Electronic Cigarette Power Control Circuit Without Microcontroller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic cigarettes require complex circuits and microcontrollers to control output voltage and prevent overheating, occupying a large area and increasing complexity.
Innovation Solution
A power control circuit for electronic cigarettes that includes a switch, control circuit, temperature sensor, and temperature control circuit, which adjusts the on-time of the control signal based on temperature changes to prevent overheating, eliminating the need for a microcontroller in the feedback path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a microcontroller and complicated sensing circuits are used to control output voltage and prevent overheating, then the temperature control reliability is improved, but the device complexity and circuit area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the microcontroller and complicated sensing circuits from the system, replacing them with a simplified control circuit that directly monitors temperature and controls the switching element. This removes unnecessary complexity while maintaining temperature control functionality through direct thermal coupling and simple switching logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit is designed to autonomously monitor temperature through the temperature-detecting element and automatically adjust the switching element's conduction state without requiring external microcontroller intervention. The system serves itself by using the heating element's own temperature to control its own power input through the switching element.
2Manufacturing precision
If a microcontroller and feedback circuits are used to control output voltage, then the power control precision is improved, but the area occupied by the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the temperature detection function and power control function into a single integrated control circuit that directly couples with the heating element. The temperature-detecting element is thermally coupled to the heating element, and the control circuit uses this direct thermal information to control the switching element, eliminating the need for separate microcontroller and feedback circuit areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching element serves as an intermediary between the power source and the heating element, controlled directly by the temperature-detecting element's feedback. This intermediary approach allows precise power control through simple on/off switching based on temperature conditions, without requiring complex voltage regulation circuits or microcontroller-based PWM control.
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 simplifies the electronic cigarette's structure by directly controlling the heating wire's operation current based on temperature, effectively preventing overheating without requiring a microcontroller, thus reducing the overall circuit size and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The temperature sensor detects a temperature of the heating wire to provide a temperature sensing signal
Implementation Method 2
The switch is coupled to the heating wire. The control circuit is coupled to the switch and provides a first switch signal to control an operation of the switch
Data Source
AI summary
A power control circuit and a power control method for an electronic cigarette are provided. The power control method includes the following steps: detecting a sensing temperature of a heating wire; when the sensing temperature is lower than a preset temperature, providing a first switch signal according to a ramp signal and an input signal, and adjusting an operation current of the electronic cigarette according to the first switch signal; and when the sensing temperature is higher than the preset temperature, providing a second switch signal, and adjusting the operation current of the electronic cigarette according to the second switch signal, wherein an on-time of the second switch signal is less than an on-time of the first switch signal. The invention controls the temperature of the electronic cigarette by adjusting the on-time so as to avoid overheating.