, when the PWM signals sent to the first and second switches corresponding to some or all of the heating elements in at least one heating element are at a first level, a first control signal is sent to the first switch and a third control signal is sent to the second switch, causing the first and second switches to conduct and further enabling the heating elements controlled by these switches to operate normally and heat the cigarette. When the PWM signals sent to these heating elements are at a second level, these switches are temporarily turned off, causing the heating elements they control to temporarily stop working. Furthermore, the processing circuit 105 also sends control signals at a second level to the first and second switches corresponding to the remaining heating elements, causing these switches to turn off, i.e., the remaining heating elements do not work.

[0093] The preset time is specifically determined based on the duration of the PWM signal in the first and second level states. For example, it can be a few milliseconds, meaning the waveform period of the PWM signal is on the order of milliseconds. This avoids the safety hazards caused by continuous heating.

[0094] As mentioned above, the heating component can only form a capacitor with the grounded metal plate 102 as a suspended conductor when it is in the working state, i.e., when the first and second switches controlling its operation are in the off state. Therefore, when one or more heating elements in the heating component are in the working state, they do not serve as the upper plate of the capacitor under test. If there is at least one heating element in the heating component that does not generate heat, then the at least one heating element that does not generate heat can serve as the upper plate of the capacitor under test. When the cigarette is inserted or removed, the capacitance detection circuit 106 detects and determines the change in capacitance value.

[0095] It should be noted that when one or more sections of the heating component are operating, based on Figure 5 In the embodiments described, the processing circuit 105 can control the first switching interval to be turned on for a preset time based on the PWM signal, and control the second switching interval connected to the heating element that needs to be heated to be turned on for a preset time; based on Figure 6 In the embodiment, the processing circuit 105 can control the second switch to turn on at a preset interval based on the PWM signal, and control the first switch connected to the heating element that needs to generate heat to turn on at a preset interval. In addition, the first and second switches can be turned on or off synchronously to control whether the heating element connected in series between the first and second switches is working properly.

[0096] As mentioned above, after the electronic atomizer 10 is powered on, if the cigarette is detected to be inserted, the processing circuit 105 can control the first and second switches to conduct at preset intervals by sending PWM signals to the first and second switches. For example, when the PWM signals sent to the first and second switches corresponding to some or all of the heating elements in at least one section of the heating element are in the second level state, that is, when a second control signal is sent to the first switch and a fourth control signal is sent to the second switch, the first and second switches are controlled to turn off at preset intervals. In this case, the heating element again acts as the upper plate of the capacitor under test, and the metal plate 102 acts as the lower plate of the capacitor under test. The capacitance detection circuit 106 determines the capacitance value of the capacitor under test and sends it to the processing circuit 105, so that the processing circuit 105 can determine whether the cigarette has been pulled out. Alternatively, when some of the first and second switches are in a partially conducting state based on the control of the processing circuit 105, the heating elements corresponding to the remaining first and second switches are not in a working state. They can be interconnected as a conductor to form a capacitor with the metal plate 102, which can also detect the cigarette being pulled out when the cigarette is heated. It should be understood that, in this case, the capacitance value of the capacitor formed by the partially non-working heating element is different from the capacitance value of the capacitor under test.

[0097] In some embodiments, when the electronic atomizer 10 is powered on and the cigarette is in the unplugged state, or in the dormant state, all the first and second switches are in the off state. The heating elements in the heating assembly are interconnected and can act as a whole suspended conductor, forming a capacitor to be tested with the metal plate 102. The processing circuit 105 determines whether the cigarette is inserted by reading the capacitance signal sent by the capacitance detection circuit 106.

[0098] This invention provides an electronic atomizer. When the first and second switches are in the ON state, the heating element connected in series between the first and second switches operates normally to heat the cigarette. When the first and second switches are in the OFF state, the heating element connected in series between the first and second switches and the metal plate form a test capacitor. The processing circuit obtains the capacitance value of the test capacitor to determine the insertion / removal status of the cigarette. Thus, the heating component has a heating function when powered on, improving the practicality of the heating element. When the heating component is not powered on, it also has a cigarette insertion / removal detection function, avoiding the safety hazard caused by continuing heating without timely detection of cigarette removal, thereby improving the safety of the electronic atomizer.

[0099] In yet another embodiment of this utility model, see also... Figure 5 and Figure 6 The electronic atomizer 10 also includes a power supply 108, which is connected to the first terminal of the first switch branch; wherein:

[0100] The power supply 108 is configured to supply power to the heating element connected in series between the first switch and the second switch when both the first switch and the second switch are in the ON state.

[0101] In this embodiment of the invention, the power supply 108 can be a constant voltage source or a constant current source, continuously outputting electrical energy regardless of the state of the first switch and the second switch. As mentioned above, the processing circuit 105 controls the first switch to be turned on based on a first control signal and controls the second switch to be turned on based on a second control signal. When both the first switch and the second switch are in the on state, the at least one on first switch, at least one heating element connected in series between the at least one on first switch and the at least one on second switch, the at least one on second switch, and the ground terminal form a power supply circuit. The power supply circuit supplies power to at least one heating element, enabling the at least one heating element to work normally and heat the cigarette. It should be understood that when either the first switch or the second switch is turned off, the power supply circuit is broken, and the heating element connected in series between the two switches does not work.

