E-Cigarette Power Chip Closed-Loop Control for Stable Vapor Output

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic cigarettes lack a power chip capable of managing power output effectively, resulting in unstable vapor production due to changing battery voltage and heating resistor resistance, leading to inconsistent vaporization performance.

Innovation Solution

An electronic cigarette with a power chip featuring automatic closed-loop control, comprising a microcontroller, built-in MCU module, full bridge buck-boost module, and operational amplifying unit, which adjusts output voltage based on heating element resistance to maintain constant vapor production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If battery voltage is used directly to power the heating element, then the device structure is simple, but the output voltage is unstable and vapor production varies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply structureVSAvoidoutput voltage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a closed-loop feedback control system where the microcontroller continuously monitors the heating element resistance and adjusts the PWM duty ratio accordingly. This feedback mechanism maintains stable output power despite battery voltage variations, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and stable output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic PWM control where the duty ratio is continuously adjusted based on real-time resistance measurements. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to changing battery voltage and heating element conditions, maintaining stable vapor production without requiring a complex fixed-voltage regulator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If PWM control is used to adjust output voltage, then the output voltage can be adjusted, but the control precision is insufficient for constant power output

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput voltage adjustmentVSAvoidoutput voltage control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback control where the microcontroller measures the heating element resistance and adjusts the PWM duty ratio to maintain constant power. This closed-loop control provides precise output voltage adjustment, enabling accurate power control that open-loop PWM cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces simple PWM switching with a microcontroller-based digital control system that performs real-time calculations and adjustments. This substitution of mechanical/electronic control with intelligent digital control enables precise power management and constant output despite varying conditions.

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

3Reliability

If full bridge buck-boost circuit is used to achieve stable output voltage, then the output voltage stability is improved, but the circuit structure becomes complicated and size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput voltage stabilityVSAvoidcircuit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses feedback control with PWM modulation to achieve stable output voltage without requiring a complex buck-boost circuit. The microcontroller monitors output conditions and adjusts the heating element power accordingly, providing voltage stability through software control rather than complex hardware circuitry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the voltage stabilization function from the hardware circuit level and implements it at the control software level. By removing the need for complex buck-boost circuits and using microcontroller-based PWM control with feedback, the system achieves voltage stability with much simpler hardware architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Use of energy by moving object

If heating resistor resistance changes with temperature, then the heating efficiency varies, but the output power becomes unstable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidoutput power stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback control by continuously measuring the heating element resistance and adjusting the PWM duty ratio to compensate for resistance changes. This ensures that output power remains stable despite temperature-induced resistance variations, maintaining consistent heating efficiency throughout operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic control where the PWM duty ratio is continuously adjusted in real-time based on measured resistance values. This dynamic adjustment compensates for the changing electrical characteristics of the heating element, maintaining stable power output and consistent heating efficiency as the element temperature changes.

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

The solution provides stable and adjustable output voltage, ensuring consistent vaporization by accurately controlling the power chip's output, reducing power consumption, and integrating protection features for efficient operation within compact electronic cigarette designs.

Implementation Method 1

heating and vaporizing the electronic cigarette liquid by means of the vaporizer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

determining the resistance value of the heating element and feedback signal for output voltage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical resistance detection: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 3

full bridge buck-boost module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4005416B1Electronic cigarette having power chip with automatic closed-loop control for output
Publication Date: 2023.10.04 SHENZHEN HAPPY VAPING TECH LTD
  • EP4005416B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4005416B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP4005416B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The electronic cigarette having a power chip (222) with automatic closed-loop control for output comprises a vaporizer (1) and a battery assembly (2) which are connected with each other. The vaporizer (1) comprises a heating element (11) for heating and vaporizing cigarette liquid. The battery assembly (2) comprises a battery (21) and a control circuit board (22) arranged with a control circuit. The control circuit comprises a microcontroller (221), and comprises a power chip (222) with automatic closed-loop control for output, a microcontroller power supply unit, and a starting switch, which are electrically connected with the microcontroller (221), respectively. The control circuit is further arranged with a reference resistor connected with the heating element (11). The power chip (222) is electrically connected with the battery (21), the reference resistor, and the heating element (11). The power chip (222) is configured to perform automatic closed-loop control by determining the resistance value of the reference resistor and feedback for output voltage under a command of the microcontroller (221), to output precisely adjustable voltage to the heating element (11). It achieves high precision automatic control for output voltage and provides constant output power to enable the heating element (11) to produce constant amount of vapor.