Electronic Cigarette Temperature Control via Dielectric Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Manual temperature adjustment of electronic cigarettes is tedious and leads to poor user experience, as different tobacco liquids require varying heating temperatures for optimal atomization.

Innovation Solution

An electronic cigarette system that identifies the type of tobacco liquid using a dielectric constant sensor and matches it with pre-stored values to determine the appropriate temperature settings, allowing the device to automatically adjust its heating based on preset temperature information, such as time-dependent or fixed temperature curves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual temperature adjustment is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to tedious adjustment process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic cigarette system automatically identifies the tobacco liquid type through dielectric constant detection and self-adjusts the heating temperature without requiring manual user intervention. The controller autonomously completes the entire process from liquid identification to temperature parameter adjustment, making the system serve itself rather than requiring continuous user input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical temperature adjustment with an automated electronic control system. The controller uses dielectric constant sensing and automated programming to determine optimal heating parameters, substituting the mechanical act of manual adjustment with an electronic decision-making and control system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If automated temperature control is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller serves multiple functions: it controls the heating element for atomization, operates the dielectric constant sensor for liquid identification, stores liquid type information in memory, and automatically adjusts heating parameters. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single control unit, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The dielectric constant sensor acts as an intermediary that indirectly identifies tobacco liquid type without requiring direct physical contact or complex analysis. The sensor measures the electrical property (dielectric constant) of the liquid, providing the controller with sufficient information to identify the liquid type and adjust temperature accordingly, simplifying the overall detection mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If manual temperature adjustment is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-stores dielectric constant values and corresponding heating temperature parameters for multiple tobacco liquid types in the controller's memory. When a new liquid is detected, the controller quickly compares the measured dielectric constant against the pre-stored values and immediately retrieves the appropriate heating parameters, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual adjustment processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where the controller continuously monitors the dielectric constant of the tobacco liquid and automatically adjusts the heating temperature based on the detected liquid type. This closed-loop control ensures optimal atomization temperature is maintained without requiring user intervention, significantly improving operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Simplifies operation by enabling intelligent temperature adjustment, improving user experience through optimized atomization and aerosol production without manual intervention.

Implementation Method 1

Each type of tobacco liquid has a different dielectric constant, and different types of tobacco liquid correspond to different heating temperature requirements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDielectric constant measurement: Dielectric Permittivity

Implementation Method 2

Electronic cigarette atomizes tobacco liquid to form aerosol via heating the tobacco liquid by an atomizer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3245887B1Electronic cigarette and temperature control method thereof
Publication Date: 2020.01.08 SHENZHEN FIRST UNION TECH CO LTD
  • EP3245887B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3245887B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3245887B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An electronic cigarette and temperature control method thereof are provided. The temperature control method of the electronic cigarette includes: identifying type of tobacco liquid in the electronic cigarette (S11); acquiring preset temperature information corresponding to the type of the tobacco liquid (S12); and controlling the electronic cigarette to work according to the acquired preset temperature information (S 13). The method of the present disclosure could adjust the temperature of the electronic cigarette automatically to meet user's need, which could simplify operation and improve the user experience.