Heat-Not-Burn Temperature Staging for Stable Aerosol Output

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat-not-burn devices lack optimal temperature control methods that ensure consistent smoke generation without burning the hands or mouth, while efficiently utilizing the smoking material throughout the heating process.

Innovation Solution

A temperature control method for heat-not-burn devices that maintains a stable, relatively low temperature during the middle stage of use, gradually increases temperature at the end to utilize remaining components, and rapidly decreases temperature when components are exhausted, using a heating element and control element with precise temperature adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the temperature is continuously increased to ensure sufficient smoke generation, then the smoke production is improved, but the user experience deteriorates due to burning hands and mouth

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmoke generationVSAvoidburning hands and mouth
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating process is divided into multiple temperature stages (first temperature threshold, second temperature threshold, third temperature threshold) with different holding times. This segmentation allows the system to optimize smoke generation at each stage while limiting the duration and intensity of high-temperature exposure, thereby preventing burning of hands and mouth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature control follows a periodic pattern of heating and holding at different thresholds. The system heats to a threshold, holds for a predetermined time, then repeats the cycle. This periodic action ensures consistent smoke generation while providing cooling intervals that prevent thermal damage to the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the temperature is maintained at a low level to avoid burning, then user safety is improved, but smoke generation becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveburning preventionVSAvoidsmoke generation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature control system dynamically adjusts between different temperature thresholds based on the heating stage. It transitions from lower temperatures to progressively higher temperatures across multiple stages, optimizing smoke generation at each phase while maintaining overall safety through controlled exposure time at each threshold.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes temperature parameters through discrete thresholds (first, second, third temperature thresholds) rather than maintaining a single constant temperature. Each threshold is held for a predetermined time, creating a stepped parameter change that balances smoke generation requirements with user safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the heating time is extended to utilize remaining components, then material efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial utilizationVSAvoidtemperature control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-establishes multiple temperature thresholds and their corresponding holding times before the heating process begins. This preliminary configuration allows the controller to simply execute the predetermined sequence without complex real-time decision-making, thereby extending material utilization while keeping the control system relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature controller monitors the heating process and executes predetermined temperature thresholds with specific holding times. This feedback-controlled approach ensures consistent material utilization across multiple heating cycles while maintaining simple control logic based on predefined parameters.

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

Ensures consistent smoke production without burning the user's hands or mouth, optimizes smoke generation throughout the heating process, and improves user experience by maintaining a stable temperature profile.

Implementation Method 1

desired volatile compounds are vaporized from the aerosol-forming substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

a heating element and control element with precise temperature adjustments

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4023087B1Heating-not-burning apparatus and temperature control method
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 HUBEI CHINA TOBACCO INDUSTRY CO LTD
  • EP4023087B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4023087B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4023087B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments provide a heat-not-burn device and a temperature control method. In the embodiments, the method includes: controlling a temperature of a smoking material to be maintained at a second temperature threshold; controlling the temperature of the smoking material from the second temperature threshold to a third temperature threshold; controlling the temperature of the smoking material to be maintained at the third temperature threshold, and ending heating the smoking material after a set period of time; wherein, the second temperature threshold is denoted as T2, and the third temperature threshold is denoted as T3, and T2<T3. By adopting this method, the heat-not-burn device can be prevented from being hot in the middle period of use, and an appropriate amount of smoke can be ensured in the later period of use.