Laser Aerosol Device with Light Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol generating systems, such as electronic cigarettes, face challenges in effectively heating materials without burning, particularly with coil-of-wire heaters that take time to heat up and lack user control.
Innovation Solution
An aerosol generating device utilizing a laser emitter to vaporize materials, with a light guide and lens assembly that directs infrared light to a target, allowing for precise control over the heating process and efficient vaporization of liquids or solids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a coil-of-wire heater is used to heat material, then adequate heating without burning is achieved, but the heating process takes time and is difficult for the user to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical coil-of-wire heater with a laser emitter that uses optical energy to vaporize material directly. This substitution enables precise electronic control of the heating process through laser power and pulse duration, while achieving rapid vaporization without the thermal mass and response time limitations of coil heaters.
2Ease of operation
If a laser emitter is used to vaporize material, then precise control over heating is achieved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light guide as an intermediary component that channels laser energy from the emitter to the material. This allows the laser source to be positioned separately from the vaporization point, simplifying the overall device layout while maintaining precise control. The light guide acts as a flexible mediator that delivers optical energy without requiring direct alignment or complex positioning mechanisms.
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 provides improved flexibility and control over the heating process, ensuring efficient vaporization without burning, enhancing the user experience by using a laser emitter that emits light in the infrared spectrum, matched to the absorption peak of the target material, and a light guide that minimizes power loss and contains any liquid splashes.
Implementation Method 1
a laser emitter configured to emit light to vaporise a vaporisable material at the target in use
Implementation Method 2
the laser emitter may preferably emit light in a wavelength spectrum matching the absorption peak of a surface material of the target
Implementation Method 3
A light guide may be defined as a waveguide device that transports light from a light source (the laser emitter in the present invention) to a point some distance away with minimal loss, for example, by means of total internal reflection
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol generating device includes a target; a laser emitter configured to emit light and vaporise a vaporisable material at the target in use; and an optional light guide for guiding light emitted from the laser emitter to the target. An aerosol generating system includes the aerosol generating device and an outer shell for receiving the aerosol generating device in use.