Aerosol Generating Device With Movable Heating Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol generating devices face challenges in reducing power requirements and achieving precise control over the heating of aerosol generating materials, leading to inefficiencies in energy usage and aerosol production.
Innovation Solution
The aerosol generating device employs a plurality of independently controlled heating circuits and movable electrical contacts that selectively energize different portions of the aerosol generating material, allowing for sequential heating and improved energy efficiency, along with a resistive heating element integrated into the aerosol generating article, which simplifies the device structure and eliminates the need for a separate heating element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a single heating element is used to heat the aerosol generating material, then the heating process is simple, but the power consumption is high and heating control is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is divided into multiple independently controllable heating circuits (first heating circuit, second heating circuit, third heating circuit), each capable of being selectively activated. This segmentation allows the system to heat only the necessary portions of the aerosol generating material, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining heating effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system incorporates movable heating elements that can be positioned at different locations within the aerosol generating material. This dynamic positioning capability allows the heating element to adapt to different material configurations and consumption stages, optimizing heat distribution and reducing energy waste.
2Loss of energy
If heating elements are positioned within the aerosol generating material, then heating efficiency is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is integrated directly into the aerosol generating material to form a unified structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate heating component assemblies and complex mounting mechanisms, reducing structural complexity while maintaining high heating efficiency through direct thermal contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element is nested within the aerosol generating material, with the heating circuits embedded in the material matrix. This nested configuration allows the heating system to be compact and integrated, reducing the overall device structure complexity while ensuring efficient heat transfer to the material.
3Productivity
If all heating circuits are activated simultaneously, then the aerosol generation speed is fast, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates only the necessary number of heating circuits based on the actual heating requirements. Instead of always activating all heating circuits simultaneously, the controller selectively engages only the heating circuits needed to achieve the desired aerosol generation rate, reducing power consumption while maintaining adequate productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating circuits can be activated in sequential or periodic patterns rather than continuously simultaneously. This periodic activation allows the system to maintain aerosol generation throughput by cycling through different heating circuits, reducing peak power demands while sustaining overall productivity.
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 solution reduces power consumption, enhances heating control, and improves the efficiency of aerosol generation by allowing selective and sequential heating of the aerosol material, resulting in an aerosol with optimal characteristics for inhalation.
Implementation Method 1
a resistive heating element is provided to heat aerosol generating material positioned within a cavity of the device
Implementation Method 2
generate a vapour which typically cools and condenses to form an aerosol for inhalation by a user of the device
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
An aerosol generating device (10, 50) comprises a housing (16) defining a cavity (18) for receiving an aerosol generating material (26), a power source (20), a controller (22) and a plurality of heating circuits (40a-e) for heating the aerosol generating material (26). Each heating circuit comprises an electrical circuit component (42a-e, 52a-e) movable between a first position in which the electrical circuit component does not extend into the aerosol generating material (26) and a second position in which the electrical circuit component extends into the aerosol generating material (26). The controller (22) is configured to control the power source (20) to independently supply electrical energy to one or more of the heating circuits (40a-e) when the electrical circuit components are in the second position.