E-Vapor Heater Control Using Container Power Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-nicotine electronic vaping devices lack efficient control mechanisms for heating non-nicotine pre-vapor formulations to optimal temperatures for vaporization, leading to inconsistent vapor production and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A method of controlling the heater in non-nicotine e-vaping devices by detecting power information from removable containers, adjusting power levels based on preference levels and formulation types, and using PID controllers to maintain target temperatures, ensuring consistent vapor production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a heater is used to vaporize non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation material, then vapor production is achieved, but temperature control precision is insufficient leading to inconsistent vapor quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where a sensor detects the actual temperature of the heater and feeds this information back to the controller. The controller compares the detected temperature with the target temperature and adjusts the power supplied to the heater accordingly, ensuring precise temperature control and consistent vapor production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control algorithm that dynamically adjusts heating parameters based on temperature deviations. The controller modifies power delivery parameters in real-time to maintain the heater temperature at the optimal setpoint, achieving precise temperature control for consistent vapor quality.
2Ease of operation
If power levels are adjusted based on user preference, then user satisfaction is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple control parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides a selection of pre-configured power levels corresponding to different user preferences (e.g., low, medium, high). Users can directly select from these predetermined options without needing to understand or adjust multiple control parameters, simplifying operation while still providing customized heating experiences.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed to handle multiple functions: it manages temperature control, processes user preference selections, and implements PID algorithms. This multi-functional design consolidates various control capabilities into a single integrated component, reducing overall device complexity despite the multiple parameters involved.
3Productivity
If the heater temperature is increased to improve vapor production, then vapor quantity increases, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control system continuously monitors heater temperature and adjusts power delivery to maintain optimal operating conditions. By preventing temperature deviations and overheating, the system ensures vapor production efficiency without excessive energy consumption, delivering consistent vapor quantity at optimal power levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic power adjustment where the controller modifies heating power in real-time based on actual temperature feedback and user preferences. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize the balance between vapor production quantity and energy consumption, adjusting power levels to match actual vaporization needs rather than operating at fixed high power.
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 ensures precise temperature control, enhancing vapor quality and user satisfaction by optimizing heating processes for different formulations, thereby improving the vaping experience.
Implementation Method 1
a heater configured to heat the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation material to a target temperature to vaporize the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation material and produce non-nicotine vapor
Implementation Method 2
controlling a level of power provided to the heater, based on the heater temperature value and the target temperature value
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling a heater of a device including a removable container that stores a material includes detecting, from the removable container, power information indicating a first operating point and a second operating point; and supplying power to the heater based on the detected power information by, determining a first amount of power based on the first operating point, supplying the first amount of power to the heater during a first operation mode of the heater, determining a second amount of power based on the second operating point, and supplying the second amount of power to the heater during a second operation mode of the heater, the second amount of power being higher than the first amount of power, the device being a non-nicotine e-vaping device or a heat-not-burn aerosol-generating device, the material being a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation or an aerosol-forming substrate.