Battery Level Indication for Aerosol Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aerosol generating devices, such as heated tobacco products, lack an intuitive method for users to understand the battery level in terms of the number of consumable articles that can be fully used, making it difficult for users to manage battery charging and consumable usage effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for indicating the battery level of an aerosol generating device by determining the remaining charge, calculating the number of consumable articles that can be fully used, and displaying this information to the user through a user-friendly interface, ensuring compliance with the device's ergonomic design and limited size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the battery level is indicated in percentage, then the indication is provided, but it is difficult for the user to comprehend how many consumable articles can be fully used

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery level information clarityVSAvoiduser comprehension
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the battery level indication from percentage format to a format showing the number of consumable articles that can be fully used. This parameter change makes the information more meaningful to users who need to plan their consumable usage, directly resolving the comprehension difficulty while preserving the battery level information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the aerosol generating device is designed with a smooth surface for ergonomic advantage, then the ergonomic design is improved, but the surface should not be interrupted by means for indicating the battery level

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveergonomic designVSAvoidbattery level indication
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the battery level indication from the physical surface of the device to a wireless communication dimension. By transmitting the information (now displayed as number of consumable articles) wirelessly to a smartphone or other display device, the indication function is preserved without interrupting the smooth ergonomic surface of the aerosol generating device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4032419B1Battery level indication for an aeorosol generating device
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 JT INTERNATIONAL SA
  • EP4032419B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1D
  • EP4032419B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4032419B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of indicating a battery level of a battery of an aerosol generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generating substance contained in a consumable article, the method comprising the steps of: determining the amount of charge remaining in the battery; calculating the number of consumable articles that can be fully used with the determined amount of charge remaining in the battery; and displaying an information, said information indicating the calculated number of consumable articles that can be fully used with the determined amount of charge remaining in the battery.