Infrared Heating Assembly With TCR Sensing for HNB Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat-not-burning (HNB) aerosol generating devices require separate temperature measuring sensors that occupy space and are inconvenient to dispose, affecting temperature monitoring accuracy and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Integrate a heating element with a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) characteristic onto the base body and/or infrared layer, which functions as both a heating element and a temperature sensor, allowing for direct deposition without additional fixing elements, enabling precise temperature measurement across various regions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a separate temperature measuring sensor is added to measure temperature in real time, then temperature monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity and space occupancy increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature measurementVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the temperature measurement function with the existing heating element by utilizing the heating element's TCR characteristic. The heating element serves dual purposes: heating the aerosol generating substrate and sensing temperature through resistance changes. This merging eliminates the need for separate temperature sensors, reducing device complexity while maintaining temperature monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating element is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both a heating source and a temperature sensor. By exploiting the temperature-coefficient-of-resistance (TCR) property of the heating element material, the system achieves universal functionality where a single component handles both thermal processing and thermal monitoring tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If a separate temperature measuring sensor is added to measure temperature, then temperature monitoring capability is improved, but space occupancy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature measurementVSAvoidspace occupancy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature measurement function is merged into the heating element itself. Since the heating element already occupies necessary space for its heating function, adding temperature sensing capability to it eliminates the need for additional space-dedicating sensor components, thereby reducing overall space occupancy while enabling temperature monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If the heating element is deposited directly on the base body surface without fixing elements, then ease of manufacture is improved, but heating element stability may be worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating element installationVSAvoidheating element stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical fixing methods (such as screws, clips, or adhesive bonding) with direct deposition techniques where the heating element is deposited onto the base body surface. This substitution simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating complex assembly steps while the deposition process itself creates a stable, integrated connection between the heating element and substrate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 integrated heating element provides efficient temperature monitoring with high accuracy and reduced space occupancy, enhancing heating uniformity and temperature control in HNB devices.

Implementation Method 1

The heating element is configured to generate heat in response to electrifying the heating assembly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

The infrared layer is disposed on the surface of the base body to radiate the infrared rays in response to heating the infrared layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 3

The heating element has the TCR characteristic and may be used as a temperature sensor, so that the heating assembly may monitor the temperature value of the heating assembly by detecting the resistance value of the heating element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature coefficient of resistance: Thermo-resistive Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4437873B1Heating assembly and aerosol generating device
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 SHENZHEN MERIT TECH CO LTD
  • EP4437873B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4437873B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4437873B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A heating assembly and an aerosol generating apparatus. The heating assembly (10) comprises a base body (11), an infrared layer (12), and a heating element (13); the base body (11) is used for accommodating an aerosol generating substrate; the infrared layer (12) is arranged on the surface of the base body (11) and/or the infrared layer (12), and is used for radiating infrared rays during heating, so as to heat and atomize the aerosol generating substrate; the heating element (13) is arranged on the base body (11) and is used for heating the infrared layer (12) in the process of being energized; and the heating element (13) has a resistance temperature coefficient characteristic and can be used as a temperature sensor. The heating assembly (10) is convenient to arrange, and is small in occupied space.