Modular User Interface for Aerosol Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerosol provision devices typically have simple user interfaces, limiting user control and experience, while adding complexity to enhance functionality increases device size, weight, and cost.
Innovation Solution
A user-interface module that connects to aerosol provision devices, providing additional control and functionality through a housing with a connector and user interface, allowing for physical or wireless interaction, including LEDs, screens, buttons, and tactile feedback, to enhance user interaction without increasing device size or cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the aerosol provision device includes more advanced user interface components (such as screens, multiple buttons, tactile feedback mechanisms), then user control and interaction capability is improved, but device size, weight, and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface is segmented into multiple independent modules (connector module, display module, input module, feedback module) that can be selectively assembled. Each module performs a specific function and can be attached or detached independently, allowing customization of the aerosol provision device's interface capabilities without permanently increasing its complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is designed with multi-functionality to interface with various types of user interface modules (wired and wireless). A single connector design supports multiple connection types and module configurations, allowing the same aerosol provision device to work with different interface capabilities depending on user needs.
2Loss of information
If the aerosol provision device includes more advanced user interface components, then user information feedback is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Information feedback capabilities are divided into separate modular components (display screens, LED indicators, haptic feedback units) that can be selectively included. Users can choose basic feedback modules for lower-cost applications or add advanced feedback modules when needed, paying only for the information feedback capabilities they require.
Solution Approach 2:
The user interface modules are designed as replaceable components that can be upgraded or replaced independently. If a user needs enhanced information feedback, they can attach a more capable module rather than replacing the entire device, reducing the effective cost of advanced features.
3Volume of moving object
If the aerosol provision device is made compact, then portability is improved, but available space for user interface components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface is separated from the main aerosol provision device body into detachable modules. The core device remains compact and portable, while expanded interface capabilities are available in separate modules that attach when needed and are removed when portability is the priority.
Solution Approach 2:
Interface capabilities are extended in a spatial dimension external to the main device body. Modules attach to the sides or ends of the compact device, adding functionality without increasing the core device's footprint, maintaining portability while enabling enhanced user interaction when required.
Data Source
AI summary
A user-interface module for use with an aerosol provision device is described. The user-interface module includes a housing, a connector configured to interact with an aerosol provision device and a user interface. The user-interface module is configured to allow the user to interact with the user interface in order to control the functionality of an operatively connected aerosol provision device, thereby to provide the aerosol provision device with additional functionality, in use. There is also provided an aerosol provision device and a system.