E-Cigarette Heating Element Control to Prevent Overheating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic cigarettes face issues with excessive heating of the heating element, leading to the production of harmful substances, as the temperature control systems in existing technologies are inadequate, resulting in overheating and potential health risks.

Innovation Solution

An electronic cigarette temperature control system comprising a power supply, a heating element, a temperature detection element, and a processor that detects temperature changes and adjusts the output voltage or power to maintain the heating element within a reasonable operating range, using a thermistor or other temperature sensors to prevent overheating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the output voltage or output power of the battery assembly is increased, then the heating effect of the heating member is improved, but the temperature generated by the heating member becomes excessively high leading to harmful substance production

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput power of battery assemblyVSAvoidharmful substances production
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a temperature feedback control system where a temperature detection element continuously monitors the heating element's temperature and sends signals to the control unit. The control unit adjusts the battery's output voltage or power based on this feedback to maintain the heating element temperature within a safe range, preventing harmful substance production while preserving effective heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit dynamically changes the electrical parameters (voltage or power) of the battery assembly based on detected temperature conditions. When the heating element temperature approaches unsafe levels, the system reduces the output voltage or power to lower the temperature, thereby preventing harmful substance generation while maintaining heating functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If the resistance of the heating member is decreased, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the temperature generated becomes excessively high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidheating element temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature detection element provides continuous feedback on the heating element's temperature to the control unit. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor temperature in real-time and adjust power delivery accordingly, ensuring that high heating efficiency is maintained without allowing temperature to exceed safe thresholds that would produce harmful substances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit dynamically adjusts the electrical parameters (voltage or power) supplied to the heating element based on temperature detection. When the heating element's resistance is low and heating efficiency is high, the system monitors temperature closely and reduces voltage or power if temperature approaches unsafe levels, thereby maintaining heating efficiency while preventing excessive temperature.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If no temperature control system is implemented, then the device structure is simple, but the heating element overheats and produces harmful substances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidharmful substances release
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a temperature feedback control system consisting of a temperature detection element and a control unit. The detection element continuously monitors the heating element's temperature and provides feedback to the control unit, which adjusts the battery's output voltage or power to maintain safe operating temperatures, preventing harmful substance production while adding minimal structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature control system operates autonomously by continuously monitoring the heating element's temperature and automatically adjusting the power supply without user intervention. The control unit receives temperature feedback and independently makes power adjustment decisions, providing self-service temperature management that prevents harmful substance generation with minimal impact on device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 system effectively maintains the heating element's temperature within a safe range, preventing the release of harmful substances, conserving energy, and prolonging the device's lifespan by avoiding thermal damage.

Implementation Method 1

determine whether the heating element has temperature coefficient of resistance characteristics according to a resistance value RL of the heating element before the heating element is powered on and a resistance value RL of the heating element after the processor detects that the heating element is powered on

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature coefficient of resistance: Thermistor

Implementation Method 2

a heating element 12, a temperature detection element 13 and a processor 14... The heating element 12 can heat smoke liquid, wax, or tobacco

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3249488B1Temperature control system and control method thereof, and electronic cigarette containing said temperature control system
Publication Date: 2021.10.06 JOYETECH CHANGZHOU ELECTRONICS
  • EP3249488B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3249488B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3249488B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic cigarette temperature control system (100), includes a power supply (11), a heating element (12), a temperature detection element (13), and a processor (14), the power supply (11) is electrically coupled to the heating element (12) and the processor (14), the temperature detection element (13) is electrically coupled to the processor (14), which is configured to detect a change of a temperature T of the heating element (12), and output the change of the temperature T to the processor (14), the processor (14) is configured to determine a temperature t of the temperature detection element (13) according to an associated physical quantity x of the temperature detection element (13), and calculate the temperature T of the heating element (12) according to the temperature t of the temperature detection element (13). An electronic cigarette including the temperature control system (100) is also provided.