Aerosol Heater Feedback Control for Fast Warm-Up Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aerosol generation devices face challenges in quickly heating aerosol generation articles to allow users to inhale aerosols and maintaining stable aerosol production, which affects flavor and taste consistency.

Innovation Solution

An aerosol generation device with a control unit that uses feedback control to adjust power supplied to a heating load based on temperature differences, increasing power when temperature drops to maintain consistent aerosol production and shorten heating time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If high power is supplied to heat the aerosol generation article quickly, then heating time is reduced, but temperature fluctuation increases making aerosol generation unstable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating timeVSAvoidaerosol generation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit monitors the temperature of the load in real-time and dynamically adjusts the power supply based on the temperature difference between the current state and target state. When temperature drops, power is increased; when temperature is sufficient, power is reduced or stopped. This closed-loop feedback mechanism prevents temperature fluctuation while maintaining quick heating response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The power supply control is made dynamic rather than static. The control unit continuously adapts the power level based on real-time temperature conditions, switching between high power (when heating is needed), reduced power (when temperature is sufficient), and stopped power (when target temperature is reached). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between quick heating and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If power supply is continuously maintained to stabilize aerosol generation, then aerosol production stability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerosol generation stabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback control mechanism stops or reduces power supply when the target temperature is reached or exceeded, preventing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining aerosol generation stability through precise temperature control. The system only consumes high power when actually needed for heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous temperature monitoring and adaptive power adjustment, ensuring aerosol generation stability is maintained only when necessary. The control unit continuously optimizes the balance between stability and energy efficiency by adjusting power based on real-time temperature feedback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Stability of the object's composition

If power is increased to compensate for temperature drops during heating, then temperature stability is improved, but heating time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidheating time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit dynamically adjusts power levels based on real-time temperature conditions. When temperature drops during heating, power is immediately increased to compensate. When target temperature is reached, power is reduced or stopped. This dynamic response prevents both overheating and prolonged heating, resolving the contradiction between stability and heating time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The feedback mechanism detects temperature drops and immediately responds by increasing power supply, preventing temperature instability without requiring prolonged heating. The closed-loop control ensures rapid compensation for temperature variations, maintaining stability while minimizing heating time.

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

The solution effectively heats aerosol generation articles quickly and stabilizes aerosol production, ensuring consistent flavor and taste by dynamically adjusting power supply based on temperature feedback.

Implementation Method 1

a load configured to heat an aerosol generation article by using power that is supplied from a power source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a control unit configured to acquire a temperature of the load, and to control the power that is supplied from the power source to the load by a feedback control, based on a difference between the temperature of the load and a predetermined temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Data Source

PatentEP3777576B1Aerosol generation device, control method and program
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 JAPAN TOBACCO INC
  • EP3777576B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3777576B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3777576B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In the present embodiment, an aerosol generation device (1) is provided with a load and a control unit. The load (3) uses power supplied from a power source (4) to heat an aerosol generation article (9) which includes an aerosol-forming substrate (9a) holding or carrying an aerosol source and/or a flavor source. The control unit (8) acquires the temperature of the load and controls the power supplied from the power source to the load by feedback control on the basis of the difference between the temperature of the load and a preset temperature. When a drop in the temperature of the load is detected during the feedback control, the control unit changes a variable used in the feedback control to increase the power supplied from the power source to the load.