E-Cigarette Cartomizer Memory for Liquid Tracking and Burn Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic cigarettes experience burning issues when the liquid cartridge becomes empty, leading to bad taste and reduced pleasure, with smokers unable to predict when this occurs.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a memory in the cartomizer to track the liquid level, along with a temperature sensor and power adjustment mechanisms to prevent burning by cutting off power or adjusting it based on residual liquid, and using wireless communication for liquid status updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the heating element continues to operate when liquid is depleted, then power consumption is maximized, but burning occurs causing bad taste and reduced pleasure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidburning

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of liquid levels and predicts burning conditions before they occur. The memory tracks usage patterns and liquid consumption rates, allowing the system to anticipate when burning will occur and adjust power delivery proactively to prevent the harmful effect while maximizing energy utilization before depletion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the memory continuously monitors liquid consumption patterns and heating element performance. This feedback loop allows the controller to adjust power delivery in real-time based on actual liquid availability, preventing burning while optimizing power consumption throughout the liquid's lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If the liquid level is not monitored, then the device complexity is reduced, but the smoker cannot predict when burning will occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidliquid level information

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The memory component autonomously tracks liquid consumption patterns, usage frequency, and remaining liquid levels without requiring active user input or complex external monitoring systems. This self-service approach provides predictive information about burning risks while maintaining simple device architecture, as the memory independently performs detection and prediction functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If power is continuously supplied to the heating element, then vapor production is maximized, but the liquid depletes faster causing earlier burning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevapor productionVSAvoidliquid duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts power delivery to the heating element based on real-time liquid level predictions and consumption patterns. Rather than continuous fixed power supply, the controller modulates power levels to optimize vapor production at each stage of liquid depletion, extending the effective duration of safe operation while maintaining satisfactory vapor output throughout the liquid's lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Prevents burning by optimizing power delivery to the heating element, extending the number of puffs per electronic cigarette, and providing timely replacement alerts.

Implementation Method 1

The device may use heat, ultrasonic energy, or other means to vaporize/aerosolize a liquid (for example based on propylene glycol, or glycerin, for example including taste and fragrance ingredients) solution into an aerosol mist.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heating element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Implementation Method 3

The heating element generates the vapor from the liquid contained in the liquid container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20250212966A1Burning prediction and communications for an electronic cigarette

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC

AI summary

An electronic cigarette comprises a battery portion which is operable to provide power to a heating element of the electronic cigarette, and a cartomizer coupled with the battery portion. The cartomizer comprises a liquid container which provides a liquid toward the heating element wherein the liquid is used for producing and flavoring a vapor of the electronic cigarette when the liquid is heated by the heating element, and a memory which is operable to record and store an amount of the liquid remaining in the liquid container.