Aerosol Heater Calibration Using Resistance-Temperature Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol generating devices face challenges in accurately calibrating and controlling heaters to achieve consistent temperature profiles for aerosol production, which affects the quality and consistency of the aerosol generated.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that involve calibrating the heater by determining electrical characteristics and temperatures at multiple points, populating a database with this data, and using a lookup table or formula to establish a relationship between electrical characteristics and temperatures, allowing for precise control of the heater during normal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a heater is used to heat aerosol generating material to generate aerosol, then aerosol production is achieved, but temperature control precision is insufficient leading to inconsistent aerosol quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calibration of the heater by measuring electrical characteristics and temperatures at multiple calibration points before actual use. A database is populated with this calibration data to establish the relationship between electrical characteristics and temperature, enabling precise temperature control during aerosol generation without requiring complex real-time measurement systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical temperature measurement systems with an electrical characteristic-based control system. By measuring electrical characteristics (such as resistance) and using pre-established calibration data, the system indirectly determines temperature with high precision, avoiding the complexity and cost of direct temperature sensors while achieving better control precision.
2Measurement precision
If multiple calibration points are used to improve temperature control, then temperature precision is improved, but calibration complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the time-consuming multi-point calibration process during manufacturing or initial setup, storing the calibration data in a database. This preliminary action allows for high measurement precision during actual use without requiring repeated calibration time, as the relationship between electrical characteristics and temperature is pre-established.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified representation of the heater's thermal behavior through calibration data that maps electrical characteristics to temperature values. This copied relationship stored in the database allows rapid temperature determination during operation without repeating the complex multi-point measurement process, effectively copying the precision benefit without the time cost.
3Measurement precision
If electrical characteristics are measured at multiple calibration points, then temperature determination accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex direct temperature measurement and control hardware with an electrical characteristic-based system. By measuring easily obtainable electrical characteristics and using pre-stored calibration data, the system achieves high temperature determination accuracy without requiring complex temperature sensors, signal processing circuits, or real-time computational systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex temperature measurement and control functionality from the operational system and relocates it to the calibration phase. The calibration process captures the temperature-electrical characteristic relationship and stores it in a database, allowing the operational system to remain simple while achieving high accuracy through lookup of pre-computed calibration data.
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 precise control of the heater, ensuring consistent aerosol production by maintaining a defined temperature range, improving the quality and consistency of the aerosol generated.
Implementation Method 1
a heater configured to heat an aerosol generating material to thereby generate an aerosol
Implementation Method 2
obtaining or determining first data corresponding to an electrical characteristic of the heater (e.g. an electrical resistance of the heater)
Implementation Method 3
The temperature of the heater may be obtained from one or more non-contact temperature sensors (such as an infra-red sensor)
Implementation Method 4
The temperature of the heater may be obtained from a contact temperature sensor, such as a thermocouple
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method comprising: instructing activation of a heater of an aerosol generating device during a calibration procedure, wherein, in normal use, the heater is configured to heat an aerosol generating material to thereby generate an aerosol: obtaining or determining first data corresponding to an electrical characteristic of the heater at each of a plurality of calibration points: obtaining or determining second data corresponding to temperature of the heater at said calibration points: and populating a database with information relating to said first and second data.