Ultrasonic Atomizer Wick Structure for Faster First Smoke

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ultrasonic high-frequency atomizing electronic cigarettes suffer from prolonged waiting times for smoke inhalation due to excessive heat absorption by tobacco tar guide cotton, leading to inefficient atomization and poor user experience.

Innovation Solution

A strip-shaped tobacco tar guide body with a reduced contact area is used to minimize heat absorption, allowing the atomizing piece to quickly generate heat and oscillate, thereby shortening the time to first smoke production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tobacco tar guide cotton is used to cover the atomizing piece surface, then tobacco tar guidance is improved, but heat absorption increases causing delayed atomization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetobacco tar guidanceVSAvoidtime to first smoke
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a strip-shaped tobacco tar guide body made of thin film material that contacts the atomizing piece surface. This thin film structure provides effective tobacco tar guidance while minimizing heat absorption compared to bulky cotton material, thereby reducing the time delay before atomization begins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The strip-shaped guide body is positioned specifically at the edge portion of the atomizing piece surface where tobacco tar needs guidance. This localized placement provides guidance functionality only where needed, rather than covering the entire surface with heat-absorbing material, thus minimizing overall heat absorption while maintaining guidance effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If large contact area between tobacco tar guide cotton and atomizing piece is used, then tobacco tar absorption is improved, but heat transfer increases reducing atomization efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetobacco tar absorptionVSAvoidheat transfer
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The thin film strip-shaped guide body absorbs tobacco tar through its surface area without requiring large contact area with the atomizing piece. The tobacco tar is absorbed from the air and liquid phases as it passes over the strip, rather than requiring direct contact with the heated atomizing piece surface, thus minimizing heat transfer while maintaining absorption capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The strip-shaped guide body acts as an intermediary between the atomizing piece and the tobacco tar. It provides a pathway for tobacco tar to be guided and absorbed without requiring direct large-area contact with the hot atomizing piece surface, thereby reducing heat transfer losses while maintaining effective tobacco tar absorption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If tobacco tar guide cotton is supersaturated with tobacco tar, then tobacco tar guidance is maintained, but atomization becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetobacco tar guidance continuityVSAvoidatomization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The thin film strip-shaped guide body has low tobacco tar storage capacity compared to bulky cotton. This prevents supersaturation because the strip can be easily replaced when saturated, and during normal operation it maintains optimal absorption levels without becoming overloaded, thus avoiding the atomization difficulties that arise from supersaturated cotton.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The strip-shaped guide body is designed as a consumable component that is replaced periodically. When the strip becomes saturated with tobacco tar, it is discarded and replaced with a fresh strip. This ensures continuous optimal performance without the atomization problems that occur when cotton becomes supersaturated and difficult to atomize.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 enables quicker smoke release and reduces the likelihood of tobacco tar guide body supersaturation, enhancing user experience by minimizing heat transfer and maintaining efficient atomization.

Implementation Method 1

after the piezoelectric ceramic piece is energized, it does not immediately oscillate to atomize the tobacco tar guide cotton. Instead, it is energized at first to generate heat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

the piezoelectric ceramic piece oscillates to atomize the tobacco tar guide cotton

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3469929B1Atomizer and electronic cigarette comprising same
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 CHINA TOBACCO HUNAN IND CORP
  • EP3469929B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3469929B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3469929B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An atomizer, comprising an atomizer body, and an atomizing core and a tobacco tar cavity (4) both arranged in the atomizer body, the atomizing core comprises an atomizing piece (51) and a strip-shaped tobacco tar guide body (52) which guides tobacco tar in the tobacco tar cavity (4) to an atomizing surface of the atomizing piece (51); and the strip-shaped tobacco tar guide body (52) spreads across the atomizing piece (51) and props against the atomizing surface of the atomizing piece (51), and the area of a contact surface of the strip-shaped tobacco tar guide body (52) and the atomizing piece (51) is less than the area of the atomizing surface of the atomizing piece (51). The structural form of line contact is adopted in the atomizer, thus the time from the start of working of the atomizing piece (51) to the start of oscillation atomization is shortened, smoke is released quicker, and the phenomenon that the tobacco tar guide body (52) is difficult to atomize after being supersaturated due to too much tobacco tar absorption is not generated.