Aerosol Device Wave Guide for Even Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerosol delivery devices lack distinct visual characteristics and feedback mechanisms, making them indistinguishable from competing products and lacking in user information display.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an illumination source and wave guide within the device to output electromagnetic radiation, providing light at specific sections and enhancing visual feedback through a flexible wave guide configuration that extends around the inner circumference of the outer body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If an illumination source and wave guide are added to the aerosol delivery device, then visual feedback and product identity are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A wave guide is introduced as an intermediary component to transmit light from the illumination source to the outer surface of the device. The wave guide receives electromagnetic radiation from the illumination source positioned proximate the first outer body end and outputs light at one or more illumination sections along the outer surface, providing visual feedback without requiring direct integration of the illumination source at multiple locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The wave guide is configured as a flexible component that can be received within the hollow outer body and extends around substantially an entirety of the inner circumference. This flexible configuration allows the wave guide to adapt to the device geometry while maintaining light transmission functionality, reducing structural complexity compared to rigid multi-component assemblies.
2Area of stationary object
If the wave guide extends around the entire inner circumference of the outer body, then illumination coverage is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wave guide is designed to extend around substantially an entirety of the inner circumference of the outer body, with the first lateral end abutting or overlapping the second lateral end along at least a portion of the longitudinal length. This segmentation approach allows the wave guide to be manufactured as a manageable component that can be assembled within the outer body, reducing the precision requirements compared to manufacturing a single continuous circumferential piece.
Solution Approach 2:
The wave guide configuration allows for variation in how the lateral ends meet - they can abut or overlap along at least a portion of the longitudinal length. This parameter flexibility in the assembly configuration provides tolerance for manufacturing variations while still achieving comprehensive illumination coverage around the inner circumference.
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
The solution provides distinct visual cues and information to users, enhancing the product's identity and usability while maintaining a compact, user-friendly design.
Implementation Method 1
The wave guide is configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the illumination source and output light at one or more illumination sections
Implementation Method 2
an illumination source configured to output an electromagnetic radiation
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices (100) that may include components configured to convert electrical energy to heat and atomize an aerosol precursor composition. An outer body (404) may at least partially enclose the components. An illumination source (418) may be configured to output electromagnetic radiation (444). A wave guide (424) may be configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the illumination source and illuminate the aerosol delivery device. The wave guide may define an increasing width from a first longitudinal end (438) at which the electromagnetic radiation is received to an opposing second longitudinal end (440). Thereby, the wave guide may directly transmit the electromagnetic radiation across the entirety of the second longitudinal end to provide substantially even illumination at the second longitudinal end while employing less material and reducing the volume of space occupied by the wave guide as compared to cylindrical embodiments of wave guides. Related methods are also provided.