Electronic Cigarette Controller with Voltage-Based Fault Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of electronic cigarettes face difficulties in diagnosing and repairing minor failures, such as short circuits or open circuits in the heating wire, which leads to device malfunction and loss of trust in the product, as these issues cannot be visually identified or easily resolved by the user.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent controller for electronic cigarettes that includes a switch module, voltage acquisition module, control module, and display module, allowing users to detect whether the heating wire is in a short-circuit, open-circuit, or normal condition, enabling direct observation and simple repair of minor failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electronic cigarette uses a simple control circuit without fault detection, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability is poor because users cannot diagnose heating wire failures
Solution Approach 1:
The controller incorporates a feedback mechanism where the microcontrol unit continuously monitors the voltage across the heating wire and compares it against expected values. When the voltage deviates from the normal range, the system generates a feedback signal to indicate a fault condition, enabling reliable detection of heating wire failures without requiring complex additional hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The fault detection system enables the electronic cigarette to self-diagnose heating wire conditions. The microcontrol unit automatically measures voltage, determines fault status, and activates indicator lights to communicate the condition to the user, eliminating the need for external diagnostic tools or complex service mechanisms
2Ease of operation
If the electronic cigarette lacks visual fault indication, then the device complexity is low, but the ease of operation is poor because users cannot identify the trouble spot
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses color-coded indicator lights to visually communicate the status of the heating wire. Different colors or lighting patterns indicate normal operation versus fault conditions, providing intuitive visual feedback that is easily distinguishable by users without requiring technical knowledge or complex display interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator light serves as an intermediary between the microcontrol unit's internal voltage measurement and the user's need for fault information. The microcontroller translates the measured voltage into a visual signal that the user can immediately understand, bridging the gap between complex electrical measurements and simple user comprehension
3Ease of repair
If the electronic cigarette has no fault detection system, then the device complexity is low, but the ease of repair is poor because users must send the device for professional overhaul
Solution Approach 1:
The fault detection system empowers users to perform self-diagnosis of heating wire conditions. By providing clear visual indicators of fault status, the system enables users to determine whether the heating wire is malfunctioning without needing to disassemble the device or consult professional service centers, significantly improving ease of repair
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is segmented into distinct functional modules: voltage acquisition module, control module for processing, and display module for output. This modular segmentation allows the fault detection functionality to be added as a discrete subsystem, making the overall system manageable and maintainable despite the added complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
An intelligent controller of electronic cigarette includes a switch module, a voltage acquisition module coupled to a heating wire, a control module coupled to the switch module and the voltage acquisition module, respectively, a display module electrically connected to an output of the control module, and a battery electrically connected to the switch module, the voltage acquisition module, the control module and the display module, respectively. The control module sends a control signal to the voltage acquisition module to make the voltage acquisition module acquire a terminal voltage of the heating wire. After receiving a signal from the switch module, whether the heating wire of an atomizer is in a short-circuit condition, an open-circuit condition or a normal condition is detected based on the acquired signal, and a detection result is output such that these conditions of the heating wire are observed directly by users.