Aerosol Inhaler Power Control to Prevent Battery Overcharge and Deep Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aerosol inhalers experience frequent charging and discharging, leading to deterioration in power supply performance, which existing technologies fail to effectively suppress.

Innovation Solution

A power supply unit for aerosol inhalers, comprising a power supply and a control unit that manages charging and discharging to prevent the power supply from reaching fully charged or discharging termination states, using a MCU and charging IC to control the state of charge and prevent deterioration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If frequent charging and discharging is performed to meet user usage demands, then the usability and responsiveness of the aerosol inhaler are improved, but the power supply performance deteriorates due to repeated charge-discharge cycles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusage frequencyVSAvoidpower supply performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs preliminary assessment of power supply state before charging/discharging operations. By evaluating voltage, current, and temperature parameters in advance, the system determines optimal charging/discharging parameters to prevent performance deterioration while maintaining usability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts charging and discharging parameters (current, voltage, time) based on real-time power supply state. By changing these parameters adaptively, the system reduces stress on the power supply during frequent cycles, preventing performance deterioration while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of moving object

If the power supply is charged to a fully charged state to maximize available power, then the operational duration is extended, but the power supply deterioration accelerates due to prolonged high voltage stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational durationVSAvoidpower supply lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit implements partial charging control, deliberately stopping charging before the power supply reaches full charge state. By maintaining the charge level below 100% (e.g., at 80-90%), the system reduces voltage stress and chemical degradation, extending power supply lifespan while still providing sufficient operational duration for normal usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the power supply is discharged to a discharging termination state to maximize power utilization, then the energy efficiency is improved, but the power supply deterioration worsens due to deep discharge stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy utilization efficiencyVSAvoidpower supply durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit implements partial discharge control, preventing the power supply from reaching complete discharge state. By maintaining the discharge level above 0% (e.g., stopping at 10-20% remaining charge), the system avoids deep discharge stress and chemical degradation, extending power supply durability while maintaining acceptable energy utilization efficiency for normal operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Loss of time

If rapid charging is performed to reduce charging time, then the user convenience is improved, but the power supply deterioration accelerates due to high current stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging timeVSAvoidpower supply health

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit dynamically adjusts charging current based on real-time power supply state and requirements. By varying the current level adaptively rather than maintaining constant high current, the system achieves reasonable charging speed while reducing peak stress on the power supply, preventing accelerated deterioration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The charging process is divided into multiple stages with different current levels. The system applies high current only during initial phases when the power supply can tolerate it, then transitions to lower current levels as charge increases, creating a periodic pattern that balances charging speed with power supply protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11862997B2Power supply unit for aerosol inhaler, aerosol inhaler, power supply control method of aerosol inhaler, and power supply control program of aerosol inhaler

Publication Date: 2024.01.02 JAPAN TOBACCO INC

AI summary

A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a power supply that is able to discharge power to a load for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generation source; and a control unit that is configured to control at least one of charging and discharging of the power supply such that the power supply does not become one or both of a fully charged state and a discharging termination state.