Aerosol Device Temperature Deviation Depletion Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aerosol generating devices, such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, struggle to detect aerosol source depletion or shortage in a timely and precise manner, leading to insufficient aerosol supply and potential issues like burnt cotton.

Innovation Solution

The aerosol generating device employs a control unit that determines aerosol source depletion or shortage by analyzing the standard deviation or variance of the load temperature during a single electric power supplying cycle, allowing for earlier detection and precise estimation of the aerosol source state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If threshold value methods are used to detect aerosol source depletion, then detection accuracy can be maintained, but judgment speed becomes slow due to the need to set thresholds not affected by noise and errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidjudgment speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the detection parameter from threshold-based static comparison to standard deviation-based dynamic analysis. By calculating the standard deviation of temperature values during the heating process and comparing it against a threshold, the system achieves both fast judgment and accurate detection without the need for complex threshold setting to avoid noise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical threshold comparison method with a statistical analysis method using standard deviation. This substitution allows the system to inherently filter noise through statistical properties while maintaining rapid detection speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If conventional detection methods are used, then device complexity remains low, but the ability to detect depletion in different portions of the tank and wick system is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection system complexityVSAvoidspatial information of depletion
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the aerosol generation process into distinct phases (heating phase, steady-state phase) and analyzes temperature characteristics in each phase. This segmentation allows detection of depletion in different portions of the tank and wick system by observing temperature behavior patterns in different time segments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback from temperature sensor readings during the heating process to infer the state of the aerosol source. By monitoring how temperature evolves during heating and comparing it to expected patterns, the system can detect depletion without additional sensors, maintaining low device complexity while gaining spatial information

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

This approach enables the device to detect aerosol source depletion or shortage more quickly and accurately, ensuring a consistent aerosol supply and preventing issues like burnt cotton.

Implementation Method 1

a load (132) for atomizing the aerosol source by heat generated by receiving supply of electric power from an electric power source (110)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a sensor (112) for outputting a value relating to temperature of the load (132)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature measurement:

Data Source

PatentEP3831227B1Aerosol generating device and method and program for operating this
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 JAPAN TOBACCO INC
  • EP3831227B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3831227B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3831227B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

In order to provide an aerosol generating device which can determine, at an earlier stage, the occurrence of depletion or shortage pf the aerosol source, this aerosol generating device (100) includes: a storage unit (116A) which stores an aerosol source or an aerosol substrate (116B) which holds an aerosol source; a load (132) which atomizes the aerosol source by generating heat with power supplied from a power supply (110); a sensor (112) which outputs values related with the temperature of the load (132); and a control unit (106). The control unit (06), in response to an aerosol generation request, supplies power from the power supply (110) to the load (132) to carry out a power supply cycle, and, on the basis of an index based on the deviation of the output values of the sensor (112) in a single power supply cycle, determines the occurrence of depletion or shortage of the aerosol source in the storage unit (116A) or the aerosol substrate (116B).