Flavor Generator Power Control for Selective Low-Battery Shutdown

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flavor generation devices uniformly stop all functions when the remaining power in the power supply is less than a predetermined amount, leading to inefficient use of power and potential user inconvenience.

Innovation Solution

A flavor generation device with a control unit that monitors the remaining power and selectively suppresses power supply to either the generation unit or the auxiliary device when the remaining amount is higher than a discharge end value, ensuring that essential functions continue to operate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If power supply is uniformly stopped to all functions when remaining power is below a predetermined amount, then power conservation is achieved, but device operation time is reduced and user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower conservationVSAvoiddevice operation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the power supply control into different levels: instead of uniformly stopping all functions, the system selectively stops power to specific components (generation unit or auxiliary device) based on remaining power levels. This segmentation allows essential functions to continue operating while non-essential functions are powered down, thereby conserving energy without completely halting device operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of energy

If power supply is stopped to the generation unit when remaining power is low, then power consumption is reduced, but flavor delivery function is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidflavor delivery function

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic power supply control where the system can switch between different power supply states based on real-time remaining power levels. When power is sufficient, both generation unit and auxiliary device operate. When power drops below thresholds, the system dynamically adjusts which component receives power, ensuring that at least one essential function (either flavor generation or auxiliary support) remains operational throughout the power cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of energy

If power supply is stopped to the auxiliary device when remaining power is low, then power consumption is reduced, but device control and monitoring capabilities are diminished

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddevice control capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the power supply control into different levels: instead of uniformly stopping all functions, the system selectively stops power to specific components (generation unit or auxiliary device) based on remaining power levels. This segmentation allows essential functions to continue operating while non-essential functions are powered down, thereby conserving energy without completely halting device operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12329210B2Flavor generation device, program, and power supply unit

Publication Date: 2025.06.17 JAPAN TOBACCO INC

AI summary

There is provided a flavor generation device that includes: a control unit configured to acquire a remaining amount value that is a value concerning a remaining amount of power stored in a power supply; a generation unit configured to atomize an aerosol source or heat a flavor source; and an auxiliary device different from the generation unit. The generation unit and the auxiliary device are electrically connected to the power supply. The control unit is configured to suppress power supply to at least one of the generation unit and the auxiliary device when the remaining amount value is higher than a discharge end value representing a discharge end state of the power supply.