Breath Actuated Vaporizer Closed Loop Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vaporization devices for delivering vaporized plant material suffer from inefficient heat management and delayed vapor delivery due to prolonged device warmup.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a closed loop temperature control technique that drives current from a power source to a forced convection air heater, combined with breath detection functionality, to provide rapid and on-demand vapor delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional heating methods are used in vaporization devices, then the device can eventually deliver vaporized material, but the warmup time is prolonged and heat management is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the airflow path and heater components before actual vaporization begins. The forced convection system pre-circulates air through the heating zone, and the closed-loop controller activates heating elements in advance to reach optimal temperature quickly when vaporization is requested, eliminating prolonged warmup delays
Solution Approach 2:
The closed-loop temperature control system continuously monitors heater temperature and airflow conditions, adjusting power delivery in real-time to maintain optimal heating efficiency. This feedback mechanism prevents energy waste and ensures rapid, consistent vaporization performance without requiring extended warmup periods
2Productivity
If high power heating is applied to deliver vapor quickly, then vapor delivery speed improves, but heat management efficiency deteriorates and energy is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic, pulsed heating cycles rather than continuous high-power heating. The forced convection airflow is modulated to deliver concentrated bursts of heated air during inhalation events, while the closed-loop controller adjusts heater duty cycle to provide sufficient thermal energy only when needed, minimizing overall energy consumption while maintaining rapid vapor delivery capability
Solution Approach 2:
The forced convection air heating system uses controlled airflow to efficiently transfer thermal energy from the heater to the vaporization chamber and out to the user. This pneumatic delivery mechanism ensures that heated air reaches the target zone quickly and uniformly, improving heating efficiency by reducing thermal losses and ensuring complete heat transfer to the vaporized material
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
This solution enables efficient and reliable delivery of vaporized plant material on-demand, ensuring safe and comfortable inhalation without significant delay, despite fluctuations in inhalation strength, duration, environmental conditions, and plant material characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a forced convection air heater to provide rapid, on-demand vapor delivery
Implementation Method 2
vaporization devices suitable for selectively delivering vaporized plant material for inhalation by a user
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an electronically controlled, breath actuated vaporization device for generating vaporized material for inhalation by a user. The vaporization device includes a vaporization chamber for accommodating material to be vaporized and a mesh heater or other heater supported upstream of the vaporization chamber which is operable to heat air that passes through the mesh heater or other heater during an inhalation event. A closed loop control scheme may be employed to control heat generated by the heater to maintain a temperature of the air delivered to the vaporization chamber at or within a predetermined tolerance of a desired vaporization temperature for at least a majority of a duration of the inhalation event.