Movable Battery Heater Layout for Compact Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices powered by batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries, face operational challenges at low and high temperatures, leading to reduced capacity and voltage, potential damage during charging at low temperatures, and increased longevity risks at high temperatures, which existing solutions attempt to address with additional heaters that increase device size, weight, and cost.
Innovation Solution
A movable battery and heater configuration within the device, allowing thermal contact and insulation to maintain optimal battery temperature using existing components, preventing overheating and conserving space and weight by utilizing a flexible substrate and temperature-sensitive elements for automatic positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional heaters are included to heat the battery, then battery temperature control is improved, but device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the battery heating function with the existing vaporization heating element. The same heater that heats the aerosol-forming substrate is used to heat the battery when the article is not inserted, eliminating the need for a separate battery heater and avoiding additional weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element serves dual purposes: heating the aerosol-forming substrate during use and heating the battery when the article is removed. This multi-functionality allows one component to perform multiple tasks, avoiding the need for additional dedicated battery heating components.
2Reliability
If additional heaters are included to heat the battery, then battery temperature control is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the battery heating function with the existing vaporization heating element. The same heater that heats the aerosol-forming substrate is used to heat the battery when the article is not inserted, eliminating the need for a separate battery heater and avoiding additional device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element serves dual purposes: heating the aerosol-forming substrate during use and heating the battery when the article is removed. This multi-functionality allows one component to perform multiple tasks, avoiding the need for additional dedicated battery heating components that would increase device size.
3Volume of moving object
If multiple inductive circuits are layered close to each other, then device compactness is improved, but mutual inductance reduces heating effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the battery heating function from the vaporization heating process. By using the heater exclusively for vaporization when the article is inserted and for battery heating only when the article is removed, mutual inductance issues are avoided while maintaining heating effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes: vaporization heating when the article is inserted, and battery heating when the article is removed. This dynamic operation allows the same heater to serve different functions at different times without the negative effects of simultaneous operation.
4Reliability
If the battery is unchangingly heated, then battery temperature is maintained, but battery longevity is reduced due to excessive heat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic heating rather than continuous heating. The battery is heated only during specific periods when the article is not inserted and the battery temperature has dropped, avoiding excessive and continuous heating that would reduce battery longevity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensing to determine when battery heating is needed. Heating is activated based on feedback about the battery temperature and article insertion status, ensuring heating occurs only when necessary and at appropriate temperatures to maintain battery health.
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
Effectively heats the battery to operational temperatures without additional components, maintaining device portability and convenience while preventing overheating, thus enhancing battery performance and longevity across temperature ranges.
Implementation Method 1
a heater for heating the battery... the battery and the heater are relatively movable towards each other between a near position in which the heater is in thermal contact with the battery
Implementation Method 2
a distanced position in which the heater is thermally insulated from the battery
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a battery, and a heater configured to heat the battery, in which one or both of the battery and the heater are movably mounted in the aerosol-generating device, such that the battery and the heater are relatively movable towards each other between a near position and a distanced position, the near position being different from the distanced position. An aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-generating article and the aerosol-generating device, and a method for heating a battery in the aerosol-generating device, are also provided.