Heating Element Anemometer for Aerosol Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aerosol provision systems, such as e-cigarettes, lack efficient and timely responses to user interactions, leading to suboptimal performance in delivering aerosols.
Innovation Solution
An interactive aerosol delivery system that incorporates a control unit with sensors to detect user proximity and interactions, adjusting operational states to optimize power usage, heating, and data transmission based on user presence and intended use, utilizing a disposable heating element as an anemometer to detect airflow without separate airflow sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the aerosol delivery system uses sensors to detect user proximity and interactions, then the responsiveness and efficiency of aerosol delivery is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is designed to serve dual purposes: as the primary component for vaporizing the payload and as an anemometer to detect airflow. This eliminates the need for separate airflow sensors, thereby improving responsiveness without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own heating element to perform detection functions. The heating element detects airflow by measuring changes in its electrical properties caused by air cooling during inhalation, allowing the system to self-monitor without external sensors
2Device complexity
If the heating element is used as an anemometer to detect airflow, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors electrical property changes in the heating element and uses this feedback to detect airflow. The control unit processes these changes to determine when inhalation occurs, enabling precise detection without complex manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical airflow sensors with an electrical measurement approach. By measuring electrical property changes in the heating element caused by air cooling, the system substitutes a complex mechanical sensing system with a simpler electrical measurement system
3Use of energy by moving object
If the system optimizes power consumption based on user presence, then the use of energy is improved, but the measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic detection of user presence and inhalation events to optimize power consumption. Power is supplied to the heating element periodically based on detected inhalation events rather than continuously, reducing energy usage while maintaining precise control through periodic measurements
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 the responsiveness and efficiency of aerosol delivery by optimizing power consumption and reducing false activations, ensuring timely vaporization and extending device lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
The heating element is used to heat but typically not burn a botanical such as tobacco, to release active ingredients thereof as a vapour/aerosol
Implementation Method 2
detecting a subsequent change of resistance in the heating element caused by airflow cooling the heater
Implementation Method 3
electrical power is supplied to the heating element to vaporise the aerosol source (a portion of the payload) in the vicinity of the heating element, to generate an aerosol for inhalation by the user
Implementation Method 4
the activation of an airflow sensor along the flow path as the user inhales/draw/puffs
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol delivery system comprises a control processor and an aerosol delivery device, comprising in turn a power source and a disposable removably attachable portion, comprising in turn a payload for aerosolisation, and a heating element for aerosolisation of the payload, the heating element electrically coupled to the power source and control processor by the attachment of the disposable portion to the aerosol delivery device, the control processor configured in an initial state to set a flow of electrical energy to supply to the heater from the power source, and to detect a subsequent change of resistance in the heating element caused by airflow cooling the heater, and the control processor being configured upon detection of the subsequent change in resistance to enter a subsequent state to increase a flow of electrical energy to supply to the heater from the power source sufficient to cause the heater temperature to increase.