Aerosol Heater Pause-Resume Control for Article Reinsertion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Aerosol generating devices face issues with insufficient smoking impression and unnecessary power consumption due to partial or complete removal of the aerosol generating article from the receiving space, leading to overheating and malfunction of the heater.

Innovation Solution

An aerosol generating device equipped with an insertion detecting sensor that pauses the heating operation when the article is moved and resumes it if re-inserted within a preset time, using a controller and lookup table to manage heater operation based on sensor feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the heating operation of the heater is maintained when the aerosol generating article is partially separated or removed from the receiving space, then the heater continues to operate, but the smoking impression becomes insufficient and the heater may overheat

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheater operation stabilityVSAvoidsmoking impression quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an insertion detecting sensor that continuously monitors the presence of the aerosol generating article in the receiving space and provides feedback to the controller. When the sensor detects that the article is partially separated or removed, the controller adjusts the heating operation accordingly, pausing or stopping heating to prevent overheating and maintain reliable operation, while also ensuring sufficient smoking impression quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the heating operation of the heater is maintained when the aerosol generating article is completely removed from the receiving space, then the heater continues to operate, but power consumption increases and malfunction occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheater operation stabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The insertion detecting sensor provides continuous feedback on the article's presence status. When the sensor detects complete removal of the article from the receiving space, the controller receives this feedback and immediately stops the heating operation, thereby preventing unnecessary power consumption and avoiding heater malfunction while maintaining operational reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects and responds to the article removal status without user intervention. The sensor and controller work together to self-adjust the heating operation based on real-time detection, eliminating the need for manual control and ensuring the heater stops heating when the article is removed, thus preventing power waste and malfunction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of energy

If the heating operation is paused when the article is moved, then power consumption is reduced, but the smoking impression may be interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower waste reductionVSAvoidsmoking continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor provides real-time feedback on article position, allowing the controller to make intelligent decisions about heating pausing. When partial separation is detected, the controller pauses heating to reduce power waste, but can quickly resume when the article is repositioned, thereby minimizing interruption to smoking continuity while effectively reducing energy loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4670537A1Aerosol-generating device and operation method therefor
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 KT&G CO LTD
  • EP4670537A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4670537A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4670537A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An aerosol generating device includes a receiving space into which an aerosol generating article is inserted, a heater configured to heat the aerosol generating article, an insertion detecting sensor configured to detect whether the aerosol generating article is inserted into the receiving space, a memory including a lookup table in which a preset value is matched to each aerosol generating article, and a controller. The controller is configured to, when it is detected through the insertion detecting sensor that the aerosol generating article inserted into the receiving space is moved from the receiving space during a heating operation of the heater, pause the heating operation of the heater, and determine whether to resume the heating operation of the heater according to whether the aerosol generating article is re-inserted into the receiving space within a preset grace time from a time point when the heating operation is paused.