Flexible Thin Film Heater with Overlapping Temperature Sensor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thin film heaters for aerosol generating devices lack accurate and reliable temperature detection, leading to inconsistent heating performance due to variable sensor positioning and averaging temperature readings across the heating area.
Innovation Solution
A heater assembly with a flexible thin film heater wrapped around a tubular heating chamber, featuring a temperature sensor positioned to overlap with a portion of the heating element track, providing localized temperature sensing and accurate temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor is mounted within a thin film heater using conventional methods, then temperature detection is enabled, but the measurement precision is poor due to variable sensor positioning and averaging temperature across the heating area
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is pre-positioned on the heating element track during manufacturing, ensuring consistent and accurate positioning before the heater is assembled into the device. This preliminary positioning action eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures during final assembly and ensures the sensor consistently measures temperature at the correct location.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor and heating element are combined into a single integrated assembly where the sensor is mounted directly on the heating element track. This merging eliminates the need for separate positioning steps and ensures consistent thermal coupling between the sensor and the heating element, improving measurement accuracy while simplifying the overall assembly process.
2Ease of manufacture
If the temperature sensor is positioned at different locations, then assembly flexibility is improved, but the reliability of temperature detection deteriorates due to inconsistent heating performance
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is pre-positioned at a specific location on the heating element track during manufacturing, ensuring consistent and accurate positioning before the heater is assembled into the device. This preliminary positioning action eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures during final assembly and ensures the sensor consistently measures temperature at the correct location.
3Measurement precision
If conventional temperature sensing methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision is insufficient due to averaging temperature across the heating area rather than localized sensing
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is pre-positioned on the heating element track during manufacturing, ensuring consistent and accurate positioning before the heater is assembled into the device. This preliminary positioning action eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures during final assembly and ensures the sensor consistently measures temperature at the correct location.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor is positioned to measure temperature at a specific location on the heating element track rather than averaging across the entire heating area. This localized measurement provides more precise temperature data for control purposes, enabling better temperature management and preventing hot spots while maintaining straightforward assembly.
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
Ensures precise temperature monitoring and control, preventing localized overheating and enhancing reproducibility across devices by directly sensing the temperature of the heating element, thereby improving heating performance and vapor delivery efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heater assembly for an aerosol generating device... a flexible thin film heater comprising a heating element track... heat an aerosol generating substance within a heating chamber to produce a vapour
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensor comprising a temperature sensing element configured to sense the local temperature... the temperature sensing element is positioned so as to overlap with a portion of heating element track
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a heater assembly for an aerosol generating device. The heater assembly includes a tubular heating chamber and a flexible thin film heater comprising a heating element track supported on a surface of a flexible electrically insulating backing film; wherein the flexible thin film heater is wrapped around an outer surface of the heating chamber with the backing film toward the heating chamber. The invention further includes a temperature sensor comprising a temperature sensing element configured to sense a local temperature, wherein the temperature sensing element is positioned so as to overlap with a portion of heating element track. Because the temperature sensing element overlaps with a portion of the heating element track, the temperature sensor provides a more accurate reading of the temperature of the heating element itself.