Heat-Not-Burn Heater Control With Dual Temperature Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smoking substitute systems, particularly heat not burn devices, face challenges in accurately controlling the temperature of the heater, leading to potential overheating and suboptimal user experience.

Innovation Solution

A heat not burn device that monitors the operating temperature of the heater and adjusts power supply based on two threshold temperature values, using a controller to maintain optimal heating conditions and reduce overshooting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the heater temperature is increased to improve vaporization efficiency, then the vapor production increases, but the risk of overheating and harmful compound generation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevapor productionVSAvoidharmful compound generation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a temperature monitoring system with a sensor that continuously measures the heater temperature and feeds this information back to a controller. The controller adjusts the power supply to the heater based on the measured temperature, ensuring the heater operates within a safe temperature range while maintaining efficient vaporization. This closed-loop feedback control prevents both overheating and insufficient heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If the heater temperature is rapidly increased to achieve quick heating, then the heating speed improves, but temperature overshooting occurs leading to unstable control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating speedVSAvoidtemperature control stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature sensor continuously monitors the heater temperature and provides real-time feedback to the controller. The controller uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust the power supply, preventing temperature overshooting by reducing power when the temperature approaches the target value and maintaining stable temperature control throughout the heating process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The controller periodically adjusts the power supply to the heater based on temperature measurements taken at regular intervals. This periodic control action allows the system to respond to temperature changes in a controlled manner, preventing rapid fluctuations and maintaining stable heating while still achieving quick heating overall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Device complexity

If a simple temperature control system is used to reduce device complexity, then the manufacturing cost decreases, but the temperature control precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidtemperature control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a feedback control system where a temperature sensor measures the actual heater temperature and provides this information to a controller. The controller compares the measured temperature with the desired temperature and adjusts the power supply accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables precise temperature control without requiring overly complex hardware, achieving good precision through intelligent control rather than hardware complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 device effectively maintains the heater's temperature within desired ranges, enhancing user experience and reducing harmful compound production by preventing overheating.

Implementation Method 1

heating or warmed to release vapour... heat may be imparted to the tobacco material by a heating element of the device, wherein airflow through the tobacco material causes components in the tobacco material to be released as vapour

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

heat may be imparted to the tobacco material by a heating element of the device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3941251B1Smoking substitute system
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 IMPERIAL TOBACCO LTD
  • EP3941251B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3941251B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3941251B1 patent drawingFigure 2C

AI summary

A heat not burn device is described. The device includes: a power supply (105); a heater (104); and a controller (108). The controller is configured to control a supply of power from the power supply to the heater. The device further includes a temperature sensing means configured to measure the temperature of the heater. The controller is configured to supply power to the heater until a first threshold temperature is met or exceeded; and to subsequently apply power again to the heater when the temperature of the heater falls below a second threshold temperature. The second threshold temperature is lower than the first threshold temperature.