Infrared Heating Control for Puff-Responsive Heat-Not-Burn Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

In heat-not-burn devices, users face inconsistent taste due to continuous high-temperature heating, leading to aerosol-forming substrate loss, burning smells, and inefficient energy consumption, as well as the inability to puff at any time without wasting the substrate.

Innovation Solution

A heating control method for heat-not-burn devices that adjusts the heating element's temperature based on user puffing actions, using infrared radiation to heat the aerosol-forming substrate, with temperature settings varying between preheat, puffing, and post-puffing phases to optimize substrate usage and taste consistency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the heating element continuously heats the aerosol-forming substrate at high temperature, then aerosols are continuously generated, but the aerosol-forming substrate is lost and taste becomes inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerosol generationVSAvoidaerosol-forming substrate loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element operates in periodic cycles: heating to high temperature (300-400°C) during puffing actions, then reducing to low temperature (100-300°C) during breaks. This periodic heating pattern ensures aerosols are generated only when needed while preventing substrate loss during non-puffing periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The heating element's temperature is dynamically adjusted based on real-time detection of puffing actions. The control system increases temperature when puffing is detected and decreases it when puffing stops, making the heating process adaptive to user behavior rather than continuous.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the heating element continuously heats at high temperature, then aerosols are maintained, but burning smell occurs and taste becomes inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerosol consistencyVSAvoidburning smell
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing periodic heating cycles rather than continuous heating, the system maintains aerosol consistency during puffing while avoiding burning smells during break periods when high-temperature heating would cause degradation of the substrate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system uses feedback from puffing detection to regulate heating element temperature. When puffing is detected, temperature increases to maintain aerosol quality; when puffing stops, temperature decreases to prevent burning and maintain taste consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the heating element continuously heats at high temperature, then aerosols are continuously available, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous aerosol availabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element operates periodically rather than continuously, consuming high energy only during brief puffing actions (300-400°C) and low energy during break periods (100-300°C). This dramatically reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining aerosol availability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts power consumption based on actual usage patterns, increasing power during puffing actions and reducing it during breaks. This makes energy consumption proportional to actual aerosol generation needs rather than constant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If the heating element maintains high temperature during breaks, then aerosol generation is ready, but most of the aerosol-forming substrate is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmediate aerosol readinessVSAvoidsubstrate loss during breaks
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic heating where low-temperature maintenance (100-300°C) during breaks preserves substrate while still allowing quick transition to high-temperature aerosol generation when puffing is detected, eliminating the need for continuous high-temperature heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The heating element performs preliminary low-temperature heating during breaks to prepare the substrate without causing degradation. When puffing is detected, the system quickly transitions to high-temperature aerosol generation, achieving immediate readiness without substrate loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enables users to puff at any time without wasting the substrate, reduces aerosol-forming substrate loss, and ensures consistent taste by controlling heating element temperatures dynamically, improving user experience and energy efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the heating element heats the aerosol-forming substrate through infrared radiation, the heating element includes a heating body and a tube element, the heating body includes a heating substrate and an infrared radiation layer disposed on an outer surface of the heating substrate, the heating substrate is configured to be powered on for heating and excite the infrared radiation layer to radiate infrared light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP4710808A1Heating element, and heat-not-burn device and heating control method therefor
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 SMOORE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
  • EP4710808A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4710808A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4710808A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention discloses a heating element, a heat-not-burn device, and a heating control method therefor. The heating control method for a heat-not-burn device includes: controlling the heating element to increase from an initial temperature to a first temperature when heating is started, and maintaining the first temperature; controlling the heating element to increase from a current temperature to a second temperature when detecting a puffing action, where the second temperature is greater than the first temperature; and controlling the heating element to decrease from a current temperature to a third temperature when detecting that the puffing action ends, where the third temperature is less than the second temperature.