Aerosol Puff Counting via Heating Duty Cycle Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for counting puffs in aerosol generating devices, such as e-cigarettes, involve hardware components like pressure-flow sensors and temperature-sensing sensors, which increase costs and may not accurately detect puffing actions due to small temperature changes.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that amplify measurement and target values of a target parameter, determine duty cycle data using PID computation, and adjust power output to accurately count puffs by detecting changes in duty cycle data, incorporating a controller to manage power and temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional hardware sensors (pressure-flow sensor, temperature-sensing sensor, microphone switch) are added to detect puffing actions, then the detection capability is improved, but the hardware cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepuff detection accuracyVSAvoidhardware cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical hardware sensors (pressure-flow sensors, temperature sensors, microphone switches) with an electronic control system that uses existing heating control circuits to detect puffing actions. The controller monitors changes in heating power requirements and duty cycle data to infer puff events, eliminating the need for separate detection hardware while maintaining accurate puff counting functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the existing heating control system perform dual functions: both heating control and puff detection. The controller uses the same measurement and control circuits that regulate heating power to also detect puffing actions by monitoring changes in duty cycle data and power consumption patterns, thereby eliminating dedicated detection hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional hardware sensors are used to detect puffing actions, then the detection function is added, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepuff detection functionVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the puff detection function with the existing heating control system. The controller integrates both heating regulation and puff detection capabilities into a single control unit, using the same hardware resources (processors, memory, communication interfaces) for both functions, thus avoiding additional structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If temperature-sensing sensors are used to detect puffing actions, then the puff detection is enabled, but the detection accuracy is insufficient due to small temperature changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepuff detection capabilityVSAvoidtemperature change detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces temperature-based detection with a control-system-based detection method that monitors duty cycle data and power consumption changes. This approach detects puffing actions through electrical parameter variations rather than thermal changes, overcoming the limitation of small temperature signals while maintaining detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4706429A1Method and apparatus for counting number of puffs, and aerosol generating device

Publication Date: 2026.03.11 SHENZHEN FIRST UNION TECH CO LTD

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AI summary

The present application relates to a method and apparatus for counting the number of puffs, and an aerosol generating device. The method for counting the number of puffs comprises: firstly, acquiring a measured value of a target parameter of an aerosol generating device, and amplifying the measured value of the target parameter and a target value thereof; then, determining duty ratio data of the aerosol generating device according to the amplified measured value and target value, and acquiring a real-time value and the current average value of the duty ratio data; and finally, determining a change in the number of puffs according to the real-time value and the average value. In the method for counting the number of puffs, both a measured value of a target parameter and a target value thereof are amplified, and duty ratio data of an aerosol generating device is then determined on the basis of the amplified measured value and target value, such that a change in the duty ratio data caused by a vaping action is greater, thereby improving the sensitivity for capturing the vaping action, such that whether the number of puffs changes can be determined more precisely, thereby making the counting of the number of puffs more precise.