Electronic Aerosol Provision With Airflow Profile Feedback

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic aerosol provision systems, such as e-cigarettes, lack user control over the amount of vaporized payload inhaled, which depends on inhalation duration and depth, leading to inconsistent delivery.

Innovation Solution

An electronic vapor provision system with an airflow sensor to measure inhalation profiles, a comparison processing unit to match user inhalation with predefined profiles, and a feedback unit to provide haptic, audio, or visual feedback to adjust inhalation for consistent vapor delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the system provides passive vapor delivery without user feedback, then the device complexity is low, but the user cannot control the amount of vapor inhaled leading to inconsistent delivery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevapor delivery consistencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by measuring user inhalation characteristics with sensors and providing real-time or post-inhalation feedback through visual, auditory, or haptic interfaces. This allows users to adjust their inhalation to match target profiles, achieving consistent vapor delivery while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical control systems with electronic sensing and feedback mechanisms. Instead of mechanically controlling vapor flow, the system uses sensors to detect inhalation and provides feedback to guide user behavior, achieving precision through information rather than mechanical means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If the system adds airflow sensing and feedback mechanisms, then the user control over vapor intake is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser control over vapor intakeVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables users to self-regulate their vapor intake by providing them with feedback about their inhalation characteristics. Users independently adjust their inhalation technique based on feedback signals to achieve desired vapor delivery, rather than the system automatically controlling the process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by measuring user inhalation characteristics with sensors and providing real-time or post-inhalation feedback through visual, auditory, or haptic interfaces. This allows users to adjust their inhalation to match target profiles, achieving consistent vapor delivery while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If real-time feedback is provided during inhalation, then the user can adjust inhalation for consistent vapor delivery, but the response time and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevapor delivery consistencyVSAvoidinhalation adjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides target inhalation profiles in advance that guide users on the desired inhalation characteristics. Users can prepare mentally or physically before inhalation, reducing adjustment time during the actual inhalation process while maintaining consistent vapor delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by measuring user inhalation characteristics with sensors and providing real-time or post-inhalation feedback through visual, auditory, or haptic interfaces. This allows users to adjust their inhalation to match target profiles, achieving consistent vapor delivery while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables users to achieve consistent vapor intake by providing real-time or post-inhalation feedback, allowing them to align their inhalation with predefined profiles for controlled vapor delivery.

Implementation Method 1

electrical power is supplied to the heating element to vaporize the aerosol source (a portion of the payload) in the vicinity of the heating element, to generate an aerosol for inhalation by the user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

a heater having a heating element arranged to receive source liquid from the reservoir, for example through wicking/capillary action

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS12364825B2Electronic aerosol provision system and method

Publication Date: 2025.07.22 NICOVENTURES TRADING LTD

AI summary

An electronic aerosol provision system includes an airflow sensor operable to measure an airflow parameter, a profile recall unit operable to recall one or more inhalation airflow profiles, a comparison processing unit operable to compare a measured airflow parameter with at least a first inhalation airflow profile while providing aerosol to a user, and a feedback unit operable to provide feedback to the user responsive to the difference between a compared measured airflow parameter and inhalation airflow profile.