Aerosol Device Controller Liquid Level Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol generation devices inaccurately estimate the remaining aerosol-forming liquid in the reservoir, leading to early or late alerts for the user, causing unpleasant dry or burnt capillary element sensations due to the reliance on laboratory-determined models and environmental factors.
Innovation Solution
The aerosol generation device incorporates a controller that estimates the consumed and remaining aerosol-forming liquid quantities after each puff by considering electrical power supplied, puff duration, aerosol flow rate, and ambient conditions, triggering an alert when the remaining quantity falls below a threshold to prevent capillary element drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a complex model fed with temperature or resistance measures is used to estimate remaining liquid quantity, then the estimation process is performed, but the estimation accuracy is insufficient leading to early or late alerts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters used for estimation from temperature or resistance measures to electrical power consumption data. By integrating power consumption over time to calculate energy consumption, the system achieves more accurate estimation of liquid quantity while avoiding the complexity of temperature modeling. This parameter transformation resolves the contradiction by providing both accuracy and simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex thermal model (which would require temperature sensors and thermal dynamics modeling) with an electrical measurement approach. By using electrical power consumption data that is already available from the heating element control, the system substitutes a complex mechanical/thermal measurement system with a simpler electrical measurement system, achieving both accuracy and low complexity.
2Ease of operation
If laboratory-determined puff counts are used to predict reservoir depletion, then the alert system is simple to implement, but the alerts are triggered too early or too late due to varying real-world conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors actual power consumption during each puff and integrates it to track remaining liquid quantity. This real-time feedback from actual device operation replaces static laboratory predictions, ensuring reliable and accurate depletion alerts while maintaining system simplicity through direct measurement rather than complex modeling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own operational data (electrical power consumption during heating) to self-diagnose and determine liquid quantity. Rather than relying on external laboratory models or additional sensors, the device serves itself by utilizing data already generated during normal operation, achieving both simplicity and reliability.
3Measurement precision
If the controller monitors power consumption and integrates it to estimate liquid quantity, then accurate real-time estimation is achieved, but the computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial integration of power consumption data - specifically integrating only during puff events when liquid is actually being consumed. Rather than continuously processing data, the system performs calculations selectively during relevant operational phases, reducing computational energy consumption while maintaining real-time accuracy during critical depletion assessment periods.
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
This approach provides a real-time and accurate estimation of the aerosol-forming liquid remaining in the reservoir, ensuring the user is alerted just before capillary element drying, enhancing user experience by preventing unpleasant sensations.
Implementation Method 1
a heater arranged, when supplied with electrical power, for heating the aerosol-forming liquid to induce generation of an aerosol
Implementation Method 2
heating the aerosol-forming liquid originating from the reservoir, generally via a capillary element (for instance a capillary wick)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
An aerosol generation device (1) comprises: - a reservoir (5) storing an aerosol-forming liquid, - a heater (18) arranged, when supplied with electrical power, for heating this aerosol-forming liquid to induce generation of an aerosol that can be inhaled by a user during a puff, and - an electrical and control device comprising a controller arranged for controlling electrical power supply to this heater (18) and, after each puff, for estimating a first quantity of aerosol-forming liquid consumed from at least an electrical power supplied to the heater (18), a puff duration and a flow rate of the generated aerosol, and a second quantity remaining in the reservoir (5) by subtracting the estimated first quantity from the last second quantity remaining before the puff, and for triggering an alert for the user when this estimated second quantity is smaller than a chosen threshold.