Heat Not Burn Controller Power Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional smoking substitute systems, particularly heat not burn devices, face challenges in maintaining a consistent temperature during user inhalation, leading to potential drops in heating efficiency and user experience.

Innovation Solution

A heat not burn device with a controller that adjusts power supply to the heater based on user inhalation, using sensors to detect drawing and implement pulse width modulation to maintain desired temperature levels, ensuring consistent heating performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If power supply to the heater is increased during user inhalation, then heating efficiency and temperature consistency are improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature consistencyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply to the heater is dynamically adjusted based on user inhalation detection. The controller increases power during detected inhalation events to maintain temperature consistency, then reduces power during non-inhalation periods, creating a dynamic power management system that responds to real-time usage conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs sensor feedback to detect user inhalation and automatically adjusts heater power accordingly. The sensor signal feeds back to the controller, which modulates power supply to maintain optimal heating performance only when needed, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption during non-usage periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If sensors and controllers are added to detect inhalation and adjust power, then temperature control precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature control precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device performs self-adjustment of heater power based on automatic sensor detection of user inhalation. The system serves itself by autonomously detecting usage conditions and modulating power without requiring external control or complex user intervention, simplifying the overall control architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical temperature control mechanisms with electronic sensing and control systems. Electrical sensors and controllers substitute for mechanical thermostats or manual adjustment mechanisms, enabling more precise and responsive temperature control with simpler overall system design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 effectively maintains the desired temperature of the consumable during use, enhancing user experience by maintaining heating efficiency and consistency, even during inhalation.

Implementation Method 1

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

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

The sensor may be a pressure sensor or an acoustic sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure detection: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

The controller may be configured to supply power to the heater using pulse width modulation (PMW)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPulse width modulation:

Data Source

PatentEP3711524A1Smoking substitute system
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 IMPERIAL TOBACCO LTD
  • EP3711524A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3711524A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3711524A1 patent drawingFigure 2C

AI summary

A heat not burn device comprising a heater and a controller. The controller is configured to determine whether a user is drawing from the device, control the supply of power to the heater so as to be at a first power level and, upon determining that a user is drawing on the device, control the supply of power to the heater so as to be at a second power level that is higher than the first power level.