[0102] This embodiment of the invention provides an electronic atomizer in which the power supply powers a heating element connected in series between the first and second switches when the first and second switches are turned on. This improves the real-time performance of the heating element.

[0103] In some embodiments, Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the composition structure of an electronic atomizer provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 7 .like Figure 7 As shown, the processing circuit 105, the first switch branch, the second switch branch, and the capacitance detection circuit 106 are all integrated on the circuit board.

[0104] It should be noted that, in an optional embodiment, the aforementioned metal plate can be a GND copper plate on a PCB. In addition, the processing circuit 105 can be an MCU integrated on the PCB. The first switching branch includes at least one switching transistor integrated on the PCB, and the second switching branch also includes at least one switching transistor integrated on the PCB. The capacitance detection circuit 106 can also be integrated on the PCB.

[0105] This embodiment of the invention provides an electronic atomizer that integrates the processing circuit 105, the first switch branch, the second switch branch, and the capacitance detection circuit all on a single circuit board. This improves the integration level of the electronic atomizer and optimizes its internal space.

[0106] In some embodiments, continue reading Figure 7The working process of the electronic atomizer 10 is explained using the processing circuit 105 as the MCU, which acts as the main control module; the first switch is the first switching transistor Q1, and the second switch is the second switching transistor Q2, such as MOSFETs; the metal plate is the GND copper plating on the PCB. The processing circuit 105 is connected to the first switching transistor Q1, the second switching transistor Q2, and the capacitance detection circuit 106; the first switching transistor Q1 can be an enhancement-mode PMOS, with its source connected to the power supply, its drain connected to the heating component 101 and the capacitance detection circuit 106, and its gate connected to the general-purpose input / output of the processing circuit 105. The input / output (GPIO) port; the second switch Q2 can be an enhancement-mode NMOS, with its drain connected to the heating component 101, its source connected to GND, and its gate connected to the GPIO port of the processing circuit 105; the capacitance detection circuit 106 can be used to determine the capacitance value of the capacitor under test by measurement, and communicates with the processing circuit 105 through the USART port of the processing circuit 105. The detection pin is connected to the drain of the first switch Q1 and the heating component 101; one end of the heating component 101 is connected to the drain of the first switch Q1 and the capacitance detection circuit 106, and the other end is connected to the drain of the second switch Q2. When the heating component 101 acts as a capacitor plate, the GND copper on the PCB acts as another capacitor plate, forming capacitor C1 with the heating component 101, which is the capacitor under test in the aforementioned embodiment. It should be understood that... Figure 7 and Figure 4 The capacitance shown is merely a schematic representation of the capacitor to be tested and is not an actual existing capacitor device.

[0107] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the heating assembly 101 includes multiple heating elements, which can simultaneously achieve multiple heating elements (working heating elements) and multiple detection elements (non-working heating elements); the first switch Q1 and the second switch Q2 can be replaced by other controlled switches; the capacitance detection circuit 106 can be connected to any one end of the heating assembly 101.

[0108] In this embodiment of the invention, when not heated, the processing circuit 105 controls the first switching transistors Q1 and Q2 to disconnect, and the heating component 101 is equivalent to a suspended conductor. The heating component 101 and the GND copper plate form a capacitor C1. When the cigarette is inserted into the sleeve, the dielectric between the heating component 101 and the GND copper plate changes, thereby changing the capacitance value of the capacitor C1 (the dielectric constant of the cigarette is greater than that of air, so the capacitance value increases). This change in capacitance value can be reflected by the voltage value collected by the capacitance detection circuit 106. The capacitance detection circuit 106 determines the capacitance value based on the collected voltage value and sends it to the processing circuit 105. The processing circuit 105 reads the data from the capacitance detection circuit 106 in real time to determine whether the cigarette is inserted.

[0109] In this embodiment of the invention, during heating, the processing circuit 105 controls the first switching transistors Q1 and Q2 to be switched on and off simultaneously using PWM. The heating component 101 converts the electrical energy provided by the power supply Vbat into heat energy, which is then transferred to the cigarette to achieve the heating purpose. When the first switching transistors Q1 and Q2 are simultaneously turned off, the heating component 101 again acts as a capacitor plate. The processing circuit 105 reads the data from the capacitance detection circuit 106 in real time to determine whether the cigarette has been pulled out (the capacitance decreases when it is pulled out).

[0110] Furthermore, the sleeve structure is as described above. Figure 4 As shown, multiple heating elements are distributed longitudinally along the outer wall of the sleeve. The insertion and removal of the cigarette stick in the cavity inside the sleeve changes the medium between the heating component 101 and the metal plate, i.e., the copper layer of the PCB, thereby causing a change in capacitance.

