Aerosol Power Unit PCB Spacer Layout to Prevent Short Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing aerosol generating devices, multiple circuit boards within the power source unit are prone to contact with each other, leading to potential short circuits due to fixing methods or environmental factors.
Innovation Solution
The power source unit employs a spacer to maintain parallel alignment of circuit boards, preventing contact and ensuring electrical safety while optimizing internal space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple circuit boards are arranged adjacent to each other in the case, then the space utilization is improved, but the boards may come into contact with each other causing short circuit
Solution Approach 1:
An insulating member is introduced as an intermediary component between adjacent circuit boards. This insulating member prevents direct contact between the boards while occupying minimal space, thereby maintaining both high space utilization and electrical safety. The insulating member acts as a mediator that eliminates the harmful electrical contact without sacrificing the compact arrangement.
2Ease of manufacture
If circuit boards are fixed using conventional methods, then the assembly process is simplified, but the boards may shift or contact each other during usage
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating member is pre-installed in the case before the circuit boards are mounted. This preliminary action ensures that the insulating structure is already in place to prevent contact, and the boards are then fixed to this pre-prepared structure. This approach maintains assembly simplicity while ensuring stable board positions throughout usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating member serves as a mediator between the case and the circuit boards, providing both positional stability and electrical isolation. By fixing the boards to the insulating member rather than directly to the case, the system achieves both ease of manufacture and stable composition.
3Volume of moving object
If circuit boards are arranged in parallel configuration, then the space efficiency is improved, but the risk of contact and short circuit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating member is strategically positioned between parallel circuit boards to prevent harmful electrical contact. This intermediary structure allows the boards to maintain their space-efficient parallel arrangement while eliminating the short circuit risk through electrical isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating member provides localized electrical isolation precisely where needed between adjacent boards. This local quality approach ensures that the parallel configuration maintains its space efficiency while the specific contact points are protected against short circuits.
Data Source
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AI summary
A power source unit (100) of an aerosol generating device includes: a power source (BAT); a heater connector (Cn) to which a heater configured to heat an aerosol source by consuming power supplied from the power source is connected; a first board 161; a second board 162 separate from the first board; a case (110) in which the power source, the heater connector, the first board, and the second board are housed; and a spacer 173 disposed between the first board and the second board and configured to hold the first board and the second board in parallel. A chassis 150 to which the first and second boards are attached may be disposed inside the case. A controller (MCU) may be disposed on the first board to control the supply of power from the power source to the heater connector.