Aerosol Generating System Liquid Substrate Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrically operated aerosol generating systems, such as electric smoking utensils, lack effective monitoring and estimation of the remaining liquid aerosol-forming substrate, leading to inconsistent aerosol quality and user experience due to insufficient or depleted liquid supply.

Innovation Solution

An electrically operated aerosol generating system with a liquid storage portion, an electric heater, and integrated electric circuitry that monitors the heater's activation to estimate the remaining liquid aerosol-forming substrate by tracking temperature, resistance, or power usage, using empirical equations to calculate consumption and predict when the liquid is low, thereby preventing aerosol quality issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the electric heater is activated to vaporize the liquid substrate, then aerosol is formed, but the liquid substrate is consumed leading to quality degradation when depleted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerosol generationVSAvoidliquid substrate consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by monitoring heater activation parameters (temperature, resistance, power) and using this information to estimate liquid substrate consumption. The electric circuitry continuously tracks the relationship between heater operation and substrate depletion, providing real-time feedback on remaining liquid levels to maintain aerosol quality throughout the liquid's lifecycle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary estimation of liquid substrate depletion before complete exhaustion occurs. By monitoring heater activation patterns and calculating consumption rates in advance, the system can predict when liquid levels will drop below quality thresholds, allowing for timely refilling or replacement to prevent aerosol quality degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If the liquid storage portion is not monitored, then the system structure remains simple, but aerosol quality becomes inconsistent when liquid is depleted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem structureVSAvoidaerosol quality consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electric circuitry provides continuous feedback monitoring of heater activation parameters to estimate liquid substrate levels. This feedback mechanism enables the system to detect when liquid levels are declining and alert the user, ensuring aerosol quality consistency without requiring complex mechanical sensors or direct liquid level measurement systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical liquid level sensing mechanisms with an electrical monitoring approach. By measuring electrical parameters (temperature, resistance, power) of the heater during activation, the system indirectly estimates liquid substrate consumption, substituting mechanical complexity with electrical measurement and calculation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical 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

Ensures consistent aerosol quality by accurately determining when the liquid is depleted, allowing users to refill the system and preventing the creation of aerosols with undesired properties, thus enhancing user experience.

Implementation Method 1

an electric heater comprising at least one heating element for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

an electric heater comprising at least one heating element for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

The second equation preferably accounts for thermal diffusion through the aerosol forming substrate and any element holding the aerosol forming substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal diffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS9763476B2Aerosol generating system having means for handling consumption of a liquid subtrate

Publication Date: 2017.09.19 PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS SA

AI summary

There is provided an electrically operated aerosol generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate. The system includes a liquid storage portion for storing liquid aerosol-forming substrate, an electric heater including at least one heating element for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and electric circuitry configured to monitor activation of the electric heater and estimate an amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate remaining in the liquid storage portion based on the monitored activation. There is also provided a method in an electrically operated aerosol generating system including a liquid storage portion for storing liquid aerosol-forming substrate and an electric heater including at least one heating element for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, the method including monitoring activation of the electric heater and estimating an amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate remaining in the liquid storage portion based on the monitored activation.