[0111] This invention provides an electronic atomizer that uses a heating element as the electrode of a capacitor under test, thereby saving on additional capacitor components. Furthermore, the heating element simultaneously performs both heating and capacitance detection functions. The processing circuit switches between these functions by controlling the on / off states of a first and second switch. This not only reduces the number of components used but also optimizes the internal space design of the electronic atomizer, improving its flexibility and practicality.

[0112] It should be understood that those skilled in the art will recognize that this invention may take the form of a hardware embodiment, a software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, this invention may take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage and optical storage) containing computer-usable program code.

[0113] It should also be understood that the phrase "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" throughout the specification means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic related to the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" appearing throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, these specific features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It should be understood that in the various embodiments of the present invention, the sequence number of the above-described steps / processes does not imply the order of execution; the execution order of each step / process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present invention. The above-described embodiment numbers are for descriptive purposes only and do not represent the superiority or inferiority of the embodiments.

[0114] It should be noted that, in this utility model, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element.

[0115] In the several embodiments provided by this utility model, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods can be implemented in other ways. The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as: multiple units or components can be combined, or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling, direct coupling, or communication connection between the various components shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units can be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0116] The units described above as separate components may or may not be physically separate; the components shown as units may or may not be physical units; they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units; some or all of the units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs. Furthermore, in the various embodiments of this utility model, all functional units may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may be a separate unit, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit; the integrated unit may be implemented in hardware or in a combination of hardware and software functional units.

[0117] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An electronic atomizer, characterized in that, The electronic atomizer includes a sleeve, a heating assembly, a metal plate, and a detection and processing circuit. The detection and processing circuit is connected to the heating assembly, and the metal plate is connected to ground. The sleeve is used to hold the cigarette, the heating component is disposed on the side wall of the sleeve, and there is a gap between the metal plate and the heating component so that a capacitance to be tested is formed between the metal plate and the heating component; The detection and processing circuit is configured to receive a voltage signal between the metal plate and the heating component, the voltage signal being correlated with the insertion and removal status of the cigarette stick in the sleeve.

2. The electronic atomizer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detection processing circuit includes a processing circuit and a capacitance detection circuit; wherein: The first terminal of the capacitance detection circuit is connected to the heating component, and the second terminal of the capacitance detection circuit is connected to the processing circuit. The capacitance detection circuit is configured to receive the voltage signal between the metal plate and the heating component, generate a capacitance signal based on the voltage signal, and send the capacitance signal to the processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to determine and output the insertion / removal status of the cigarette stick in the sleeve based on the capacitance signal.

3. The electronic atomizer according to claim 2, characterized in that, The processing circuit is a microcontroller unit.

4. The electronic atomizer according to claim 2, characterized in that, The detection and processing circuit further includes a first switch branch and a second switch branch, wherein: The first end of the first switch branch is connected to the power supply, the second end of the first switch branch is connected to the first end of the heating component, and the control end of the first switch branch is connected to the processing circuit. The first end of the second switch branch is connected to the second end of the heating component, the second end of the second switch branch is connected to the ground, and the control end of the second switch branch is connected to the processing circuit.

5. The electronic atomizer according to claim 4, characterized in that, The heating assembly includes at least one heating element, and the at least one heating element is interconnected.

6. The electronic atomizer according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first switch branch includes a first switch, and the second switch branch includes at least one second switch; wherein: The first terminal of the first switch is connected to the power supply, the second terminal of the first switch is connected to the at least one heating element, and the control terminal of the first switch is connected to the processing circuit. The first terminal of each second switch is connected to the corresponding heating element, the second terminal of each second switch is grounded, and the control terminal of each second switch is connected to the processing circuit.

7. The electronic atomizer according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first switch branch includes at least one first switch, and the second switch branch includes at least one second switch; wherein: The first terminal of each first switch is connected to the power supply, the second terminal of each first switch is connected to the corresponding heating element, and the control terminal of each first switch is connected to the processing circuit. The first terminal of each second switch is connected to the corresponding heating element, the second terminal of each second switch is grounded, and the control terminal of each second switch is connected to the processing circuit.

8. The electronic atomizer according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The first switch is configured to be in an on state in response to a first control signal sent by the processing circuit, or to be in an off state in response to a second control signal sent by the processing circuit. The second switch is configured to be in an on state in response to a third control signal sent by the processing circuit, or to be in an off state in response to a fourth control signal sent by the processing circuit. When both the first switch and the second switch are in the ON state, the heating element connected in series between the first switch and the second switch is configured to provide heat energy to the cigarette. When both the first switch and the second switch are in the off state, the heating element connected in series between the first switch and the second switch forms a capacitor with the metal plate; wherein, the capacitance value of the capacitor is used to indicate the insertion and removal state of the cigarette in the sleeve.

9. The electronic atomizer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The electronic atomizer also includes a power supply, which is connected to a first terminal of the first switch branch; wherein: The power supply is configured to supply power to the heating element connected in series between the first switch and the second switch when both the first switch and the second switch are in the ON state.

10. The electronic atomizer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The processing circuit, the first switch branch, the second switch branch, and the capacitance detection circuit are all integrated on the circuit board.

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