Heater Resistance Monitoring for Dry Puff and Counterfeit Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrically heated aerosol-generating systems require optimization for heater elements with specific resistance ranges and struggle to detect adverse conditions such as depleted or counterfeit aerosol-forming substrates without relying on pre-stored resistance thresholds.
Innovation Solution
The system measures initial and subsequent electrical resistance of the heater to detect adverse conditions by comparing differences to threshold values, allowing for detection of depleted or counterfeit substrates and controlling power supply accordingly, independent of the heater's resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the system uses pre-stored resistance thresholds to detect adverse conditions, then the detection is simple and fast, but the system can only work with heater elements of specific resistance ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures the actual resistance of the heater element at runtime and uses this measured value to dynamically determine threshold values for adverse condition detection, rather than relying on pre-stored fixed thresholds. This allows the system to adapt to different heater resistance values while maintaining simple detection logic
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically measures its own heater element's resistance and uses this self-measured information to adjust its detection parameters, eliminating the need for external calibration or pre-programmed resistance values for different heater types
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system measures and compares resistance differences dynamically, then it can work with any heater resistance value, but it requires additional measurement and processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures the heater resistance at the beginning of operation to establish a baseline value, then uses this preliminary measurement to set appropriate threshold values for subsequent adverse condition detection, avoiding the need for complex real-time calculations
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors resistance changes and compares them against dynamically determined thresholds based on the initial measurement, providing real-time feedback on heater condition while using the preliminary measurement to simplify ongoing detection
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
This method enables effective detection of adverse conditions in heater elements of varying resistances, ensuring consistent performance and preventing power supply to counterfeit or damaged heaters, thereby maintaining system functionality.
Implementation Method 1
an electric heater comprising at least one heating element for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate
Implementation Method 2
the electric circuitry is configured to calculate a rate of temperature rise of the heating element
Data Source
AI summary
An electrically operated aerosol-generating system may be configured to detect adverse conditions (e.g., a dry heater). The system may comprise an electric heater comprising at least one heating element for heating an aerosol-forming substrate, a power supply, and electric circuitry connected to the electric heater and to the power supply and comprising a memory. The electric circuitry may be configured to measure an initial electrical resistance (R1) of the electric heater; measure a subsequent electrical resistance of the electric heater after the measurement of the initial electrical resistance; determine the difference (ΔR) between the initial electrical resistance and the subsequent electrical resistance; determine that an adverse condition is present if the difference is greater than a maximum threshold value (ΔRmax) or less than a minimum threshold value (ΔRmin) stored in the memory; and control a power to the electric heater and/or provide an indication if the adverse condition is present.