Electronic Cigarette Light Guide for Uniform Draw-Responsive Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic cigarettes lack the ability to evenly distribute light and provide a variable illumination based on user draw strength, failing to mimic the visual experience of traditional cigarettes.
Innovation Solution
A circumferential light guide and controller circuitry that senses user draw strength and adjusts light intensity accordingly, using a sensor to determine draw characteristics and communicate with a light source to emit varying light intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light source is positioned within the conduit to illuminate the electronic cigarette, then the visual experience is enhanced, but the light distribution becomes uneven and concentrated at the light source location
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and the conduit outer surface. This light guide receives concentrated light from the LED and redistributes it uniformly along the longitudinal axis of the conduit, transforming the point-source illumination into a distributed linear light source that mimics the appearance of a traditional cigarette ember.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide structure extends the illumination from a point source in three-dimensional space into a linear distribution along the longitudinal dimension of the conduit. By positioning the light guide to extend along the longitudinal axis and distributing light along its length, the solution transforms concentrated spatial illumination into extended linear illumination, achieving uniform light distribution without increasing device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the light source emits constant intensity, then the structure is simple, but it cannot mimic the variable brightness of a traditional cigarette's ember during user interaction
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor is integrated into the device to detect user draw actions, and this detection feeds back to the controller circuitry which then adjusts the light source intensity accordingly. When the sensor detects a user draw, the controller increases LED brightness to simulate the glowing ember effect; when no draw is detected, the light intensity decreases or turns off, mimicking the natural behavior of a traditional cigarette ember that glows only when burning.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination system transitions from a static constant-intensity light source to a dynamic system that continuously adjusts light output based on real-time user interaction. The controller circuitry modulates the LED driving current in response to sensor signals, creating variable illumination patterns that adapt to user draws, thereby enhancing the realism of the smoking simulation without requiring overly complex mechanical moving parts.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components (sensor, controller, light guide) are integrated to achieve variable illumination, then the functionality is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional components are merged into a compact integrated assembly. The sensor, controller circuitry, light guide, and LED are positioned and connected within the conduit structure in an integrated manner, reducing the number of separate discrete components. The controller circuitry is positioned within the conduit and electrically connected to both the LED and sensor, creating a compact system that achieves draw-responsive illumination without requiring excessive space or component count.
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 an enhanced visual experience by evenly distributing light along the circumference of the electronic cigarette, mimicking the appearance of a traditional cigarette's ember, and offering customizable illumination patterns based on user interaction.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide for an electronic cigarette that distributes light transmitted by a light source
Implementation Method 2
The sensor is configured for determining a user draw characteristic, and for transmitting a draw signal indicative of the determined user draw characteristic
Implementation Method 3
a light source; wherein the light source is configured to emit light in response to inhalation of the electronic cigarette
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
Aspects of the instant disclosure relate to an electronic smoking device comprising a first housing (245) containing a battery (618), an air flow sensor (224), a plurality of LEDs (620), a light guide (616), and a flex circuit (521) electrically connected to the battery and to a circuit board (222); a second housing connectable to the first housing (245), the second housing containing a heating coil (30) wrapped around a wick (32), the wick (32) having first and second ends abutting or extending into a liquid reservoir (36), and a central aerosol passage (34) extending though the liquid supply (36), and the light guide (616) directing light from the LEDs (620) at a first end of the electronic smoking device, the plurality of LEDs (620) being provided at a first side of the first housing (245).