Haptic Puff-Strength Feedback in Aerosol-Generating Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrically heated smoking systems provide limited and confusing feedback to users, often disturbing them or others, and do not effectively convey information about puff strength.
Innovation Solution
An aerosol-generating device with a haptic output element that provides feedback through varying frequency or interval of tactile sensations, such as vibrations, based on the user's puff strength, using a sensor and circuit to actuate the element accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If auditory or light signals are used to provide feedback to the user, then information can be conveyed to the user, but it may disturb others or confuse the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces auditory and light signal feedback mechanisms with a haptic feedback mechanism. The haptic output element provides tactile feedback through vibration patterns that convey information about puff strength to the user without producing sound or light that could disturb others. This substitution of feedback modality resolves the contradiction by maintaining information delivery while eliminating harmful disturbances.
2Loss of information
If the intensity of the haptic output element is increased to provide information about puff strength, then the user receives clear feedback, but it may be uncomfortable for the user or heard by others
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic haptic feedback where the vibration frequency of the haptic output element varies according to the detected puff strength. Instead of using constant high-intensity vibration, the system dynamically adjusts the vibration frequency to encode puff strength information. This allows clear feedback to be provided without requiring high intensity that would cause discomfort or be audible to others.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of vibration frequency rather than intensity to convey puff strength information. The control circuitry varies the frequency of vibration produced by the haptic output element based on the strength of the user's puff, as detected by the sensor. This parameter change approach provides distinguishable feedback for different puff strengths without increasing intensity to levels that cause discomfort.
3Device complexity
If conventional feedback mechanisms are used, then the system structure remains simple, but the user experience is diminished due to limited and confusing feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a closed-loop feedback system where a sensor detects puff strength, the control circuitry processes this information, and the haptic output element provides tactile feedback to the user. This feedback loop enhances user experience by providing real-time, intuitive information about puff strength without significantly increasing overall system complexity. The feedback mechanism uses readily available components arranged in a coherent control loop.
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 user experience by providing clear and unobtrusive feedback on puff strength, minimizing disturbance to others and improving device management.
Implementation Method 1
The haptic output element is configured to convey information to a user via the user's sense of touch. The haptic output element can be actuated in a time varying manner such that information about the time dependent strength of the user puff can be conveyed to the user by actuating the haptic output element at time varying frequencies
Implementation Method 2
a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to generate a time dependent airflow signal corresponding to a time dependent strength of a user puff at the air outlet
Implementation Method 3
a circuit operably coupled to the sensor so as to receive the time dependent airflow signal during the user puff. The circuit further is operably coupled to the haptic output element and configured to actuate, based on the time dependent airflow signal, the haptic output element at time dependent frequencies or at time dependent intervals during the user puff
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a housing including an air inlet, an air outlet, and an airflow passage extending therebetween; an aerosol-generating element disposed within the airflow passage and configured to generate an aerosol; a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to generate a time-dependent airflow signal corresponding to a time-dependent strength of a user puff at the air outlet; a haptic output element coupled to the housing; and a circuit operably coupled to the sensor so as to receive the time-dependent airflow signal during the user puff, and further configured to actuate, based on the time-dependent airflow signal, the haptic output element at time-dependent frequencies or at time-dependent intervals during the user puff. An aerosol-generating system, and a method for generating an output in an aerosol-generating device, are also provided.