Ceramic Heating Element With Embedded Temperature Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic vaporizers face challenges in accurately controlling heating temperatures, leading to either excessive vaporization or incomplete vaporization of organic materials, due to the limitations of voltage-controlled and Temperature Coefficient Resistance (TCR) systems, which can result in undesirable reactions and flavor alteration.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a ceramic heating element with a built-in temperature sensor, allowing for direct temperature measurement and independent control of heating and temperature sensing functions, enabling more precise temperature regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If voltage-controlled heating systems are used, then the heating element can be powered and heated, but the temperature control accuracy deteriorates because the system does not directly control temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where a temperature sensor (thermistor) continuously monitors the heating element temperature and feeds this information back to the control circuit. The control circuit adjusts the power delivery based on the temperature feedback, maintaining the desired temperature setpoint and resolving the contradiction between providing heating power and achieving accurate temperature control.
2Measurement precision
If TCR controlled heating systems are used, then temperature measurement is possible through resistance comparison, but the response time and accuracy deteriorate due to measuring the heating wire temperature directly rather than the ceramic heating element temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a separate temperature sensor (thermistor) as an intermediary element that directly contacts the ceramic heating element to measure its temperature. This separate sensor acts as a mediator between the heating element and the control system, providing accurate and responsive temperature measurements without relying on the heating wire's resistance changes, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement capability and response time.
3Device complexity
If a single coil is used for dual purposes of temperature measurement and heating production, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates because too high or low resistance affects either temperature measurement accuracy or heating production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heating and temperature measurement functions into separate components: a heating element (ceramic with heating wire) for heat production and a separate temperature sensor (thermistor) for temperature measurement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromise, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and system reliability by showing that separate components provide more reliable dual-function performance.
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 provides accurate and controlled heating, preventing excessive vaporization and secondary reactions, while ensuring optimal flavor preservation and efficient vaporization of organic materials.
Implementation Method 1
an encapsulated material with low resistance that acts as the material that converts electrical power to thermal heat through joule heating
Implementation Method 2
Temperature Coefficient Resistance (TCR) controlled heating systems measure the resistance of the heating element as it is powered by electric current and compare it to a pre-programmed table that relates temperature to resistance
Implementation Method 3
The heating results in the phase-change of (at least a portion of) the organic volatile compounds, from their solid or liquid state, to a gas state
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic vaporizer includes a main unit, an atomizer and a mouthpiece. The atomizer is removably coupled to the main unit. The mouthpiece is removably coupled to the atomizer. The atomizer includes an atomizer base, a heating electrode coupled to the atomizer base, a temperature sensing electrode coupled to the atomizer base, a heating element electrically coupled to the heating electrode and the temperature sensing electrode, and a heating crucible thermally coupled to the heating element. The heating element includes a heating element base, a heating circuit encapsulated within the heating element base and a temperature sensing circuit encapsulated within the heating element base.