Microwave Resonance Heater Assembly for Rapid Uniform Aerosol Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol generating devices face issues with slow preheating speeds and uneven heating of aerosol generating materials due to resistance, induction, and conventional dielectric heating methods, leading to reduced power transmission efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A heater assembly utilizing a dielectric heating method with a resonance unit that includes a coupler and an oscillator to generate microwaves, creating an electric field for uniform heating of aerosol generating articles through microwave resonance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional dielectric heating method using antenna is used, then aerosol generating materials can be heated, but power transmission efficiency is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies electromagnetic resonance (a form of vibration) by designing a resonance unit with specific dimensional relationships (L1/λ and L2/λ ratios) to create standing waves at designated frequencies. This resonant vibration of electromagnetic fields dramatically improves power transmission efficiency compared to conventional antenna methods, directly resolving the contradiction between energy loss and heating effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of heating methodology from conventional dielectric heating using antenna to resonance-based dielectric heating. By adjusting the resonance frequency and dimensional parameters of the resonance unit to match specific ratios with wavelength, the system achieves high power transmission efficiency while maintaining reliable heating performance.
2Speed
If resistance heating method is used, then aerosol generating materials can be heated, but preheating speed is relatively slow
Solution Approach 1:
The resonance unit creates electromagnetic standing waves that cause rapid oscillation of polar molecules in the aerosol generating material, generating heat through molecular friction. This resonant heating mechanism achieves much faster preheating speeds compared to resistance heating, while the resonant coupling ensures high energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the resistance heating mechanism (which relies on electrical current passing through resistive materials) with a dielectric resonance heating mechanism. This substitution uses electromagnetic field resonance to directly energize polar molecules, achieving both faster heating speed and better energy efficiency.
3Stability of the object's composition
If induction heating method is used, then aerosol generating materials can be heated, but heating uniformity is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The resonance unit is designed to create uniform standing wave patterns within the accommodation space, with dimensional parameters (L1, L2) specifically ratioed to wavelength λ. This creates uniform electromagnetic field distribution that ensures even heating throughout the aerosol generating material, preventing hot spots while maintaining high heating power.
Solution Approach 2:
The resonance structure creates regions of uniform electromagnetic energy distribution within the accommodation space. By designing the resonance unit dimensions as specific ratios of wavelength, the system achieves equipotential-like conditions for heating, ensuring uniform temperature distribution across different locations of the aerosol generating material.
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 enables rapid and uniform heating of aerosol generating materials, reducing device size and improving aesthetics while maintaining high power transmission efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Aerosol generating materials may be quickly heated using the microwave heating technology
Implementation Method 2
a resonance unit configured to receive the microwaves generated by the oscillator through a coupler and generate an electric field by resonating the received microwaves
Data Source
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AI summary
A heater assembly includes an oscillator that generates microwaves in a designated frequency band, and a resonance unit that receives the microwaves generated by the oscillator through a coupler and generates an electric field by resonating the received microwaves, wherein the resonance unit includes a case including a lower surface, an upper surface facing the lower surface, a side surface surrounding an inner space between the lower surface and the upper surface, an accommodation space for accommodating an aerosol generating article, and at least one opening into which the coupler is insertable in a direction from the lower surface toward the inner space, a plurality of plates separated from each other in a peripheral direction of the aerosol generating article accommodated in the accommodation space, and a connection portion connecting the plurality of plates to each other. Also, various other embodiments may be implemented according to the specification.