E-Vaping Optical Window Design for Clean Used-Article Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing e-vaping devices fail to effectively detect used aerosol generating heat-not-burn consumable articles and maintain cleanliness of optical windows due to dust and dirt accumulation, leading to inefficient battery usage and potential damage to new consumables.
Innovation Solution
The optical window of the e-vaping device protrudes into the consumable recess, allowing automatic cleaning through the insertion and removal of consumables, with beveled extensions facilitating smooth brushing to prevent damage and maintain optical clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the optical window is placed close to the consumable article for detection, then the detection precision is improved, but the optical window becomes dirty with dust and dirt from heating
Solution Approach 1:
The optical window is extracted from the recess wall and protrudes into the recess space. This allows the detection function to remain close to the consumable article while the window surface is positioned to be cleaned by the article itself during insertion and removal, separating the detection function from the contamination source.
Solution Approach 2:
The consumable article itself serves as the cleaning mechanism for the optical window. As the article is inserted into and removed from the recess, its surface brushes against the protruding optical window, automatically removing dust and dirt without requiring additional cleaning components or user intervention.
2Ease of operation
If the optical window protrudes into the recess for automatic cleaning, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of damaging the consumable article increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical window has beveled edges at its protruding surface, creating a localized gentle slope rather than a sharp edge. This local modification to the window geometry allows it to brush against the consumable article softly during insertion and removal, providing cleaning action while minimizing the risk of damaging the article.
3Device complexity
If the optical window is cleaned by consumable article movement, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cleaning effectiveness may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The optical window is positioned to be cleaned during the routine insertion and removal operations that already occur in normal device usage. This preliminary cleaning action, performed before detection operations, ensures the optical window surface is free of contaminants without requiring separate cleaning cycles or additional mechanical cleaning components.
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 design ensures efficient detection of used consumables by maintaining optical window cleanliness, reducing battery waste, and preventing reuse of used articles while minimizing damage to new consumables.
Implementation Method 1
a light beam can successively: be emitted by said optical source, go through said optical window, be reflected by said external surface of said aerosol generating heat-not-burn consumable article
Implementation Method 2
said optical window protrudes into said recess so as to be brushed by said aerosol generating heat-not-burn consumable article, upon insertion into said recess and/or upon removal from said recess
Data Source
AI summary
An e-vaping device includes: a recess for receiving an aerosol generating heat-not-burn consumable article, a heater disposed close to or against the recess so as to heat the aerosol generating heat-not-burn consumable article, an optical device disposed in a hole of a wall of the recess so as to detect a change of reflectivity at external surface of the aerosol generating heat-not-burn consumable article corresponding to a change of state of the aerosol generating heat-not-burn consumable article. The optical window protrudes into the recess so as to be brushed by the aerosol generating heat-not-burn consumable article, upon insertion into the recess and/or upon removal from the recess, of the aerosol generating article. The optical window includes, on each side of the optical window, along longitudinal direction of the recess, a beveled extension so as to make progressive the insertion and the removal of the aerosol generating heat-not-burn consumable article.