Aerosol Generation Control for Suction Sensor Abnormality Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerosol generation devices face issues with sensors deteriorating over time, leading to unintended atomization of the aerosol source when the user does not perform suction, resulting in waste, and existing techniques fail to detect sensor troubles effectively.
Innovation Solution
A power supply unit with a sensor that detects aerosol generation requests and a control unit that determines the sensor's state, transitioning to a sleep state when an abnormal condition is detected, allowing for easy recognition of sensor troubles and preventing unnecessary aerosol generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor is used continuously to detect user's suction action, then the detection function is maintained, but the sensor deteriorates over time and may cause false detection
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary detection of sensor output values before using the sensor for normal operation. By checking whether the output value falls within a predetermined range in advance, the system prevents false detection caused by sensor deterioration from occurring, thereby maintaining reliability while extending effective service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the sensor output value and provides feedback to the control unit. When the output value exceeds the predetermined range, the control unit identifies this as sensor deterioration and adjusts operation accordingly (switching to manual operation or notifying the user), creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains detection accuracy throughout the sensor's service life.
2Loss of substance
If the sensor deteriorates and causes false detection, then unintended atomization occurs wasting aerosol source, but detecting the trouble requires various inspections taking time and labor
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary checks of sensor output values before normal operation begins. By detecting sensor deterioration early through this preliminary assessment, the system prevents false detection and subsequent unintended atomization, thereby avoiding aerosol source waste without requiring time-consuming inspections later.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system performs self-diagnosis by monitoring its own output values. The control unit automatically detects when the sensor output falls outside the predetermined range, enabling the system to identify sensor deterioration without external inspection, thus reducing both time and labor for trouble detection while preventing aerosol waste.
3Ease of operation
If the sensor output value is used directly to control heater power, then the system is simple to operate, but the aerosol source is wasted when the sensor has trouble
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors sensor output values and compares them against a predetermined range. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically detect sensor deterioration and respond appropriately (by switching to manual operation or notifying the user), preventing aerosol source waste while maintaining ease of operation through automatic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary validation of sensor output values before using them to control heater power. By checking whether the output falls within the predetermined range in advance, the system ensures sensor reliability before operation, preventing waste while keeping the operation simple and automatic.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to detect the occurrence of malfunctions in a sensor, a power supply unit is provided with a suction action sensor which detects an aerosol generation request, and a control portion which, on the basis of an output value from the sensor which has detected an aerosol generation request, detects whether the sensor is in a normal state or an abnormal state. In one case, a control unit of the device may determine that the sensor is an abnormal state when the number of aerosol generation requests within a predetermined time period is greater than a predetermined threshold.