Inhalation Device Battery Control Using Closed-Circuit Voltage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inhalation component generating devices face inaccuracies in determining the residual battery state due to the difference between closed circuit voltage and open circuit voltage, leading to decreased accuracy in detecting small residual amounts.

Innovation Solution

The device acquires a closed circuit voltage value and compares it to a reference voltage to determine if the battery is in a small residual state, ensuring accurate voltage measurement and state determination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If closed circuit voltage is used to detect battery residual amount, then the detection method is simple, but the accuracy decreases due to internal resistance influence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection method simplicityVSAvoidbattery residual amount detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit performs preliminary actions by storing multiple reference voltage values corresponding to different battery temperatures before actual detection. When detecting battery residual amount, the system retrieves the appropriate reference value based on current temperature, eliminating the need for complex real-time calculations and achieving both simplicity and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameter used for comparison from a fixed voltage value to a temperature-dependent reference voltage value. By selecting different reference values based on battery temperature, the system compensates for temperature effects on internal resistance and maintains high detection accuracy across varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If open circuit voltage is used to detect battery residual amount, then the accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional measurement requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery residual amount detection accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces temperature as an intermediary parameter that links the simple closed circuit voltage measurement to the accurate open circuit voltage equivalent. By using temperature to select appropriate reference values, the system achieves open circuit voltage-level accuracy without requiring actual open circuit measurements, thus avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the need for complex open circuit voltage measurement mechanisms with a simpler system that uses closed circuit voltage combined with temperature-based reference value selection. This substitution maintains measurement accuracy while reducing the complexity of the measurement system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If both closed circuit and open circuit voltage values are used, then the determination accuracy improves, but the loss of time increases due to additional measurement steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmall residual amount determination accuracyVSAvoidvoltage measurement time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit performs preliminary action by pre-storing multiple reference voltage values corresponding to different battery temperatures. During operation, the system only needs to measure the current temperature and select the appropriate reference value, eliminating the need for time-consuming open circuit voltage measurements while maintaining high determination accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a copy of the open circuit voltage information in the form of pre-stored reference voltage values indexed by temperature. Instead of performing actual open circuit measurements that take time, the system retrieves the pre-computed reference values, achieving the same accuracy benefit without the time cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11744291B2Inhalation component generating device, control circuit, and control method and control program of inhalation component generating device

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 JAPAN TOBACCO INC

AI summary

An inhalation component generating device includes: a power supply; a load group including a load configured to evaporate or atomize an inhalation component source by power from the power supply; and a control circuit configured to be able to acquire a voltage value of the power supply. The control circuit performs: a process (a1) of acquiring a closed circuit voltage value of the power supply in a closed circuit state in which the power supply and the load group are electrically connected; and a process (a2) of comparing the acquired closed circuit voltage value and a first reference voltage value, and determining that the power supply is in a small residual amount state in a case where the closed circuit voltage value is smaller than or is equal to or smaller than the reference voltage value.