Aerosol Provision Device Segmentation Control Circuitry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aerosol provision systems, such as e-cigarettes, face inefficiencies in energy usage and time required to heat bulk solid materials for aerosol generation, leading to suboptimal performance in delivering aerosols.

Innovation Solution

The aerosol provision device incorporates control circuitry to perform aerosolization processes on multiple separate occasions for different portions of aerosol generating material, using heating elements to efficiently generate aerosols from amorphous solid materials with controlled thickness and mass, allowing for sequential or simultaneous heating to optimize aerosol production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If bulk solid material is heated constantly for multiple user inhalations, then aerosol can be provided for multiple puffs, but energy consumption increases and time required to reach aerosol generation temperature becomes lengthy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveduration of aerosol provisionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the aerosol generating material into multiple discrete portions, each capable of being heated separately to generate aerosol. This segmentation allows the system to heat only one portion at a time rather than continuously heating bulk material, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while still providing aerosol for multiple puffs across different heating cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic heating cycles where individual portions of aerosol generating material are heated on separate occasions rather than continuous heating. This periodic action allows the material to cool between heating events, reducing energy consumption while maintaining the ability to provide aerosol over an extended duration through multiple heating cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Duration of action of moving object

If bulk solid material is heated, then aerosol can be generated for multiple puffs, but the time required for the bulk material to reach aerosol generation temperature becomes lengthy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveduration of aerosol provisionVSAvoidtime to reach aerosol generation temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the aerosol generating material into smaller discrete portions, each portion requires less time to reach aerosol generation temperature compared to heating bulk material. The segmentation enables faster heating cycles while still providing extended aerosol provision through multiple portions that can be heated sequentially on separate occasions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If multiple heating elements are used to heat different portions of aerosol generating material, then aerosol generation efficiency improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerosol generation efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of heating elements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent describes a system where a single heating element can be used to heat different portions of aerosol generating material at different times. This multi-functional approach allows one heating element to serve multiple portions sequentially, achieving efficient aerosol generation without requiring a separate heating element for each portion, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 approach reduces energy consumption and enhances the efficiency of aerosol generation, enabling consistent aerosol delivery with fewer heating elements, thus improving the overall performance and user experience of aerosol provision systems.

Implementation Method 1

electrical power is supplied to the heating element to vaporize source liquid in the vicinity of the heating element to generate an aerosol

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

electrical power is supplied to the heating element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

air drawn past the aerosol source continues along the flow path to the mouthpiece opening, carrying some of the aerosol from the aerosol source with it

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS20220408805A1Electronic aerosol provision system

Publication Date: 2022.12.29 NICOVENTURES TRADING LTD

AI summary

An aerosol provision device for use with an aerosol generating article including aerosol generating material having one or more aerosol generating components arranged to aerosolize different portions of the aerosol generating material and control circuitry for supplying power to the one or more aerosol generating components, the control circuitry is configured to perform an aerosolization process on a first portion of the aerosol generating material on at least two separate occasions.