Porous Ceramic Heating Assembly for High-Wattage E-Cigarettes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heating assemblies in atomizers for electronic cigarettes, particularly those with glass fiber cores, are unsuitable for high-wattage applications as they can be damaged by high temperatures, leading to uneven heating and an unsatisfactory user experience.

Innovation Solution

A heating assembly with a substrate and micro porous ceramic liquid conducting bodies that are sintered to form an integral structure, allowing for efficient absorption and heating of tobacco liquid, and featuring a thermistor layer for temperature control to maintain stable output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If glass fiber core is used in heating assembly, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the glass fiber core may be burnt due to high temperature in large wattage applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from glass fiber to high-temperature resistant materials such as ceramic foam or porous ceramic. These materials can withstand temperatures above 1000°C, solving the problem of glass fiber burning in high-wattage applications while maintaining structural integrity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite structures combining porous ceramic materials with heating elements. The ceramic foam or porous ceramic provides both structural support and liquid absorption capabilities while resisting high temperatures, creating a reliable heating assembly for high-wattage operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Power

If heating wire is wrapped around liquid conducting body, then the heating function is achieved, but the gap between heating wire and surface may be uneven causing unsatisfactory user experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating powerVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the heating wire wrapping step from the manufacturing process and replaces it with a pre-formed porous ceramic structure that has integrated heating elements. This eliminates the need for manual wrapping and ensures uniform contact between the heating element and liquid conducting body, improving both manufacturing precision and heat distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the heating element and liquid conducting body into a single integrated porous ceramic structure. The heating elements are embedded within or on the surface of the porous ceramic, ensuring uniform thermal contact and eliminating gaps that would occur with separate wrapped components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If high wattage heating is applied, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the glass fiber core may be burnt due to high temperature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidhigh temperature damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the thermal resistance parameter of the liquid conducting body by using porous ceramic materials with higher melting points and better thermal stability. This allows the system to operate at high wattages (e.g., 40W or above) without the liquid conducting body degrading, thereby maintaining high heating efficiency while eliminating temperature-related damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 a stable and efficient heating mechanism that prevents damage from high temperatures, ensuring consistent aerosol production and improved user experience by maintaining a stable temperature range.

Implementation Method 1

The liquid conducting body is made of micro porous ceramic material and is in tight contact with the substrate. The liquid conducting body is capable of conveying the tobacco liquid to the substrate.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

The heating part is configured for heating the tobacco liquid to form aerosol. The at least one heating element is electrically connected to the conductive part.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

the heating part is configured for heating the tobacco liquid to form aerosol

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 4

featuring a thermistor layer for temperature control to maintain stable output

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermistor effect: Thermistor

Data Source

PatentEP3146857B1Heating assembly, atomizer and electronic cigarette having same
Publication Date: 2018.10.17 SHENZHEN FIRST UNION TECH CO LTD
  • EP3146857B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3146857B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3146857B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An exemplary heating assembly (108) includes a substrate (1081), a heating part (1084) formed on the substrate (1081), an electrode part (1085, 1086, 1087) connected with the heating part (1084), and a liquid conducting body (1082, 1083) configured for absorbing tobacco liquid. The liquid conducting body (1082, 1083) is in tight contact with the substrate (1081). The liquid conducting body (1082, 1083) is capable of conveying the tobacco liquid to the substrate (1081).