Aerosol Puff Recognition Using Multi-Sensor Airflow Temperature Detection
Solution Overview
Problem
Heating-type aerosol-generating devices produce low-quality aerosol when the aerosol generating material is heated for an excessively long time due to their structural characteristics, necessitating accurate puff counting to maintain consistent aerosol quality.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a plurality of temperature sensors within the aerosol-generating device's airflow path to detect temperature changes and a controller that compares these changes with set thresholds to determine if a puff has been generated, allowing for precise puff recognition and timely cessation of heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If heating is continued for a long time to provide sufficient aerosol, then aerosol generation duration is extended, but aerosol quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs temperature sensors to continuously monitor the heater temperature and airflow path temperature, feeding this information back to the controller. The controller adjusts the heating power based on the detected temperature changes, ensuring the heater maintains optimal temperature ranges for consistent aerosol quality while preventing overheating that would degrade aerosol quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system transitions from static continuous heating to dynamic controlled heating. The controller dynamically adjusts the heating power based on real-time temperature feedback from multiple sensors, adapting the heating intensity to maintain optimal aerosol generation conditions throughout the extended usage period.
2Device complexity
If a single temperature sensor is used for puff detection, then device complexity is reduced, but puff recognition accuracy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature monitoring function is segmented across multiple sensors positioned at different locations within the airflow path. Each sensor monitors a specific zone, and the controller integrates data from all sensors to comprehensively detect temperature changes caused by user puffs, significantly improving detection accuracy compared to a single sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the detection data from multiple temperature sensors to form a comprehensive puff detection decision. The controller combines temperature change information from different sensor locations, integrating these measurements to accurately distinguish actual puffs from other temperature fluctuations in the system.
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 method enables accurate recognition of user puffs and ensures consistent aerosol quality by integrating temperature data from multiple sensors, regardless of unique inhalation patterns.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of temperature sensors that detect a temperature change inside an airflow path
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol-generating device having a puff recognition function includes plurality of temperature sensors configured to detect a temperature change of an airflow path in the aerosol-generating device, and a controller configured to compare the detected temperature change with a threshold set for each of the plurality of temperature sensors when the temperature change is detected, and determine whether a user's puff occurred based on a comparison result.