Inductive Heating Current Measurement for Aerosol Device Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol generating devices for non-combustible tobacco products face challenges in efficiently heating aerosol generating materials without combustion, requiring precise temperature control and detection of susceptor arrangements to ensure safe and effective operation.
Innovation Solution
An aerosol generating device incorporating a resonant circuit with an inductive element for inductive heating, a current sensor to measure current flow, and a processor to determine characteristics such as susceptor presence and temperature thresholds, along with an impulse generation circuit for temperature measurement, enables precise heating and fault detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If inductive heating is used to heat aerosol generating material, then heating efficiency is improved, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by measuring the current flowing through the inductive element and using this measurement to determine heating characteristics and adjust heating parameters. The system continuously monitors current and uses this information to maintain precise temperature control while preserving the high heating efficiency of inductive heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct temperature measurement with current measurement as a proxy indicator. By measuring the electrical current flowing through the inductive element and using it to infer heating state, the system achieves precise temperature control without direct thermal contact, maintaining heating efficiency while improving control precision.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If current measurement is used to detect susceptor arrangement, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The current sensor serves multiple functions: it measures current for heating control, detects susceptor arrangement presence, determines heating characteristics, and identifies fault conditions. By making the current measurement system multi-functional, the patent improves detection capability without adding separate detection devices that would increase complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing current flowing through the inductive element for heating purposes as the measurement signal for detection. The same current that performs the heating function also provides information about susceptor arrangement and heating state, eliminating the need for separate measurement systems and reducing overall device complexity.
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 ensures efficient and safe aerosol generation by accurately controlling the heating process, detecting susceptor conditions, and preventing overheating or device malfunction, enhancing user safety and device performance.
Implementation Method 1
a resonant circuit (such as an LC resonant circuit) comprising an inductive element for inductively heating a susceptor arrangement to heat an aerosol generating material to thereby generate an aerosol
Implementation Method 2
an impulse generation circuit for applying an impulse to the resonant circuit, wherein the applied impulse induces an impulse response between a capacitor and the inductive element of the resonant circuit, wherein the impulse response has a resonant frequency
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus is described including controlling a resonant circuit of an aerosol generating device, the resonant circuit having an inductive element for inductively heating a susceptor arrangement to heat an aerosol generating material to thereby generate an aerosol in a heating mode of operation; measuring a current flowing in the inductive element; and determining one or more characteristics of the aerosol generating device and/or the susceptor arrangement based on said measured current.