E-Vaping Reservoir Temperature Sensing for Liquid Depletion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrically operated aerosol-generating systems face challenges in accurately determining the depletion of liquid aerosol-forming substrate, leading to inconsistent aerosol quality and potential waste due to insufficient liquid supply.
Innovation Solution
An electrically operated aerosol-generating system with a temperature sensor to monitor the liquid aerosol-forming substrate in the storage portion, coupled with electric circuitry to compensate for temperature variations and determine depletion accurately, using a lookup table for reference temperature information and power measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor is placed close to the heater for accurate temperature measurement, then temperature control is improved, but the temperature sensor may be damaged by excessive heat
Solution Approach 1:
A protective cap is introduced as an intermediary element between the heater and the temperature sensor. This cap shields the temperature sensor from direct exposure to excessive heat while still allowing it to accurately measure the temperature of the liquid substrate through thermal conduction, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and thermal protection
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensing function is separated from the heating function by placing the temperature sensor in a different location (in the protective cap rather than directly on the heater). This segmentation allows each component to perform its function optimally without interfering with or damaging the other
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the temperature sensor is spaced apart from the heater, then the temperature sensor is protected from heat damage, but temperature measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cap serves as a thermal intermediary that conducts heat from the heater to the temperature sensor, enabling accurate temperature measurement while maintaining physical separation to protect the sensor from direct heat exposure
Solution Approach 2:
Direct thermal contact (mechanical coupling) between the heater and temperature sensor is replaced with thermal conduction through the protective cap medium, achieving both protection and measurement accuracy
3Device complexity
If depletion determination is based solely on power applied to the heater, then the system is simple, but accuracy of depletion determination deteriorates due to temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the temperature sensor to continuously monitor the actual temperature of the liquid substrate. This temperature information is fed back to the control circuitry, which adjusts the power calculation to compensate for temperature variations, thereby improving depletion determination accuracy while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter used for depletion determination from solely power-based to a combined power-and-temperature-based calculation. By incorporating temperature as an additional parameter, the system achieves more accurate depletion determination without significantly increasing complexity
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
Enhances the accuracy of determining liquid depletion, reducing waste and cost by optimizing liquid usage and informing users when refilling is necessary.
Implementation Method 1
a first temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of liquid aerosol-forming substrate held in the liquid storage portion
Implementation Method 2
one or more capillary wicks configured to transfer liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion to the aerosol generator
Implementation Method 3
an electrically operated atomiser configured to receive liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion and generate an aerosol from the liquid aerosol-forming substrate
Data Source
AI summary
The e-vaping element includes a reservoir configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a heater configured to receive the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the reservoir, one or more capillary wicks configured to transfer the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the reservoir to the heater, and a first temperature sensor configured to sense at least one first temperature of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate held in the reservoir, the first temperature sensor and the heater being spaced apart from each other and being on opposite ends of the reservoir.